Punching Cardboard (Podcast)

With Essen 2014 in the rear view mirror we take a look at the games we will be pursuing. Two lists, five items on each, 10 games that at least one of us will own even if home equity lines of credit are needed.

And then there are all the games that didn't make our lists that we're just not gonna buy. Nope, no way, no chance, only in an emergency, only if they look really great, or good, or at least appear in some physical form at our friendly local game store. But truly, other than that . . . .

TIMESTAMP:

2:18 -- Lagoon 1st Impression
5:30 -- Essen post-view
6:40 -- Deus
12:00 -- Wir Sind Das Volk (We are the People)
15:45 -- Samurai Spirit
20:25 -- Kanban: Automotive Revolution
26:28 -- Aquasphere
32:15 -- Arkwright
39:09 -- Mythotopia
44:20 -- Colt Express
51:20 -- Greenland
64:32 -- The Castles of Mad King Ludwig
68:58 -- Notables from our long lists

Direct download: PCP_045_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 1:28pm PDT

Welcome to episode 44, the episode in which we were going to discuss GMT's Fire in the Lake.  Yup, we're all set to get that one on tape, but circustances continue to prove they are far from within our control as Eric is stranded at work, and even though we've recruited our friend T.C. to join the fun, we are unable to get things rolling.

Plan B. Guest host? check. Other games to chat about? check. Electricity? check. Single malt whisky? check. Alrighty then, Fire in the Lake and COIN to be pushed back again. Fire up the chatter about Ars VictorDead of Winter and Here I Stand. Enjoy.

Direct download: PCP_044_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:45pm PDT

Before we get to the games on the table this week we want to take a moment to let you know that from October 1st through October 8th we will be proud participants in the 2014 Stonemaier Charity Auction. Stonemaier Games will be auctioning off nine supreme copies of Euphoria, including extra bells and whistles like Game Trayz inserts, pairing each game with a different blogger/podcaster. Each blogcaster will be choosing a charity that will receive 50% of bid for that particular copy. The blogcaster with the largest amount bid will see the entire amount sent to it's charity. The Charity we have chosen is the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. We have much more information about this on the podcast, and you can click the links above (or below) to find out even more. And keep an eye out for tweets to keep you updated as the week progresses.

We also get to some games, taking a first look at Spanish farming in La Granja and a full look at gun-fighting in the Doomtown corral. And we even discuss the reviewing of games in general, something sparked by recent reviews of a Kicstarter game called Lagoon. Follow the timeline below for all the goodness.

1:55 -- Stonemaier Charity Auction
10:40 -- La Granja
31:20 -- Review Fight!
50:45 -- Doomtown: Reloaded

Charity Links:

https://bbrfoundation.org/
http://stonemaiergames.com/2014-charity-auction/

Direct download: PCP_043.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 2:27am PDT

What's wrong with us?

In opposition to those poorly received games we like, our guilty pleasures, there must be games that are well-loved and critically acclaimed which elude our ability to enjoy. Right? Surely.

We spend the Lion's share of this episode discussing games that, despite their acknowledged goodness, one of us is unable to like. It was a fun, maddening discussion, and we hope you'll enjoy it, or at least tell us why we're wrong. Because we are wrong.  Very, Very wrong.

Timestamps:

2:55 -- Kickstarted Games Update
17:10 -- Anticipated Games
23:05 -- What's Wrong With Us
25:48 -- Tzolk'in
31:55 -- Shogun
44:47 -- Brass
50:00 -- Suburbia
54:13 -- Le Havre
61:10 -- Honorable Mentions

Direct download: PCP_042_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:47am PDT

This is one action packed episode, chock full of opinions about games old and new. Games of all types. Card games, war games, Euro games. You like laying tiles? Yup, we talk about those too.

It's a long one, so here's a menu in case we're talking about anything you want to skip:

3:39 -- The Arran Malt Whisky (cask strength)
4:27 -- Doomtown: Reloaded
13:25 -- Fire in the Lake
24:00 -- Will we be playing Five Tribes?
27:20 -- Clearance!
28:15 -- The Castles of Burgundy
33:15 -- Ginkgopolis
41:50 -- Seasons
48:45 -- Quantum
59:15 -- Istanbul
103:45 -- Legacy: The Testament of Duke DeCrecy

Direct download: PCP_041_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:41pm PDT

There is always special satisfaction in grabbing an item off a clearance table and finding it to be something of real value. Even better when said item is a worker placement game that you will be able to enjoy many times over.

What's He Building in There? is such a game, a fairly straight forward exercise in placing workers, but with a theme that makes us smile as we place them. Find out just how much fun we had building our doomsday machines in this week's episode.

Direct download: PCP_040_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:55pm PDT

This week we're arming Orcs and Elves and hobgoblins, all in the name of making more money. More moola. No prestige or honor, just cold hard cash.

Battle Merchants allows you to get you "Lord of War" on and we're gonna discuss just how much fun that is.  As if you expected anything else.

Direct download: PCP_039_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:47pm PDT

The imperials are here, and they are settling!

It seems like you have to wait forever to access games that debut at the big cons (Panamax anyone?), but a GenCon release lands in the Pacific Northwest just days after its debut in Indianapolis, so we're here to tell you about it.

Portal Games has gotten copies of Imperial Settlers to market, to stores, to shelves, and more importantly, to us. Yes! Imperial Settlers is ours, and we're playing the something out of it.  Tune in here to see what we think.

Direct download: PCP_038_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:11pm PDT

This episode finds us doing a rare preview for a game yet to see publication: Galaxy of Trian. We put the basic game of this lovely galaxy through it's paces and teleport back to tell you what we think. Bear in mind, we are working with a prototype of the final game and things may change.

Since we are doing a preview/review we should also say our stance regarding previews is simple: (spoilers) If someone sends us a demo or prototype and asks us to give it a review, we will play it and if we like it we may do a show about it.  If we don't, we won't.  And when we say "like it," we mean we would put it into rotation with the published games we are playing at that time. Phew.

Direct download: PCP_037_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:36pm PDT

Potato Man! Port Royal! Gem Rush!

Yes, little games are people too. Or sometimes you just want to play a bunch of short, satisfyingly simple games.

So we get down with some quick, light fillers, two of which are not yet available in the U.S., but we do have an international audience, so we talk about them anyway. And did we say Potato Man!

Direct download: PCP_036_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:54pm PDT

Despite what we say on the podcast this is indeed episode 35.  The number of this episode shall be 35 and none other, etc., etc.

And in this episode we offer up a little Carl Chudyk action by discussing two of his more recent inventions, Innovation and Impulse. Listen in to see where we come down on strategic, chaotic card play and wild momentum swings.

Direct download: PCP_035_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:40am PDT

We could care less about NASCAR, or Indy car, or Motorcross, or F1, or any other type of real world contest where people climb into or on machines and go fast, and yet here we are looking at a game that just might be the first legitimate contender for the best game of 2014.

There is nothing overly complex or unique about Thunder Alley; however, it's card driven mechanics and bring the field with you strategies result in an experience that's just fun. Simple fun.  Oh, and it's exciting too.

Step inside, we'll tell you more.

Direct download: PCP_034_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:09pm PDT

This is the episode in which we tell you, dear listener, what games you can get to the table when gaming with your casual or non-gamer wife.

Though we specify "wife", we would expect that the strategies contained herein would also work with non-gamer husbands and partners, but as the only married people on this podcast are men, we only have experience with wives, hence the specificity of . . . ah hell, just apply these ideas to anyone you know and if it doesn't work, see title above.

Thank you for your support.

Direct download: PCP_031_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 10:40pm PDT

You have a bazillion different cards that can hit the board and 8 rounds to create a Civilization.  What will yours look like?  It's episode 28 and we're talking Nations!

And we . . . will . . . not . . . compare . . . aaahhhh!  Who're we kiddin', there's no self control in this group.

Direct download: PCP_028_Final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 1:10am PDT

This is a long one, but we start off having a really good time before we get down to the dissection.

Spoiler: Eric rates Terra Mystica a 10, and he says it's the top game he's ever played. Can we talk him down from the mountain?

And because no one has ever wanted to know, we ask the question: Led Zeppelin or Metallica? Hint: Zep is the correct answer.

Direct download: PCP_027.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:19pm PDT