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Episodes
Iain & Jamie from The Giant Brain, and Oliver from Tabletop Games Blog bring you a fortnightly show featuring the best in Tabletop Gaming News
Episodes
Monday Jan 11, 2021
Monday Jan 11, 2021
The team are back after their close encounter with a rogue sound effect. Brushing off the audio cobwebs, they jump back into the studio to cover Kickstarter Growth, Catan Beer, Dragonlance Lawsuits, Games Workshop profits and much more on this episode of Brainwaves!
You might notice that Iain Chantler disappears about half way through the cast. Iain had a house emergency to attend to so Jamie and I finished the cast off.
Headlines
Kickstarter rakes in games cash
2020 Vision Cast
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/12/28/brainwaves-special-edition-2020-vision/
Catan Beer taken by the robber
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/catan-1/news/catan-beer-revealed
Catan Snugglies
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/catan-1/news/catan-plushie-collection
FFG permaban themselves and all users
https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/313578-ffg-forum-shutdown/
News
Dragonlance lawsuit comes to an end
Origins mix up their awards, again
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/47206/rpg-categories-origins-awards-changed
Games Workshop announce record profits
https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/12/games-workshop-half-year-trading-update.html
UK tabletop industry does well in 2020
Nickelodeon Board Game Recalled
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newan
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
Discord
You are all very welcome to come and join us on our discord server. This link will not expire and is open for you to use to invite friends.
Outro
85th Anniversary Monopoly
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
Discord: https://discord.gg/RFdaP8vT6e
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegiantbrain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Dec 28, 2020
Monday Dec 28, 2020
Iain, Iain, and Jamie take a bit of a breather from the regular cast to look back at the year. They are joined by Josh Hartley from the Unlucky Frog to look back at the big stories of 2020 and speculate on what 2021 will bring to the world of the Tabletop. Below the subjects we talk about I’ve provided links to the shows that have featured those subjects, should you want to revisit them.
Subjects
Coronavirus
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-43-executive-bell/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/brainwaves-45-multiplayer-solitaire/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-49-cancellation-crisis/
Black Lives Matter, representation in the industry
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-50-going-strong/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-51-troubling-origins/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-55-rolling-wheelchair/
Wizards of the Coast bad PR year
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-51-troubling-origins/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-52-controversial-machines/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-53-meddling-wizards/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-59-rap-shoes/
Kickstarter Union Efforts
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-44-robot-club/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-47-courtroom-melodrama/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-48-golden-brains/
Asmodee buys and sells
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-44-robot-club/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-53-meddling-wizards/
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-61-galaxy-gale/
Unlucky Frog
https://twitter.com/TheUnluckyfrog
https://www.facebook.com/unluckyfroggaming
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
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Monday Dec 21, 2020
It’s the last cast of the year, and over the Christmas break Iain McAllister is rebuilding the HQ. Thankfully the studio isn’t affected and the team gather for one last time in 2020 to cover companies going bankrupt, Gencon announcing new dates, Alexa grabbing more games and the return of RPG corner.
Headlines
Sans Detour goes under
https://www.chaosium.com/blogstatement-about-ditions-sansdtour/
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2224909/sans-detour-red-flags-thread
Gencon announces dates for 2021
https://www.gencon.com/press/holidays-2020-and-gen-con-2021-updates
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/47186/gen-con-pushes-back-badge-registration-event-submission
Alexa catches a hot potato
https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/News/alexa-play-big-potato-games
News
Max Brookes leaves FFG
Dungeons & Dragons Film
https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/News/chris-pine-cast-in-dungeons-dragons-film
Jewish anthology of RPGs
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/5527230/doikayt-a-jewish-ttrpg-anthology/description
Cyberpunk bundle on itch
https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/roleplaying-game/news/cyberpunk-asian-creators-game-jam-itch
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newan
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
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
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Monday Dec 07, 2020
It’s Christmas time at Brainwaves HQ and the two Iains are decorating the tree! It shines magnificently in the corner of the Brainwaves studio as the team cover sinkings, new awards, old awards, Wizards dropping the ball (or should that be snitch?), and the feud between Uri Geller and a card game.
Headlines
The Zenobia Award
https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/the-zenobia-award/news/zenobia-award-historical-board-game
https://zenobiaaward.org/who-we-are/
GAMA Makes more Changes to the Origin Awards for 2020/2021 Cycle
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/47053/gama-makes-more-changes-origins-awards-2020-2021-cycle
Games Shipped to Abyssal Floor
News
Update: Netflix Settles Bandersnatch “Choose Your Own Adventure” Lawsuit
MODCon Announced, the Online Convention of Modiphius and Dragonmeet
https://www.modiphius.net/pages/modcon
D&D Racial Improvements will “take years”
Wizards being prepped for sale?
Knight Models bungles Harry Potter Response
https://twitter.com/little_lizzie22/status/1333285477001154563?s=19
Uri Geller retracts feud with specific pokemon
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pokemon-trading-card-game/news/kadabra-uri-geller-lawsuit
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newan
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
James Naylor’s mental health first aid
https://twitter.com/naylorjames/status/1332320278639243265
Outro
Sea of Thieves Monopoly
Metallica Monopoly
https://www.metallica.com/store/monopoly-world-tour-edition/MONOPOLYWT.html
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
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
The Brainwaves team are back to bring you the best in Tabletop Gaming News. This week they cover the sad closure of Girls Game Shelf, troubles in a galaxy far, far away, legal troubles here on earth, convention cancellations, interesting kickstarters, and much, much more.
Headlines
Girls’ Game Shelf shuts up shop
https://girlsgameshelf.com/2020/11/not-goodbye-but-hello/
Asmodee moves Star Wars minis from FFG to Atomic Mass Games
https://www.atomicmassgames.com/special-announcement
Gale Force Nine sues Wizards of the Coast
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/47010/gale-force-nine-sues-wizards-coast
News
Pokemon Auction
GAMA 2021 cancelled
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46933/gama-cancels-expo-2021-reno
Endangered Alphabet Project
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/ulus/news/board-game-ulus-mongolian-language
https://www.endangeredalphabets.com/
DnD Combat Wheelchair resources released
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/the-witcher-trpg/news/witcher-trpg-disability-resources
Comic Relief DnD
https://twitter.com/TabletopMag/status/1329400465113706498?s=19
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newan
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
Outro
Uno to become tv game show
https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/uno-game-show-1234833785/
Cluedo: Disney Villains
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/clue-disney-villains/news/clue-disney-villains-board-game
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
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Viva le Revolution! Iain Chantler leads the charge in strike action at the Brainwaves studio! After a brief negotiation involving coffee, the team resolve their differences by coming together behind the mics. This cast we cover new studios, old money, sad partings, pay deals, auctions, and more!
Headlines
Critical Role announce boardgame studio
https://critrole.com/announcing-darrington-press-our-game-publishing-company/
Ex-Blizzard dev starts Tabletop game studio
Pokemon deal goes south
Hasbro Earnings call
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46853/big-gains-hasbro-gaming-q3
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46855/hasbro-developing-d-d-tv-more
News
Martin McKenna dies
https://officialfightingfantasy.blogspot.com/2020/11/martin-mckenna-1969-2020.html
Asmodee launches P&P online guides
https://connect-and-play.asmodee.fun/
Wotc strikes deal to pay DMs
https://www.geeknative.com/99894/wizards-of-the-coast-strikes-a-deal-to-pay-some-dms/
http://heraldsguild.com/virtual-dd-weekends/
…..and auctions off unique items
https://www.geeknative.com/101016/wizards-of-the-coast-to-hold-unique-dd-item-ebay-action/
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newan
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/
Outro
Monopoly for Sore Losers
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8114895
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
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Monday Oct 26, 2020
The team is excited to bring you their first cast live from Essen! Turns out it’s been cancelled. Boo. Gathering themselves and retreating back to the confines of their hotel room the team diligently bring you the latest in tabletop gaming news: Wizards getting sued, more awards, chess cheating continued, rappers, pokemon and much, much more!
Headlines
Wizards taken to court over Dragonlance Books
International Gamers Award Game of the Year Nominees Announced
Chess Cheating Crisis Continues
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/16/chesss-cheating-crisis-paranoia-has-become-the-culture
News
Wu-Tang Clan play chess for Charity
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/chess/news/wu-tang-chess-rza-gza-charity-match
https://www.chess.com/news/view/hennessy-wu-tang-maurice-ashley-chess
Rapper Logic buys pokemon card for $200,574
https://twitter.com/ICV2/status/1317169445534535680?s=19
Geek Retreat to expand
Dragonmeet Cancelled
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dragonmeet
Sign up to GM https://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/gms.html?fbclid=IwAR0axku_DzAR-LguWhTa-moeKq40OZtGu5jPZiTn4bRlfl3h3-BkEU09EMc
Haba USA gets new CEO
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46698/haba-usa-gets-new-ceo
Hasbro President retiring
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newan
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
Outro
Catan Shoes?
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/catan-1/news/catan-footwear-collection-plainview
https://mojo-nation.com/catan-footwear-collection-way-plainview/
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
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Oct 12, 2020
Monday Oct 12, 2020
The cast has hit 10000 downloads and Iain M is throwing a party! He does seem to have forgotten about having to record the cast though. The show must go on and the team wrangle karaoking interns out of the studio and get down to the business of recording cast 58. This time round they cover Origins Awards, Magic meets the Walking Dead, Covid impact on Scottish stores, new crowdfunding sites and much more. Iain M has been hard at work in the basement on his latest news gathering invention, the Rumor Mill. What nuggets has he managed to sift from the detritus of the internet? Listen on to find out.
Headlines
Origins Awards announce winners
https://www.originsawards.net/
Magic the Gathering/ Walking Dead crossover
Scottish stores hit by Covid 19
http://www.commongroundgames.co.uk/
https://www.westendgames.co.uk/
Rumour Mill
Battlestar Galactica Returns
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2515543/unconfirmed-rumourleak-rethemererelease-bsg-arkham
News
Update: Heroquest available in UK
Folklore KS hit by Mold
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gbg/folklore-the-fall-of-the-spire/posts/2968464
Steam to host digital Tabletop Games festival in October
https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/2769108226045128183
Scandal in Chess World
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newman
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Outro
Holidays are coming
Our Links
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Sep 28, 2020
Monday Sep 28, 2020
Jamie has returned from the depths of the Brainwaves HQ with the help of Iain C and large quantities of caffeine. As Iain M gets them back in the studio and calms things down the team get back on the news wagon. This cast covers the return of an old friend, more awards, Critical role’s charitable side, old games, new money and much more. Brainstorm returns as the team discusses whether bigger companies should use crowdfunding at all.
Headlines
Hero Quest Returns
https://hasbropulse.com/products/heroquest-game-system
Iain plays Heroquest with Paul Grogan and others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg4TwGKDsKU&ab_channel=GamingRules%21
More Awards
https://www.dianajonesaward.org/the-2020-award/
Critical Role Foundation
https://critrole.com/foundation/
News
Cards against humanity sells cafe
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2019/11/11/episode-39-selling-up/
Viking Game dug up
Pokemon sells for lots
Patreon Shoutouts
UK Games Expo Interview
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/749676849
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Shaun Newman
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Outro
Our Links
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Sep 14, 2020
Monday Sep 14, 2020
Jamie’s back from travels and Iain M has had a nice long sleep. Too long though it seems as they missed the last cast! Making up for lost time the pair, Iain C is fixing the coffee machine, cover Eric Lang leaving CMON, updates from previous reports, Avalon Hill changing hands (sort of), and much more on this edition of Brainwaves.
Headlines
Eric Lang leaves Cool Mini or Not(CMON)
https://twitter.com/eric_lang/status/1299401294201917441
Fantasy Flight Games cancels Organised Play
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2020/8/24/august-covid-update/
UK Games Expo Award Winners
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=704305163454777&extid=fn6fbyBbGb9NHyDx
https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/plan/at-the-expo/uk-games-expo-awards/
News
Curse of Hearts returns to sale
https://www.proud-geek.co.uk/product-page/curse-of-hearts-stake-parry-kill
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/07/06/brainwaves-52-controversial-machines/
CMON choose new auditor
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46462/cmon-chooses-new-auditor
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/04/13/brainwaves-episode-46-non-euclidean-coffee/
Stonemaier Games takes brokerage in house
Avalon Hill changes hands
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newman
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Outro
Bob Ross Monopoly
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/bob-ross-themed-version-monopoly-1904610
Root on PC
https://twitter.com/direwolfdigital/status/1296171599977222145
Our Links
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com