76: Video games going analog, turning theme into gameplay (guests: Level 99 Games)

Going Analog Podcast

Yes, our show is called Going Analog, so you know we love our video games -- but how do board games bring in the digital vibe that we love into the tabletop medium?

Luckily, we found the perfect guests to ask: Level 99 Games, the publisher of video-game-inspired fare such as the recent Bullet series, BattleCON, and Exceed! Joshua Van Laningham, Production and Design Lead at Level 99, and Ferdinand Capitulo, Head of Media at Level 99 and the Cardboard Stacker himself, join us to discuss which aspects we've seen in board games and how they designed the "feel" of certain video game genres into their lineup.

Plus, how is theme symbiotically integrated into certain game designs, and when does it pay to abstractify certain thematic steps (and when does it not)?

Topics this episode:

• Christina (host): What are some other games that have given us the "video game" vibe?
• Ferdinand (guest): What are some great examples of crafting mechanisms we've seen in games?
• Josh (guest): Abstraction in board games