The PLAAY Nation Podcast

Al Wilson, Harvey Couch, James Cast

PLAAY Nation is a podcast hosted by Al, Harvey, and James—built for fans of PLAAY Games. Twice a month, we cover what’s new at PLAAY, spotlight Classic and Now titles, share replay stories and tabletop moments, and bring the community into the conversation.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 3: Spring Training with Keith Avallone

    Keywords Baseball America, player movements, 2026 season, rookies, veteran players, team dynamics, predictions, community engagement, fictional baseball leagues, Keith Avallone, College Hoops, Play Down Set, Basketball Games, Winter Olympics, Game Design, Play Nation, Card Sets, New Releases, Mailbag Summary In this conversation, Keith Avalone discusses the upcoming 2026 season of Baseball America, highlighting key player movements, team dynamics, and the impact of veteran players. He shares insights on rookies to watch, farewells to notable players, and predictions for the season. The discussion also touches on the future of Baseball America, potential crossover ideas, and the importance of community engagement. In this episode, the conversation delves into the challenges of recalling past experiences in game design, the excitement surrounding upcoming releases, particularly the College Hoops Play Down set, and the engaging local kickoff event that showcased the gameplay. The discussion also touches on the Winter Olympics and the phenomenon of becoming an instant expert in various sports. Additionally, the hosts explore the joy of tinkering with card sets and the latest updates in the Play Nation community, including new releases and audience questions. Takeaways This is the 80th anniversary of Baseball America. The biggest stories probably are in terms of player movement. New York is the team to watch in 2026. Johnny Fortune is still with Milwaukee, playing a veteran role. There are plenty of storylines to keep up with this season. Not many big names are saying goodbye this year. New York is considered the team to beat this season. Winston Numbers is clearly a star in the league. Keith aims to do a retro season every year. It would be fun to have a couple of big stars jump to the Continental League. Keith Avallone expresses concern about making mistakes due to memory challenges. The College Hoops Play Down set is a comprehensive package with endless possibilities. Local events provide a great opportunity to test and enjoy new games. Different players will have unique approaches to gameplay, especially with bad teams. The sandbox experience of basketball games allows for creative play. The Winter Olympics can make viewers feel like experts in unfamiliar sports. Tinkering with card sets enhances understanding of game mechanics. New releases in the Play Nation community keep the excitement alive. Mailbag questions reveal the audience's curiosity about game design and play. The joy of gameplay often comes from the community and shared experiences. Titles Spring Training Insights with Keith Avalone 2026 Season Preview: Key Players and Teams sound bites "New York is the team to watch." "It was just really fun." "I always been a fan of bad teams." Chapters 00:00 Winter Olympics 02:28 How-To Guides 07:19 What's New at PLAAY 19:55 Red, White, & Blue Racin' Ad 21:00 Key Player Movements and Team Dynamics 26:25 Teams to Watch in the 2026 Season 29:13 Iconic Players and Their Current Status 31:46 Rookies to Watch in 2026 34:37 Farewell to Notable Players 38:35 Predictions for the 2026 Season 41:13 Elite Players in the League 43:52 The Art of Creating Player Names 46:36 Future of Retro Seasons in Baseball America 55:54 The Evolution of Multi-Sport Athletes 57:54 Updates on the Play Space 01:02:35 Anticipating the College Hoops Play Down 01:06:20 Engaging with the Community through Gameplay 01:09:28 Mailbag Questions and Insights 01:17:28 Social Media and Podcast Management

    1h 18m
  2. JAN 23

    Episode 1: PLAAY 2026 - The Roadmap

    The conversation covers the impact of broadcasters on sports, the introduction to the Play Nation podcast, the role of voice in sports, planning and flexibility in game design, podcast format and content, release planning and design work, game design and release strategy, podcast origin stories, new card sets and releases, delivery timeline and production decisions, golf card quality and performance, and production challenges and special editions. The hosts engage in banter and humor, creating a friendly and engaging environment for the discussion. The conversation covers a range of topics including golf tournaments, college hoops play down, fictional sets and design, historical seasons, fictional college universe, team rosters and player cards, BLAM league and rosters, BLAM league and conferences, podcast and script discussion, college basketball universe, and HistoryMaker Baseball ad. The hosts engage in a lively discussion about these topics, providing insights and perspectives on each subject. The conversation covers the genesis of PlaySpace Live, Sam's impact and departure, the transition to podcasting, community engagement and expansion, game development and expansion, as well as personal experiences and reflections. The discussion also delves into podcasting and community engagement, game development and expansion plans, and the personal experiences and reflections of the speakers. The conversation covers the building of the Playnation Podcast community, upcoming events and live streams, plans for Play Day and World War Gaming Championship, reflections on past events and future plans, discussion on racing and sports games, holiday sale and future plans, favorite games and events, the appeal of fictional leagues in gaming, ad read and discussion on Aviatrix37, and the process for updating fictional leagues and new tennis sets. The conversation covers various topics including the promotion of the Play Classic game, the mailbag segment, distribution of ratings in leagues, starter plans for new players, teams in real pro sports, balancing game results, community involvement in History Maker Baseball, monthly guest appearances by Keith, the new logo and podcast introduction, the Fast and the Furriest Play at the Races Mod, rotating episodes and sound teaser, teasing the podcast and mailbag segment, discussion of Play Connect from January 14th, preparation for Keith's interview, and recording another podcast. The conversation covers the preparation for the release, a meeting with Bryson DeChambeau's mom, discussion on the interview and marketing, the women's pro golf set, discussion on Keith's projects, and the topic of fictional leagues and sports. Chapters 00:00 The Power of Broadcasters05:02 Game Design and Release Strategy10:14 Production Challenges and Special Editions15:16 Team Rosters and Player Cards25:08 The Genesis of PlaySpace Live30:18 Podcasting and Community Engagement35:41 Game Development and Expansion Plans40:47 Game Development and Expansion Plans46:00 Upcoming Events and Live Streams51:30 The Appeal of Fictional Leagues in Gaming57:30 Process for Updating Fictional Leagues and New Tennis Sets01:08:57 Fast and the Furriest Play at the Races Mod01:17:14 Discussion of Play Connect from January 14th01:23:03 Discussion on Interview and Marketing

    1h 42m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

PLAAY Nation is a podcast hosted by Al, Harvey, and James—built for fans of PLAAY Games. Twice a month, we cover what’s new at PLAAY, spotlight Classic and Now titles, share replay stories and tabletop moments, and bring the community into the conversation.

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