Episode 174: Blood, Sweat & Tears
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Release Date: Apr. 15, 2013 Running Time: 155 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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Built to last. We celebrate the show's 7th anniversary with blocks of marble and tiki huts. We review of Palaces of Carrara and Hawaii, two games about building that offer challenge and strategy from a set of seemingly simple choices.
News & Notes: Spyrium, Relic Expedition, Canterbury, Origins Awards
The List: Palaces of Carrara, Hawaii
Back Shelf Spotlight: Master Builder
Truckloads of Goober: Mord im Arosa
The Game Sommelier: 5 games paired with movies/lines of dialogue
Mail Bag: Good Fortune film, Scopa input from Italy
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Episode 173: Sim Chitty
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Release Date: Apr. 1, 2013 Running Time: 155 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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Urban cardboard jungles. We review three games, each with their own take on urban planning: from the futuristic treehouses of Ginkgopolis to the crowded streets of Suburbia to the far flung shores of France and the walls of Saint Malo.
News & Notes: DVDs, Gaming Hoopla, Squadra Games, Survive Expansions
The List: Ginkgopolis, Suburbia, Saint Malo
Favorites: Nefertiti (Doug Faust)
The Game Sommelier: 5 games paired with scenes/songs from musicals
Mail Bag: Card games in Milwaukee Art Museum, Scopa, Family Vacation
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Episode 172: Game, Set, Match
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Release Date: Mar. 18, 2013 Running Time: 164 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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Rummy revisions. We review A Fool's Fortune and Morels two set collecting card games that breathe new life into this well known and time tested genre PLUS the first in a series of interviews with Major Fun, Bernie DeKoven.
News & Notes: Line Dice, Scopa cards, TableTop Day, Asgard & Oddville
The List: A Fool's Fortune, Morels
Back Shelf Spotlight: Palastgeflüster
Truckloads of Goober: Avalanche / Astroslide
Interview: Major Fun (Bernie DeKoven), Part 1
Favorites: Coup
The Game Sommelier: 5 games that would make great tattoos
Mail Bag: Dweebutante Ball, ApocalypZe, The Answer Men
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Episode 171: If Charlemagne Was A Badger
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Release Date: Mar. 4, 2013 Running Time: 143 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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A world built with 36 cards. We delve into the Decktet, an ingenious set of double suited cards, a Tarot deck from a parallel dimension, and a sandbox for innovative game design. The Decktet has inspired dozens of new games. From trick taking to resource management, we review four of them.
News & Notes: Dapper Devil, Urbania, Phobos, KS roundup, The Ships, Tabletop Day
Game Reviews: Decktet (Nonesuch, Quincunx, Thricewise, Magnate)
Back Shelf Spotlight: Mu & More
Favorites: Vinhos
The Game Sommelier: 5 quick games that teach creative thinking
Mail Bag: Smarter Game Timer, Tenzi, modern day Tokaido
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Episode 170: All Access
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Release Date: Feb. 18, 2013 Running Time: 144 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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Fun for all. From sausage dice to treasure on the high seas, we review four games you could teach/play/enjoy with almost any group of players: Wordaround, Wurfelwurst, Tokaido and Pirate Dice.
News & Notes: Influence, Stefan Feld, Hasbro cuts 10% of workforce
Game Reviews: Wordaround, Wurfel Wurst, Tokaido, Pirate Dice
Truckloads of Goober: Diavolo
Back Shelf Spotlight: Circus Maximus
Favorites: Roma, Blackjack
The Game Sommelier: Games to pair with 5 Belgian cities
Mail Bag: More listener Sommeliers, Cafe Taktik in Sweden
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Episode 169: Spielfest 2013
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Release Date: Feb. 4, 2013 Running Time: 215 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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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.
Episode 168: O Brave New World
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Release Date: Jan. 21, 2012 Running Time: 162 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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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.
Scribbler #10: Ten Little Words (Word Block Puzzle)
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Release Date: Jan. 7, 2013 Word Block Puzzle Print, Play Along, Win a Prize! Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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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.
Episode 167: Soy Sauce Samurai
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Release Date: Dec. 24, 2012 Running Time: 196 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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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.
Episode 166: 2012 Holiday Gift Guide
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Release Date: Dec. 10, 2011 Running Time: 180 min. Listen Now: Download: Subscribe via iTunes: See sidebar for other subscription options |
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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.