Did you know Twilight Struggle, the Cold War 'wargame' that dominated the BGG top 100 for years is twenty years old this year? We got to chat with Jason Matthews the co-designer of the classic about the history of the game, historical games as a genre, and almost managed to not dip into politics (hey, it isn't much! promise!) Oh, and there is a GIANT Twilight Struggle he's bringing to cons these days...
0:00 Cold Open
1:02 Welcome to the Tabletop Throwdown
2:55 The Giant Magnetic Twilight Struggle
4:09 Building the First Prototype (Craft Foam & All)
6:41 Balancing Politics, Civility & the Gaming Table
11:14 Patriotism, the Smithsonian & America 250
15:08 The 50-Year Lens: Why History Needs Distance
21:43 Twilight Struggle as an Educational Tool
27:01 Growing Up in Cold War West Berlin
31:25 The 20th Anniversary: Revisiting Your Own Design
34:22 The Card-Driven Brilliance of Twilight Struggle
37:44 What Would You Tell Your Past Self?
39:31 The Alan Moon Story: How Twilight Struggle Took Off
44:05 Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey & Nerd Culture
46:16 Handling Historical Accuracy & Political Bias
50:47 Fort Circle Games & Paying It Forward
53:13 Votes for Women & The Evolution of Historical Gaming
58:04 Throwdown Question
1:03:57 Diplomacy, Acquire & The Games That Shaped Us
1:13:28 Star Wars Top 3: Ewoks, Andor & Rogue One
1:22:04 Anniversary Edition Details & Wrapping Up