Release Date: Apr. 30, 2012 Running Time:  178 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Find 'em hot and leave 'em wet. Firefighter Major Brian Strange visits the padded cell to give us an expert's perspective on Flash Point - a board game of teamwork, burning buildings and daring rescues.

News & Notes:  Ace of Spies, Off Your Rocker, Sentinels of the Multiverse, Keltis Dice, King of Tokyo
The List:  Flash Point
Back Shelf Spotlight: Emergency!
Truckloads of Goober: Fire

Game Sommelier:  Games Dave craves
Mail Bag: Adlung advice, Evansville connection, APE Games generosity

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Apr. 16, 2012 Running Time:  132 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Think inside the box. That's exactly what Adlung Spiele does. They publish games that redefine our notions of what card games can be. We celebrate the 6th anniversary of The Spiel with reviews of 8 titles: choosing roles as pirate and traitor, loading camels for market, flipping flying carpets, slapping bugs, posing like animals, and building theme parks on the table. So many kinds of fun... all from a simple deck of cards.

News & Notes:  Elder Sign & Nightfall iOS apps, Tammany Hall returns
Adlung Spiele Game Reviews:  Tuareg, Verrater, Flying Carpet, Meuterer, Magic Sword & Dragon Egg, Lady Bugs & Such, Adlungland, Cock-a-Doodle-Do!
Mail Bag: New England correction, Origins dinner, 

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Apr. 2, 2012 Running Time:  165 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Canoes and cannonballs. Join us for an in-depth review of A Few Acres of Snow, Martin Wallace's deck building board game. We row through the rivers and forests of the North to settle the fate of the French & Indian War and then wind the clock forward to look at another colonial-era dice and card based battle game: 1812 - The Invasion of Canada.

News & Notes:  Dominare, Kingdom Builder: Nomads, Going Cardboard review
The List:  A Few Acres of Snow
Back Shelf Spotlight: New England 
Playbill: 1812 - The Invasion of Canada

Game Sommelier:  Games as teaching tools
Mail Bag: Advanced Civ, Bombshell

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Mar. 5, 2012 Running Time:  166 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Gone fission. We review The Manhattan Project, a game where players race to build an atomic bomb, plus we look back at an influential classic: Advanced Civilization.

News & Notes:  Lords of Waterdeep, 2011 industry sales
The List:   The Manhattan Project
Back Shelf Spotlight: Advanced Civilization
Playbill: Santiago de Cuba

Game Sommelier:  Games to play over Skype
Mail Bag: Sharks, Spiel song entry, Gregor the intern

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Feb. 20, 2012 Running Time:  150 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

So nice, they named it twice. Dave reports back from Toy Fair 2012 with 10 interviews, plus a review of a new family card game, Let's Take A Hike.

News & Notes:  Wilderness, Geekway to the West
The List:   Let's Take a Hike
Toy Fair Interviews: R & R Games, Northstar Games, Stronghold Games, Asmodee, Justin Oh, Susan McKinley Ross, Chris Ross, Stratus Games, JADS International, The Game Preserve
Game Sommelier:  Games for home decor themed rooms.
Mail Bag:  Foundation bundle suggestions, chocolate dice

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Feb. 6, 2012 Running Time:  135 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

What's next? We review Airlines: Europe and Fortuna, two middle weight games that can draw new players deeper into the hobby - games that strike a great balance between strategy and fun in under 90 minutes.

News & Notes:  7 Wonders: Cities, Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom, AD&D
The List:   Airlines: Europe
Playbill:  Fortuna
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Palazzo
Table Talk:  Eruption
Truckloads of Goober:  Noteability
Game Sommelier:  Games to predict the Super Bowl winner
Mail Bag:  Core Worlds/RFtG, Origins 2012

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Jan. 23, 2012 Running Time:  144 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Deck building: the next generation. From galactic conquest to warring gods, we review Core Worlds and Ascension: Storm of Souls, two of the newest titles in the genre.  

News & Notes:  Hive Pocket, L5R PnP, Rockband Manager, Star Trek Catan
The List:   Core Worlds
Playbill:  Ascension - Storm of Souls
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Fzzzt!
Notes from the O.C.D.:  How to organize card game rules
Mail Bag:  NFL Pool winner

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Release Date: Dec. 12, 2011 Running Time:  116 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version  MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

You're the next contestant. We review two more Easy Play titles: Drachen Wurf and Big Points. Then, join us for the virtual Spiel-a-thon, an audio game show with fabulous prizes. 

News & Notes:  Ragami, Quarmageddon, Omen (2nd Ed.)
The List:   Drachen Wurf, Big Points
Contests:  6 contests for fun games and dice
Virtual Spiel-a-thon:  3-part audio game show with fabulous prizes

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

We conclude our Essen coverage with some promos and outtakes.

A walking tour of the Messe exhibit hall "loop." We hope this gives you a sense of the scope and size of the event.

Special thanks to friend and fellow Spieler John Knoerzer for filming this an hour before the doors opened.