Episode 22 – Board Games: Traditional vs. Niche

Summary: Do you love being a Slum Lord and driving everyone into bankruptcy?  Perhaps you prefer attempting to save the world from simultaneous E. coli, Bird Flu, and Gonorrhea outbreaks? Or is a night of inadvertently insulting your friends in the name of fun your cup of tea?  If you answered yes (or no) to any of the above, then do we have the podcast for you!  Join us this week as we discuss traditional vs. niche board games whilst narrowly avoiding certain death!  It's Robert with the knife in the podcast studio on this week's shiny new episode of Monkey in the Cage. (01:39) - What do saving the world, vengeful samurai, and sexually deviant demons have in common?  It's the sum total of Ramses' week. - Wormwood and 13 Assassins. (06:13) - Robert contemplated gambling with his life and reports on the best version of the worst prequels of the greatest franchise ever! - Doritos Locos Tacos and Topher Grace: Editor. (10:21) - Matt's excited for some sweaty man-on-man violence and he actually reads! Plus, a sneak peek at next weeks show. - The Ultimate Fighter, The Hunger Games, and WonderCon. (15:29) - Karen is feeling old this week as we talk all things Joss and the group discusses questionable (and exhausted) castings. - The Avengers, The Cabin in the Woods, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Lone Ranger.  Plus, George Takei's Happy Dance! (24:55) - Robert and his questionable verbal skills kick off this weeks topic as he and the group define what is traditional or niche in the world of board games. - Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders, and Trivial Pursuit vs. Settlers of Catan, HeroQuest, and Forbidden Island.  Plus Clue, Uno, and Cranium. (35:08) - Robert gets stabby as Ramses poses the question of player interaction in niche games and those that have crossed over. - Munchkin, Mutant Chronicles, Apples to Apples, and Castle Panic. (41:44) - Are traditional games boring, or do we as gamers need to grow up?  We weigh in (and think haters are gonna hate). - Scrabble, Pictionary, Arkham Horror, Pandemic, and The Walking Dead. (45:30) - Ramses hates history, while Matt and Robert play by (with?) themselves. - The Downfall of Pompeii, God's Playground, Opera, Power Grid, Axis & Allies, and Shadows Over Camelot. (48:20) - We discuss the unique aspects of the new line of Wizards of the Coast board games. - Legend of Drizzt, Castle Ravenloft, Wrath of Ashardalon, and Lords of Waterdeep. (51:13) - We discuss some of our favorite games; past, present and sexy? - Balderdash, Loaded Questions, Battle Masters, XXXopoly and more! Closing song - Runaway - written by Del Shannon, performed by Luis Cardenas