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I met Dylan Kistler when I was working at Vanderbilt University and he was an undergraduate student there. Given our shared interests in games and education, we crossed paths several times, and we've stayed in touch since we both moved on from Vanderbilt.

Dylan has launched a game publishing company, Kistler Games, that specializes in games that "empower players of diverse abilities, ages, and gaming experience to play together." Dylan reached out after my recent episode on gaming with a three-year-old, and I was excited to have him on the show.

In this extra-long episode of the podcast, Dylan and I first discuss some of those games I play with the now-four-year-old and why they work well with players of different ages. Then we discuss the kinds of games that Kistler Games will be publishing. What does it look like to create games where people of different abilities—perhaps even radically different cognitive abilities—can play together? Dylan draws on his background in neuroscience and special education and his internship at Leder Games, the publisher of Root, to help us imagine what’s possible.

Episode Resources

Kistler Games

Kistler Games on Instagram

"Learning at Play" recaps and blog posts

Podcast Links:

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Follow @firstplayertoken on Bluesky.

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In this episode, we learn how three is the magic number in Trio!

Trio is a card game designed by Kaya Miyano and published by Happy Camper Games. It handles six players, it comes in a super portable small box, it plays in like 15 or 20 minutes, and it's easy to teach. As a result, it's now one of my go-to games to bring to family gatherings.

I have thoughts about Trio, and so do the 12-year-old and 4-year-old!

Episode Links

Buy Trio on Amazon.

Read more about Happy Camper Games.

Listen to our reviews of Sushi Go!, Forbidden Island, Sleeping Queens (featuring game developer Jason Schneider), and Outfoxed.

Podcast Links:

Order a First Player Token coffee mug.

Visit the First Player Token website.

Join the FPT Facebook group.

Follow @firstplayertoken on Bluesky.

Join the Family Tabletop Community on Discord.

Text us your thoughts about this episode.

On this episode of the First Player Token podcast, we time travel back a decade and take a look at our most played games of 2016! Which of these favorites from ten years ago still get played? Which ones should I dust off and bring to game night for the first time in forever?

Music:

"Open Road" and "Summer of Paradise" by Purple Planet.

Podcast Links:

Order a First Player Token coffee mug.

Visit the First Player Token website.

Join the FPT Facebook group.

Follow @firstplayertoken on Bluesky.

Join the Family Tabletop Community on Discord.