Aaron has a game group where the host chooses the games and he's noticed some people love to play new games and others only want to play games they already know and love.  Which category do you fall into?  If you're cult of the new, why?  What is it about the new hotness that makes you turn your back on your beloved favourites?  What's the high we're all searching for in board games?  
Plus we talk about some recent plays, we look at the history of Petersen Games, and Royce tries to tempt Aaron with some games he thinks Aaron will love...to mixed success.

After a longer than expected delay, we have episode 66!  

In this episode Royce and Aaron talk about co-op games.  Historically we haven't been fans, but that doesn't mean we can't talk all about them. 

What works?  Why?  What doesn't?  How can we fix it?  Plus our favourite co-op games.

Finally we end with our TOP 3 IP or themes that would make great co-op games!

Welcome to Episode 64, and a return to our usual format.  

In this episode Aaron and I discuss the Board Game Geek rankings.  What does it mean to be ranked number one?  How are the rankings determined?  And of course, what are the TOP 3 games ranked 3000 or higher?

Plus our usual Quick Thoughts, News and More.

In this episode Royce is joined by Liam, and we throw the usual format out of the window.  Instead, we do a deep dive book report on the novelization of Settlers of Catan.  

Is this giant tome of a book worth hunting down a copy?  Is this the pinnacle of game fiction? Or a waste of several trees?  Let's find out together.

In Episode 60, Royce and Aaron talked about their favourite games played in 2022, and now we turn to the rest.  What was the best TV, Movies, Books, Music and everything else that we got to experience in 2022?  Let's find out.

But just in case you think we aren't still a board game podcast, we also look at some recent plays including Calico, Block and Key, Pictures and Furnace.

We have an all Aaron new to the collection.

In the News we talk about Cicero, the Diplomacy playing AI and all of the potentially terrifying ramifications of teaching a computer to betray humanity.

Finally we end with a TOP 3 Happy Moments from 2022, it wasn't a great year, but there were some highpoints, let's celebrate the highpoints.

In a special express episode, Royce talks about going back to a time in his life when he was obsessed with just one game instead of every game.  Warhammer 40k.  

What is it like to return to a lifestyle game after over 10 years.  Can any game hold up to that kind of pressure?  

Royce and Aaron talk about their 12 best games of 2022!  Why 12?  Because we thought it was 2012 and that it made sense...until we realized it didn't, but by then it was too late so we just went with it.  

Plus we look at how Magic the Gathering is tanking the stock market, and a few of our recent quick plays.

It's our end of the year episode!

Welcome Henk Rolleman, arguably the best professional board game photographer in the world.  Henk has been working as a board game photographer for almost 2 decades, he's been the official photographer for Essen Spiel, is the photo editor for two board game magazines, and I guarantee you've seen his work.

Henk joins Royce to talk about everything board game photography, as well as to give quick thoughts on Heat: Pedal to the Metal, Splendor Duel, Flamecraft, and World Splitters.

We talk about the growing use of AI art in board games, and end with our TOP 3 most photogenic games.  

Welcome to Episode 58: A Store by any other name!

Aaron's back again to talk about what makes a game store great!  What do we look for in a store?  What turns us off a store?  We even rank some of our best local stores.

In Quick thoughts we talk about Dune Imperium, Imagineers, Point Salad: Eevee Edition, and Ono99.

We discuss the new arrangement between Hasbro and Renegade Games.  What classic Hasbro games are being produced and distributed by Renegade?

And finally a TOP 3, the best names for a Board Game Store (real or imagined)!

Welcome Daniel Newman and Tony Miller of New Mill Industries!

Royce, Daniel and Tony talk about everything gaming!  

In new to the collection we look at potential spiel winner Duos, kid's legacy game Zombie Kids, and the story driven Almanac: The Dragon Road.

The news is all about a recent kickstarter scandal, and what happens when someone copies someone else's game?  How does it affect future playtesting, production and sales?

In the Main Event, we take a closer look at the Punk Rock publishing company New Mill Industries!  New Mill is the new kid on the block and they're doing everything different.  Tony and Daniel tell us all about starting and running a game production company in the middle of a pandemic.

And finally we finish with our TOP 3 best things about running a game company!