Squideye And The Bitter Guy

The Rise of Babylon 5... rising? We chat about a CW show we really liked, and an upcoming CW show we're hoping we really like, because it's based on a WB show we really, really liked. I didn't really give this one an extensive listen, and also I threw together some artwork; thanks Canva!

Ilan's new enemy -- revealed! Justin is an enabling presence for this quick end-of-the-month update. Justin's also been to a couple of movies, and we realize what we're going to talk about next time.

Did we miss anything? We talk about time past, our schedules these days, the different platforms out there these days, and how we interact with memories (particularly Memories, the Facebook product). We meander a lot. We talk about building and rebuilding collections via auction lots, and spend a lot of time shouting out local superstar and friend-of-the-show Jim Zub, and the games of one Mr. Robin Laws. Squideye also winds up giving a fairly complete gameplay walkthrough of Cosmic Encounter, which isn't Twilight Imperium. And the clock is ticking on Audacity.

It's been five years. It's been five long years. We've talked a lot about what we want to talk about and it keeps getting away from us as the world keeps surprising us; but we still want to talk. So here's a placeholder.

Updates, crowdfunding, freemium games, and fear. The State of our Lives Ilan and Justin update you -- the listener -- on the latest and greatest in what we’ve been up to. FanExpo! Live theatre! Mawwiage! How to Fund your Passion What hath Crowdfunding wrought? Kickstarted games, comics, movies and games, like Catthulhu, Hillfolk, and Code Monkey Saved World. Expectations, reality, and YOU! Debt of a Thousand Clicks Freemium, micropayment-driven gaming models. What’s the difference between so-called “pay-to-win” and the old days of buying physical boosters, expansions and additional minis? Muppets vs. Cancer Make Justin face his fear. Fund his dreaded Farscape binge and help blast cancer out of the sky. Make Justin Watch Farscape Here

We have our Rush t-shirts and a new year has started. It's time to reconnect with you, our treasured listeners, and just barely fail to talk in-depth about the amazing comic "Saga". We will, however, cover some games, a visit from a dear friend, and a movie or two. 1. (1:00) Star Wars Edge of Empire RPG - It's Firefly and Futurama, with Funny Dice (dice app) - Ilan's specious comparisons to FATE and Cortex - Compared to Star Wars Saga Edition? - Fantasy Flight will be releasing the game in a manner similar to their 40k system - Notes on the "Edge of the Empire" setting 2. (11:20) Jerome Comeau, King of Tokyo - Welcome to Toronto, Jerome Comeau! - Sauced: since we last podcasted, they began and ended, and put out as many episodes as we ever did. Ever! - Poutineries in Toronto: Smoke's and Poutini's. Ilan's Daiya Cheesemongering. - How King of Tokyo works - rules, and dice. 3. (17:00) Other two-player games - Spot It - Kahuna ("A Full Web") - Burger Joint 4. (20:00) Sentinels of the Multiverse - That's what

With Dark Knight about to open (at the time) we contemplate the comic book movie explosion. So many explosions. Then we talk about Ready Player One, and Lords of Waterdeep. And other stuff. An explosion of other stuff! Thankfully, nobody was hurt in the explosions. 1. Mighty Marvel Movies Precap and Recap 2. The Avengers Recap it took 2 days for people to get Justin's 2am shawarma joke How would you Plan an Avengers Marathon?! 3. New Marvel Movie Announcements Iron Man 3: Iron Manner (Ben Kingsley the Mandarin) Captain America Winter Soldier (Sharon Carter can allow a positive Bechdel) Thor: The Dark World (We dunno?) Guardians of the Galaxy (LOL) (Moondragon and Quasar - you can never have too many lesbians in superhero movies; but they only show Gamora) Ant Man. Yes, we said Ant-Man. WHY NOT NEXTWAVE?! It has three female superheroes, and two idiots. Well they're all idiots. A complete and total (UNPRINTABLE) is what everyone called Aaron Stack. 4. Boards of Waterdeep! Lords of Waterdeep, which Justin

SYNOPSIS: 1812-The Invasion of Canada, John Carter of Mars, S4UC3D, and "Spring Preview". We got our rewrites in from J. Michael Straczynski and George R.R. Martin, and Adi Granov finished the art, so we're ready to go! And in true news, Ilan and Justin have just spent the last few months demonstrating that "work-life balance" is something that happens to other people. In March, we recorded a shockingly timely segment about a new light wargame, 1812 - the Invasion of Canada, and oh gee right about now are the War of 1812 celebrations/commemorations. Good job, guys! About 7 minutes in, we also have... oh dear. A timely review of John Carter of Mars, which more or less came and went and - though commercially successful - didn't make much of a cultural impact. But it was better than Attack of the Clones. Around twelve minutes in, we talk about how we hadn't had a chance to play Mass Effect 3. Or other video games. Update: Ilan had a chance to play Mass Effect 3. But Justin still hasn't. It's thirteen minutes whe

We're just a little wintry! We're still good! We're still good. Sad Trombone. We're back after a frenzied summer and a busy school semester. News, movies and trailers: Lorax trailer! By the Despicable Me studio. Freleng-DePatie version from the '70s: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6650219631867189375 Dangerous Method: Cronenberg directs Fassbender and Mortensen as Freud and Jung. New TV! Community! Seneca's group of self-loathing misfits. Modern Urban Fairytales! Grimm and Once Upon a Time - the de Lint collector? Why don't they ever get more inclusive about fairytales? The Summer! Justin and FanExpo Canada! Admission policy for gaming. But it's worth it - Aaron Douglas, stand-up guy. Feedback on FanExpo gaming? TIFF! Etan Muskat in Sorry, Rabbi! Marc Slutsky, Jessica Paré, Jacob Tierney Other Canadian shorts: Paris Quintet The Day - cannibal hilbillies instead of zombies Good guest stars: Shawn Ashmore, Shannyn Sossamon, Dominic Monaghan Letter to Momo My Neighbour Totoro, Su

Justin interviews author and RPG designer Matt Forbeck about his latest work. See below for links mentioned during the podcast. Matt Forbeck's web site http://www.forbeck.com/ The Brave New World  Kickstarter http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/forbeck/12-for-12-10-bnw-novels?ref=card Carpathia http://angryrobotbooks.com/carpathia-matt-forbeck/

Episode 22: The Library and the Heap - In which Ilan and Justin develop a pair of regular segments for the show. Role Playing Games Continued! Ashen Stars hit its other preorder! Other Kickstarter preorders, incliding Do, Pilgrims of the Flying Temple. Vampire 20th Anniversary! Like $100 Released at Grand Masquerade Laundry RPG Stross books The Basic Roleplaying system The Library! Top Secret - The Corporation - 1986 Conspiracy X - late '90s three classic aliens - saurians, venusians, greys A game with "default answers" Parapsychology resolution system Not unisystem - but look for the new ConX, Buffy, Angel The Heap! Chaos in the Old World: Shadow of the horned rat Twilight Imperium: Shards of the Throne "Subgoals" speed up gameplay Cosmic Encounter - Cosmic Conflict Alien Frontiers Heroscape: Marvel Suporheroes Planet Hulk reenactment Here I Stand "A 7 player Twilight Struggle" In practice, "Riskopoly as applied to Diplomacy" Comics Dan Slott Spider Man vs. Sinister Six Jonathan Hickman

Episode 21: On the Galactic Stage  - in which Ilan has a cold and we talk about live theatre and videogames. Give us feedback about our Jim Interview - last episode! Ilan and culture My Fair Lady, community theatre experience Countermeasure A Cappella concert "we sold out" Album cover suggestion: "Twisted" Justin: Ghost Stories Not played with Wraith: the Oblivion mechanics Managing our expectations Soulpepper Theatre! Billy Bishop goes to war (Has come and gone, sadly) Midsummer Night's Dream Good episodes of Fame Canned Heat: Center Stage or Napoleon Dynamite? Video Games! L.A. Noire and the anatomy of a slightly worse deal iPad! Infinity Blade - on the iPad! Recalls "Die By the Sword". Reading books on the iPad! Discworld books: Mort, Small Gods Ascendancy! And how can we get Alpha Centauri? Mass Effect! BioWare is a very open-minded company. I'm Commander Shepherd, and this is my favourite podcast on the Internet. SPOILERS FOR MASS EFFECT FINALE Ashen Stars RPG (Stellar Nursery pre-release!)

Justin talks with his gaming pal Jim "Zub" Zubkavich, mastermind of UDON studios and author of the new fantasy action comedy comic Skullkickers.  "Like Army of Darkness with two Ashes." How is it made? What to expect? Why is the first trade so cheap? Answers within! A life lesson, kids: beat the drum as much as possible. We are happy to be part of the shilling for this admittedly hugely fun book that we both really like. And no-one was hurt.

Wow, it's been a long time since our last episode.  Today we focus on comics, particularly the biggest comic event of the last little while: Jonathan Hickman's run on the Fantastic Four! We touch on other topics related to media as well. No superheroes were harmed in the podcasting of this episode.

You've been waiting almost two years for this. Here it is. Nobody was hurt in the recording of the episode. And if you already hurt, perhaps the tears will help you heal.

Shownotes for Episode 17 "Optimistic Voices" With what you've been waiting for.  NEXTWAVE miniatures.  And more. The news!Democracy! A bunch of miniatures cancellations D&D, Rackham, Star Wars Things FFG does well Community: The Official TV Show of SATBG - The D&D Episode Dan Harmon and the Dead Alewives RPGs in the Media So it's on DVD; borrow mine A Classical Fantasy Villain EPIC SEGUE into WizKids Star Trek http://wizkidsgames.com/startrek/star-trek-fleet-captains/ http://wizkidsgames.com/startrek/star-trek-expeditions/ -- Knizia's Co-op "The Real Kirk"? Squideye: Hugh Laurie as Fourth Doctor. Who's with me?! Star Trek 25th Anniversary Video Game Federation Commander (with Art Trotman!) WizKids's new HeroClix set...NEXTWAVE!!! Boom Boom and Secret Wars 2 Nextwave sequels -- Marvel Zombies 3 Sorry, Joyce, who doesn't like Cilantro Original character: THE CAPTAIN! Bad Santa of superheroes http://wizkidsgames.com/blog/2011/02/11/his-name-is-the-captain/ Other New WizKids -- Vlaada Chvatil de

  "4 and change" Continuing from last episode: one last Great War tidbit.  A bunch of things related to the number 4 (the square root of 16, which is how many episodes this is), and also things changing.  Nobody was hurt this time, because time may change me, but I can't change the rules of fourth edition D&D.   - Wraith: The Great War (best roleplayer!) other White Wolf historical settings for the Old World of Darkness also Apocalypse versus Forsaken -- topical, people! Justin's Great War GenCon experience - D&D 4 Essentials Heroes of the Fallen Lands, Forgotten Kingdoms, and... rules "Red Box vs. Unearthed Arcana" And then the ACTUAL new Red Box What do you need for D&D? Rules compendium is really all you need for game except character generator Player books include all basic rules and equipment DM set is weird, and so is the dice box -- for tiles buy frickin' tiles, for dice buy the red box, and for a straight DMG, why not get DMG 1 and 2, probably as cheap as the new box anyway and full of

"Remember, Remember" Recorded the day after Guy Fawkes day.  It's now 2 years since we first conceptualized the podcast with a pad of paper at Free Times Cafe after the Queen's Park Remembrance Day ceremony in 2008.  So we'll talk about World War One, which some people claim was "great".  Usually we claim nobody was hurt, but in World War One, many people died. - Remembrance day, and the First World War: The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman - http://www.amazon.ca/Guns-August-Barbara-W-Tuchman/dp/0345476093 Vimy by Pierre Berton - http://www.amazon.ca/Vimy-Pierre-Berton/dp/0385658427 - XBox Live Arcade and the First World War: Toy Soldiers - the trial is great, the game's a slog Snoopy Flying Ace - just plain super duper great - Televised British Comedy and the First World War: Blackadder Goes Forth: Private Plane ft. Lord Flashheart and Moustaches - http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/epguide/four_private.shtml - Board Games about Being a Flying Ace: Wings of War: Billy Bishop vs. the Red Baron! -

  Our last episode recorded before Justin's descent into Dante's Exposition.  We talk time travel.  We differ on the necessity of killing Hitler.  And nobody was hurt. Talked about Zero Punctuation's Review of Singularity Pizza Pizza Talked about Chrononoauts Talked about Memoir 44 Talked about Campaign Manager 2008 Talked about New Fronter Talker aobut Captain Comet, Task Force X, Losers, Challengers Talked about Transformers: War For Cybertron Talked aobut Rush: Time Machine   Alternate History Robot. And a Vuvuzela. Or a kaiju, named Vuvuzilla.  

  Back in Time, on (roughly) our one-year anniversary, and (roughly) Back to the Future's 25th. We talk time travel - Chrononauts, Doctor Who, a few videogames like Mass Effect 2 and Transformers: War for Cybertron, and touch on the works of Terry Pratchett.   Notes and such:   Who would play Boy George in A-team sequel cameo? We did some karaoke (sadly learning All American Rejects lyrics) at the Canada Day Barbecue - our one year anniversary was our last one!  Ilan was exposed to Doctor Who - Empty Child, Doctor Dances, and went off to watch the beginning of the Eccleston run. Back to the Future's 25th anniversary of release was very recent. On a Time Travel theme, Justin introduces Chrononauts and discusses Umbrella Academy: Dallas. Ilan talks comics - Astonishing Wolverine and Spider-man (BEST THING), Wolverine Insane In the Brain (competent, but icky), Star Wars - Old Republic (BLECH), Dark Times Blue Harvest (SO GOOD), and the second last issue of Star Wars Legacy (I WANT TO PUNCH IT). Dropped in at Dra