41: Async digital games, designing during COVID, and more (guest: Emerson Emerson Matsuuchi)

Which games transport us to new places or worlds? What makes a good asynchronous digital game? And how does sheltering in place change how a designer goes about his business? Board game designer Emerson Matsuuchi (Century series, Metal Gear Solid, Specter Ops) joins us to discuss. Here's a full list of games discussed on the show: Intro Century Metal Gear Solid Foundations of Rome Christina's topic: What are your top board games that help you escape? Tokaido Namiji Tales of Arabian Nights Hive Mind King of Tokyo Mansions of Madness Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island Dead of Winter Above & Below Near & Far Mice & Mystics Aftermath Forgotten Waters Suburbia Emerson's topic: How important is it for a game to have something innovative? The Mind Dead Man's Cabal In the Hall of the Mountain King The Castles of Burgundy Lost Cities Codenames Paladins of the West Kingdom Architects of the West Kingdom Nick's topic: Asynchronous digital games The Castles of Burgundy Lost Cities Carcassonne Patchwork Ticket to Ride Tokaido Ascension Shards of Infinity Lords of Waterdeep Kingsburg Shoe's topic: How does shelter-in-place impact game design work? Infiltrator Final thoughts Just One Rising Sun