Luthier

Luthier

Author: Pickaxe October 28, 2025 Duration: 1:28:55
"'Frederick Chopin was a Polish composer in the Romantic style who wrote primarily for the piano.' I guess this is sort of interesting, as most facts are. But history has shown us that *facts are not what most humans believe.* They are not that which motivates most men and women to love to or to crime. Now COMPARE this statement: 'Frederick Chopin was a Polish composer in the Romantic style who was obsessed with ladybugs, often letting dozens of them gallop over his neck, arms, and long, tapering fingers while playing the piano.' Obviously the lie is so much more compelling. It also explains how Chopin finally got rid of his aphid problem." -John Hodgman, "The Areas of My Expertise" Games Played Last Week: 01:28 -Phoenix New Horizon (Jorge J. Barroso, Devir, 2024) 11:35 -Sweet Lands (Totsuca Chuo, uchibacoya, 2025) 23:42 -Voidfall (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2023) 29:35 -KINGs: TRICKTAKERs (Hiroken, Joyple Games, 2023) 32:58 -Yokai Septet (Muneyuki Yokouchi, Ninja Star Games, 2018) 36:56 -Origin Story (Jamey Stegmaier & Pete Wissinger, Stonemaier Games, 2025) 45:03 -Keep the Heroes Out!: Boss Battles (Luís Brueh, Brueh Games, 2024) 48:26 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 54:26 Burned available on Gamecrafter's Crowdsale 54:49 Legacy of Mars' audacious release plan: 4 plays in base game 56:17 Did you observe Arkhipov Day on Oct. 27th? Celebrate Vasili Arkhipov and his having saved the human race! 56:56 Feature Game: Luthier (Dave Beck & Abe Burson, Paverson Games, 2025) 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
#332: Undaunted 2200: Callisto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:39
Once again, a primer on some of the differences between the US and Canada. We Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in early October, in honour of our second governor general, the Right Honourable October G. Thanksington. Rat…
#331: Our Favourite Factions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:35
It is October, the month of Fat Bear Week, Decorative Gourd Season, Halloween, and Arkhipov Day! Sure, it has less candy than some of those other celebrations, but I'll wager neither a corpulent bear nor a kid dressed as…
#330: Andromeda's Edge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:07
Generally we here at SVWAG prefer sci-fi to fantasy, especially if it is of the general sort. There is something joyous about the weird flights of fancy that sci-fi can enable, such as Andromeda's Edge with its "Jelluloi…
#329: Replayability [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:54
If you replayed all the published SVWAG episodes back-back, it would take over 355 hours, or almost 15 days. This is not necessarily how we would recommend you spend your time. Indeed, for our purposes, we are equally wr…
#328: The Vale of Eternity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:01
I find so many mnemonics to be profoundly disappointing. Unless there's a structural element to tie the components together, a mnemonic will not serve to dispositively disambiguate a dyad. I assure you, that lamentable b…
#327: Game Mastery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:03
Solidarity, dear listeners, on this most august September Labour Day. Of course, Labour Day is the labour holiday invented for the US and Canada so as to undermine global solidarity. Nearly everywhere else celebrates Int…
#326: Deep Rock Galactic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:57
Some important editorial notes! -the game walker mentioned is Völuspá, and no we don't know what work those accents are doing; -SVWAG does not engage in the eating of seal meat (no one's thought to offer, really); -we ho…
#325: Collection Organization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:09
The full title of the Spider Lord is Spider the Third, by the Grace of God of the Unfinished Basement, Canada and His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Subterranean, Defender of the Faith. 01:56 AYURIS: Gink…
#324: Design Pet Peeves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:41
It is Festivus once again here at SVWAG, where we shall once again vent our collective spleen over features of games that irk us. Sometimes we will assert that our umbrage is righteous and ought to be shared, and other t…
#323: Wilmot's Warehouse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:11
Who is this Wilmot? What wares is he housing? Few answers are offered. We are merely told, rather imperiously, that we work at his warehouse. Sure, we have weekends off, but on occasion the fickle demiurge Wilmot command…