Episodes
-
In this episode of Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast discusses the top tabletop sports games of 2024, sharing insights on his gameplay experiences, project highlights, and the methodology behind his rankings. The conversation covers various games, including honorable mentions, and delves into the Continental Cup project, showcasing the excitement of random matchups in tournaments. James emphasizes the importance of playtime in determining his top games and reflects on the diverse range of sports represented in his collection. In this episode, the host reviews the top tabletop sports games of 2024, discussing various express and quick play games, historical replays, and personal favorites. The conversation highlights the impact of specific projects on gameplay and the dominance of certain game companies in the host's gaming experience. The episode concludes with insights into gaming trends and a look ahead to future projects.
-
In this episode of Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast explores the latest holiday offering from Plaay Games, Reel-Time Pro Fishin', and reflects on his recent project, the Rec League Golf Championship. The episode delves into the mechanics of the fishing game, discussing its unique features and gameplay strategies, while also providing insights from the golf championship project, including lessons learned and player performance. The conversation wraps up with a look ahead to future episodes and upcoming content.
-
Missing episodes?
-
n this episode of Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast recaps the highlights of the 2024 holiday sale, discussing various tabletop projects, games purchased, and future plans for 2025. He shares insights on the games he played in November, the new titles he acquired during the holiday sale, and the importance of supporting smaller game companies. The episode concludes with a look ahead to upcoming episodes and projects.
-
In today's episode, we sit down with the creator of the GreenFox Spreadsheet, Mike Ignatoski. In the first of a two part series, we get a chance to learn about Mike and talk through a high-level overview of the GreenFox Spreadsheet.
Also, catch up on some more Holiday Sale information at the beginning of the episode.
Part 2 of this interview will be posted to YouTube, and it includes a demo of version 3.5 of the GreenFox Spreadsheet.
Key Links
Part 2 of the Episode (YouTube)
https://youtu.be/SioiMqfugJo
GreenFox Facebook Site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/greenfoxspreadsheet
GreenFox YouTube Page (Mike Ignatoski)
https://www.youtube.com/@mikeignatoski7890
-
In this episode of the Tabletop SportCast, host James Cast shares his top 10 items on his holiday wish list, providing insights into various tabletop sports games and their upcoming sales. He discusses the holiday sales from different gaming companies, highlighting discounts and special offers. The episode culminates in a detailed countdown of his wish list items, covering a range of sports and game types, while also reflecting on the significance of these games in his collection.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
- Show more
