PodcastsLeisureDecision Space

Decision Space

Jacob Frydman, Brendan Hansen, Pete Wissinger, Paul Salomon
Decision Space
Latest episode

259 episodes

  • Decision Space

    Is Art a Game? C. Thi Nguyen Answers Our Questions About Philosophy, Process, and Play

    04/03/2026 | 1h 24 mins.
    Episode 255- Art and Games with C. Thi Nguyen

    Professor C. Thi Nguyen returns to the pod!  We discuss process art, getting good, value capture, empathy, and his new book The Score.

     

    Timestamps

    2:00- about The Score
    10:00- art is a game
    18:30- how games affect us
    25:00- depth and difficulty
    32:30- getting good
    45:00- empathy and intimacy
    53:00- value capture
    1:03:30- process art
    1:18:00- closing thoughts

     

    Preplanners

    Next week is a discussion of Isle of Skye!

     

    Music and Sound Credits

    Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

    You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

    Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

    Intermission Music:
    music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

    Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

    hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

     

    Contact

    Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

    If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

    This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

    Byeee!
  • Decision Space

    Concordia: Pursuit of Perfection

    25/02/2026 | 1h 25 mins.
    Episode 254- Concordia

    It's an old school episode in every way!  The original Decision Space duo (Brendan and Jake) do a deep dive on a new classic with an old school soul: Mac Gerdts' Concordia!

    Timestamps

    4:20- intro to Concordia
    21:00- Concordia deep dive
    1:18:00- other Gerdts games

     

    Preplanners

    Next week is the return of C Thi Nguyen to the podcast and after that we're deep diving Isle of Skye!

     

    Music and Sound Credits

    Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

    You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

    Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

    Intermission Music:
    music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

    Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

    hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

     

    Contact

    Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

    If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

    This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

    Byeee!
  • Decision Space

    Historical Games and Pax Renaissance with Andy Nealen

    18/02/2026 | 1h 58 mins.
    Episode 253- Historical Games and Pax Renaissance

    Pete is joined by Andy Nealen, an academic, game maker, and podcaster.  Together they explore what makes the historical war games so special but also so niche in the hobby.  Also, Pax Renaissance is in both of their top 10 games of all time, so they do a full deep dive on that game.  This is a long one, so buckle up!

    Andy is a co-host on the Secret Lives of Games podcast: https://secretlives.games/

    Timestamps

    14:30- historical games
    26:30- accessibility and chrome
    46:15- simulating difficult subjects
    57:15- intro to Pax games
    1:17:30- Pax Renaissance deep dive
    1:48:30- wrapping up

    Games Mentioned

    Molly House, John Company 2nd Edition, Twilight Imperium, Here I Stand, Cross Bronx Expressway, Campaign for North Africa, Votes for Women, Nevsky, Imperial Struggle, This Guilty Land, Pax Porfiriana, Pax Pamir 2nd Edition, Pax Transhumanity, Pax Renaissance, Pax Emancipation, Shores of Tripoli, Undaunted Normandy

     

    Preplanners

    We have a deep dive on Concordia coming up next, and then a returning guest appearance from another academic!

     

    Music and Sound Credits

    Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

    You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

    Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

    Intermission Music:
    music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

    Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

    hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

     

    Contact

    Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

    If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

    This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

    Byeee!
  • Decision Space

    Area Control, Majority, and Conflict (What We Talk About)

    11/02/2026 | 1h 30 mins.
    Episode 252- Area Control (WWTA)

    In this "what we talk about" episode, Pete and Brendan try to sort through vocabulary and feelings related to area control and area majority games.  Brendan tries to pitch "area conflict" as a new term for the genre.  Do you buy that?  Listen and find out!

    Timestamps

    3:45- introduction to the genre
    15:00- defining mechanisms
    29:45- area majority
    47:06- area control
    1:11:00- the decision space
    1:17:00- how conflict makes us feel

    Games Mentioned

    Risk, Chess, El Grande, Root, Mission Red Planet, Tammany Hall, Ethnos, Joraku, Calimala, Tikal, Mexica, Babylonia, Samurai, Rebirth, Hanamikoji, War of the Ring, Blood Rage, Arcs, Risk, Scythe, Inis, Game of Thrones the Board Game, Kemet, King of Tokyo, 1960 the Making of a President, Tigris and Euphrates, Hansa Teutonica, Carcassone, Rumble Nation, Star Wars Rebellion

     

    Preplanners

    Upcoming episodes will include a discussion about incentives, some special guests, and the next course in our deckbuilding series.  Also Arcs part two at some point and maybe a deep dive on Concordia?

     

    Music and Sound Credits

    Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

    You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

    Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

    Intermission Music:
    music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

    Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

    hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

     

    Contact

    Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

    If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

    This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

    Byeee!
  • Decision Space

    The Shapes of Games: Decision Spaces and Gameplay Arcs

    04/02/2026 | 1h 20 mins.
    Episode 251- The Shapes of Games

    In this episode, Pete and Brendan go back to the basics.  How should we characterize a decision space?  What shapes the arc of a game?

    Timestamps

    5:00- types of decision spaces
    36:00- game arcs
    1:04:30- other terminology 

    Games Mentioned

    Keyflower, Decrypto, Viticulture, Wingspan, Vantage, Arcs, Dominion, the Resistance, Root, Codenames, Scout, Pax Pamir, Pax Renaissance, Race for the Galaxy, Spades, El Grande, Chicago Express, Agent Avenue

     

    Preplanners

    Upcoming episodes will include a discussion about incentives, some special guests, and the next course in our deckbuilding series.  Also Arcs part two at some point!

     

    Music and Sound Credits

    Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

    You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

    Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

    Intermission Music:
    music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

    Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

    hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

     

    Contact

    Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

    If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

    This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

    Byeee!

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About Decision Space

Decision Space is a board game podcast about the decisions in games.
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