Episodes

  • Brainwaves Special Edition - Dragonmeet 2024

    Brainwaves Special Edition - Dragonmeet 2024
    Jan 6 2025

    This podcast contains all the interviews that I conducted during Dragonmeet 2024. Thanks so much to everyone that took the time to talk to me.

    The interviewees are:

    Jason, Always Checkers Publishing

    Chris, Beyond Cataclysm

    Mike, Planet Smasher Games

    Shaan, RPG Taverns

    Finbar and Gary, Game Therapy UK

    Our Links

    Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on

    Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

    Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

    Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

    Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

    Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
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    31 mins
  • Brainwaves Episode 155 - Christmas Joyride

    Brainwaves Episode 155 - Christmas Joyride
    Dec 16 2024
    It’s the last cast of the year and we have a full team in the studio to bring you the latest tabletop gaming news. From people taking off their masks, to copyright disputes, and awards news. Listen to the only cast to bring you the really important industry news. Headlines Has Powerboats been taken for a Joyride? Joyride vs Powerboats thread https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3412685/powerboatspowerships-joyride Geoff Engelstein https://gametek.substack.com/p/copy-paste Episodes where we have covered plagiarism allegations https://giantbrain.co.uk/2021/03/08/episode-68-kickstarter-conundrums/ https://giantbrain.co.uk/2018/04/29/episode-3-legal-vampires/ Cardboard Edison changes tack https://bsky.app/profile/cardboardedison.bsky.social/post/3lcatxomwp22c https://cardboardedison.com/award Sandy Petersen wears no mask Sandy’s posts Quimbley’s response https://www.quimbleys.com/blogs/kickstarter-updates/quimbleys-official-inclusion-statement Updates Summit Award for Wargaming winner announced - and Bobby Nunes Memorial Award finalists announced https://sdhist.com/2024-summit-award-land-and-freedom/ https://sdhist.com/2024-bobby-nunes-memorial-award-finalists/ Wyrmwood fires staff https://www.rascal.news/wyrmwoods-bitter-medicine-is-proving-hard-for-audiences-to-swallow/ Facebook pulls Fort Circle Games ad. Again. https://bsky.app/profile/fortcircle.bsky.social/post/3lbyybi6hls2s News Itch is taken offline by Funko https://www.polygon.com/gaming/492791/itch-io-funko-takedown Leaf’s post to Hacker News https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42364033 GW enters the FTSE 100 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/01/games-workshop-promoted-ftse-100-quarterly-reshuffle?fbclid=IwY2xjawG5fR9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfpI4qljk5k-fjXOOMOgNiNXzPIQUwHiApvb9oHwY1_zqqmvx12t-fet8Q_aem_h_ZVqr3lvJUDFkDYW9j99w SUSD becomes a publisher. Sort of https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/were-partnering-with-play-to-z-to-launch-exciting-new-games/ Hachette becomes distributor for Edition Spielwiese https://www.mojo-nation.com/hachette-boardgames-group-strikes-distribution-deal-with-edition-spielwiese/ Vallejo workers on strike https://www.viaempresa.cat/es/empresa/98-plantilla-acrylicos-vallejo-se-suma-primera-jornada-huelga-indefinida_2206222_102.html https://www.rascal.news/vallejo-factory-workers-go-on-strike/ Jobs, Opportunities, and Events https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs Spiel des Jahres Funding Programme 2025 https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderprogramm-2025-startet-einreichungen-ab-sofort-moeglich/ https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/foerderprogramm/ Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newman game-a-lot.fun/en facebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Outro Monopoly Toppling Taxi https://monopoly.fandom.com/wiki/Monopoly_Free_Parking:_The_Toppling_Taxi_Game Our Links Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
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    57 mins
  • Brainwaves Episode 154 - Taxing Times

    Brainwaves Episode 154 - Taxing Times
    Nov 25 2024
    It’s a cast of finances, awards, lawsuits, and political games as Oliver and Iain cross the world in the episode 154 of Brainwave to bring you the best in Tabletop Gaming News. Headlines Tariffs and Trade Rules Tax Tabletop Publishers https://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/2024-11-10 https://www.compliancegate.com/general-product-safety-regulation/ https://bsky.app/profile/badsquiddogames.bsky.social/post/3lb7r4n7eni22 https://www.rascal.news/new-legislation-impacts-games-sales-to-the-european-union/ Zenobia Award II Winners Announced https://sdhist.com/zenobia-award-the-porters/ Hasbro Sued by Investors https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/479315/hasbro-investor-lawsuit-pandemic-inventor Updates US Tabletop Unionisation Solicitation https://www.rascal.news/rascal-receives-solicitation-from-suspicious-email-after-tabletop-union-declares-potential-strike/ News German Parliamentarian Game Night https://www.spiel-des-jahres.de/spielekultur-landet-im-bundestag/ Asmodee Gets Cash Injection https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-intends-to-contribute-eur-400m-to-asmodee-and-presents-asmodees-financial-targets-dividend-policy-and-net-financial-debt/ Obituaries Amber Cook https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58275/r-i-p-amber-cook GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/9bkqj-in-memory-of-amber-cook-support-her-son-james Kory Heath https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogpost/167622/in-memoriam-kory-heath Jobs, Opportunities, and Events https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs Board Game Raffle in Aid of The Trussell Trust / UK Food Banks https://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newman game-a-lot.fun/en facebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Outro Mystery Monopoly Midden https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/1gu7eel/anyone_wanna_play_monopoly_got_a_neighbour_whos/?utm_source=embedv2&utm_medium=post_embed&utm_content=post_title&embed_host_url=https://www.devonlive.com/news/uk-world-news/sudden-appearance-hundreds-monopoly-boxes-9726484&rdt=64307 Our Links Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
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    30 mins
  • Brainwaves Episode 153 - World Worries

    Brainwaves Episode 153 - World Worries
    Nov 11 2024
    It’s been a mix of huge stories and not much else in the last few weeks. Iain and Jamie bring you the lowdown on what is going on at World of Game Design, who is bagging awards, hasbro’s financials, and what size of country the population of D&D Beyond could establish. All this, and more, on episode 153 of Brainwaves Headlines WOGD investigation by Rascal https://www.rascal.news/former-world-of-game-design-employees-claim-tabletop-company-exploits-workers-and-clients/ Zac Goins Facebook post https://www.facebook.com/xzacklee/posts/pfbid02yf9PBqMH47ReMwKBBH7rVVTtKtYZaSioPAAYJb57Wq7YpannnPSZGLCyR1xvnsNAl Hasbro conference call https://investor.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-reports-third-quarter-2024-financial-results https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/58109/hasbro-ceo-reveals-magic-plans-secret-lair-volumes-d-d-dtc-percentage-more https://www.enworld.org/threads/hasbro-hit-with-layoffs-wizards-of-the-coast-impacted.707539/page-2 FSC award https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/11/05/life-in-reterra-becomes-first-board-game-to-win-forest-stewardship-council-sustainability-award/ https://us.fsc.org/en-us/get-involved/fsc-leadership-awards/2024-leadership-award-winners-01 News Commander Format https://www.polygon.com/mtg-magic-the-gathering/468627/mtg-new-commander-format-panel-rules-committee https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/introducing-the-commander-format-panel Summit award finalists https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/23/summit-award-reveals-2024-contenders-which-have-best-helped-draw-in-players-broaden-scope-of-historical-board-gaming/ Jobs, Opportunities, and Events https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs Boardgamewire report on Tabletop Jobs Group https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/11/07/board-gamings-biggest-job-site-is-an-almost-20000-strong-facebook-group-and-is-planning-its-first-ever-live-event-next-year/ Dragonmeet Attendance https://dragonmeet.co.uk/ Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newman game-a-lot.fun/en facebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Sir Meeple https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain Outro Food for Fought https://nerdist.com/article/dungeons-dragons-beer-bourbon-dragons-milk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGKRLBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHd7-QA1c_7gdVbxEq4gt7b59ABwXNx-YAwUz0S30T11j2J0OLEHTRcJU5A_aem_aB4GlBcElnqiWARtJzGidg https://www.enworld.org/threads/game-night-is-well-catered-with-these-official-d-d-meat-sticks.707556/ Our Links Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
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    30 mins
  • Brainwaves Special Edition - Tabletop Scotland 2024 Interviews

    Brainwaves Special Edition - Tabletop Scotland 2024 Interviews
    Oct 28 2024

    In this special edition of Brainwaves we present the interviews that we carried out at Tabletop Scotland 2024. Thanks so much to everyone who spoke to us.

    People and Organisations

    Tanya Floaker

    Edinburgh Indie Gamers

    Hive Mind Games

    Village on Stilts

    Hall or Nothing

    Kayla Dice - Rat Wave Game House

    Laurie O’Connell

    Phil Harris

    Games mentioned

    DrievthruRPG links are affiliate links

    Dead Air

    Be Seeing You

    Connection Machine

    Solstice

    The great Martian tripod race

    Wise Women

    Conspiracy & Reality

    Outliers

    Signal to Noise

    Numbers Station

    Stealing the Throne

    The Gardener is Dead

    Hopes and Dreams of the Orbital Bound

    What’s so daring about sky pirates

    Duskbringers

    Runesword

    Colostle

    Sandwich Master

    Brother Why?

    At your Peril

    Wretched and Alone

    Our Links

    Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on

    Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/

    Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r

    Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain

    Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/

    Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
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    30 mins
  • Brainwaves Episode 152 - Mythic Shrinking

    Brainwaves Episode 152 - Mythic Shrinking
    Oct 21 2024
    Iain is taking this cast off so Jamie and Oliver are at the helm. This episode they cover further troubles at Mythic, companies being saved and consolidating their lines, controversial giveaways and more on episode 152 of Brainwaves. Headlines Mythic Games France liquidates https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/17/no-mythic-games-hasnt-gone-into-liquidation-but-its-fate-should-be-decided-by-the-end-of-the-month/ https://annonces-legales.leparisien.fr/annonce/23cba43f-8a82-48c1-8f57-6a2285e239c3 Funforge ‘saved’ by Tokaido deal https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/11/did-it-save-the-company-yes-and-no-funforges-ceo-on-fighting-its-financial-woes-by-selling-the-tokaido-line-to-stonemaier/ Spiel Essen Sold Out https://www.spiel-essen.de/en/press?view=article&id=222&catid=12 News Barnes & Noble to list game designers https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/57959/barnes-noble-begin-listing-game-designers NAC Wargames hands out Nazi memorabilia https://bsky.app/profile/celacanto.bsky.social/post/3l5qu6lhp4j2n The Other Side of the Hill crowdfunding campaign: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/masqueoca/the-other-side-of-the-hill/ Publisher’s response on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/8461574/the-other-side-of-the-hill?commentid=12438977 Gamefound update about the Iron Cross medal: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/masqueoca/the-other-side-of-the-hill/updates/5 Matagot shrinks catalogue https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/10/16/matagot-stops-publishing-heavier-games-like-kemet-inis-shifts-focus-to-family-and-childrens-titles/ Steve Jackson Games announces Fighting Fantasy Deal https://www.sjgames.com/fightingfantasy/ Jobs, Opportunities, and Events https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newman game-a-lot.fun/en facebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Sir Meeple https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain Boardgamewire https://boardgamewire.com/ Outro English Heritage Games https://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/toys-games/games/board-games Our Links Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
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    44 mins
  • Brainwaves Special Edition - Gothcon Interviews

    Brainwaves Special Edition - Gothcon Interviews
    Oct 14 2024

    This special episode of Brainwaves is all the interviews I conducted at Gothcon earlier in the year. Gothcon is Sweden’s premier convention with games across all genres of the hobby and it was my privilege to be invited across. You can read all about my time there in the posts below and listen to the wonderful RPG community I had the pleasure of being involved with

    https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/03/30/gothcon-2024-arrival-and-day-1/

    https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/03/31/gothcon-2024-day-2/

    https://giantbrain.co.uk/2024/04/07/gothcon-2024-why-do-i-attend-events/

    Pontus

    Gothcon

    https://wordpress.gothcon.se/en/

    Blackfisk Publishing

    https://blackfiskpublishing.com/

    Mika

    https://mindy.nu/2024/07/29/bubblare-ian-mcallister-fran-brainwaves/

    Emil. ROAR

    https://open.spotify.com/show/3gptPHq0l1mg2ZuyuWMQ4R?si=5318d580a0f14560&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=8196858e350a4fab

    Hjalmar Norden, Red Moon Roleplaying

    https://www.redmoonroleplaying.com/

    Magnus Seter

    https://www.rollspel.nu/

    Nina, Gothcon Organiser

    Anna, Podcast Room Organiser

    https://www.svartvikenrp.se/
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Brainwaves Episode 151 - Commander Catastrophe

    Brainwaves Episode 151 - Commander Catastrophe
    Oct 7 2024
    While Jamie is off in that there London, Iain and Oliver are once more behind the mics to bring you the latest tabletop news. In episode 151 we cover Wizards taking over Commander, CMON losing board members, the usual smattering of awards, and a good few stories about unions. All this and more on this episode of Brainwaves. Headlines Commander Format Firestorm https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/on-the-future-of-commander https://www.rascal.news/finance-bros-and-harassment-force-mtgs-biggest-player-owned-format-into-corporate-hands/ Zenobia Award Finalists Announced https://zenobiaaward.org/finalists/ CMON loses COO https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2024/09/19/cmons-coo-david-preti-is-resigning-after-eight-years-at-the-company/ https://investor.cmon.com/governance Updates Cops called on TTWU protestors https://www.rascal.news/brooklyn-strategist-owner-calls-police-on-employee-walkout/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/supportTWU?ref=rascal.news https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tabletop-workers-united-boycott-pledge?source=direct_link& News TCG Player workers call for Union contract https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/459782/tcgplayer-union-ebay-rally-fair-pay https://cwa-union.org/tapped-out-tcgplayer Games Workshop Shareholder Revolt https://www.cityam.com/games-workshop-suffers-major-shareholder-revolt-after-top-bosses-handed-huge-bonuses/ CAH sues Elon Musk https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/cards-humanity-elon-musk-spacex-lawsuit-trespassed-texas-land-rcna172016 2024 Player’s Handbook Breaks Dungeons & Dragons Records https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/57876/2024-players-handbook-becomes-fastest-selling-dungeons-dragons-product-ever Big Bad Con Boycott averted https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mrxQaSbXd_SlFB7NJxhrCIHFsKKOvcvmLEHoXxVBstY/edit Deutscher Spiele Preis 2024 Winners Announced https://brettspielbox.de/brettspiel-preis-deutscher-spielepreis-2024-dsp24-sieger/ Stonemaier Games acquires "Tokaido" from Funforge https://mailchi.mp/stonemaiergames/stonemaier-games-monthly-newsletter-august-2989870?e=f9ef617363 Jobs, Opportunities, and Events https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs Bluesky list of board game people https://bsky.app/starter-pack/boardgamehottakes.bsky.social/3l5aovjrq6j2p Tabletop Games Blog Board Game Raffle in aid of The Trussell Trust / UK Food Banks https://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle Patreon Shoutouts Kevin Bertram https://www.fortcircle.com/ James Naylor https://naylorgames.com/ Shaun Newman game-a-lot.fun/en facebook.com/gamealotboardgames Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain Support Us https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/ Fanroll https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/ Sir Meeple https://sirmeeple.com/collections/the-giant-brain Outro What we Clue-do in the Shadows https://theop.games/products/clue-what-we-do-in-the-shadows?srsltid=AfmBOooKvLESoikIZ7WV0DwAhyj2tdFP0MtNxE92CDXYBwKVYqWB2ku8 Our Links Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you’ve listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r Blusky:https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantbrainuk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/ Email: giantbrainuk@gmail.com
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    37 mins