Garrett's Games And Geekiness

We thought we were done on that first Friday night, but right after pushing STOP on the recorder, Denis decided he needed to delve into other issues and started anther 1/2 hour of discussion and ranting (wine helps!) I hope you enjoy this bonus episode with the microphones picking up the ambient discussions around the table. Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

Ric, Joe, Matt, Doug, Chris, Denis, Shelley and others join in for a discussion of the Spiel des Jahres winner and nominee, as well as more on game design, playtesting, and 'The State of the Industry' as we see it.

The first night of the annual roundtable conversations that many love to hear.  This year's Friday (Part 1) has the group (with Ric, Bob, Denis, Joe H., Doug R, Shelley, Matt Leacock, and Scott Caputo) beginning with some disappointing games from the past few months, then switching gears to delve into the KedJ and SdJ winners and nominees.  We end Part 1 with some rather vehement feelings on both sides of Terraforming Mars.

Shelley and I enjoy a nice Italian Rosé while discussing two wine-themed games that have been released in new versions over the past few months. Viticulture Essential Edition by Jamey Stegmaier, Alan Stone, and Morten Monrad Pedersen from Stonemaier Games and Vinhos Deluxe Edition by Vital Lacerda from Eagle-Griffin Games

Shelley and I spend a few minutes talking about the winners of the SdJ and KedJ awards, then delve into a couple of games that WE could have done without. Pyramid's Deadline by Jun Sasaki from Oink Games and Lignum by Alexander Huemer from Mücke Spiele

Two great cities, but only one great game in this week's episode! Shelley and I get a classic that we continue to love to the table, as well as a less-than-classic game that we will be ridding ourselves of as quickly as possible. Paris Paris by Michael Schacht from Rio Grande and others and Barcelona: The Rose of Fire by Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello from Devir

Shelley and I check out two games that some were predicting would make the SdJ/KedJ nominations, but few a bit short.  Find out what we thought of them! Die Garten von Versailles by Lena and Gunter Burkhardt from Schmidt and Valletta by Stefan Dora from Hans im Gluck

Shelley and I enjoy two disparate games this week, building Spires through drafting and bidding, as well as building decks and exploring a dungeon while trying not to make too much noise! Spires by T.C. Petty III from Nevermore Games and Clank by Paul Dennen from Dire Wolf and Renegade

Shelley and I enjoy a new Knizia title from Grail Games, and a great new title-laying game from KOSMOS. Medici: The Card Game by Reiner Knizia from Grail Games and Kerala by Kirsten Hiese from KOSMOS

Shelley and I have fun with the extensive expansion to one of our favorite 2-player-only games, then try out the latest iteration of a classic German card game. Targi + its expansion by Andreas Steiger from Kosmos and Bohnanza The Duel by Uwe Rosenberg from Amigo and Rio Grande  

Shelley and I try out two recent releases that are on the lighter side of the spectrum this week - and that many are currently thinking about buying: Century: Spice Road by Emerson Matsuuchi from PlanB Games and Barenpark by Phil Walker-Harding from Mayfair/Lookout

Shelley and I get a chance to roll dice and create stained glass windows, then build our cards in different ways while employing leaders to help our cause! Sagrada by Adrian Adamescu and Daryl Andrews from Floodgate Games and Mystic Vale: Vale of the Wild by John D. Clair and from AEG

Shelley and I finally get that dice game that Tony Boydell of Surprised Stare fame was raving about back on Episode 562, and enjoy an SdJ nominee before we knew it was nominated. Mondrian The Dice Game by Israel Cendrero and Sheila Santos from Tranjis Games and Wettlauf nach El Dorado by Reiner Knizia from Ravensberger

Shelley and I had some fun with a couple of dice games that Belgian friends Surya and Miriam brought with them on a California visit. Strike by Dieter Nüßle from Ravensberger and Dice Stars by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc from Matagot and Wizkids

Shelley and I spend this episode going through the Spiel des Jahres and Kennerspiel des Jahres nominees and recommendations with our initial thoughts. Spiel des Jahres Nominees: Kingdomino by Bruno Cathala from BlueOrange and Pegasus Magic Maze by Kasper Lapp from Pegasus and Sit Down! Wettlauf nach El Dorado by Reiner Knizia from Ravensburger SdJ Recommended: Deja Vu by Heinz Meister from Amigo Dodelido by Jacques Zeimet from Drei Magier Fabled Fruit by Friedemann Friese from 2-F Spiele and Stronghold Klask by Mikkel Bertelsen from Competo and Game Factory Shiftago by Frank Warneke and Robert Witter from WiWa Spiele Tempel des Schreckens by Yusuke Sato from Schmidt  Word Slam by Inka and Markus Brand from KOSMOS   Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominees: Exit: The Game by Inka and Markus Brand from KOSMOS Raiders of the North Sea by Shem Phillips from Garphill Games Terraforming Mars by Jacob Fryxelius from Stronghold  Kennerspiel des Jahres Recommended: Captain Sonar by Roberto Fraga and Yohan Lemonnier from Matago

Shelley and I return to Yokohama this week, then explore building with numbers! Yokohama by Hisashi Hayashi from Tasty Minstrel Games (originally discussed last August on Episode 527) and  NMBR 9 by Peter Wichmann from Abacusspiele Enjoy!

Shelley and I take advantage of some great deals on Queen Games and let you know if they're worth the VERY low price of admission: High Tide by Dirk Henn and London Markets by Michael Schacht

Shelley and I jump back into Orleans, a game we enjoyed from a couple of years ago to try out a couple of the first expansion's modules (and talk about the base game a bit more), then check out a very green card game from Stronghold Games! Orleans + Orleans Invasion by Reiner Stockhausen, Inka Brand and Markus Brand from Tasty Minstrel Games and Fuji Flush by Friedemann Friese from Stronghold Games

Shelley and I take a gander at another Queen deal from Amazon, as well as a solid new card game from one of our favorite designers. Liguria by Alessandro Zucchini from Queen Games and Das Vermächtnis des Maharaja by Michael Schacht from Abacusspiele

Shelley and I check out a game on wine making, then see how well the first Mystic Vale expansion works, especially given Shel's love of the original. Vignobles by Fabrice Arcas and Guillaume Peccoz from Ludocom and Mystic Vale: Vale of Magic by John D. Clair from AEG Enjoy!