Dice Camera Action!

This week on Dice Camera Action, Tom from Tabletop Misfits and Isaac Hirschfeld play mad scientist. They review My Father’s Work, a three-generation worker-placement game from Renegade Game Studios, then stick around to talk about Mel Brooks’ classic spoof Young Frankenstein.

*recorded pre-gencon (FYI)On this episode, Mat is joined by Tom from Tabletop Misfits for a delightfully chaotic pairing. First up is Altera, IV Studio's gorgeous new fantasy strategy game filled with tracks, exciting dice bag building, and stunning table presence. Then it's off to ancient Peru to revisit Disney's comedy masterpiece The Emperor's New Groove—a movie that, despite having an infamously troubled production, somehow manages to be Disney's most underrated masterpiece. The conversation bounces between clever game design, Disney animation's history and an unhealthy number of Kronk impressions. Pull the lever... it's podcast time.

Mat is joined by Chris Preston and special guest Darren Reckner of Durdle Games. Darren has worked on Unmatched Adventures, the upcoming Super Collider, and is part of the team at Rowdy Partners, making him the perfect guest for a deep dive into trick-taking games.Together, the trio explores both Jekyll vs. Hyde and Jekyll & Hyde vs. Scotland Yard, using them as a jumping-off point for a broader discussion about what makes trick-taking games so compelling. Then they shift gears to review the breakout indie horror film Obsession, unpacking its unsettling themes, memorable moments, and why it's been generating so much buzz.

Strap in. Kevin McAlexander from Blue Peg, Pink Peg joins Mat for an episode fueled by gasoline, chaos, and bad decisions. After covering a wide variety of games and movies, they take a deep dive into Thunder Road: Vendetta before settling the important question: which Mad Max film reigns supreme? Along the way you'll meet unforgettable characters like Dusty Darlene, Master Blaster, and The People Eater. Witness us!

Mat is joined by Josh Bowman — game designer of Beach Day, publisher at Cake Pie Games, and host of the Tabletop Submarine podcast — for an episode full of ancient ruins, layered cards, and poorly considered archaeological decisions. Together they explore Allplay’s clever ladder-climbing shedding game Ruins before revisiting 1999’s The MummyEvil books, layers, gimmicks and maybe the best looking cast of a movie ever?

Mat is joined by Shawn Hoult from the YouTube channel Allies or Enemies for a sci-fi-heavy episode packed with time travel, impossible decisions, and one very lovable space engineer. We dive into the mind-bending worker-placement masterpiece Anachrony and pair it with Project Hail Mary, the story of one man desperately trying to science the apocalypse away with a little help from an unexpected friend.Along the way, we play a ridiculous game where we give board games and movies completely unnecessary subtitles, because apparently that’s what happens when you spend too much time thinking about timelines and astrophage.An episode full of time travel, questionable humour, and one very important fist bump. Good, good, good.

Mat is joined by Isaac Hirschfeld for an episode that gets off to a… less-than-smooth start. Some early technical difficulties quickly turn into comedy gold, setting the tone for a conversation that only gets more delirious from there.Despite running on low energy (and maybe a little too much caffeine), we dive into The Old King’s Crown and Kingdom of Heaven, exploring themes of power, leadership, and what it really takes to claim—and keep—a crown.It’s thoughtful, a little chaotic, and occasionally unhinged in the best way. Come for the medieval strategy and epic battles, stay for two very tired hosts just trying to do their best.

It’s a solo episode as Mat recaps a truly chaotic few weeks—featuring a massive snowstorm, a car wreck that took him off the road, and somehow… two board game conventions.Through it all, there were still games to be played and (more importantly) games to be bought. Mat runs down the highlights from both cons, including what hit the table, what stood out, and what made its way into the collection.

Mat is joined by Jeff Madigan (The Mad Board Gamer) for an episode all about the magic of two-player games—tight decisions, head-to-head tension, and just the right amount of friendly rivalry. We break down some of our favorite 2-player experiences and what makes them shine.Then things get completely unhinged as we dive into Face/Off, the gloriously over-the-top action classic where identities are swapped, doves are in slow motion and subtlety is nowhere to be found.It’s a tale of two players, two faces, and way too much face touching—because sometimes the best matchups are strictly 1v1… even if you come out the other side as someone else.https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod

On this episode, Mat is joined by acclaimed board game designer Daryl Andrews for a deep dive into space capitalism gone wrong.We’re pairing the chaotic survival strategy of Moon Colony Bloodbath with the existential, clone-filled corporate nightmare of Mickey 17. We talk expendable employees, hostile environments, and the implications of swapping worker placement for worker replacement. Daryl brings designer insight to the table, breaking down the mechanics behind surviving (or not surviving) on the moon, while Mat tries to determine whether it’s worse to mismanage your colony… or to be printed as Employee #17.https://linktr.ee/dicecameraactionpod