It's the season of giving and so I want to encourage those of you who haven't done so to please consider becoming a Boardgamegeek.com Sponsor. BGG is truly the center of the online board gaming experience for so many of us and yet it is provided free of charge by some great guys named Scott Alden and Derk Solko. BGG continue to get better and better (unlike much of the software you pay for), while also handling more and more users in the growing hobby.

I've never asked for donations for Boardgame Babylon (although many nice people have inquired) but I do occasionally encourage listeners to support worthwhile charities (as in the Franz-Benno Delonge event) and I certainly encourage everyone to sign up and support BGG now during their membership drive leading up to the year's end. There's only about a week left to help keep our hobby's most valuable online resource alive and active in 2007. Here's the link:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/support.php

Happy Holidays to all!

...Sheylon

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.