So Very Wrong About Games

Another round about the sun is complete, at least for those who acknowledge that sort of thing. I'm certain there must be a strand of Flat Eartherism that bows to the reality of the Earth's orbit--I could find out, but boardgaming already more than satisfies my desire for obscure minutia. We look back at the releases of the year, agreeing on many things but rather sharply disagreeing on others. There will be lists! And categories! Oh, the pageantry! Games Played Last Week: -Space Hulk: Second Edition 1m30s (Dean Bass, Andy Chambers, Chris Colston, Richard Halliwell, Jervis Johnson, Andy Jones, & Paul Murphy, Games Workshop, 1996)-Senji 2m58s (Bruno Cathala & Serge Laget, Asmodee, 2008)-Terraforming Mars 6m19s (Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold, 2016)-Dinosaur Island 6m58s (Jonathan Gilmour & Brian Lewis, Pandasaurus, 2017)-Cryptid 12m14s (Hal Duncan & Ruth Veevers, Osprey Games, 2018)-Mega Civilization 13m26s (Flo de Haan, John Rodriguez, & Francis Tresham, Pegasus, 2015)-Welcome To... 2

Players aren't the only people who make choices, of course. Designers and publishers make decisions about the setting and the theme of their games. Insofar as games can communicate a message--whether purely aesthetic or more ideological--it is beneficial to have a clear vision. Things can get exceptionally problematic when you start playing fast and loose with things of great cultural and historical import. Incidentally, I will note that while our topic and our feature game often have no connection between them, sometimes they do. I don't know why I'm mentioning that this week.Games Played Last Week: -Hyperborea: Light and Shadow 1m37s (Andrea Chiarvesio, Maurizio Vergendo, & Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion Press, 2016)-Between Two Cities 3m15s (Matthew O'Malley, Morten Monrad Pedersen, & Ben Rosset, Stonemaier, 2015)-Factory Funner 5m03s (Corné van Moorsel, Cwali, 2016)-Photosynthesis 8m06s (Hjalmar Hach, Blue Orange, 2017)-Stephenson's Rocket: Eastern USA & China 9m13s (Reiner Knizi

As a new coping mechanism, Mark and Walker decide to expunge their deepest shameful acts of conspicuous consumption and frivolous travel by talking about it on the internet. Now that Tumblr is is divesting themselves of adult content they can't post their Stephen Universe erotica there, so this is the next best thing. Don't tell Mark and Walker that a) anyone is listening, or b) they've been using their real names.Games Played Last Week: -Gùgong 3m33s (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2018)-Quartermaster General: Prelude 4m05s (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2018)-Triumph and Tragedy 6m18s (Craig Besinque, GMT, 2015)-Goodcritters 14m03s (Fabian Zimmermann, Arcane Wonders, 2018)-Heroes of Terrinoth 15m36s (Adam & Brady Sadler, Fantasy Flight, 2018)-The Estates 18m17s (Klaus Zoch, Capstone Games, 2018)-Gaslands 20m48s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)-Hero Realms: The Ruin of Thandar Campaign Deck (Ben Cichoski, Robert Dougherty, Darwin Kastle & Daniel Mandel, White Wizar

Lots of talk of economics in this week's news. One might expect a diminishing return on such talk, but as rational consumers of news we often find a deficit of such a valuable commodity. Ceteris paribus, we're willing to offer you the free lunch of our altruism, even though that may lead to a tragedy of the commons. We value your investment of time when you listen to us--our intellectual capital is all we have, after all.I don't think I'm very bullish on this bit any more. Games Played Last Week: -KeyForge: Call of the Archons 4m00s (Richard Garfield, Fantasy Flight, 2018)-Epic: The Card Game 6m26s (Robert Dougherty & Darwin Kastle, White Wizard, 2015)-Teotihuacan: City of Gods 8m12s (Daniele Tascini & Dávid Turczi, NSKN Games, 2018)-Argent: The Consortium 9m01s (Trey Chambers, Level 99 Games, 2015)-BattleLore: Second Edition 11m51s (Richard Borg & Robert A. Kouba, Fantasy Flight, 2013)-North Wind 13m23s (Klaus Teuber, Z-Man, 2014)-Everdell 15m18s (James A. Wilson, Starling Games,

There's this substance that the British people deploy called "salad cream." Chemists, for decades, have tried to break down its constituent parts; but the substance's sheer viscosity--not to mention its disturbing colour and odour--have defied all analysis. I mention this because despite our Canadian prerogative of spelling colour and odour as we do, the cultural rites of salad cream are alien to us. We're proud members of the Commonwealth, but we have our limits. Also, you could put some salad cream on your point salad, bruh. Games Played Last Week: -FUSE 3m19s (Kane Klenko, Renegade Game Studios, 2015)-KeyForge: Call of the Archons 5m22s (Richard Garfield, Fantasy Flight, 2018)-Twilight Imperium 4th Edition 10m55s (Dane Beltrami, Corey Konieczka & Christian T. Petersen, Fantasy Flight, 2017)-Innovation Deluxe 11m26s (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi, 2017)-Hero Realms 14m36s (Robert Dougherty & Darwin Kastle, White Wizard, 2016)-One Deck Dungeon: Forest of Shadows 16m49s (Chris Cieslik, Asma

What's in a name? Well, if the game is KeyForge, the name is pretty much the entire game. As we have learned from bots in the past, set an algorithm loose on the internet and it'll probably come back as a racist misogynist troll. So far we've seen little of that scale in KeyForge deck names, but it's spat out some pretty amazing names nonetheless. Games Played Last Week: -Paper Tales 3m24s (Masato Uesugi, Stronghold, 2017)-Food Chain Magnate 6m08s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter, 2015)-For Sale 8m22s (Stefan Dorra, Ravensburger, 1997)-A Feast for Odin (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2016)-Pantone: The Game 11m31s (Scott Rogers, Cryptozoic, 2018)-Great Western Trail: Rails to the North 14m48s (Alexander Pfister, Stronghold, 2018)-Root 17m02s (Cole Wehrle, Leder Games, 2018)-Assault on Doomrock 20m48s (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Fenris Rages again 23m26s-More bunnies for Walker to loathe 24m17s-Cleopatra reprint; why, exactly? 24m5

We are an easily-triggered group, we geeks, we nerds; so allow us to exercize due diligence and offer the following warnings. Spoiler Alert: we discuss what spoilers are. Meta Alert: we get pretty meta about spoilers. Existentialism Alert: Walker gets pretty existential (parenthetical alert: you might have figured Mark would instead, but he has very little time for existentialism, being more modern than post-modern). Games Played Last Week: -Endeavor: Age of Sail 1m41s (Carl de Visser & Jarratt Gray, Burst Island Games, 2018)-Spinderella 5m06s (Roberto Fraga, Zoch Verlag, 2015)-Everdell 7m38s (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)-Western Legends 7m59s (Hervé Lemaître, Kolossal, 2018)-Assault on Doomrock 12m40s (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster, 2014)-Sakura Arms 15m38s (BakaFire, AEG, 2016)-Space Cadets: Away Missions 17m35s (Dan Raspler & Al Rose, Stronghold, 2015)News (and why it doesn't matter)-How many states past the 51st are we up to? 18m51s-Flicking, puns, and strategy 20m12s-A bear park f

We've always been here. Waiting, in this basement, yelling into the can. When we invented podcasts all those years ago it was merely as avenue for our pre-existing subterranean discourse. Now some of you have joined us, and our labours are no longer in vain. Once the power dies out, we'll still be here, yelling into the can. About boardgames. Games Played Last Week: -Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion 1m43s (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2015)-Everdell 5m54s (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)-Starfarers of Catan 10m06s (Klaus Teuber, Mayfair Games, 1999)-Barbarians: The Invasion 12m44s (Martino Chiacchiera, Marta Ciaccasassi, & Pierluca Zizzi, Tabula Games, 2018)-Forbidden Sky 19m21s (Matt Leacock, Gamewright, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Asmodee sold, Asmodee buys something 21m55s-Taiwanese flag flap 23m58s-CMON tries zombies for the first time ever 25m27s-More Spirits on the Island 26m13sFeature Game: Stephenson's Rocket 28m03s (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2018)Topic: D

Reading your audience is a hard thing, and not even just when blasting your errant opinions over the interwebs. Mark couldn't read the room when Walker requested a certain game, and that didn't end well. Walker couldn't perceive Mark's growing misgivings about the feature game. This one time I thought a baby boy was a baby girl and the parents were very offended. Life is hard!Games Played Last Week: -Star Realms 2m19s (Robert Dougherty & Darwin Kastle, White Wizard, 2014)-Amun-Re: The Card Game 4m59s (Reiner Knizia, Super Meeple, 2017)-Endeavor: The Age of Sail 7m03s (Carl de Visser & Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2018)-Ortus Regni 9m26s (Jon Sudbury, Jon Sudbury Games, 2014)-Star Wars: Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm 12m02s (Todd Michlitsch & Paul Winchester, FFG, 2017)-Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu 13m10s (Matt Leacock & Chuck D. Yager, Z-Man, 2016)-Mage Knight Board Game 15m42s (Vlaada Chvatil, WizKids, 2011)-Race for the Galaxy: The Brink of War 18m25s (Thomas Lehmann

I hope you're planning your Arkhipov Day festivities. Don't get me wrong, I dig Stanislav Petrov as much as the next guy, but for my money Vasili Arkhipov is the man, and he doesn't get nearly enough credit. Because, you know, he either saved your life or your ancestors' lives--the least we could do is give the man a holiday. He doesn't even have a card in Twilight Struggle! See, I brought it back to games in the end.Games Played Last Week: -Galaxy Trucker: Missions 3m00s (Vlaada Chvátil, CGE, 2015)-Terraforming Mars: Prelude 6m04s (Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold, 2018)-Quartermaster General: Prelude 7m01s (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2018)-Star Wars: Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm 9m24s (Todd Michlitsch & Paul Winchester, FFG, 2017)-Specter Ops 10m24s (Emerson Matssuchi, Plaid Hat Games, 2015)-Master of the Galaxy 14m54s (Timofey Bokarev & Konstantin Seleznev, Ares Games, 2018)-Paper Tales: Beyond the Gate 19m38s (Masato Uesugi, Strongold, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matt

We're always wondering about what comes next, always on the lookout for the next big thing--both in games and broadcasting. That's why we're open to being elevated to the judiciary, so the next time there's a search committee feel free to add Mark and Walker to the ol' shortlist. We're open to traveling, so it doesn't have to be any particular country. We hear The Hague is nice? Games Played Last Week: -Mystic Vale 2m02s (John D. Clair, AEG, 2016)-Sentinels of the Multiverse 6m27s (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011) -Istanbul 10m34s (Rudiger Dorn, Pegasus Spiele, 2014)-Vengeance 11m49s (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2018)-XenoShyft: Onslaught 13m30s (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015)-51st State: Master Set 15m46s (Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal, 2016)-War Chest 17m46s (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, AEG, 2018)-Menara 21m41s (Oliver Richtberg, Zoch Verlag, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Food Chain Magna

We would like to apologize for the poorer audio quality of this episode. The editor (Mark) would dearly like to attribute it somehow to Walker's illness-induced stupor, but try as he might he can't seem to blame the victim on this one. The microphone has let us all down, dear listeners, and all we can do is vow not to repeat the twin errors--the one being the reduced audio quality, the other in Mark not being able to scapegoat the victim.Games Played Last Week: -Street Masters: Redemption 1m30s (Brady Sadler & Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018) -Sentinels of the Multiverse 3m35s (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011)-SEAL Team Flix 7m34s (Pete Ruth & Mark Thomas, WizKids, 2018)-Mystic Vale 10m57s (John D. Clair, AEG, 2016)-Vengeance 13m10s (Gordon Calleja, Mighty Boards, 2018)-Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King 16m26s (Andreas Pelikan & Alexander Pfister, Lookout Games, 2015) News (and why it doesn't matter)-Mississippi Queen: too many repr

Sometimes, dear listeners, the news does matter, and in such instances our hosts feel under-equipped to address them properly. Such is the nature of crippling incompetence. I mean, they could have devoted their time to worthwhile pursuits (like playing games) but instead they shout into a can to strangers (about playing games). But sometimes circumstances demand a brief segue into matters of consequence, and so we here at SVWAG swear by the majestic mountains of Manitoba to do our best.Games Played Last Week: -Ethnos 1m54s (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2017) -El Grande 2m52s (Wolfgang Kramer & Richard Ulrich, Hans im Gluck, 1995)-Who Goes There? 4m34s (Anthony Coffey & Jesse Labbe, Certifiable Games, 2018) -Street Masters: Twin Tiger 8m51s (Brady Sadler & Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018) -Level 7 [Invasion] 10m49s (Will Schoonover, Privateer Press, 2014)-Grand Austria Hotel 13m19s (Virginio Gigli & Simone Luciani, Lookout Games, 2015)-Mecanisburgo 15m43s (Servando Cavallar, Gen-X Games, 2008)News (and

Oh, hello there. The door's unlocked--just come on in. Please pardon our informal setting, here, we just want you to be comfortable. I suppose, though, that a tone of complete familiarity shouldn't prevent us from doing introductions. I'm the episode description, and I'm the thing you don't read. Our hosts are Mark Bigney and Mike Walker, and they're the ones you don't respect. Stay with us for a while, won't you?Games Played Last Week: -Aeon's End 1m15s (Kevin Riley, Action Phase Games, 2016), -XenoShyft: Onslaught 4m43s (Keren Philosophales & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015), -Fast Forward: Fortress 11m17s (Friedmann Friese, Stronghold Games, 2017), -Asgard's Chosen 16m24s (Morgan Dontanville, Mayfair Games, 2013), -Age of Industry 21m26s (Martin Wallace, Treefrog Games, 2010)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Ancient Rome falls to a Pandemic 23m31s-Horizon: Zero Dawn 24m36s-There's a party and you're not invited 26m06s Feature Game: Sentinels of the Multive

Walker, ever truculent, finally succumbs to the inevitable and submits his top ten. Now we can move on, and it is best we do, as there is no shortage of games to be played! Gencon is over and the new releases flow like sweet chocolate milk. Despite this pressure, Mark and Walker find the time to indulge in old classics of yesteryear, and not just the "classics" from "back in the day" of "2012".Games Played Last Week:-Eclipse 3m00s (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fi, 2011)-Dungeon Alliance 4m41s (Andrew Parks, Quixotic Games, 2018)-Outlive 8m16s (Gregory Iliver, La Boite de Jeu, 2017)-Food Chain Magnate 9m20s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter Spellen, 2015)-Star Wars: Imperial Assault 12m22s (Justin Kemppainen, Corey Konieczka, & Jonathan Ying, Fantasy Flight, 2014) -Blue Lagoon 14m37s (Reiner Knizia, Blue Orange, 2018)-Mechs vs. Minions 17m02s (Chris Cantrell, Rick Ernst, Stone Librande, Prashant Saraswat, & Nathan Tiras, Riot Games, 2016)-Ghost Blitz 19m55s (Jacque

We are but slaves to your whims here at SVWAG, and when our massed masters demand that we dance for their amusement, we must perforce oblige. We resisted for a time, but clearly that was folly. The people have spoken, and their demands will be met: we will descend to the realm of clickbait and listicles and present to your our top 10 games. Walker remains dubious of the enterprise, but Mark is confident that slavish obedience is the path to true happiness.Games Played Last Week:-Battle for Rokugan 1m11s (Tom Jolly & Molly Glover, FFG, 2017)-Warhammer 40K: Kill Team 5m04s (Uncredited, Games Workshop, 2018)-Hit Z Road 8m09s (Martin Wallace, Asmodee, 2016)-Outlive 10m00s (Gregory Iliver, La Boite de Jeu, 2017)-Lost Cities: Rivals 12m13s (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2018)-Shogun 14m11s (Dirk Henn, Queen Games, 2006)-Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition 17m35s (Nikki Valens, FFG, 2016)-Scythe: The Rise of Fenris 23m38s (Ryan Lopez DiVinaspre & Jamey Stegamaier, Stonemaier Games, 2018) News (and why it doesn't ma

Since the dawn of time, predating recorded history, there has been the genius of Reiner Knizia. The Code of Hammurabi taught its readers how to play Tigris & Euphrates. Enkidu had his own custom set fashioned from the bones of his enemies. Gilgamesh sought immortality merely so he had enough time to git gud. Marduk once accidentally flooded the world in enthusiasm over a blue external conflict. It is literally the Ur-game. But everything gets a sequel now, so let's talk about Yellow & Yangtze. Games Played Last Week:-Downforce 1m59s (Rob Daviau, Justin D. Jacobson, & Wolfgang Kramer, Restoration Games, 2017)-Let's Make a Bus Route 3m11s (Saashi, Saashi & Saashi, 2018)-Grimslingers: The Northern Territory 3m54s (Stephen Gibson, Greenbrier Games, 2018)-Custom Heroes 6m15s (John D. Clair, AEG, 2017)-Chicken Caesar 9m07s (Bryan Fischer & John Sizemore, Nevermore Games, 2012)-Menara 11m31s (Oliver Richtberg, Zoch Verlag, 2018)-Paper Tales 13m61s (Masato Uesugi, Catch Up Games, 2017)-Blo

This episode enters the Fire Swamp, the reputed lair of the R.O.U.S.--the Rodents of Unusual Size. Mark doesn't think they exist. We go in-depth into Thunderstone Quest, a long-serving deckbuilder that is a loyal as a farm boy. Walker announces that take-that cards killed his father, and they should prepare to die. I guess Andre the Giant shows up...? Games Played Last Week:-Gaslands 3m46s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)-San Juan 2nd ed. 5m27s (Andreas Seyfarth, alea, 2014)-13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis 6m39s (Asger Harding Granerud & Daniel Skjold Pedersen, Jolly Roger Games, 2016)-EXCEED Fighting System 9m01s (D. Brad Talton, Level 99 Games, 2016)-Duhr: The Lesser Houses 10m11s (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel, 2018)-Rum & Bones: Second Tide 14m03s (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017)-Guards of Atlantis 14m53s (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2017)-Scoville 15m57s (Ed Marriott, Tasty Minstrel, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter) -Eclipse 1st edition gets eclipsed by 2n

This week we stumble on the terrible, horrifying fact that there are other hobbies than boardgames, and we take pity on those poor lamented souls who are enslaved in their thrall. Just what is scrapbooking, anyway? Walker has a theory, but no one is really sure. We should thus feel blessed that we chosen few enjoy the hobby that we do, and so we discuss ways to try to be decent while doing so. Games Played Last Week:-Clans of Caledonia 1m59s (Juma Al-Joujou, Karma Games, 2017)-Starship Samurai 4m04s (Isaac Vega, Plaid Hat Games, 2018)-Neuroshima Hex! 8m45s (Michal Oracz, Portal Games, 2006)-Hellapagos 9m50s (Laurence & Philippe Gamelin, Gigamic, 2017)-Azul 11m46s (Michael Kiesling, Plan B Games, 2017)-Fog of Love 14m33s (Jacob Jaskov, Hush Hush Projects, 2017)-When I Dream 18m13s (Chris Darsaklis, Drawlab Entertainment, 2016)-Goa 20m23s (Rudiger Dorn, Hans im Gluck, 2004)News (and why it doesn't matter) -Quartermaster General gets downright chilly 22m16s-The first ever Cthulhu game, ever (Walker's

A reminder that there is no necessary connection between our feature game and our topic. We would not divest ourselves of SEAL Team Flix, The Only Game that Matters, if for no other reason than we need it on hand so we can talk about it and only it for perpetuity. That, and it's great. Sorry, spoilers! Oh, and Walker was Keyser Söze the entire time.Games Played Last Week:-Cthulhu Wars 1m28s (Sandy Peterson & Lincoln Peterson, Peterson Games, 2015)-Decrypto 5m09s (Thomas Dagenais-Lespérance, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2018)-Gaslands 7m39s (Glenn Ford & Mike Hutchinson, Osprey Publishing, 2017)-Beowulf: The Legend 12m06s (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2005)-The Voyages of Marco Polo 15m04s (Simone Luciani & Daniele Tascini, Hans im Gluck, 2015)-Dungeon Degenerates: Hand of Doom 18m03s (Sean Äaberg & Eric Radey, Goblinko, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter) -SVWAG Summer Schedule 20m29s-An editorial from Mark in the context of #MeToo: Making our gaming environment safe and welcoming 21m04sFeature Gam