So Very Wrong About Games

Ah, you dear internet pedants, I can hear your rapid and ever-present desire for infinite emendations and futile attempts to be comprehensive! "What of the expansion, uhm actually," you demand. We have little experience with the Ginkgopolis expansion, and while it adds several modules, they don't add much to the game--if you catch my subtle distinction.Games Played Last Week:01:18 -The Quest for El Dorado: The Golden Temples (Reiner Knizia, Ravensburger, 2019)05:52 -Heat: Pedal to the Metal (Asger Harding Granerud and Daniel Skjold Pedersen, Days of Wonder, 2022)11:00 -Last Message (Lee Ju-Hwa and Giung Kim, IELLO, 2021)15:05 -Hyperborea: Light and Shadow (Andrea Chiarvesio, Maurizio Vergendo, and Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion Press, 2016)19:10 -Ragnarocks (Gord!, Grey Fox Games, 2022)23:45 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022)26:18 -Rauha (Johannes Goupy and Théo Rivière, GRRRE Games, 2023) 28:16 -For Sale (Stefan Dorra, Uberplay, 1997)30:41 -Woodcraft (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):34:30 Game Brewer's Trolls and Princesses on Kickstarter36:02 Expansion to Witchstone: Full Moon36:40 Nusfjord Big Box: new expansions sold separately37:54 Gears of War: The Card Game38:26 SVWAG YouTube Page: new videoshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7rQYKYwsxouP_7nSza9qQ39:19 Feature Game: Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our year-end eleganza extravaganza! Lists are compiled. Harsh truths confronted. For example, while one generally takes a while to acclimatize to the using the new year in dates, 2022 seemed immediately apt and people switched over effortlessly. 2023 still seems weird, though--as evidenced by the fact that we forgot to change our tags for our 2023 episodes thus far! How embarrassing.Games Played Last Week:01:32 -Good Puppers (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2021)03:21 -Woodcrafters (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022)06:55 -Robotech: Reconstruction (Dr. Wictz, Strange Machine Games, 2023) 12:59 -Black Rose Wars (Marco Montanaro, Ludus Magnus Studio, 2019)18:46 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt--Pharaoh (Erc M. Lang, CMON, 2021)22:53 -Age of Industry (Martin Wallace, Treefrog Games, 2010) and Age of Industry Expansion: Belgium and USSR (Clause Sirois, Self-published, 2013)29:17 -Sentinels of the Multiverse (Christopher Badell, Paul Bender, & Adam Rebottaro, Greater Than Games, 2011)30:25 -Artisans of Splendent Vale (Nikki Valens, Renegade Game Studios, 2022)37:14 -Lanzerath Ridge (David Thompson, Dan Verssen Games, 2022)40:42 Top 10s of 20221:04:44 Game of the Year 20221:07:33 Special CategoriesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I'm head of the classI'm popularI'm a quarter backI'm popularMy mom says I'm a catchI'm popularI'm never last pickedI'm in the Green Team cliqueBeing attractive is the most important thing there isIf you wanna catch the biggest fish in your pondYou have to be as attractive as possibleMake sure to keep your hair spotless and cleanWash it at least every two weeksOnce every two weeksAnd if you see Johnny Football Hero in the hallTell him he played a great gameTell him you liked his choice in the best of three"-Popular by Nada Surf,which ought to have been in the Green Team Wins rulebookGames Played Last Week:01:09 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022)04:01 -Tiletum (Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2022)08:18 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022)10:55 -Terracotta Army (Przemysław Fornal and Adam Kwapiński, Board&Dice, 2022)17:54 -Paperback Adventures (Tim Fowers and Skye Larsen, Fowers Games, 2022)23:34 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021)24:46 -Robotech: Reconstruction (Dr. Wictz, Strange Machine Games, 2021) 29:12 -Hyperborea (Andrea Chiarvesio & Pierluca Zizzi, Asterion, 2014)34:24 -Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game (Malachi Ray Rempen, Keen Bean Studios, 2021)News (and why it doesn't matter):38:32 Irrgarten der Magier (Magician's Maze): Co-op dexterity with magnets!40:05 Andrew Parks and Eric Goldberg's Tales of the Arthurian Knights41:06 Isle of Skye Big Box: Walker Buys Twice Edition42:16 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb742:54 We have a Patreon. www.patreon.com/svwag44:11 Feature Game: Beowulf: The Legend (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2005)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After much popular demand, we present to you the much-anticipated return of Masterpiece Theatre. Our esteemed patron--who is utterly unaware of our existence, such is his focus on his twin demesnes of fastness and furiousness--deserves no less. Of course, should His Grace, the Reverend Doktor Doktor Vincent, Duke of Diesel, Esq. O.B.E. ever condescend to acknowledge us plebs, we would no doubt swoon from appreciation. We would cherish so much as a grunt! Or a cease and desist! Games Played Last Week:01:21 -Undaunted: Stalingrad (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2022)05:33 -Time of Empires (David Simiand and Pierre Voye, Pearl Games, 2022)09:31 -Time Barons (Jon Perry and Derek Yu, WizKids, 2014)13:51 -Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition (Muneyuki Yokouchi, Bézier Games, 2022)18:19 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022)22:20 -One Deck Galaxy (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2022)26:02 -G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game: Coldsnap Expansion (T.C. Petty III, Renegade Game Studios, 2022)29:33 -Tidal Blades: Banner Festival (J.B. Howell and Michael Mihealsick, Druid City Games, 2022)34:16 -Tiny Turbo Cars (Hjalmar Hach, Alessandro Manuini, Jonathan Panada, Laura Severino, and Giulia Tamagni, Horrible Guild, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):39:59 Knizia's Quo Vadis becomes Zoo Vadis from Bitewing Games41:13 Kingmaker from 1974 becomes revised from Gibsons Games42:38 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb743:25 Warsurge on Kickstarter: setting and miniature agnostic with unrestricted unit design45:59 Feature Game: Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)1:11:32 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: Glass OnionAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We take no time off for Boxing Day here at SVWAG, a day so named because according to the common law of the King (still feels weird saying that) citizens of the Commonwealth are permitted to punch someone in the face on this day only. It's like a pugilistic The Purge but with the metric system and occasional poutine. The news this week features a number of exemplary game titles. Many a stellar game has crossed our paths purely on the strength of its name, whereas others are so generic as to defy searching. Go ahead, find R on Board Game Geek, or the game Quest. I dare you.01:59 AYURIS: Dominant Species Marine (Chad Jensen, GMT Games, 2021)Games Played Last Week:04:50 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)10:59 -Weather Machine (Vital Lacerda, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2022)12:42 -Time of Empires (David Simiand and Pierre Voye, Pearl Games, 2022)23:10 -Wayfarers of the South Tigris (S J Macdonald and Shem Phillips, Garphill Games, 2022)26:40 -Persuasion (Xoe Allred, Unpublished)31:31 -Starship Captains (Peter B. Hoffgaard, Czech Games Edition, 2022)37:22 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004)42:43 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022)47:53 -Arcana Rising (Tim Armstrong, Grey Fox Games, 2021)50:12 -R (Seiji Kanai, Kanai Factory, 2011)News (and why it doesn't matter):52:35 Much that Is Good, and All that Is Evil: game about the Western Gull53:08 The Adventures of Robin Hood: Friar Tuck in Danger expansion54:14 End of year SVWAG survey! Questions! Prizes! Please help us plan! https://forms.gle/WuqtmUK39xFMAbAb755:10 Noobs in Space55:48 Topic: Real-time GamesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All things in SVWAG are glorious, and that applies doubly for our glorious returns. We will also not be taking any additional breaks during the holidays! Yes, we can pledge an uninterrupted broadcast schedule through to the new year--leading directly to our annual end-of-year spectacular. And it shall be what, listeners? Say it with me,It shall be glorious.02:24 AYURIS: Bullet♥︎ (Joshua Van Laningham, Level 99 Games, 2021)Games Played Last Week:05:08 -Tidal Blades: Banner Festival (J.B. Howell and Michael Mihealsick, Druid City Games, 2022)08:12 -Riftforce: Beyond (Carlo Bortolini, 1 More Time Games, 2022)11:29 -Turing Machine (Fabien Gridel and Yoann Levet, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2022)17:27 -Roll Camera!: The Filmmaking Board Game (Malachi Ray Rempen, Keen Bean Studios, 2021)23:36 -John Company: Second Edition (Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig Games, 2022)29:27 -Horizons of Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2022)33:20 -Terracotta Army (Przemysław Fornal and Adam Kwapiński, Board&Dice, 2022)35:37 -Pandemic: Fall of Rome (Matt Leacock & Paolo Mori, Z-Man, 2018)38:11 -Tiletum (Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini, Board&Dice, 2022)39:44 -Brazil: Imperial (Zé Mendes, MeepleBR, 2021)49:02 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)50:46 -Frostpunk: The Board Game (Adam Kwapiński, Glass Cannon Unplugged, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):52:27 Calico app: cats on your phone53:20 French website Tric Trac to shut down54:18 Mythic Games divests itself of several IPs to CMON and Monolith Games56:01 Sweaty Tryhard vs. Filthy Casual: not meant as insult. New Myers-Briggs to be crafted?58:10 Inside Job: trick-taking with traitor58:52 IKI expansion: Akebono. Walker summons the purifying flames.59:23 Queen games reprints Stefan Feld's city collection with no updates in 9-day campaign. Allegedly.1:00:35 Topic: Random EventsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes a game's title leads to it being underplayed. Such is not the case for Carolus Magnus, whose chief downside might be the surplus of excellent aliases (Chuckie Mags, Charlie Big-Big, Carlos Grande, Caroolie Magoonie, et al). Planet Unknown, on the other hand, hardly sticks in one's memory. Planet Lazy Susan, though perhaps a bit clumsy, would have likely generated more interest and most definitely adhered to gamers' memory more.Games Played Last Week:01:06 -I.S.S. Vanguard (Andrzej Betkiewicz, Krzysztof Piskorski, Paweł Samborski, and Marcin Świerkot, Awaken Realms, 2022) 08:03 -Teotihuacan: City of Gods (Daniele Tascini & Dávid Turczi, NSKN Games, 2018)11:51 -Frostpunk: The Board Game (Adam Kwapiński, Glass Cannon Unplugged, 2022)24:07 -MicroMacro: Crime City--All In (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2022)27:27 -Endless Winter: Paleoamericans (Stan Kordonskiy, Fantasia Games, 2022)29:34 -Last Message (Lee Ju-Hwa and Giung Kim, IELLO, 2021)33:07 -Eriantys (Leo Colovini, Cranio Creations, 2021)34:41 -War Chest (Trevor Benjamin & David Thompson, AEG, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter):35:39 Snow People on Kickstarter: inexpensive PnP37:35 "Convention Haul" pictures are often just marketing; audience beware39:25 Teeter Tower: Dice-rolling stacking game40:06 Feature Game: Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Walker has yet to inform us what agenda the aliens are pursuing in Argentina during their relentless campaign of cow abduction. Do the alien overlords practise colonialism in the same way as their human counterparts? Do the inscrutable extraterrestrials differentiate between different humans, perhaps much as they differentiate between cows? Are their secret machinations behind the British East India Company as well? Walker, what are you hiding!01:54 AYURIS: Faiyum (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2020)Games Played Last Week:05:22 -Spire's End: Hildegard (Greg Favro, Favro Ventures, LLC., 2022)07:36 -Innovation (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2010)07:44 -A Feast for Odin (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2016)07:50 -Jetpack Joyride: Deluxe Edition (Michał Gołębiowski, Lucky Duck Games, 2019)08:12 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2021)08:35 -Whale Riders (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2021)09:04 -Wavelength (Alex Hague, Justin Vickers, & Wolfgang Warsch, Palm Court, 2019)10:29 -Trick Shot (Second Edition) (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa)14:07 -Crash Octopus (Naotaka Shimamoto, itten, 2021)16:17 -Riftforce: Beyond (Carlo Bortolini, 1 More Time Games, 2022)18:55 -Horizons of Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2022)20:47 -John Company: Second Edition (Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig Games, 2022)27:21 -Sidereal Confluence: Bifurcation (TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids, 2022)30:34 -Oak (Wim Goossens, Game Brewer, 2022)33:55 -Persuasion (Xoe Allred, Unpublished)https://knifebunny.itch.io/persuasion38:25 -Great Western Trail: Argentina (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2022)43:53 -Turncoats (Matilda Simonsson, Milda Matilda Games, 2021)48:00 -Guards of Atlantis II (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):52:30 Spread the news of SVWAG! www.patreon.com/svwag54:09 CMYK New Boardgame Smell scented candle 55:22 Peanut Butter Belly Time56:20 Kickstarter projects: Pest & Runar57:29 Regicide new art, new suit theme for diamonds #savepeanut59:32 Topic: Deal-MakingAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Say what you want about the evils of filthy lucre, but I find it amazing how managers turn communitarian and high-minded when it comes to fair remuneration. "Don't you believe in the project?" "Aren't you committed to the team?" et al get deployed all the time when people want to, you know, get compensated for their work. One can't help but notice that racialized workers and women get subjected to such nonsense at a higher-than-average rate. Volunteerism is noble and good, but stiffing workers is not. When someone is trying to elide the difference, you can bet that they're up to something.Games Played Last Week:01:12 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022)04:36 -Fantasy Realms: Deluxe Edition (Bruce Galssco, WizKids, 2022)08:55 -Lands of Galzyr (Seppo Kuukasjärvi and Sami Laakso, Snowdale Design, 2022)12:12 -Horizons of Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2022)15:25 -Weather Machine (Vital Lacerda, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2022)19:01 -Resurgence (Stan Kordonskiy, Half-a-Kingdom Games, 2022)22:17 -Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game (Nick Niotis and Argyris Poungouras, Mythic Games, 2022)28:23 -Innovation (Carl Chudyk, Asmadi Games, 2010)News (and why it doesn't matter):30:10 HeroScape: Age of Annihilation fails to reach crowdfunding goal32:40 Star Wars: Shatterpoint minis game from Atomic Mass35:35 Hollandays Sale! Freebie "Watch Out! That's a Dracula!"36:29 Expensive video game adaptation! Archon's Heroes of Might & Magic III, Steamforged's Elden Ring38:07 Abusive labour practices in hobby businesseshttps://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/pandasaurus-games/feature/pandasaurus-games-workers-allege-toxic-workplace-crunch-burnout-payment-issues39:45 Feature Game: Dwellings of Eldervale (Luke Laurie, Breaking Games, 2020)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most of those time loop movies, while enjoyable, lack any degree of verisimilitude--clearly the chief use of a power to undo time or back up would be to get another chance at not saying something terribly stupid and embarrassing. One wonders if such time travelers would have a yet deeper reservoir of memories of sounding like a total cretin, even though those utterances were never said in the actual timeline (setting aside the multiverse version of time travel, or the "Infinite Douchebag" theory).01:33 AYURIS: Anachrony: Fractures of Time (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, Dávid Turczi, & Mindclash Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:03:56 -Free Ride (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2021)10:36 -Embryo Machine (Giguru Akiguchi and Toshimitsu Shigaki, LionWing Publishing, 2018)11:31 -Monolyth (Phil Walker-Harding, CMON, 2022)13:58 -Arcana Rising (Tim Armstrong, Grey Fox Games, 2021)18:17 -Skymines (Viktor Kobilke and Alexander Pfister, Deep Print Games, 2022)24:18 -Soda Smugglers (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022) 27:27 -Hot Lead (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022)30:42 -Pumafiosi (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022) 33:55 -Tiny Turbo Cars (Hjalmar Hach, Alessandro Manuini, Jonathan Panada, Laura Severino, and Giulia Tamagni, Horrible Guild, 2022)38:02 -Terra Nova (Andreas Faul, KOSMOS, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):42:16 New Patreon-exclusive show: WIRED, about our Oathsworn campaign.42:37 Check your Patreon messages if you submitted to get a copy of Horizons of Spirit Island!43:10 Tragedy Looper: New Tragedies by BakaFire45:49 Michael Crossman's 100 Post Apocalyptic Vehicular Combat Accessories on Kickstarter47:07 The Last of Us: Escape the Dark 48:48 Minimalist version of Gatefall by Jack Dire on Kickstarter50:16 Topic: Dealing with Rules MistakesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices