152: The 2025 American Tabletop Awards (guest: What's Eric Playing?)

Going Analog Podcast

#Lifestyle #Boardgames #Games and Gambling #Cardgames #Tabletopgames #Dan Shoe Hsu #Analog #Videogame

19:09

This episode is brought to you by Landrum Talent Solutions, a national recruiting firm specializing in marketing and HR positions. Our guest today has been keeping us up to date with the current state of hiring for marketers on a quarterly basis, which has taken us on quite a roller coaster ride. Today we’re going to look at how marketing and communication execs are responding to the latest developments in the world while still needing to get their work done. To take a look at the latest here, I’d like to welcome back to the show Sue Keith, Corporate Vice President at Landrum Talent Solutions. About Sue Keith Sue Keith is Corporate Vice President at Landrum Talent Solutions. With deep expertise in navigating complex labor markets, Sue has a front-row seat to the evolving dynamics of marketing roles, hiring trends, and the broader implications of AI and economic uncertainty. RESOURCES Landrum Talent Solutions: https://www.landrumtalentsolutions.com Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands Online Scrum Master Summit is happening June 17-19. This 3-day virtual event is open for registration. Visit www.osms25.com and get a 25% discount off Premium All-Access Passes with the code osms25agilebrand Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com…

about a year ago 57:09

MP3•Episode home

The 2025 American Tabletop Awards were just announced! (Whispers offstage inform us that they were announced back in April....)

Well, we're now ready to talk about them after our extended break. With ATTA cofounder and content creator Eric Yurko of What's Eric Playing?, we react to the recently crowned finalists and winners -- and tell you how we each voted as part of the judging panel.

Timeline:

7:08 - Early Gamers category.
17:54 - Casual Games category.
30:29 - Strategy Games category.
40:03 - Complex Games category.

155 episodes

152: The 2025 American Tabletop Awards (guest: What's Eric Playing?)

Going Analog Podcast

24 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

The 2025 American Tabletop Awards were just announced! (Whispers offstage inform us that they were announced back in April....)

Timeline:

7:08 - Early Gamers category.
17:54 - Casual Games category.
30:29 - Strategy Games category.
40:03 - Complex Games category.

155 episodes

#Lifestyle #Boardgames #Games and Gambling #Cardgames #Tabletopgames #Dan Shoe Hsu #Analog #Videogame

All episodes

1
155: Games from Asia, great 5/6-player games (guest: Cardboard East) 1:04:50

5 days ago1:04:50

1:04:50

We love unique gaming experiences, especially from those tough-to-find games in Asia. Why are they so different from Western-made games? And what are the differences between games that originated from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, or other parts of the East? Jay Bernardo, marketing manager at Bezier Games and content creator at Cardboard East (which specializes in covering board games from Asia), was kind enough to join Going Analog to teach us the ways. We also recommend some new games that play best at 5 or 6 players! Timeline: 3:29 - Going Analog's game pick: Finca . 8:35 - Jay's game pick: Dune (1979 version). 18:01 - Jay's topic: East vs. West board games. 41:51 - Going Analog's topic: 5- to 6-player games.…

1
154: Running a first-time game con, going from content creator to retailer (guest: LFG Con) 38:01

19 days ago38:01

38:01

Do you enjoy hosting a handful of people for game night? How about a few hundred? That's what these three tried for the first time about a month ago in Burbank, CA: Dustin Staats, content creator and owner of online and brick-and-mortar retailer BGE Tabletop ; George Caceres, owner of board game cafe Game N' Grounds ; and Dae, owner of board game store Fire & Dice , came together to put on the very first LFG Con this past June. We asked Dustin to join us on the podcast to talk about how their convention dreams started and what it took to make them a reality. Plus, Dustin shares how he made the transition from board game content creator to board game retailer. Listen in! Timeline: 3:53 - Going Analog's game pick: Dark Heists. 8:58 - Dustin's game pick: Scythe. 11:59 - Going Analog's topic: Running a game convention (for the first time). 25:47 - Dustin's topic: From content creator to retailer (how I opened my brick & mortar store)…

1
144: Spooky games, indie vs. in-house design work (guests: designers Ben Kepner, Dan Stong) 57:59

25 days ago57:59

57:59

We just finished Halloweeeen! What are your favorite board games for spoopy season? We ask Creepshow: The Suspense-Building Game co-creators Ben Kepner and Dan Stong about what they like to play during this holiday...plus how they feel about designing while working in-house at a publisher compared to working independently. Timeline: 3:45 - Going Analog's game pick: Babylon. 9:46 - Ben & Dan's game pick: Rattus. 21:19 - Ben & Dan's topic: spooky games. 45:40 - Going Analog's topic: indie vs. in-house design work.…

1
153: Reviews! New games! Expansions! 48:23

5 weeks ago48:23

48:23

Game time! We catch up on a bunch of reviews for new games and expansions -- tune in to find out how much we liked them! And whether Christina ever found her Pringle. Thanks to the publishers for providing review copies. Timeline: New games: 1:30 - The Architects of Amytis. 6:24 - Medieval Academy. 11:41 - Combo. 15:55 - Star Trek: Star Realms. New expansions: 21:45 - Evergreen: Pines and Cacti. 27:52 - Ancient Knowledge: Heritage. 34:44 - Sky Team: Turbulence. 40:31 - Rebel Princess: Happily Never After.…

1
152: The 2025 American Tabletop Awards (guest: What's Eric Playing?) 57:09

8 weeks ago57:09

57:09

The 2025 American Tabletop Awards were just announced! (Whispers offstage inform us that they were announced back in April....) Well, we're now ready to talk about them after our extended break. With ATTA cofounder and content creator Eric Yurko of What's Eric Playing? , we react to the recently crowned finalists and winners -- and tell you how we each voted as part of the judging panel. Timeline: 7:08 - Early Gamers category. 17:54 - Casual Games category. 30:29 - Strategy Games category. 40:03 - Complex Games category.…

1
151: We're back! Tariffs, designing science games (guest: Dominic Crapuchettes) 42:58

10 weeks ago42:58

42:58

We're back! Again! Tune in to hear all our excuses about why we haven't been podcasting recently, then stay to hear our guest, fabulous designer ( Evolution , Wits & Wagers, Oceans) and North Star Games founder Dominic Crapuchettes! We talk about the upcoming Evolution sequel Nature , tariffs (gah), and Dominic's process when designing a science-based game. Timeline: 1:39 - Nature. 8:45 - Going Analog's game pick: Super Boss Monster. 12:26 - Dominic's game pick: The Gang. 17:32 - Going Analog's topic: tariffs impacting the board game industry. 29:42 - Dominic's topic: designing science/real life games.…

1
150: The TOP 10 games of all time! 1:07:53

18 weeks ago1:07:53

1:07:53

Imagine the longest, most suspenseful drumroll ever....... Sorry we've been MIA, but real life has been unforgiving and busy. Luckily, we're making it up to you by commemorating our 150th episode with our TOP 10 GAMES OF ALL TIME! We invite Ultimate Beige Gamer and Going Analog Editor Mike Zipkin to join us to share our individual top 10 lists. Whose taste will reign supreme? Which Going Analog-er is your favorite board game soulmate? You'll have to listen to find out.…

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149: Film influence and playfulness in game design (guest: Phil Walker-Harding) 48:03

23 weeks ago48:03

48:03

Did someone say Phil Walker-Harding ? Praise be! The prolific designer ( Sushi Go! , Barenpark , Imhotep , Gizmos , Adventure Games, and so many more!) joins Christina and Shoe to talk about how his film background has surprisingly influenced his design process. Plus, Phil's been noticing the "playfulness" inherent in some games recently. Why is he excited about this, and what does it mean for his own designs? Watch or listen to find out! Timeline: 3:01 - Going Analog's game pick: Rivages. 5:32 - Phil's game pick: Acquire . 9:27 - Going Analog's topic: How Phil's film background influences his game design. 25:56 - Phil's topic: Playfulness in game design.…

1
148: What's hot for 2025? Plus: The state of board game social media (guest: Grant Lyon) 56:15

26 weeks ago56:15

56:15

We just wrapped up last year with our 2024 Games of the Year episode , so naturally, it's time to move on with our lives and think about what gets us all excited about 2025. What are we looking forward to playing? What have we previewed previously and are now eagerly awaiting the retail release? What's the buzz we're hearing from others in the biz? Comedian and board game content creator Grant Lyon joins the show to share his thoughts on the biggest offerings for this new year. Plus, with the roller coaster that's TikTok and the continued rise of online toxicity, just how are we looking at board game social media these days? Timeline: 4:45 - Going Analog's game pick: Andromeda's Edge . 14:18 - Grant's game pick: Dice Throne . 19:38 - Going Analog's topic: 2025 games we're looking forward to. 45:44 - Grant's topic: the state of board game social media.…

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147: The 2024 Games of the Year episode (guest: Beneeta Kaur) 1:01:36

28 weeks ago1:01:36

1:01:36

We did it, folks! We recorded our 2024 Games of the Year episode before the end of the year! (We didn't say anything about releasing it before the end of the year, though.) Joining us just under the wire is content creator and Twitch streamer Beneeta Kaur who contributed her own picks. We actually played a good number of games in-person with Beneeta this year, so we know she has great taste! Tune in for our favorite party, light, medium, and heavy games of the year. What did we miss? What do we NEED to play? Tell us on our socials! Timeline: 2:42 - 2024 Party Games of the Year. 13:42 - 2024 Light Games of the Year. 25:22 - 2024 Medium Games of the Year. 46:40 - 2024 Heavy Games of the Year.…

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146: Reviewed! 2 big-box games, 2 small-box games (and 2 in-between) 46:06

33 weeks ago46:06

46:06

How is it almost the end of 2024?! Christina and Shoe sneak in some more recent games and tell you about them. Timeline: 1:02 - Small-box games: Bottle Imp , Codex Naturalis . 14:10 - Medium-box games: Looot, In the Footsteps of Marie Curie. 26:30 - Big-box games: Rallyman: Dirt, Creature Caravan.

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145: The games we loved at BGG.CON 47:08

35 weeks ago47:08

47:08

BoardGameGeek's BGG.CON is always a good time: just days and days of straight gaming (with some delicious Texas BBQ sprinkled in throughout). So what did we play? And what stuck out to us? Christina and Shoe talk through the games, the show, and more in their big post-BGG.CON update. Timeline: 2:41 - SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence . 11:04 - Windmill Valley . 19:14 - Video Game Champion . 27:26 - Pixies . 32:23 - Castle Combo . 36:49 - Quick hits: Black Forest , Forges of Ravenshire , Fishing , Wine Cellar , Everbloom .…

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143: The best area-control games, the latest from Reiner Knizia (guest: Bitewing Games) 1:11:26

41 weeks ago1:11:26

1:11:26

Publisher Bitewing Games has a thing for designer Reiner Knizia (most recently with Zoo Vadis and the Mythos Collection's Illiad and Ichor ). Now they're back at it with a new three-part, big-box, Knizia-palooza Kickstarter campaign . We had the opportunity to play one of those parts, SILOS ( Secret Interlopers from Outer Space ), a retro sci-fi (with cows!) rethemed version of Municipium ...and we instantly fell in love. So we invited Bitewing founders Nick Murray and Kyle Spackman to chat about SILOS , other great area-control games, and board game series and franchises. Timeline: 3:25 - Going Analog's game pick: Magic Maze Tower . 11:22 - Bitewing's game pick: Moonrollers . 19:48 - Going Analog's topic: SILOS and other great area-control games. 47:57 - Bitewing's topic: gaming series and franchies.…

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142: Let's party (game)! 50:46

43 weeks ago50:46

50:46

Tired of hoarding resources, majority-ing areas, and adding up victory points? Want to make your frenemy continuously act like they're milking a cow instead? Then let's talk party games! Shoe and Christina run through a bunch of new big-group activities to help you with your next big game night. This episode was sponsored by Magic Mind, our favorite Mental Performance Shot. As a special offer for our listeners, they're giving 40% off the next 10 (and only 10!) uses of this promo code. Go to https://magicmind.com/ANALOG40 and use our code ANALOG40 to get this deal. Timeline: 1:09 - Christina's game pick: Minos: Dawn of the Bronze Age. 6:09 - Shoe's game pick: Nature. 12:44 - Games that tweak party game formulas: Sync, Rabble, Lovestruck. 24:59 - Team games: Belratti, Blank Slate: Challenge, Mini-Game Party. 35:27 - Drawing games: Caution Signs, Speed Colors. 42:37 - Quick hits: Task Team, Ultimate Dibs, I'm Kind of a Big Dill.…

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141: Good/bad second-edition board games, designing from theme up (guest: designer Ben Rosset) 54:56

45 weeks ago54:56