Experience Points Podcast

Episode 175 Suzanne Lyons on Cooperative Games

This episode of Experience Points features Suzanne Lyons, an educator, author, game designer, and founder of CooperativeGames.com who has championed cooperative games in education since 2009. Suzanne recounts discovering cooperative games at a nature education conference, taking over Animal Town, one of the earliest makers of cooperative board games in America, and learning from pioneers such as Terry Orlick and Jim Deacove of Family Pastimes. Drawing on Alfie Kohn's No Contest and Morton Deutsch's theory of social interdependence, she explains why competition deserves critical examination. Suzanne offers three answers to the alpha player problem - game mechanics that divide information, resources, and roles among players; explicit framing from the teacher; and open access games such as Fortunately, Unfortunately, Line Up, and Highlights, where no single player can simply find the solution. Suzanne closes by explaining why academic learning depends on social-emotional learning and classroom climate, and why cooperative games are a practical and underused way to support both.

Episode 174 Thomas Biedermann on CyberNations

This episode of Experience Points features Thomas Biedermann, a senior lecturer at the Australian National University School of Cybernetics and designer of CyberNations, a semi-cooperative board game about leading responsibly in a complex, adaptive world. Thomas traces the threads running through his practice - homemade board games in a French basement, tabletop and live-action role-playing...

Cybernetics, Systems Thinking, Game DesignDave EngOctober 4, 2026cybernetics, systems thinking, CyberNations, legacy games, Thomas BiedermannComment

Episode 173 Withered Technology and Lateral Thinking

Some ideas arrive before their time. But the best ideas arrive at exactly the right moment. And often that is not because the idea was flashy, or spectacular, or brand new. It's because someone found a different way to see, to use, or to apply something that was already sitting right in front of them… Today we're talking about withered technology and lateral thinking.

withered technology, lateral thinking, NintendoDave EngSeptember 20, 2026withered technology, lateral thinking, Nintendo, innovationComment

Episode 172 Sebastian Bae on Littoral Commander

This episode of Experience Points features Sebastian Bae, a senior game designer at the Center for Naval Analyses and designer of Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific, an educational wargame exploring future tactical conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

Wargaming, Educational Wargames, Game DesignDave EngSeptember 6, 2026wargaming, educational wargames, Littoral Commander, Sebastian BaeComment

Episode 171 Win Conditions First

If I asked your learners how they win, could they answer in one sentence? Because if they can't, your design is already broken. In games, win conditions are obvious. They're clear and immediate. You either reach the finish line, defeat the boss, or score the most points.

Gamification, Motivation, Clarity, Performance, AssessmentDave EngAugust 23, 2026gamification, outcomes, motivation, clarity, performance, assessmentComment

Episode 170 AP Table Talk: Variable Setup

In this episode of AP Table Talk, Brian and Dave dig into the variable setup mechanic, where the starting game state changes from play to play through randomized boards, player setups, resources, and objectives. From foundational classics like Risk, Catan, and Dominion to favorites like Istanbul, Hey, That's My Fish!, Waddle, Inis, and Sagrada, they debate where the boundary of the mechanic really lies - whether shuffled markets, randomized roles, and end game bonuses truly count - and explore how variable setup supports replayability, fresh puzzles, and balance between new and experienced players. Along the way, they cover the challenges of teaching highly variable games, front-loaded cognitive load in opening turns, variance that can feel empty in games like Wingspan, and bonus stories about Maatatahay, The Quest for El Dorado, Sungka, and Chess960.

Episode 169 What are Matrix Games?

Today we're diving into something that sits at the intersection of education, game design, and critical thinking: matrix games. If you've ever wished there was a way to teach complex topics - military strategy, geopolitics, organizational behavior, or crisis response - without expensive simulations or thick stacks of rulebooks, you're going to want to stick around and learn more about Matrix Games. That’s because they are deceptively simple, surprisingly powerful, and arguably one of the most flexible tools in the applied learning toolkit. Now, let's get into it.

Episode 168 Gijs van Bilsen on Live Action Learning and LARPs

This episode of Experience Points features Gijs van Bilsen, founder of the Live Action Learning Institute, who shares how live-action role-playing (LARP) can transform imagination into a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Gijs explains how stepping into fictional but recognizable scenarios allows people to safely practice skills like leadership, spontaneity, and confidence.

Episode 167 AP Table Talk: Tug of War

AP Table Talk, Game Mechanic, Tug-of-War, Zero-sumDave EngJune 28, 2026ap table talk, game mechanic, tug-of-war, zero-sum, duel, tension, track, adversarialComment

Episode 166 What are Military Simulations?

Military simulations share many of the same goals as applied games - especially for teaching, training, and development. They recreate systems, decisions, and consequences in a structured format so individuals can learn from them.

Military simulations, Wargaming, StrategyDave EngJune 14, 2026military simulations, wargaming, strategy, training, tactics, fidelity, technologyComment

Episode 165 Escape Rooms for Learning

You know that feeling when the clock is ticking, and you’re scrambling to solve a puzzle before time runs out? Maybe you're searching for a hidden key under a rug, decoding a cipher on a whiteboard, or yelling, “Hey! Try this combination!” as your team races to escape a locked room?

Episode 164 Victoria Ichizli-Bartels on Be Your Best Game Master

This episode of Experience Points features self-gamification pioneer Victoria Ichizli-Bartels, who reveals how treating everyday life as a game can spark joy, reduce stress, and boost productivity. Victoria shares how combining role-playing, kaizen, and playful design helps people navigate challenges with curiosity and self-compassion.

Self-Gamification, Playfulness, ProductivityDave EngMay 17, 2026self-gamification, playfulness, agency, productivity, reflectionComment

Episode 163 Raul Mora on Understanding Second Language Users as Gamers

Gamers, Language, Raúl Alberto MoraDave EngMay 3, 2026gamers, language, literacy, identity, community, mentorship, Raúl Alberto MoraComment

Episode 162 Jon Spike on Games as Creative Constraint

In this episode of Experience Points, Jon Spike explores how creative constraint drives innovation in game design and learning. A former K–12 English teacher now working at University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Jon shares how classroom experimentation led him to design tabletop educational games through GamestormEDU. He highlights Gamestormers, which uses a five-card structure to scaffold storytelling while preserving player agency, and Doomscroll, where players step into the role of social media algorithms to unpack persuasive design. Jon emphasizes that educational games must first succeed as enjoyable experiences. Through thoughtful playtesting and adaptable design, he argues that strong constraints don’t limit creativity—they focus and elevate it.

Constraint, Agency, Playtesting, Jon SpikeDave EngApril 19, 2026constraint, storytelling, scaffolding, agency, iteration, playtestingComment

Episode 161 AP Table Talk: Race

In this episode of AP Table Talk, Brian and Dave dig into the race mechanic, where players compete toward a shared finish line and the first to cross it ends the game. From childhood staples like Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land to modern classics like Catan, Splendor, Heat: Pedal to the Metal, and Cosmoctopus, they unpack how race structures create tension, pacing, and dramatic finishes. Along the way, they explore design tradeoffs around luck, runaway leaders, player interaction, and why some games feel like races without truly using the mechanic at all.

AP Table Talk, Game Mechanic, Race, TensionDave EngApril 5, 2026ap table talk, game mechanic, race, tensionComment

Episode 160 Katrin Becker on Learning through Playful Experiences

In this episode of Experience Points, serious games expert Katrin Becker explores why “good enough” may be more powerful than perfection in gamified learning. She argues that focusing on defined criteria rather than comparison increases student agency and supports a wider range of learners; not just top performers.

Gamification, Agency, Trust, Katrin BeckerDave EngMarch 22, 2026gamification, agency, trust, safety, reflection, transgressionComment

Episode 159 Hostile Players

Today we’re diving into something that affects every gamer at some point: hostile players. You probably already know the type… Those people who turn a fun session into a cesspit of negativity. I’m talking about cynics, trolls, griefers... and the downright toxic folks who seem to thrive on ruining the vibe. But here’s the twist: these players aren’t just villains. They’re symptoms. Now, let’s talk about hostility in games. What does it look like? Where does it come from? And, how can designers (and communities) turn the tide against these hostile players?

Episode 158 Meghan Gardner on Gamification for Emotional Engagement

This episode of Experience Points features transformative design expert Meghan Gardner, who shares how gamification can create emotionally engaging, healing, and educational experiences. Meghan explains how structured play and role-playing; using techniques like “alibi” and safety signals—help learners explore tough topics while feeling safe and in control. She highlights the importance of session zero and post-game debriefs in turning gameplay into meaningful, lasting transformation. Meghan also unpacks how emotional engagement boosts memory and behavior change, sharing a moving example of a game that led young adults to initiate real-life end-of-life conversations with their families. Drawing on her work with the Smithsonian, Royal Caribbean, and Harvard, Meghan offers practical strategies for educators and designers looking to use games as tools for empathy, connection, and growth.

Transformative, Emotion, Role-play, Meghan GardnerDave EngFebruary 22, 2026transformative, gamification, emotion, debriefing, role-play, healingComment

Episode 157 Mary-Ellen Fimbel on Game Design Principles for Education

This episode of Experience Points features game designer and educator Mary-Ellen Fimbel, who shares how game design principles can transform classroom learning. She discusses “teaching like a game dev,” using storytelling, interactivity, and even puppets as playful avatars to deliver authentic feedback and spark curiosity. Mary-Ellen explains how honoring student questions, modeling inquiry, and scaffolding problem-solving builds confidence and creativity. She also explores project-based learning through student-created games and her classroom approach to metacognitive self-assessment. Educators, designers, and anyone interested in games-based learning will find practical strategies to make learning more engaging, dynamic, and meaningful.

Mary-Ellen Fimbel, Curiosity, Feedback, ScaffoldingDave EngFebruary 8, 2026mary-ellen fimbel, curiosity, feedback, scaffolding, interactivity, creativityComment

Episode 156 What are Role-Playing Games?

Today, we’re diving into one of the most fascinating - and frankly, most misunderstood - forms of interactive play: Role-Playing Games, or RPGs. So what are RPGs? Are they just about dice rolls and dragons? Are they all swords and stats? Or is there something deeper, and something profoundly human, about stepping into someone else’s shoes in a world that is not quite our own.