Looking for interesting filler between the meaty Essen releases? Well, here are 4 brand new card games that might be worth checking out!

Game of Trains by Alexey Konnov, Alexey Paltsev and Anatoliy Shklyarov from Brain Games

8-28 by Michael Hirtle, David Hoyt, and Colin Morgan from Zoch Verlag

Taste of Poland by Violetta Kijowska and Marcin Senior Ropka from Bomba Games

Witkacy by Maciej Poleszak and Michal Szewczyk from Bomba Games

Shelley and I re-enact the 1960 election (I played Nixon) and then discuss the previous year's Essen releases (2006) and how they had held up over the year.

Shelley and I get two of the lighter games from Essen to the table

Cornwall by Johannes Schmidauer-König from Schmidt

Gipfelstürmer by Friedemann Friese from Amigo

and we also talk a bit more about the Game Night with non-gamer families that was such a hit. Games quickly mentioned are

Codenames by Vlaada Chvatil

La Boca by Inka and Markus Brand

Loopin' Chewie

Hamsterrolle by Jacques Zeimet

Super Rhino by Scott Frisco and Steven Strumpf

and

The Game by Steffen Benndorf

Shelley couldn't join me for this episode, so I fly solo and discuss more of the games that had made the list for Essen 2007. See what gems you remember or duds that have gone the way of the dodo.

Shelley and I talk through BGG's Essen 2007 list of games. Remember these? Any of them still on your shelves?

Shelley and I get two new (and good) Essen releases to the table:

Among Nobles by the Among Meeples team

and

Council of Four by Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini from Cranio Creations

Enjoy!

Shelley and I sit down at the mics and get back to reviews of games back in 2007. Patrician, Phoenicia and Uptown are on the docket.

Mark Johnson of the podcast Boardgames to Go joins me on the mics for an interview and discussion of podcasting and some classic games like El Grande and his favorite, Medici.

Shelley and I spend some time discussing what Essen 2015 was all about from a BGG perspective, then spend some time discussing

New York 1901 by Chenier La Salle from Blue Orange Games

and

Signorie by Andrea Chiarvesio and Pierluca Zizzi from What's Your Game

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.