Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show The Giant Brain

Oliver and Iain are back in the studio as Jamie continues to travel Scotland. This episode they bring you up to date news on the winners of the Cardboard Edison Award, look at the finances of our overlords, and ask “Is Ryan Dancey accountable?”. Tune in to find out the answer. 
 
Headlines
 
Cardboard Edison Awards
https://cardboardedison.com/
https://cardboardedison.com/award
 
Asmodee financials and Embracer Write Down
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56967/embracer-writes-down-asmodee-dark-horse
 
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/05/23/asmodee-writes-down-more-than-620m-of-asset-value-despite-posting-strong-annual-sales/
 
Is Ryan Dancey Accountable?
 
Original tweet
https://x.com/PonchoRebound/status/1661308221326229504/photo/3
 
Apology Tweet
https://twitter.com/rsdancey/status/1661409374735327235
 
Updates
 
Mythic doubles down 
https://gamefound.com/en/projects/mythic-games/rise-of-the-necromancers#/section/rewards/reward-product-20652
 
Iain’s “Review”
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/05/19/6-siege-first-thoughts/

News
 
Dicebreaker acquired by IGN
https://bsky.app/profile/soulmuppet.bsky.social/post/3kt3qiftbh32l
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ign-entertainment-acquires-eurogamer-gi-vg247-rock-paper-shotgun-and-more
 
18th Annual Golden Geek Winners for 2023 Announced
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3300892/18th-annual-golden-geek-winners-for-2023
 
Diana Jones emerging designer
https://www.dianajonesaward.org/
 
Dice Tower AI
https://bsky.app/profile/boardgamefeast.bsky.social/post/3ksp5kgndn22u
 
Funko Gets a Wizard
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56880/wotc-prez-funko
 
Japan’s Game Market Website Hacked
https://gamemarket-jp.translate.goog/information/177383?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
 
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/05/16/hackers-attack-website-of-japans-biggest-board-game-fair-years-of-irreplacable-information-lost/

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

Patreon Shoutouts
 
Kevin Bertram
https://www.fortcircle.com/
 
James Naylor
https://naylorgames.com/
 
Shaun Newman
game-a-lot.fun/en
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
 
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
 
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
 
Fanroll
https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/
 
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
 
Outro
 
Cluedo Conspiracy
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/391824/clue-conspiracy
 
Our Links
 
Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on
 
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r
Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Jamie is on tour around the islands of Scotland so it falls to Oliver and Iain to bring you the latest episode of Brainwaves. They look at the finances of CMON, support for designers in the US and UK, and cover some interesting programmes from the folk behind the Spiel des Jahres. 
 
Headlines
CMON sales
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56802/cmon-sales-flat-2023
Tabletop Games Designers Association
https://www.ttgda.org/
IWBG Union welcomes tabletop members
https://iwgb.org.uk/en/post/iwgb-tabletop-workers/
 
Updates
 
Mythic review email
 
News
Spiel des Jahres Support Programme
https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderprogramm-2024-73-000-euro-fuer-spielerische-projekte/
Deutsche Spiele Preis
https://spiel-essen.de/de/programm/dsp#abstimmen
 
Black Lotus beats the One Ring 
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/magic-the-gathering-game/news/magic-the-gathering-pristine-black-lotus-sold-at-3-million-dollar-auction
Biggest card tournament
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56813/largest-tcg-tournament-ever
 
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs
 
Fallcon game award
https://fallcon.com/CGDA/Rules
 
Patreon Shoutouts
Kevin Bertram
https://www.fortcircle.com/
James Naylor
https://naylorgames.com/
Shaun Newman
game-a-lot.fun/en
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
Fanroll
https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
 
Our Links
 
Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on
 
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r
Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the tabletop industry, but never fear. The Brainwaves team are here to bring you all the latest news both big and small from across the globe. 
Headlines
Embracer splits up
https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-announces-its-intention-to-transform-into-three-standalone-publicly-listed-entities-at-nasdaq-stockholm/
https://embracer.com/releases/asmodee-secures-financing-agreement-of-eur-900-million-as-part-of-separation-deleveraging-the-remaining-embracer-group/
https://embracer.com/releases/open-letter-by-embracer-group-ceo-about-the-transformation-into-three-standalone-publicly-listed-entities/
 
WOTC ceo steps down
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56723/wizards-coast-president-resigns
 
Goliath buys Lucky Duck
https://toyworldmag.co.uk/goliath-acquires-lucky-duck-games/
 
News
Japon Brand joins CMON
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56786/japon-brand-love-letter-machi-koro-to-join-cmon-limited
 
Kickstarter implements late pledges 
https://updates.kickstarter.com/first-look-late-pledges-on-kickstarter/
 
D&D is good for you?
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/81119/1/JCU_Merrick%20et%20al%202023%20AAM.pdf
 
Steve Jackson Game Sales down
https://www.sjgames.com/general/stakeholders/
 
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

Patreon Shoutouts
Kevin Bertram
https://www.fortcircle.com/
 
James Naylor
https://naylorgames.com/
 
Shaun Newman
game-a-lot.fun/en
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
 
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
 
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
 
Fanroll
https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/
 
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
 
Outro
Clue TV series
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/clue-film-tv-adaptations-hasbro-sony-1235979732/
 
Our Links
 
Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on
 
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r
Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Hi folks,
 
This is another special from my time at Gothcon in Sweden. This is a panel I lead where the panellists and I talk about the state of RPG criticism in 2024 and how we go about reviewing RPG products.
 
The Panellists
Thanks to the panellists for joining me and discussing this interesting topic!
Andreas Lundström - Sweden Rolls
https://www.swedenrolls.com/
Hjlmar Norden - Red Moon Roleplaying
https://www.redmoonroleplaying.com/
Michael Ericson - Äventyrarna Rollspelspodd
https://www.facebook.com/arpodd/
Ras
https://dragon-legion.com/
 

Brainwaves is a whole 6 years old! We would like to thank all our listeners for their support and encouragement over the time we have been running the show. 
The whole team are back this episode to bring you the return of Golden Bell, the defence of Hasbro by Chris Cocks, more plagiarism in Magic: The Gathering and much more!
 
Headlines
 
Webcomic Name creator sued by Golden Bell
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56568/oh-no-suit-sends-webcomic-name-creator-alex-norris-back-gofundme?fbclid=IwAR157V87k3IHCdMbXEX1IOCca6gkQw6J7myVSPZZP2FXFDxKVgrav7Ifo9I_aem_AbGJEwj7A1FunkxrgJRj7Z16rAdAxaq8Cq67f8Vv2K8gyG1kU8GE1CIOevLobqXVhpSt2yFSzm7tMi8UWYdiwwCU
 
Episode 110
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2022/11/14/brainwaves-episode-110-tolling-bells/
 
History of Golden Bell scandals
https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/259248/golden-bell-affiliated-projects-and-companies
 
Chris Cocks interview with NPR
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/04/03/dungeons-and-dragons-hasbro
 
MTG Plagiarism again
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/magic-the-gathering-game/news/magic-the-gathering-trouble-in-pairs-plagiarism-allegations
 
Post from the artist
https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100001083559756&story_fbid=7377140402332005&paipv=0&eav=AfZSnOVTwNPLL5S7U8xIMYnHQ14DVal1Iacs_KVUuBbPOfyXw_04en2Y3gt2C_dnSyg&_rdr
 
Updates
 
Embracer finishes restructuring at Asmodee
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/03/28/embracer-group-commits-to-asmodees-future-as-restructuring-program-ends/
 
News
 
Ellie Dix works with Hasbro
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/03/27/hasbro-invests-in-design-from-women-innovators-of-play-winner-ellie-dix/
 
https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/hasbro/news/hasbro-second-annual-women-innovators-of-play-winning-card-game-publishing-deal
 
Capstone and Spielworx
https://www.spielworxx.de/news/
 
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs
 
Patreon Shoutouts
 
Kevin Bertram
https://www.fortcircle.com/
 
James Naylor
https://naylorgames.com/
 
Shaun Newman
game-a-lot.fun/en
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
 
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
 
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
 
Metallic Dice Games
https://metallicdicegames.com/
Promo Code: ROLLWITHBRAINS
 
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
 
Outro
 
Scouts Cluedo
https://shop.scouts.org.uk/outlet/scouts-cluedo#selection.color=34&selection.size=719
 
Monopoly film, Margot Robbie’s company now producing
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68786095
 
Our Links
 
Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on
 
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r
Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

Bit of a different cast to our usual today. This is an actual play I did at Gothcon, Sweden. If you aren't familiar Actual Play is a type of RPG that is recorded for people to listen to how a game plays out. I hope you enjoy it. This one is for Blades in the Dark, a game I love to bits.
Players
Huge thanks to the folks who played and made my job really easy!
Andreas Lundström - Sweden Rolls
https://www.swedenrolls.com/
Hjlmar Norden - Red Moon Roleplaying
https://www.redmoonroleplaying.com/
Krister Svanlund
https://www.svartvikenrp.se/
Giant Brain links for Blades
How to play, and run, Blades in the Dark
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2023/04/06/how-to-play-and-run-blades-in-the-dark/
Review
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2017/07/30/blades-in-the-dark-review/
Player's Review
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2022/06/22/blades-in-the-dark-players-review/
 
Giant Brain socials
Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r
Blusky: https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com