Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Aaron Trammell

Elliot Davis | TTWH Out NOW @moreblueberries.bsky.social · 23h

The Time We Have: A Conversation Between Brothers is NOW AVAILABLE

A tragic two-player zombie roleplaying game played on opposite sides of a closed door. A game about what it means to be a brother.

Want to learn more about the game? It's time for a megathread ⬇️

A mockup of The Time We Have packaging surrounded by floating door cards. The cover features two brothers sitting on opposite sides of a door with a purple flower motif

2 44 71

Reposted by Aaron Trammell

Pam, Godkillingway v.2025, Patch "Eepy" @thedovetailor.bsky.social · Sep 11

Hello folks, I am in need of non-fiction recommendations for:

+ Indigenous histories (esp from Canada & the Philippines)
+ Black history
+ Black Studies
+ Queer histories (esp from Canada and the Philippines)
+ Radicalization
+ Critical Race Theory

Signal boost pls.

21 110 130

Reposted by Aaron Trammell

J. Rey Lee @jreylee.bsky.social · 11d

Can cultural criticism convince cardboard consumers to challenge colonialism and capitalism in Catan?

Find out in my newest design diary. CU there!

#boardgames @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @nopunincluded.com @stonemaiergames.com

Design Diary 3: The ‘C’ Words

Controversy. Love it or hate it, it’s become inescapable. These days, it’s not just a handful of hot-button issues—almost any topic can become polarizing in a heartbeat. Clearly, …

lookingglance.com

1 2 6

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Sep 11

Wish I was there with everyone this week!!!!

Also stay tuned for my awesome chat with Chris!!!!!

Chris Plante @plante.bsky.social · Sep 10

Check this out!!

Aaron Trammell is this week's guest on Post Games!

Edmond Chang @edmondchang.bsky.social · Sep 10

Deeply impressed that the BIPOC Game Studies Conference at The Strong Museum hasn't happened yet--it's in 2 days--but the Proceedings are already available: playstorypress.org/books/procee... (@analoggamestudies.bsky.social has an entry, Aaron Trammell & I have a brief essay...) #playstorypress

5

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Sep 11

BOOM!!!!

John Bultena🧙‍♂️🔮 Professor of TTRPGs @onlyplaywizards.com · Sep 4

Third wave of material arrived. Hell of a combo.
#RPG #TTRPG
@aarontram.bsky.social

1 3

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Aug 19

Had an amazing conversation with @rowanzeoli.bsky.social @rascal.news during Gen Con! Thanks for hosting me and asking such interesting questions ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️

Rascal News @rascal.news · Aug 19

Scholar and author @aarontram.bsky.social spoke to us about play's blurry other side -- where it isn't always fun or consensual -- and what we risk by ignoring it.

What we miss when play is only pleasurable

Professor Aaron Trammell on torture, military strategists at conventions, and learning from his cats.

www.rascal.news

1 9 25

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Aug 2

More great stuff on Jonathan’s upcoming book!

J. Rey Lee @jreylee.bsky.social · Aug 1

My 2nd design diary for Unsettling Catan is live on BGG and lookingglance.com.

I talk about why and how I chose six more recent eurogames to compare with Catan. Number 4 will shock you!

Image credit to @semicoop.bsky.social

@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social

Design Diary: Exemplifying Eurogames

Catan is hardly an exemplary eurogame. I don’t mean that it’s bad. Catan is a classic, solid design that’s still beloved for good reason. What I mean is that Catan is a bad exampl…

lookingglance.com

1 1

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jul 31

It’s true!!! Hope to see some of y’all here!!!!

NYU Press @nyupress.bsky.social · Jul 28

NYU Press may not be at #GenCon2025, but The Privilege of Play will be! This ‪history of hobby gaming by @aarontram.bsky.social‬ will change your understanding of white masculinity in geek culture.

1 12

Reposted by Aaron Trammell

Analog Game Studies @analoggamestudies.bsky.social · Jul 2

Come PUNK with us!!

July 17th is Generation Analog 2025 "PUNK" with keynotes by @aarontram.bsky.social and @gamefiend.bsky.social

A full day of analog games scholarship and design thinking from around the world.

Register NOW:
www.eventbrite.com/e/generation...

Generation Analog 2025 "PUNK"

Generation Analog is an annual online tabletop games and education conference.

www.eventbrite.com

5 12

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 28

Had so much fun chilling with Mandi! I hear you can catch the episode on YouTube if you missed it.

Thanks for having me!!!!

Salt and Sass Games @saltandsass.bsky.social · Jun 27

🎙️ Just dropped a quick clip from our chat with Aaron Trammell! This moment took us into a fascinating convo about cultural perspectives on cheating in board games.

Is there a scale on "cheatiness"??

🃏🕵️‍♂️ Give it a watch!

@aarontram.bsky.social

1 7

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 27

Looking forward to chatting with @saltandsass.bsky.social about the origins of analog game studies. Please come join if you’re at all interested in how tabletop games fit into the academic world.

Salt and Sass Games @saltandsass.bsky.social · Jun 27

🎲 Today, we’re going live with You’re the Expert featuring Aaron Trammell—professor, author, and analog game expert!

📺Join us at 1PM PT / 4PM ET on Twitch & YouTube to ask questions and chat live!

youtube.com/live/OskP0aQ...
www.twitch.tv/saltandsassgames

@aarontram.bsky.social

You're the Expert! with Aaron Trammell I Salt and Sass Games

YouTube video by Salt and Sass Games

youtube.com

5 8

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 11

analoggamestudies.org/about/analog...

Curious about where to start with Analog Game Studies? We’ve got a handy guide you can check out now.

If we missed your book or article please DM. This is just a start and we intend to update it moving forward!!!!

Analog Game Studies 101 | Analog Game Studies

analoggamestudies.org

22 41

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 5

Thanks, Pam!!!!

1

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 5

I think we may be at different UCIs…Out game design program is GDIM.

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 4

What department? We should get coffee?

2 1

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 4

🔥🔥🔥

J. Rey Lee @jreylee.bsky.social · Jun 4

Why would anyone write 150 pages on Catan?

If that seems as odd to you as it did to me, check out the first of three design diaries for Unsettling Catan, now available at lookingglance.com and bgg.

#boardgames #catan @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social

Design Diary: What Did I Just Sign Up For?

Writing a book on Catan wasn’t my idea. When Paul Booth and Aaron Trammell invited me to contribute a volume to a new book series on Tabletop Games, Catan just wasn’t the first thing that cam…

lookingglance.com

1 1 7

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jun 4

I don’t post much these days but I wanted to share the good news. Was just promoted to Full Professor at UCI!!!!

Thanks to all of the colleagues and friends who supported me along the way. I love you all and promise that I won’t let this make me crappy ;)

❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️

10 3 74

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · May 15

Jonathan writes some great stuff!!!! I'm looking forward to many more excellent posts on his site.

J. Rey Lee @jreylee.bsky.social · May 6

My post-pandemic Pandemic post is now live at lookingglance.com with apologies to @mattleacock.bsky.social

"I, Medic" is the first in a new series of role-play reflections.

#boardgames

I, Medic

In my years of gaming, I’ve donned the mantles of peerless wizards and steely superheroes. I’ve commanded mythic kingdoms and galactic empires. But the most powerful character I’ve ever…

lookingglance.com

5

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Apr 23

It was transparent 🤣🤣🤣

1 1

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Apr 12

Hands down the best critical analysis of CATAN I've ever read! I'm really excited to see Jonathan's book hit the shelves!!!!

J. Rey Lee @jreylee.bsky.social · Apr 11

Feeling unsettled by current events? Want to be unsettled by #boardgames too?

Unsettling Catan, the first entry in a new series on Tabletop Games edited by @pbooth81.bsky.social and @aarontram.bsky.social, is releasing Nov. 2025.

Link: press.umich.edu/Books/U/Unsettling-Catan

🧵(1/3)

1 6

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Apr 1

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I had a wonderful time talking to the Pop and Play team on their podcast!!! It’s hot off the presses—-please listen in .

Nathan Holbert @snowdaylearninglab.org · Apr 1

Play is complicated! Play communities can be important spaces for fellowship and growth. And yet sometimes they are exclusionary and toxic. On Pop & Play we talk with @aarontram.bsky.social about power, play, and community podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

What if the Games We Play Exclude You?

Podcast Episode · Pop and Play · 04/01/2025 · 46m

podcasts.apple.com

2 5

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jan 24

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Are you talented and up and coming game designer looking to figure out how to get your work out there? Please submit to this year’s DJA Emerging Designer Program.

We want you!!!!

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

The Diana Jones Award @dianajonesaward.org · Jan 22

The nomination period for the Diana Jones Award Emerging Designer Program is open! Please head to our website for all the details. You can nominate yourself or any other worthy tabletop game designers in their first three years of publishing. Nominations close Feb. 14.

www.dianajonesaward.org

The Diana Jones Award

For Excellence in Gaming

www.dianajonesaward.org

4 5

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jan 15

Such a pleasure to read this!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Transformative Works and Cultures @journal.transformativeworks.org · Jan 8

Closing out #TWC44, Brandon Blackburn reviews "The Privilege of Play" by @aarontram.bsky.social calling it "the most comprehensive history of race in contemporary American hobby culture"! Read Blackburn's review here:

"The privilege of play," by Aaron Trammell | Transformative Works and Cultures

Aaron Trammell, The privilege of play. New York: New York University Press, 2023, paperback $30.00 (240p), ISBN 978-1479818402.

buff.ly

4

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Jan 15

You’re amazing, Alyssa!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

1 1

Aaron Trammell @aarontram.bsky.social · Dec 28

But why is Baudrillaird so old?

1