Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show

https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderprogramm-2025-startet-einreichungen-ab-sofort-moeglich/

Spiel des Jahres Funding Programme 2025

https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderprogramm/

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

https://monopoly.fandom.com/wiki/Monopoly_Free_Parking:_The_Toppling_Taxi_Game

Outro

Monopoly Toppling Taxi

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

https://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/2024-11-10

Monday Nov 25, 2024

Brainwaves Episode 154 - Taxing Times

Monday Nov 25, 2024

It’s a cast of finances, awards, lawsuits, and political games as Oliver and Iain cross the world in the episode 154 of Brainwave to bring you the best in Tabletop Gaming News.

Headlines

Tariffs and Trade Rules Tax Tabletop Publishers

https://www.compliancegate.com/general-product-safety-regulation/

https://bsky.app/profile/badsquiddogames.bsky.social/post/3lb7r4n7eni22

https://www.rascal.news/new-legislation-impacts-games-sales-to-the-european-union/

Zenobia Award II Winners Announced

https://sdhist.com/zenobia-award-the-porters/

Hasbro Sued by Investors

https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/479315/hasbro-investor-lawsuit-pandemic-inventor

Updates

US Tabletop Unionisation Solicitation

https://www.rascal.news/rascal-receives-solicitation-from-suspicious-email-after-tabletop-union-declares-potential-strike/

News

German Parliamentarian Game Night

https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spielekultur-landet-im-bundestag/

Asmodee Gets Cash Injection

https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-intends-to-contribute-eur-400m-to-asmodee-and-presents-asmodees-financial-targets-dividend-policy-and-net-financial-debt/

Obituaries

Amber Cook

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58275/r-i-p-amber-cook

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/9bkqj-in-memory-of-amber-cook-support-her-son-james

Kory Heath

https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogpost/167622/in-memoriam-kory-heath

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

https://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle

Board Game Raffle in Aid of The Trussell Trust / UK Food Banks

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/1gu7eel/anyone_wanna_play_monopoly_got_a_neighbour_whos/?utm_source=embedv2&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_content=post_title&embed_host_url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/uk-world-news/sudden-appearance-hundreds-monopoly-boxes-9726484&rdt=64307

Outro

Mystery Monopoly Midden

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

https://www.rascal.news/former-world-of-game-design-employees-claim-tabletop-company-exploits-workers-and-clients/

Monday Nov 11, 2024

Brainwaves Episode 153 - World Worries

Monday Nov 11, 2024

It’s been a mix of huge stories and not much else in the last few weeks. Iain and Jamie bring you the lowdown on what is going on at World of Game Design, who is bagging awards, hasbro’s financials, and what size of country the population of D&D Beyond could establish. All this, and more, on episode 153 of Brainwaves

Headlines

WOGD investigation by Rascal

Zac Goins Facebook post

https://www.facebook.com/xzacklee/posts/pfbid02yf9PBqMH47ReMwKBBH7rVVTtKtYZaSioPAAYJb57Wq7YpannnPSZGLCyR1xvnsNAl

Hasbro conference call

https://investor.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-reports-third-quarter-2024-financial-results

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58109/hasbro-ceo-reveals-magic-plans-secret-lair-volumes-d-d-dtc-percentage-more

https://www.enworld.org/threads/hasbro-hit-with-layoffs-wizards-of-the-coast-impacted.707539/page-2

FSC award

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/11/05/life-in-reterra-becomes-first-board-game-to-win-forest-stewardship-council-sustainability-award/

https://us.fsc.org/en-us/get-involved/fsc-leadership-awards/2024-leadership-award-winners-01

News

Commander Format

https://www.polygon.com/mtg-magic-the-gathering/468627/mtg-new-commander-format-panel-rules-committee

https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/introducing-the-commander-format-panel

Summit award finalists

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/23/summit-award-reveals-2024-contenders-which-have-best-helped-draw-in-players-broaden-scope-of-historical-board-gaming/

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/11/07/board-gamings-biggest-job-site-is-an-almost-20000-strong-facebook-group-and-is-planning-its-first-ever-live-event-next-year/

Boardgamewire report on Tabletop Jobs Group

Dragonmeet Attendance

https://dragonmeet.co.uk/

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

Sir Meeple

https://nerdist.com/article/dungeons-dragons-beer-bourbon-dragons-milk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGKRLBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHd7-QA1c_7gdVbxEq4gt7b59ABwXNx-YAwUz0S30T11j2J0OLEHTRcJU5A_aem_aB4GlBcElnqiWARtJzGidg

Outro

Food for Fought

https://www.enworld.org/threads/game-night-is-well-catered-with-these-official-d-d-meat-sticks.707556/

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

The great Martian tripod race

Monday Oct 28, 2024

Brainwaves Special Edition - Tabletop Scotland 2024 Interviews

Monday Oct 28, 2024

In this special edition of Brainwaves we present the interviews that we carried out at Tabletop Scotland 2024. Thanks so much to everyone who spoke to us.

People and Organisations

Tanya Floaker

Edinburgh Indie Gamers

Hive Mind Games

Village on Stilts

Hall or Nothing

Kayla Dice - Rat Wave Game House

Laurie O’Connell

Phil Harris

Games mentioned

DrievthruRPG links are affiliate links

Hopes and Dreams of the Orbital Bound

What’s so daring about sky pirates

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

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/17/no-mythic-games-hasnt-gone-into-liquidation-but-its-fate-should-be-decided-by-the-end-of-the-month/

Monday Oct 21, 2024

Brainwaves Episode 152 - Mythic Shrinking

Monday Oct 21, 2024

Iain is taking this cast off so Jamie and Oliver are at the helm. This episode they cover further troubles at Mythic, companies being saved and consolidating their lines, controversial giveaways and more on episode 152 of Brainwaves.

Headlines

Mythic Games France liquidates

https://annonces-legales.leparisien.fr/annonce/23cba43f-8a82-48c1-8f57-6a2285e239c3

Funforge ‘saved’ by Tokaido deal

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/11/did-it-save-the-company-yes-and-no-funforges-ceo-on-fighting-its-financial-woes-by-selling-the-tokaido-line-to-stonemaier/

Spiel Essen Sold Out

https://www.spiel-essen.de/en/press?view=article&id=222&catid=12

News

Barnes & Noble to list game designers

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/57959/barnes-noble-begin-listing-game-designers

NAC Wargames hands out Nazi memorabilia

https://bsky.app/profile/celacanto.bsky.social/post/3l5qu6lhp4j2n

The Other Side of the Hill crowdfunding campaign: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/masqueoca/the-other-side-of-the-hill/

Publisher’s response on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/8461574/the-other-side-of-the-hill?commentid=12438977

Gamefound update about the Iron Cross medal: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/masqueoca/the-other-side-of-the-hill/updates/5

Matagot shrinks catalogue

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/16/matagot-stops-publishing-heavier-games-like-kemet-inis-shifts-focus-to-family-and-childrens-titles/

Steve Jackson Games announces Fighting Fantasy Deal

https://www.sjgames.com/fightingfantasy/

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

Sir Meeple

https://boardgamewire.com/

Boardgamewire

Outro

English Heritage Games

https://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/toys-games/games/board-games

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

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/03/30/gothcon-2024-arrival-and-day-1/

Monday Oct 14, 2024

Brainwaves Special Edition - Gothcon Interviews

Monday Oct 14, 2024

This special episode of Brainwaves is all the interviews I conducted at Gothcon earlier in the year. Gothcon is Sweden’s premier convention with games across all genres of the hobby and it was my privilege to be invited across. You can read all about my time there in the posts below and listen to the wonderful RPG community I had the pleasure of being involved with

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/03/31/gothcon-2024-day-2/

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/04/07/gothcon-2024-why-do-i-attend-events/

Pontus

Gothcon

https://wordpress.gothcon.se/en/

Blackfisk Publishing

https://blackfiskpublishing.com/

Mika

https://mindy.nu/2024/07/29/bubblare-ian-mcallister-fran-brainwaves/

Emil. ROAR

https://open.spotify.com/show/3gptPHq0l1mg2ZuyuWMQ4R?si=5318d580a0f14560&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=8196858e350a4fab

Hjalmar Norden, Red Moon Roleplaying

https://www.redmoonroleplaying.com/

Magnus Seter

https://www.rollspel.nu/

Nina, Gothcon Organiser

Anna, Podcast Room Organiser

https://www.svartvikenrp.se/

Monday Oct 07, 2024

Brainwaves Episode 151 - Commander Catastrophe

Monday Oct 07, 2024

While Jamie is off in that there London, Iain and Oliver are once more behind the mics to bring you the latest tabletop news. In episode 151 we cover Wizards taking over Commander, CMON losing board members, the usual smattering of awards, and a good few stories about unions. All this and more on this episode of Brainwaves.

Headlines

Commander Format Firestorm
https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/on-the-future-of-commander

https://www.rascal.news/finance-bros-and-harassment-force-mtgs-biggest-player-owned-format-into-corporate-hands/

Zenobia Award Finalists Announced

https://zenobiaaward.org/finalists/

CMON loses COO

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/09/19/cmons-coo-david-preti-is-resigning-after-eight-years-at-the-company/

https://investor.cmon.com/governance

Updates

Cops called on TTWU protestors

https://www.rascal.news/brooklyn-strategist-owner-calls-police-on-employee-walkout/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/supportTWU?ref=rascal.news

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tabletop-workers-united-boycott-pledge?source=direct_link&

News

TCG Player workers call for Union contract

https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/459782/tcgplayer-union-ebay-rally-fair-pay

https://cwa-union.org/tapped-out-tcgplayer

Games Workshop Shareholder Revolt

https://www.cityam.com/games-workshop-suffers-major-shareholder-revolt-after-top-bosses-handed-huge-bonuses/

CAH sues Elon Musk

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/cards-humanity-elon-musk-spacex-lawsuit-trespassed-texas-land-rcna172016

2024 Player’s Handbook Breaks Dungeons & Dragons Records

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/57876/2024-players-handbook-becomes-fastest-selling-dungeons-dragons-product-ever

Big Bad Con Boycott averted

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mrxQaSbXd_SlFB7NJxhrCIHFsKKOvcvmLEHoXxVBstY/edit

Deutscher Spiele Preis 2024 Winners Announced

https://brettspielbox.de/brettspiel-preis-deutscher-spielepreis-2024-dsp24-sieger/

Stonemaier Games acquires "Tokaido" from Funforge

https://mailchi.mp/stonemaiergames/stonemaier-games-monthly-newsletter-august-2989870?e=f9ef617363

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

https://bsky.app/starter-pack/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social/3l5aovjrq6j2p

Bluesky list of board game people

Tabletop Games Blog Board Game Raffle in aid of The Trussell Trust / UK Food Banks

https://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

Sir Meeple

https://theop.games/products/clue-what-we-do-in-the-shadows?srsltid=AfmBOooKvLESoikIZ7WV0DwAhyj2tdFP0MtNxE92CDXYBwKVYqWB2ku8

Outro

What we Clue-do in the Shadows

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

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3352419/a-simon-lavender-review-what-to-do-with-dishonest/page/1

Wednesday Sep 18, 2024

Brainwaves Episode 150 - Ethical Dilema

Wednesday Sep 18, 2024

We have a longer than usual cast for your this week as we take a look at the controversy around Simon Lavender, a UK board game influencer. It is our only headline this week, but we still cover the business of the industry with new hires at Restoration Games, Asmodee, financial hits at CMON, a series of competitions and more!

Headlines

Influencer Simon Lavender accused of bad practices

The accusations at the centre of this are on page one of the link above. There are a large number of screenshots we have saved in regards to this story that will appear in a separate document linked to below. These include Simon’s replies in the thread above and my conversation with Simon.

SCREENSHOTS

Amass Games channel page

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg-md_i730k&ab_channel=AmassGames

Amass games video on The Strange Forgeries of S.C. Rheber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg-md_i730k&ab_channel=AmassGames

News

Paul Sawyer shares Terminal Diagnosis

https://www.gofundme.com/f/make-dads-remaining-months-happy-comfortable?fbclid=IwY2xjawFT-cpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQvSDcadl8ZKhx_ot6aKqXHrqxSh98KtBWnbqvfKm_3U4kPIOy8AYZoMyA_aem_jNk6ocdlIkXyv0UEKJ3ysg

https://store.warlordgames.com/products/sergeant-sawyer-charity-figure?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Introducing+the+Sergeant+Sawyer+Charity+Figure

Tabletop Workers Union subject to Union busting

https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-workers-union-protest-alleged-union-busting-hex-co-management/

Thomas Kœgler appointed as New Chief Executive Officer of Asmodee

https://corporate.asmodee.com/news/thomas-koegler-appointed-as-new-chief-executive-officer-of-asmodee/

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks talks AI

https://www.enworld.org/threads/hasbro-ceo-chris-cocks-talks-ai-usage-in-d-d.706638

CMON Profits Take a Hit

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/09/04/cmons-h1-revenue-falls-almost-25-year-on-year-amid-heavy-slump-in-wholesale-earnings/

Tabletop Scotland goes large

https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopscot.bsky.social/post/3l3xcqlecdx2g

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3360317/2024-traditional-deck-game-design-contest

2024 Traditional Deck Game Design Contest

2024 Roll and Write Game Design Contest

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3353041/2024-roll-and-write-game-design-contest

The Game Crafter VHS Challenge

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/contests/vhs-case-challenge

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

Sir Meeple

https://www.worldofmonopoly.com/otherpages/map.php

Outro

Map-nopoly

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

https://www.chess.com/news/view/russian-chess-player-suspended-after-allegedly-poisoning-her-rival

Monday Aug 26, 2024

Brainwaves Episode 149 - Poisoned Pieces

Monday Aug 26, 2024

Jamie is off seeing some shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, so Oliver and Iain are behind the mics this week to report on the latest tabletop news. From poisoning and sexual harrasment in chess to astonishing numbers, we bring you the news that really matters.

Headlines

Chess Poisoning & Sexual Harassment

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/440094/international-chess-scandals-2024

Lego and Asmodee build a house

https://www.lego.com/en-my/aboutus/news/2024/august/lego-asmodee-games?locale=en-my&age-gate=grown_up

Gen Con sells out

https://www.gencon.com/press/gen-con-2024-breaks-attendance-records-press-release

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/08/08/gen-con-celebrates-record-71000-attendance-after-event-sells-out-for-first-time-in-history/

https://www.gencon.com/press/4daysellout

https://www.gencon.com/press/2024-charity-partners-announcement-tangram-rose-gauntlet

News

Embracer Numbers

https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-publishes-interim-report-q1-april-june-2024-adjusted-ebit-amounted-to-sek-828-million/

Deutscher Spiele Preis 2024 Finalists

https://www.spiel-essen.de/en/program/dsp

Boardgamearena passes 10 million users

https://corporate.asmodee.com/news/asmodee-and-board-game-arena-celebrate-10-million-users-milestone-cementing-the-online-board-gaming-platform-as-the-industrys-1/

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

https://www.peopleofplay.com/blog/young-inventor-challenge-registration-is-open

People of Play Young Inventor Challenge

International Game Inventors Convention

https://www.spielwarenmesse.de/en/game-inventors-convention/

SDhistcon

https://sdhist.com/badges-sdhistcon-summit-2024/

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

Sir Meeple

https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/

Outro

Tabletop Scotland

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

https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopgamesblog.com

https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/preisverleihung-kennerspiel-des-jahres-2024/

Monday Aug 05, 2024

Brainwaves Episode 148 - Spiel Reel

Monday Aug 05, 2024

With Oliver back from the Spiel des Jahres we have interviews with the winners, chat about the controversy, dive into finances, and lift up awards. Just another day at GB HQ as we bring you the best in tabletop gaming news.

Headlines

Spiel des Jahres 2024 awards ceremony controversy

Matteo Statement

https://medium.com/@baddeo/why-i-wear-55cb9459d8e7

Hasbro Earnings

https://www.fastcompany.com/91163137/hasbro-earnings-reveal-monopoly-go-made-3-billion-dollars

Diana Jones Award 2024 Winner Announced

https://x.com/dianajonesaward/status/1818883478617723112?s=4

Tabletop Industry Network (not Indie like Iain said on the cast)

https://uktin.substack.com/

Alex’s email

alex.speidel@unitedpaizoworkers.org

News

Braincrack Games

WOTC removes credits

https://www.enworld.org/threads/wotc-removes-digital-content-team-credits-from-d-d-beyond.705711/

Funforge not forging fun

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/07/22/financially-troubled-funforge-nears-deal-to-get-years-delayed-monumental-kickstarter-into-the-hands-of-backers/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/funforge/monumental-african-empires/description

GAMA Announces First Tabletop Game Retailer Survey

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/57477/gama-announces-their-first-tabletop-game-survey

Berlin Brettspiel Con 2024 visitor figures up

https://www.spielbox.de/veranstaltungen/1182-berlin-brettspiel-con-mit-besucherrekord?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Gary Gygax day

https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/blog/post/celebrating-50-years-the-birthplace-of-dungeons-dragons/

Dave Arneson estate questions publisher

https://www.arnesonestate.com/press

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

https://boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/67/gen-con-2024-preview?designer=129337,99245,60377,154240,129338,43440,156227,91661,69754,95939,86477,115024,94364,111338,121833,137383,161639,142544,102049,6940,157015,122519,73358,97486,151267,99119,130964,27975,132398,147996,156171,160471,50567,34659,151195,69718,105088,126375,12374,132085,121227,154937,141343,152297,136220&sort=hot

Elizabeth Hargrave List

Pegasus Designer Days

https://pegasus.de/en/designer-days

2024 Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference

https://www.chitag.com/2024-inventor-pitch-innovation-conference

Board Game Raffle in Aid of The Trussell Trust / UK Food Banks

tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle/

Tabletop Scotland

https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/

Patreon Shoutouts

Kevin Bertram

James Naylor

Shaun Newman

Our Patreon

Support Us

Fanroll

Sir Meeple

https://www.polygon.com/24199990/monopoly-go-board-game-announcement

Outro

Monopoly Go board game

Monopo-Lee-ds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg5jym45nmo?at_link_id=EB8F13C4-4C47-11EF-A27A-98FE1C4ACFD5&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_origin=BBC_Yorkshire&at_medium=social&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_format=link&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&at_campaign=Social_Flow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0p38NbiktK_nFnCxV5heweL5QcswVIJ1QR1UjOJnqXutFdaohfqjcPMi8_aem_aHBTlw0jdGdALeNW3-mbdA

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