

So Very Wrong About Games
Pickaxe
A podcast about all manner of hobby games by Mike Walker and Mark Bigney. Bad games don't go easy on you, so we don't go easy on them. Thorough analysis via reviews, news, and discussion of topics in gaming. We take context seriously, we value your time, and we're not into hype. Just because games are fun doesn't mean we can't take them seriously, and just because we take them seriously doesn't mean we can't have fun.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 31, 2022 • 1h 27min
#215: David Thompson
Multi-Deck System Games! Canadian content! Kevin Bacon! So many digressions in an episode packed with so much culture it couldn't even fit in one of Vin Diesel's muscle shirts. We do, however, focus on games long enough to rhetorically ask--with several stress patterns--of David Thompson: who is this guy? As a note, during the time of the taping of this episode, David Thompson released five more excellent board games. Oh, sorry, I type slowly, make that six. 01:23 AYURIS: Fort (Grant Rodiek, Leder Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:03:36 -Contra: The Board Game (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022)08:23 -Hour of Need (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022) 13:58 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)17:41 -Sniper Elite: The Board Game (Roger Tankersly & David Thompson, Rebellion Unplugged, 2022)24:31 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019)26:48 -Hidden Leaders (Andreas Müller, Markus Müller, & Raphael Stocker, BFF Games, 2022) 30:09 -Foundations of Rome (Emerson Matsuuichi, Arcane Wonders, 2022)34:18 -Stroganov (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2021)37:44 -burncycle (Josh J. Carlson & Shannon Wedge, Chip Theory Games, 2022)44:48 -For Sale (Stefan Dorra, Uberplay, 1997)News (and why it doesn't matter):46:39 Support the show on Patreon, by word of mouth, or don't. You do you!48:56 Fantasy Realms Deluxe. With sleeves!49:35 Arcs by Leder Games on Kickstarter now. Trick-taking!50:27 Batman: Gotham City Chronicles Season 3. New rulebook!52:48 Topic: Designer Spotlight: David Thompson[EDIT: The actor who co-starred in Tremors is named Michael Gross. We regret the error.]1:17:45 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: The PentaverateAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 24, 2022 • 1h 23min
#214: Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles
On Mark's drive across Canada (the first time), he stopped in Drumheller, Alberta for some dinosaur tourism. It has a truly impressive nodosaur specimen. The nodosaur is a close relative of the ankylosaur, a key difference being the former's lack of a thagomizer, the club-like appendage at the end of an ankylosaur's tail. Mark bought a plastic ankylosaur as a souvenir. Its name is Angie.Perseverance doesn't have any ankylosaurs or nodosaurs. A shame. Games Played Last Week:00:53 -Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)04:53 -Carnegie (Xavier Georges, Quined Games, 2022)11:16 -Imperium: Legends (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, Osprey Games, 2021)15:08 -Titan (Matthieu Podevin, Holy Grail Games, 2022)21:19 -Hour of Need (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022)27:25 -Get on Board: New York & London (Saashi, IELLO, 2022)28:31 -Omicron Protocol (Brendan Kendrick & Bernie Lin, Dead Alive Games, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):34:05 Starship Captains by CGE (not Vlaada)34:56 Leave the Church in the Village: Quoridor-esque?35:50 Spiel des Jahres Nominees: Cascadia, SCOUT, Top Ten. Kennerspiel: Living Forest, Cryptid, Dune: Imperium37:13 Escape from New York38:07 Feature Game: Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles Episodes 1 & 2 (Richard Amann, Thomas Vande Ginste, Viktor Peter, Wolf Plancke, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2022)1:09:53 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: The Kid DetectiveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 17, 2022 • 1h 9min
#213: Omnibus Questions Charlie Bravo
We received a number of questions of a more personal nature which we have decided not to address. This is only partially out of a sense of privacy. Rather, we are firmly of the editorial position that the show is best when we focus on games, rather than the personal details of the hosts. We pride ourselves in only wasting a certain amount of your valuable time, and were we to indulge in more personal digressions that could easily balloon the show well beyond the limits of absurdity. 01:08 AYURIS: Flotilla (J.B. Howell & Michael Mihealsick, WizKids, 2019)Games Played Last Week:04:10 -Ark Nova (Mathias Wigge, Feuerland Spiele, 2021)07:26 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022)11:40 -Foundations of Rome (Emerson Matsuuichi, Arcane Wonders, 2022)13:31 -Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)17:45 -Ghosts of Christmas (Taiki Shinzawa, BoardGameTables.com, 2022)20:00 -Imperium: The Contention (Gary Dworetsky, Contention Games, 2021)21:26 -Legendary Inventors (Frédéric Henry, Bombyx, 2016)22:50 -Capital Lux 2: Generations (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2021)26:22 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)29:40 -Space Alert (Vlaada Chvátil, Czech Games Edition, 2008)30:57 -Reichbusters: Project Vril (Jake Thornton, Mythic Games, 2020)News (and why it doesn't matter):32:02 Tough Calls: Dystopia; negotiation reminiscent of Durance?33:05 Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods is back, revised, on Kickstarter #noTyrnosale34:10 Awlrach the Drowner from Games Workshop34:49 Topic: Omnibus Questions Charlie BravoAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 10, 2022 • 1h 20min
#212: Omnibus Questions Charlie Alpha
Inquiring minds demand to know, and we, your humble servants, must perforce answer. Mark resists the urge to elaborate on Kant and Macross! Walker resists the siren call of nineties hip hop! Such feats of iron will are the least of what our curious and/or trolling listeners deserve.(It's the curious trolls that always get you in the end)01:21 AYURIS: Babylonia (Reiner Knizia, Ludonova, 2019)Games Played Last Week:03:05 -Switch & Signal (David Thompson, KOSMOS, 2020)05:30 -Cryptid: Urban Legends (Hal Duncan & Ruth Veevers, Osprey Games, 2022)09:21 -Horrified: American Monsters (Michael Mulvihill, Ravensburger, 2021)11:48 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022)18:29 -Perseverance: Castaway Chronicles Episode 1 (Richard Amann, Thomas Vande Ginste, Viktor Peter, Wolf Plancke, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2022)22:42 -Core Worlds: Empires (Christopher Guild & Andrew Parks, Quixotic Games, 2021)30:47 -Paint the Roses (Ben Goldman, North Star Games, 2022)35:19 -Envelopes of Cash (Andy Schwarz, Envelopes of Cash LLC, 2022)40:17 -Fjords (Franz-Benno Delonge & Phil Walker-Harding, Grail Games, 2022)42:55 -Capital Lux 2: Pocket (Eilif Svensson & Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2021)News (and why it doesn't matter):46:30 Age of Steam Deluxe with new maps and no authorial attribution47:05 Reprint of classic game Inkognito48:40 David Thompson's RESIST! on Gamefound May 12th49:09 Point Salad Pokémon version49:56 Kingdom Builder: Empire Edition for exorbitant monies51:57 Topic: Omnibus Questions Charlie AlphaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 3, 2022 • 1h 19min
#211: Hidden Trackable Information
I wanna be where the patients areI wanna see, wanna see 'em coughin'Buildin' your wings, you don't get too farClients are required for billing, chargingUp where they sneeze, up where they shudderUp where they stay all day just to sufferTreatin' for a fee, wish I could bePart of that world01:37 AYURIS: Cosmic Frog (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:04:10 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022)10:04 -Décorum (Harry Mackin, Charlie Mackin, & Drew Tenenbaum, Floodgate Games, 2022)14:48 -Crescent Moon (Steven Mathers, Osprey Games, 2022)23:07 -Gutenberg (Katarzyna Cioch & Wojciech Wiśniewski, Granna, 2021) 26:06 -Jekyll vs. Hyde (Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2021)28:30 -Stroganov (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2021)31:01 -Ark Nova (Mathias Wigge, Feuerland Spiele, 2021)39:25 -Hippocrates (Alain Orban, Game Brewer, 2022)42:31 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter):46:38 Twilight Imperium Roll and Write46:56 Twilight Imperium Codex on FFG website47:27 Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods cancelled Kickstarter campaign; #noTyrnosale50:07 Firefly deckbuilding game from Gale Force Nine50:27 Topic: Hidden Trackable InformationAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 26, 2022 • 1h 22min
#210: El Grande
Prepare for a mix of topics from four octave vocal ranges to board game reviews. Dive into games like Clinic Deluxe Edition and Dune: Imperium, along with insights on game expansions. Explore the strategic gameplay of El Grande and the influence of characters on AI.

Apr 19, 2022 • 1h 15min
#209: End Conditions
A tragedy of consuming media or goods is that sometimes, regardless of how diligent you are, you cannot keep up with new releases. The creators you love might keep putting out new products, and even a casual enthusiast of a given medium might be disappointed to learn that they missed out on an offering. What I'm trying to get at is that HOW DARE they make a new Macross tabletop game and NOT TELL MARK.01:15 AYURIS: Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fl, 2020)Games Played Last Week:03:44 -Cascadia (Randy Flynn, Flatout Games, 2021)06:25 -Contra: The Board Game (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2022)12:25 -Planet Unknown (Ryan Lambert & Adam Rehberg, Adam's Apple Games, 2022)14:43 -Mega Man Adventures (Peter Gousis & Michael D. Kelley, Blacklist Games, 2022)19:35 -Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done (Seth Jaffee, Tasty Minstrel, 2018)21:16 -Albedo (Kai Herbertz, Herbertz Entertainment UG, 2017)23:13 -Reichbusters: Project Vril (Jake Thornton, Mythic Games, 2020)28:01 -Medici: The Dice Game (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2020)30:01 -Merchants of the Dark Road (Brian Suhre, Elf Creek Games, 2022)33:57 -Mogul (Michael Schacht, Spiele aus Timbuku, 2002)36:38 -Jekyll vs. Hyde (Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2021)37:05 -Attika (Marcel-André Casasola Merkle, Hans im Glück, 2003)News (and why it doesn't matter):39:43 Robotech Macross DOG FIGHT and Mark loses his mind41:30 Boardgamegeek Golden Geek Award Nominations42:32 A Game of Thrones 2nd. edition app gets A Feast for Crows expansion43:12 New Necromunda gets vehicles: Ash Wastes44:40 Shut Up & Sit Down Expo (SHUX) back in Vancouver: Sep. 30-Oct. 245:09 Topic: End ConditionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 12, 2022 • 1h 4min
#208: Agricola
Yes, we are but slaves to the new releases, which is why we are reviewing a fifteen-year-old game. "But that's impossible!" you reply, "No one was alive back then!" Records are scant, but there is a rich oral tradition that people have been playing games at least since the release of Nirvana's Nevermind. Archeologists are still trying to carbon-date that period exactly, though.Games Played Last Week:01:39 -Dead Reckoning (John D. Clair, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2022)08:14 -Cosmic Frog (Jim Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020)09:54 -Familienbande (Leo Colovini, Winning Moves Germany, 2004)13:23 -Barrage (Tommaso Battista & Simone Luciani, Cranio Creations, 2019)16:04 -Cursed Court (Andrew Hanson, Atlas Games, 2017)19:37 -Blockers! (Kory Heath, AMIGO, 2007)21:48 -Dicke Dämonen (Heinrich Glumpler, Edition Erlkönig, 2004)24:09 -New York Zoo (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2020)28:05 -Khmer (team SAIEN, Saien, 2010)30:05 -Priests of Ra (Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande Games, 2009)News (and why it doesn't matter):32:26 Corvus Belli's (of Infinity fame) upcoming fantasy game: Warcrow33:31 Pfister's Mombasa to become Skymines34:13 New Cosmic Encounter expansion: Cosmic Odyssey 35:30 Walker's Who Asked for This? Fantasy Realms Marvel, and Deluxe Castles of Burgundy36:48 Board game beat-em-up à la Golden Axe? Mythic Games' Anastyr38:35 Through the Desert 25th Anniversary Edition from Steeped Games39:50 Feature Game: Agricola (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2007) and Agricola (Revised Edition) (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2016)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 5, 2022 • 1h 10min
#207: Miniatures
Kids in the Hall reviewing Great Western Trail:"What's the point of what we do?""Sorry, I don't follow you.""Well, I mean, we travel 250,000 light years across the universe, abduct cows, probe them, and release them.""Yeah, and?""Well, doesn't it seem kind of pointless?""I don't think I should question the leadership of our Great Leader.""Oh, come on. We've been coming here for fifty years and performing cow probes, and all that we have learned is that one in ten doesn't really seem to mind. Couldn't we at least abduct their political or religious leaders instead of just random livestock?""I'm sure the Great Leader has his reasons.""Well, I'm sure the Great Leader is just some twisted cow freak."01:21 AYURIS: Cthulhu: Death May Die (Eric M. Lang & Rob Daviau, CMON, 2019)Games Played Last Week:04:19 -Switch & Signal (David Thompson, KOSMOS, 2020)06:32 -Big Monster (Dimitri Perrier, BoardBros, 2018)09:13 -Ghosts of Christmas (Taiki Shinzawa, BoardGameTables.com, 2022)14:29 -Champions of Midgard (Ole Steiness, Grey Fox Games, 2015)16:11 -Tsukuyumi: Full Moon Down (Second Edition) (Felix Mertikat, Grey Fox Games, 2021)22:41 -Yokohama (Hisashi Hayashi, Tasty Minstrel Games, 2016)24:15 -Dinosaur Table Battles (Amabel Holland, Hollanspiele, 2020)27:17 -Great Western Trail: Rails to the North (Alexander Pfister, eggertspiele, 2018)29:12 -Quirky Circuits (Nikki Valens, Plaid Hat Games, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter):33:55 Agricola 15; not remotely a "big box"-style omnibus36:03 Squats return to Warhammer 40K 37:25 Trick Shot Second Edition soon on Gamefound38:13 Topic: MiniaturesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 29, 2022 • 59min
#206: Not Applicable
Let us not, as the saying goes, hold the perfect in opposition to the good. We here at SVWAG always encourage the lowering of standards, which the hosts tend to do by their very presences--dragging down the average of any group of which they are a part. We offer but a portion of an episode, but let us be optimists and observe that that allows us to be less wrong.01:34 AYURIS: Versailles 1919 (Geoff Engelstein & Mark Herman, GMT Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:05:42 -Creature Comforts (Roberta Taylor, Kids Table BG, 2022)10:18 -IKI (Koota Yamada, Sorry We Are French, 2015)14:24 -The Red Cathedral (Israel Cendrero & Sheila Santos, Devir Games, 2020)18:45 -Switch & Signal (David Thompson, KOSMOS, 2020)22:55 -Core Worlds (Andrew Parks, Stronghold, 2011)26:08 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019)28:50 -Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write (Brian Lewis, David McGregor, & Marissa Misura, Pandasaurus Games, 2021)31:16 -Just One (Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Repos Production, 2018)33:30 -Brass: Birmingham (Gavan Brown, Matt Tolman, & Martin Wallace, Roxley, 2018)36:40 -Uprising: Curse of the Last Emperor (Cornelius Cremin, Pawel Mazur, & Dirk Sommer, Nemesis.Games, 2021)38:33 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)News (and why it doesn't matter):40:43 Pathways: Canadian dexterity game on Kickstarter41:25 Come see Warmboy's website sowronggames.com! Merch, esoteric information, streaming and more!43:22 ONUS! Traianus on Kickstarter: 2D miniatures-esque gaming.44:16 Sidereal Confluence: Bifurcation expansion44:50 Air, Land & Sea: Spies, Lies & Supplies expandalone45:20 Crescent Moon by Steven Mathers and Osprey Games46:44 Richard Garfield rolls, writes with Dungeons, Dice & Danger47:07 Reiner Knizia's follow-up to My City: My Island47:43 Simpler Lacerda? Bot Factory48:07 A BGG Top 100 without Reiner Knizia (and Tigris & Euphrates)?51:39 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: ClueAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


