81: Spiel des Schpiel 2009, Part 2 Release Date: June 22, 2009 Running Time: 128 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Decision time. Five nominees, four weeks, one chance to predict the winner. We review and discuss Fauna and Finca, the final two games in contention for the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award.

News & Notes: Battlestar Galactica: Pegasus, Foundation bundle donations
Nominee #4: Fauna
Nominee #5: Finca
Predictions:  Favorite Game, What Should Win, What Will Win
Mail Bag: Duck Duck Go Variant rules, monster dice, and more

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

80: Spiel des Schpiel 2009 Release Date: June 8, 2009 Running Time: 150 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Jury's out. Five nominees, four weeks, one chance to predict the winner. We review and discuss Dominion, FITS and Pandemic, three games in contention for the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award.

News & Notes: Spiel des Jahres & Kinderspiel des Jahres recommendation lists
Nominee #1: Dominion
Nominee #2: FITS
Nominee #3:  Pandemic
Mail Bag: Dice-o-matic, Eeny Meeny, Origins meet-up

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

79: You Know, For Kids! Release Date: May 24, 2009 Running Time: 105 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Say goodbye, Candyland. No need to cringe on family game night. We review a slew of games aimed at kids that adults will enjoy, too, including Kayak Chaos and Duck! Duck! Go!

News & Notes: Spiel Foundation Logo, Magic Labyrinth, Ring-O-Flamingo
The List: Kayak Chaos, Duck! Duck! Go!
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Super Farmer
Table Talk:  Pictureka
Truckloads of Goober:  Loopin' Louie
Game Sommelier:  5 games to play on a school bus
Mail Bag: Kris Burm writes in, Ninjas in MS, Restaurant Row Poll

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

78: Driven to Abstraction Release Date: May 11, 2009 Running Time: 142 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

These games have potential, literally. If there's a modern rival to chess, it's the Gipf Project. In this mega-episode, we play Ultimate Gipf and the final game in the series, Tzaar.

News & Notes: Game Journals, Fits, Mensa Winners, Qwirkle Cib
The List: Ultimate Gipf, Tzaar
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Breakthru
Table Talk:  Miracle Five
Truckloads of Goober:  Yali
Game Sommelier:  5 games for the 5 Star Trek Captains
Mail Bag: Poisoned Poll, Spiel Index, Swedish "Millionaire"

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

77: Paradise Lost Release Date: April 27, 2009 Running Time: 114 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Letter perfect. We build ancient monuments and wonders to impress the King in Utopia and spell our way Boggle-style through hedge rows in Amuse Amaze.

News & Notes: Small World, Scary Tales, Kingsburg: To Forge A Realm
The List: Utopia, Amuse Amaze
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Earthquake, Probe
Truckloads of Goober:  The Perfect Storm
Game Sommelier:  5 games for people planning their own utopian society
Mail Bag: Shanghaien, Fische Fluppen Frikadellen, Video tour of the padded cell

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

76: A Kind Word & A Gun Release Date: April 13, 2009 Running Time: 117 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

An offer you can't refuse. We play by mob rule this week, packing heat and hijacking hooch with two gangster themed games: Chicago Poker and Family Business.

News & Notes: Spiel-a-thon 2009, Dominion Intrigue, Dicetown, Miss Poutine
The List: Chicago Poker, Family Business
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Gangsters, The Chicago Caper
Truckloads of Goober:  The Godfather Game
Game Sommelier:  5 games with whacked out themes to play with a mob of people
Mail Bag: Gamer Cruises, Where's Kevin?, Modul4r

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

75: Plan 9 Release Date: Mar. 30, 2009 Running Time: 116 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Ground Control to Major Tom. We take to the stars to haul freight for The Man in Galaxy Trucker and then battle through a collapsing star to become the Galactic Emperor.

News & Notes: Yes Button, Catan Geographies, Lexio online, Age of Conan, Kingsburg Deluxe Token
The List: Galactic Emperor, Galaxy Trucker
Table Talk:  Roll Through the Ages, Ninja vs Ninja
Truckloads of Goober:  Planet of the Apes
Game Sommelier:  5 games to play with Daleks
Mail Bag: Bongo surprise, Cheese Chasers, Spiel calms babies?

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

74: Can't We All Just Get Along? Release Date: Mar. 16, 2009 Running Time: 129 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Board games are team sports, too. There are plagues to fight and a village to defend! We dive into Pandemic and Ghost Stories, two in the latest wave of co-op "us vs. the world" games. 

News & Notes: Formula D Sebring/Chicago, League Leader, Alea Iacta Est 
The List: Pandemic, Ghost Stories
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Scotland Yard, Escape from Colditz
Truckloads of Goober:  Zip Code
Game Sommelier:  5 games with co-op elements that are not co-op games
Mail Bag: Black Vienna online, Toruro correction, gaudy etymology

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

73: Espadas & Cigarros Release Date: Mar. 2, 2009 Running Time: 130 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

Avoid the Lulo List. More games inspired by the Spanish speaking world. We duel for glory in Toledo and angle for rum and power in Cuba. Plus two classic card games little known to gringos.

News & Notes: Dominion promo cards, Córdoba, Jugamos Todos, Alea Expansions 
The List: Toledo, Cuba
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Toruro, Mus
Truckloads of Goober:  Tango
Game Sommelier:  5 Spanish games English speaking players may not know about
Mail Bag: NorthEast Wars, Tantrix online

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

72: Viva Los Juegos Release Date: Feb. 16, 2009 Running Time: 119 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

No pasarán! From building towers of people in Catalonia to manning the barricades in Madrid, we play España 1936 and Castellers, two games from Brazilian publisher Devir.

News & Notes: LEGO Board Games, Keltis  & Pandemic Expansions, Space Alert 
The List: España 1936, Castellers
Back Shelf Spotlight:  Papillons, Dancing Eggs
Truckloads of Goober:  Kamisado
Game Sommelier:  Five games you can lose pieces but not ruin the game
Mail Bag: Puzzle game suggestion, Flying Turtle correction

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.