Shelley and I talk about 2 interesting games as we wait with baited breath for the Essen Deluge. Games on tap:

Age of Craft by Toryo Hojo from Chicken Dice Games

California Gold by Patrick Stevens from Numbskull Games

A few geek and a designers hang out around a table with mics, talking design, games, and the way the industry was working back in 2007.

Shelley and a bunch of friends join in for a discussion of a bunch of games played back in August 2007

Shelley and I go through the EXTENSIVE BGG Essen Preview and pick out the games we plan to get or explore more fully while we are roaming the halls in Germany.

If you're at the fair, please stop by and say hi!

The guys and gals finish up the conversation about games and gaming personalities at the very first Meeplefest.

Here's where the Meeplefest episodes began - fun group gathered around drinking good wine and discussing a variety of issues in the hobby.

Shel and I get a chance to try out and discuss three Oink Games, small, elegantly-designed games from the Japanese publisher that BGG has had available.

Deep Sea Adventure by Jun Sasaki

Troll by Kouji Kimura

Kobayakawa by Jun Sasaki

Aldie from BGG joins Shelley and me, along with Mary and Ravindra Prasad and Paul Tevis.

Shelley and I take a break from games for the most part (at least the 'board' type) and enjoy our Wii back in 2007, along with describing our great French vacation.

The Round Table wraps up the 2015 Meeplefest discussions with commentary on mechanisms, design and BGG, with a sidetrack about Qwirkle's 5-year delayed publication in Germany.

The Atlanta gang joins us on the mics (along with Ric B. who made the trek too) for a lively conversation about games played at that year's convention.

Shelley and I were lucky enough to head to France during the summer of 2007 and took with us Bruno Faidutti's Golden Geek Award for Diamant/Incan Gold. M. Faidutti and his lovely wife invited us to dinner, and afterward we had a chance to sit down for a conversation on the mics.

Time for our annual Meeplefest "State of the Industry" discussion with the gang around the table, along with discussions about games that remain as evergreens, along with those that have been replaced by 'better' stuff.

Shelley and I celebrate the end of the school year 2007 with continued discussion of our flavor of the month Notre Dame, along with Zooloretto and the Meeples Choice Award winners - are they still on YOUR shelves?

No Shelley on the mic, but I talk about more playings of Notre Dame, as well as discuss email and voicemail from listeners.

This week we delve into design and prototyping with designers

Tom Lehmann

Susan McKinley Ross

Candy Weber

Joe Huber

and the gamers who joined in as well, including Kevin, Erik, Kris, Doug, Bob, Ric and Shelley.

Shelley and I sit down for a wrap up of Kublacon 2007, talk about new games coming out at the time (including Zooloretto and Notre Dame), then listen to some of your voicemails.

Aldie and Derk join me and a crew of other publishers to discuss games and the state of the hobby back in 2007

Many voices - new and familiar - around the table for this second evening from this year's Meeplefest. Kris & Lisa of Celesticon (check out their convention NEXT WEEK if you're in the Bay Area), Doug R, Erik, Kevin, Bob, Ric, Shelley, and designers Susan McKinley Ross, Candy Weber, Tom Lehmann, and Joe Huber join in for a discussion of good games played, as well as the start of a conversation about designing the games we love.

Ric joins me on the microphones for a discussion of a couple 2-player outings we tried, along with a quick discussion of the at-that-time-just announced SdJ nominees for 2007.

Pillar of the Earth

Thurn und Taxis + Power & Glory Expansion