Garrett's Games and Geekiness

Shelley and I continue our discussion of design, play-testing, and how expansions find their way into a designer's repertoire with Tom and Joe. Joining us are Tom Lehmann - Race for the Galaxy, Roll for the Galaxy, Dice Realms, Res Arcana and  Joe Huber - Caravan, Blue Skies, Ice Cream, Scream Machine, Burger Joint Also mentioned: Splotter Spellen and Jeroen Doumen, one of their primary designers.

Shelley and I get the mics set up around the boardroom table once again, but this time it's a more intimate and deep discussion with just a couple other great people and designers: Tom Lehmann: Dice Realms, Race for the Galaxy, Res Arcana, Fast Food Franchise, Throneworld Joe Huber: Blue Skies, Caravan, Starship Merchants, Scream Machine, Ice Cream, Burger Joint If you would like to sponsor the po...

Continuing our discussion of games and design that began last week, this time design is more of the focus as the wine continues to flow. Guests include Matt Leacock - Pandemic, Pandemic Legacy, Daybreak, Era: Medieval Age, Forbidden Island, Roll Through The Ages, Thunderbirds Joe Huber - Blue Skies, Caravan, Scream Machine, Starship Merchants, Burger Joint Simon Hunt - Pick & Pack, Take Stock Scot...

Meeplefest is BACK! After two years away, Shelley and I once again convene the roundtable discussion. In part 1 we discuss the effects of COVID on our gaming and begin a discussion of game design and publishing as well. Joining us on this episode and next week's are Matt Leacock - Pandemic, Pandemic Legacy, Daybreak, Era: Medieval Age, Forbidden Island, Roll Through The Ages, Thunderbirds Joe Hube...

Shelley and I dip our toes once again into the Essen Wantlist this week, but start by looking at another recent Kickstarter arrival The Gardens by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert from Grail Games Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames   or you can purchase a game from our extensive list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyH...

Shelley and I dive into the first part of my Essen Wantlist this week, but start by looking at a recent Kickstarter arrival Keystone: North America by Jeffrey Joyce and Isaac Vega from Rose Gauntlet Entertainment Then it's Part 1 of my Essen "Interested" list (in alphabetical order based on publisher - list below). Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or you can pu...

Shelley and I head to the airport and build our airline companies in 2020's Blue Skies by Joe Huber from Rio Grande Games then we head back to 2010 and become cat people for some unknown reason in Felinia by Michael Schacht from Matagot and Asmodee  which has been recently republished in 2019with some tweaks as Dragon Boats of the Four Seas from Maple Games

Shelley and I have a great time with two more Japanese titles, one of which is more readily available than the other, though both are worthy new titles that we need to get on our own shelves...in fact, many thanks to a BGG user who was willing to trade for his copy of Pastiche! Exhaust by Hisashi Hayashi from OKAZU Brand and Pastiche: Birth of a Masterpiece by Rikkati from Twins Lion Do You can su...

Shelley and I play a couple of very different but excellent dice games this week Dice Realms by Tom Lehmann from Rio Grande Games and  Dandelions by Takashi Sakaue from Boardgametables.com Remember that you can support the podcast by making a small donation at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or by buying one (or some) of the games on our Games For Sale list. Pay the shipping and it can arrive on you...

After two years away, Shelley and I once again organized our annual Meeplefest Invitational and therefore got to play some interesting and unusual games over the course of 5 fun-filled days. The first two fall into the polyomino genre and may be harder to track down, but are well worth a quick discussion. Alluvium by Yusuke Sawaguchi from Fudacoma Games and Yojohan Pepa Saikei by Shimamuranao from...

Shelley and I get the deluxe version of Stroganov by Andreas Steding from Game Brewer and then we check out the new revamped version of the 2018 Japanese draw and draw game Let's Make A Bus Route which has now become  Get On Board: New York & London by Saachi from IELLO If you enjoy our weekly blatherings and want to support the podcast, you can either go to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames and send...

The great sound quality returns this week as Shelley and I put our printers hats on and select our movable type in Gutenberg by Katarzyna Cioch and Wojciech Wisniewski from Granna and Portal Games then we hurriedly clean our house to make it look nice in Before the Guests Arrive by Saashi from Saashi & Saashi You can help support the podcast by checking out our Games For Sale Google Doc. Pick out...

This week Shelley and I get ANOTHER Roll & Write version of a title we already love to the table Yokohama Roll&Write by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand then check out a 2-player game from a few years back that had been sitting on the shelf for far too long - the Mad Max inspired Kero by Prospero Hall from Hurrican You can help support the podcast by checking out our Games For Sale Google Doc. Pic...

This week Shelley and I get an oldie but goodie to the table playing  Expedition or Expedition Famous Explorers (along with a couple of other names) by Wolfgang Kramer from Ravensburger, Queen Games and 8th Summit among others. then we try out a brand new title from the designer best known for Carcassonne Fire & Stone by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede from Pegasus Spiele You can help support the podcast by ch...

Shelley and head to out space to design tech trees and explore the galaxy in  Beyond the Sun by Dennis K. Chan from Rio Grande Games then we head into the mystical realm and explore The Forgotten City by Ying-Tan Liu from TWOPLUS Games Be sure to check out our list of games for sale - good deals and you just have to pay shipping - there are even some Freebies with purchase! https://docs.google.com...

Shelley and I check out a quick card game with beautiful artwork Momiji by Dario Massarenti and Francesco Testini from Japanime Games and Deer Games then we pull one that's been sitting onthe shelf unplayed and realize we had been missing out on Franchise by Christwart Conrad from Queen Games Be sure to check out our list of games for sale - good deals and you just have to pay shipping - there are...

This week Shelley and I run workshops to create beautiful tiles, then head into a steampunk world of grit and grime in Majolica by Yu Wang from Blue Magpie Games and  Corrosion by Stefan Bauer from Deep Print Games and Capstone Games Help support the podcast by sponsoring us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or buy some games that are priced to sell - you just pay for the games you want,...

This week Shelley and I build steampunk animal/mech hybrids in Imaginarium by Bruno Cathala and Florian Sirieix from Bombyx then have fun playing with plastic magnetized frames in Magnefix by Roberto Fraga from Amigo

Shelley and I talk a bit about our wonderful trip to Portugal from which we just returned, and then discuss the new big-box game from Quined Games Carnegie by Xavier Georges

Shelley and I place our bets as we play a GREAT new title from Perplext  Long Shot: The Dice Game by Chris Handy then pull a great recent title off the shelf once again to discuss its L'Etoile expanion Paris by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Game Brewer

Shelley and I head to Oaxaca and play  Zapotec by Fabio Lopiano from Board&Dice then we get healthy and eat our vegetables in Veggies by Jog Kung from Devir  We also mention Cafe by Rola and Costa from PYTHAGORAS in our discussion of Veggies as a better implementation of the tableau building by overlaying cards mechanism. Check it out!

Shelley and I got a chance to play Living Forest by Aske Christiansen from Ludonaute and discuss it, along with the other Kennerspiel des Jahres and Spiel des Jahres Nominees and Recommended Games. SdJ Nominees: Cascadia by Randy Flynn from Flatout Games and KOSMOS Scout by Kei Kajino from Oink Games and One More Game! Top Ten by Aurelien Picolet and Cocktail Games SdJ Recommended: 7 Wonders: Arch...

Shelley and take on a single game once again this week. This time the physical size isn't as huge as last week, but the depth is certainly there! Golem by Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, and Simone Luciani from Cranio Creations

Shelley and I tackle a literally HUGE game this week...it's so big it deserved its own show! Foundations of Rome by Emerson Matsuuchi from Arcane Wonders

Shelley and I take a break from reviews to reflect on our favorite Roll & Write or Draw & Draw games, a newer genre that certainly has exploded in the past few years. Shelley's Honorable Mentions: Silver & Gold by Phil Walker-Harding from NSV On Tour by Chad DeShon from Boardgametables Shelley's Top 5: 5) Explorers by Phil Walker-Harding from Ravensburger 4) Hadrian's Wall by Bobby Hill from Garph...