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Mark shares some sad news and explains what is ahead for Gameopolis.

In this Session Report show, Mark and Jeff give the "point-5" treatment to GameWright's Forbidden Desert! We launch right into this session report with a description of which roles we each assume in this two-player game, and then right into some specific examples of play (which includes many notes of what things we find most forbidding about this particular desert). Our coverage includes some comparisons with the game's predecessor, Forbidden Island. After Mark and Jeff finish their coverage of this two-player example of play, Mark tells us a bit of his experience in a more recent, four-player example of play. We always love to hear from our listeners, so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! Stay tuned for Show 29.0, coming at you faster than an Explorer wearing a Jetpack! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

In Show 28.0 of Gameopolis, Mark and Jeff inadvertently do a cooperative games extravaganza. But before any of that starts, observing tradition there is discussion of a Dusty Old Box…Actually it's a bag of Dusty Old Things (which sounds like an allergist's nightmare). Mark very enthusiastically describes the Dusty Old Things that Jeff presents him. After that it's a quick visit to our listener mailbag before we launch into the main show topics. Mark takes the first main segment of the show, with coverage of Forbidden Desert: long-awaited sequel to Forbidden Island. He covers the rules, the most obvious differences and similarities with Forbidden Island, and --of course-- talks about the quality of the game components. After Mark's main segment, Jeff dives into a second main segment on Valley Games' D-Day Dice, with focus on the rules of play, and the publisher's very clever use of game components. We'd love to hear from you, so if you get a moment, please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:01:35 Dusty Old Box 00:10:39 Listener Feedback 00:16:00 Happy 4th birthday, Gameopolis 00:17:34 Forbidden Desert, by Gamewright Games 00:40:10 D-Day Dice, by Valley Games 01:09:46 Signoff Stay tuned for Show 28.5 --our session report on one of these filler games-- coming at you faster than a raging sandstorm! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

Strap in for a multipart Session Report show where Mark and Jeff give the "point-5" treatment to an unprecedented three games! We start off with a quick session report of Babylon, then onto a slightly less-quick session report of the Carcassonne Dice Game. Finally, we do a more in-depth session report of Fast Flowing Forest Fellers -with a special guest-host, Mark's daughter! Just before we wrap this episode, we have a quick diversion with a return of our segment "As Far As Possible, Game Goes Kaupankaynti", in which Mark brings home a description of a great game store in Portsmouth, NH. We always love to hear from our listeners --it truly does make our day-- so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:01:30 Session Report of Babylon 00:06:30 Session Report of Carcassonne Dice Game 00:14:53 Session Report of Fast Flowing Forest Fellers (FlussFeiber) 00:25:43 As Far As Possible, Game Goes Kaupankaynti: Diversions Puzzles & Games 00:30:40 Signoff Stay tuned for Show 28.0, coming at you faster than a lumberjack riding a log through the rapids! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

Jeff shares some recent sad news, and gives an explanation of what's to come.

In Show 27.0 of Gameopolis, Mark and Jeff revisit a topic not discussed since way-back in Show 6.0: Filler Games! Before launching into tho second installment of our Fillers discussion, Jeff opens up a Dusty Old Box that he describes as a familiar game in an unfamiliar box. Confused? Intrigued? Then this show will set your mind at ease! Our discussion of this Dusty Old Box reminds Mark of another tidbit of Mark's Personal Gaming Trivia --a very humorous incident from his past gaming group-of-old. After the Dusty Old Box and Mark's Personal Gaming Trivia segments, Mark and Jeff discuss eight Filler Games, that we hope you'll enjoy. Lastly, at NO ADDITIONAL COST to you, we throw in a bonus segment on Gamewick Games' zombie-themed semi-cooperative card game, Pittsburgh 68. Jeff describes the things he loves about this old-style zombie movie experience. We'd love to hear from you, so if you get a moment, please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:03:00 Dusty Old Box 00:10:35 Mark's Personal Gaming Trivia 00:13:58 Carcassonne Dice Game 00:19:30 Babylon 00:26:28 Quoridor 00:33:04 Fast Flowing Forest Fellers (FlussFeiber) 00:39:57 Wits & Wagers 00:49:56 Safari Jack 00:58:03 The Very Clever Pipe Game 01:03:13 Guillotine 01:11:25 Pittsburgh 68 01:32:50 Signoff Related links: 1 Carcassonne Dice Game on Boardgamegeek 2 Babylon on Boardgamegeek 3 Quoridor on Boardgamegeek 4 Fast Flowing Forest Fellers on Boardgamegeek 5 Wits & Wagers on Boardgamegeek 6 Safari Jack on Boardgamegeek 7 The Very Clever Pipe Game on Boardgamegeek 8 Guillotine on Boardgamegeek 9 Pittsburgh 68 on Boardgamegeek Stay tuned for Show 27.5 --our session report on one or more of these filler games-- coming at you faster than a game of Babylon! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.

Grab your parachute, put on your jump boots, and get ready to follow along as we "Point-5" Axis & Allies: D-Day on Show 26.5! This was a three-player game that we played with our good friend Bill. Mark talks about the strategic discussions he had with Bill, as the two of them teamed-up as US and UK forces. We also talk about how the unique play elements in the D-Day sequel impact game play and tactics, relative to standard Axis & Allies. We always love to hear from our listeners --it truly does make our day-- so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! Stay tuned for Show 27.0, coming at you faster than strafing P-38 Lightning! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

Show 26.0 of Gameopolis sees Mark and Jeff hosting a franchise-specific celebration that can ONLY be termed a "Spectacular". In this Spectacular, Mark and Jeff take a deep dive into the Axis & Allies board game series, with special focus on the boardgames in the series of more limited historical scope. Before launching the Spectacular, however, Mark and Jeff open up a Dusty Old Box that might teach you something if you're not careful! After the Dusty Old Box segment, Mark and Jeff launch into a walkthrough of five different Axis & Allies board game titles, with emphasis on the new wrinkles introduced into the A&A game system by each game. We'd love to hear from you, so if you get a moment, please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:02:21 Dusty Old Box 00:15:11 Jeff talks about Mark W. Allen's "Midway Submerged" eBook/book 00:16:44 Axis & Allies background and memories 00:19:30 Axis & Allies Europe 00:30:54 Axis & Allies Pacific 00:34:35 Axis & Allies D-Day 00:46:55 Axis & Allies Battle of the Bulge 00:57:55 Axis & Allies Guadalcanal 01:19:31 Signoff Related links: Midway Submerged by Mark W. Allen can be found on http://www.ussbatfish.com Stay tuned for Show 26.5 --our session report on one of these Axis & Allies games-- coming at you faster than a screaming dive-bomber! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.

Get ready for the Rootinest, Tootinest, Shootinest Session Report we've ever done on Gameopolis, as we "Point-5" Twilight Creations' Deadlands: Battle for Slaughter Gulch. Yeehaw!!!! This episode is also our 50th regular episode of Gameopolis, so get ready to hear the clinking of a few toasting champagne glasses throughout the episode! This was a three-player game that we played with our good friend Bill. We cover this play session at a high level, sticking to our overall strategies, and the game elements that we felt impacted the play experience the most.  We also discuss some potential house rules that we would consider trying out. We always love to hear from our Podcast Nation, so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! Stay tuned for Show 26.0, coming at you faster than Mad Scientist flying an autogyro! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

Show 25.0 of Gameopolis is a knock-down, drag-out episode that will have you reaching for your break-away prop furniture. But first, Mark and Jeff keep to Gameopolis tradition and cover a very old Dusty Old Box -a game with a colorful box and a colorful game board. After the Dusty Old Box Mark and Jeff dig into the show's first main segment by covering Merchant of Venus one last time, but they take a slightly different tact this time, by focusing on the differences --the deltas, if you will-- between the Avalon Hill version and the new Fantasy Flight Games' version. Mark finishes this segment by stating he will never mention Merchant of Venus again --for at least a half-hour! After their discussion of Merchant of Venus deltas, Mark and Jeff move onto the show's second main segment, which gives this episode its knock-down, drag-out flavor: a discussion of Twilight Creations' Deadlands: The Battle for Slaughter Gulch. Jeff discusses the game elements and mechanics of this old west-meets-horror-meets-steampunk boardgame, as well as its production values. We end the episode by signing-off just before Mark's hungry dogs overrun the studio and take over the microphones. We'd love to hear from you, so if you get a second, please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:01:25 Dusty Old Box 00:11:24 MoV: Avalon Hill to Fantasy Flight deltas 00:41:45 Deadlands: Battle for Slaughter Gulch 01:05:08 Signoff, and siege of Studio B by hungry hounds Stay tuned for Show 25.5 --our 50th Episode, and Session Report on Battle for Slaughter Gulch-- coming at you faster than a hipshot from a six-shooter. NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.   

In this Session Report show, we "Point-5" Fantasy Flight Games' Merchant of Venus. Due to a tear in the space-time continuum, Mark and Jeff end up recording an after-action report BEFORE the action! This show covers our first play-through of FFG's new version of MoV. Our discussion focuses on the strategies each of the three players tried, and some of the revelations we experienced during this first play-through. We always love to hear from our Podcast Nation, so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! Stay tuned for Show 25.0, coming at you faster than a space freighter with a combo drive!   NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

In Show 24.0, Mark and Jeff revisit the show topic of the Premier Episode of Gameopolis: our Top Ten Games lists. After 3-and-a-half years of podcasting, it was apparent that these lists needed to be revisited. Before going into our Top Ten lists, however, we satisfy tradition by opening up a Dusty Old Box. Mark presents Jeff with a Dusty Old Box from his past, and we discuss an overview of the rules, and the things Mark finds most memorable about the game. After the Dusty Old Box segment, Mark and Jeff do a coin toss (specifically, a dubloon toss) to determine who kicks-off the Top Ten lists. For each game, we give a brief description and then chat about the elements of the game that landed it on the Top Ten List. In our Sign-off, we briefly discuss the role IOS games have played in our recent gaming lives, and we extend the invite to our listeners to join us for some virtual gaming. You can find us on Game Center as "stinkytom" and "Funky-Bass-Jeff". We'd love to hear from you, so if you get a second, please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:05:08 Dusty Old Box 00:18:44 The Dubloon Toss... 00:19:35 Mark's #10: Warhammer 40K 00:22:41 Jeff's #10: Commands & Colors Ancients 00:26:54 Jeff's #9: Gamma World 00:35:39 Mark's #9: Battletech 00:41:09 Mark's #8: Blackbeard 00:43:54 Jeff's #8: Pandemic 00:47:42 Jeff's #7: Battlefront WW2 00:55:02 Mark's #7: Stone Age 00:59:43 Jeff's #6: Car Wars 01:02:51 Mark's #6: DragonStar 01:06:18 Mark's #5: Dungeons & Dragons 01:10:35 Jeff's #5: Magic: the Gathering 01:17:38 Mark's #4: Pandemic 01:18:21 Jeff's #4: Axis & Allies 01:23:45 Mark's #3: Awful Green Things 01:26:51 Jeff's #3: War of the Ring 01:31:42 Mark's #2: Arkham Horror 01:33:45 Jeff's #2: Dungeons & Dragons 01:34:33 Mark's #1: Merchant of Venus 01:38:37 Jeff's #1: Battletech 01:39:58 Summary, reflections on IOS Games, and Signoff Stay tuned for Show 24.5 --our session report on one of our Top Ten games-- coming soon. NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.   

In this Session Report show, we "Point-5" Looney Labs' Star Fluxx.  We talk about some of the pivotal turns and plays of a two-person example of gameplay, as well as some of our overall impressions of the play experience…things we really liked, and some things we weren't so fond of. We also reflect on how much the game reminds us of a cross between Star Trek and E.T. --no actually it's more like Dr. Who mixed with Firefly --or really more like an Ed Wood version of Predator. We hope you enjoy our attempt to synthesize this entertainingly random scifi game. We always love to hear from our Podcast Nation, so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! Stay tuned for Show 24.0, coming at you faster than a Jedi-piloted Viper  ...or was that a wave-motion torpedo...? NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

In Show 23.0, Mark and Jeff discuss two Cheesy Sci-Fi games -one that is a bit meaty, and one that is very light and fast. But first, it's a Dusty Old Box! Mark describes a Dusty Old Box presented to him by Jeff, all the while trying to avoid an allergic attack. After the Dusty Old Box segment, Jeff launches us into the show's first main topic: Gorilla Games' super-light sci-fi RPG/boardgame Battlestations. Jeff covers the main game elements and play mechanisms, and Mark and Jeff both discuss the things they love about this game (and a couple of its shortcomings). After Jeff's main segment, Mark covers a late addition to the Fluxx game family: Star Fluxx. Mark covers what few rules there are in this game, and what he finds most amusing about it. We'd love to hear from you, so if you get a second, please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:04:43 Dusty Old Box 00:19:35 Battlestations by Gorilla Games 00:59:45 Star Fluxx by Looney Labs 01:16:32 Signoff Related links: 1 Battlestations on Boardgamegeek 2 Star Fluxx on Boardgamegeek Stay tuned for Show 23.5 --our session report on one of these super cheesy sci-fi games-- coming soon. NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.   

In this Session Report show, we "Point-5" Fireside Games' Castle Panic including the Wizard's Tower Expansion set. The monsters are back, and they've brought along some of their big friends! In this session report, we talk about some of the pivotal turns and plays of our game, and comment on some of our impressions of the play experience. We try to focus on how the Wizard's Tower expansion changes up game play compared to the 'base' Castle Panic game. After we finish with Castle Panic, but before signing-off, we go through our mail bag for a little Listener Feedback. 00:00:00 Session Report 00:18:55 Listener Feedback 00:24:39 Sign-off We always love to hear from our Podcast Nation, so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! Stay tuned for Show 23.0, coming at you faster than a flying Phoenix! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.

Here in Show 22.0, Mark and Jeff feast on some leftovers from the tabletop of Wil Wheaton. But before digging into this cold pizza, there is some business to take care of. Mark and Jeff start by telling you all about our new Twitter Threads idea, one of which (#GameopolisTanks) has already completed, and a second of which (#GameopolisPnP) is just getting started. After this, it's on to the Dusty Old Box segment! This time, it's a Dusty Old Thing, with some pretty --interesting-- artwork! After the Dusty Old Box segment, Mark launches us into the show's first main topic: the Wizard's Tower expansion for Castle Panic. Mark covers the main ways this expansion changes the game, and the effect of these changes on the play experience. After Mark's main segment, Jeff finishes his 2-episode-long campaign to scratch his Arkham Horror Itch --with Fantasy Flight Games' Elder Sign. Jeff covers this new lighter Arkham play experience with focus on how the game differs from its parent game, Arkham Horror. We love, love, love to hear from our listeners, so if you get a second, please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:00:57 Gameopolis Twitter Threads 00:05:30 Dusty Old Box 00:14:00 Shout out 00:16:48 What does "Table Scraps" mean? 00:21:30 Wizard's Tower Expansion to Castle Panic 00:35:12 Elder Sign 01:03:16 Signoff Related links: 1 Wizards Tower Expansion on Boardgamegeek 2 Elder Sign on Boardgamegeek Stay tuned for Show 22.5 --our session report on one of these wonderful cooperative games-- coming soon. NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.   

This is the fourth episode in the Gameopolis CarCast spin-off series. As is our intention, the Gameopolis CarCast is brought to you totally unplanned, and virtually unedited. In this installment, Mark and Jeff discuss scifi space ships, a few great 1980s computer games, a lot more not-so-great 1980s computer games, and other things on- and off-topic We'll be back with the next regular installment of Gameopolis --Show 22.0-- very soon. Until then, we hope you enjoy the random musings of the Gameopolis CarCast  --and slow down! You're driving like a maniac!!! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

In this Session Report show, we give the Gameopolis "Point-5" treatment to Fantasy Flight Games' Arkham Horror. This was a very challenging two-player game that pitted Mark and Jeff against one of the toughest, baddest, and ancientest Ancient Ones, Hastur! We discuss the ups and downs of the game, and do our best to avoid Sherlock Holmes- and Scooby Doo impressions. We end with a bit of gushing about all the things we love most about this game. We always love to hear from our listeners, so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! Gameopolis is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network! Please check out all of the member podcasts of the network at www.dicetowernetwork.com. Come back for Show 22.0 --only don't forget your fedora and your tommy gun! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.

Here in Show 21.0, Mark and Jeff test-drive a "stream-of-consciousness" style by visiting and/or revisiting a collection of topics of particular interest. After the Dusty Old Box segment, Mark revisits the "Merchant of Venus" re-release situation. Then, Jeff revisits Fantasy Flight's 3rd edition of Dungeon Quest, with special focus on Official Combat Variants that have been published by FFG. Mark treads into new territory --the realm of Print-n-Play gaming-- by giving us a preview of Christopher Mayer's Galaxy Corporate: Star Traders. We'll do a full segment of GC:ST in an upcoming show --this is just a preview! Mark and Jeff then move into the main segment of the show: Fantasy Flight's version of Arkham Horror. Rather than review the game rules and mechanics, Jeff focuses on the elements of the game that he finds particularly engaging or interesting. As always, we love to hear from you our listeners, so please post a comment to this blog entry (at www.gameopolis.org or gameopolis.libsyn.com), or send us an email at info@gameopolis.org! 00:00:00 Prelude 00:04:24 Dusty Old Box 00:17:53 Revisiting Re-release of Merchant of Venus 00:23:03 Dungeon Quest Variant Combat Systems 00:32:57 Preview of Galaxy Corporate: Star Traders 00:39:54 Arkham Horror 00:54:03 Signoff Related links: 1 Galaxy Corporate Star Traders on Boardgamegeek 2 Arkham Horror on Boardgamegeek 3 Gameopolis is a proud member of The Dice Tower Network! Stay tuned for Show 21.5 --our session report on one of these fine games-- coming very soon. NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.  

This is the third episode in the Gameopolis CarCast spin-off series. The Gameopolis CarCast is brought to you totally unplanned, and virtually unedited. In this Carcast, Mark and Jeff talk about a few loosely connected topics, including their respective recent buying binges, Mark's close call at Panera, and Jeff's marketing advice to Lego. We'll be back with the next regular installment of Gameopolis --Show 21.0-- very soon. Until then, we hope you enjoy the random musings of the Gameopolis CarCast! NOTE: To download, right-click on the "POD" icon above, and choose "Save Target As..." Select a download location on your computer, and save. After saving, play the file from your downloaded copy.