#352: Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition

#352: Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition

Author: Pickaxe March 18, 2025 Duration: 1:17:27
I was donating blood while wearing my Transformers Converse shoes, and two different phlebotomists commented positively about them. "We have won the cultural argument," I said, deliberately burying the lede that demographic destiny is probably the chief cause. I suspect that the same forces explain increased societal acceptance of toys, and board games are not immune. Thank goodness! Games Played Last Week: 01:22 -Guards of Atlantis II Arcane Hero Pack (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2024) 07:56 -Creature Caravan (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games, 2024)  10:46 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025) 15:55 -The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus, Chip Theory Games, 2025) 26:21 -Dungeon Kart (Michael Xuereb, Brotherwise Games, 2024) 30:50 -Star Trek: Captain's Chair (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, WizKids, 2025) 34:47 -Keyflower: The Merchants (Sebastian Bleasdale & Richard Breese, R&D Games, 2014) 40:47 -Rush M.D. (Athony Howgego, Konstantinos Kokkinis, & Dávid Turczi, Artipia Games, 2020) News (and why it doesn't matter): 46:34 Yokohama Duel 2nd edition by Synapses Games 46:56 Helldivers II board game by Steamforged Games 49:02 New content for Inis and Tiletum 50:02 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag 50:41 Feature Game: Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition (Ian Cooper, Play to Z, 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
Plastic Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:38
This guy just won't leave... Mark and I in our last, last episode together for a bit. Not to worry I will be rambling ever forward. In this shorter episode we talk about just the games we played last week, some news and…
2025 Year in Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:26
In some ways, the origin story of the podcast can be traced back to Sentinels of the Multiverse. Upon arriving in Kingston, Mark was at a games event at someone's home, and he saw that someone had brought a then-complete…
Gazebo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:05
"One day I was sitting in a gazebo, and there was a plaque on the gazebo and it said, 'This gazebo was built by the town in 1863.' That is in the middle of the Civil War. And the whole town built a gazebo. What was that…
Racing Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:51
"I thought the Rococo was the name of the ship in Aliens." "No, that's Sulaco. Rococo is the statute targeting organized crime." "No, that's RICO. Rococo is the hot beverage made with chocolate." "No, that's cocoa. Rococ…
Covenant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:00
You gotta read the fine print, always. Anyone dealing with a supernatural entity--whether a djinn or deity, gremlin or god--has to be conscious of the exceptions. It's simple enough--if the wizard handing you a fantastic…
Omnibus Questions Epsilon Bet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:48
Yes, it’s Tapple! The toy sensation that’s sweeping the nation! Only $14.95 at participating stores! Get one today! Warning: Pregnant women, the elderly, and children under 10 should avoid prolonged exposure to Tapple. C…
The Hobbit: There and Back Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:14
Before Dr. Reiner Knizia invented areas, everyone and everything was simultaneously co-located and yet distant all at the same time. It was primordial chaos. Movement was effectively impossible, as Xeno demonstrated; the…
Omnibus Questions Epsilon Aleph [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:12
While Mark is perhaps disappointed at the typical tragic dearth of questions related to Macross and Terry Bogard, and Walker secretly yearns to be granted naming rights to a listener's offspring (protip: don't let him),…
Wonderland's War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:07
In our effort to answer all of your Omnibus Questions, sadly we cannot enlist the assistance of notable Canadian Keanu Reeves. In an interview with Stephen Colbert--as a joke after Keanu said something profound--he was a…
Listener Hot Takes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:15
We deliver this episode despite the officially mandated period of public mourning due to Toronto's setbacks in basesball. In Canada, public mourning is characterized by donning black jean jackets and swapping our Tragica…