Listen now | In today's episode, Matt and Angela dive into the world of board games and explore how they support autistic individuals in developing social skills, emotional regulation, and focus.
I grew up just sitting at the table playing Yatzee and cribbage and pass the pig with my grandmother for hours on end. I have several totes of board games in my closet still packed up from my last move. I have never unpacked them because I have no one to play with and I don't have the space in a studio apartment to store them on display. But Villainous is one of my absolute favorites and I also really really love Ticket to Ride because TRAINS! Anytime someone says they want to have a game night I get ridiculously excited and then very sad because they never seem to happen.
Can we host a game night for the citizens of autistica?? I realize many of us have trouble leaving the house so a physical board game night could be tough. It would be so fun to watch Matt and Angela stream a video game on twitch or youtube and we could all join in the chat to make it more interactive.
Board games were integral to the best times in my life. Absolutely loved them as a child playing with friends - Ludo, Sorry, Cluedo! A PanAm travel the world game. My Mum loved cards, so lots of family card games though it was less fun playing with younger siblings. In my first career role as a journalist in a newspaper branch office, we alternated between cards and backgammon at smoko with all staff - advertising, circulation, admin and any reporter not on a deadline. Board games played no role at all in my first serious relationship with a good looking rower, PE and biology teacher and sports physiology enthusiast. Borrrring! Games were the secret ingredient to my odd rebound relationship with my older second fiancé, mostly Scrabble and cards but also games with older couples/friends like Pictionary, and Risk. Oh my word, Risk. First time I played, it was with a group of my boyfriend's friends and we stayed up until 6am. A hugely memorable highlight of that period of my life - probably winter of 1992. Didn't play any games with the hot guy I had a torrid affair with next. And games had an even lesser profile as I advanced in my PR career and masked furiously to fit in with my highly educated yuppy colleagues. For several years, board games were few and far between - usually just family games when I visited my parents and siblings. After I met my American fiancé (yes, third) and emigrated to America, we played loads of games - cards (with drinks on the balcony); epic games of Monopoly and Risk; and of course Scrabble. Ahhh Scrabble. We played so regularly and intensively, we made spreadsheets of our performance. With young children there was less opportunity for complex games with lots of pieces, but we still squeezed in an occasional scrabble or backgammon. Then my son loved Risk and Monopoly - and my daughter sometimes agreed to play Horsopoly, and board games with the kids kept me going through an increasingly difficult marriage. Board games are part of so many fond memories of some of the happiest times in my life.
So...if you wanna make an Autistica board game, you may want to check out the work of Dr. Schott Nicholson. He is a currently professor of Game Design and Development and the director of the Brantford Game Network Game Lab. His focus is on developing and fostering meaningful game play, and he does consultations on game development, the ways games work, & why they matter. In the past he did a series of very popular and useful board game review videos on youtube (he doesn't do those anymore, but they're still up there for folks to enjoy). You can find more about him here: https://www.becauseplaymatters.com/contact and here: https://scottnicholson.com/
And I think Angela may have been talking about Dominion (just in case anyone is trying to find the game she was describing!).
I love dominion! I have one house rule though, there are "curse" cards. If it doesn't effect the whole group we don't play that deck. Too many years of being the one who got singled out has left a mark.
We have a similar rule at our house, especially when we are playing with Autistic teens and preteens who seem to like using those cards but not getting them leading to a lot of games that never got finished at our house.
Erm...and I don't know for sure if he's ever said he's autistic anywhere...but I Would Not Be Surprised. Not Even A Little. You know...in case you want to sweet talk him into recording a followup podcast with y'all when the game gets underway!
sometimes I mess up terms because of the pressure of recording. But yes, I am aware Jacob is my step-son and Nicole is my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Love them both even if I misspeak sometimes!
I’m a Makerspace Librarian who has helped people develop and create board game prototypes before - your idea for a pillars of autism board game sounds so cool, and I’d love to support in any capacity I can 🙂
Angela! I NEED a crossover episode with If Books Could Kill! Michael Hobbes does the show already where they read a terrible book and break down why it’s awful!
Hi - Sami Harris, Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast here! This crossover idea with *If Books Could Kill* is chef's kiss! Michael Hobbes breaking down a bad book through our lens would be pure magic. I’ll definitely pass this idea along to the team. Thanks for the awesome suggestion! 📚✨
You are listing all my favourites!!! I don't know Root but everything else is a hit overhear. Have you ever played Muffin Time? That's one of our favourites too!
I grew up just sitting at the table playing Yatzee and cribbage and pass the pig with my grandmother for hours on end. I have several totes of board games in my closet still packed up from my last move. I have never unpacked them because I have no one to play with and I don't have the space in a studio apartment to store them on display. But Villainous is one of my absolute favorites and I also really really love Ticket to Ride because TRAINS! Anytime someone says they want to have a game night I get ridiculously excited and then very sad because they never seem to happen.
Can we host a game night for the citizens of autistica?? I realize many of us have trouble leaving the house so a physical board game night could be tough. It would be so fun to watch Matt and Angela stream a video game on twitch or youtube and we could all join in the chat to make it more interactive.
I very much love this idea!
Board games were integral to the best times in my life. Absolutely loved them as a child playing with friends - Ludo, Sorry, Cluedo! A PanAm travel the world game. My Mum loved cards, so lots of family card games though it was less fun playing with younger siblings. In my first career role as a journalist in a newspaper branch office, we alternated between cards and backgammon at smoko with all staff - advertising, circulation, admin and any reporter not on a deadline. Board games played no role at all in my first serious relationship with a good looking rower, PE and biology teacher and sports physiology enthusiast. Borrrring! Games were the secret ingredient to my odd rebound relationship with my older second fiancé, mostly Scrabble and cards but also games with older couples/friends like Pictionary, and Risk. Oh my word, Risk. First time I played, it was with a group of my boyfriend's friends and we stayed up until 6am. A hugely memorable highlight of that period of my life - probably winter of 1992. Didn't play any games with the hot guy I had a torrid affair with next. And games had an even lesser profile as I advanced in my PR career and masked furiously to fit in with my highly educated yuppy colleagues. For several years, board games were few and far between - usually just family games when I visited my parents and siblings. After I met my American fiancé (yes, third) and emigrated to America, we played loads of games - cards (with drinks on the balcony); epic games of Monopoly and Risk; and of course Scrabble. Ahhh Scrabble. We played so regularly and intensively, we made spreadsheets of our performance. With young children there was less opportunity for complex games with lots of pieces, but we still squeezed in an occasional scrabble or backgammon. Then my son loved Risk and Monopoly - and my daughter sometimes agreed to play Horsopoly, and board games with the kids kept me going through an increasingly difficult marriage. Board games are part of so many fond memories of some of the happiest times in my life.
Yeeeeeeeeees! Massive board game geek here!
So...if you wanna make an Autistica board game, you may want to check out the work of Dr. Schott Nicholson. He is a currently professor of Game Design and Development and the director of the Brantford Game Network Game Lab. His focus is on developing and fostering meaningful game play, and he does consultations on game development, the ways games work, & why they matter. In the past he did a series of very popular and useful board game review videos on youtube (he doesn't do those anymore, but they're still up there for folks to enjoy). You can find more about him here: https://www.becauseplaymatters.com/contact and here: https://scottnicholson.com/
And I think Angela may have been talking about Dominion (just in case anyone is trying to find the game she was describing!).
YES DOMINION. Drew a blank.. and at one point I think I also drew a blank on Muffin Time.
I love dominion! I have one house rule though, there are "curse" cards. If it doesn't effect the whole group we don't play that deck. Too many years of being the one who got singled out has left a mark.
We have a similar rule at our house, especially when we are playing with Autistic teens and preteens who seem to like using those cards but not getting them leading to a lot of games that never got finished at our house.
Erm...and I don't know for sure if he's ever said he's autistic anywhere...but I Would Not Be Surprised. Not Even A Little. You know...in case you want to sweet talk him into recording a followup podcast with y'all when the game gets underway!
If Jacob is the son of Angela's husband, he would be her stepson, not son-in-law. Son-in-law is the husband of her daughter.
sometimes I mess up terms because of the pressure of recording. But yes, I am aware Jacob is my step-son and Nicole is my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Love them both even if I misspeak sometimes!
Love this episode as a long-time board game fan 🤗
I’m a Makerspace Librarian who has helped people develop and create board game prototypes before - your idea for a pillars of autism board game sounds so cool, and I’d love to support in any capacity I can 🙂
Soo I made my own version of Dixit for Christmas gifts this year called Pixit, as is the way! Love this episode!
SO COOL!
Angela! I NEED a crossover episode with If Books Could Kill! Michael Hobbes does the show already where they read a terrible book and break down why it’s awful!
You know that's my favorite podcaster, right?
Hi - Sami Harris, Content Manager for The Autistic Culture Podcast here! This crossover idea with *If Books Could Kill* is chef's kiss! Michael Hobbes breaking down a bad book through our lens would be pure magic. I’ll definitely pass this idea along to the team. Thanks for the awesome suggestion! 📚✨
You are listing all my favourites!!! I don't know Root but everything else is a hit overhear. Have you ever played Muffin Time? That's one of our favourites too!