The whole team is back for the first Brainwaves of the year. Join us as we dive into the latest tabletop gaming news from Hasbro rolling the dice on gambling to chess clashing with the wrong trousers! All this and more on episode 156 of Brainwaves. 

 

Headlines

 

Hasbro rolls the dice

https://igamingbusiness.com/company-news/games-global-unveils-exciting-partnership-with-hasbro/

 

It’s the wrong trousers, Magnus

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98lkrdkz70o?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_origin=BBC_News&at_link_type=web_link&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_medium=social&at_link_id=F833A792-C515-11EF-8185-B1A73D8FAC8C&at_format=link&fbclid=IwY2xjawHc7odleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfJpJBK1_095wLRlZ0rgn0XuT5wKSmFMu7sRbQZwvUsNfJZ-um3pgAI_dA_aem_xoeYbOqeJBjXbqmJHzGhHg

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8npkrey66o

 

Vallejo Workers

https://www.rascal.news/striking-workers-at-vallejo-paint-factory-claim-victory/

https://spikeybits.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Vallejo-Statment.png

 

Updates

 

Most Monopoly

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/12/owner-of-worlds-largest-monopoly-collection-on-the-hunt-for-holy-grail-of-sets

 

News

 

Cardboard Edison Award 2025 Submissions Open

https://cardboardedison.com/award

https://cardboardedison.com/2025-award-submissions 

 

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

 

Protos y Tipos

https://asociacionludo.com/actividad/protos-y-tipos

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

Sir Meeple

https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain

 

Outro

 

Monopoly changes the game 

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/492505/monopoly-new-version-expansions-announced

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

This podcast contains all the interviews that I conducted during Dragonmeet 2024. Thanks so much to everyone that took the time to talk to me.

 

The interviewees are:

 

Jason, Always Checkers Publishing

Chris, Beyond Cataclysm

Mike, Planet Smasher Games

Shaan, RPG Taverns

Finbar and Gary, Game Therapy UK

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

It’s the last cast of the year and we have a full team in the studio to bring you the latest tabletop gaming news. From people taking off their masks, to copyright disputes, and awards news. Listen to the only cast to bring you the really important industry news. 

Headlines

Has Powerboats been taken for a Joyride?

Joyride vs Powerboats thread

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3412685/powerboatspowerships-joyride

 

Geoff Engelstein

https://gametek.substack.com/p/copy-paste

 

Episodes where we have covered plagiarism allegations

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2021/03/08/episode-68-kickstarter-conundrums/

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2018/04/29/episode-3-legal-vampires/

 

Cardboard Edison changes tack

https://bsky.app/profile/cardboardedison.bsky.social/post/3lcatxomwp22c

https://cardboardedison.com/award

 

Sandy Petersen wears no mask

Sandy’s posts

Quimbley’s response

https://www.quimbleys.com/blogs/kickstarter-updates/quimbleys-official-inclusion-statement

 

Updates

 

Summit Award for Wargaming winner announced - and Bobby Nunes Memorial Award finalists announced

https://sdhist.com/2024-summit-award-land-and-freedom/

https://sdhist.com/2024-bobby-nunes-memorial-award-finalists/

 

Wyrmwood fires staff 

https://www.rascal.news/wyrmwoods-bitter-medicine-is-proving-hard-for-audiences-to-swallow/

 

Facebook pulls Fort Circle Games ad. Again. 

https://bsky.app/profile/fortcircle.bsky.social/post/3lbyybi6hls2s

 

News

 

Itch is taken offline by Funko

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/492791/itch-io-funko-takedown

 

Leaf’s post to Hacker News

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42364033

 

GW enters the FTSE 100

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/01/games-workshop-promoted-ftse-100-quarterly-reshuffle?fbclid=IwY2xjawG5fR9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfpI4qljk5k-fjXOOMOgNiNXzPIQUwHiApvb9oHwY1_zqqmvx12t-fet8Q_aem_h_ZVqr3lvJUDFkDYW9j99w

 

SUSD becomes a publisher. Sort of 

https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/were-partnering-with-play-to-z-to-launch-exciting-new-games/

 

Hachette becomes distributor for Edition Spielwiese

https://www.mojo-nation.com/hachette-boardgames-group-strikes-distribution-deal-with-edition-spielwiese/

 

Vallejo workers on strike

https://www.viaempresa.cat/es/empresa/98-plantilla-acrylicos-vallejo-se-suma-primera-jornada-huelga-indefinida_2206222_102.html

 

https://www.rascal.news/vallejo-factory-workers-go-on-strike/

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

 

Spiel des Jahres Funding Programme 2025

https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderprogramm-2025-startet-einreichungen-ab-sofort-moeglich/

 

https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderprogramm/

 

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

Outro

 

Monopoly Toppling Taxi

https://monopoly.fandom.com/wiki/Monopoly_Free_Parking:_The_Toppling_Taxi_Game

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

It’s a cast of finances, awards, lawsuits,  and political games as Oliver and Iain cross the world in the episode 154 of Brainwave to bring you the best in Tabletop Gaming News. 

 

Headlines

 

Tariffs and Trade Rules Tax Tabletop Publishers 

https://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/2024-11-10

 

https://www.compliancegate.com/general-product-safety-regulation/

 

https://bsky.app/profile/badsquiddogames.bsky.social/post/3lb7r4n7eni22

 

https://www.rascal.news/new-legislation-impacts-games-sales-to-the-european-union/

 

Zenobia Award II Winners Announced

https://sdhist.com/zenobia-award-the-porters/

 

Hasbro Sued by Investors

https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/479315/hasbro-investor-lawsuit-pandemic-inventor

 

Updates

 

US Tabletop Unionisation Solicitation

https://www.rascal.news/rascal-receives-solicitation-from-suspicious-email-after-tabletop-union-declares-potential-strike/

 

News

 

German Parliamentarian Game Night

https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spielekultur-landet-im-bundestag/

 

Asmodee Gets Cash Injection

https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-intends-to-contribute-eur-400m-to-asmodee-and-presents-asmodees-financial-targets-dividend-policy-and-net-financial-debt/

 

Obituaries

 

Amber Cook

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58275/r-i-p-amber-cook

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/9bkqj-in-memory-of-amber-cook-support-her-son-james

 

Kory Heath

https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogpost/167622/in-memoriam-kory-heath

 

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

 

Board Game Raffle in Aid of The Trussell Trust / UK Food Banks

https://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle

 

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

 

Outro

 

Mystery Monopoly Midden

https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/1gu7eel/anyone_wanna_play_monopoly_got_a_neighbour_whos/?utm_source=embedv2&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_content=post_title&embed_host_url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/uk-world-news/sudden-appearance-hundreds-monopoly-boxes-9726484&rdt=64307

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

It’s been a mix of huge stories and not much else in the last few weeks. Iain and Jamie bring you the lowdown on what is going on at World of Game Design, who is bagging awards, hasbro’s financials, and what size of country the population of D&D Beyond could establish. All this, and more, on episode 153 of Brainwaves

 

Headlines

 

WOGD investigation by Rascal

https://www.rascal.news/former-world-of-game-design-employees-claim-tabletop-company-exploits-workers-and-clients/

 

Zac Goins Facebook post

https://www.facebook.com/xzacklee/posts/pfbid02yf9PBqMH47ReMwKBBH7rVVTtKtYZaSioPAAYJb57Wq7YpannnPSZGLCyR1xvnsNAl

 

Hasbro conference call

https://investor.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-reports-third-quarter-2024-financial-results

 

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58109/hasbro-ceo-reveals-magic-plans-secret-lair-volumes-d-d-dtc-percentage-more

 

https://www.enworld.org/threads/hasbro-hit-with-layoffs-wizards-of-the-coast-impacted.707539/page-2

 

FSC award

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/11/05/life-in-reterra-becomes-first-board-game-to-win-forest-stewardship-council-sustainability-award/

 

https://us.fsc.org/en-us/get-involved/fsc-leadership-awards/2024-leadership-award-winners-01

 

News

 

Commander Format

https://www.polygon.com/mtg-magic-the-gathering/468627/mtg-new-commander-format-panel-rules-committee

 

https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/introducing-the-commander-format-panel

 

Summit award finalists 

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/23/summit-award-reveals-2024-contenders-which-have-best-helped-draw-in-players-broaden-scope-of-historical-board-gaming/

 

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

 

Boardgamewire report on Tabletop Jobs Group

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/11/07/board-gamings-biggest-job-site-is-an-almost-20000-strong-facebook-group-and-is-planning-its-first-ever-live-event-next-year/

 

Dragonmeet Attendance

https://dragonmeet.co.uk/

 

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

Sir Meeple

https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain

 

Outro

 

Food for Fought

 

https://nerdist.com/article/dungeons-dragons-beer-bourbon-dragons-milk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGKRLBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHd7-QA1c_7gdVbxEq4gt7b59ABwXNx-YAwUz0S30T11j2J0OLEHTRcJU5A_aem_aB4GlBcElnqiWARtJzGidg

 

https://www.enworld.org/threads/game-night-is-well-catered-with-these-official-d-d-meat-sticks.707556/

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

In this special edition of Brainwaves we present the interviews that we carried out at Tabletop Scotland 2024. Thanks so much to everyone who spoke to us. 

 

People and Organisations

 

Tanya Floaker

Edinburgh Indie Gamers

Hive Mind Games

Village on Stilts 

Hall or Nothing

Kayla Dice - Rat Wave Game House

Laurie O’Connell

Phil Harris

 

Games mentioned

 

DrievthruRPG links are affiliate links

 

Dead Air

Be Seeing You 

Connection Machine

Solstice

The great Martian tripod race

Wise Women 

Conspiracy & Reality 

Outliers

Signal to Noise

Numbers Station 

Stealing the Throne

The Gardener is Dead 

Hopes and Dreams of the Orbital Bound 

What’s so daring about sky pirates

Duskbringers

Runesword

Colostle 

Sandwich Master

Brother Why?

At your Peril

Wretched and Alone

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Iain is taking this cast off so Jamie and Oliver are at the helm. This episode they cover further troubles at Mythic, companies being saved and consolidating their lines, controversial giveaways and more on episode 152 of Brainwaves. 

 

Headlines

 

Mythic Games France liquidates 

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/17/no-mythic-games-hasnt-gone-into-liquidation-but-its-fate-should-be-decided-by-the-end-of-the-month/

https://annonces-legales.leparisien.fr/annonce/23cba43f-8a82-48c1-8f57-6a2285e239c3

 

Funforge ‘saved’ by Tokaido deal

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/11/did-it-save-the-company-yes-and-no-funforges-ceo-on-fighting-its-financial-woes-by-selling-the-tokaido-line-to-stonemaier/

 

Spiel Essen Sold Out

https://www.spiel-essen.de/en/press?view=article&id=222&catid=12

 

News

 

Barnes & Noble to list game designers 

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/57959/barnes-noble-begin-listing-game-designers

 

NAC Wargames hands out Nazi memorabilia

https://bsky.app/profile/celacanto.bsky.social/post/3l5qu6lhp4j2n

The Other Side of the Hill crowdfunding campaign: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/masqueoca/the-other-side-of-the-hill/

Publisher’s response on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/8461574/the-other-side-of-the-hill?commentid=12438977

Gamefound update about the Iron Cross medal: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/masqueoca/the-other-side-of-the-hill/updates/5

 

Matagot shrinks catalogue

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/16/matagot-stops-publishing-heavier-games-like-kemet-inis-shifts-focus-to-family-and-childrens-titles/

 

Steve Jackson Games announces Fighting Fantasy Deal

https://www.sjgames.com/fightingfantasy/

 

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

 

Sir Meeple

https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain

 

Boardgamewire

https://boardgamewire.com/

 

Outro

 

English Heritage Games

https://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/toys-games/games/board-games

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

This special episode of Brainwaves is all the interviews I conducted at Gothcon earlier in the year. Gothcon is Sweden’s premier convention with games across all genres of the hobby and it was my privilege to be invited across. You can read all about my time there in the posts below and listen to the wonderful RPG community I had the pleasure of being involved with 

 

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/03/30/gothcon-2024-arrival-and-day-1/

 

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/03/31/gothcon-2024-day-2/

 

https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/04/07/gothcon-2024-why-do-i-attend-events/

 

Pontus

 

Gothcon 

https://wordpress.gothcon.se/en/

 

Blackfisk Publishing 

 

https://blackfiskpublishing.com/

 

Mika

 

https://mindy.nu/2024/07/29/bubblare-ian-mcallister-fran-brainwaves/

 

Emil. ROAR

 

https://open.spotify.com/show/3gptPHq0l1mg2ZuyuWMQ4R?si=5318d580a0f14560&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=8196858e350a4fab

 

Hjalmar Norden, Red Moon Roleplaying

 

https://www.redmoonroleplaying.com/

 

Magnus Seter

 

https://www.rollspel.nu/

 

Nina, Gothcon Organiser

Anna, Podcast Room Organiser 

 

https://www.svartvikenrp.se/

While Jamie is off in that there London, Iain and Oliver are once more behind the mics to bring you the latest tabletop news. In episode 151 we cover Wizards taking over Commander, CMON losing board members, the usual smattering of awards, and a good few stories about unions. All this and more on this episode of Brainwaves. 

 

Headlines

 

Commander Format Firestorm
https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/on-the-future-of-commander

https://www.rascal.news/finance-bros-and-harassment-force-mtgs-biggest-player-owned-format-into-corporate-hands/

Zenobia Award Finalists Announced

https://zenobiaaward.org/finalists/

 

CMON loses COO

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/09/19/cmons-coo-david-preti-is-resigning-after-eight-years-at-the-company/

https://investor.cmon.com/governance

 

Updates

 

Cops called on TTWU protestors 

https://www.rascal.news/brooklyn-strategist-owner-calls-police-on-employee-walkout/

 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/supportTWU?ref=rascal.news

 

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tabletop-workers-united-boycott-pledge?source=direct_link&

 

News

 

TCG Player workers call for Union contract

https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/459782/tcgplayer-union-ebay-rally-fair-pay

https://cwa-union.org/tapped-out-tcgplayer

 

Games Workshop Shareholder Revolt

https://www.cityam.com/games-workshop-suffers-major-shareholder-revolt-after-top-bosses-handed-huge-bonuses/

 

CAH sues Elon Musk

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/cards-humanity-elon-musk-spacex-lawsuit-trespassed-texas-land-rcna172016

 

2024 Player’s Handbook Breaks Dungeons & Dragons Records

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/57876/2024-players-handbook-becomes-fastest-selling-dungeons-dragons-product-ever

 

Big Bad Con Boycott averted

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mrxQaSbXd_SlFB7NJxhrCIHFsKKOvcvmLEHoXxVBstY/edit

 

Deutscher Spiele Preis 2024 Winners Announced

https://brettspielbox.de/brettspiel-preis-deutscher-spielepreis-2024-dsp24-sieger/

 

Stonemaier Games acquires "Tokaido" from Funforge

https://mailchi.mp/stonemaiergames/stonemaier-games-monthly-newsletter-august-2989870?e=f9ef617363

 

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

 

Bluesky list of board game people

https://bsky.app/starter-pack/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social/3l5aovjrq6j2p

 

Tabletop Games Blog Board Game Raffle in aid of The Trussell Trust / UK Food Banks

https://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle

 

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

Sir Meeple

https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain

 

Outro

 

What we Clue-do in the Shadows

https://theop.games/products/clue-what-we-do-in-the-shadows?srsltid=AfmBOooKvLESoikIZ7WV0DwAhyj2tdFP0MtNxE92CDXYBwKVYqWB2ku8

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

 

We have a longer than usual cast for your this week as we take a look at the controversy around Simon Lavender, a UK board game influencer. It is our only headline this week, but we still cover the business of the industry with new hires at Restoration Games, Asmodee, financial hits at CMON, a series of competitions and more! 

 

Headlines

 

Influencer Simon Lavender accused of bad practices

 

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3352419/a-simon-lavender-review-what-to-do-with-dishonest/page/1

 

The accusations at the centre of this are on page one of the link above. There are a large number of screenshots we have saved in regards to this story that will appear in a separate document linked to below. These include Simon’s replies in the thread above and my conversation with Simon.

 

SCREENSHOTS

 

Amass Games channel page

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg-md_i730k&ab_channel=AmassGames

 

Amass games video on The Strange Forgeries of S.C. Rheber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg-md_i730k&ab_channel=AmassGames

 

News

 

Paul Sawyer shares Terminal Diagnosis

https://www.gofundme.com/f/make-dads-remaining-months-happy-comfortable?fbclid=IwY2xjawFT-cpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQvSDcadl8ZKhx_ot6aKqXHrqxSh98KtBWnbqvfKm_3U4kPIOy8AYZoMyA_aem_jNk6ocdlIkXyv0UEKJ3ysg

 

https://store.warlordgames.com/products/sergeant-sawyer-charity-figure?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Introducing+the+Sergeant+Sawyer+Charity+Figure

 

Tabletop Workers Union subject to Union busting

https://www.rascal.news/tabletop-workers-union-protest-alleged-union-busting-hex-co-management/

 

Thomas Kœgler appointed as New Chief Executive Officer of Asmodee

https://corporate.asmodee.com/news/thomas-koegler-appointed-as-new-chief-executive-officer-of-asmodee/

 

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks talks AI

https://www.enworld.org/threads/hasbro-ceo-chris-cocks-talks-ai-usage-in-d-d.706638

 

CMON Profits Take a Hit

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/09/04/cmons-h1-revenue-falls-almost-25-year-on-year-amid-heavy-slump-in-wholesale-earnings/

 

Tabletop Scotland goes large

https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopscot.bsky.social/post/3l3xcqlecdx2g

 

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

 

2024 Traditional Deck Game Design Contest

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3360317/2024-traditional-deck-game-design-contest

 

2024 Roll and Write Game Design Contest

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3353041/2024-roll-and-write-game-design-contest

 

The Game Crafter VHS Challenge

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/contests/vhs-case-challenge

 

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

Sir Meeple

https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain

 

Outro

 

Map-nopoly

https://www.worldofmonopoly.com/otherpages/map.php

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Jamie is off seeing some shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, so Oliver and Iain are behind the mics this week to report on the latest tabletop news. From poisoning and sexual harrasment in chess to astonishing numbers, we bring you the news that really matters. 

Headlines

Chess Poisoning & Sexual Harassment 

https://www.chess.com/news/view/russian-chess-player-suspended-after-allegedly-poisoning-her-rival

 

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/440094/international-chess-scandals-2024

 

Lego and Asmodee build a house

https://www.lego.com/en-my/aboutus/news/2024/august/lego-asmodee-games?locale=en-my&age-gate=grown_up

 

Gen Con sells out

https://www.gencon.com/press/gen-con-2024-breaks-attendance-records-press-release

https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/08/08/gen-con-celebrates-record-71000-attendance-after-event-sells-out-for-first-time-in-history/

https://www.gencon.com/press/4daysellout

https://www.gencon.com/press/2024-charity-partners-announcement-tangram-rose-gauntlet

 

News

 

Embracer Numbers

https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-publishes-interim-report-q1-april-june-2024-adjusted-ebit-amounted-to-sek-828-million/

 

Deutscher Spiele Preis 2024 Finalists

https://www.spiel-essen.de/en/program/dsp

 

Boardgamearena passes 10 million users

https://corporate.asmodee.com/news/asmodee-and-board-game-arena-celebrate-10-million-users-milestone-cementing-the-online-board-gaming-platform-as-the-industrys-1/

 

Jobs, Opportunities, and Events

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs

 

People of Play Young Inventor Challenge

https://www.peopleofplay.com/blog/young-inventor-challenge-registration-is-open

 

International Game Inventors Convention

https://www.spielwarenmesse.de/en/game-inventors-convention/

SDhistcon

https://sdhist.com/badges-sdhistcon-summit-2024/

 

Patreon Shoutouts

 

Kevin Bertram

https://www.fortcircle.com/

 

James Naylor

https://naylorgames.com/

 

Shaun Newman

game-a-lot.fun/en

facebook.com/gamealotboardgames

 

Our Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain

 

Support Us

https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/

 

Fanroll

https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/

 

Sir Meeple

https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain

 

Outro

 

Tabletop Scotland

https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/

 

Our Links

 

Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes.  You can also follow us on

 

Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopgamesblog.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]