63: T For Two Release Date: Sept. 22, 2008 Running Time: 112 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Volcanos and snake-haired gods. We build towers and temples on a fiery island in Taluva and guide ancient Etruscan oracles to a sacred altar in Tuchulcha, a wacky Parcheesi variant.

News & Notes:  Logan Stones, Northstar/Days of Wonder, daVinci/Alliance
The List: Taluva, Tuchulcha
Name That Game: Win Crocodile Pool Party
Backshelf Spotlight: Quandary, Bosworth 
Truckloads of Goober: Meepile
Game Sommelier: 30 games for children's hospital play rooms.
Mail Bag: NFL Pool update, Mr Jack and Airships corrections.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

62: Killer Blimps Release Date: Sept. 8, 2008 Running Time: 112 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Dirigibles by gaslight. We race to build the Hindenburg wiith dice playing Airships and take turns tracking down Jack the Ripper or plotting his escape in Mr. Jack.

News & Notes: Stained glass d20, Game on podcast, International Gamer Awards
The List: Airships, Mr. Jack
Name That Game: Win Rat Hot
Backshelf Spotlight: Great Dalmuti, Upwords 
Truckloads of Goober: Akaba
Game Sommelier: 5 games you can play without needing to move the pieces yourself
Mail Bag: Baby Jung, War of the Ring Corrections, Delicious Library 2

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

61: GenCon 2008 - Part 2 Release Date: August 25, 2008 Running Time:   62 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Please, sir, may I have some more? The second half of our convention coverage features nine interviews about new games from the blasphemous to the sublime. We wander from ancient Rome and Troy to the gritty tech-noir streets of Murder City.

Game Companies Interviewed:  Playroom Entertainment, Gale Force Nine, Kings of the Castle, Maxveld Games, Pinstripe Publishing, Roof on Fire Productions, Valley Games, Your Move Games, White Wolf Publishing

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

60: GenCon 2008 Release Date: August 18, 2008 Running Time:   84 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Spiel on! The greatest four days in gaming... right in our back yard. In addition to interviews and reports from the Spiel-a-thon, we invite three other Spielers to a round table discussion about the convention.

Game Companies Interviewed:  Ape Games, Asmodee Editions, Devir, Dwarven Sweatshop, Geek Chic, Gryphon Forge, Z-Man Games & THE Settler of Catan.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

59: There and Back Again Release Date: August 4, 2008 Running Time: 147 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Mordor or bust! Each year we allow our listeners to program every segment of one show. This year's episode features an in-depth look at War of the Ring, a strategy board game pitting two players in a struggle to rewrite the history of Middle Earth.

News & Notes: Elementalis Expansions, Games by Spielers for Spielers
The List: War of the Ring
Name That Game: Win Knowbody Knows, courtesy of Uncle Rez Games
Backshelf Spotlight: Ploy, Chinatown
Truckloads of Goober: Broadsides & Boarding Parties
Game Sommelier: Seven games to match the seven deadly sins
Mail Bag: Subbuteo on the DS, School Library Journal Article, Galactic Emperor

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

58: Origins 2008 Release Date: July 7, 2008 Running Time:  143 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

It's Convention season. That means we dive into the trade show booths to bring you the latest from game companies large and small. This year, we have 15 interviews covering no less than 30 games! Whether you're into party games, war games or somewhere in between, there's surely a title or two that will catch your attention.

Game Companies Interviewed:  Out of the Box, Bucephalus Games, R & R Games, Flying Frog Productions, Columbia Games, GMT, Osprey Publishing, Bandai, Paizo Publishing, Pair of Dice, Elfinwerks, Academy Games, Playroom Entertainment, Valley Games, North Star Games.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

56 & 57: Spiel des Schpiel 2008 Release Date: June 19, 2008 Running Time:  79 min. | 89 min. Listen Now: Listen Now: Download #56: Enhanced - MP3 Version Download #57: Enhanced - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Envelope, please. In anticipation of the Spiel des Jahres  (Game of the Year), one of the most prestigious awards in the board game world, we play all five nominees and try to predict the winner.

Nominee #1: Blox
Nominee #2: Marrakech
Nominee #3: Stone Age
Nominee #4: Keltis
Nominee #5: Witch's Brew

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

55.5: When It Rains, It Pours Release Date: June 9, 2008 Running Time: 16 min. Listen Now: Download:Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Timber! A tree falls on our padded cel, so the next full episode will be in two weeks. We discuss our upcoming summer schedule, including the Spiel des Jahres spectacular, Origins, Gen Con, and Listener's Choice shows.

Tree Carnage: link to photo gallery
Schedule: June 23 - Spiel des Jahres, July 1 - Origins, July 15 - Summer Break
Scribbler #1: new feature included in The Spiel feed - print and play puzzles!
Spiel-a-thon!: August 15, 5-10 PM, Rio Grande Game Room (210), GenCon 2008

55: Just For The Halibut Release Date: May 26, 2008 Running Time: 93 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Gone fishin'. The bait: wooden penguins and little rubber worms. We strike bargains with talking fish and dive under the ice looking for the big catch playing If Wishes Were Fishes and Hey! That's My Fish!

News & Notes: Bridge class with a Life Master (Spiel discount), Monty Python Fluxx
The List: If Wishes Were Fishes, Hey! That's My Fish
Name That Game: Win 2 Mosquito Expansion Tiles for Hive
Backshelf Spotlight: Corsari, Lindy
Truckloads of Goober: Chateau Roquefort
Game Sommelier: Seven games to match the continents
Mail Bag: Gridstones, Ta Yu still in print

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

54: The Short List Release Date: May 12, 2008 Running Time:  100 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Eight quickies. Whether you need a game for a lunch break at work or to play with your kids for half an hour, it's good to have some filler games in your bag of tricks. We reach into our bag give you the scoop on eight different titles, each reviewed in 5-7 minutes.

News & Notes: Purple Pawn, Rio Grande Open Game Room / Spiel-a-thon!
The List: 8 short games each reviewed in 5-7 minutes! (Quicksand, Shake, Oh Wah Ree, Chess Equalizer, Beetelz, Knockabout, Deluxe Dirty Words, and 6 Nimmt).
Name That Game: Win Knowbody Knows
Backshelf Spotlight: Ta Yu, Samarkand
Truckloads of Goober: Ritter Ohne Furcht und Tadel
Game Sommelier: takes a break this week
Mail Bag: new web site! Listeners Choice voting ends 5/18, Saikoro

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.