It's mid-October, which means it's time for my annual "Essen Anticipation" episode. I may have missed a year or two along the way, but mostly I've been doing these since I started the podcast in 2005. Along the way I think I've learned more about my own preferences, and have gotten better at homing in on just those games that will end up being some of my favorites or keepers for the year. But I'm not THAT good. I still get excited and list a lot more games than will end up being my hits of the year. Even more than I will get a chance to play soon. That's ok--this is part of the fun of the hobby, at least for me: getting excited about new games, new ideas, new (and old!) designers/publishers. -Mark
Jamey Stegmaier is back, and we’re talking about the making of Scythe. We discuss the ins and outs of all the design choices that brought one of the best games in the world to life.
In 145 the gang talks about Chris taking more jerky and beers than he was owed and he backed a game we didn't expect (or did we?). Then the Founders give a feature review of Yokohama from TMG and a look back to Terraforming Mars from Stronghold Games. And Finally, after Tony T cracks out the news feeds and press releases for the greatest gaming news segment in the universe, we throw back to an old discussion topic, Games that Fired Other Games.
In this episode, it's all about the upcoming Spiel fair in Essen Germany! We talk about the Dice Tower plans for the show, give some tips and ideas for attending the show, and then dive in, with all four of us giving our top ten games we are looking forward to at the show!
Word Slam is a team-based word guessing game that forces each team to use a fixed set of words as clues. The word you want is never there, so the game pushes you to be creative with the words provided - to find freedom inside the limits imposed.
Shelley and I spend this week looking at two games that will be readily available at Essen in a couple of weeks (though AEG's has been out in the US for a month or so) as well as previewing the three smaller halls at the Essen Fair coming up.
Mini Park by Hsu Wun Hao from Soso Studio
and
Custom Heroes by John D. Clair from AEG
as well as a look at Halls 6, 7, and 8 of the fair (BGG's in Hall 6 By the way)
Ambie, Cassadi, and Crystal discuss Spirit Island, First Orchard, and The 7th Continent. We talk about ethics and bias in reviewing, and Crystal goes over the origins of the word "adventure."
Evan Derrick, designer and part owner of Van Ryder Games, discusses theme and how to really bring it to the forefront in a game.
Evan designed “Detective: City of Angels” which is one of the most thematic games I’ve ever seen, so I pick his brain on what makes a theme really come together.
In Episode Three of our comedy board gaming quiz show the teams play:
Spiel des Jahres
Who's the Traitor?
Under Starter's Orders
Designers Workshop
Higher or Lower?
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This Game is Broken is released every two weeks and is hosted by Dan Hughes and features Matthew Jude, Dave Luza, Nick Murphy and Mike Murphy.
The show is devised and produced by Dan Hughes and edited by Matthew Jude. If you would like Matthew to help you edit your podcast then contact him at:mathewjudcooper@gmail.com
Art by our secretive sixth member Gary. If you would like to commission Gary then email him at: Graphics@deadcatdreaming.co.uk
Additional production support from Mike Poole, Simon Brass, Max Davie, and Gary Pope.
You can see more from Dave Luza on his board gaming YouTube channel - The Happy Luza. He also talks about tabletop games every week on the Dice Tower's Board Game Breakfast doing his Playing the News segment.
The Brother's Murph also have there own gaming Youtube channel The Brother's Murph. You can find them on the Dice Tower's board Game Breakfast show too talking about Thrift Store Throwbacks. Dan Hughes and Matthew Jude also have segments on Board Game Breakfast on the Dice Tower. Dan reviews children's Tabletop games alongside his daughter on "Dan and Cora". And Mathew talks about board and card games on "Dead Last". Despite the cast's close ties to the Dice Tower This Game is Broken is not affiliated to the Dice Tower Network. Or to the Shut Up Sit Down Network, the Rhado Runs Through it Network, or the Watch it Played Network. Mostly because those networks don't even exist.
Today Bender and Jess talk about their Ravenloft Masque of the Red Death Pirate Campaign and their upcoming Song of Ice and Fire campaign. We take a topic from the listeners regarding applying existing intellectual properties to RPG game systems. And finally talk about their upcoming Dark Earth 1899 campaign and discuss their initial thoughts and experiences with Fate Core System.
In this show, we talk about 7th Continent, One Night Ultimate Alien, The Dragon and Flagon, NMBR 9, Bunny Kingdom, and Seafall. We also hear a tale of horror, answer questions about if Kickstarters spam backers, and end the show talking about our favorite one vs. many games! Russ Wakelin from the D6 Generation joins us!
In this show, we talk about Hotshots, Port Royal, Purlock Holmes, Kaiju Crush, and Engineering Ants. We also talk about the technical side of how we do our podcast, and take some questions from the audience!
NOTE: this is recorded as a live Youtube broadcast. Not everything translates over to audio, and the microphones aren't as good as our normal podcast quality.
Shelley and I finally get a chance to play a game we've been talking about from our sponsor (and enjoy it), as well as delve into the little brother of a BIG game we had fun with a couple of years ago.
Whistle Stop by Scott Caputo from Bezier Games
and
Caverna: Cave vs. Cave by Uwe Rosenberg from Mayfair/Lookout