Matt: It’s the 15th of November – you know what that means – the Chaos Magicians have infiltrated the website! That’s right, it’s the folks from Terra Mystica who make little red houses – and boy have they done a real number on us this time: my microphone has developed a mysterious buzzing sound, Tom’s PC Computer has broken itself – repeatedly – to the extent that it’s clear that dark magic involved, and if that wasn’t enough? The sun itself has been stolen from the UK – leaving us with a permanent state of dull-dark grey from morning until night.
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This Week On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Ava: Well hello Monday! Welcome to an entirely new week at Shut Up and Sit Down, a whole seven days that has never, ever been done before. Totally unprecedented. Might look a lot like other weeks, but we promise every second is going to be different in at least one way. Cast iron guarantee, that.
So what are we filling those seconds with? Well, we’ll play some games, we’re all doing admin to get us to Pax Unplugged in December, various videos will be carefully carved into different stages of existence and we’ll be chatting and planning and podding and sustaining our fragile physical forms so we can keep on telling you about ledes we have buried.
The Next Two Weeks On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Ava: Happy new Monday everybody! Welcome to another new week on Shut Up & Sit Down, but also, sorry, it might be a quiet one. The whole team is already absolutely piled up with preparation for AwSHUX, the incredible free online convention that we’re running from the 22-24 October. A whole host of previews, panels, games and joy is just around the corner, but we’ve got to assemble the whole lot of it. Matt’s reverted to tech-goblin mode, Tom is figuring out how to film previews in a whole new place and Quinns has a pile of games bigger than I’ve ever seen. They’re even making ME do some actual work. Unfair. But it’ll all be worth it, because AwSHUX is, frankly, amazing. Loads of streaming with a huge range of special guests, a digital convention hall with more streams, previews and general showing-off, a discord server full of people playing and demoing games, and our live podcast and late night Q&A. It’s just so much stuff, all celebrating games and supporting the publishers that have struggled through a hugely challenging time. So while we’re doing that, we’re pausing our video and podcast production. Does that mean you won’t get anything to watch and listen to? No! We’re going to be uploading some of our favourite panels and shows from the last AwSHUX to keep you company. Right. I’ve got a puzzle to solve and some editing to do. Have a lovely week and I hope we see you at AwSHUX!
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Quinns: The next AWSHUX, our weekend-long board game extravaboardza, is happening on the weekend of the 22nd of October. That means it’s almost time for our team to take a couple of weeks away to prepare… almost, but not quite! Our content pipes are going to remain warm and lubricated for another week yet, and they’re going to squirt a whole bunch of exciting board games into your figurative lap.
After my lukewarm review of Descent: Legends in the Dark last week, on Thursday you can look forward to a review from Tom over on our YouTube channel that’s very positive indeed. What game is he looking at? Alas, I know this is criminal behaviour, but I simply can’t tell you.
And then on Friday we’ve got a podcast where we’ll be talking about a few new games, and among them will be Hadrian’s Wall (pictured above). That’s gonna be an exciting discussion for me because actually, Hadrian’s Wall is a game that I’ve been asking for for years- namely, a game that asks the question “What if a roll’n’write but MORE? More rules, more decisions, more considerations?” So I got my wish, but did I actually enjoy myself? Find out on Friday.
But honestly, mostly this week I’ll be knuckling down to start filming my share of the preview videos which will all flop onto our YouTube channel on the first day of AWSHUX. And oh my goodness, you folks can look forward to some stone-cold corkers this time around. I expect at least one or two of these will go on to become SU&SD reviews.
Ah, but I don’t want to tease you! I’ll keep quiet and just get on with my work.
Read MoreThis Week On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Tom: Hello boardgames! We’ve got a cracking week of videofilms and audioforms for you lot to treat yourselves to this week – with a double-bill of engaging C O N T E N T.
Quinns is taking a big look at a literally massive game over on the YouTube channel this week, in a review that he’s currently ‘picking beard hairs out of [his] nose and mouth’ for! Such commitment to ‘the bit’, we do love to see it.
Over in pod-town, you’ve got myself and Ava doing a bit of a roundup of some games that have been sat on shelves, patiently awaiting coverage. We’re going to be talking about Ganymede and PARKS – two nice games about visiting places – but also finding a chunk of time to natter about the big hot miniatures game doing the rounds right now – Ankh: Gods of Egypt! Is it good? Ankhs me that on Friday. I’m so sorry.
Still no stream this week, as Matt pours all of his spare hours into AwSHUX – a colossal engine that only accepts time and sweat as fuel.
But that’s all in the future and therefore I cannot possibly think about it! I’ve got to get back of packing all my cardboard boxes into smaller cardboard boxes so I can put them in a metal box on wheels to be shipped down South – focusing all my energy into the chunky endeavour of moving house! See you next week! But until then… what have you been up to, everybody?
Read MoreThis Week On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Tom: We’re scarce on the content-sphere this week, with no stream and no video for you to treat yourselves to! The slow spooling back up into being real people again is taking a peculiar toll.
Ava and I are both trying to find houses! Matt’s holed-up in an AwSHUX tech-cave! Quinns is sipping margaritas in the Shut Up & Sit Down company retirement jazz lounge. It is how it is.
Next week though, we’ve got one of this year’s biggest reviews for you to delve into – and the week after that? I’ll be breaking open a sublime sequel. Watch this space!
But what about the podcast? This week, Matt and myself will be talking about whatever we end up playing this week – the ‘Matt’s ShelfCast’, if you will. Normally we think these things through, but this time you’re getting a podcast of undiluted mystery! That’s the week, and a bit of next! But what have you been up to, everybody?
Read MoreThis Week On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Quinns: Is it gauche to say that I’m having one of those weeks where I just love my job? The sky outside is bruised and moist (perfect weather for staying indoors with a game), I’ve got TWO big, great games that I’m playing exhaustively for my next great big reviews, and just minutes ago I received a package containing Brian Boru from Osprey Games*. Tabletop publishers around the world might still be struggling with punishing shipping problems, but I can at least promise that my advocacy on SU&SD will be as honest as ever. This week on the site we’ve got a video and a podcast for you. At some point in the middle of the week Tom will be going green in the week’s video review, and then on Friday you can look forward to a podcast where Tom and I talk about Magnate: The First City, North Berkeley and Witchstone. Two games about property development and one game about witches who are only tangentially interested in property. How are you doing, everybody? Have you been affected by publishing woes? Or have you, like me, just been having a great time playing games? * I don’t even know what Brian (Mr. Boru?) is yet, but I feel like I can rely on Osprey to deliver something polished and deliciously unexpected.
Read MoreThis Week On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Ava: Just another manic Monday? I don’t know about anyone else, but my week has started with a deep chaotic energy that I was not expecting. Let’s get that sorted by making a plan for this week, starting right now on the Shut Up & Sit Down’s very own website.
This Week On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Tom: Wahey! Monday! It’s been a minute, eh? A whole week since I last gave you the skinny on what (wasn’t) going down on the website – but let me tell you; this week we’ve got a couple of hot hot treats.
On Thursday, we’ll be publishing a searing hot review of lots of games at once. We’re filming it in approximately 13 hours, and we’ll have it delivered into your waiting palms within around… 67? Depends entirely on how fast I can edit and how fast Quinns can shoot B-Roll… Wait… does that mean? YEAH IT DOES! That’s right, it’s the year’s first two-head review! We’re slowly clambering back to normal after some year(s) of sitting alone and going slowly strange.
This Week On Shut Up & Sit Down…
Tom: It’s Monday-o-clock! My alarm is bleeping but my eyes are closed! That’s right; it’s time for Shut Up & Sit Down’s twice-yearly nap.
After collectively admitting to being ‘a bit knackered’ in the company Slack, we’re sliding our schedule around like a knob of butter in a hot pan. We figured a little breathing room would recharge some creative batteries and let us come out swinging with our next batch of reviews, podcasts, and streams; or to continue this strained and unhelpful metaphor – cook you all up some premium egg.
That’s it! That’s the Monday post! No video, stream or pod this week, but some fun stuff to look forward to very soon. We’ve got our first collaborative videos of 2021 on the docket, we’ve got reviews of games new ‘n old, and we’ve got bags of stuff to pod about! I’ve been particularly fortunate in my recent plays, sitting down to the daunting Sleeping Gods, the bureaucratic North Berkeley, and the twisty little trick-taker Shamans. I’ve also played an avalanche of Brass: Birmingham. Games are so good! Who knew?
But that’s enough from me, for now! What have you been up to, everybody?
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