Matt Shoemaker
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hitemwithashoe.bsky.social
Matt Shoemaker
@hitemwithashoe.bsky.social
I work in libraries in the digital humanities. I am also owner of the game publisher Hit 'Em With a Shoe where I work on tabletop games, games for education, and game history. Author of the analog game history book Gathering of Gamers.
If you want to hear more about Gen Con and tabletop history check out this post which lists where I've been talking about this history and links to listen or watch. When your ready to take a deep dive on the topic pick up a copy of Gathering of Gamers!
Want to Learn More about Gaming History and Gathering of Gamers? - Hit 'Em With a Shoe
Since Gathering of Gamers was announced Matt has been talking about the book and gaming history. To help you find this content here are links and descriptions.
hitemwithashoe.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Matt Shoemaker
🎙️New Pod Alert!🎙️

We talked to Matt Shoemaker about GenCon and his new book, A Gathering of Gamers!

dmofnone.libsyn.com/373-a-gather...
Dungeon Master of None: 373 - A Gathering of Gamers with Matt Shoemaker
Matt and Rob talk with historian, game designer, and GenCon expert Matt Shoemaker about his new book, ! Free PDF: Music: Pac Div - Roll the Dice Follow Dungeon Master of None on Blue Sky:  &nb...
dmofnone.libsyn.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Listen to Matt Shoemaker talk to gaming historian Kevin Impellizeri about the satanic panic and how it impacted tabletop games and Gen Con. This is the first in a 4 part podcast series with Scandalous Games.
Pat Pulling and Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons, Part 1: William Dear's dungeon quest - Scandalous Games
Historian Kevin Impellizeri shares a story of a video game controversy to his friends: Kate Lynch, Andy Hunter, and Phil Thomas. We are also joined by a special guest: Matt Shoemaker, who is a game…
www.buzzsprout.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Listen to tabletop gaming historians Jon Peterson and Matt Shoemaker talk about Gen Con, the challenges in writing about game history, and the newly released book Gathering of Gamers from this seminar they held at Gen Con 2025!
Game History, Gen Con, and the book Gathering of Gamers
Listen to game historians Jon Peterson and Matt Shoemaker talk about analog game history, Gen Con, and the newly released book Gathering of Gamers: Dungeons & Dragons and other Games through Gen Con.…
www.youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Want to hear this first chapter of the Gen Con history book Gathering of Gamers? Check it out as read by Ethan of the Gamer's Haven podcast as a preview to a soon to be released episode where we talk about analog game history, Gen Con history, and Gathering of Gamers.
October 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
It's finally here! Gathering of Gamers has been released and is available in print, ebook, and PDF. Check it out to learn more about the history of modern tabletop and Gen Con.

playstorypress.org/books/gather...
August 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
If you're coming to Gen Con next week come see me and Jon Peterson talk about creating gaming histories! Link in the bottom of the blog post about the upcoming book Gathering of Gamers.
Gathering of Gamers, a Book on the History of Gen Con and Tabletop Games – The Official Gen Con Blog
Have you ever wondered about how modern gaming got to where it is today?  Are you interested in hearing some of the stories from game conventions that have helped shape gaming to what it is today? Do ...
gencon.blog
July 23, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Come listen to me talk to Ben and Quarex about the upcoming book Gathering of Gamers about the history of Gen Con and tabletop gaming!

shows.acast.com/all-year-i-d...
July 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
A project I've been working on to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Origins Game Fair is live! Come to origins50.org and check out a written history of the convention, nearly 2 dozen oral history interviews, and more!

See you in Columbus next week!
June 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Announcing Gathering of Gamers, a book about the history of tabletop gaming through Gen Con! The book will be released later this summer. You can sign up to be notified when it comes out at the publisher's (Play Story Press) website here:

playstorypress.org/2025/05/29/c...
June 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM