Radicals in Conversation
Billionaires and Guillotines: The Board Game
Apr 2, 2025
Max Haiven, an author and designer known for works like 'Palm Oil, The Grease of Empire,' dives into his new board game, 'Billionaires & Guillotines.' He discusses its unique gameplay, where players embody rival billionaires in a satirical scramble for wealth before revolution strikes. Haiven emphasizes the game's potential for political education, the balance of game mechanics, and the social connections fostered through board gaming. The conversation highlights how games can challenge and critique wealth and power dynamics in today’s society.
24:29
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Quick takeaways
- The board game Billionaires & Guillotines creatively engages players with complex political theories, highlighting the consequences of capitalist competition and inequality.
- Through its gameplay, the podcast underscores the role of board games in fostering community, connection, and political discourse around societal issues.
Deep dives
The Origins of Billionaires and Guillotines
The game Billionaires and Guillotines emerged from a blend of personal experience and critical research. Max Haven, the designer, reflects on how his lifelong engagement with games shaped his understanding of political concepts and social issues. He realized that games serve as powerful tools for education and communication, especially in discussing topics like economic inequality and capitalism. By focusing on Marxist theories, he sought to translate complex ideas about capitalist competition and its catastrophic consequences into an interactive format, giving players a chance to engage with these concepts creatively.
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