Release Date: Feb. 4, 2013 Running Time:  215 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Northern Exposure. Join us for a live recording at Spielfest, a two-day gaming event hosted by Snakes & Lattes, a board game cafe in the heart of Toronto. We talk to designers, publishers, and people in the gaming community. We also get to know the folks behind Snakes & Lattes and let them take over each segment of the show.

Guest Host:  Jon-Paul DeCosse, Manager - Snakes & Lattes
Interviews:  Pete Lipson (TABS), Tanya Thompson (Think Fun), Ben Castanie (Snakes & Lattes), Francois Valentine (designer), Tim W.K. Brown (designer)

Game Sommelier:  Live challenges from Game Gurus and Spielers
Back Shelf Spotlight:  St. Petersburg
Truckloads of Goober: Ugg-Tect
Contests: 30 second game title tests!

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Jan. 21, 2012 Running Time:  162 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Welcome to Tempest. This fictional city-state is the setting for a new series of games from publisher AEG. Play for power at royal court. Duel with merchants in back alleys. Orchestrate a grand conspiracy. Deliver a secret note to the Princess. Each game tells a story and gives players a new way to explore the world. We review the first four Tempest games: Courtier, Mercante, Dominare, and Love Letter.

News & Notes:  Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls, Just In Time, Monopoly pawns
Tempest Games:  Courtier, Mercante, Dominare, Love Letter

Game Sommelier:  5 games to play with a non-gamer recovering from illness.
Mail Bag: Spiel Scopa cards, DVDs, business manager 

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Jan. 7, 2013 Word Block Puzzle Print, Play Along, Win a Prize! Download: Scribbler #10   Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Ten little words.. OK, ten little game titles, how hard could this be?

Your job is to assemble all the word blocks provided to create ten game titles. Don't worry; there's a clue for each one included. Once you have all the game titles, you can solve the second puzzle.

Good luck!

Send your solution to dave@thespiel.net.  

Download the puzzle using the links above.

Release Date: Dec. 24, 2012 Running Time:  196 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Honor, glory and geishas. Feudal Japan is our destination. We review Yedo, an auction based worker placement game where noble houses compete for the Shogun's favor by completing secret missions.

News & Notes:  12 Realms, Pirates vs Dinosaurs, Rialto, Spielfest
The List:  Yedo

Playbill: Clocks
Truckloads of Goober: Dragi Drache

Game Sommelier:  5 musical selections to play along with 5 games
Mail Bag: Amazon.de, the truth about Czech pubs, Tricky Dice

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Dec. 10, 2011 Running Time: 180 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Give the gift of play. With over 40 game suggestions in 10 categories, you're sure to find a great game for someone this holiday season.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Nov. 26, 2012 Running Time:  138 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Fill your plates. We serve up a nice slice of our interview coverage from the largest game fair in the world, the Essen International Spieltag.

Interviews include:

Game Designers: Martin Wallace, Friedemann Friese, Andreas Steiger

Game Publishers: Czech Games Edition, AEG, Plato Magazine

Artist: Antonis Papantoniou

TableTop Producer: Boyan Radakovich

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Nov. 12, 2012 Running Time:  121 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Games around the globe. We report back from our latest adventure in Europe, covering the International Spieltag in Essen, Germany and filming a travelogue in Belgium.

Part 1: Essen
Part 2: Belgium

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Oct. 8, 2012 Running Time:  135 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Going the distance. We review Milestones, a road building game that mixes abstract strategy with custom rondels, and dive into Smash Up, a genre bending card game chock full of pirates, ninjas, zombies and robots.

News & Notes:  Mr. Card Game, Aztlan, Spiel-a-thon
The List:  Milestones

Playbill: Smash Up
Truckloads of Goober: Medina

Game Sommelier:  5 games to Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her Diamond Jubilee
Mail Bag: No-tie dice, curling, Artemis

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Sept. 24, 2012 Running Time:  113 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Cube-a-licious. We review Seasons, a dice-driven card drafting duel between wizards, and take a closer look at Dungeon Fighter, a dice bouncing dexterity game that is equal parts crazy, stupid, silly, and fun!

News & Notes:  Tzolkin, International Gamers Awards Nominees
The List:  Seasons
Playbill: Dungeon Fighter

Game Sommelier:  5 games to play in a car stuck at the side of the road.
Mail Bag: Aloha, Lost Valley, Spiel article in Fenix

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Sept. 10, 2012 Running Time:  163 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Con-clusions. We finish our GenCon coverage with 15 interviews including chats with an artist, board game cafe owners, publishers, and Ken St. Andre, designer of Tunnels & Trolls, the 2nd role playing game ever published.

15 Interviews:  Winning Moves, Snakes & Lattes, TabApp, Tsuro of the Seas, Lord of the Rings: Nazgul, Flying Buffalo Games, "Prof" Herbert (artist), Consequential, Ken St. Andre, Moral Conflict, Star Trek: Fleet Captains, Iello Games, Wattsalpoag, Top Promoter, Pirates of the Spanish Main Card Game

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.