An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.

THE RESPONSIBLE PHARMACIST: (looking at the empty beer cans, sea of torn-up prescriptions and 'I heart tablets' graffiti littering the dispensary of Boots) Seriously guys, what the hell?

This week's newsletter: Caps & Stems
We speak to designer Brandon Patton about his strategic fungi-foraging tabletop game
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/caps-and-s...

This week's newsletter: Endearment: Role-play as Jane Austen's heroines in Dux Somnium's board game
We speak to co-designer Amy Droz on the JRPG set in the world of the Regency-era novelist.
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/endearment...

I endorse this message.

If you’re rich and not a coward, this is what you’d refer to as a “market opportunity” to dominate a media ecosystem that’s about to be covered in grotesque government slop. To be a pop of color in a sea of beige will be easier than ever. People will flock to it. You gotta be a little brave, though.

Still the best band I ever got to see live. Omar twice detuning his guitar, ditching it for tambourine while nicking Robbie Williams' stool – like a Mick Foley wrestling match for chaotic set-pieces.

This week's newsletter: Loose in the Library

We spoke with co-creator Jessica Metheringham of @dissentgames.bsky.social on pitting historically significant women against literary terrors, and dissenting through playing tabletop games.
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/loose-in-t...

This week's newsletter: We speak to @perryjon.bsky.social about his game Hot Streak.

Cheer anthropomorphised fish, bears and hot dogs to victory in @cmyk.games' tabletop mascot-race simulation.

thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/jon-perry-...

It's nuts innit?

Always a sucker for a vintage game. So we spoke to the Museum of Board Games curator and owner @tonyboydell.bsky.social about what can be found under its roof, and the plans to move to a bigger venue.
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/the-museum...
#boardgames

Hegemony and Billionaires and Guillotines.

Reviewed with the kid: Meeple Circus
Run away from home to join the Big Top in Matagot's dexterity tabletop game
#boardgames
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

Oh my God. Proper civic duty bringing this to attention. How have I never heard of this before?

Reviewed with the kid: Animal Chess
Battle for supremacy with various jungle-based creatures such as a lion, or, er, a domestic cat, and, er, a domestic dog.
#boardgames
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

sorry boss i’m behind on my work, most of my day was spent clicking “hide” next to the copilot icon barging its way to the top of every fucking thing i use

I’m doing victory laps in my kitchen right now!!!! 💃🏼

CGE just announced they are going to be giving away 100% of the profit from their Harry Potter game to pro-trans charities!!

www.instagram.com/p/DNG48n-IVP...

Reviewed with the kid: IQ Fit
A travel-friendly, simple brain-buster
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

Good news: I have been contacted by and am currently sharing guidelines and expectations with a representative of CGE.

Let’s hope they can make this right in their next statement. 🎲✂️

We spoke with @offthepagegames.bsky.social owner Jay Cormier about Corps of Discovery and converting comic books to the tabletop.
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/jay-cormie...

Reviewed with the kid: Bugs in the Kitchen
Test your roach-catching skills in this dexterity game complete with jittery, battery-operated creepy-crawly.
thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

And separation is not always a guarantee. Most famous example I can think of is Oasis's Be Here Now, which no reviewer could criticise because the magazines feared losing half their audience, leaving everyone to discover the big old turd for themselves after purchase.

There are always shades of grey. There are always total no-nos, such as giving the creator oversight before publication. No one's made of money to buy all the games, so review copies are fine per se, it's just what you do with them. If the review is fair and honest, the audience can trust it.

To clarify if not obvious, if you receive payment from the publisher/creator then there's a problem. However, If you're paid by a magazine to review it, then they're paying you to give your honest opinion and provide an informative and entertaining write-up, not to provide glowing PR copy.