So Very Wrong About Games

Walker encourages you to tell friends about So Very Wrong About Games, despite his not listening to the podcast. Mark has recommended it to him, but apparently Walker's contempt for his co-host's opinions is not limited to games, but extends also to the podcast they produce together about games. One assumes Walker also does not read the episode descriptions, which is truly risky, and might create an incentive to make them devoted to discussing his manifold character flaws. Games Played Last Week:-Forbidden Stars 2m51s (Samuel Bailey, James Kniffen, & Corey Konieczka, Fantasy Flight, 2015)-Dice Hockey 4m17s (Artyom Nichipurov, Unpublished Wolff Designa prototype)-Ortus Regni 5m46s (Jon Sudbury, Jon Sudbury Games, 2014)-Xia: Legends of a Drift System 7m00s (Cody Miller, Far Off Games, 2014)-Skull 9m27s (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011)-Cockroach Poker 9m27s (Jacques Zeimet, Dre Magier Spiele, 2004)-Escape: The Curse of the Temple 14m24s (Kristian Amundsen Østby, Queen Games, 2012)-878: Vikings – Invasions of England 15m16s (Beau Beckett, Dave Kimmel, & Jeph Stahl, Academy Games, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Ortus Regni back...ish 17m19s-Tokyo Game Market 19m18s-Nostalgic Splat Attack 19m38s-Knizia auctions Lost Cities 20m13sFeature Game: Preview of Crisis at Steamfall 22m36s (Tom Stasiak, Beautiful Disaster Games, 2018)Topic: Interview with Chris Cieslik of Asmadi Games 40m16sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark tries to come to terms with his outright hypocrisy, largely on the basis that he feels it's acceptable for him but not for everyone else. Walker yearns for glory, but learns to his disappointment that glory is not legal tender and cannot be exchanged for goods or services. Lords of Hellas offer such piercing insights into the soul, "self-knowledge" being one of its 43 victory conditions. Also, SVWAG is giving away stuff.Massive Darkness Giveaway: 1m33sGames Played Last Week:-Spirit Island 3m05s (Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2017)-John Company 4m21s (Cole Wehrle, Sierra Madre Games, 2017)-Altiplano 5m57s (Reiner Stockhausen, dlp Games, 2017)-Fairy Tale 9m14s (Satoshi Nakamura, Z-Man Games, 2004)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Asmodee for sale? Maybe? Maybe not? 10m42s-Forbidden City Forbidden 11m43s-Spiel des Jahres 12m24s-More Kemet. Purple for everything! 13m05s-Jakub Rozalski's art under scrutiny 13m32sFeature Game: Lords of Hellas 17m05s (Adam Kwapinski, Awaken Realms, 2018)Topic: Problematic Expansions 51m14sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As it happens, games do not spawn ex nihilo, fully armed and armored from Zeus' forehead. I'm certain that's what most of you believed, but it's not true! To confirm this implausible fact, Mark sat down with Eric Reuss, the designer of Spirit Island, to talk about stuff. Walker and Mark also discuss The City of Kings, a game that is a fascinating mixture of euro mechanics, grand adventure, and both excellent and terrible theming.Games Played Last Week:-Kemet 1m25s (Jacques Bariot & Guillaume Montiage, Matagot, 2012)-The Castles of Burgundy 3m22s (Stefan Feld, alea, 2011)-878: Vikings – Invasions of England 4m40s (Beau Beckett, Dave Kimmel, & Jeph Stahl, Academy Games, 2017)-One Deck Dungeon: Forest of Shadows 7m12s (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2018)-Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire 8m19s (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Acros forced off of Steam 12m55s-X-Wing Second Edition 14m16s-Empyreal: Spells and Steam 18m39sFeature Game: The City of Kings 19m01s (Frank West, The City of Games, 2017)Topic: Interview with Eric Reuss, designer of Spirit Island 41m32sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast scales seamlessly from 2 to an in finite number of listeners, but we're not nearly that optimistic. Walker sometimes dreams of a solo mode, but sadly Mark insists on speaking. Mark and Walker again turn to Vlaada Chvatil, a designer who loves idiosyncrasy and detail--sometimes to excess. Walker asks if it would be appropriate to rant, and Mark gladly lets him off leash. Games Played Last Week:-Railroad Tycoon/Railways of the World 1m52s (Glenn Drover & Martin Wallace, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2005)-House of Borgia 3m13s (Scott Almes, Gamelyn Games, 2017)-Ex Libris 5m24s (Ada P. McIver, Renegade Game Studios, 2017)-Situation 7 7m27s (Marvin Glass, Parker Brothers, 1969)-Biblios 10m47s (Steve Finn, Iello, 2007)-Corporate America 13m15s (Teale Fristoe, Nothing Sacred Games, 2013)-Winner's Circle 14m36s (Reiner Knizia, Face2Face, 2001)-Rheinlander 15m30s (Reiner Knizia, Face2Face, 1999)News (and why it doesn't matter)-7 Wonders expands, Walker sighs 16m32s-SVWAG expands, Walker sighs 17m37s-Renegade Arboretum 18m41s Feature Game: Mage Knight: The Board Game 20m25s (Vlaada Chvatil, WizKids, 2011)Topic: Player Scaling 51m39sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You wouldn't like Mark when he's angry, but that's probably attributable to his being fundamentally unlikable at the best of times. At any rate, Walker tries to rein him in from ranting too long about obvious component failures, publisher laziness, and alleged outright theft. Walker, for his part, just wants things to mean something. We are seekers here at So Very Wrong About Games.Games Played Last Week:-Spirit Island 2m10s (Eric Reuss, Fabled Nexus, 2017)-The City of Kings 4m00s (Frank West, The City of Games, 2018)-Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire 6m00s (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017)-World of SMOG: Rise of Moloch 9m04s (Fel Barros, Christophe Madura, Alexandru Olteanu, David Rakoto, & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2018)-Shadowrift: Skittering Darkness 9m47s (Jeremy Anderson, Game Salute, 2018).-John Company 15m22s (Cole Wehrle, Sierra Madre, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Music and geopolitics 22m14s-Red Raven Targets the mass market 24m10s-App didn't kill Imperial Assault 25m07s-In France, no one can hear you scream theft 26m18s-No app didn't kill Specter Ops 29m24sFeature Game: Feudum 30m06s (Mark K. Swanson, Odd Bird Games, 2018) Topic: Euro/Ameritrash Hybridization 54m22sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark and Walker delve into matters of criminal justice this week, pondering the balance and tradeoffs between deterrence, retribution, and rehabilitation. Walker seems to think that Bunny Kingdom a form of cruel and unusual punishment, whereas Mark seems to think that any form of travel is necessarily a form of inhumane rendition. Anyway, they're sellouts now, so if you send them free stuff in the mail they'll say whatever you want them to.Games Played Last Week:-When I Dream 3m22s (Chris Darsaklis, Repos Productions, 2016)-Noria 6m09s (Sophia Wagner, Stronghold, 2017)-A Feast for Odin 8m46s (Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2016)-Space Hulk 3rd Edition 12m13s (Richard Halliwell, Games Workshop, 2009)-XenoShyft: Onslaught 14m00s (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2015)-Massive Darkness 18m07s (Raphaël Guiton, Jean-Baptiste Lullien, & Nicolas Raoult, CMON, 2017)-Feudum 21m12s (Mark K. Swanson, Odd Bird Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-More Shade, more Spire 28m15s-Boarders' backers left in the lurch 28m46s-Battlestar Galactica minis 30m20s-Starship Samurai 32m11sFeature Game: Quartermaster General 33m50s (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2014)Quartermaster General: Victory or Death: The Peloponnesian War (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2016)Quartermaster General: 1914 (Ian Brody, Griggling Games, 2016)Topic: Gaming Conventions 55m20sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Times are bad--children no longer respect their elders and everyone is running a Kickstarter. Nostalgia fuels our news segment today, with varying levels of scorn for cherished memories. For those of you playing along at home with their So Very Wrong About Games bingo cards, Walker talks about a Mystic Vale expansion and Mark brings up Macross--let us know if that makes five in a row.Games Played Last Week:-Not Alone 1m48s (Ghislain Masson, Stronghold Games, 2016)-Quartermaster General: 1914 2m49s (Ian Brody, PSC Games, 2016)-Mythic Battles: Pantheon 5m07s (Benoit Vogt, Monolith, 2017)-Formula D 7m10s (Laurent Lavaur & Eric Randall, Asmodee, 2008)-Rising Sun 9m30s (Eric Lang, CMON, 2018) vs. -Blood Rage 9m30s (Eric Lang, CMON, 2015)-The City of Kings 13m34s (Frank West, The City of Games, 2018)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Mousetrap Redux...? 16m59s-Robot? Eck. 19m12s-The Mystic Vale gets yet bigger 20m11s-So much Confrontation 21m21s-2nd editions for Claustrophobia and Race 23m15sFeature Game: GKR: Heavy Hitters 23m41s (Matt Hyra, Cryptozoic and WETA Workshop, 2018)Topic: Blinging Out Your Games 45m26sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We adopt a policy of firm opposition to irresolvable paradoxes here at So Very Wrong About Games. Then again, everything we say is wrong, so take that for what it is worth. Don't even ask us about sets not containing themselves. We turn our attention to Vlaada Chvatil's work for the first time, and ruminate about multiplayer conflict games and how they often fail. Also, swimwear...? And "cascades of nightmarish terribleness," which might become our new podcast name.Games Played Last Week:-World of SMOG: Rise of Moloch 1m10s (Fel Barros, Christophe Madura, Alexandru Olteanu, David Rakoto, & Michael Shinall, CMON, 2018)-Concordia 2m59s (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2013)-Meeple Circus 8m30s (Cedric Millet, Matagot, 2017)-Clans of Caledonia 10m13s (Juma Al-Joujou, Karma Games, 2017)-Rum & Bones: Second Tide 11m31s (Michael Shinall, CMON, 2017)-Warfighter 13m59s (Dan Verssen, DVG, 2014)News (and why it doesn't matter)-April Fools disappointment roundup 16m06s-More Mystic, more Vale 17m25s-More Gloom, more Haven 17m51sFeature Game: Space Alert 19m21s (Vlaada Chvatil, CGE, 2008)Topic: Problems in Multiplayer Conflict Games 43m33sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark references several films while trying, and failing, to keep his composure. Walker tells stories that may or may not resemble reality. Both hosts rant about design decisions they find inexplicable. It's a very cathartic experience for all involved.Games Played Last Week:-Dinosaur Island 1m16s (Jonathan Gilmour & Brian Lewis, Pandasaurus, 2017)-Cockroach Poker Royal 2m17s (Jacques Zeimet, 999 Games, 2012)-Caverna: The Cave Farmers 4m05s (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2013) -Unusual Suspects 6m00s (Paolo Mori, Cranio Creations, 2015)-Too Many Bones 8m45s (Adam & Josh Carlson, Chip Theory Games, 2017)-Infinity 12m16s (Gutier Lusquiños Rodríguez, Corvus Belli, 2005)-Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire 13m38s (David Sanders, Games Workshop, 2017)-Food Chain Magnate 15m35s (Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter, 2015)News (and why it doesn't matter)-Bruno's Imaginarium 19m15s-Other Bruno's Chawai 19m45s-Asmodee: The Movie 20m20s-Shilling for Dinosaur Island 21m10s-Infinity plus one 22m06s-SVWAG Giveaway 23m00sFeature Game: Champions of Midgard 24m14s (Ole Steiness, Grey Fox Games, 2015) Topic: Victory Point Systems 47m24sAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hosts discuss the art of trash-talking in games, being a fantasy racist, BattleLore 2nd Edition gameplay, and board game life hacks. They also touch on news in the gaming world and share their gratitude towards listeners.