Rephonic
Artwork for Fun Problems
Board Game Design
Game Design
Cell Sheets
Game Prototyping
Component Studio
Rethinking Genres
Playtesting
Board Games
Genre Markers
Social Deduction Games
Daniel.games
Familiarity In Board Games
Game Mechanics
Tabletop Simulator
Screenwriting
Video Games
Area Control Games
Game Mechanisms
Speed Pitching
Variable Gameplay Mechanics

Board game design is a deep and often challenging pursuit. We explore all aspects of game design and the fun problems (and solutions) that come with it.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes76Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Fun Problems

Latest Episodes

Hosts Peter C. Hayward and AJ Brandon walk through how to start, run and grow board game playtest groups; finding people, finding the right location, handling disputes, scheduling games, and balancing in-person vs digital testing.

They share real-wo... more

Peter runs through his regrets over the years from design choices, co-design pitfalls, self-publishing mistakes, failed Kickstarters, and the burnout that followed. Together with AJ they help turn this mistakes into actionable advice to avoid falling... more

Peter and AJ dissect Daniel Piechnick's "types of fun" framework, exploring 13 varieties grouped into constructive, excitement, social, and emotional categories. They add personal insights, debate nuances, and more!

Discord: discord.gg/BjerX... more

Peter C. Hayward and AJ Brandon dig into a common design problem: games that keep scoring until the end don't give feedback to players. They discuss practical fixes to give players earlier, clearer feedback and make learning faster and games more acc... more

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Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Building the Game
Building the GameJason Slingerland
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LudologyErica Hayes-Bouyouris, Sen-Foong Lim
Board Game Hot Takes
Board Game Hot TakesBoard Game Hot Takes

Recent Guests

Alex Hague
Co-founder and game designer at CMYK
CMYK
Episode: #54 - Would CMYK Publish This?
James Nathan
Co-founder and creative director at CMYK
CMYK
Episode: #54 - Would CMYK Publish This?
Joe Wiggins
Owner of Allplay, a board game publisher
Allplay
Episode: #49 - Would Allplay Publish This?
Alex Cutler
Game designer and developer
Freelance Designer
Episode: #43 Co-designing

Hosts

Peter C. Hayward
Host of Fun Problems. He provides insights based on his experiences in board game design, often sharing anecdotes and advice on game mechanics and community engagement.
AJ Brandon
Co-host of Fun Problems. He frequently shares his perspectives as a game designer and reflects on industry experiences, enhancing discussions with personal anecdotes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Expert information presented in a playful way

    The hosts are passionate experts in tabletop game design who impart their knowledge in effervescent conversation. I appreciate their witty, upbeat delivery and concise analyses.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nicole Maynard S.
    United States2 years ago
  • At first I didn't like it, it wasn't polished. but the content I got was great. The episodes about the brain gave me a solution to a problem I was having with a game. The one about children's games really clarified some things for me. And I got to know Taskmaster, which improved my life and mood tremendously. Thank you, looking forward to more episodes!

    Audible
    5
    Tom Sivan
    United States3 years ago
  • Really contributed a lot to my designs and my life

    At first I didn't like it, it wasn't polished. but the content I got was great. The episodes about the brain gave me a solution to a problem I was having with a game. The one about children's games really clarified some things for me. And I got to know Taskmaster, which improved my life and mood tremendously. Thank you, looking forward to more episodes!

    Audible
    5
    Tom Sivan
    United States3 years ago
  • Great except for “verse” and “sighth”

    Peter says “verse” instead of “versus”, like Tom Vasel. That’s the same as saying “ag” instead of “against”.

    They also both say “scythe” wrong.

    Very grating on the ears. Will be a 5-star show if they can fix it!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jessy Catterwaul
    United States3 years ago
  • Amazing.

    I've recently been diving deep into board game design after playing games for a good number of years now. I can't get enough of these conversations. So much insight into the mind of a game designer! Keep up the great work, fellas!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CR438401
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The hosts are passionate experts in tabletop game design who impart their knowledge in effervescent conversation.
Several fans commend the hosts for their insightful approaches to addressing questions and helping listeners navigate design challenges.
Listeners enjoy the engaging storytelling and humorous banter, which enriches the experience of learning about board game design.
These guys are great at conveying information and keeping things educational, presenting concise analyses alongside personal stories.
One listener appreciates the blend of entertainment and education, highlighting the significant learning opportunities from the discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#14
Mexico/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#60
New Zealand/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#68
Finland/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#84
Philippines/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#97
Japan/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#100
Mexico/Leisure

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#69 - Why We Are Ending the Podcast
Q: Peter, why is it ending?
Peter shares that he is stepping away from board games to refocus on other creative pursuits, like novel writing.
#68 - Listener Questions
Q: When do you look for public playtesting?
I try to solo test first, and then bring it to public playtesting after internal testing.
#68 - Listener Questions
Q: What do you think about the saturation of the market?
I believe this is the best time to get in the board games. There is more variety, there is more quality, there is more everything than any other time in all of history.
#62 - Audience Sell-Sheets 3
Q: What tip do you have for getting games published?
It's valuable to have a digital implementation of your game that you can offer to publishers, making it easier for them to test it virtually.
#54 - Would CMYK Publish This?
Q: How does CMYK approach game development?
CMYK starts the design and development process early, often co-developing games with other designers from initial ideas to finished products.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Fun Problems

What is Fun Problems about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A dynamic exploration of board game design, this podcast focuses on the intricate challenges faced by designers while also celebrating the joys of creativity and innovation in gameplay. Through discussions on critical topics such as game mechanics, player experience, and design strategy, the hosts emphasize the importance of clarity and simplicity in making complex systems accessible to players. Frequent reflections on personal experiences, alongside audience engagement, create a warm and informative atmosphere that enhances the learning experience for both seasoned designers and enthusiastic newcomers alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Fun Problems?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Fun Problems. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Fun Problems and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Fun Problems get?

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What are the audience demographics for Fun Problems?

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How many subscribers and views does Fun Problems have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Fun Problems has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Fun Problems?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fun Problems:

1. The Board Game Design Lab
2. Building the Game
3. Ludology
4. Board Game Hot Takes
5. Think Like A Game Designer

How many episodes of Fun Problems are there?

Fun Problems launched 5 years ago and published 76 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Fun Problems?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Fun Problems?

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What guests have appeared on Fun Problems?

Recent guests on Fun Problems include:

1. Alex Hague
2. James Nathan
3. Joe Wiggins
4. Alex Cutler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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