Brainwaves - Board Game and Tabletop News Show

It’s the latest episode of Brainwaves! Join Iain and Jamie as they inspect the underbelly of the industry so you don’t have to. This cast the team report on finances at Wizards of the Coast and Games Workshop, abuse allegations, a games company going under, D&D competitions going awry and much more! They also announce the Brainwaves Apprenticeship. Listen in to find out how to get involved! 

 

Headlines

Wizards of the Coast post sales figures

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48915/wizards-coast-digital-gaming-segment-sales-surge-q2?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2021/07/dd-digital-roleplaying-is-in-the-cards-after-wotc-leads-hasbro-stock-surge.html

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/26/hasbro-ceo-expects-robust-toy-demand-to-continue-despite-higher-prices.html

 

https://www.pymnts.com/news/retail/2021/digital-business-helps-hasbro-make-up-for-lagging-board-game-sales/

 

Games Workshop Sales, Wages

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/27/warhammer-maker-games-workshop-hands-staff-5000-bonus-after-lockdown-sales-surge

 

James https://twitter.com/lagoon83/status/1419634369464082434

Longer Version https://lagoon83.medium.com/working-at-games-workshop-the-nuanced-version-edda9ffb1237

 

Sophie https://twitter.com/sophisaurus_rex/status/1419738513386397699

 

Gates Dowd abuse allegations

https://gatesdowd.com/

 

News

Tasty Minstrel’s bankruptcy issues

https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/tasty-minstrel-games/news/tasty-minstrel-games-virtual-bankruptcy

 

D&D cancels competition amid backlash

https://www.geeknative.com/133777/dd-beyond-cancels-anniversary-competition-after-a-backlash/

 

Z-Man’s new head is oddly familiar

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48990/asmodee-places-sophie-gravel-back-helm-z-man-games

 

Hybrid card sells a lot

https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pokemon-trading-card-game/news/pokemon-mtg-hybrid-card-blastoise-sold

 

CCG post https://www.cgccomics.com/news/article/8744/pokemon-test-print-blastoise/

 

Patreon Shoutouts

Shaun Newan

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

Outro

Game of Life: Super Mario edition

https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/the-game-of-life-super-mario-edition/news/game-of-life-super-mario-edition

 

Brooklyn 99 Cluedo

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/brooklyn-nine-nine-lives-on-as-a-clue-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

 

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

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

Iain has made so much money from reviewing over the years that he is off to an island, and Jamie has become a Doomsayer? Is this the end of Brainwaves? Nah, it’s just a skit. The team bore of their new lives quickly and decide to get back in the podcasting saddle for a cast featuring Iain on paid reviews, Jamie on awards, old white guys being wrong on the internet and so much more! 

 

Headlines

 

Jamey Stegmaier on paid reviews

https://stonemaiergames.com/is-it-unethical-to-pay-the-media-to-form-and-broadcast-their-opinion/

 

SdJ winners 2021

https://twitter.com/SpieldesJahres/status/1417051241964834816?s=20

 

Diana Jones Award 2021 finalists

https://www.dianajonesaward.org/the-2021-award/

 

News

 

UKGE changes tack

https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/plan/before-the-expo/playwithconfidence/

 

*sigh* Phil Eklund

https://twitter.com/SeanFranco_/status/1416516388345286664

 

Gama unveils fellowship Program

https://www.gama.org/news/574483/GAMA-Announces-30000-Horizons-Fellowship-To-Support-Underrepresented-Communities-In-The-Industry.htm

 

Hobby game Sales

https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/48827/hobby-game-sales-over-2-billion-2020

 

Patreon Shoutouts

Shaun Newan

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

 

Atlantic article on Colonialism in Boardgames

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/07/board-games-have-colonialism-problem/619518/

 

Outro

 

Falcon & Winter Soldier Monopoly

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a37082580/marvel-falcon-and-winter-soldier-monopoly/

 

Cluedo house up for sale

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/59054854/

 

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/3bMx2HK75r

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

We are outside in the garden again, and Iain seems to be experiencing a strong sense of Deja Vu. The reason is that we are covering TSR again, alongside news of convention’s covid preparations, GAMA restructures, Knizia vs grail games and much more on this episode of Brainwaves! 

Headlines

TSR continues to dig its own hole

https://www.geeknative.com/133043/its-not-over-tsr-games-3-re-returns-tsr-games-4-tsr-games-3-5/

• Banned by Gencon https://twitter.com/gmsmagazine/status/1411237903427121153?s=09

https://twitter.com/Gen_Con/status/1408930300185432071

• Origins statement

https://twitter.com/originsgames/status/1409576625147154440

• Gun statement
• Legal action threatened https://www.geeknative.com/132668/tsr-games-3-threatens-legal-action-against-osr-community/
• Wonderfilled 

https://twitter.com/wunderfilled?lang=en

Gama Restructures

https://www.gama.org/news/572134/GAMA-Adopts-New-Membership-Structure.htm

Conventions announce covid commitments

https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/plan/before-the-expo/playwithconfidence/

https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/News/psc-bad-squiddo-hub-games-and-more-confirm-non-attendance-at-ukge?utm_source=socialmedia

https://twitter.com/gen_con/status/1413247658580496392?s=12

 

News

Evergreen on the move

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-57719551

Grail Games vs. Reiner Knizia

https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/reiner-knizia-seeks-legal-action-against-grail-games?fbclid=IwAR2ne2pSUwXed7W2quw8fOiYKwC5lQ564pMqDroMzA4HCU4_l38IP0faQnA

Asmodee and Amazon take on counterfeiters 

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48683/amazon-asmodee-sue-game-counterfeiters

Old games for new

https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/News/trade-in-your-old-games-for-discount-with-big-potato-games

Card grading company worth a ton of cheddar

https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pokemon-trading-card-game/news/ccg-valued-at-500-million

Patreon Shoutouts

Shaun Newan

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

 

Outro

 

Animal Crossing Monopoly

https://nintendowire.com/news/2021/07/05/unannounced-monopoly-animal-crossing-new-horizons-edition-discovered-by-reddit-user/

 

Warcraft Pandemic

https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pandemic/news/world-of-warcraft-pandemic-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

 

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

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

In our first live interview Iain talks to miniature and board game designer James Hewitt about his career, current state of the industry, and the use of Kickstarter. They also take questions from the audience. 

James on Twitter

Needy Cat Games

Games Workshop

Mantic Games

Steamforged Games

Blacklist Games

Tabletop Mentorship Programme - Brainwaves Special

Bad Squiddo Games

 

 

Iain and Jamie once more get behind the mics at the Brainwaves Studio to bring you freshly baked news. On this episode they cover the bizarre return of TSR, no not that one, Kickstarter death threats, a dispute with an industry legend and much, much more! 

 

Headlines

TSR games returns

https://www.enworld.org/threads/tsr-is-back-again.680779/

https://www.geeknative.com/132526/the-new-tsr-games-clarify-position-as-key-names-appeared-to-distance-themselves/

And then

https://twitter.com/TSR_games/status/1408236783264047106?s=19

https://twitter.com/danielhkwan/status/1408248241754345475?s=19

https://twitter.com/ANerdery/status/1408133590563627010?s=09

 

Kickstarter Death threats

https://twitter.com/TriciaSydney/status/1406634001163456515

 

Grail vs Knizia

https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/grail-games/news/grail-games-cancels-knizia-reprints

https://twitter.com/ReinerKnizia/status/1407242460250640385

News

RIP Andrew Hackard

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48624/r-i-p-andrew-hackard

 

International Shipping woes hit Kickstarters

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/21/1007938067/cargo-is-piling-up-everywhere-and-its-making-inflation-worse?t=1624649350838

 

Cardboard Edison Awards

https://twitter.com/CardboardEdison/status/1407327747026849793?s=19

 

Heroquest RPG time runs out

https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/News/get-them-before-theyre-gone-heroquest-rpgs-to-be-removed-from-sale

 

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Exec Producers

Shaun Newan

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

 

Unlucky Frog

https://unluckyfrog.podbean.com/

 

Outro

 

Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff ‘Summertime’
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48638/summer-time-proves-who-is-coolest-crew

 

Monopoly Builder & Crooked Cash

https://www.cnet.com/news/monopoly-builder-adds-a-resource-building-twist-while-crooked-cash-adds-in-fake-money/

 

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/3bMx2HK75r

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

The Brainwaves team have exclusive boardgame coverage of the G7 summit in Cornwall to share with you! Listen to our exclusive interviews with some of the world leaders before settling down with a nice ice cream to absorb the latest in tabletop gaming news. 

 

Headlines

 

Brexit Deadline looms for small businesses 

https://twitter.com/AllRolledUpUK/status/1403283946251632641?s=09

Deities and Demigods manuscript goes under the hammer

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48558/original-manuscript-classic-advanced-dungeons-dragons-sourcebook-ends-up-ebay-correction-6-10-2021

Ken St. Andre joins the old white guy club

https://twitter.com/frasersimons/status/1402286855060561927?s=19

 

News

Coiledspring update

Brainwaves 74

Palestinian Aid Bundle

https://www.dicebreaker.com/topics/indie-bundle-for-palestinian-aid/news/indie-bundle-palestinian-aid-itchio

United Nations Relief and Works Agency. 

Queer Games Bundle

https://itch.io/b/861/queer-games-bundle-2021

Pokemon cards

https://kotaku.com/logan-paul-wore-a-pokemon-card-to-mayweather-fight-say-1847044171

Earthborne Games

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2672337/article/37859080?fbclid=IwAR0XlXDiRDeIXti6TnE1jJGP9imGJom4_fd2N9VeIiNWHmjjRGPlxIs4iOs#37859080

Patreon Shoutouts

 

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

Outro

 

Godfather Monopoly

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/647278/the-godfather-monopoly-board-game

Sopranos Monopoly

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48505/the-op-unveils-two-new-versions-classic-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

 

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

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

Jamie’s away so Iain gets Oliver from Tabletop Games Blog in the studio for a tryout. Jamie’s surprise return puts things on a rather awkward note but together they come together to report on this week’s news. From distributors getting themselves tied in knots, Kickstarters getting cancelled and convention season looking a bit wobbly, no news corner is too dark for the Brainwaves team to stick their snout in. 

Headlines

 

Coiledspring games promotion with Mumsnet sparks backlash

https://twitter.com/coiledspring/status/1396058393287213056?s=19

https://twitter.com/coiledspring/status/1397643793248161795?s=20

 

Spiele des Jahres

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48381/spiel-des-jahres-nominations-revealed

 

Games Expo to go ahead, tickets on sale

https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/

 

Gencon Indy has big exhibitors bail

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48400/big-companies-continue-bail-attending-gen-con-indy-2021

 

News

 

Plastic Soldier Company cancels Prison Architect Kickstarter after controversy

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pscgamesuk/prison-architect-cardboard-county-penitentiary

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2666011/statement-prison-theme-designers

 

Bruno Faidutti likes a drink and thinks you should to

Blog post https://faidutti.com/blog/blog/2021/05/23/jeux-et-alcool-alcool-and-games/

 

Hobby finances look good

https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/board-game/news/board-game-sales-2020-digital-fatigue

 

Dungeons and Dragons stats

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robwieland/2021/05/19/2020-was-the-best-year-ever-for-dungeons--dragons/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

Patreon Shoutouts

Shaun Newan

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

 

Tanya Pobuda’s Research

https://twitter.com/PobudaTanya/status/1395786235399049217

 

Polygon on Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

https://www.polygon.com/22440453/dungeons-dragons-ezmerelda-davenir-retcon-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft?utm_campaign=polygon.social&utm_content=polygon&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3nqg5-MEym40HqoOvlhOcFE10-09FR356pL-QJq1gu5Rd2g2XXluf3mMY

 

Outro

 

D&D Monopoly

https://theop.games/2021/05/monopoly-dungeons-dragons-available-now/

 

Oliver’s Links

 

Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Radio: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/radio/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TabletopGamesBl

 

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/3bMx2HK75r

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

Iain recently participated in the Tabletop Mentorship programme as a mentor to Adam Richards. Adam writes reviews and opinion pieces on his own site Punchboard Reviews. He joins Iain to talk about the programme along with the progamme creators Mike Belsole and Grace Kendall. We dive in the history of the programme, how it's changed since inception, and what the future holds. 

Adam's Info

Review site

Tabletop Mentorship Programme

Website

Mike's Twitter

Grace's Twitter

 

It’s time for your fortnightly does of boardgame news. Please take with plenty of water along with some food.

Headlines

Richard Halliwell passes away

https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2021/05/rip-richard-halliwell.html

California court rules Amazon responsible for third party goods

https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/1/22414185/california-appeals-court-amazon-marketplace-responsible-third-party-hoverboard

Golden Geek Awards announced

https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/2652238/15th-annual-golden-geek-awards-winners-2020

 

News

Zak Smith lawsuit against Gencon dismissed

https://www.geeknative.com/130984/court-appears-to-dismiss-zak-s-gen-con-lawsuit/

DnD Movie begins shooting

https://collider.com/dungeons-and-dragons-movie-filming-begins/

Daniele Tascini update 

https://boardanddice.com/news/update-on-the-situation-with-daniele-tascini/

Walmart and Target pulls Pokemon cards

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48339/mass-merchants-pull-pokemon-tcg-sports-cards-off-shelves

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2021/may/13/us-target-stores-to-stop-selling-pokemon-cards-after-rising-value-prompts-threats-to-staff

https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv9a9/pokemon-cards-psa-cgc-bgs-turnaround-times?fbclid=IwAR0iIwvpFbenSd7d0153Unk-Scbny_vLFUp6QPfnNKLTwA7RG3yyedrBsS4

Monopoly loses trademark in EU. Kinda. Sorta.

https://www.worldipreview.com/news/hasbro-loses-eu-monopoly-tm-after-bad-faith-finding-21292

 

Patreon Shoutouts

Shaun Newan

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

 

Outro

Lifesize Monopoly

https://www.monopolylifesized.com/

 

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/3bMx2HK75r

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

Iain has gotten Ben Porter from the Unlucky Frog round for some painting and decorating, but has rather misunderstood what sort of thing Ben paints. He joins the team to discuss the latest news including Wizards of the Coast looking at NFTs, Christian T Petersen buying up Fantasy Flight property, Games Workshop Supply issues, pokemon cards and much more. In our interview with Ben we look at the world of commission miniature painting and what brought Ben to setup his own business. 

 

Headlines

RIP Robin Wood

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48169/r-i-p-robin-wood

 

Wotc makes up 75% of Hasbro

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48207/wotc-segment-75-hasbro-profits-q1

https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/hasbro/news/magic-the-gathering-nft-earnings-call

 

Christian T Petersen Company buys Fantasy Flight Games Centre

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48174/christian-petersen-company-buys-fantasy-flight-games-center

 

News

Games Workshop hit by supply issues

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/04/18/our-pre-order-schedules-changing-a-bit-heres-how/

 

Monster Hunter World Board game cuts in retailers

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48165/steamforged-games-reveals-retail-referral-program

 

Pokemon Finance news is back

https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/pokemon-trading-card-game/news/incredibly-rare-autographed-pokemon-card-sold-tsunekazu-ishihara

 

Vampire RPG gets TV series

https://deadline.com/2021/04/world-of-darkness-film-and-tv-in-development-eric-heisserer-christine-boylan-hivemind-1234744965/

 

Interview

 

Ben’s Links

https://ashenholdart.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/ashenholdart/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/AshenholdArt

 

Jamie who did Ben’s new logo

https://thenobleartist.com/

Patreon Shoutouts

Shaun Newan

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

Outro

 

DBZ Cluedo
https://theop.games/2021/04/clue-dragon-ball-z-available-now/?utm_source=Master+media+List&utm_campaign=8bfc92f2e2-Dragon+Ball+Z+Clue+Available+Now+%28Press%29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c1d1e7b85b-8bfc92f2e2-356660665&mc_cid=8bfc92f2e2&mc_eid=093cc94f5b

 

Unlucky Frog 

 

https://www.unluckyfrog.com/

 

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/3bMx2HK75r

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