Another Essen show with some brief comments and then I dive right in on Reinhard Staupe's Havana, Nils Funkemeyer's Sherwood Forest and Michael Sohre's silly dexterity game, Cheese.

Warning - I meant to edit this show all week but never had time while I am down here in India. So, here it is, warts and all.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Finally a second show from Essen. In this one, I talk about Martyn F's TWRS (designer and game shown to the side here), Dirk Henn's Colonia and Inka & Markus Brand's Wurfel Ligretto (which I'll note since in the podcast I neglect to say the designers for this title).

This is pretty much how I think I'll do my Essen shows - a brief vignette or two and then three quick reviews of games (roughly, one I like, one I didn't particularly and then a filler or lighter game).

And if you watched the live streaming from the Boardgamegeek.com booth at Essen, you saw a lot of me! I am there for the Czech Games Edition demos, Colonia, part of the Jay Tummelson interview and at various other times. The BGG.COM booth was the place to be and I'm thrilled I got to attend the show for their debut. I hope they make it back again next year.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

BGB is podcasting from Essen and this is the first in a group of shows. I recorded this one quickly on Wednesday night of the show and then added to it the following morning - but it was done quickly and there is no time to edit. Hope you enjoy the 10 minutes of it.

Better shows with proper analysis and discussion will follow soon.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Yes, can you believe it? Two BGBs in a week? I guess it's all those energy drinks...

No, it's that I am getting ready to head out to Essen for Spiel this year and want to clear the backlog as much as I can. I also really want to get this show out, which I think is an interesting one in the Stories of Self-Publishing series. Tasty Minstrel Games is a new kid on the block and they have two new games on the way to debut at BGG.con. Hear about that, their path to publishing, and their exciting 2010 lineup on this show.

And if you plan to be in Essen, I'd welcome the chance to meet up with BGB listeners! Please drop me an e-mail and let me know if you expect to be at the show. Essen Spiel experts who want to show me around are certainly welcome! ;) Heck, I'll take beer, food and travel recommendations (need to take a train from Frankfurt to Essen on Wednesday...) I have a press pass for the show and will cover it extensively in audio and probably video, too. Very excited to finally get there after longing to go for...oh...too long... 

Thanks again for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

free board games  Homesteaders Rulebook  Terra Prime Rulebook Homesteaders on BGG  Terra Prime on BGG

Boardgame Babylon is back with a great new volume of BGB's Q&A series. I'm honored to have another favorite game designer on the show and this time, it's the award-winning Jason Matthew - he of Twilight Struggle and 1960: Making of a President fame. Jason was good enough to join us for Gateway 2009 and agreed to sit down and answer some questions about his history in games, his ludography, his background and how it influences his game theme choices, and some of his design process with collaborators. I quite enjoyed his comments and I hope you will, too.

Gateway 2009 was also my first convention running the Board Games department and I'm calling it a success despite a few mishaps here and there with scheduling. But we also replaced the old library with an awesome new library of great titles, adding some terrific events, ran a qualifier for the Rio Grande Design Contest and drove a 10% increase in turnstile attendance even in this still-in-recovery economy. I'll chalk it up as a success - largely thanks to an amazing staff of volunteers who put up with me (especially the wonderful Gayle Charboneau). I'll talk more about the show in an upcoming episode and reveal more about plans for Orccon 2010, where we will be honored to have Matt Leacock as our Guest of Honor and will host a couple of truly major events that I can't wait to reveal.

Your feedback is GREATLY appreciated. Please send it to the link on the side, post here or on the BGG Guild for the podcast.

Thanks for listening to Boardgame Babylon.

After an early summer break, Boardgame Babylon returns with a session review show featuring some of the top games from our demo tables at Gamex 2009, including:

Days of Wonder's Small World designed by Phillip Keyaerts

Z-Man's Archaeology: The Card Game by Phil Harding

Asmodee's Snow Tails by Fraser and Gordon Lamont

I was a bit out of practice and so I convinced Christina to join me on the microphone since she's actually played all the games included – and she ends up getting us to also talk briefly about Friedemann Friese's Fast Flowing Forest Fellers and a game I mentioned liking before on this podcast, Antoine Bauza's Hurry'Cup.

Also mentioned during the show was the convention debut of short film "Boggle Nights". If you'd like to see this fun view into the 'world of competitive Boggle' by filmmakers Richard Castrence and Rachel Hart, check it out here. Gamers should find some good laughs in it.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

I don't have a proper theme for this show so I'm throwing it into my Q&A series even though I'm the only one asking the questions. However, I'm very happy to have one of my favorite guests back on the show – board game developer and graphic artist jim pinto (yes, he's like k.d. lang and e.e. cummings).

Longtime BGB listeners will remember the inimitable Mr. pinto as a special guest on my first Stories of Self-Publishing shows and I've been trying to get him back since. Here, we talk about game design, the industry and his work for Alderac Entertainment Group, who are entering the board game market big time. They're local heroes in Southern California (as the guys responsible for the brilliant CCG "Legend of the Five Rings") and I'm glad to see them get into the kind of games we talk about on BGB. I hope you enjoy our freewheeling chat – I sure enjoyed having it.

As I mention on the show, please feel free to follow me on Twitter (bgbabylon), link to be on Facebook or LinkedIn and please become a "Fan" of Boardgame Babylon on Facebook so I can get one of those cool unique URLs for the show.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

P.S. Yes, that sandwich is jim pinto. It was hard to interview him without getting hungry but I managed it.

Boardgame Babylon is back with a new volume of the Q&A series. This one is the Q&A session I recorded with award-winning game designer Dan Verssen at Gamex 2009. Dan was our Guest of Honor at the recent show and he was kind enough to sit down and answer some questions about his history in games, his ludography, life in the game industry, and some of his design process. I really enjoyed his comments and I hope you will, too.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Strategicon     Dan Verssen Games     One Small Step 

Boardgame Babylon returns with a new episode in the In Depth series. We've covered Power Grid, Ra, Agricola and Caylus. Add to that list one of the most elegant designs in game history: Rock-Paper-Scissors. Join me and RPS strategist Rob Pirone for a discussion of the game's mechanics, strategy, and many variants. Rob promises to teach you how to win every game of RPS you'll ever play.

A word of warning: I recorded this over Skype and it would appear that there is some bug through the VOIP that makes it sound like I am breathing heavily whenever I am not speaking. It's clearly not me using a sub-standard microphone for this one podcast but an actual bug in Skype. They apologize for the excess noise.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Okay, here's a show that I recorded before Orccon 2009 talking about three fine new games from recent days:

*  Ghost Stories

*  Wasabi

*  Gem Dealer

Also, be sure to send in your entry for our exclusive Michael Schacht contest. You can win one of the following:

*  A copy of the Strategicon exclusive Zooloretto expansion, "King K."
*  A signed copy of the Spielbox Zooloretto expansion.

Send in your entries ASAP - we'll take them through the weekend (until March 22). The contest is available to everyone WORLDWIDE.

And for more information on Orccon, Gamex or Gateway, please visit: www.strategicon.net

Thanks again for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

...Sheylon

Boardgame Babylon is back with a mix of items from Orccon 2009. Most of the show is a carcast talking about four games:

* Valdora by Michael Schacht
* The Golden City by Michael Schacht
* Hurry'Cup by Antoine Bauza
* Hogwarts House Cup Challenge by Andrew Parks

And if you listen through the end theme music, you can hear an interview conducted with some of the folks who run the web site: www.mynerdgirl.com. They showed up late for the Q&A so we just recorded their questions, too! It's a quick snippet but it's fun.

Also, be sure to listen for the way to send in an entry for our exclusive Michael Schacht contest. You can win one of the following:

* A copy of the Strategicon exclusive Zooloretto expansion, "King K."
* A signed copy of the Spielbox Zooloretto expansion.

Send in your entries today. We'll take them until March 21th and then pick a winner. The contest is available to everyone WORLDWIDE.

As promised, here is the Q&A session I recorded with Michael Schacht at Orccon 2009. We sat down and let the audience ask Michael questions about his history in games, his ludography, hits and misses, and some of his process. I hope you enjoy his interesting commentary.

Be sure to listen for the way to send in an entry for our exclusive Michael Schacht contest. You can win one of the following:

1. A copy of the Strategicon exclusive Zooloretto expansion, "King K."
2. A signed copy of the Spielbox Zooloretto expansion.

Send in your entries today. We'll take them until March 21th (something I conveniently forgot to mention during the recording...) and then pick a winner.

Thanks again for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

The new year is upon us but it's always fun to look back at the games we've played over the previous year. As I was editing some older podcasts, I thought I might record a quick review of my most frequently played games in 2008. And then, well, I ended up with a 40 minute podcast here. So, here it is...largely unedited in the interest of getting it out the door.

In case you aren't familiar with the term "Five and Dimes" in reference to plays of board games, the mighty game reviewer Mike Siggins coined the term years ago to refer to games played five or ten times in the course of a year. These days, the terrific blogger/gamer/family games expert Mark Jackson (aka "Fluff Daddy") tracks this information and doesn't a series of reports to show which games are getting the most play and how it compares to past years. You can watch for the details on Mark's blog here.

Boardgame Babylon will be back with a session review show soon with details on some exciting newer releases including Ghost Stories, Municipium, Le Havre, and Hurry'Cup.

Don't forget that Orccon 2009 is coming up February 13-16 with Special Guest Michael Schacht. I can't say enough - don't you want to come to Southern California in mid-February to play games? Considering the great price war going on right now with the airlines, it should be fairly cheap to come visit us (check out the deals on Travelocity and Expedia) and get away from freezing temperatures. Hey - it was 85 degrees here today - I considered taking the kids to the beach. Sorry, didn't mean to rub it in... ;) Find out more information on www.strategicon.net and if you are coming out, drop me an e-mail so we can get together and play a game at the convention.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Just under the wire, here is the final Boardgame Babylon for 2008. It's been a slower year at the podcast due to work, family and other issues but I look forward to a firmer schedule in 2009 - if possibly a pretty relaxed pace. You can expect a couple more shows in January as I clean out the archives a bit including an interview with Greg Lam of Pair-A-Dice Games and the now mythic Games Workshop Games of the 80's Rectangular Table Discussion. I'm mentioning them both here because that way I can be shamed into finally releasing them...

But for now, here is BGB v60 - a series of interviews I conducted at BGG.con last month. I apologize for the sound quality on the interviews. I hadn't intended to podcast at the show but I ended up doing so anyway with the recorder on my Blackjack and now I know - we won't be using that again (the iRiver died some time ago...)

Anyway, the show includes interviews with the folks from Asmodee, Your Move Games, Bucephalus Games, and Ape Games (plus a bonus chat with Kevin G. Nunn of "duck duck GO!" fame) - plus some noteworthy news I share about the very special, very cool guest we have joining us here in Los Angeles for Orccon 2009. You'll want to check flight prices when you hear about who is joining us here in Southern California for the big show. As noted on the show, a second BGG.con show with some locals chatting about the convention will be coming soon. When Aldie gets around to releasing the fun show he recorded with Jason Matthews, Tom Lehmann and Derk, you can hear me asking more than my fair share of questions, too. ;)

Also, listen in to hear about the BGG.con coins that have been launched here and around the world. Keep those coins moving and you can check out where they have been right here. You may be able to get in on the fun even if you didn't attend BGG.con.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon. Happy New Year!

Boardgame Babylon is back with a new session review show covering a few hot new games: Dominion, Ticket to Ride: The Dice Expansion, and Hero: Immortal King.

BGG.con is just a week away and I'm going encourage BGB listeners to do two things:

1. Please check out my BGG List of games I'm keen to play at the convention. If you'd like to join me, please comment and I'll try to seek you out for the game in question. The list is nearly forty-strong so hopefully every listener in attendance can find one that we can play together. Here's the link: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/36547
2. The great guys of GameInk.net are producing their fabulous RA t-shirt ("17"), which lost out on their two contests for top shirts but apparently they can be won over with enthusiasm and the promise of nearly two dozen BGB listeners agreeing to buy shirts at the show. However, the shirt is in short supply so get to their booth early and get your awesome "17" shirt. You'll be the best dressed person at the con. Note: The above may not be the final design - I think Ryan said it might be in black instead.

Hope to see many of you in Dallas next week. Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games Mentioned

Dominion   Ticket to Ride: The Dice Expansion   Race for the Galaxy

Hero: Immortal King (three different scenarios below)

The Lair of the Lich   Infernal Forge   Den of Dementia

Other Links

Days of Wonder   Asmodee   GameInk.net

Barely under the wire, here is a Halloween-themed Boardgame Babylon with some new games you will want to add to your Halloween gaming this weekend. There's a fun dice-rolling game, a nice Trick(or Treat) taking game and a Lovecraftian semi-cooperative game to amuse the Twilight Creations fans. I promise - no scare tactics, ghoulish wailing or silly voices (well, okay - maybe just a little...). Mostly though, it's just a few light reviews and some comments about the games hitting the table at our Halloween parties.

And, no - you need not have enjoyed Igor to enjoy the R&R games based on it. ;)

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon. Happy Halloween!

Show Notes

Games mentioned:

Igor: The Monster Making Game   Igor: The Life of the Party

Innsmouth Escape   Bump In The Night   Mmm...Brains

Fearsome Floors   Fury of Dracula   Gravediggers   Vampire (Knizia)

Zombies!!!   Zombietown

Additional Links

R&R Games   Twilight Creations   Fantasy Flight Games

Okay - thanks to all of the listeners who expressed an interest in hearing this show even though the 2008 International Gamer Awards. I'm going to just post it up here with the warnings that:

1. There are sound quality issues
2. This show IS NOT edited properly so it's a little longer than it would be if I spent some time tightening it up.

Hope this one is still enjoyable even though the awards were announced last week.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

International Gamer Awards  

Boardgame Babylon is back with a new session review show featuring some games I got to play earlier this year and a very cool book that contains "The 15 Greatest Board Games in the World". This last item is a wonderful offering available in most stores (and even from the Amazon link over on the left there…) that we've enjoyed taking with us on vacation this summer.

Also, you might want to check out my BGG "Clear the Shelves" Auction. I've put up fifty games from my collection that could use new homes. Check it out here: BGG's Clear the Shelves Auction.

More BGB is on the way, including a discussion of the IGA awards, another session review show and hopefully two new In Depth shows with nice special guests.

And, yes – that is one of Meeple People.com's new plush Meeples. I used him to intimidate Alaric's followers in our recent Carcassonne game (funny how the Xbox version inspired us to play the regular one – not complaining!) I feel sure his awesome power led to my two-point victory.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon. Your feedback is greatly appreciated! Please send your comments, thoughts, and complaints to: sheylon at gmail.com.

Show Notes

Games Mentioned

Age of Gods   Octego   GIPF

Elric   Dark Emperor   Sorceror

Other Links

Willow Tree Games (sorry, I call it Willow Games on the podcast)   Asmodee Editions

Okay, here is part 2 of "Agricola: In depth" - a conversation with local SoCal Agricoholics Stephanie Kelleher and Chris Johnson. Both were nice enough to join me for a discussion about the game, the strategies, some favorite cards and whether the game will remain so highly rated as more people get the chance to play it.

This podcast is sponsored by the wonderful folks at Gateplay.com. Check them out for great games at terrific prices and free shipping with a $100 order. A terrific site for gamers new to the hobby as well as the full initiated.

A couple of additional items:

Strategicon is raising their rates for the next convention, Gateway 2008, but you can still get the old convention rate through July 31st - including your BGG Patron or Boardgamenews.com Subscriber discount. Check it out now and join us for this great convention on the Labor Day Weekend.

GameInk.net is a great place to buy gamer shirts that don't look too much like gamer shirts (that's a good thing). They had the good taste to design an utterly wonderful RA shirt but they cannot seem to get enough votes to have it be one of their latest prints. Luckily, they saw my attempts to shamelessly get people to vote for the RA shirt by offering to buy extras to give away at BGG.con and now we're working on trying to get it printed if enough people will contact me and commit to purchasing one. So, if you are interested - please send me an e-mail and let me know.

Thanks again for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

The In depth series is back with a bang...or perhaps I should say with a plow? This is the first part of Agricola: In depth, a couple of shows focusing specifically on the hot new game that we US gamers are anxiously waiting on - Agricola. This Uwe Rosenberg release has been much talked-about (and the Hottest Game on BGG.com) ever since its Essen 2007 debut and German copies haven't been very common in the US due to the difficulty in pasting up a copy for play.

But the game is just about to debut here in the US in an English language version and so I don't feel too badly about releasing a show with more information and details about the history of the game. I'm honored to have the US publisher of Agricola, Zev Shlasinger of Z-Man Games, join me on the mic to talk a little more about the game, the hype and the US release.

Part 2, featuring a conversation with LA-based Agricoholics Stephanie Kelleher and Chris Johnson talking with me about basic gameplay, strategy, a preview of the Z Deck, and the tournament we ran at Gamex 2008, will be out soon.

Please send your feedback to the connect link on the side or post them on the comments section.

This episode is sponsored by Gateplay.com - check them out for your pre-order of Agricola. I certainly recommend pre-ordering Agricola from your favorite retailer if you want to make sure you get a copy of this print run with the Z Deck. 

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games mentioned

Agricola   Race for the Galaxy   Bohnanza   Mamma Mia

Klunker   Caylus   Scepter of Zavandor   End of the Triumvirate

Stone Age   Pillars of the Earth

Other Links

Z-Man Games   Lookout Games   Uwe Rosenberg   Spiel Des Jahres

Gateplay.com

It's been ages since I did a session review show talking about just a handful of games. Hey, I had to keep doing all those series, right? You'd rather hear from Reiner Knizia, Jay Tummelson, Zev Shlasinger, Steve Jackson, Tom Jolly and good folks like that anyway, right?

Apparently some people miss these shows so here is a new show talking about some great new games that we've enjoyed in recent months. A second show like this will be coming soon about Cutthroat Caverns, Age of Gods and Innsmouth Escape.

But before that, you can expect another game in the "In depth" series. "Agricola: In depth" is coming and quite soon! The first part of this two-parter should be out next week and the second part will follow shortly after that - all just in time to whip up the hype on the eve of the game's (finally!) release in the US.

Lastly, I'll note that my dear wife Christina joined me on this show just because she was sitting nearby when I was going to record. Her comments are light (she made me edit out a section) but I sure enjoyed having her around for the show because it's ages since I recorded a solo show.

Thanks again for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games mentioned

Ticket To Ride: The Card Game   Say Anything   Pizza Box Baseball

Keltis   Lost Cities   Drive (Crazy Chicken)   Wits & Wagers

Apples to Apples   Wer War's

Other Links

Northstar Games  

Sorry for the delays in getting this show out but at least it is finally here. Orccon 2007 (held over the President's Day Weekend) featured legendary game designer Steve Jackson as the Guest of Honor. Steve is, of course, famous for so many games that it's pointless to list them. Okay, I will list the best and most famous but this is just a drop in the bucket.

Car Wars   Illuminati   Ogre   Munchkin   GURPS (best RPG ever)

Steve was kind enough to answer questions from the audience as well as those from my co-moderator Paul Tevis (who handled the RPG side of things) and me.

The show starts out with Steve giving an overview of upcoming Steve Jackson Games products before taking questions. Although there is some discussion of RPGs (which we don't normally cover on Boardgame Babylon), there is also a lot of good material from the very witty Mr. Jackson who is certainly well-aware that we are recording for the podcast and he does what he can to give listeners extra audio cues about the proceedings - to amusing effect.

Thanks again for listening to Boardgame Babylon. A new session review show is coming soon.

Show Notes:

Steve Jackson Games  Have Games Will Travel   David Brin   Tribes

Charlie the Unicorn   Unspeakable Vault   Print On Demand  

Boardgame Babylon's special 50th show is a Rectangular Table Discussion with a huge list of special guests:

Reiner Knizia   Martin Wallace   Friedemann Friese   Alan Moon

Uwe Rosenberg   Jay Tummelson   Wolfgang Kramer   Michael Schacht

They each bring their unique perspective to this subject of the current state and the future of the hobby.

Show Notes:

Contest Details   Transcript of the Discussion   Today's Date

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Okay, we're back with the fourth volume in the Ascent and Dissent of the Friendly Online Game Store. In this episode, I speak with the owner of a new FOGS, Gateplay.com. Chris Handy is a game designer, musician and e-commerce expert who has decided to try his hand at the Online Board Game business with the unique spin that he's targeting the new or 'gateway' gamers.

I should note that my daughter has become a fan of Chris' music as CJ. If you have young kids, you will want to check him out. That CD is in heavy rotation along with Gwyndolyn's favorite kid band, Gwendolyn and the GoodTime Gang (also one to check out if you have young ones).

I hope you enjoy this new show in the series. With any luck, we'll have a second BGB this month, too. Keep an ear out for it.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Links:   Gateplay.com   Chris Handy's Designer Page   Simply Fun

Games Mentioned:

Trump: The Game   Linkity   Handy   Plext   Pandemic  

Topeka Board Gamers: Donate to the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka

Best Games of 2007 - as determined by yours truly and my special guest, Aldie from Boardgamegeek.com. We chat for quite awhile about great games from 2007 and a few that weren't so great. There are even a couple of notes about the upcoming Boardgamegeek.CON - get the scoop here!

You'll also want to check out the website of our sponsors for this show:

Gateplay Games   Tanga.com

And here are the full Best Games of 2007 lists for both of us:

Aldie

1. Agricola   2. Race for the Galaxy 3. 1960: Making of a President

4. In the Year of the Dragon   5. Starcraft   6. Galaxy Trucker

7. Age of Empires 3: Age of Discovery 8. Fire and Axe 9. Notre Dame

10. Arkham Horror: The King in Yellow

Honorable Mentions: Thebes

Disappointments: League of Six, Kingsburg, Key Harvest

Eric

1. 1960: Making of a President   2. Agricola   3. Race for the Galaxy

4. Notre Dame   5. Brass   6. In the Year of the Dragon

7. Hamburgum   8. Age of Empires 3: Age of Discovery   9. Amyitis

10. Duel in the Dark

Honorable Mentions: King of Siam, Midgard, Thebes, Vikings, Take It To The Limit, Wurfel Bingo, Key Harvest

Disappointments: Kingsburg, Chicago Poker, Gipsy Kings (edited out)

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon. 

Happy New Year! Boardgame Babylon is back with a new (okay, it was recorded in August) show in the Ascent and Dissent of the Friendly Online Game Store series.

In this show, Dave Jones from Time Well Spent (that's www.timewellspent.org - not the same thing with .com), joins me to talk about his experience running his successful online game store, his perspective on pricing and FLGSs and a little about the future of game retailing.

I also want to mention that we're just over a month away from Strategicon's next Southern California-based game convention, Orccon. I will be in attendance and hope to see BGB listeners there. For more information on this President's Day Weekend event, check out: www.strategicon.net.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Time Well Spent   Peter Sarrett   Mayfair Games

Merchants of Amsterdam   Haba   Tanga.com

A bad cold has severely delayed my annual Last Minute Stocking Stuffer show (at this point, it really is the very last minute) and even so, you'll still hear the frog in my throat. But I wanted to get a chance to recommend both some mini-games that will fit into your stockings as well as some great party games to try out at your holiday parties for Christmas, Kwanzaa, or New Year's Eve. Because you should bring games to those parties! Just bring some games that are friendly to the casual or non-gamers. This show will mention some real winners in that category:

Wits & Wagers   Werewolves of Miller's Hollow   Word Blur

Quelf   Qwirkle   (in case you thought using Q and W games) Gifttrap

And the stocking stuffers:

No Thanks!   6 Nimmt!   Coloretto   Felix: Cat in the Sack

Power Grid Expansion   Vexation   Escalation   R-Eco

In addition to the roundup of great party games and smallish stocking stuffers, I also interview Dominic Crapuchettes from Northstar Games - who provides us with an exciting announcement about their plans in 2008.

Thanks to all listeners for downloading and hearing the show this year. Happy Holidays to all!

There may be one more show before the year ends but who knows once the holidays start in earnest.

Additional Links:

Gifttrap's Home   Northstar Games   Wiggity Bang   Mindware Online

Okay, here's part two of the BGG.CON Wrap-Up Show. My voice is dying due to illness so I just added in brief introductions to the various interviews with Kevin Wilson, Mark Simonich, Zev Schlasinger, Simon Hunt, Chad Ellis, and even a little shout out from BGG.CON Guest of Honor, Friedemann Friese.

I'll be back later this month with a show about more of the Essen titles I played like Filou, Cuba, Brass, In the Year of the Dragon, Hamburgum, Patrician, and Gipsy King.

The next show is the holiday one - where I'll talk about some great stocking stuffers and some suggested party games to break out for your big parties throughout the season.

Okay, here's part two of the BGG.CON Wrap-Up Show. My voice is dying due to illness so I just added in brief introductions to the various interviews with Kevin Wilson, Mark Simonich, Zev Schlasinger, Simon Hunt, Chad Ellis, and even a little shout out from BGG.CON Guest of Honor, Friedemann Friese.

I'll be back later this month with a show about more of the Essen titles I played like Filou, Cuba, Brass, In the Year of the Dragon, Hamburgum, Patrician, and Gipsy King.

The next show is the holiday one - where I'll talk about some great stocking stuffers and some suggested party games to break out for your big parties throughout the season.

And for a little glimpse of the Match Game hosted by Peter Sarrett, take a look here:

http://www.vimeo.com/419338

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Boardgame Babylon is back with the first in a two-part series wrapping up the great convention that was Boardgamegeek.CON.

On this show, Aldie - the man behind the 'Geek - joins me for a chat about the show and some highlights for both of us.

The second part of this series will include a series of interviews with some nice folks I met at BGG.CON, including Chad Ellis, Kevin Wilson, Zev Shlasinger, Simon Hunt and many more. Heck, you'll even get to hear from Friedemann Friese had to say when I told him about the Power Grid: In depth show...and my real feelings about Power Grid...

Also - we announce the winners of the Franz-Benno Delonge Chairty Events, both the TransAmerica Tournament winners and those who won in the "Play At Home" drawings.

A special shout out to all the great listeners and new friends I got to meet at BGG.CON. It was an honor and pleasure to meet you all - thanks for all the kind words about the show.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Boardgame Babylon is finally back with the next in the series on the Ascent and Dissent of the FOGS (Friendly Online Game Store). Sorry for the delay but I've been busy with organization for the ACS Fund Raiser in honor of Franz-Benno Delonge (among other things).

(that link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/boardgamebabylon)

But now, we're back with a new show featuring an interview with Jeremy Young, the man behind Tanga.com, Simply Fun, Uberplay and Inspiration Games. While I mainly wanted to ask Jeremy about Tanga.com and get his unique perspective as both a publisher and an e-tailer, I couldn't help but ask about his other exciting ventures, too. I think you'll enjoy his comments and details about how his businesses were developed.

If you have comments, I welcome your feedback - please post it here on the Boardgame Babylon Guild on BGG.com.

Also, if you are on BGG.com, you can now purchase the new Boardgame Babylon Listener microbadge. You can find it here:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/browse/microbadge/3519

By the way, if you will be at BGG.CON this week, please look for me and say 'hi'. I'll be there from Thursday through Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Okay, here's the wrap-up show for Gateway 2007 - and less than a month later! Not bad for things around here.

I took a very different tack with this show from previous con wrap-up shows. This time, I interviewed some folks at the show. About a half-dozen extra interviews were tossed due to sound quality and, I'll admit, even some of these are rough when I took my little iRiver recorder into the dealer room to chat with these guys. But I think you'll still enjoy many of them.

Please send me your feedback on this format and any comments you might have to: sheylon@gmail.com or, preferably, post them on the Boardgame Babylon Guild on boardgamegeek.com: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/guild/138

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games Mentioned

Wiz-War   Lost Worlds   Nuclear War   Imperialism   Duel in the Dark

R-Eco   Leaping Lemmings   Conquest of Paradise   Roads of Rome

Other Links

Protospiel West   Sorvent   GMT Games   Flying Buffalo   Strategicon

As I've hinted about for quite some time, here is the first in the follow-up series to the award-winning Demise and Rise of the Friendly Local Game Store series, where I interviewed a group of former and current game store owners in an attempt to understand the challenges faced by those that provide a place to buy and play games that is accessible to locals.

Now, I've reached out to many of the Friendly Online Game Store owners to get a chance to hear their side of the story. They continue to be successful and expand (thus the Ascent) and also be controversial from the perspective of some gamers (the Dissent) who feel they are ruining the chances for FLGSs to survive in a world of narrowing margins, high rents, and fractured interest in things non-digital.

But at the same time, FOGS provide an opportunity for gamers to have access to thousands of older or obscure games that FLGSs can't carry, a chance for those in remote areas to get games, and - the controversial part - to get games at a huge discount with free shipping on large order. Does this help the industry as a whole since more games get out there? Or are the FOGS lowering the perceived value of games and making it harder for gamers to stomach paying retail prices for games at a FLGS?

On this volume, I speak with Tom Powers - the owner and operator of Boards and Bits, one of my favorite online retailers and one of the most vocal FOGS owners on Boardgamegeek.com, whenever someone brings up the FLGS vs. FOGS subject. Tom was kind enough to answer some questions about his business, how he got into it, what he thinks about the recent 'price-fixing' Supreme Court decision, and the whole FLGS vs FOGS conflict. I think you'll find his responses candid and interesting.

More are on the way, too, although I will be posting a couple of shows from the Gateway 2007 before I get around to the next one.

We welcome your comments and feedbackIf you have not done so, please join us in the Boardgame Babylon Guild on Boardgamegeek.com and add your comments to the discussion there. Joining will also make you eligible for Boardgame Babylon contests in the future and you can also find a nice image gallery of pictures of Boardgame Babylonia there, too!

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Boards and Bits - a great selection of domestic and int'l games at great prices.

Boardgamegeek.con - I will finally be there this year ;)

Strategicon - Two shows from Gateway 2007 are on the way

On this session review show, I talk a bit about the new Days of Wonder offering, Wolfgang Kramer and Markus Lübke's Colosseum, and a new game from Z-Man called Owner's Choice from a designer to watch, Yasutaka Ikeda. Both are recommended titles that have been hitting tables around here quite a bit.

Also on this volume, you will find the nominees for the Boardgame Podcast Award for Innovative Concept discussed and the winner of said award officially announced. The nominees are:

BattleLore

Khet: Eye of Horus Beam Splitter

Pieces of Eight

Space Dealer

Yspahan

Don't forget that Gateway 2007 is just under two weeks away. Check out Strategicon's web site for more information about this great SoCal Game Con. I'll be running tournaments for a number of Z-Man games plus the aforementioned Colosseum. The special guest is Tom Jolly and we'll be running a variety of events with him, including Live Action Wiz-War - which will be run in a way to allow for lots of players so come on down and join the fun.

With Gateway 2007 starting at the end of next month, we look back on Gamex 2007 and the terrific experience we had there. Matt joins me on the microphone to chat about If Wishes Were Fishes, Vexation, Burg Appenzell and Midgard. Edited from the show are our long discussions about Notre Dame and Guatemala Cafe (which may just end up as another podcast later).

Remember that Gateway 2007 runs on Labor Day Weekend and the Special Guest is Tom Jolly. More details will be noted in BGB v39, which is right around the corner. I'll be running tournaments of Colosseum, Stack Market, Owner's Choice, Saboteur, Midgard and an extra special event that will take a heck of a lot of work this next month...

Also - I will be at Gameology in Claremont, CA this Saturday to show off Stack Market and Owner's Choice in the morning and again in the afternoon. Come on out and say 'hi' and learn these two new cool games!

Show Notes:

Strategicon (Gateway Pre-Reg opens at the beginning of August)

Games mentioned:

If Wishes Were Fishes   Burg Appenzell   Midgard

Silverton   Vexation   Stay Alive

Boardgame Babylon is back with a show recorded at Orccon 2007 with Origins award-nominated game designer Bo Radakovich and noted art director jim pinto. Bo is the man behind the riotous new game High School Drama, which is nominated for an Origins award in the card game category this year. jim has hundreds of credits in the game industry and is also just a funny guy.

The subject of our conversation is game design and self-publishing, as Bo started up his own company in order to put out the game, and we hear about some of the trials and tribulations of striking out on your own in the crazy hobby game business. Along the way Bo tells us a bit about High School Drama, including some interesting design and production notes. And we just have some good laughs since both Bo and jim are terrific guys.

This is the start of a new series called "Stories of Self-Publishing" and I have at least two more lined up but - as to when they will come out - we'll have to see. There is still the Demise and Rise to finish up and one more series on the way.

I should also note that this is the first volume of Boardgame Babylon supported by our new sponsor, Tanga.com. I'm a big fan of the site and its wacky retail model so I encourage you all to check it out via the link on the side if you are new to the site or by clicking www.tanga.com.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games mentioned:

High School Drama   Illuminati   Lunch Money

Ingenious   Escalation!   Wiz-War  

Other links:

Shifting Skies Games  (buy HSD there or at your FLGS)

Knightime Studios (jim pinto - yes, he's capital-challenged, like e.e. cummings or k.d. lang)

Boardgame Babylon is proud to bring you another great Q&A session with a game industry icon. Recorded at Gamex 2007 over the Memorial Day weekend, this Question and Answer session features the convention's Special Guest, Rio Grande Games founder Jay Tummelson.  On the show, you'll hear Jay talk about how he got into this crazy business, his experience with Mayfair Games and bringing Settlers of Catan to the States, many fun stories about acquiring the English licenses to various games and, of course, a huge list of upcoming games - some of which are being revealed here for the first time. Start your next shopping list for the game store now...

NEXT UP: The Gamex 2007 Wrap-Up Show. My friend and frequent Boardgame Babylon contributor Matt Grimaldi will join me to chat about our experiences at the convention and the many games we played including Wikinger (Vikings), Caylus Magna Carta, Notre Dame, Guatemala Cafe, If Wishes Were Fishes and many more.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games mentioned (a selection of them, as they are too numerous to list completely)

If Wishes Were Fishes      Mystery Rummy: Bonnie and Clyde      Where's Bob's Hat?

Notre Dame      Race For the Galaxy      Thurn and Taxis (Wells Fargo?)

Other links

Strategicon      Rio Grande Games 

The Demise and Rise of the FLGS is back with an interview featuring Rocky Johnston, owner of The Last Grenadier - one of the oldest and greatest game stores in Los Angeles. Rocky has owned the store for twenty years, through expansions (and reductions), the Collectible Card Craze, the Rise of the FOGS (Friendly Online Game Store), and through numerous changes of venue - and is still going strong as both a brick and mortar institution and also through Ebay sales for rare items. His veteran's perspective is a welcome addition to the series.

Don't forget to join us here in Los Angeles for Gamex 2007 over the Memorial Day Weekend. For more information, check out www.strategicon.net.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Last Grenadier on Ebay   Weekend Warrior on Ebay   Weekend Warrior   Where is The Last Grenadier?   The Black Watch

With Gamex 2007 on the horizon, we look back on Orccon 2007 and the great time we had there. You'll hear about our playtesting with Reiner Knizia and Tom Jolly, comments about the many games we played and my notes about my Day with Knizia prior to the convention. Chad, Mason and Matt all join me for this Rectangular Table Discussion about the fun we had at Strategicon's first game convention of the year.

Plus - the winners of the Ingenious Puzzle contest are announced! No, seriously, it's on there this time...

Show Notes:

Strategicon (Gamex Pre-Reg is open!)

Games mentioned:

Die Saulen der Erde   Blue Moon City   Descent: Journeys Into the Dark

On the Underground   25 Words or Less   Shadows Over Camelot

Earlier than any other board game podcast, Boardgame Babylon is very proud to bring you this Pre-Pre-Pre-Pre-Pre-Essen 2007 show, highlighting some of the exciting titles you can expect to see at the Spiel this October in Essen, Germany.

It wasn't easy - I had to use all of my awesome power as a board game podcaster to muscle secrets out of the game publishing world, including bribing disgruntled developers who keep missing their chance for an on-box credit, wining and dining unscrupulous pawn production companies, pressuring disreputable playtesters, blackmailing the proofreader at Rio Grande and the translator at AdlungSpiele, strong-arming actual board game media types and also just searching the internet to bring you this very special, extra-early look at the best of Essen this year.

So, listen with a pen and paper because you'll want to make your checklist for pre-orders now (and start entering those game entries on BGG because there's geekgold a-plenty to be had...)

Also, listen carefully for the winners of the Ingenious Puzzles contest!

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Okay, here is the second promised Knizia podcast from Orccon 2007. This show includes Reiner's seminar where he introduced the world debut of Ingenious Puzzles, a new product "NOT A GAME" in the Ingenious line that delighted fans at the convention.

Since that recording is shorter, I've added a session review of my buddy Mason Rourman and me talking about three recent and upcoming Knizia games we enjoyed recently. All three were popular at the Kniziathon event at Orccon 2007 and we've enjoyed them as light additions to Knizia's ludography.

Escalation: The Suburban Wars (Z-Man Games)
Mmm...Brains! (Twilight Creations)
Dragon Parade (Z-Man Games)

Two more shows are still to come from the Orccon experience and I even have another Demise and Rise show coming. Wow - regular releases of Boardgame Babylon? Don't get used to it...;)

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

I'll just say it - this isn't a standard episode of Boardgame Babylon and it makes little sense for me to advertise it as such. But since I passed on my chance for an official interview with Reiner Knizia for Boardgame Babylon because I knew some other podcasters where hanging about, I thought I would instead just go ahead and broadcast this and a couple of other shows about the new Ingenious Puzzles that Reiner introduced and a wrap-up show done with some of my buddies who also had an amazing time at Orccon 2007. This is the first of, count 'em, four shows I've got in the bag (makes up for the two rejected shows from my trip to India) that just need a little TLC to get them out.

Anyway, this is the man himself, Dr. Reiner Knizia, in the Question and Answer session he held at Orccon 2007, the President's Day Weekend show of Southern California's Strategicon game conventions. Reiner talks about his process, some exciting upcoming events and products and shows the wonderful good humor we've all heard about.

There is also a contest to win a very cool little item Reiner gave me to hand out to a couple of Boardgame Babylon listeners and also some exciting news about Gamex 2007 and a special guest that will grace us with his presence here in Los Angeles over the Memorial Day weekend.

There are also details about ordering a Cucoloris CD, which you can now get directly from me. The lovely ladies of Cucoloris sent me CDs and stickers to sell at Orccon 2007...and then I forgot them at home for most of the convention. Help me save face and order a Cucoloris CD now! Drop me an e-mail if you are interested in supporting this wonderful band responsible for the coolest music in board game podcasting.

NEXT UP: Another Knizia show with Reiner explaining the new Ingenious Puzzles and some talk about three new Knizia games that were popular at the Kniziathon: Dragon Parade and Escalation from Z-Man Games, plus Mmm...Brains from Twilight Creations (yes, Reiner did a zombie game!)

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games mentioned:

Mmm...Brains   King of the Beasts   Amun-Re
Ra   Taj Mahal   Escalation
Blue Moon   Blue Moon City   Tigris and Euphrates
Ingenious  Beowulf   Lord of the Rings: Battlefields

Other Links:

Strategicon   Journal of Boardgame Design

Cucoloris on MySpace (BGB's theme music composers!)

Boardgame Babylon is back after taking off the month of January due to excessive travel. In fact, this show was recorded while I was on a layover in the airport in Singapore on my way to India for a couple of weeks. That is both some back story and a warning - this one is a little long for only talking about three games (and one in brief) but I thought I would preserve it anyway (unlike a second show I recorded while in Nagpur, India - which I have decided to deep-six).

There is also a reminder to join me at Orccon 2007 here in Los Angeles later this week and your chance to buy Cucoloris music there! Listen for more details or check out www.strategicon.net.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

...Sheylon

Links

Games mentioned:

Space Dealer

On The Underground

Die Baumeister von Arkadia

Yspahan

Other links:

Strategicon!

Still shopping for that game exchange at your local group? Need to buy a $15 gift for your friend's stocking? This show has a host of capsule reviews of some smaller games that would make great gifts for hobby gamers. Plus, I announce the winner of the Boardgame Babylon t-shirt and also one more Thrillville Xbox winner!

Finally, there is some REALLY BIG NEWS for gamers in SoCal and for those that wouldn't mind coming out to visit us in the Sunny and Mild capital for a great weekend this Winter. You will want to hear about this so you can set your flight plans now...and you're going to want to go to www.strategicon.net.

This is likely the last BGB for the year so I wish all listeners a wonderful holiday season and a very joyous and prosperous new year! May you find a bunch of games from this list in your stocking and a load of big-box games under your tree.

Oh yeah - and, no, that's not me either! This is just a character you can play in High School Drama!

Show Notes

Games mentioned:

Sudoku: The Card Game   High School Drama   Space Station Assault   Battleground: Fantasy Warfare   Saboteur   Frank's Zoo  Coloretto   No Thanks

Mystery Rummy Series:   #1   #2   #3   #4   #5   Wyatt Earp (#3.5?)

Other links:

Strategicon: Orccon 2007   Reiner Knizia   Your Move Games   Shifting Skies Games   Z-Man Games   Rio Grande Games   Mike Fitzgerald

This show is both a session review and some comments on the recent GenCon SoCal, which I attended the week before Thanksgiving and represented my first real convention experience in many a year. I had a chance to demo a lot of terrific games, play some excellent new ones and enjoy the company of some very fine folks. That is always the cliche' about these shows, but it is completely true - it is the experience with the people that will make or break the convention for you. Luckily for me, I had some fun people to spend time with during GenCon SoCal and it raised the enjoyment level on what was otherwise a lackluster convention for board gamers.

I will apologize right here for hyping a game that is not out yet (Gheos) and one that is only available in Germany at the moment (Der Elefant im Porzellanladen). Normally, I try not to do that too much. But these are really great items for your holiday shopping so just watch for Gheos to hit the stores and online retailers very soon and, well, place that overseas order for the Elephant right away. ;)

Finally, I have another contest here - for a free Boardgame Babylon T-shirt. I've gotten some in from the nice people at Meeple People (shop at the link on the side to feed my MP habit) and I want to give one away. Details are included on the show.

Next up: We'll see if my next planned Demise and Rise show can come together shortly, but I also have a "Stocking Stuffer" show coming up for some smaller games you should get for all the designer game players on your shopping list in a last minute run to the game store (hey, you're going there this next week to pick up BattleLore anyway, right?) 

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games Mentioned: Gheos   Pieces of Eight   Der Elefant im Porzellanladen   Carcassonne   Coloretto   Pirate King

Other Links: Z-Man Games   Atlas Games   Rene Wiersma   Jeff Tidball   Michael Schacht  

Another quick show done before I leave for GenCon SoCal tomorrow morning. I would call this show a good Gift Guide - two party games that would make nice gifts for friends that aren't quite ready to join you for a designer game but that you would still like to get in the habit of playing games. Forget Scene It or some DVD board game - buy these cool games from small publishers that are a whole lot of fun.

Also, listen in for the names of the winners in the Thrillville contest!

Show Notes:

GiftTRAP

Quelf

Flying solo here again for a session review show featuring a few games I have had the chance to play in recent days. I said I was taking November off but I ran out of older shows to release because my backup hard drive crashed. Yes, 'backup' is supposed to mean you have another copy. Hey - I know that now!

There is also a wonderful piece of news for Southern California gamers (and those seeking an additional reason to visit us) mentioned here. Those of you that are out of the area will have to forgive my giddy gushing. I am just really happy about this new development.

This show is also a bit 'quick and dirty' in an attempt to do a podcast with less prep time and a lot less editing. My apologies ahead of time for the umms and uhhs and off-the-cuff commentary. I am responding to some feedback on this but, also, I had 2,000 words for NaNoWriMo to write after recording this...

Don't forget you have only three more days to enter the Thrillville contest. The questions are listed in this show, too, in case you did not download Volume 25 because it was more about the show than the games themselves.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games Mentioned:

Figaro   Emira   Die Weinhandler   King Me!   Poison   The Scepter of Zavandor   Princes of Florence   Money!

Other links:

Strategicon   Lucas Arts' Thrillville (out now on Xbox/PS2)   Fiddly  

Burgess Forensics (my cousin's company, who will hopefully save those lost shows)

Here is Part 2 of the History and Secrets series, the sequel to Volume 2 - which was recently posted despite the numbering scheme here. In this episode, you will find out all kinds of reasonably exciting details like who are Cucoloris and why is the show called Boardgame Babylon.

But that's not all - this show will also give you details on how you can enter our exciting contest to win an Xbox and copies of the new Lucas Arts video game, Thrillville. Just listen to the show for details on how to enter to win.

Thrillville is an exciting new video game from Lucas Arts that has even this dyed-in-wool boardgamer excited. Here are some additional details about the game: 

Visit Thrillville and step into a non-stop party in a theme park that you create.  Customize your park, interact with guests like never before, and build and hop into your own roller coasters and other rides. For the first time ever, race on go-kart tracks you constructed, play mini-golf on courses you designed, and more. Join friends for dozens of four-player party games, from bumper cars to arcade shoot-'em-ups. You can also tour the park on foot chatting and joking with all the guests to help them out and make sure they're enjoying themselves.

Thrillville fuses elements of simulation, party games and social interaction like nothing before it. Its charming story centers around you coming to the aid of your eccentric Uncle Mortimer and his "Thrillville" chain of theme-parks. Only by keeping your guests happy and completing missions geared toward keeping your park afloat can you stave off the threat posed by the nefarious Globo-Joy corporation.

Build, play, manage, ride, customize and socialize your way through the five theme parks you've created - Thrillville is a fusion of individually strong gameplay elements into a new experience that's even greater than the sum of its parts - it allows you to play with your friends in the theme-park of your dreams.

Come back over the next week to see more artwork and information on the game, leading up to its release in stores on November 7^th for both PS2 and Xbox.

Show Notes

Links:

 

Thrillville   Cucoloris on MySpace   My Bloody Valentine   The Sundays

Cocteau Twins   Siskel and Ebert

Meeple People.com (buy through this link to support giveaways of Boardgame Babylon t-shirts)

No, I'm not linking to a lot of the other things mentioned on the podcast...

Here is the long-promised Volume 2 - Boardgame Babylon History and Secrets, Part 1. I had planned to do a personal gaming history show for ages, like most podcasters do at the launch of their show. But one thing and another kept getting in the way or was more exciting - after all, I'd rather talk about the games themselves than yap about how I got into the hobby and such. Plus, part of me wondered if listeners would even be interested in such a show at the birth of the podcast since they didn't know if it was worth listening to yet. But I realized that I've enjoyed similar shows done by other podcasters I like so I finally managed to finish it about a month ago.

Then work got even more nuts than usual and so here we are. Also, I'd planned to include some answers to frequently asked questions about the show but after I'd finished rambling, I decided I would do a second show to cover that portion - the "Secrets" bit. In truth, once I'd edited the podcast down for content, it was short enough but I'd already done the second part as a separate podcast so instead, you get two shorter ones instead of one huge podcast.

I forgot to mention that if you are attending GenCon SoCal the weekend before Thanksgiving, please drop by on November 18th at 2PM and see me at the Board Gamer Podcasting Panel. I will be there along with other members of the game podcasting community. If I can manage it, I'll even be giving away a free Boardgame Babylon t-shirt or two to listeners that can answer a trivia question about the show (won't be hard - just want to make sure it goes to a regular listener).

Next up: Boardgame Babylon: History and Secrets, Part 2 will be up soon, then a session review and a few other things before I take the month of November off from podcasting so I can focus on NaNoWriMo. File your complaints with Mur Lafferty, the woman whose podcast inspired (read: guilt-tripped) me to start up a new book on a schedule.

Show Notes

A Selection of Games Mentioned:

Tripoley  D&D  GURPS  Illuminati  Junta  Globbo!  Up Front  Panzergruppe Guderian  Blood Royale  Belter  Triplanetary  Wiz-War

Other Links:

TI99/4A  Tunnels of Doom  Temple of Elemental Evil

Fantasy Games Unlimited  Z-Man Games  Fantasy Flight Games

GDW  Steve Jackson Games  Darwin Bromley  Rio Grande

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire CD-ROMs - This set includes the three CD-ROMs that I wrote completely (I just produced the previous one with Jellyvision). Trivia - In the Sports Edition, when you phone a friend, you call one of Regis' friends and they are all named after my father and his numerous brothers and sisters. Also, you can't use my name when playing any of them or Regis will taunt you.

The Dark Domain BBS - No link and it has nothing to do with this BBS documentary DVD of ASCII artwork nor any recent uses of the name. The BBS I called signed off back in the 80's and appears to be without an online archive. I only have one friend left from those days so the crazy folks that made the place so interesting are long lost to me.

Origins  Strategicon  GenCon SoCal 

Orange County Boardgames  Socal Gamesday  SoCal Gamers 

Okay, time for a new session review. One of my oldest friends, Chad Smith, joins me this time to discuss a series of new games we had a chance to play at the recent SoCal Gamesday in Burbank, CA. Chad actually has already been on the still-unreleased Rectangular Table Discussion on Games Workshop Board Games of the 80's BGB podcast, but since that (still) isn't edited yet, I introduce him again.

On this day, we played new games from Reiner Knizia, Michael Schacht, and the latest from Days of Wonder, designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc.

Thanks for downloading and listening to Boardgame Babylon.

Show Notes

Games mentioned:

Great Wall of China   California   Toppo

Cleopatra and the Society of Architects (got to love that title!)

Samurai   Loot!   Alhambra   Palazzo   Set   Flix Mix   Collide-O  Kardinal und Konig   Coloretto   Hansa   Paris Paris   Industria   High Society   Settlers of Catan   RA   Tigris and Euphrates   Carcassonne

Other Links:

Boardgames with Scott (see Cleopatra and the Society of Architects in action)

Days of Wonder (BattleLore is coming!)

Next up: Hard to say - depends on which of the four completed shows I edit first.

Here is the third in the Demise and Rise of the Friendly Local Game Store series. In the first two volumes of this series, I spoke with a former game store owner and a new game store owner. In this volume, I speak with David Laufle, who is in the process of selling his store The Game Zone in Pasadena, California.

David's store is a well-liked, well-stocked gathering place for the Pasadena gaming community. We discuss his thoughts on how game retailing, the clientele, and the industry in general have changed over the fourteen years he's been in the business.

For more information on the genesis of this series, please see BGB Volume 19, Part 1 of "The Demise and Rise of the FLGS".

Show Notes

Games mentioned:

Dungeons and Dragons    Chainmail    Blitzkrieg    Panzer Leader    Tactics II    Magic: The Gathering    Settlers of Catan    Yu-Gi-Oh    Pokemon 

Other links:

Rio Grande Games    WizKids    Games Workshop    Boardgame Cafes    Pasadena    Cupertino (iTunes lives there)    Boardgamegeek    ConSimWorld    Starbucks    World of Warcraft    Tournament of Roses Parade  

Two innovations mark this session review show. First, I've added a second voice. I had intended to record this show after one of our big Saturday game days at my house. But when the place cleared out, my good friend Matt Grimaldi, who previously joined me for the Power Grid: In depth show, was still around and ready to play another game. So, I suggested he join me for the podcast instead. Matt had played all three featured games with me so he's added his commentary, too. We didn't plan the format ahead of time so this is a bit more freewheeling than usual (it was also after midnight and although Matt was hopped up on a latte, I wasn't) but hopefully this works and if the feedback is good, we'll do it again. If the feedback is bad, well, I'll just dump Matt and get some new friends. Matt, if you're reading this - I'm just kidding! Ish. ;)

The other new thing about this show is that BGB session reviews will no longer feature a full rules description if there is another good podcast out there that has already explained the rules entirely. I mean, we have at least three excellent shows that normally explain rules in their entirety (Boardgames with Scott, Snoozefest 'Splains Boardgames, and The Vintage Gamer) and at least one more that occasionally does (the still-brilliant inspiration for Boardgame Babylon, Boardgames To Go). If one of these or another podcast has already done it, I will just direct you there (as I do here for Scepter of Zavandor) and we'll call that one an "In brief" session review.

Thanks for all the recent feedback. I'm working to get responses to everyone. I do respond to every bit of feedback I receive because I really appreciate listeners taking the time to let me know their reactions to the show - negative or positive. Please keep it coming!

By the way, this picture is for those folks who have said that I should include a picture of myself on the web site. I guess I never really noticed that I was not in the pictures - I'm usually behind the camera. My wife Christina was kind enough to take this picture of me to end the mystery. Unfortunately, due to a poor crop job here, you can't really see my nice Z-Man Demo Team t-shirt's logo. Ah, well.

Next up: Part 3 of The Demise and Rise of the FLGS, featuring David Laufle, the owner of The Game Zone, in Pasadena, California.

Show Notes

Street Illegal    Glory To Rome       The Scepter of Zavandor          Outpost     Puerto Rico      Hacienda          Thurn and Taxis    6 Nimmt!

Other Links:

Z-Man Games     Cambridge Game Factory    The Fast and the Furious

Snoozefest 'Splains Zavandor   Andreas Seyfarth    Carl Chudyk

Jim Hlavaty       Heinrich Glumpler (http://www.erlkoenig.net)

In contrast to the last session review show, I really like this set of games. Castle Merchants is a good, overlooked gateway game from last year, Mykerinos is a cool new Ystari item, No Thanks! is the US version of the fantastic instant classic filler, Geschenkt (and another feather in the cap of Z-Man Games) and Times Square is a fun new Kosmos 2-player game from Reiner Knizia that dares to have a great sense of humor. These four would make a great night of entertainment for a lighter, more casual crowd.

Next up (and in rather short order!): The Demise and Rise of the FLGS, Part 2: Interview with David Holt, the owner of a new store called Gameology: The Study of Fun and a guy with some really innovative ideas about how to build on the traditional FLGS. Should be up early this next week.

Show Notes

Games Mentioned: 

Castle Merchants 

Mykerinos 

No Thanks! (Geschenkt is the German name) 

Times Square 

The Scepter of Zavandor (to appear in the next session review) 

Street Illegal (to appear in the next session review) 

Caylus 

Elfenland 

Louis XIV 

Clue 

Coloretto 

For Sale 

Money!

Other Links:

Reiner Knizia

Z-Man Games 

Ystari Games 

Meeple People (feel free to buy something to support my Meeple People habit...) 

Hasbro (can't bring myself to include a link) 

Gameology (I'll be there demonstrating The Scepter of Zavandor and Street Illegal on July 22nd)

Orange County Board Gamers

Times Square (which, they say, has been Disneyfied)

Well, this show was supposed to appear right after the Power Grid show but then the second half of May hit. Work was crazy and, more significantly, my wife Christina had some emergency surgery. She's doing fine now but it has meant double-dad-duty for a while so I haven't had much (read: any) time to edit the show.

The good news is: I already have the next two shows recorded, including another session review and the first in a new series I am calling "The Demise and Rise of the FLGS" (Friendly Local Game Store). This series will include a string of interviews with former and current game store owners from the Los Angeles area, where we have had a string of closures of high-quality stores in recent days.

Also, I'll actually be doing demos for Z-Man Games at my new FLGS, Gameology, in lovely Claremont, California on June 29th. I should be there at 6:30 PM to show off Castle Merchants and No Thanks! (yes, Geschenkt). They will both be featured in the next Session Review show as well. Gameology is owned by a sharp new owner, Dave Holt, who has some very intriguing and clever ideas for making the game store business work in the modern era. He's also going to be featured later this Summer in an interview as part of the Demise and Rise of the FLGS series. 

I should also note that in this show, I neglected to talk much about Tom Wham, a pre-euro designer famous for his co-design of the classic Kings and Things, the fantasy crayon rail Iron Dragon, the goofy Awful Green Things From Outer Space and some lesser 80's items like Mertwig's Maze and The Great Khan Game - light, fun little items that - like Planet Busters - are a little dated but might be ripe for a revision. I also gloss over mention of the amazing Doris and Frank, but any fan of designer games knows their solid designs like Ursuppe (Primordial Soup) and Frank's Zoo (featuring Doris' distinctive art). I'll blame the lack of excruciating detail on the lovely Patricia Morrison. You'll hear why. Actually, I was going to drop in some more information on these designers but I thought, ah, this thing is long enough as it is. Plus, I need to edit the next episode and I have no time as it is...

Next up: The Demise and Rise of the FLGS, Part 1: Interview with Larry Boyd, former owner of All Star Games - one of the finest stores the Los Angeles area has ever seen.

Show Notes

Games Mentioned: 

Vegas Showdown

Fist of Dragonstones

Planet Busters

Mu und Mehr

Princes of Florence

Puerto Rico

Palazzo

Alhambra

Evo

Pirate's Cove

Citadels

Naval War

Crokinole

Daihimi (which is also marketed by Richard Garfield as "The Great Dalmuti")

Hearts

Oh Hell

Bridge

 

Other links:

Henry Stern

Bruno Faidutti

Michael Schacht

Tom Wham

Doris and Frank

Orange County Board Gamers

Saturdays

Sundays

Strategicon (Orccon is the February)

Las Vegas

Sisters of Mercy

Goth (which, amusingly enough, comes up before the real Goths)

Patricia Morrison (I used to wear mirror shades because of Andrew Eldritch, not William Gibson)

This Corrosion

MTV

Pablo Picasso (some say the real quote is "Bad artists copy, great artists steal" or they attribute it to Dali or a variant to Lionel Trilling but who can know for sure?)

Casino (one nasty movie about running a casino)

Dragon Magazine

Troll Lord Games

Mr. Crokinole (the great board Mike and Nikki own is from him)

Trick-taking Games

Well, until I sort out the Power Grid show, here is a Session Review show that is almost a companion to the Rectangular Table Discussion show about Women and Gaming. It was recorded for our marathon Game Day in March where I played way too many fillers and not enough meaty games. But that is okay - we had a load of fun and it gave me a chance to try out two unplayed games from my collection: King Me! and Mall World.

I actually forgot to mention how incredibly cool the bits are in Diamant, too. They are really nice and I recommend getting this charming game even though it is not available in the US (except through specialty retailers).

Incidentally, this picture is of one of our recent game days where Memoir '44 was played. The fellow in gray is Matt Grimaldi - an old friend of mine who is the co-host on the Power Grid show. In the foreground is my buddy Chad - who has the distinction of being mentioned not only frequently on this show, but he was also namechecked on the Dice Tower last year when he visited the illustrious Tom and Joe while on Korea for business. Why, Tom even complained that Chad kept taking the role he wanted in Puerto Rico. I know what he means - Chad can be annoyingly good at games! Chad will also appear on BGB soon on the upcoming RTD on Games Workshop Games of the 80's, if I should ever get around to buying Total Recorder so I can get our friend Bernie on there, too, via Skype. 

Next up: Power Grid: In depth (once I can edit this whole thing, which is likely going to be released as a two-parter). 

Show Notes

Games Mentioned: 

That's Life! (which I refer to by its German name Verflixxt! occasionally)

Diamant

Wheedle

Taj Mahal

King Me! (BGG even has a Trekkie version for you Trek-geeks)

Coloretto

Mall World

Niagara

King's Breakfast

Shadows Over Camelot

TransEuropa

For Sale

Gulo Gulo

Power Grid (Italy/France Maps)

6 Nimmt! (wow, that's three games that have exclamation points in their titles)

Pit (which sometimes has an exclamation point)

Kremlin

Reef Encounter

Caylus

Railroad Tycoon 

Other links:

St.Patrick's Day

Irish Soda Bread

Shamrocks

Dice

Bruno Faiduitti's Ideal Game Library (in French and English)

Tom Hanks

Attila the Hun

The Vintage Gamer Discusses Pit (which is still a lousy game, but Jim Van Verth somehow still recorded an interesting show on it)

Indiana Jones

Mayfair Games

Da Vinci Games

Ever wanted to play Puerto Rico with your preschooler? Keythedral with your kindergartener?

In this show, my children Alaric and Gwyndolyn (ages 6 and 4) join me to discuss some of the variants we play of popular strategy designer games. Why wait any longer to begin your pre-K child's lifelong addiction to the board game hobby?

Show Notes

Games Mentioned:

Caylus

Wallenstein

Can't Stop

Advanced Squad Leader

Die Macher

Reef Encounter

Puerto Rico

Elefun

Railroon Tycoon

Jenga

Ricochet Robot

Yahtzee Jr.

Other Links:

Hard Games Made Harder For Hardcore Gamers

Martin Wallace

Boohbah

Sid Sackson

Skittles

Puerto Rico (the not-a-state, not the game)

M&Ms

Coral

Oompa Loompas

CRTs

Toy Story

Eagle Games (doing something about the board, incidentally)

Temporary Tattoos

Line of Sight

Furbys (my apologies for including a link to Hasbro - darn! Did it again!)

Huh?