Brainwaves

In our latest On Stage Interview Iain is joined by Frank West. Frank is the man behind City of Games, publishers of the cultural juggernaut that is Isle of Cats. Iain chats to Frank about publishing, the state of the industry, and his recent induction onto the GAMA board.    City of Games https://thecityofkings.com/   GAMA https://www.gama.org/   GAMA controversy https://giantbrain.co.uk/2022/05/16/brainwaves-episode-98-contagious-conventions/

Iain’s been stocking up on infinite mugs to get ready for the big 100th and the builders are in to rearrange the non-euclidean geometry to accept beings of a celestial nature. Seeking refuge in the Studio Jamie and Iain cover the latest in tabletop news: GAMA membership problems, UK Games Expo Covid Policy (or lack thereof), Accessibility, Unions, Awards, and much more from across the tabletop industry.    Headlines   Gama Membership controversy   Rodney’s original Tweet https://twitter.com/watchitplayed/status/1521875544698236928?s=21&t=ZhnXI8ogZz9etBvlDvCAIg   Tiffany Leigh was keeping track of developments https://twitter.com/tiffanyleigh/status/1522322448569581569?s=20&t=GjHrIqHU33EMZlVPnUOezQ   https://twitter.com/tiffanyleigh/status/1522673007486984192?s=20&t=NP6KLdRUciRvGFzuFbV0pw   Jon Del Arroz N Word tweet https://twitter.com/WatchItPlayed/status/1521924178768809985?s=20&t=KKXi5ppRlo5LMja7fGNk7A   A list of Jon Del Arroz’s behaviour http://www.jimchines.com/2018/01/jon-del-arroz/   G

With Episode 100 on the horizon, Iain and Jamie start to get things sorted out at the HQ for the big day. Of course the news has to come first and the studio beckons as they cover controversy in wine country, Hasbro announcements, GAMA elections, and much more on this episode of Brainwaves.    Headlines   Viticulture World Controversy https://stonemaiergames.com/south-america-cultural-consulting-and-fixing-a-big-mistake/   Thinker Themer Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIxYdLEW__w&ab_channel=ThinkerThemer   Hasbro, DnD Direct and more   https://www.geeknative.com/141215/hasbro-to-hike-prices-as-it-takes-100-million-russian-hit-will-connect-dd-50-to-dd-beyond-and-suffers-long-covid-19-delays/?utm_content=buffer071d0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer   https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50974/wotc-plans-use-d-d-play-system-more-ips   https://www.polygon.com/23033732/dnd-spelljammer-adventures-in-space-release-date-price   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMHspJ92

Iain has come up with a brilliant new way to fund the cast but Jamie is not so sure. While they contemplate the future they settle down in the studio to bring you news about NFts invading Dungeons and Dragons, Asmodee Unboxing a new line, Wizards new acquisition, some updates on previous stories, loads of awards and more on this brand new episode of Brainwaves.     Headlines Dungeons and Scammers https://gizmodo.com/dungeons-dragons-nft-gripnr-blockchain-dnd-ttrpg-1848686984   https://neuemarkets.com/2022/04/12/gripnr-quickly-raises-2-5mm-with-5e-rpg-fans-and-nft-collectors/   Asmodee launches unbox now https://venturebeat.com/2022/04/12/asmodee-launches-unbox-now-a-collection-of-its-best-board-games/   https://www.unboxnow.com/   Wizards welcomes D&D beyond to the party https://dnd.wizards.com/news/announcement_04132022?utm_campaign=D%26D&utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social&utm_content=6764725558   https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50923/hasbro-purchase-d-d-beyond-fandom?utm_source=dlvr.it

In our most recent On Stage interview Iain is joined by Mark Cooke, organiser of Airecon, for a chat about all things conventions. They cover Airecon 2022, the future of the show, con organisation, getting celebrities along, the rise of digital conventions and a whole host of other topics before taking questions from the audience.   Airecon https://www.airecon.co.uk/   https://twitter.com/aireconuk   Stabcon https://www.facebook.com/groups/21195645768/   Bez’s Interview https://youtu.be/5WAGNeI0frs

It’s been 4 years of the Brainwaves cast and the news shows no sign of slowing down. WE have once more sifted through the world of tabletop news to bring you only the best. This episode we cover Kickstarter losing its CEO, Gamefound opening its platform, Asmodee looking at tech, retailers going out of business, Chess banning players and more!    Headlines   Kickstarter CEO steps down https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/moving-forward-with-gratitude   Gamefound open to all https://gamefound.com/blog/post/gamefound-is-open-for-all-creators   Asmodee Tilts at the Future https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/tm3tvh/asmodee_bringing_its_games_to_the_tilt_five/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf   Updates   Cortex Prime update https://www.dicebreaker.com/series/cortex-prime/news/cortex-prime-rpg-community-license-update https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tJ4pGBTMwYIibWKUiQe9ScdFBCFNuCuL/view   News   Dice & Decks gone bust https://www.facebook.com/groups/UKboardgametrade/permalink/325

Jamie’s had some bad OJ and they are recording later than usual. How will this affect your favourite tabletop news show? The only way to know is to find out as they cover Nebula awards, sales completing, more updates than you can shake a stick at and rock bands getting into RPGs.   Headlines   Four tabletop RPGs up for nebula award https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2022/03/four-tabletop-rpgs-are-up-for-a-nebula-award.html   Embracer Group completes acquisition of Asmodee and Dark Horse https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50703/embracer-completes-acquisition-dark-horse-asmodee https://twitter.com/Asmodee_USA/status/1503722163731378182   Updates   US Man jailed for pokemon card buy with covid funds https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/07/pokemon-coronavirus-relief-loan-scam-georgia   TSR Vs Wizards round 364 https://twitter.com/questauthority/status/1469816863655874561?s=20&t=Biu3uFVhFNZ7zjAU_VpCiw   JR Honeycutt sues   Episode 39 https://giantbrain.co.uk/2019/11/25/episode-39-co

In these turbulent times the tabletop community is showing their generosity and Iain and Jamie are highlighting as much of those efforts as they can. From the conflict in Ukraine to the battle over trans rights in Texas many in the community are raising money for organisations supporting people in their hour of need.    Statement on Ukraine   We will list here organisations you can donate to that we are aware of. There will be many others. https://crisisrelief.un.org/ukraine   https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi?fbclid=IwAR01V9yesFbYMRTRXjtrhZtKZywHCnTrllN_oaIeryT1y1tzo-4yTjEy0To   Headlines   Tabletop Community reaction to Ukraine   Bruno Cathala https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/t4560k/bruno_cathala_stance_on_russia/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf   Stonemaier Games https://stonemaiergames.com/stonemaier-games-stands-with-ukraine/   Fide  https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess/status/1

It’s back to a more news focused cast this time round as Jamie and Iain put together the highlights of the last two weeks in Tabletop industry news. NFTs cause a stir once more, Kickstarter slows their blockchain plans, and Ravensburger buddies up with a surprising partner. Alongside our headlines we look at the finances of Wizards of the Coast, remember Teburu, dig for Dice, and sing a song with the Dungeons and Dragons musical.    Headlines   NFTs Drivethru declares against https://twitter.com/drivethrurpg/status/1490742443549077509?s=21   Itch declares against https://twitter.com/itchio/status/1490141815294414856?s=20&t=lnIMQPRT2sfNhz_Cw86knw   Chaosium deep in it https://medium.com/veve-collectibles/chaosium-cthulhu-idols-1e6a889aee3e   Chaosium no longer deep in it https://www.chaosium.com/blogchaosium-suspends-plans-for-future-nfts/?utm_content=buffer8f944&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer   Veve https://moneydoneright.com/passive-income/cryp

It’s been a light couple of weeks for news so the team has decided to bring you a 2 for 1 deal. Part Brainwaves, part Idle thoughts, all sparkling conversation. News wise we cover a couple of important hirings, odd goings on in the world of competitive chess, and Iello picking a new home for their US distribution. Iain and Jamie chat about Tapestry, Marrakech, and nu-Dune (or whatever you want to call it).    Headlines New Ceo for Wizards Digital Gaming https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50343/new-ceo-hasbro-wizards-coast-digital-gaming   Caires heads Snowbright Studio https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50334/people-move-t-caires-heads-snowbright-studio?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter   Iello announces new US distributor Episode 86 update https://giantbrain.co.uk/2021/11/15/episode-86-iello-iello/   https://www.toynews-online.biz/2022/01/21/iello-names-flat-river-group-as-its-u-s-and-canadian-distributor/   New   Carlsen gets trolled? https://kotaku.com/pro-chess-sergey-karjakin

It was my great pleasure to be joined by two friends of the show and RPG veterans recently. Gaz Bowerbank and Baz Stevens are a firm fixture on the UK RPG scene and their podcast ‘What would the Smart Party do?” frequently features high up the lists of the best the format has to offer. Well this time it is their turn to be interviewed as they sit down with me in RPG corner to discuss the last couple of years in tabletop RPGs, their own output, controversies, and future predictions.    Things mentioned in the cast   Quest RPG https://www.adventure.game/   Astate https://handiwork.games/games/astate Gaz’s Twitter https://twitter.com/the_smart_party   Baz’s Twitter https://twitter.com/BazStevens   The Smart Party site https://smartparty.wordpress.com/   Gaz’s Work   Shadow of the Devourer (D&D) https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/382966/Shadow-of-the-Devourer?affiliate_id=171762   Unbearable (Vaesen) https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/363819/Unbearable--Vaesen?affiliate_id=17176

Iain and Jamie are in the studio to bring you the best in tabletop news. This episode covers all that is going on with Tabletop Simulator, TSR returns with yet more controversy, Pokemon fraud (again), very old games, world record attempts and more!  Get the Extended Edition from our Patreon! Headlines Tabletop Simulator Transphobia https://twitter.com/mx_danger/status/1479732364830023682?s=20   1st response https://twitter.com/TabletopSim/status/1479909440065257474?s=20   2nd response https://twitter.com/tabletopsim/status/1480229909150769156?s=21   3rd response https://twitter.com/tabletopsim/status/1482079600335536128?s=21   Steam review bombing https://twitter.com/JoeSondow/status/1480330254069600260?s=20   Sample review support quote https://twitter.com/mattthr/status/1481315246287507465?s=20   Link to Xoe’s document https://docs.google.com/document/d/17kBMorbq59Izsu5gYA1B3pQfbyoaG102_p0pEWZx4Hk/edit   Backup of Xoe’s encounters with Mods https://twitter.com/urbanritual/status/147

It’s a slow start to the year for the team as they shake off their hibernation and get back behind the news desk. The news is anything but sleep though with the acquisition of Asmodee, changes at the top of Hasbro, and famous folk getting Knighted. Welcome back to the Brainwaves HQ for another year of tabletop gaming news.  Headlines Asmodee Sold https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/embracer-buys-board-games-publisher-asmodee-3-bln-deal-2021-12-16/#:~:text=STOCKHOLM%2C%20Dec%2016%20(Reuters),the%20largest%20European%20gaming%20group. Asmodee buys Miniatures Market https://twitter.com/BoardGameGeek/status/1471889038810529793 Asmodee hikes prices https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50011/asmodee-hike-prices-again-2022 Wizards of the Coast president to run Hasbro https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50109/wizards-coast-president-run-hasbro Ian Livingstone Knighted https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/content/news/ian-livingstone-knighted/   Updates Zak S update https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/diyrp

It’s the final show of the year and it is a packed one! TSR is back, no not that one, Asmodee are on the radio, Kickstarter thinks Blockchain is a good idea, and we plan our holidays for 2022. All this and more on this episode of Brainwaves!   Headlines Kickstarter goes to Blockchain https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-08/kickstarter-blockchain-will-combine-crowdfunding-with-crypto   https://www.kickstarter.com/articles/the-future-of-crowdfunding-creative-projects   TSR sues Wizards of the Coast https://www.geeknative.com/137425/tsr-sue-wizards-of-the-coast-and-want-your-money-to-pay-the-lawyers/   https://www.geeknative.com/137502/tsr-drops-case-against-wizards-of-the-coast-but-keeps-indiegogo-campaign-running/?utm_content=bufferdef4c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer   Previous Episodes where we discussed TSR https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-76-tactically-stupid/   https://giantbrain.podbean.com/e/episode-77-groundhog-brains/   Upd

Iain thought it would be a good idea to record outside, but it didn't go quite according to plan. Dusting themselves off they get to the business of reporting on the tabletop news of the last couple of weeks. They cover Warhammer tournaments, Heroquest pre-orders, fake pokemon cards and much more on this episode of Brainwaves.    Headlines Make war not hate https://spikeybits.com/2021/11/warhammer-isnt-for-everyone-especially-these-nazis.html   https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/11/19/the-imperium-is-driven-by-hate-warhammer-is-not/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=Hate+group+response,+Nov+19   The worst thing about heroquest is https://www.facebook.com/TheOutpostSheffield   Fake pokemon cards https://twitter.com/yicaichina/status/146306607967354883 News Trivial pursuit becomes game show https://www.dicebreaker.com/series/trivial-pursuit/news/trivial-pursuit-levar-burton-game-show   Pop up piracy https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/everythingepicgames/upzone-

It has been a quiet couple of weeks in the world of tabletop news, but not too quiet. Iain and Jamie are back to look at Iello waving goodbye to Iello USA, Mike Selinker accusations, Nederland game awards and much more on this episode of Brainwaves.   Headlines Iello splits with Iello USA https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49655/french-board-game-company-iello-ends-ties-iello-usa?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/iello/news/iello-cuts-ties-iellousa   Mike Selinker Accusations https://medium.com/@gabrielleweidling/youre-no-good-to-me-if-you-re-slowly-killing-yourself-on-mike-selinker-and-lone-shark-games-f92204d99fc3 Apology https://twitter.com/mikeselinker/status/1459272455785041922?s=20   Nederland game prize announced https://denederlandsespellenprijs.nl/   News Alliance hit by Ransomware attack https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49710/diamond-alliance-hit-ransomware-attack https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49750/diamond-alliance-ransomware

Iain catches Jamie freelancing in the Brainwaves Studio for a very odd charity. With the matter resolved they turn their attention to the news in a fortnight of more bad tidings from China, Unions getting recognized, and Awards coming to fruition. All this, and more, on this episode of Brainwaves.  Headlines Power shortages in china https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tcokgame/the-isle-of-cats-dont-forget-the-kittens?ref=android_project_share   Paizo recognises Union https://www.geeknative.com/135875/pathfinder-and-starfinder-rpg-production-is-frozen-according-to-senior-developer/   https://www.wired.com/story/tabletop-rpg-workers-say-their-jobs-are-no-fantasy/   https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49586/paizo-voluntarily-recognizes-union   Zenobia Awards https://twitter.com/zenobiaaward/status/1449187856208076804?s=21   https://zenobiaaward.org/winners/   Updates   Mayfair games up to old tricks https://twitter.com/dustinbschwartz/status/1450505060019056645?t=M8d2h4hCWFVkk1mckV88sA&s

Iain invites Christopher Eggett to the Giant Brain HQ lecture theatre, editor of Tabletop Gaming Magazine. They talk about the ethical side of games journalism, how the pandemic has affected the magazine and how a product like Tabletop Gaming Magazine gets put together. They also take questions from the audience.    Magazine  https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/    Personal website  https://cjeggett.co.uk/   Twitter    Magazine https://twitter.com/TabletopMag   Chris https://twitter.com/CjEggett   Chad Wilkinson Links https://uk.linkedin.com/in/chad-wilkinson-6641919b   Senet https://senetmagazine.com/   Necromolds and shipping: https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/news//the-real-costs-of-the-shipping-crisis-in-board-games    Tabletop Gaming Live 2022: https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/News/tabletop-gaming-live-2022-is-back    Tabletop Gaming Podcast: apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tabletop-gaming-magazine-podcast/id1374328014    Subscribe to the mag https://www.tabletopgami

Jamie took a wrong turn on the Mobius loop in the Brainwaves HQ and ended up in London. After walking back home he is tired, but ready and raring to bring you the latest tabletop news. He and Iain cover hackers, ransomware attacks, awards, chess, deaths and more on this episode of Brainwaves.    Headlines Twitch hack reveals top earners https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-10-06-twitch-hacked-source-code-and-creator-payout-information-leaked-online?fbclid=IwAR3lpiKXFOn4QoLGCxMZOio1VBMwssx3KS_9fCSP4NB6_J-3iBRvd6j8w8Y   https://variety.com/2021/digital/features/critical-role-amazon-legend-of-vox-machina-1235088274/   Paizo workers form union https://twitter.com/PaizoWorkers/status/1448698340745486364?s=20   Juego del ano  https://www.dicetowernews.com/article/game-year-nominees-are   Updates Broken token  https://twitter.com/Folded__Space/status/1446487943699439654?s=20   Keyforge https://www.reddit.com/r/KeyforgeGame/comments/q4u3b4/more_kf_news_from_mr_buonocore/ News CEO Hasbr

Jamie has plans to lose weight by emulating Richard from We’re Not Wizards and run around Origins. Restrictions being what they are, he settles on a novel solution. Whilst he gets ready the team cover the latest in tabletop news from controversy at Paizo, to Boardgame Arena insults and more on this episode of Brainwaves.    Headlines   Paizo Publishing https://twitter.com/Delafina777/status/1437545371245424640?s=20 https://paizo.com/threads/rzs43h04?Staff-Change-Update-from-Paizo-President-Jeff https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6sht8?Paizo-Update-from-Jeff-Alvarez   Asmodee up for sale https://twitter.com/PodfatherGaming/status/1441016235723010050?s=20   Boardgame Arena insults other platforms https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2732392/boardgamearena-calls-other-gaming-sites-illegal-st https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22655 https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22655&start=30   News   Jeff Bergen update https://twitter.com/TheGAMAOnline/s