Vox Republica: Podcast of The Cardboard Republic

Kickstarter is the current go-to location of many small and independent game publishers, but as rewarding as it has been for the hobby, Kickstarter isn't the only option for getting your new game published. Contrary to popular thought, you do have options...

Length: 38:40

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: Glenn Given of Games By Play Date joins Erin and Ryan to chat about the release of their new game that addresses a delicate issue before diving into the topic of crowdfunding options for small publishers and independent designers. We look into some other models you could consider besides just assuming Kickstarter is your only recourse.

GUEST: Glenn Given

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Patchwork by Mayfair Games
• Loot and Recruit by Swarm of Dice
• Thornwatch by Penny Arcade

QUICK TOPICS:

• Games by Play Date releases Bad Habit
• Using a game for cause awareness

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• Glenn expands on his experiences with Kickstarter, Patreon, traditional funding, and more.
  • Are all of these models created equal? How do you tell which could work for you?
• What is the unofficial report card of Kickstarter?
  • What works, and what could be done better?
  • Is who it's aimed for matching who is using it?
• Offering some recommendations to new designers or publishers regarding getting your game published.

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Pax East has come and gone, bringing with it a whirlwind of games and emotions. We parse through our collective experiences over the three-day expo to see what was a hit - and what wasn't.

Length: 1:00:38

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: The entirety of the CR crew descended on Boston recently to attend PAX East 2015, the largest gaming convention in the Northeast. Like many, we went on this yearly gaming pilgrimage and found host of things to experience upon getting there. We share the ups and downs - and games - of that trip, as Ryan, Erin, and Dave recap PAX East.

GUEST: David Gordon

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Adorable Pandaring by Asmadi Games
• Bad Medicine by Formal Ferret Games
• Bottom of the 9th by Dice Hate Me Games
• Burgle Bros. by Tim Fowers
• Cards: The Attackening by Wanton Walrus Productions
• Castle Assault by TJ Dunbar
• Find It & Bind It by Cray Cray Games
• Interregnum by Aviary Games
• The Shadow Over Westminster by CounterClockwork Games
• Skiptrace by Tom Sellers
• Ten Candles by Stephen Dewey
• Truths Too Terrible by Protean Games

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• PAX East 2015
  • Games, Games, and more Games! What caught our attention?
  • What things did PAX do better this year? What did it do worse?
  • We share some thoughts about PAX's future.

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Pax East looms large before us, and it brings up a good point: larger conventions can be maze of events, scheduling, logistics, and sensory overload. We share some of the things we do - or try to do - when staring down so many possibilities on how to spend our time.

Length: 32:57

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan discuss how to get the most out of your friendly local gaming convention, including tips for making it through the day and figuring out what to see. They also talk Pax East and what they’ve been playing lately.

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Vault Wars by Floodgate Games
• Five Fingered Severance by Minion Games
• Vanished Planet by Vanished Planet Games

QUICK TOPICS:

• We head to PAX East!

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• How to get the most from a convention
  • Going to cons is a huge part of gaming for many.
  • How can you decide what to do?
  • What’s worth your time - and what isn’t?
  • We offer some of our personal methods for navigating them.

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Games are a great way to bring people together, and conventions are a great way to play games. So, what do game conventions help offer audiences, and how do the smaller ones differ than large ones?

Length: 30:47

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan discuss the value of little, local conventions. We also go over what we’ve been playing on all these snowy days, the Catan movie announcement, and TotalCon.

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Splendor by Space Cowboys
• Ascension by StoneBlade Entertainment
• Hyperborea by Asmodee
• Imperial Harvest by Broomstick Monkey Games
• The Great Heartland Hauling Co by Dice Hate Me Games
• Mysterium by Portal Games

QUICK TOPICS:

• Catan Goes To Hollywood: The Catan movie
• TotalCon XXIX

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• The value of small gaming cons
  • What do small conventions offer compared to larger ones?
  • Are small cons dying out?
    • If so, what are the reasons for that?
    • If not, what makes them special?

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Gaming is a pretty awesome thing. It can be challenging, social, and entertaining all at the same time. It's natural we want to share that experience with others. But where do you draw the line between being enthusiastic and pushing it on someone?

Length: 36:07

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: Rhiannon Ochs joins Erin and Ryan to discuss whether or not you should encourage non-gamers to join the table. We also talk Ghostbusters and Spooning Meeples.

GUEST: Rhiannon Ochs

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Progress: Evolution of Technology by NSKN Games
• Friday by Rio Grande Games
• Royals by ABACUSSPIELE

QUICK TOPICS:

• Changes come to Spooning Meeples
• The Ghostbusters Kickstarter

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• Should you evangelize games?
  • What are some good - and not so good - ways of reaching new potential game players?
  • How to you foster an openness to gaming without being forceful about it?
  • It is OK for someone to not like gaming.

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Is it good to be bad? Are negative reviews worthwhile for the hobby, and if so, who benefits? That's the question on the table this week.

Length: 37:03

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan talk about the value - or lack thereof - of negative reviews. There aren't a lot of them out there. We chat about why that is and whether that's a good thing or not. They also discuss the immortal popularity of Fury of Dracula and the success of UnPub.

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Trickerion

QUICK TOPICS:

• Why is Fury of Dracula so sought after?
• The usefulness of UnPub

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• The value of negative reviews
  • Recent observation is that people don't like negative reviews and don't generally want them. Is this true?
  • Is there worth in a hate read?
  • What other form of design / criticism / creation shies from negative reviews?

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

How long is long is long for you to commit to a game? Two hours? Six? Day-long Risk battles? How about playing in a D&D setting that's been around for a decade, or playing a CCG for even longer...

Length: 29:30

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: Erin and Ryan discuss the wonders (and pitfalls) of long-term gaming. Ryan’s been playing Magic with roughly the same group for over 12 years. How does he stay focused? How does the group keep interest? They also discuss the differences between long-term CCGs and long-term RPGs. Also on the docket are a couple of recently-played games!

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Fallen by Watchtower Games
• The Great Heartland Hauling Co by Dice Hate Me Games
• Trickerion
• Magic: the Gathering - Fate Reforged

QUICK TOPICS:

• There's Now A Transgender Magic Character
• Ryan's Dwindling Love Affair With Star Realms
• Pretense

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• How to stay focused on a game over the years
  • How does Ryan still enjoy Magic after 20 years?
  • How to keep a group invested
  • How are long-term RPGs different than long term CCGs?

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

They say that change can do you good. Well, the Vox Republica is taking that idea to heart, undergoing some long-awaited changes to its layout, both inside and out.

Length: 29:07

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, with each episode being about 20 - 30 minutes long.

DESCRIPTION: Erin talks about some changes to Vox, then she and Ryan dive into the latest gaming headlines, including the Cones of Dunshire Kickstarter campaign and the latest Dominion expansion. Plus, they delve into the anticipated fallout of Asmodee’s recent acquisitions.

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES:

• Scoville by TMG
• Resistor_ by Cardboard Fortress
• The Kingswood by Alan Wong
• Mice & Mystics by Plaid Hat Games

QUICK TOPICS:

• Scoville is our January game of the month, and we’re still running a contest (but not for much longer!)
• Spate of semi-serious "Swag Games" on Kickstarter
  • Deluxe Cones of Dunshire is up by Mayfair Games
  • Exploding Kittens is up by The Oatmeal

• A new Dominion Expansion titled Adventures was announced, due out in 2015

LENGTHY TOPIC:

• Asmodee was thought to have bought two new game companies, but that info has since clarified. Still, what do such acquisitions mean for the hobby?

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Gaming may be a niche topic, but that doesn't mean it isn't being studied. Join us where we chat with bonafide gaming researcher Jason Tocci to look at the academic side of gaming.

Length: 29:11

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, and each episode will be about 20 - 30 minutes long.

Geek, Nerd, or Gamer? Which do you identify yourself with? Does it even matter? What does it take to research gaming? We have on gaming researcher and former professor Jason Tocci who spent several years looking into these subgenres we love so much. From video games to Larping, he's come across it all, and he was gracious enough to share some of his insight with us this week.

We can at least promise you won't be quizzed on it.

For additional research into these topics some of the suggested reading from the episode includes:

• Jason's own site
• Adrienne Shaw's research on gamer identities
• Diane Karr's study on gaming and gender preferences - (Abstract) and (Abridged) links
• Nina Huntemann on women in gaming (Also here) (Or just Google her)
• Rules of Play by Katie Salen & Eric Zimmerman

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "8-Bit Brawl" by DJ Cutman featuring S&CO., used with permission.

As part of our January Spotlight on Scoville, we welcome designer Ed Marriott back to chat about this hot new product.

Length: 23:09

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every Thursday, and each episode will be about 20 - 30 minutes long.

You know what's hot? Scoville. That's what. This game about growing and breeding peppers was our choice for the January Indie Spotlight, and interest in it is burning up! So we thought it'd be fun to have back the master planter himself.

When we last spoke with designer Ed Marriott, the game was about to launch on Kickstarter. This week, he returns to chat with Ryan about his game, lessons learned from running a crowdfunding campaign, and some of his design philosophies.

For more interest in Scoville, stay tuned for its review later this month! To hear more of Ed's thoughts on gaming and design, you can find him on his site, Boards and Barley.

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "8-Bit Brawl" by DJ Cutman featuring S&CO., used with permission.