Gus Mastrapa

When Religion Comes to Play

Civilization V developer Ed Beach transforms missionary work into videogame algorithms, drawing on his experience with boardgame design (Here I Stand) to create special powers for Egyptians and Chinese; Catholics and Taoists.

To Build and Break

What do boardgaming’s stars look like? If Donald X. Vaccarino is any indication, they are difficult to grasp. The designer of runaway favorite Dominion builds games that change and remake themselves nearly to infinity. In his latest column Gus Mastrapa tries to get a foothold in Vaccarino’s twisty w

Waging Little Wars

Our boardgame columnist looks at three new wargames that exemplify how simulated war is becoming kindler and gentler to court new opponents.

Things I Ate in Skyrim

Gus Mastrapa tells the consumer’s side of the story in Bethesda’s upcoming role-playing sprawl, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Magic Mistakes

Gus Mastrapa talks to Tiny Speck founder Stewart Butterfield about the studio’s new massively multiplayer online game Glitch, regarding the importance of adults, illustrators, and doing nice things for each other.