Listen to news and opinion about board games on your computer or MP3 player
There are several regular podcasts (a fancy name for computer audio files, usually in MP3 format) available which focus on board games and card games. Here are brief reviews of some of the best, listed in the order I would rank them.
1. Boardgames To Go
This is my favorite game podcast. Host Mark Johnson rarely wastes much time, packing each episode with a lot of interesting commentary. His interviews are always interesting, and he tends to pick topics that aren't covered in depth elsewhere, such as game packaging and an in-depth look at the game Medici.
Johnson seems more comfortable with a guest, but Boardgames To Go is equally interesting when he's working solo. He presents audio session reports which include a brief description of the games he's play recently, and he always gives enough information to help listeners know if they'd be interested in trying out the games.
The content is almost exclusively about designer games. Johnson provides thoughtful, incisive commentary.
2. BoardGameSpeak
The original game podcast, BoardGameSpeak used to go by the name GeekSpeak. Scott Alden and Derk Solko, the show's co-hosts and the men behind the web site BoardGameGeek.com, often get name brand guests such as game designers Reiner Knizia and Jay Tummelson, owner of publisher Rio Grande Games. Most of the content focuses on designer games.
Alden and Solko's podcasts tend to be extended affairs, often topping 100 minutes. There's a lot of good content in every episode, but many of them wouldn't be hurt if they were 10 minutes or so shorter, cutting out some of the side comments and inside jokes. That's intended to be a rather minor criticism -- BoardGameSpeak is definitely fun and informative to listen to. Alden and Solko are clearly comfortable with each other, and their sharp wits often cause me to laugh out loud.
3. Ante Up!
One of several podcasts available at TampaBay.com (the others are not game-related), Ante Up! is all about Poker, and mostly Texas Hold 'Em Poker. The hosts play a lot of Poker, and they give helpful advice designed primarily (but not exclusively) for beginniers and mid-level players.
Hosts Christopher Cosenza and Scott Long have covered topics ranging from common rookie mistakes to the top 10 professional poker players. Their style is easy to listen to, and the podcast is professionally produced so the sound quality is top-notch.
4. Dice Tower, The
The Dice Tower is hosted by Tom Vasel and Joe Steadman, two gamers currently living in Korea. Vasel prefers designer games; Steadman likes to play wargames. Although they talk over each other too often, the fact that they don't like the same kind of games works for the podcast, giving it a unique feel.
Most episodes includes a top 10 list, two game reviews (one each by Vasel and Steadman), plus other commentary. The shows generally check in at just more than a hour in length, and they cover all sort of games -- designer games, wargames, collectible card games, miniatures, and more.
5. Have Games, Will Travel
Host Paul Tevis and his radio-ready voice make this a podcast worth listening to. Tevis generally alternates his focus between roleplaying games and designer games, giving a wide variety of gamers something they'll be interested in. Ordinarily, his podcasts are a one-man production, but Tevis also conducts interviews periodically.
OTHER GAME-RELATED PODCASTS
Although they didn't make my top 5, these podcasts are also worth a listen.
OgreCave Audio Report
The OgreCave Audio Report covers topics of interest to players of collectible card games, miniatures, roleplaying games, and board games. Sef-described as, "Unplugged-gaming rants and raves with the OgreCave staff."
Pulp Gamer
"Pulp" as in paper -- i.e. paper games. The three hosts often talk over each other, but they do cover some interesting topics. Self-described as, "Your guide to board games, card games, role-playing games, and other bits of non-electronic entertainment."
Rounders
Rounders is a weekly radio show airing in Canada, almost always with at least one professional Poker player as a guest. Self-described as, "A weekly talk radio show were hosts Mike Johnson and Adam Schwartz talk all things Poker."
