Aaron Trammell
@aarontram.bsky.social
Anyone who ever had a heart, they wouldn't turn around and break it.
Anyone who every played a part, they wouldn't turn around and hate it.
Anyone who every played a part, they wouldn't turn around and hate it.
Reposted by Aaron Trammell
So very excited that one of my last remaining PhD students, Mikael Sebag, successfully defended his dissertation—titled "The Magic Systems of Modern Games"—today! I'm so proud of him and so thrilled that people are finally going to get to read this work!
November 14, 2025 at 2:27 AM
So very excited that one of my last remaining PhD students, Mikael Sebag, successfully defended his dissertation—titled "The Magic Systems of Modern Games"—today! I'm so proud of him and so thrilled that people are finally going to get to read this work!
Hssssss
Ssssssss -- The 2025 Golden Cobra Challenge winners announced at Metatopia:
(Thread)
(Thread)
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Hssssss
Jonathan’s amazing book on Catan is out now!!!! The best part is that you can read it for free online, too.
Spread the word and if you like it, why not grab a copy, too.
Spread the word and if you like it, why not grab a copy, too.
Hey all, you can read Unsettling Catan: Detached Design in Eurogames free online right now!
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Unsettling Catan
Read Online Buy Paperback* Buy Audiobook Description Coverage *30% off with code UMWEB30 Audiobook Preview Description Most revolutions don’t start with nineteen cardboard hexagons, but Klaus Teube…
lookingglance.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Jonathan’s amazing book on Catan is out now!!!! The best part is that you can read it for free online, too.
Spread the word and if you like it, why not grab a copy, too.
Spread the word and if you like it, why not grab a copy, too.
Want to read it? It’s free!
I've got all the info and a short preview at lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
This is an Open Access book, so the digital ebook will be available to read for free upon release.
This is an Open Access book, so the digital ebook will be available to read for free upon release.
October 16, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Want to read it? It’s free!
🎉🔥🎉ANNOUNCEMENT 🎉🔥🎉DAY🎉🔥🎉
Jonathan Rey Lee’s book on CATAN is almost out. It’s the first in the Tabletop Gaming series that Paul Booth and I have been hard at work editing this past three years. Anyway, the book is fantastic. Please consider it and share with the right people.
Jonathan Rey Lee’s book on CATAN is almost out. It’s the first in the Tabletop Gaming series that Paul Booth and I have been hard at work editing this past three years. Anyway, the book is fantastic. Please consider it and share with the right people.
October 15, 2025 at 11:22 PM
🎉🔥🎉ANNOUNCEMENT 🎉🔥🎉DAY🎉🔥🎉
Jonathan Rey Lee’s book on CATAN is almost out. It’s the first in the Tabletop Gaming series that Paul Booth and I have been hard at work editing this past three years. Anyway, the book is fantastic. Please consider it and share with the right people.
Jonathan Rey Lee’s book on CATAN is almost out. It’s the first in the Tabletop Gaming series that Paul Booth and I have been hard at work editing this past three years. Anyway, the book is fantastic. Please consider it and share with the right people.
Reposted by Aaron Trammell
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 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 ⬇️
October 14, 2025 at 1:35 PM
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 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 ⬇️
Reposted by Aaron Trammell
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.
+ 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.
September 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
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.
+ 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.
Reposted by Aaron Trammell
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
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
October 3, 2025 at 7:57 PM
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
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
Wish I was there with everyone this week!!!!
Also stay tuned for my awesome chat with Chris!!!!!
Also stay tuned for my awesome chat with Chris!!!!!
Check this out!!
Aaron Trammell is this week's guest on Post Games!
Aaron Trammell is this week's guest on Post Games!
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
September 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Wish I was there with everyone this week!!!!
Also stay tuned for my awesome chat with Chris!!!!!
Also stay tuned for my awesome chat with Chris!!!!!
BOOM!!!!
September 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
BOOM!!!!
Had an amazing conversation with @rowanzeoli.bsky.social @rascal.news during Gen Con! Thanks for hosting me and asking such interesting questions ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
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
August 19, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Had an amazing conversation with @rowanzeoli.bsky.social @rascal.news during Gen Con! Thanks for hosting me and asking such interesting questions ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
More great stuff on Jonathan’s upcoming book!
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
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
August 2, 2025 at 4:35 PM
More great stuff on Jonathan’s upcoming book!
It’s true!!! Hope to see some of y’all here!!!!
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.
July 31, 2025 at 8:18 PM
It’s true!!! Hope to see some of y’all here!!!!
Reposted by Aaron Trammell
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...
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
July 2, 2025 at 9:10 PM
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...
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...
Had so much fun chilling with Mandi! I hear you can catch the episode on YouTube if you missed it.
Thanks for having me!!!!
Thanks for having me!!!!
🎙️ 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
Is there a scale on "cheatiness"??
🃏🕵️♂️ Give it a watch!
@aarontram.bsky.social
June 28, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Had so much fun chilling with Mandi! I hear you can catch the episode on YouTube if you missed it.
Thanks for having me!!!!
Thanks for having me!!!!
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.
🎲 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
📺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
June 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
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.
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!!!!
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
June 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
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!!!!
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!!!!
🔥🔥🔥
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
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
June 4, 2025 at 11:54 PM
🔥🔥🔥
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 ;)
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
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 ;)
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
June 4, 2025 at 8:59 PM
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 ;)
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
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 ;)
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
Jonathan writes some great stuff!!!! I'm looking forward to many more excellent posts on his site.
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" 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
May 15, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Jonathan writes some great stuff!!!! I'm looking forward to many more excellent posts on his site.
Hands down the best critical analysis of CATAN I've ever read! I'm really excited to see Jonathan's book hit the shelves!!!!
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)
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)
April 12, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Hands down the best critical analysis of CATAN I've ever read! I'm really excited to see Jonathan's book hit the shelves!!!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I had a wonderful time talking to the Pop and Play team on their podcast!!! It’s hot off the presses—-please listen in .
I had a wonderful time talking to the Pop and Play team on their podcast!!! It’s hot off the presses—-please listen in .
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
April 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I had a wonderful time talking to the Pop and Play team on their podcast!!! It’s hot off the presses—-please listen in .
I had a wonderful time talking to the Pop and Play team on their podcast!!! It’s hot off the presses—-please listen in .
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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!!!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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 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
www.dianajonesaward.org
The Diana Jones Award
For Excellence in Gaming
www.dianajonesaward.org
January 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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!!!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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!!!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Such a pleasure to read this!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
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
January 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Such a pleasure to read this!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Really good.
I did not make this image, but I would watch this movie.
December 28, 2024 at 4:42 AM
Really good.