Cardboard Philosophy

Episode 025 - What Makes A Game Elegant?

Elegance is a fancy word for fancy people, but does that translate to board games? We’ve heard reviewers use it, we’ve seen the backs of boxes use it and heck, we’ve maybe even used it to describe a favorite game… but what does it actually mean? Better yet… what actually makes that game “elegant?”
Steve, Robert & Evan aim to answer just that on this weeks episode!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus
Carnegie - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/310873/carnegie
Cat Blues - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/414351/cat-blues-big-gig
Dead Reckoning - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/276182/dead-reckoning
DroPolter - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/405537/dropolter
Etherfields - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/280794/etherfields
Federation - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/345868/federation
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Mysterium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium
Mysterium Park - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/301767/mysterium-park
Sankore: The Pride of Mansa Musa – https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/382518/sankore-pride-mansa-musa
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Wildlife Safari (Botswana) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/370757/zoo-tycoon-board-game
 

Episode 024 - What Makes A Game Replayable?

It’s game night. Your friends are all gathered around and you stare in wonder and excitement at your shelf of games. What are you going to play? An old favorite or the new and shiny hotness?
Come to think of it, you’ve played your old favorite 20 times but you still want to play it more. Why? What makes that game repayable? Good question (or at least we thought so)!
This week on the show Evan, Robert and Steve talk all things reliability. What makes the games we love hit the table again and again and why are some just a two or three hit wonder?
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus
Chess - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171/chess
Dice Throne - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/268201/dice-throne
Dune: Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316554/dune-imperium
Everdell - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/199792/everdell
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/341169/great-western-trail-second-edition
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-ale
High Score - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/341416/high-score
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Monikers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/156546/monikers
Nucleum - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396790/nucleum
Rapido (Escape) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Renature - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/300001/renature
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Sea Salt & Paper - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367220/sea-salt-paper
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Terra Nova - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/364186/terra-nova
That’s Not A Hat - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/375651/s-not-hat
Tic-Tac-Toe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11901/tic-tac-toe
Turing Machine - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/356123/turing-machine
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Twilight Imperium: Prophecy Of Kings - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/315895/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition-prophecy-kings
Unmatched - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/274637/unmatched-battle-legends-volume-one
Wavelength - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262543/wavelength
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis
 
 

Episode 023 - Toy Factor In Games (Featuring Zac Dixon from IV Studios!)

Some call it the “X factor,” some call it the “it factor” and others call it the “toy factor!”
But where do we draw the line between practical, cool and just a plain ol’ toy?
Join Robert, Steve, Evan and special guest host Zac Dixon from IV Studios (Moonrakers, Veiled Fate, Fractured Sky) as they look at the toys that make up our favorite toys – board games!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Get more from Zac and IV Studios - https://www.instagram.com/iv___games/?hl=en
Cites and Sources
Blob Party - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/382828/blob-party
Botswana (Japanese 2022 edition) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/644366/japanese-edition-2022
Crokinole - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/521/crokinole
The Fox Experiment - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368432/fox-experiment
Fractured Sky - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/370581/fractured-sky
Guards of Atlantis II - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/267609/guards-atlantis-ii
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-ale
The LOOP - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316412/loop
Marvel United: X-Men – Days of Future Past - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/339133/marvel-united-x-men-days-
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
Moonrakers - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/270239/moonrakers
Pax Pamir 2e - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Return to Dark Tower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256680/return-dark-tower
Strike - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/123570/strike
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition
Yucatan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/330510/yucatan

Episode 22 - Why Do Our Tastes Change?

Tastes change! Old favorites just feel old and shiny new games can feel… well shiny and new, but what causes those shifts? What makes that old staple fall out of favor?
Join Robert, Steve and Evan as they look at our ever-evolving tastes and the reason for these shifts are front and center on this week show!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Art Robbery - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/341935/art-robbery
Axis & Allies - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/98/axis-allies
Doodle Dash - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/334379/doodle-dash
Cards Against Humanity - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/50381/cards-against-humanity
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
Game of Thrones 2ed - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/103343/game-thrones-board-game-second-edition
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Heaven & Ale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/227789/heaven-ale
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Jaipur - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/54043/jaipur
Mastermind - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2392/mastermind
Nucleum - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/396790/nucleum
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Power Grid - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2651/power-grid
Rising Sun - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205896/rising-sun
Santorini - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/194655/santorini
Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25021/sekigahara-unification-japan
Sushi Go - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/133473/sushi-go
Twilight Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233078/twilight-imperium-fourth-edition

Episode 021 - The Perception Of Luck

“No luck gameplay,” “strategic decisions,” and “no luck!” are all common phrases on both Kickstarter and BGG store pages for some of our favorite games!
But why is that? Why is there a stigma around luck in games? Should there be? Is luck a boon in game design or a bust?
Join Robert, Steve and Evan as they roll the dice on how we perceive luck in games!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
 
Cites and Sources
Acquire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5/acquire
Ark Nova - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342942/ark-nova
Blood on the Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-clocktower
Brass: Birmingham - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/224517/brass-birmingham
Brass: Lancashire - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Catan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/catan
Cosmic Encounter - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39463/cosmic-encounter
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/324856/crew-mission-deep-sea
Dune - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/121/dune
El Grande - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/93/el-grande
For Northwood! - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/334590/northwood-solo-trick-taking-game
Heat: Pedal to the Metal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/366013/heat-pedal-metal
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
John Company - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/332686/john-company-second-edition
Medici - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46/medici
Nana/Trio - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352515/trio
Oath: Chronicles of Empire & Exile –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291572/oath-chronicles-empire-exile
Orongo - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/165556/orongo
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Rheinländer - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111/rheinlander
Terraforming Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Thunder Road: Vendetta - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342070/thunder-road-vendetta
Tigris & Euphrates - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42/tigris-euphrates
Twilight Struggle - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Xia: Legends of a Drift System –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/82222/xia-legends-drift-system

Episode 020 - Mechanism vs Genre

Does a mechanic a board game genre make? We talk about how a game is a “deck builder” but does that actually answer the question of what genre the game is? Or is it merely one of the mechanics that makes up the game?
This is certainly sounds like a weird philosophical question the Cardboard Philosophy boys would tackle… 
Join Steve, Robert and Evan as they discover that classifying games by genre is sometimes easier said than done!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Age of Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4098/age-steam
Blood Rage - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/170216/blood-rage
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium
Dominion - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36218/dominion
Dune: Imperium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316554/dune-imperium
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Irish Gauge - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161882/irish-gauge
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Lost Ruins of Arnak - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/312484/lost-ruins-arnak
Lunar Rails - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6663/lunar-rails
(but the game Steve was trying to remember was actually 21Moon https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/308305/21moon)
Marvel United - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/298047/marvel-united
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Pipeline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256730/pipeline
Power Grid - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2651/power-grid
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Taverns of Tiefenthal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/269207/taverns-tiefenthal
Terraforming Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Through the Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-desert
Skull - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/92415/skull
Stephenson’s Rocket - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/204/stephensons-rocket
Warhammer - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2162/warhammer-40000-third-edition
Wavelength - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262543/wavelength

Episode 019 - Video Games In Board Gaming

Board games are basically just paper video games… right? RIGHT?
While I don’t think anyone will agree with that, I think we can all agree that there sure are a lot of board game adaptations of video games floating around these days!
Why? And more importantly, what makes them work? What separates video games from board games? Evan, Robert and Steve aim to find out!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Adrenaline - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/202408/adrenaline
Anno 1800 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/311193/anno-1800-board-game
Brass - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Bullet - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/307305/bullet
Descent: Journeys in the Dark -
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/104162/descent-journeys-dark-second-edition
Etherfields - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/280794/etherfields
Fit to Print - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352574/fit-print
Frosthaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295770/frosthaven
Galaxy Trucker - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31481/galaxy-trucker
Gloomhaven - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/174430/gloomhaven
Guards of Atlantis –
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/267609/guards-atlantis-ii
PitchCar - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150/pitchcar
Project: ELITE - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171726/project-elite
Rallyman GT - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256589/rallyman-gt
Return to Dark Tower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256680/return-dark-tower
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Sniper Elite: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295262/sniper-elite-board-game
Super Motherload - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162286/super-motherload
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/264220/tainted-grail-fall-avalon
Terraria: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/391286/terraria-board-game
This War of Mine: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/188920/war-mine-board-game
Tigres & Euphrates - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42/tigris-euphrates
Worms: The Board Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/397788/worms-board-game
Yellow & Yangtze - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244114/yellow-yangtze
 

Episode 018 - How Arbitrary Are Board Game Rules?

Board game rules are all made up! It’s true! I read about that in a rule book once.
But how arbitrary are those made up rules? Are some rules more inherently intuitive and less arbitrarily than others? What makes those other rules feel arbitrary?
This is certainly sounds like a weird philosophical question the CP boys would tackle… and would you believe it? This week they do!
Join Robert, Steve and Evan as we get into the nitty gritty of what feel arbitrary in rules!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up by email or join our BGG guild!
Cites and Sources
Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium
Darkest dungeon - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/317321/darkest-dungeon-board-game
Dark souls - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/197831/dark-souls-board-game
Dead Reckoning - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/276182/dead-reckoning
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
GoldenEye BOOK –
The Great Zimbabwe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111341/great-zimbabwe
Horizon zero dawn - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/260410/horizon-zero-dawn-board-game
Joraku - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/180901/joraku
Kanban - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Long Shot - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40237/long-shot
Long Shot: The Dice Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295374/long-shot-dice-game
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Pax Pamir - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition
Rheinlander - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111/rheinlander
Samurai - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3/samurai
Sea Salt & Paper - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367220/sea-salt-paper
Taj Mahal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475/taj-mahal
Taverns of Tiefenthal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/269207/taverns-tiefenthal
Terraforming mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Through the Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-desert
Tigres & Euphrates - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42/tigris-euphrates
Yellow & Yangtze - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244114/yellow-yangtze
 

Episode 017 - How Does Art Effect The Way We Approach A Game? (Featuring Peter McPherson!)

Art is everywhere! From the screen on your phone to the paintings in a museum. It’s also all over the board games we know and love! It’s also more than just something pretty to look at… but how far can art in board games take us? How much does it effect our enjoyment of the game? Can there be too much of it?
This is a big subject, so who better to pull onto the show than our friend Peter McPherson (Fit to Print, Tiny Towns)?
Join Robert, Steve, Evan and Pete as we dive into all things art on this week’s show!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Agricola - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/31260/agricola
Ark Nova - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/342942/ark-nova
Bitoku - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/323612/bitoku
Bohnanza - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11/bohnanza
Boon Lake - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/343905/boonlake
Botswana/Wildlife Safari - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari
Brass - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/28720/brass-lancashire
Castles of Burgundy - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/84876/castles-burgundy
Castles of Tuscany - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/300327/castles-tuscany
Catan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13/catan
Cat Ass Trophy/Zero Down - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/651/zero-down
Cockroach Poker - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11971/cockroach-poker
Comic Hunters - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/322616/comic-hunters
The Cost - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/292894/cost
Detective City of Angels - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/218074/detective-city-angels
Dominion - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/36218/dominion
Earth - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/350184/earth
Fit to Print - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352574/fit-print
Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate
For Sale - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/172/sale
The Gallerist - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/125153/gallerist
High Society - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220/high-society
Isle of sky - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/176494/isle-skye-chieftain-king
Kanban EV - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev
Lacuna - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/386937/lacuna
Modern Art - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/118/modern-art
Mysterium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181304/mysterium
Ra - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12/ra
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Spirit Island - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162886/spirit-island
Terraforming Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars
Terra Mystica - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica
Tiny Towns - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/265736/tiny-towns
Trendy/Zuuupa - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1412/trendy
Via Nebula - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/191231/nebula
Wingspan - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266192/wingspan
Zoo Vadis - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/368061/zoo-vadis
 

Episode 016 - Why Do People Care So Much About Winning?

From the “winner take all” to the “second place is the first loser” people really like to win! But why is winning so important? Is winning actually a key ingredient for enjoying a game?
This week on the show the boys dive into the highs and lows of winning!
Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up at cardboardphilosophypod@gmail.com!
Cites and Sources
Age of Steam - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4098/age-steam
Blood on the Clocktower - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/240980/blood-clocktower
Boonlake - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/343905/boonlake
Brian Boru - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/337765/brian-boru-high-king-ireland
Bus - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus
Flesh & Blood - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/293348/flesh-and-blood
Great Western Trail - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/193738/great-western-trail
Just One - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/254640/just-one
Monopoly - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1406/monopoly
On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars
Rapido (Escape) - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357/excape
Root - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/237182/root
Super Motherload - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/162286/super-motherload
The Well Played Game - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17242390-the-well-played-game
I’d Eat That - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/319424/id-eat