HEX&CUBE: Euro Board Games and Board Game Design

In this lovely 18th episode of the HEX&CUBE podcast, I invite my friend Jeremy Lounds on to have a little chat about abstract games. We get into the usual conversation about cashew milk and our fragile, old-man bodies. Jeremy's Game "Duwen" Jeremy's Twitter Link to discussion. Sign up for our newsletter! Join the HEX&CUBE Facebook group! Kyle's Twitter Kyle's Instagram Welcome (00:18) Get to know Jeremy (02:10) Ode and Game Design(11:18) DECO and Abstract games (16:53) Outro - (54:49)

Wow. What an enjoyable episode! I had a blast talking with Andreas Odendahl (Ode). We talked about Helmets, chickens, and even board games. I learned that censoring can actually be fun, and that Suchy is lazy (Ode's words, not mine). :D We got to talk about Ode's approach to designing and about his game, Cooper Island. This is a long'n, but an oh-so-good'n. "Ode's Box of Games" Facebook Page Ode's Twitter Ode's Instagram Link to discussion. Sign up for our newsletter! Join the HEX&CUBE Facebook group! Kyle's Twitter Kyle's Instagram Welcome (00:18) Get to know....Ode! (00:56) Ode and Game Design(23:30) Cooper Island (45:43) Outro - (1:31:43)

In this laborious 16th episode of the HEX&CUBE podcast, Luke and I hang out while working; working on this amazing episode, that is! I lie about when this episode would be live and Luke sands a table during part of the episode. It's wonderful how well he can multitask! In between the carpentry and deceit, we chat about worker placement games and my pretentious clarification of the term "action selection". I hope you enjoy! Link to discussion. (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Join the HEX&CUBE Facebook group! (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Twitter (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Instagram (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:18) News (1:23) Kickstarter News - Maquis (2:07) Game Night - Barrage, Caylus, Hansa Tuetonica, City of the Big Shoulders, Gugong, Concordia: Venus (8:35) Topic - Worker Placement (27:09) Outro - (1:31:43)

In this workshop episode, Kyle is joined by Jonathan Weaver to talk about narrative in games. Jonathan takes us on an enlightening journey in which Kyle discovers that he has been in love with narrative in games all along....or has he? That's for you to decide, and for me to find out. This episode is half-full of agreeable groans. Enjoy! * Jonathan's Twitter * (Right click and open in new window) Link to discussion. (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Join the HEX&CUBE Facebook group! (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Twitter (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Instagram (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:17) Introducing: Jonathan Weaver (2:40) A Conversation on Narrative (13:22) Outro - (1:03:36)

Merry New Year! In this episode Kyle, Joe, and Luke chat about balancing unicorns and some village people. They also share some of their favs from 2020, which is difficult when you didn't play anything that came out that year, as well as some games that they're looking forward to in 2021, which is the year we are currently in if you were unaware. Which I was. Where am I? Link to discussion. (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Join the HEX&CUBE Facebook group! (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Twitter (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Instagram (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:20) News (2:24) Kickstarter News - Darwin's Journey (5:00) Game Night - Villagers, Yokohama, Unicorn Glitterluck: Cloud Stacking (9:32) Topic - Favorite games of 2020, and games we're excited about for 2021 (22:01) Outro - (1:27:41)

There are four seasons in a Midwestern year, and this is the last episode of our first season. Sorry, that was probably confusing. In this final episode of Season 1, Kyle brings Luke and Michael back on the show to give Descent more credit than it's due, and to also talk about old games. We talk a little about the excellence that is El Grande and how the Chess is still good after all these years. If both parties are willing to work at it, you can keep the fire alive through anything! I genuinely am grateful for all the support thus far, and I'm really excited about the future of the show. Let's get it. Link to discussion. (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Join the HEX&CUBE Facebook group! (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Twitter (Right click and open in new window) Kyle's Instagram (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:20) News (1:19) Kickstarter News - Citta-Stato (4:46) Game Night - Alhambra, Brick & Mortar, Sagrada/Azul/Point Salad(11:10) Topic - Old Games(32:58) Outro - (1:39:59)

In this beautiful 12th episode of the HEX&CUBE podcast, Kyle figuratively and presumably literally sits down with Mark Swanson to talk about his game Feudum. They explore some of Mark's approach to this design, some challenges he faced, and his experience with Kickstarter. If you enjoy the warm, sultry voices of guests matched with the shrill, hesitations of the host, you're gonna love this episode. FOLLOW MARK'S ADVENTURES! Mark's Facebook Page (Right click and open in new window) Mark's Publishing Company (Right click and open in new window) Mark's BGG Designer Page (Right click and open in new window) Link to discussion. (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:19) Introducing: Mark Swanson (0:38) A Look at Feudum (9:06) Outro - (53:41)

By golly, we have made it to episode 11! George Lucas would be proud! I am joined for the first time by friend of the podcast, Luke Rensink, a fellow heavy-game lover and game designer. We talk about some okay games and some great games in our game night segment, and then transition into a discussion about some of our favorite designers, like Kenneth Johnson and Merle Robbins. Hey, how about your John Hancock?! Link to discussion. (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:20) Luke's Origin Story (1:39) News (7:42) Game Night - Yokohama, Haspelknecht, On Mars(11:42) Topic - Favorite Designers(42:56) Outro - (1:54:21)

In this most wonderful and exciting of 10th episodes of the HEX&CUBE podcast, Joe joins Kyle for a discussion about theme in games. We discuss how we should approach controversial or difficult themes, as well as theme's function in gaming. We also announce our very first giveaway! We will be giving away a brand new and heavily used 2014 Chevy Spark! JK. We're giving away a game, which is slightly better. Sign-up for our newsletter or re-tweet the contest info for a chance to win In the Year of the Dragon, by Stefan Feld. The giveaway will be open for entry from Monday, September 21st 2020 at 8pm CST until Monday, September 28th 2020 at 8pm CST. Links below! Enjoy! International Justice Mission (Right click and open in new window) Link to discussion. (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Here is the original contest tweet! (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:18) News (1:09) Game Night - Tekhenu(9:17) Topic - Theme(37:26) Outro - (1:24:20)

In this 9th episode of the HEX&CUBE podcast, Kyle tries to convince himself that the show is actually better without any co-hosts or guests, which is of course....wrong. He also talks a little about AquaSphere and Bus, and shares his thoughts on mechanisms and theme. Mostly mechanisms. Theme is useless. All games should just be abstract games with black and white numbers and shapes on some cardboard. *Link to discussion.* (Right click and open in new window) Sign up for our newsletter! (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:20) News (1:52) Game Night - AquaSphere, Bus(3:46) Topic - Mechanisms(15:05) Outro - (36:30)

If length was an indicator of net-worth, this 8th episode is the Jeff Bezos of board game podcasts. Still recording remotely, Kyle welcomes back Joe and Joel, as well as a very dear friend, Michael Searles, to talk about some board games. Mostly, the conversation is about Wingspan, the greatest game, not only of 2019, but of all time. We all verbally bow to the innovative genius that is Wingspan, and revel in it's shining light, which breaks into the darkness that is card games. The Golden Geek Awards is crazy though. Fur real. Satire aside, we all think Wingspan is a good game, and are pumped on what it has done within and without the hobby with regards to raising awareness for and offering an entry into hobby gaming. But dang. *Link to discussion.* (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:20) News (3:22) Game Night(s) - Great Western Trail, Space Base, Funkoverse, The Voyages of Marco Polo(6:41) Topic - Golden Geek Awards(29:26) Outro - (2:20:00)

In the greatest episode yet, Kyle brings back some of the gang via electricity to talk remotely about genre in board gaming. Kyle and the Triple J Extravaganza also share some of their most recent gaming experiences with lovely chit-bearers like Altiplano, The Crew, Chocolate Factory, and The Isle Of Cats. Swing wide your listening-holes and receive some bombastic board-gaming sound waves! And what would an episode such as this be without a couple potentially offensive remarks from John. Enjoy! *Link to discussion.* (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:22) News (3:16) Game Night(s) - Chocolate Factory, The Isle of Cats, The Crew, Altiplano(7:00) Topic - Board Game Genres (23:20) Outro - (1:18:05) *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

In this wonderful 6th episode, Kyle, completely and socially distanced, shares his experiences playing some good board games and not so good board games with his wife, and then rambles on for 20 minutes about expectation in games to only vaguely get to a point. Hope you enjoy it! *Here is the link to the blog post we were featured in!* (Right click and open in new window) *Link to discussion.* (Right click and open in new window) Welcome (00:22) News (1:38) Game Night(s) - Bruges, Ulm, Coal Baron: The Great Card Game (4:14) Topic - Expectations in gaming (18:49) Outro - (38:40) *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

In this episode, Kyle shares his vision for HEX&CUBE to die after the first year with no listeners, talks about vikings shipping goods in Hamburg in the 1900s, and his resolution to stop making counterfeit game inserts and selling them on Ebay. Shorter isn't always better, but in the case of this episode, it very well may be. Welcome (00:22) News (1:08) Game Night - Jorvik (5:53) Topic - 2020 Gaming Resolutions (15:32) Outro - (23:08) *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

In this bonus episode, Kyle shares a little about his experience with Protospiel MN. We learn two very important lessons from this episode: Cats are people too, and precisely where the Mall of America is located. *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

On this fourth episode, the dudes talk about their experience hosting the second annual Lakes Area Game Fest. They discuss how great they are at hosting conventions, how The Mind is trash and how Kyle's tastes in games are also trash, and that the threat of excommunication is quite motivating. Phrase of the day: "Cringing with laughter". Welcome (0:20) News (3:26) Lakes Area Game Fest - Real Talk - What worked, what could work better, and dreams. (4:20) Lakes Area Game Fest - Gamez (48:42) Outro (1:20:46) *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

And then there were two. Joe and I talk about our Christmas haul, some games that involve blind monkeys and a wise man, and we wrap things up talking about some publishers that get our blood pumping. It's the longest episode yet, filled with inches of insight. Welcome (0:20) Christmas (2:00) News (9:59) Game Night - Team 3, Wisdom of Solomon (14:40) Topic: Publishers that are rad (33:20) Outro (1:24:49) *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

In this bonus episode Kyle welcomes his lovely, non-gamer wife, Bri, to the show as they enjoy some playful banter and Bri shares her thoughts on gaming and condemns people who watch television. We hope you enjoy it, and we wish you a Happy Holidays! *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

In this episode the squad welcomes John Hansel as he shares his origin story and fills us all in on how rad his mom is. We also talk about our latest game night and our experiences with Maracaibo and Lorenzo Il Magnifico, among others. We then jump into some of our favorite games to play with non-gamers and John inserts his newbie rights as he insults a majority of the world's population. Killin' it. Welcome (0:20) News (2:27) John's Origin Story (6:37) Game Night - Deep Madness, Crusaders, Lorenzo Il Magnifico, Maracaibo, Railroad Ink (13:43) Topic: Games we like to play with non-gamers (42:03) Outro (1:09:20) *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org

In this very first episode of the HEX&CUBE podcast, Kyle, Joel, Mike, and Joe introduce themselves and take us on a whimsical and entrancing journey through how they got into hobby gaming. They wrap up this delectable appetizer of an episode with their initial thoughts on The Taverns of Tiefenthal. Pod Intro and LABG Intro (0:20) Joe's Origin Story (5:36) Joel's Origin Story (12:13) Mike's Origin Story (15:30) Kyle's Origin Story + Babies + BGG Stalking (17:45) Game Night - The Taverns of Tiefenthal (35:05) Outro (54:01) *Intro and outro music - "The Garden State" by Audiobinger, via freemusicarchive.org