#363: The Social Contract

#363: The Social Contract

Author: Pickaxe June 10, 2025 Duration: 1:15:35
So Very Wrong About Games
LeisureHobbies
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

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#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
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#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…
#352: Ascending Empires: Zenith Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 demograp…
#351: Flexing New Muscles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:49
As is readily apparent from the show's subject matter and our general presentation, we here at SVWAG are stone-cold jocks who excel at the sports and are thoroughly ripped. We trust the launcher and never ever skip leg d…
#350: Beyond the Horizon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:21
Despite the welcome relative absence of anthropomorphic animals this week--aside from some sundry ducks in Lorcana--we see a lot of animals and various critters this week. We eschew sacrifices to a dodgy snake in Imperiu…
#349: A Plowful of Games [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:58
While we hate to confirm your most reductive of preconceived notions, snow removal in Canadian cities is no joke. The fleet of vehicles required to allow for daily life in even a small Canadian city after major snowfall…
#348: SETI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:45
Colour nouns are essentially arbitrary; how one decides to chop up the visible spectrum of light is a matter of contingent taxonomy. Some languages have one noun for both blue and green, for example. English has a word f…
#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…

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