#314: Leviathan Wilds

#314: Leviathan Wilds

Author: Pickaxe June 4, 2024 Duration: 1:13:36
After a prolonged period where we have not discussed Kramer & Kiesling (the Kramer & Ulrich duo yielded El Grande, which we mention rather frequently), here we see a bumper krop of K&K kollaborations. The gibbons are fickle, and even the mighty Wolfgang and Michael must yield to their whims. But fortune (and apes) have at last smiled on them, and we revel in the classic Euro goodness as well as their more recent offering. Games Played Last Week: 01:05 -Monikers (Alex Hague and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2015) 05:34 -Java (Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer, Ravensburger, 2000) 11:31 -Tikal (Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer, Ravensburger, 1999) 13:31 -Wandering Towers (Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer, ABACUSSPIELE, 2022) 18:30 -Morgan's Magic Map (Gian Andrea Cappuzzo, Rio Grande Games, 2023) 20:17 -Tiny Towns (Peter McPherson, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2019) 22:08 -Sniper Elite: The Board Game (Roger Tankersly & David Thompson, Rebellion Unplugged, 2022) 25:43 -Earthborne Rangers (Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Earthborne Games, 2023) 35:57 -Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, Allplay, 2024) 38:34 -Mythwind (Nathan Lige and Brendan McCaskell, Open Owl Studios, 2023) 44:41 -Tapple (Uncredited, The Op Games, 2021) 46:04 -G.I. JOE: Battle for the Arctic Circle (Matt Hyra, Renegade Game Studios, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 48:56 CYSMIC update on Gamefound and board game bundling economics 51:03 Ada's Dream from Alley Cat 51:20 So much drama around Wonders of the First CCG! AI art, NFTs, ratings, oh my! 53:10 Feature Game: Leviathan Wilds (Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, 2024) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Mike Walker and Mark Bigney, So Very Wrong About Games digs into the world of hobby gaming with a blend of sharp critique and genuine enthusiasm. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair at a table where two knowledgeable friends are deep in conversation, dissecting everything from the latest releases to timeless classics. They believe that a bad game deserves a thorough examination just as much as a great one, applying that same level of detailed analysis to reviews, industry news, and broader gaming topics. This isn't about following trends or generating hype; it's about thoughtful discussion that respects both the listener's time and the context in which games are made and played. The dynamic between Walker and Bigney captures a fundamental truth about the hobby-that taking games seriously and having fun with them are not mutually exclusive. You'll find their approach both refreshing and deeply engaging, whether they're championing an overlooked gem or meticulously explaining why a popular title didn't work for them. Tune in to this Pickaxe-produced podcast for honest, substantive talk that treats the medium with the depth it often deserves, but rarely receives in casual conversation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

So Very Wrong About Games
Podcast Episodes
#347: How Expansions Can Fail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:26
Our upcoming convention, July 25th-27th 2025, is in its planning stages! We have a venue but nothing much else yet. Not even a name! Suggestions welcome. Mark quite likes So Very Wrong About Games Fun Times Good Vibes On…
#346: 2024 Year in Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:44
If you can choose to be the regular version or the spicy version, you obviously choose the spicy version. I mean, sure, the capsaicin may sting, but one assumes that the canonical version is caliente. Put another way, wo…
#345: Thunder Road: Vendetta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:15
"Robert! This here is velvet--not velveteen. A gentleman must learn the difference." -Gilbert Fontaine de la Tour D'Haute Rive Games Played Last Week: 01:53 -Fishing (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2024) 08:04 -Revive (He…
#344: Only at Certain Player Counts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:31
The editorial department of So Very Wrong About Games has several sub-divisions, and admittedly the orgchart gets a bit baroque at this point. The rules errors office is technically a sub-branch of the fact checking desk…
#343: Fromage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:07
It has come to our attention that there has been a great deficiency in SVWAG through the years, namely our shameful neglect of the French language. The sheer Gaul! Games Played Last Week: 01:34 -The Isle of Cats Duel (Fr…
#342: Sheep in Wolves' Clothing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:15
Trust the launcher. 01:28 AYURIS: Darwin’s Journey (Simone Luciani and Nestore Mangone, ThunderGryph Games, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 03:49 -Iron Forest (Brian Gomez, Brain Games, 2024) 10:22 -Slide Quest (Nicolas Bo…
#341: Holiday Catch-Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:18
Walker's glorious return portends a bumper crop of games to discuss, so we will forego a feature game or topic this week in favour of a deluge. 02:11 AYURIS: Stationfall (Matt Eklund, Ion Game Design, 2023) Games Played…
#340: Frustration with Randomness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:40
In addition to having to struggle with new hardware on account of gravity murdering his tablet of 10+ years, we now must try to adjust to capturing the sweet, sonorous tones of the elusive Jimbo. It's hard to get audio l…
#339: D.E.I.: Divide et Impera [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:47
We're trying this YouTube thing in earnest, now, doing the video podcasting thing. This is our inaugural attempt at plastering our mugs on the internet in a podcast form. You have to be where your audience is, and also,…
#338: Managing Tempo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:53
All of our musical references are at least a decade out of date, even when we attempt to reference contemporary artists--I must assume, because Mark knows her name, that no one listens to Billie Eilish anymore. We think…