#357: Post-Easter Update

#357: Post-Easter Update

Author: Pickaxe April 29, 2025 Duration: 1:11:41
While we pride ourselves in playing more games in a week than many play in a month, when we take a week away from the SVWAG studio we often face a truly herculean backlog of games to discuss. This two-week period is no exception. Rest assured, we would never leave our dear listeners in the lurch, so we will keep you updated so you need not miss a thing. 01:00 AYURIS: Race to the Raft (Frank West, The City of Games, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 03:40 -Knarr (Thomas Dupont, Bombyx, 2023) 06:42 -Quin (Brian Rooney and Taeleen Woodard, Arch & Gravity Publishing, 2024) 11:41 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024)  14:47 -Gùgōng: Pànjūn (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2020) 22:00 -Skull (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011) 24:09 -Space Gits (Mike Hutchinson, Planet Smasher Games, 2025) 30:06 -Bad Company (Kenneth Minde, Kristian Amundsen Østby, and Eilif Svensson, Aporta Games, 2021) 34:44 -Rebirth (Reiner Knizia, Mighty Boards, 2024) 36:48 -Tír na nÓg (Isaac Shalev & Jason Slingerland, Grand Gamers Guild, 2024) 38:51 -Let's Go! To Japan (Josh Wood, AEG, 2024) 41:52 -Keyflower (Sebastien Bleasdale & Richard Breese, R&D Games, 2012)  42:54 -Altay: Dawn of Civilization (Paolo Mori & Ole Steiness, Ares Games, 2024) 47:09 -Abandon All Artichokes (Emma Larkins, Gamewright, 2020) 49:58 -Quacks (Wolfgang Warsch, Schmidt Spiele, 2018) 52:02 -23 Knives (Tyler J. Brown, Play to Z, 2025) 59:15 -Ghost Blitz: Spooky Doo (Jacques Zeimet, Zoch Verlag, 2016) News (and why it doesn't matter): 1:03:26 Catacombs Alpha, new entry point in the Catacombs series, on crowdfunding 1:04:13 Tariff highlights: Stegmaier lawsuit, CMON, Greater Than Games 1:07:15 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd 1:07:47 Commands & Colors news: new Memoir '44, Battle of Hoth 1:09:08 SVWAG interview with James of One Man Clapping episode #26 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
#363: The Social Contract [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:35
We generally frown on ad hominem here at SVWAG, ensconced as we are in our glass houses. In the case of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (known affectionately as "Ja-Jay" by no one), though, who wrote extensively about proper metho…
#362: Rumble Nation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:59
I've read several different accounts of the battle of Sekigahara, and I swear there's no mention of Kevin Bacon or anyone bleaching their hair. How am I to know if Pony Boy stayed golden? Games Played Last Week: 01:42 -M…
#361: What Makes Longer Games Worth It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:32
Walker and Mark almost come to blows over Flip 7 this week. Their disagreements over the merits of the product (Game? Experience? Way of Life? Sub "Roll a 6, Win a Cookie" distraction?) have long simmered, but the fundam…
#360: Hot Streak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:06
"Observers brought attention to [Gritty's] appearance, which could be construed as frightening, while The Guardian described him as an "acid trip of a mascot." Response to Gritty's introduction was immediate and sharply…
#359: Gibberers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:11
"gibber--intransitive verb :to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and often foolishly" -Merriam-Webster "gibberer--noun :the hosts of SVWAG" Games Played Last Week: 01:17 -Sausage Sizzle (Inka and Marcus Brand, 25th Century…
#358: Tricky Edge Cases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:15
Chaka Khan, let me rock you Let me rock you, Chaka Khan Let me rock you, that's all I wanna do Chaka Khan, let me rock you Let me rock you, Chaka Khan Let me rock you, 'cause I feel for you -Chaka Khan, "I Feel for You"…
#356: Endgame Scoring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:57
Tiebreakers are arguably a kind of endgame scoring. I respect the fact that they are invariably necessary (I mean, if for no other reason than if they're omitted some smartass like me will complain). That said, clearly i…
#355: Rise & Fall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:22
When is a thing like another thing? Is Albedo like Core Worlds? Is Cat Blues like Rummy? Is Through the Desert like Go? Is a nudge as good as a wink to blind bat? Are all Roll & Writes inferior to Roll a 6, Win a Cookie?…
#354: 20th Century Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 g…
#353: Rebirth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:40
In logic, conditionals are always true if the antecedent is false. You can't falsify the conditional if the conditions aren't met. For example, if Mark can bench 500 pounds, then vinegar tastes like cotton candy. Rest as…