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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 Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Iain and Oliver are back in the studio while Jamie takes a break from the cast. The team of two bring you updates on the Open Gaming License, Hasbro layoffs, UK companies in trouble, a downturn in the fortunes of the German games market, and much more in episode 115 of Brainwaves.
Headlines
Wizards reverses course
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1439-ogl-1-0a-creative-commons
Smart Party Episode
https://smartparty.wordpress.com/2023/01/23/ogl-omg/#more-1838
Hasbro lays off staff
ITB in more trouble
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/itbboardgames/sub-terra-ii-infernos-edge/posts
https://www.secondgategames.com/
https://www.nutspublishing.com/eshop/index.php
Updates
Victoria Mann
https://medium.com/p/167ec2795418
News
Serge Laget dies
https://faidutti.com/blog/blog/2023/01/23/serge-laget/
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/295/serge-laget
Gamefound cuts into KS
https://twitter.com/Polygon/status/1620791604767297552
Asmodee Pearl Games Studio Closing
German Hobby Games and Puzzles Market Shrinks
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
Airecon
Gothcon
Conpulsion is back
Moray Games Jam
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
And finally
D&D film Monopoly
https://www.worldofmonopoly.com/list-ad/list-dr-du/dungeonsanddragons/2023-uk/index.php
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
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
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
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
The team are back after a bit of a break! In this first episode of the new year we cover all the latest with Wizards of the Coast OGL announcements and have two interviews: one with Linda Codega who broke the story and one with Jon Hodgson who runs Handiwork Games. It’s our biggest piece yet on the show and we hope you enjoy it.
Not only that but we report on a new RPG union in Europe, Gil Hova shutting up shop, GW share prices and the largest monopoly collection in the world!
Headline
WIzards of the Coast updates the Open Gaming License
Linda Codega Pieces
Linda’s Twitter
The piece that broke the news
https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634
The 1.1 leaked document
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BXYQJ0ulww7BoZhjMHrZgQ5YrjfPRIma/view
OGL announcement cancelled
https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-ogl-announcement-wizards-of-the-coast-1849981365
Wizards response reaction
https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-ogl-license-wizards-of-the-coast-wotc-1849985196
The piece about the culture inside Wizards
https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-wizards-hasbro-ogl-open-game-license-1849981136
Linda’s most recent post summarising the situation
https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-and-dragons-ogl-1-1-explained-wizards-of-the-c-1850006448
Wizards replies
The first response we read out
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl
Kyle Brink first post
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1428-a-working-conversation-about-the-open-game-license
The “playtest post”
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1432-starting-the-ogl-playtest
The Alexandrian
https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/48760/roleplaying-games/open-gaming-license-a-brief-history
Open DnD movement
Paizo announcements
https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si7v?Paizo-Announces-SystemNeutral-Open-RPG-License
https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si7y
Handiwork Games
Critical Role response
https://twitter.com/criticalrole/status/1614019463367610392?s=61&t=5QFplhzM27MsLop4yWeCow
News
European RPG publishers band together
Funagain Distribution closes doors
https://twitter.com/FunagainDistro/status/1615088568975908864?s=20&t=uvarqBSNAMys61GJTEkiSw
Formal Ferret Games closing down
https://twitter.com/gilhova/status/1614377086067539970?s=21
Games workshop share price falls
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
Cardboard Edison awards are open
https://cardboardedison.com/award
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
Outro
The world’s largest Monopoly collection
https://www.worldofmonopoly.com/otherpages/worldrecord.php
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
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
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
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Monday Dec 26, 2022
It’s the final episode of Brainwaves! For this year at least. The team are back in the studio to discuss racism in RPGs (again), AI art causing a stir, Wizards changing the Open Gaming Licence, and much more in Episode 113 of Brainwaves.
Headlines
Mythic Polynesia
https://twitter.com/mr_orgue/status/1602122837623382019?s=20&t=71lQaIfq-32saosyN0JUSQ
https://twitter.com/_Boganova_/status/1593114267519430658
https://e-tangata.co.nz/reflections/moriori-still-setting-the-record-straight/
Frank West steps down from GAMA president role
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/52725/new-gama-board-president-steps-down
On Stage with Frank West
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2022/05/23/on-stage-with-frank-west/
Tabletop Games break half a billion
News
DnD moves beyond Race
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1393-moving-on-from-race-in-one-d-d
Wizards announces changes to the OGL
Tric Trac shutdown
https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/140323/french-gaming-site-tric-trac-shut-down
Chaosium committed to not working with AI art
U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) maintains that AI art cannot be copyrighted
Kickstarter makes noises about not allowing AI art on platform
https://updates.kickstarter.com/ai-current-thinking/
On Stage with Jon Hodgson
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2022/09/26/on-stage-with-jon-hodgson/
Further thoughts from Jon on AI art
Cancelled AI Kickstarter
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
Outro
Warhammer 40k Series coming to Amazon
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63998585
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
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com
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
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
The newly forged trio return to the mics to bring you the latest and best tabletop gaming news. From AIs turning their minds to Stratego, Wizards fending off accusations, all the way to gaming related candles! All this, and more, on episode 112 of Brainwaves.
Headlines
AI masters Stratego
https://twitter.com/DeepMind/status/1598392039992958982
https://www.deepmind.com/blog/mastering-stratego-the-classic-game-of-imperfect-information
https://www.gravon.de/gravon/stratego/stratego.jsp
Games Industry Conference Cancelled
Wizards executives push back
Updates
Dicebreaker Awards announced
https://www.dicebreaker.com/events/tabletop-awards-2022/news/tabletop-awards-2022-winners
Teburu is back, maybe?
https://gamefound.com/projects/xplored/vampire-the-masquerade-milan-uprising
News
Ed Pugh dies
https://icv2.com/articles/columns/view/52792/rolling-initiative-how-ed-pugh-changed-industry
Mythic delve into shady deals
Terraforming Mars optioned for film
https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/terraforming-mars/news/terraforming-mars-film-optioned
Senet wins awards
https://twitter.com/danjolin/status/1597713195581378560?s=21
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
DnD looks for Art Director
https://twitter.com/robsather/status/1597279812116447235?s=20&t=6uZUNw5oGI0lJBb1_BRaFQ
Protospiel Online
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
Outro
Get that new boardgame smell all year round
https://dicebreaker.com/companies/cmyk/news/new-board-game-candle
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
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
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
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
It was my great pleasure to be joined On Stage by Flavien Loisier for our last interview of the year. Flavien is the General Manager of Hachette Boardgames UK and it was a fascinating chat covering setting up the company, the challenges of handling a hit, state of the industry, and future plans.
Twitter Account
https://twitter.com/HachetteBGUK
https://www.instagram.com/hachetteboardgamesuk/
Main Website
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Jamie and Iain discover that Oliver Kinne has been drifting around the spacetime continuum inside the HQ. Not sure what to do about this situation they invite him to become a permanent member of the team, he has to pay down his tea debt anyway.
Together the newly expanded Brainwaves team cover trouble at Hasbro, Pandasaurus Games acting like dinosaurs, Embracer letting go, AI conquering diplomacy, Catan Cookbooks, and much more in episode 111 of Brainwaves.
Headlines
Hasbro loses the magic
https://www.polygon.com/23458064/magic-the-gathering-overprinting-hasbro-stock-downgrade
Heroscape failure to fund
Hasbro looks to sell E-One
Pandasaurus games act like dinosaurs
Jon Gilmour Tweet
https://twitter.com/JonGilmour/status/1592929929552805889?s=20&t=MPaYOE5ni5iuo_dRAqwGcQ
Embracer loses its grip
https://www.ft.com/content/121c749d-09c5-4c98-a07e-a12788bef7f2
Asmodee Sales
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/52669/asmodee-dark-horse-sales-up-quarter
News
Magic clamps down on Card Conjurer and proxies
https://twitter.com/ImKyle4815/status/1593658825109741568
https://twitter.com/kompreya/status/1593663395890356225
AI Diplomacy
https://twitter.com/MetaAI/status/1595075884502855680
Dicebreaker Tabletop Awards 2022 finalists
https://www.dicebreaker.com/events/tabletop-awards-2022/news/tabletop-awards-2022-finalists
Anna Blackwell Interview
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/11/25/meeting-of-minds-anna-blackwell/
Rail/ Postal strikes coming
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/52715/retailers-urge-congress-avert-rail-strike
Long Tail Games goes part time
https://twitter.com/long_tail_games/status/1592004962552512513?s=21
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
Gofundme for games shop that has been broken into
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
Outro
Catan Cookbook
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/52643/ulysses-press-will-release-catan-hardcover-cookbook
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
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
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
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Iain and Jamie are back after a little break to bring you a bumper crop of tabletop gaming news. From unions in the states to law suits in the world of chess the news never stops, and neither do we.
Headlines
Union formed at US retailer
Welcome Asmodee
For whom the bell tolls
https://twitter.com/gabrielledrolet/status/1590065270781267968?t=BILiAAoPqbs8a4YYf-QKKg&s=19
https://twitter.com/dorrismccomics/status/1590035578724052992?t=BthaYHwyHoyPEx-_kAxOkw&s=19
https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/259248/golden-bell-affiliated-projects-and-companies
Episode 53 -
https://giantbrain.co.uk/2020/07/20/brainwaves-53-meddling-wizards/
Updates
Nielsen sues Carlsen
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63338375
News
999 games head dies
https://www.999games.nl/nieuws/sad-news
DND studio head steps down
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ray-winninger-wizards-of-the-coast-resigns/
Wizards changes processes
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1375-leveling-up-our-creative-process-learnings-from
Ox Eye Media gets sued
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/52520/game-designer-sues-ox-eye-media
Kickstarter Plagiarism
https://twitter.com/connorjwake/status/1583851016365428736?t=mPJN3Mxu0Upp_qdmVmLRgw&s=19
ITB in trouble
https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKboardgametrade/permalink/3433057103645275/?flite=scwspnss
https://t.me/+owDmHb-59eBmZmE8?fbclid=IwAR1D3Bz-xdGY7LPi-am7VjkAZmYZwrpQmjn2DrmMNvELz8-fOnKJUysgGXA
Hachette to sell Oink in the Uk
https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/news/full-range-of-oink-games-available-in-the-uk-from-next-week/
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
https://www.montecookgames.com/careers/
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
Outro
Catan Novel
https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek/status/1581991094656831496
Monopoly Secret Vault
https://worldofmonopoly.com/list-ru/list-se-sh/secretvault/2022-uk/index.php
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
Mastodon: https://tabletop.social/web/@TheGiantBrain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Autumn has truly arrived in Scotland but that hasn’t stopped the Brainwaves team from venturing out to find the best in Tabletop gaming news. This episode we cover moves at the top of Kickstarter and Hasbro, licenses expanding, chess imploding, and fellowships being awarded!
Headlines
Kickstarter new CEO
Dungeons and Dragons new head
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/hasbro-dungeons-dragons-senior-vice-president-dan-rawson/
Renegade Games expands licensing with Hasbro
Updates
Chess
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63108879
Satine Phoenix
https://twitter.com/POCGamer/status/1576978399654203392?s=20&t=LDo-fgguxAdQIdQlB0bNkQ
Yu-gi-oh creator death
News
Chris Gabrielson death
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/badcrow/company-of-heroes-board-game-2nd-edition/posts/3634943
Essen Theft
https://twitter.com/yelmelnobrainer/status/1579069500477304833?s=20&t=KNLcNx5bNooAhqZeXka40A
Gama Horizon Fellowships
https://twitter.com/TheGAMAOnline/status/1578687006682521601?s=20&t=Fmz0T1YdVtKZbA-AhvnWbg
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
Outro
Stonemaier Games Charity Auction
https://www.instagram.com/p/CjiRI0rLJbI/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
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
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Iain and Jamie are back behind the mics to bring you the choicest cuts of tabletop news. This episode of Brainwaves they cover the unfolding controversy in chess, companies expanding, people moving, witch trial inspired games and more!
Headlines
Chess world deals with cheating allegation fallouts
Fide official statement
https://www.chessdom.com/fide-publishes-the-official-statement-on-the-carlsen-niemann-case/
Magnus Carlsen Statement
https://twitter.com/magnuscarlsen/status/1574482694406565888
Late Night
Grandmaster loses commentating role
https://kotaku.com/chess-grandmaster-scandal-womens-grand-prix-ilya-smirin-1849590949
Naylor Games announces future
Updates
Star Frontiers Delisted
https://twitter.com/jedion357/status/1572610022680698881?s=20&t=dGXw9JOr5ygDHjmwTD0LFA
News
T.Caires joins Hachette US
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/52240/people-move-hachette-hires-t-caires-their-staff
Stonemaier Games announces more eco-moves
Iello bought
https://www.trictrac.net/actus/iello-rejoint-media-participation
Scottish Witch Hunt card games
https://marthamcgill.co.uk/witchhunt1649/
Tabletop Gaming Article
Scottish Government Apology
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-60667533
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
Gameosity lists some every month
https://www.gameosity.com/category/jobs/
Roll for Good
https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/roleplaying-game/news/roll-for-good-mermaids-event
Theft at University of East Anglia Game’s society
https://twitter.com/ReassessHistory
Patreon Shoutouts
James Naylor
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
Sir Meeple
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain
Outro
D20 goes to space
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
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
In our latest On Stage interview Iain is joined by Jon Hodgson of Handiwork Games. Jon has had a long career in tableop RPGs. He started off as a freelance artist but has had creative director, art director, and Deputy CEO. He has worked on huge franchise titles like Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who but has left all that behind to establish his own company. Jon was kind enough to come over to the GB HQ to talk about his career, establishing Handiwork Games, the rise of AI art, and more besides in this wide ranging interview.
Links to some subjects discussed
Travelling Man
Kev Walker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kev_Walker
Wayne Reynolds
https://www.waynereynolds.com/
Ralph Horsley
http://www.ralphhorsley.co.uk/
SLA Industries
https://nightfall.games/sla-industries-2nd-edition
Dead of Night
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/81572/Dead-of-Night
Midjourney
https://www.midjourney.com/home/
Jon’s Links
Handiwork Games
https://twitter.com/JonnyHodgsonArt