Space-Biff! Space-Cast!

Space-Cast! #53. Scratch & Listen

Most people know Zach Barth as the founder of Zachtronics, purveyor of digital playthings such as SpaceChem, Opus Magnum, and EXAPUNKS. But we are not most people. Instead, we're here to speak with Zach about his analog games: The Lucky Seven (and the Depot expansion), Chemistry Set, and the scratch-off puzzle pack Zach Attack! That's right. We've got the good stuff.

Space-Cast! #52. The Fellowship of the Trick

Transforming a work of literature into a trick-taking game is no mean feat, especially when that work is as influential as The Lord of the Rings. Today, we're joined by Bryan Bornmueller, creator of the trick-taking versions of both The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. Listen in as we discuss our background with both Tolkien and trick-taking, the difficulties of adaptation, and what's coming next.

Space-Cast! #51. Mori, Zucchini, Napoleon

Ah, Napoleon. Old Boney. Roll'n'Bones. The Bone Zone. The guy's got a lot of nicknames, and even more board games! The latest, and one of the most intriguing, is Battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars, codesigned by Paolo Mori and Alessandro Zucchini. Today on the Space-Cast!, we dive into the creation of this approachable hex-and-counter title, including its creators' aversion to combat results tables, their choice of battles, and why they decided to publish under their own label.

Space-Cast! #50. City of Six Amabels

Not many board games are as mysterious as City of Six Moons. Is it a puzzle? A working board game? A grift? To answer those questions and many more, today we're joined by Amabel Holland to discuss her oddest title yet, the joys and perils of translation, and her recent efforts to preserve board games that have fallen out of fashion.

Space-Cast! #49. A Vantage on Vantage

By now you've likely heard of Vantage, the ambition first-person exploration game about surviving and thriving on an alien planet. For today's Space-Cast!, we're joined by Jamey Stegmaier to discuss the eight-year inception, development, and eventual appearance of this wonderful and strange artifact. Along the way, we discuss Vantage's inspirations, how design constraints can engender greater freedom, and games within games.