Episodes
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In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast discusses the importance of storytelling in tabletop sports projects, inspired by an article from Eric Simon in Sports Sim Magazine. He emphasizes how adding historical context and personal reflections can enhance the gaming experience. The conversation also touches on the significance of understanding the audience for these projects and how tools like ChatGPT can aid in creative storytelling. James shares insights from his recent tabletop projects and looks forward to future endeavors.
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In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast discusses two main projects: a retrospective on his 2005-2006 NHL tournament using Stone Cold Hockey and the introduction of a new dual federation project with Face to the Mat. He shares insights on game mechanics, project planning, and the creative process behind building storylines in tabletop sports.
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Missing episodes?
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When my schedule gets crazy, as it often did this year, this theme keeps me in check. Hopefully for the last time this year, we going back to a classic episode to hear why Failure is Inevitable!
I'll be back on Sunday with a brand new episode.
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In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast discusses the top game mechanics and innovations of 2024, highlighting various tabletop sports games and their unique features. The conversation includes insights into YouTube content creators in the tabletop gaming community and concludes with reflections on the thriving nature of the tabletop sports gaming community.
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In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast reflects on the current state of tabletop gaming, discusses the impact of recent events on gaming culture, and pays tribute to sports legends. He highlights his recent gaming experiences, particularly focusing on the Barry Sanders 1994 project, and shares news about upcoming gaming events. The main topic centers around the new game Draft Duel from Play Games and Studio Sp1cy, exploring its mechanics, player interactions, and overall experience. Cast emphasizes the game's appeal and provides insights into its unique features, while also addressing its distinction from traditional sports simulation games.
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In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast discusses his top 10 tabletop football board games based on personal preferences and experiences. He provides insights into his gaming sessions over the past quarter, highlights key projects, and shares his thoughts on various football games, including their playability and project potential. The episode serves as a comprehensive guide for tabletop sports enthusiasts looking to explore football-themed games.
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In this episode of the Tabletop Sportcast, host James Cast discusses the top five new games in his collection, providing insights into each game's mechanics and appeal. He also recaps the latest news in tabletop sports, including updates from Sport Sim Magazine and new game releases. The episode concludes with a look ahead to future episodes and themes.
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In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast discusses the challenges of September, focusing on prioritization and goal setting within tabletop gaming. He reflects on his recent gaming experiences, including participation in a Breakaway Football tournament and various tabletop projects. As he navigates a busy schedule, James emphasizes the importance of evaluating project value versus effort, making tough decisions about which projects to prioritize, and establishing routines to achieve his goals. The episode concludes with key takeaways on effective prioritization and goal setting in the context of tabletop gaming.
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Today we are sitting down with Brien Aronov to talk baseball. We discuss Brien's fascination with Japanese baseball and what we both look for in baseball sims.
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In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James Cast discusses various projects that can be done during the football season. He draws inspiration from the Gridiron Games 2024 and his visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. James shares updates on his tabletop projects, including completing the Stratomatic Baseball showcase and the 1984 USFL season replay. He also mentions ongoing projects using Fury Hardball and Stone Cold Hockey.
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Summary
It's the third anniversary of the Tabletop SportCast and what better way to celebrate than to spend a weekend at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH with many friends old and new.
In today's episode I'll recap the past few years of the podcast, and then sit down with a number of guests from Gridiron Games 2024 to give you their impressions of the weekend first-hand.
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Summary
In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, James Cast interviews S.T. Patrick, the creator of The Squared Circle, Match-Up Football, and Sport Sim Magazine. They discuss recent gaming experiences, the latest releases from TSC and Match-Up, and delve into the concept of accuracy in sports simulation games. They explore the challenges of capturing the complexity of real-life performance in a tabletop game and the role of randomness in recreating sports outcomes. They also talk about the 2024 Gridiron Games event and the plans for Matchup Football at the event. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the availability of game design tools and the importance of finding balance and enjoyment in life.
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Summary
In this episode, the host provides an update on his tabletop gaming projects and the podcast. He discusses the challenges he has faced in maintaining a schedule and staying on track with his projects. He shares details about his ongoing projects, including History Maker Baseball, LaCrosse Blast Express, and various tournaments. The host also talks about his plans for future projects and the importance of establishing a routine. He concludes by mentioning upcoming interviews and the fourth anniversary show of the podcast.
Takeaways
Maintaining a schedule and routine is crucial for staying on track with tabletop gaming projects The host is working on various projects, including History Maker Baseball and LaCrosse Blast Express Future projects will include boxing, soccer, basketball, and wrestling The podcast will continue to feature interviews and special episodes The host is planning to establish a new recording schedule and prioritize regular podcast episodes Looking Ahead: Future Projects and the Fourth Anniversary Show Challenges and Adjustments: Finding a Routine for Tabletop Gaming "Maintaining a schedule and routine is crucial for staying on track" "Future projects will include boxing, soccer, basketball, and wrestling" "The podcast will continue to feature interviews and special episodes" -
Arthur Franz, creator of Breakaway Football, discusses his love for football and how it inspired him to create a tabletop football game. He shares his experience as a football coach and how it influenced his game design. The game aims to provide a realistic and enjoyable football experience in a shorter playtime. Each team in the game is based on a real football team, with their own unique playbooks and special abilities. The game allows players to simulate matchups between different teams from different eras, creating intriguing 'what if' scenarios. In this part of the conversation, Arthur Franz IV discusses the teams he has created for Breakaway Football, a tabletop football game. He mentions that he has created representative teams for most of the 32 franchises, with a few exceptions. He talks about the unique abilities and characteristics of some of the teams, such as the Dome Patrol defense of the Saints and the offensive struggles of the 2008 Cardinals. He also discusses the concept of breakaways in the game, where the relationship between the play type and the defense determines the outcome of a play. He explains how offensive and defensive breakaways work and how they add excitement to the game. Additionally, he mentions the development of a solo mode for the game, which allows players to play against an AI opponent. Breakaway Football is a tabletop game that captures the experience of being a head coach. It features a unique play-calling system and a solo mode with a spy mechanic. The spy mechanic allows the AI to cheat in plain sight, balancing the decision quality and preventing players from relying on their best plays. The game also includes a team creator that allows players to recreate their favorite teams. The creator reverse-engineered the decisions made to create the franchises and standardized the playbook valuations. The game has a small footprint and quick setup time. The creators are also working on a dynasty mode expansion that will allow for persistent change season over season.
Links
Uplink Underground Games: https://uplinkunderground.com/board-games/
Uplink Underground on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uplinkundergroundgames9259
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We're climbing back into the time machine and winding back to October 2021 to Episode 20. In this one I discussed home brew ideas for the tabletop.
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Summary
In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, the host does a retrospective on his recently completed PGA mini season project. He discusses the highlights and challenges of the project, including the scheduling of events and the use of tournament mode in History Maker Golf. He also reflects on what went well and what could have been done differently, such as using actual courses for the majors and tracking results more effectively. The host concludes by sharing his plans for future projects and upcoming episodes of the podcast.
Keywords
retrospective, PGA mini season, project management, scheduling, tournament mode, History Maker Golf, challenges, highlights, actual courses, tracking results, future projects
Takeaways
Retrospectives can provide valuable insights into completed projects and help improve future ones. Scheduling events and using tournament mode in History Maker Golf can be challenging but rewarding. Using actual courses for major events can enhance the authenticity of a historical replay. Tracking results effectively is important for keeping records and analyzing performance. Planning and reflecting on projects can lead to better project management and decision-making.Titles
The Importance of Tracking Results Reflecting on the PGA Mini Season ProjectSound Bites
"Deciding to do a mini season"
"Using tournament mode for History Maker Golf"
"Setting it up for a historical replay"
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview
17:26 Reflecting on the PGA Mini Season Project
24:59 Challenges and Highlights of the Retrospective
28:19 Improving Future Projects with Lessons Learned
37:52 Using Actual Courses for Historical Replays
41:45 The Importance of Tracking Results
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In the first installment of replaying greatest hits, we're taking it all the way back to October 2021 and Episode 10. In this episode I focused on a new approach to cooperative projects focused around the 2000 Football America season.
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Summary
Play.com 2024 was a memorable gaming event with a record-breaking crowd. The top five memories include the presence of game designers, the attendance of newbies, the extension of the convention to include more activities, the Rumble in the Jungle game showcase, and the introduction of Soccer Blast Express. The convention provided opportunities to play and interact with game designers, gaining inspiration and appreciation for their craft. The host also plans to feature classic episodes and focus on football in upcoming episodes.
Keywords
Play.com 2024, gaming event, game designers, newbies, convention extension, Rumble in the Jungle, Soccer Blast Express, tabletop games, inspiration, football
Takeaways
Play.com 2024 had a record-breaking crowd and was a memorable gaming event.
The presence of game designers at the convention allowed for interaction and appreciation of their craft.
The attendance of newbies added fresh faces and excitement to the event.
The convention extended beyond the traditional two days, allowing for more activities and exploration of the Denver area.
The showcase of Rumble in the Jungle and Soccer Blast Express introduced new and exciting games to the attendees.
Playing and interacting with game designers provided inspiration for future game creation.
The host plans to feature classic episodes and focus on football in upcoming episodes.
Titles
Inspiration from Game Designers
Game Designers: The Stars of Play.com
Sound Bites
"The game designers that were in-house... really bring to this community."
"The attendance of newbies... always great to see new faces in the crowd."
"The convention continues to grow... embracing the idea of extending the con."
Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Podcast Information
03:01
Game Designers: The Stars of Play.com
07:34
Newbies Bring Fresh Energy to Play.com
10:50
Extending the Convention: More Than Just Two Days
14:36
Rumble in the Jungle: A Highlight of Play.com
29:44
Inspiration from Game Designers
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In today's episode I preview Plaay-Dot-Con 2024 going through the schedule and talking about what I am looking forward to for the next few days.
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In today's episode I take an Inside Look at Payoff Pitch Baseball by Sideline Strategy Games. I also give a tabletop recap including a highlight of a major milestone!
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