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In episode 93 the third chair is filled by Stephen Buonocore. Stephen is the co-owner of Stronghold Games, which was formed only 2 years ago, but has already made a big impact in the hobby game industry by publishing great reprints (such as “Survive!” and “Outpost”) as well as great new game designs (such as “Panic Station” and “Core Worlds”).

Fantasy Flight has recently re-release A Game of Thrones, the board game in a new 2nd edition. Is it better than the original? What has changed?

But first, with Stephen on the show we just had to ask, what are the Perils of Publishing? How does a game go from idea to a pretty box on a store shelf.

All that and our other not-too-horrible segments including:
- The Hollywood Minute
- Total Fan Girl
- Do You Ever Notice
- & More




Link to Episode:
http://www.thed6generation.com/webpage/d6g-ep-93-perils-of-publishing-and-game-of-thrones-detailed-review

Please let us know what you think!

My biggest concern with the 3rd chair so far has been audio quality. I refuse to listen to a 4 hour podcast with bad audio.

So after the last episode I was very pleased to hear passable audio quality for the 3rd chair this time.

Great job!

Lithophile wrote:My biggest concern with the 3rd chair so far has been audio quality. I refuse to listen to a 4 hour podcast with bad audio.

So after the last episode I was very pleased to hear passable audio quality for the 3rd chair this time.

Great job!

We take audio quality seriously on the show and I get very frustrated when we have issues. Fortunately I believe we've rooted out and resolved a problem that has been plaguing us for the past few shows. Hopefully you'll notice improved audio going forward.

Thanks for listening!

I'm an infrequent listener to the show - why do you have a 'third chair' now?

Hey, Matt. Thanks again with Pocahontas . . . sorry she stayed that way

The rotating third chair was our response to one of our illustrious number, Raef, deciding to move on from the show. Feeling that a 3 host format was the most dynamic and interesting to listen to, we contemplated a couple different options, but decided to go with a rotating 3rd host. Drawing on our contacts in the gaming industry and our relationships with fellow podcasters, we've put together a full schedule of rotating guests that, we believe, will keep bringing new ideas and perspectives and skill sets to each new episode, maintaining the core elements that made the show successful in the first place, but kicking it into the next level with content and freshness.

. . . that ended up longer than anticipated . . .



~Craig

I think it's going to be interesting going forward with the show and the 3rd chair format. There's going to have to be a balance struck with each new guest host to make sure that the interactions don't end up sounding like just another interview. Keep up the good work, and as somebody that has listened to every episode and feels like you guys are friends (even though we've never actually met), I can't wait to see how the new format develops.

Hey guys, just finished the latest episode. In my opinion this was the best episode yet with the "rotating 3rd chair". Don't get me wrong, I thought Ross & Randall did fine jobs, but I really enjoyed having Stephen on. It was some fascinating insight into the world of game publishing, and this was the first time that your 3rd chair had played the game being reviewed and had a lot to add to the review. Actually, even going back to Raef, this seemed like the first time in a while that all 3 hosts had played the game significantly. Hmm...that sounds harsher than I intended. Of course, to be fair, you didn't really review a game with Ross on the show, and to be honest, I have about a trillion times more interest in "Game of Thrones" than "Super Dungeon Explore".

In any case, excellent episode, and I can't wait to get my version of 2nd Edition GOT.

Master-Terraformer wrote:Hey, Matt. Thanks again with Pocahontas . . . sorry she stayed that way

It is both a sad thing and a good thing that virtually no one will ever know what that means...

Master-Terraformer wrote:The rotating third chair was our response to one of our illustrious number, Raef, deciding to move on from the show. Feeling that a 3 host format was the most dynamic and interesting to listen to, we contemplated a couple different options, but decided to go with a rotating 3rd host. Drawing on our contacts in the gaming industry and our relationships with fellow podcasters, we've put together a full schedule of rotating guests that, we believe, will keep bringing new ideas and perspectives and skill sets to each new episode, maintaining the core elements that made the show successful in the first place, but kicking it into the next level with content and freshness.

So Mr. Hollywood left? That I did not know. Sad to see (or hear, really) that happen.

Thanks for the answer Craig.

Wow, rough episode to have a bunch of Kickstarter shout outs on. I haven't managed to hear the full episode yet as I've family in town and it's hard to find the time at the moment.

I do think you should have someone from a successful Kickstarter project on to rebuff some of the mud thrown on the projects from an industry person. There are many projects on the site that have games developed by folks in the industry that are trying to work on something for themselves rather than for publishing companies. I think a lot of the assumptions made by the third chair smack of fear of something different taking shape. Much like attitudes towards blogs and podcasts that the news industry threw out when they were getting started. Many folks in the news industry thought that people making podcasts and blogs couldn't produce quality content that was well informed or of professional quality due to the lack of resources found in publishing companies. Anyway, just something to think about. It's a new world where the means of production are no longer held by a few producers, it'd be a shame to tar everyone with the same brush and say that games produced on kickstarter are shallower and less complete or simply not as good as something produced by a games company. There are some terrible games that have been vetted by "the industry".

Can't wait to listen to the rest of the episode.

Rusti

Fergal wrote:

I do think you should have someone from a successful Kickstarter project on to rebuff some of the mud thrown on the projects from an industry person. .... I think a lot of the assumptions made by the third chair smack of fear of something different taking shape. Much like attitudes towards blogs and podcasts that the news industry threw out when they were getting started.
Rusti

Mud thrown? Fear? On the contrary, I found the comments by the "industry person"..er..the "third chair"...er...let's just call him "Stephen", since that's his name - to be very insightful, and reflective of the questions I have about "kickstarter". I've not once "invested" in anything on Kickstarter, and I don't foresee myself doing so in the near future. I might consider it if a person/company with a known track record is attempting to produce something - but the average Joe, who could be producing garbage...no chance. Your comparison to podcasts and blogs is apples and oranges. First, the VAST majority of blogs and podcasts are amateurish and of low production quality compared to professional media. Second, recording something and putting it on Itunes or Youtube is a far different beast than producing a tangible product, marketing and distributing it. Has the professional game industry produced some stinkers? You bet - but I'm still far more willing to take a gamble on a new game by an established company with a proven track record rather than anonymous internet guy who wants my money with a "trust me, it's good" promise.

Now, question for the guys about the game in review - "Game of Thrones". I played the base game of the original version last night. It was my 3rd play, the first 2 being about 2 months ago. Interestingly, in all 3 games, Lannister won. Although last night, they had to win via the 2nd tie breaker. Last night was my first game with 5 players, so Greyjoy was new for me. I was the Starks, and was basically pillaged by the Greyjoys the whole game. We didn't get a mustering card until the 4th turn or so...by then the Greyjoys had parked a boat off my west coast, giving them an uninterrupted bridge to my core territories. Since I can't build a new boat in waters where a boat already exists, I effectively had no way to break that bridge to my lands. Does the addition of ports help address this issue? I was just hemmed in as the Starks all night long. I also felt that the Stark cards were weak - in the sense that they hardly had any "swords" to inflict casualties. The strongest cards - Eddard and Robb don't have any swords. So, I could win battles, but I just pushed the enemy back, and then they came right back at me the next turn.

I enjoy the game, but I'm hoping the 2nd edition fixes a few things (having the tokens be able to muster sounds huge to me...)

to be very insightful, and reflective of the questions I have about "kickstarter".

That's my point, you have one point of view expressed and some folks will think that's the only view out there.

I've not once "invested" in anything on Kickstarter, and I don't foresee myself doing so in the near future. I might consider it if a person/company with a known track record is attempting to produce something - but the average Joe, who could be producing garbage...no chance.

You see, that statement to me is a fear of something new. In this case, of a new way to produce something. In my case, I have a sculptor with proven track record of pruducing high quality miniatures for a number of large UK miniatures companies, and myself, who has created a number of ecommerce sites and other sites for hobby companies trying to produce a limited run of 12 miniatures, of which we have shown 4 on the kickstarter page. And we aren't seeking investors, perhaps you should read a bit more about kickstarter (or find a news source you trust to tell you about it.) We are seeking folks that think what we are going to make is a good idea and then they back it with a small pledge of money, and in return the receive a reward for making the project happen. It's very much like a preorder in our case.

Your comparison to podcasts and blogs is apples and oranges.

We will just heartily disagree on this one sir.

First, the VAST majority of blogs and podcasts are amateurish and of low production quality compared to professional media. Second, recording something and putting it on Itunes or Youtube is a far different beast than producing a tangible product, marketing and distributing it.

Agreed, but I obtain the vast majority of my listening pleasure from listening to gaming podcasts. And anyone who told me that podcasts couldn't compare to professionally produced news or entertainment media would simply be wrong. Anyone who said that podcasts were shallower than professional published media would be wrong as well. That was my point.

Has the professional game industry produced some stinkers? You bet - but I'm still far more willing to take a gamble on a new game by an established company with a proven track record rather than anonymous internet guy who wants my money with a "trust me, it's good" promise.

Like I say sir, it's a brave new world where the means of production is becoming democritized at an alarming pace, many folks aren't comfortable with it, but there's no reason to avoid it. Try backing a project you like with $10 and see it come to life. I've backed one project already and been very happy.

Thanks for the words and the viewpoints, guys. Fergal, I'll assume you're Crossover miniatures?

To be honest, in the moment, I didn't feel that Stephen was throwing mud, but was giving the opinion of an 'established industry guy'. Someone invested in the new medium, however, could easily see his statements as an indictment, in retrospect. We'll keep our eyes and ears open for a friend of the show who can speak intelligently of Kickstarter at some point in the future, as I do think listeners would be intrigued to learn how it all works. So hopefully, look for something along those lines in the future!

Until then, I'd like to thank both Fergal and Hokie, for disagreeing in a primarily grown-up and mature way, rather than devolving into an internet forum flame-fest

Thanks again, guys. And hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, is having a Happy Hanukkah, and/or a very pleasant Sunday.

~Craig

Re: Kickstarter vs conventional publishing: What Craig said!

HokieStone wrote:Now, question for the guys about the game in review - "Game of Thrones". I played the base game of the original version last night. It was my 3rd play, the first 2 being about 2 months ago. Interestingly, in all 3 games, Lannister won. Although last night, they had to win via the 2nd tie breaker. Last night was my first game with 5 players, so Greyjoy was new for me. I was the Starks, and was basically pillaged by the Greyjoys the whole game. We didn't get a mustering card until the 4th turn or so...by then the Greyjoys had parked a boat off my west coast, giving them an uninterrupted bridge to my core territories. Since I can't build a new boat in waters where a boat already exists, I effectively had no way to break that bridge to my lands. Does the addition of ports help address this issue? I was just hemmed in as the Starks all night long. I also felt that the Stark cards were weak - in the sense that they hardly had any "swords" to inflict casualties. The strongest cards - Eddard and Robb don't have any swords. So, I could win battles, but I just pushed the enemy back, and then they came right back at me the next turn.

I enjoy the game, but I'm hoping the 2nd edition fixes a few things (having the tokens be able to muster sounds huge to me...)

I'm happy to say that every issue you ran into has been addressed in the new version:

- Ports allow you to build boats as long as you control the land, you can then launch them into the sea and attack. Prevents the patented "Greyjoy Lock"
- Consolidate power with * allowing muster is huge, and helps fix a lack of muster card draws.
- You'll be very happy to know that the high power Stark house cards now do indeed rock swords!! As our friend Randy noted: "Look, Ed no longer sucks!"

If you like the game and mechanics, but those situations were frustrating, rest assured they have been addressed in the 2nd edition.