Brainwaves

Jamie and Oliver bring you the latest news from around the tabletop gaming world. From CGE failing to conjure a decent response, to Gamefound acquiring a rival they cover the stories that really matter in episode 166 of Brainwaves.    Headlines Czech Games Edition announces new Harry Potter Codenames https://bsky.app/profile/codenamesgame.bsky.social/post/3lul7oqmuws25 https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/07/29/reviewers-including-no-pun-included-shut-up-sit-down-boycott-codenames-publisher-cge-for-releasing-new-harry-potter-game-while-ignoring-jk-rowlings-anti-trans-rhetoric/ Gamefound Acquires Indiegogo https://gamefound.com/en/blog/post/gamefound-acquires-indiegogo https://go.indiegogo.com/blog/2025/07/gamefound-x-indiegogo-the-future-of-creativity.html    Itch blocks nsfw content itch.io https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content   Updates Diamond https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60125/diamond-moves-sell-diamond-uk-employee-group https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60161/new-filings-diamond-con

Jamie’s off boating around, no really, so it’s just Oliver and Iain in the studio this week. On episode 165 of Brainwaves they cover Diamond Heists, Spiel Des Jahres, more trouble for CMON and D&D moving to a franchise model, whatever that means.    Headlines   Diamond Distribution go on a heist https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-green-ronin-in-critical-legal-defense?attribution_id=sl:0591297a-c303-4ba5-a93c-3b7bd62227df&lang=en_US&ts=1752187231&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_c-amp14_t2-amp15_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&v=amp14_t2   https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60060/numerous-objections-diamonds-hostage-inventory-plan?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky Draughts union plans Rascal report: https://www.rascal.news/draughts-workers-celebrated-a-unanimous-strike-vote-with-a-rally-and-a-police-visit/ UVW statement: https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/en/disputes/were-not-playing-anymore/ Strike fund: https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/en/donate/   Spiel d

It’s the latest episode of Brainwaves! Join Iain and Jamie as they dive into the world of tabletop industry news to bring you the glistening pearls and dank seaweed from across the globe.    Headlines   Hasbro cuts 3% of workforce  https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/hasbro-cuts-3-its-total-workforce-wsj-reports-2025-06-17/   Dungeons and Dragons designers end up at critical role https://darringtonpress.com/welcoming-chris-perkins-and-jeremy-crawford-to-our-team/   DrivethruRPG hates rebels https://www.rascal.news/drivethrurpg-delisted-a-tabletop-game-about-revolutions-over-hateful-politics/   Updates   Tabletop Workers United win a Union contract https://www.rascal.news/new-york-based-tabletop-workers-united-win-a-union-contract-after-prolonged-battle/   Zombicide finds a new home  https://www.cmon.com/press/zombicide-finds-a-new-home-with-asmodee/   News   Diana Jones Award finalists announced https://bsky.app/profile/dianajonesaward.org/post/3lrsurculak25   Elizabeth Hargrave, Kristin Looney a

The team of three are back to bring you the latest tabletop news. This episode we have fresh stats from UK Games Expo, companies setting fire to their IPs, ebay busting unions, and the Spiel des Jahres nominations.    Headlines   UK Games Expo figures https://bsky.app/profile/ukge.bsky.social/post/3lqkkfgaem22y   https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/06/03/uk-games-expo-now-fully-on-the-world-stage-of-mega-cons-as-record-breaking-event-surpasses-gen-con-for-trade-hall-size/   Union Busting Escalation https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/ebay-escalates-intimidation-union-members-after-closure-announcement   CMON Fire Sale https://www.cmon.com/press/legendary-games-find-new-homes/   News   Spiel des Jahres nominations announced https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/aktuelle-preistraeger-2025/   HCM Kinzel GmbH goes into insolvency https://verbraucherschutzforum.berlin/2025-05-19/hcm-kinzel-gmbh-unter-vorlaeufiger-insolvenzverwaltung-gericht-ordnet-umfassende-sicherungsmassnahmen-an-369652/   HCM Kinzel website: htt

Oliver and Iain are the dynamic duo this week as we bring you a packed show full of the usual controversy, the bizarre, and worthwhile celebrations.  Headlines   Games Workshop on Rampage https://spikeybits.com/warhammer-40k/games-workshop-freezes-assets-amid-world-wide-seller-takedown/   World Warhammer Championship boycotted by some players https://www.rascal.news/players-boycott-the-world-championships-of-warhammer-because-of-trump/   Goodman Games works with Fascists https://www.enworld.org/threads/goodman-games-revives-relationship-with-anti-semitic-publisher-for-new-city-state-kickstarter-updated.713282/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky   https://goodman-games.com/a-statement-about-city-state-of-the-invincible-overlord/   https://goodman-games.com/an-additional-statement-about-city-state-of-the-invincible-overlord/   Updates   Greater Than Games https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/greater-than-games/sentinels-of-the-multiverse-disparation-expansion/updates/22203   Tariff pause  https://www.the

It’s just the Scottish team behind the mics this week as we bring you updates on tariffs and Diamond looking particular rough alongside all the latest industry news in Brainwaves Episode 161.  Headlines Stonemaier Games sues the president Stonemaier Games blog post: https://stonemaiergames.com/we-are-suing-the-president/   Lawsuit press release from Pacific Legal: https://pacificlegal.org/press-release/board-game-company-files-lawsuit-challenging-constitutionality-of-trump-tariffs/    CNN news video clip: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I8yFGUk8JG4&t=4s&pp=2AEEkAIB    Flat River Games  https://www.greaterthangames.com/blogs/news/greater-than-games-team-reduced-in-response-to-tariff-crisis   CMON woes https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/04/14/cmons-david-preti-steps-down-as-non-executive-director-seven-months-after-resigning-as-chief-operating-officer/   https://www.cmon.com/press/an-update-on-our-internal-teams-and-company-focus/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ2_4VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtjCdVVDsyHa8n8FICiQRZm0Lwt6vXXP

It’s been a little longer between episodes but the whole team are back to tackle the only news that matters on the latest episode of Brainwaves.    Headlines Trump tariffs turn tabletop topsy turvy https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?u=036529e593805041d1127c76d&id=c7c5d971eb   https://rowanrookanddecard.com/what-the-new-usa-tariffs-mean-for-us/?v=7885444af42e   https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/04/04/board-game-industry-reels-as-trump-tariffs-threaten-job-losses-company-extinctions/   https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/cephalofair/gloomhaven/updates/20854?ref=bk-noti-project-update-20854   Updates   CMONs woes continue    CMON’s profit warning: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0312/2025031201125.pdf CMON’s statement on the delay of publishing results: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0325/2025032502165.pdf  HK Stock Exchange suspension notice: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0401/2025040103643.pdf  News Corey retires https://unexpec

It’s been a while but we are back with all the latest tabletop news. From profit warnings to big projects being cancelled, tune in to the only tabletop podcast that brings you the stories that really matter.  Headlines CMON Issues Profit Warning https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/03/13/board-game-crowdfunding-major-cmon-issues-profit-warning-says-losses-could-exceed-2m-for-2024/   https://www.cmon.com/project-status/#crowdfunding    Is Magic losing its sparkle? No of course not.   https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58912/wotc-magic-sales-down-q4-full-year-2024   https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/01/15/news-digest-brainwaves-episode-135/   The Sigils aren’t good https://www.rascal.news/wizards-of-the-coast-shutters-sigil-virtual-tabletop-project-lays-off-30-staff/   News GAMA/Origins Award Nominations https://www.originsawards.net/news/announcing-the-48th-annual-origins-awards-finalists   https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/03/12/new-look-origins-awards-has-a-massive-120-nominees-this-year-new-hall-of-

The team are back to scour the corners of the world for the best in Tabletop Gaming News. This episode we cover mergers, departures, destruction, and we have an interview with those Rascals.    Headlines   Steve Jackson merges with Possum Games https://www.rascal.news/possum-creek-games-wanders-to-a-new-home-with-steve-jackson-games/ https://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/2025-02-11?ref=rascal.news   Mythic crumbles https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/02/06/end-looms-for-mythic-games-as-company-gives-up-trying-to-deliver-1-3m-monsterpocalypse-kickstarter-hands-files-over-to-ip-holder-privateer-press/   Thomas Interview https://www.rascal.news/   Updates   BGA Awards update https://boardgamearena.com/news?id=873   News   6 out of 10 tabletop role-playing games campaigns were Gamefound. KS rattled? https://www.polygon.com/analysis/520142/gamefound-top-10-biggest-board-game-crowdfund-campaigns   GTS cancels Splotter’s Indonesia https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid03ThtQGdUZ2wfNsbLu9yL95kKShC

It’s another bumper episode of Brainwaves as we bring you news from across the Tabletop globe. Diamond is in the rough, Asmodee avoids a hug, lawsuits get settled, and Iain gets to go off on one about ethics. All this, and more, on episode 157 of Brainwaves.    Headlines   Diamond files for bankruptcy https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58618/diamond-files-reorganization-under-chapter-11-bankruptcy   https://bsky.app/profile/deadlyfredly.bsky.social/post/3lgbg6e7np22o   Asmodee may not Embrace https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/01/29/star-wars-lego-lord-of-the-rings-games-drive-29-year-on-year-growth-for-asmodee-studios-as-company-prepares-to-split-from-embracer-next-week/   Ennies cave over AI inclusion https://ennie-awards.com/revised-policy-on-generative-ai-usage/   Updates   Webcomic Name lawsuit settled  https://www.gofundme.com/f/alexnorrislegalfund?attribution_id=sl:8c2bb1ea-1039-4377-86de-d0676453b170&lang=en_GB&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

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-con

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: giantbrainuk@gmail.com

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

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 Injectio

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

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/ Disco

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/celacant

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  

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/tablet

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=AmassGa