So Very Wrong About Games

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HOBBIES
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

2 DAYS AGO

It could have been a contender.

00:00 Intro 01:25 Star Trek: Captain's Chair – To Boldly Go (Nigel Buckle, Dávid Turczi, Adam Turczi WizKids 2026) 02:53 Feya's Swamp (Helge Ostertag, Anselm Ostertag Fractal Juegos 2025) 07:07 Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition (Andreas Seyfarth Awaken Realms 2025) 09:50 Compania (Yog Akase Asobition 2025) 12:00 Voidfall: Resurgence (Nigel Buckle, Marcel Dragomir, Dávid Turczi Mindclash Games 2026) 15:16 Recall (Helge Meissner, Kristian Amundsen Østby, Kjetil Svendsen, Anna Wermlund Alion – by Dr Ø 2025) 20:08 News 27:08 Main Topic Can the success of a game be determined by how good the rule book is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 hr
10 MAR

Burned

Going to have to post a guard to the studio.... Can't keep letting riff raff stroll in. (unless its the rapper) 00:00 Intro 04:03 Innovation Deluxe (Carl Chudyk Asmadi Games 2017) 07:28 Tír na nÓg (Isaac Shalev, Jason Slingerland Grand Gamers Guild 2024) 09:59 Azul (Michael Kiesling Plan B Games 2017) 15:27 Coalitions (Andrew Rourke PHALANX 2026) 24:44 The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing KOSMOS 2021) 28:29 OffShoots (Self-Published 2024) 32:00 NEWS 36:05 Burned (Jon Moffat Stone Circle Games 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

51 min
21/02/2023

#251: Game Design Trends

You like SVWAG? Their early work was a little too negative for my taste. But when SHUX came out in '20, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole podcast has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the episodes a big boost. They've been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think SVWAG has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In '23, SVWAG released this; episode 251, their most accomplished episode. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "gullet regurgitation". An observation so catchy, most people probably don't think about the meaning. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of consumption and the importance of digestion. It's also a personal statement about the podcast itself. Hey, Walker!01:37 AYURIS: Whale Riders (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2021)Games Played Last Week:03:42 -Godtear (David Carl, Alex Hall, & Steve Margetson, Steamforged Games, 2019)08:30 -Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps (Andrew Haught, Gale Force Nine, 2020)14:17 -LOAD: League of Ancient Defenders (Uncredited, Archon Studio, 2016)17:49 -Warpgate: Beyond (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022)22:23 -Code of Nine (BakaFire, Z-Man Games, 2012)26:17 -American Psycho: A Killer Game (Dan Blanchett, Renegade Game Studios, 2022)30:25 -Sabika (Germán P. Millán, Ludonova, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):36:15 Bamboo by Sabika's Germán P. Millán36:53 Cyclades: Legendary Edition37:52 The closure and bankruptcy of Holy Grail Games39:16 Expansion to Cosmic Frog! "Find Muck"40:15 Topic: Gaming Design TrendsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 7m
14/02/2023

#250: Autobahn

I once saw a video of a woman driving a Shelby GT350 Mustang on the Autobahn. It hit 275 kph without breaking a figurative sweat, roaring its primal power the entire way. I was petrified even watching the video. This is to say nothing of the terror I felt seeing it take offramps at roughly 100 kph, which is not terribly advisable with a vehicle that is not known for its cornering. Of course, there are many sections of the Autobahn with speed limits--and even more with no Mustangs on it at all. Tragedies heaped upon tragedies.Games Played Last Week:00:54 -boop. (Scott Brady, Smirk & Laighter Games, 2022)01:53 -Bag of Chips (Mathieu Aubert and Théo Rivière, Mixlore, 2021)03:26 -Ginkgopolis (Xavier Georges, Pearl Games, 2012)05:32 -Street Masters: Aftershock (Adam Sadler & Brady Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2019)07:10 -Equinox (Reiner Knizia, Plan B Games, 2021)13:26 -Tammany Hall (Doug Eckhart, IDW Games, 2007) 17:44 -Marvel United (Andrea Chiarvesio and Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2020)22:19 -Yellow & Yangtze (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2018)24:31 -Bot Factory (Vital Lacerda and João Quintela Martins, Eagle-Gryphon Games, 2023)29:06 -The Wolves (Ashwin Kamath and Clarence Simpson, Pandasaurus Games, 2022)News (and why it doesn't matter):35:58 Dead Cells by Scorpion Masqué and Antoine Bauza, Ludovic Maublanc, et al36:35 Puerto Rico 1897 component problems36:53 Andromeda's Edge on Gamefound: Dwellings of Eldervale in spaaaace38:04 More MicroMacro: Crime City. Complete the map!38:39 Funagain distribution woes: Stationfall, Revive, Horseless Carriage39:34 Jekyll & Hyde vs. Scotland Yard: two-plaayer co-op trick-taking game40:21 SVWAG on Patreon! www.patreon.com/svwag40:56 Renegade deck-builders crossover: G.I. Joe & Transformers: New Alliances42:13 Feature Game: Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 12m
07/02/2023

#249: Rolling Heights

A comprehensive list of what transpires in RRR would sound like the incoherent ramblings of someone undergoing a very potent trip, which is why we merely indulge in a curated list. While Mark does not retract his naming Decision to Leave as his favourite film of 2022, he will concede that it leads to a less absurdist discussion. It also features slightly fewer dance numbers. Games Played Last Week:01:21 -Astra (Patrik Porkoláb, Frigyes Schőberl, and Eszter Krisztina Sas, Mindclash Games, 2022) 03:37 -Much that Is Good and All that Is Evil (Jeeyon Shim, Jeeyon Shim Games, 2022)06:04 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022)08:30 -Mosaic: A Story of Civilization (Glenn Drover, Forbidden Games, 2022)12:34 -Pax Ragnarok (Jon Moffat, Unpublished)17:53 -Street Masters: Twin Tiger (Brady Sadler and Adam Sadler, Blacklist Games, 2018)19:57 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021)News (and why it doesn't matter):22:22 Xoe Allred's Persuasion being developed by Wehrlegig Games23:38 Quartermaster General: East Front Ares Games24:34 Pride and PrejuDice on Kickstarter25:19 Hail Caesar 2nd Edition from Warlord Games26:18 Kabuto Sumo: Beetle Brawl at Target27:19 Imperial Miners: 51st State with spatial play28:23 New Sid Sackson's Acquire from Renegade29:45 Expeditions from Stonemaier: more Jakub Rozalski art; tracing controvery dead? 31:09 Feature Game: Rolling Heights (John D. Clair, AEG, 2023)54:36 SVWAG Presents Masterpiece Theatre: RRRAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 11m
31/01/2023

#248: Serge Laget

Our favourite Serge Laget game is Senji. "Senji" is a contraction of "Sengoku Jidai," or Warring States Period, which refers to over a century of near total civil war in Japan that started in 1467. Scholars differ as to when it ended, but mostly we can agree that it started when I traded Huey my grandpa in exchange for boats and then he shipped ol' gramps to Louis' estate. I found this out the hard way when my armies marched on Château Louis to be met with my ex-grandpa. I was a bit miffed, but I was able to use Huey's boat to steal his best stuff, so I guess I got over it. Besides, Dewey gave me Huey's son in exchange for some weapons.01:19 AYURIS: The Red Cathedral (Israel Cendrero & Sheila Santos, Devir Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:02:35 -Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)08:57 -Soda Smugglers (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2022)11:11 -Woodcraft (Ross Arnold and Vladimír Suchý, Delicious Games, 2022)12:37 -Chinatown (Karsten Hartwig, Z-Man, 1999)15:21 -Atiwa (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2022)20:39 -Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy (Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit.fl, 2020)23:15 -Karate Tomate (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2018)23:31 -Monikers (Alex Hague and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2015)25:45 -Herd Mentality (Rich Coombs and Dan Penn, Big Potato, 2020)26:50 -Senji (Bruno Cathala & Serge Laget, Asmodee, 2008)News (and why it doesn't matter):27:00 Pearl Games closed by Asmodee, but Sébastien Dujardin might resurrect it28:37 SVWAG Videos! Uwe Rosenberg and Top 10 of 2022https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7rQYKYwsxouP_7nSza9qQ29:15 Tom Jolly's Wiz-War on Kickstarter via Steve Jackson Games30:25 King's Dilemma: Chronicles on Steam 31:03 Topic: Serge LagetAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

59 min
24/01/2023

#247: Ginkgopolis

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

1h 3m
17/01/2023

#246: 2022 Year in Review

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

1h 38m

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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.