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.