After weeks of Black Lives Matter protests, we reflect on how current events are affecting the board game world with guest James Hudson, senior director of tabletop gaming at Skybound Games (Wonderland's War, Sorcerer City, Superfight) and outspoken critic on a lot of things going on in the world today. What have we learned from these events, and how do we think game publishers and designers should respond?

We also discuss premium components from both DIY and business perspectives. And what makes us pull the trigger when older or classic board games get remade with fresh graphics or gameplay? Do we need a new Kemet or King of Tokyo or Dune? (Spoiler: The answer is pretty much "yes.")

The four topics on this episode:

1. Christina (host): How should game publishers/designers respond to calls for a) more inclusiveness in games vs. b) "less politics" in games? (3:05)
2. Shoe (producer): Remakes and updates to older games...do you buy them? (29:09)
3. Mike Zipkin (contributor): What premium upgrades have we added to our own games that we are proud of or recommend? (37:54)
4. James Hudson (guest): Discussing the business side of premium upgrades (49:28)
   

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Here's a full list of games discussed on the show:

Intro

• The Grimm Masquerade
• Guardian's Call
• Sorcerer City
• Wonderland's War
• Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef

Christina's topic: How should game publishers respond to calls for more inclusiveness vs. "less politics" in games?

• Dead of Winter
• Summoner Wars
• Bloodstone
• The Grimm Forest
• Guardian's Call

Shoe's topic: Board game remakes...do you buy them?

• Dune
• King of Tokyo
• King of Tokyo: Dark
• Kemet
• Kemet: Blood and Sand
• Caylus
• Caylus 1303
• Tribune
• Last Bastion
• Ghost Stories
• The Castles of Burgundy
• Carpe Diem
• Egizia
• Egizia: Shifting Sands
• Tokaido

Mike's topic: What are some premium upgrades you've personally added to games?

• The Castles of Burgundy
• The Estates
• Blood Rage
• Rising Sun
• Concordia
• The Grimm Forest
• Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game
• Chaos in the Old World
• Dune
• Crusaders
• The Crew

James's topic: Deluxe components from the manufacturer's perspective

• The Grimm Forest
• Sorcerer City
• Zombicide
• B-Sieged
• Copenhagen
• Ticket to Ride
• Blood Rage
• Gloomhaven
• Gùgōng
• Bloodstone
• Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef
• Valor & Villainy
• Pebble Rock Delivery Service

Final thoughts

• The King's Dilemma
• Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
• Lords of Vegas
• Star Trek: Ascendancy
• Twilight Imperium

• Podcast