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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 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
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Monday Aug 24, 2020
Welcome to Idle Thoughts our spin-off podcast where the team get together and talk about games they have played recently. This cast was formerly a patreon exclusive that we would occasionally share with the main feed, but it is now going to be a regular fixture of our release schedule. Patrons still get it early and extended, as we do for the Brainwaves cast.
This is a recording of our opinions about a bunch of games that we played when we met up recently in Glasgow to actually play some games together. We cover Overstocked, Swatch, Biblios, Valley of the Kings, Letterpress and Root!
Going to try something a bit different for the show notes here. I'll link to the companies for the KS games of course but for the ones that are actually out and you fancy buying we are providing Amazon Affiliate links (marked AL as usual). If you buy the game through one of these links we get a small cut.
Games that we talked about
Overstocked
Swatch
Biblios (AL)
Valley of the Kings
I can only find these two on the current Amazon listings. We would recommend Afterlife if you just want to try it out.
Afterlife (AL)
Deluxe (AL)
Letterpress (AL)
Root
Yeah we wouldn't recommend getting Root from Amazon, heard of counterfeits from there. You can get it direct from Leder Games site with a reprint coming pretty soon.
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Monday Aug 17, 2020
The deluge of news is finally slowing and the team takes a well deserved rest in the gardens, whilst still bringing you the latest information from the world of tabletop. This cast covers the Ennie Winners, Roll20 boom, Combat Wheelchairs, Asmodee going alone, Starfinder returning to Alexa and more! As the storm clouds gather overhead the team discuss the relationship between publishers and reviewers and where the line lies between reviews and paid content.
Headlines
Ennies announced
https://ennie-awards.com/2020-nominees_winners/
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/11/mork-borg-swedish-metal-role-playing-game
Roll20 reports covid RPG boom
Combat Wheelchair
AJ Le Brun Interview
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/08/12/meeting-of-minds-able-table-gaming/
News
AEG CEO John Zinser unwell
https://www.alderac.com/2020/08/03/statement-about-john-zinsers-health/
Asmofair
WOTC drops ACD
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46274/wizards-coast-says-acd-distribution-no-longer-option
Alexa Starfinder RPG grows
https://www.engadget.com/amazon-alexa-starfinder-rpg-series-140029360.html?guccounter=1
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers
Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Shaun Newman
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Metallic Dice Games
https://metallicdicegames.com/
Use code ROLLWITHBRAINS for 10% off and help support the cast
Outro
Captain Sir Tom Moore memorial mini
https://warlordgames.myshopify.com/products/nhs-tribute-figure
https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/News/nhs-tribute-miniature-from-warlord-games
Albacon
https://twitter.com/AlbaConRPG/status/1294348360007196674
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 Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Excavating Iain Chantler out from underneath a huge pile of news the team are reunited and set about the latest developments in Tabletop gaming with enthusiasm (or at least workman-like efficiency). This episode we take a look at the Spiel des Jahres, Uk Games Expo Award shortlists, a whole bunch of financial news from across the industry, Mind Sports Olympiad. Also the return of RPG corner where the team uncovers tales of HORROR!
Headlines
Spiel des Jahres Winner announced
https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/en/aktuelle-preistraeger-2020/
UK Games Expo Awards
https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/whats-on/show/awards-shortlist/
Board Game Sales Data
News
Time of Legends Update
Open letter to retailers from minority creators
https://medium.com/@cardsforallpeople/minority-gamemakers-open-letter-to-retailers-c9b7472f36b8
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46150/minority-game-makers-urge-changes-big-box-retailers
Hasbro reports sales in Q2
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46203/hasbros-total-gaming-sales-down-19-q2
Games Workshop thrives despite Covid
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/46227/games-workshop-shrugs-off-covid-shutdown
Mind sports olympiad
Book Events - Mind Sports OlympiadMind Sports Olympiad
RPG Corner
Update - Modiphius cuts ties with Adam Koebel
https://twitter.com/Modiphius/status/1287749933215502338?s=19
https://www.adam-koebel.com/blog
Lamentations invites Zak S in
Green ronin report
https://greenronin.com/blog/2020/07/10/ronin-report-july-9-2020/
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Outro
Super Mario Monopoly
Albacon
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 Jul 27, 2020
Monday Jul 27, 2020
On this special episode of Brainwaves we chat to two of the people behind Project Nisei, a fan run continuation of the Netrunner card game. Serenity, Community Manager, and Jonni, Design lead, join Iain and Iain to chat about the challenges of keeping a worldwide community going amidst the current crisis, how the game is continuing to evolve, their plans for forthcoming releases, and the best way for new players to get into this fantastic game of cyber criminals and the corps who hate them.
Jonni
Serenity
Project Nisei
https://twitter.com/ProjectNISEI
Other things mentioned
Duelyst
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duelyst
Dave Hoyland vs. Kenny Wong match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmrfrT1lYfI
Make Playing Cards
https://www.makeplayingcards.com/
Drivethrucards
https://www.drivethrucards.com/
Netrunner subreddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/Netrunner/
There you can also find the link to the Green level clearance discord
Calvin Wong
Monday Jul 20, 2020
Monday Jul 20, 2020
The HQ is on red alert as the news tubes fill up with more information than they can handle. Setting the interns on the problem Iain M and Jamie set about getting the podcast done to reduce the strain on the system whilst Iain C is lost somewhere in the piles of news! This episode we report on the return of Golden Bell to crowdfunding, Wizards having more employee troubles, Twitter Bans, Scrabble bans, deaths, awards and loads more!
Headlines
Golden Bell Studios launches crowdfunding site
https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/hkxaun/golden_bell_studios_is_starting_their_own/
https://www.thegrowingtreehouse.com/
Wizards Employee Troubles
https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/07/dd-wotc-employee-quits-sparking-uproar.html
https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/07/dd-wotc-issues-apology-community-demands-action.html
https://twitter.com/DungeonCommandr/status/1279208531103629312
Eric Lang twitter ban
https://www.facebook.com/eric.lang.1217/posts/10158245957480856
https://www.facebook.com/eric.lang.1217/posts/10158247949970856
News
Mythic Update
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1162110258/time-of-legends-joan-of-arc/posts/2893949
Episode 42
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/02/03/episode-42-parting-ways/
Jim Holloway has Died
https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2020/07/the-bell-tolls-for-jim-holloway.html
Dice Tower Awards
https://www.dicetowernews.com/article/winners-13th-annual-dice-tower-awards-announced
Scrabble bans offensive words
Edinburgh Games Lab
Asmodee buys Libellud
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Metallic Dice Games
https://metallicdicegames.com/
Use code ROLLWITHBRAINS for 10% off and support the show!
Outro
Gamemaster Documentary
https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/board-game/news/board-game-documentary-gamemaster-released
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 Jul 06, 2020
Monday Jul 06, 2020
Iain M thought he was going to have a nice relaxing time in the Brainwaves studios over lockdown but no! There is so much news that it is threatening to bury the entire HQ! Together the team dig into the giant piles to bring you only the best nuggets of news; CAH revelations continue, WOTC part ways with artist, Ennies deals with their own controversy, AI taking over and much, much more!
Headlines
Cards against humanity head ousted
https://www.cardsagainsthumanity.com/statement/
https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/30/21308708/cards-against-humanity-unionization-toxic-culture-chicago
Wizards of the Coast parts way with Magic the Gathering artist
Zak S Cast
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-23-stranger-dice/
Ennies announced amidst Lancer controversy
https://twitter.com/Lancer_RPG/status/1277650899243077632
Meeting of Minds - Loke Battlemats
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/07/01/meeting-of-minds-loke-battlemats/
News
DMs Guild removes book from sale for provocative art
https://twitter.com/deathbybadger/status/1277920649055518725
AI set loose on Diplomacy
Alpha Go Episode
https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-40-wrapping-up/
Assembly Link
Tabletop Games Blog Link
https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Marvel and Games Workshop Team Up
Tabletop Mentorship announces Micro-Grants
https://twitter.com/TabletopMentor/status/1278339936761139200?s=20
Stephen Buonocore to Step Down as President of Stronghold Games
http://strongholdgames.com/press-release-buonocorestepsdown/
Boardgamegeek acquires TabletopEvents
https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek/status/1277615780998365184?s=19
Patreon Shoutouts
Exec Producers: Lucky Sparrow Gaming Cafe
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Our Links
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thegiantbrain
Twitter: @thegiantbrain
Instagram: giantbrainuk
Facebook: The Giant Brain
Website: giantbrain.co.uk
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com