65: Touching Buffy Release Date: Oct. 20, 2008 Running Time: 120 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

If the apocalypse comes, beep me. First we take a trip to Colonial America to battle classic horror movie villains in A Touch of Evil. Then we enroll at Sunnydale High and try to dust The Master playing Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

News & Notes:  Hexer von Salem, Ghost Stories, Witchcraft
The List: A Touch of Evil, Buffy The Vampire Slayer Board Game
Name That Game: Win Rage
Backshelf Spotlight: The Keep, Wicked Witches Way
Truckloads of Goober: Atmosfear
Game Sommelier: 5 games to pair with movies for a Halloween party
Mail Bag: NFL pool update, Haggis!

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

64: Vox Populi, Vox Ludorum Release Date: Oct. 6, 2008 Running Time: 112 min. Listen Now: Download: Enhanced Version - MP3 Version Subscribe via iTunes: Enhanced - MP3 See sidebar for other subscription options

The voice of the people is the voice of games. Populism rules the day. We pander to the Roman public for seats on the council in Municipium and follow up with Gridstones and Gubs, two titles by new and independent game designers.

News & Notes:  New World, IGA Winners, Turricula, Timber Tom
The List: Gridstones, Municipium, Gubs
Name That Game: Win Difference Between Women & Men
Backshelf Spotlight: Battle Line, Mutant Chronicles
Truckloads of Goober: Animal on Animal
Game Sommelier: 30 games for senior citizen centers
Mail Bag: music sellout, the goal die returns

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

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