Category Archives: Podcast
Space-Cast! #25. Nonsense Words
What’s the difference between a puzzle and a game? Heck if we know. Today’s Space-Cast delves into two puzzle titles by designer Blaž Gracar: the 18-card microgame All Is Bomb and the pen-and-transparent-sheet game LOK. Listen in as we discuss both games, the value of nonsense words, and share some of our favorite puzzle recommendations.
Listen here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Space-Cast! #24. Air, Land, & Snap
Like everybody else, Jon Perry and Dan Thurot have been playing Marvel Snap. Unlike everybody else, Jon Perry has designed games such as Time Barons, Scape Goat, and — more relevantly — Air, Land, & Sea. Listen in as we discuss lane battlers, Marvel Snap, the perils of porting digital games to tabletop, and much more.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps are after the jump.
Space-Cast! #23. Watch Out! That’s an Amabel!
Once again we’re joined by Amabel Holland. This year, we discuss her forthcoming freebie game Watch Out! That’s a Dracula!, along with legacy games, textually queer games, and a transition in the tone of her work.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps are after the jump.
Book-Space! #23. Uprooted
After a bit of a pause, the Space-Biff! Book-Space! returns to discuss natural magic vs. orderly magic, crusty old wizards vs. vigorous young witches, and Naomi Novik’s Uprooted vs. Brock, Summer, and Dan. Listen here or download here.
Next time, it’s all about translation. That’s right, we’re reading R. F. Kuang’s Babel.
Space-Cast! #22. My Father’s Interview
Have you ever gone mad pursuing a parent’s ambition? That’s the topic of T.C. Petty III’s My Father’s Work, a game of intergenerational trauma, weird science, and scaring off your loved ones. Also an app.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Space-Cast! #20. The Acts of the Interviewees
Come to hear about Jeff Warrender’s The Acts of the Evangelists, stay for the rambling discussion about New Testament scholarship. Or don’t. Stay away, all ye who fear extended chats about religion, independent publication, and games as devotion.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Book-Space! #22. Mind MGMT
Everybody knows psychics aren’t real. What Mind MGMT presupposes is… what if they are? Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Matt Kindt‘s graphic novel, including professional conspiracy theories, non-professional relationship advice, and our mutual bewilderment when people say they don’t like the art. Listen here or download here.
Next time, we’ll be reading about dragons via Uprooted by Naomi Novik.
Space-Cast! #17. Making Magnates Work
What goes up must come down. That’s the proposition of James Naylor’s Magnate: The First City, the modern Monopoly that sees its housing boom through to the inevitable bust. Today, James joins Dan to chat about real estate development, game development, and what makes Humbleburg more of a “first” city than the many counter-examples that are undoubtedly popping into your head.
This month, we’re making a donation to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Please consider making a donation of your own or searching for ways to help your local homeless community.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Space-Cast! #16. A Nicaea Conversation
Nearly seventeen hundred years ago, a bunch of theology nerds were called together to answer one simple question: what is the nature of God? Their answer has shaped the way we’ve thought about the divine ever since. That’s the topic of Amabel Holland’s Nicaea, plus an irreverent twist or two. Today, Amabel joins us to chat about orthodoxy, heresy, and the politicking that happened in between the extremes all those years ago.
Listen over here or download here. Timestamps can be found after the jump.
Book-Space! #21. Project Hail Mary
Andy Weir got famous writing about a man stranded in an isolated environment who uses science and pluck to solve his way out of danger; in Project Hail Mary, he flexes his authorial talents to their limit with a novel about a man stranded in an isolated environment who uses science and pluck to solve his way out of danger. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Ryland Grace’s portentous name, watching aliens poop, and how Weir blends hard and soft science fiction to tremendous effect. Listen here or download here.
Next time, we’ll be activating our latent psychic abilities by reading Mind MGMT by Matt Kindt.
SPACE-BIFF! 