#363: The Social Contract

#363: The Social Contract

Author: Pickaxe June 10, 2025 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 methods of childhood education, we shall report that he confessed to rather callously sandbagging his lover into abandoning their children (Rousseau claimed there were five of them, though records are tricky). Way to be a douchebag, Jay-Jay. 01:47 AYURIS: City of the Great Machine (German Tikhomirov, CrowD Games, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 03:36 -River Rats (Mathijs Jansen & Robin Stokkel, Four Suits Studio, 2025) 08:08 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024) 09:47 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019) 11:47 -Storm Raiders (Shem Phillips, Arkus Games, 2025) 13:36 -Tigris & Euphrates (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997) 16:17 -Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny (Jay Cormier & Sen-Foong Lim, Off the Page Games, 2025) 21:58 -Dogs of War (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2014) 25:27 -Stroganov: Turukhan (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2024) 32:48 -Veiled Fate (Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, and Austin Harrison, IV Studio, 2022) 40:29 -Jekyll & Hyde vs Scotland Yard (Gaëtan Beaujannot, Olivier Cipière, and Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2023) News (and why it doesn't matter): 43:56 SEAL Team Flix follow up Phantom Division! Stealth! Tactics! Flicking! on Kickstarter  44:29 Pacific Command, fleet miniatures game, by Osprey and Mike Hutchinson 45:41 Agricola Special Edition on Gamefound 47:43 Catacombs Alpha, new minimalist Catacombs starter, on Kickstarter 48:25 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd 49:17 Topic: The Social Contract 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
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:44
We tempt fate and refer to a number of third rails in the hobby community. For one, we acknowledge a loss in Regicide Legacy, which reliably summons the chattering mobs. Further, we mention both Star Trek and Star Wars,…
Nostalgia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:17
"Well, that was your mother And that was your father Before you was born dude When life was great You are the burden of my generation I sure do love you But let’s get that straight" -Paul Simon, "That Was Your Mother" 01…
Light Speed: Arena [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:29
On this day of Labour, we offer our solidarity to you. We also offer our labour, because we don't take many days off. No union for us in the opinion mines! I'd complain to my manager, but since that's me, I guess I'd be…
Trick-Taking Games Redux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:56
I've always chafed at the conventional wisdom that young goats are good at trick-taking games. Or, at least, ones where you are not incentivized to go null. Do they hold their cards in their cloven hooves? Do their dead…
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…