#354: 20th Century Games

#354: 20th Century Games

Author: Pickaxe April 1, 2025 Duration: 1:19:42
People have favourably described our physical appearances as "borderline tolerable" and "just short of hideous", and that was just our mothers. In light of this, we put ourselves forward as candidates for all manner of game show. Mark is quite fond of Rice-a-Roni and thus would be more than happy to just have a consolation prize, and Walker just wants to spin something as hard as he can. Better reinforce your props. 01:43 AYURIS: Archeos Society (Paolo Mori, Space Cowboys, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 03:16 -Ethnos (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2017) 08:20 -Wizards of the Grimoire: Shifting Sands (Cole Banning & Joe Banning, Grimoire Games, 2025) 12:14 -Jenga Maker (Uncredited, Hasbro, 2022) 16:20 -Click A Tree (Uwe Rosenberg, Skellig Games, 2025) 18:15 -Street Masters: Tide of the Dragon (Scott McFall, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler, and Mitch Schroeder, Blacklist Games, 2022) 22:15 -Crafting the Cosmos (David Gordon & TAM, Office Dog, 2025) 23:48 -Scape Goat (Jon Perry, Indie Boards & Cards, 2020) 28:41 -Shuffle and Swing (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025) 32:31 -Bebop (Robert Hovakimyan, Bitewing Games, 2025) 39:53 -El Grande (Wolfgang Kramer & Richard Ulrich, Hans im Glück, 1995) 44:03 -Crokinole (Uncredited, Mayday, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 47:19 Phantom Division returning and editorial challenges 47:55 Early Registration for SVWAGCon for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag 48:20 G.I. Joe Heroscape--will Transformers follow? 52:53 CMYK game show: Perfect Line hosted by Deborah Norville 54:26 Ark Nova spin-off Sanctuary 54:54 StarCraft miniatures and board games incoming 55:14 Alley Cat games sticking to crowdfunding, skipping retail 55:37 Topic: 20th Century Games 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
The Lord of the Rings: The Fate of the Fellowship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:25
Losing a component is rough. Knowing that one of your games is incomplete is like having a permanent absence in your soul. It's one thing to eschew that one added expansion--that's a triumph of restraint. But that missin…
Starting Over Your Collection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:57
Inigo: I am waiting for you, Vizzini. You told me to go back to the beginning. So I have. This is where I am, and this is where I’ll stay. I will not be moved. Brute: But the Prince gave orders — Inigo: — So did Vizzini…
Vantage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:40
"We don’t ask that you stop loving your fantasy world. We ask you stop paying money for the privilege to dream of it. If you want to read the [Harry Potter] books or watch the movies, consider buying second-hand or renti…
SVWAG Con Report [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:04
A chief misgiving Mark has about the con is that he is a terrible playtester. He was able to play two unpublished games, and while the designers were gracious he is seldom able to offer anything of much substance. "This…
#369: Take That [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:08
The purest juxtaposition that reveals the absurdity of "take that" effects can be found in many of your heavier games and some consims with cards. You gather the resources, marshal your forces, laboriously haul those tro…
#368: Shackleton Base [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:35
"Dear friend, if you wanna feel better Don't let the devil make you toss this letter If you've been crossed up by hoodoo voodoo A wizard or the lizard You got family trouble, man trouble, woman trouble No light through t…
#367: Set Up and Tear Down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:54
It is remarkable to reflect on how much hobbies can demand of us, and certainly board gaming is no different. Setting aside the administrative, economic, and social burdens; we then have to spend so much time teaching, s…
#366: 7 Empires [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:23
Apparently the American custom of the "push present" can trace its roots to the Anglo-Indian tradition of the "baby bauble", although in the latter case jewellery is the more standard gift (instead of, say, boardgames).…
#365: Small Box, Big Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:55
Walker's approach to parenting eschews what he sees as the coddling endemic in other families. He believes in competition above all else, where newbs must be pwned and even babies must git gud. "L2P" is his family motto.…
#364: Pulling Levers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:27
"Because of the long-standing mutual enmity between Meany and Brown, Meany was named among the suspects in The Case Of Encyclopedia Brown’s Mangled Corpse. Meany denied the allegations. 'It’s true that Detective Brown an…