Garrett's Games And Geekiness

Shelley and I reflect on another chance to play  Alea Iacta Est by Jeff Allers and Bernd Eisnenstein from Alea (released again in 2016 as Order of the Guilded Compass from Greg Fox Games) and then we check out  Comic Hunters by Robert Coehlo by Bucaneiros Jogos  with its cool Marvel-covers theme

Shelley and I check out a game from 2019 that passed us by, and then check out a much newer little card game from last year: It's A Wonderful World by Frederic Guerard from La Boite de Jeu and MEBO Games and Pick-A-Pepper (or Sauscharf) by Wolfgang Kramer and Christian Stohr from Amigo

Essen Spiel happens THIS WEEK, so Shelley and I sat down to discuss possible titles to peruse and buy. Though we're not headed to Germany this year, we can't wait to play the best of the new releases. AND - WE HAVE HIT 900 EPISODES! Help us celebrate by sponsoring the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or puchasing some games from the list below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing The games mentioned (or added after we recorded), Alphabetically by Publisherf - a total of 110: FTW?! Cascadia Landmarks Fit to Print Pollen The Academy Cabanga! Schrödingers Katzen Z3bra Pampero House of Cats Revive: Call of the Abyss Tucana Builders Gap Neotopia World of Wonders Ceres Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig Welcome to...Edition Collector Moon River Next Station: Tokyo Barcelona Books of Time Nucleum SideQuest: 7th Sea Kick Off: Coach From the Moon Sea Salt and Paper: Extra Salt Carnival Karakum Footprints Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods Rats of Wistar + Ex

Our final Meeplefest Episode for 2023 finds Ric, Sam, Joe, Simon, Tom, Jody, Scott, Bryan, and Nolan around the table chatting about Online vs. Face to Face Gaming Designing, playtesting, and publishing during Covid Some RPG Chatter Why a game (or an aspect of gaming) is our favorite The "AHA" Moment of playing games with non-gamers Some of the Games Discussed/Mentioned: Tichu Age of Exploration London Settlers of Catan Power Grid Condordia Tzolkin Acquire Pandemic Legacy Terra Mystica Can't Stop Race for the Galaxy 6 Nimmt Illusion Hero Realms Edge of Darkness Ticket to Ride

Night 2 of Meeplefest finds the gang discussing a lot of new, fun games we got a chance to play, as well as some discussion of using games in the classroom and a brief diversion into RPGs and online gaming. Games Discussed: Animated Catan Comic Hunters Diplomacy The Fashion Game Flamme Rouge Formula D(e) Heat Horseless Carriage King of Frontier Little Town My Trolley Town Nemesis Skylands Snowtails Splendor Station Fall Wonderland's War  

This week Shelley and I check out two games that found their way across the Pacific to our game table. First, we build towns with rail connections and set up production buildings in My Trolley Town by Shun and Aya Taguchi from Studio GG and then compete as fashion designers, creating outfits for particular occasions in The Fashion Game, self-published by Yabuchi Ryoko

This week Shelley and I check out a cute little card game, as well as delving into an older title we hadn't played in awhile. Sea, Salt, and Paper by Bruno Cathala and Theo Riviere from Bombyx, Cranio Creations, and Pandasaurus Games Pillars of the Earth by Michael Rieneck, Stefan Stadler from Kosmos, Devir and Mayfair

Part 2 of Night 1 of Meeplefest 2023 finds the group (Joe, Ric, Shelley, Kris, Simon, and Greg) sitting around the mics discussing gaming groups, collections - what stays and what goes - games for specific situations, and game length among other topics. Viva Pamplona Le Paresseux 1846 Castles of Burgundy Blokus Die Macher Heat Pedal to the Metal Thunder Road John Carter: Warlord of Mars  

This week starts our annual Meeplefest roundtable discussions! After introductions we spent Part 1 talking about  Games played, including  Green Favur In The Year of the Dragon Hollyoak Alea Iacta Est Marrakesh Clank in Space Cascadia Viva Pamplona Then talk about design and translation frustrations and the ways that they can get in the way of enjoyment and understanding, referencing Railway Boom Magic (Alpha) Puerto Rico Sienna Frostpunk Finishing this part of the evening with a conversation about rampant deluxification of games with call backs to  Catan Ticket to Ride Marrakesh and others

This week we enjoy a light card game, as well as a much heavier train game Five Three Five by Kenichi Kabuki from Game Nowa and Portland Game Collective Railway Boom by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand Remember you can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or click on the link below to check out all of the great games we have for sale at good prices: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I check out the mammoth new Stefan Feld game Marrakesh from Queen Games then check out a game that brings back fond memories Essen: The Game - Spiel '13 by Fabrice Beghin, Frederic Delporte, and Etienne Espreman from Geek Attitude Games Support the podcast by becoming a sponsor at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our games for sale at the link below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I compete to build clay warriors of various types in  Terracotta Army by Przemyslaw Fornal and Adam Kwapinski from Board & Dice as well as sailing the seas and hoping to retain our ship's crew in Bon Voyage by Yusuke Soraji from Colon Arc You can sponsor the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games for sale here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week we take on two very different games that both hurt Shelley's head: Hedgehog's Love Letter by Peke from Takamagahara (check out the awesome art!) and Autobahn by Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone from Alley Cat Games & Cranio Creations Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games for sale here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I tackle a game of many different tracks for advancement in Rise by Remo Conzadori and Marco Pranzo fromCapstone Games and dlp Games then we visit some of the US's beautiful natural wonders in PARKS, along with its Wildlife and Nightfall Expansions, by Henry Audubon and Mattox Shuler from Keymaster Games Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our list of games for sale here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I get the just-announced (and very cool)  Everdell Farshore by James and Clarissa Wilson from Starling Games to the gaming table this week after discussing two fun new-to-us card games Nana (also known as Trio) by Kaya Miyano from Underdog Games and Cocktail Games and Splito by Romaric Galonnier and Luc Remond from Blam! and MEBO Games Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or purchase some titles from us that no longer fit on our shelves by checking out our list of games at good prices: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing Thanks for your support!

Shelley and I check out two quick card games that our friend Ken brought over to try, then delve more deeply into a heavier game. We started with Boast or Nothing by Yeon-Min Jung from A.ger Games and SUNNY BIRD then used our animal-laden bikes to gain points in Velonimo by Bruno Cathala from 25th Century Games, Asmodee, and MEBO Games then en with something heavier with Bamboo by German P. Millan from Devir You can support the podcast by either sponsoring us at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames, OR check all of the games we have for sale on our Google sheet - good prices for great games! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I check out one of the alternative possibilities for SdJ this week, the co-op game KuZooKa by Leo Colovini from Pegasus Spiele then tackle the new, heavy title about building the Alhambra in Granada Sabika by German Millan from Ludo Nova Remember that you can support the podcast by sponsoring us on www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or you can look at our extensive list of games for sale and purchase some games that no longer fit on our shelves: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I check out the new 1-2 player Uwe Rosenberg title with a dial resource mechanism referencing a couple of his other games in the process: Oranienburger Kanal from Spielworxx Ora et Labora from Lookout Games and Farmerama from Ravensburger Remember that you can help out the podcast as a sponsor at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out the plethora of games to buy on our list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I check out a couple of short, fun games this week as we head into summer vacation: Nimalia by William Liévin from Lucky Duck Games, Blackrock Games and La Boite de Jeu as well as Next Station London by Matthew Dunstan from Blue Orange Games Help out the podcast by sponsoring us at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or purchasing some games from our extensive list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I tackle two games with HUGE stacks of beautifully-illustrated cards as we get environmental in Wingspan Asia by Elizabeth Hargrove from Stonemaier Games and  Earth by Maxime Tardiff from Inside Up Games Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or buy some games from us: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing