Vox Republica 115: What Is Indie?

04/07/16 • 59 min

Vox Republica: Podcast of The Cardboard Republic

Episode 115: What IS Indie?

Length: 59:03

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: Indie gaming. Chances are you've heard this term casually mentioned throughout the gaming world. But...what does that mean exactly? Erin and Ryan break down the term “indie.” What qualities does an indie game or company have to have, and when does an indie turn into a small publisher, big publisher, or mega-hit?

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:13):

Hearts Blazing by Games By Play Date
Pandemic Legacy by Z-Man Games
Takenoko by Asmodee Editions
Quadropolis by Days of Wonder
Green Deal by Karma Games

QUICK TOPICS - (23:14):

Privateer Press has announced on the heels of the Asmodee changes to its distribution rules that it too will be limiting distribution to online retailers.
The CR will be participating in the Home Away Boston gaming charity event being hosted by the gang at The Cardboard Jungle podcast to raise money for cancer patients while undergoing treatment. It's for a good cause and they'll be giving numerous games away as prizes. Best part: you don't have to attend to participate. Consider making a donation today!

FEATURED TOPIC - (30:34):

The term 'indie' is used pretty freely in board gaming, and the intention is well understood. At least, until you try to define it. So we decided to sit down and hammer out what some of that criteria may be. What IS indie? What is the line between indie and mainstream publisher?
- We consider some of the following criteria:
  - The size of the publisher
  - How long has the publisher been around
  - The designer of the game
  - Print run size
  - Production model of the game (i.e. factory made, self-publisher, Game Crafter, etc.)
  - Marketability of being indie
  - Cultivation of an 'indie' brand
- Also, we ponder if the idea of 'indie-ness' is still useful as a term at all.

PLUGS - (58:02):

As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you really love us. You do really love us, right?

We’d love to hear from you! You can send questions or feedback via email at [email protected]. You can also reach us social media, including Twitter, Facebook, and BoardGameGeek.

Audio Credits: Intro music track is "Swing!" by Bargo!, used under Creative Commons license.

Episode 115: What IS Indie?

Length: 59:03

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:13):

Hearts Blazing by Games By Play Date
Pandemic Legacy by Z-Man Games
Takenoko by Asmodee Editions
Quadropolis by Days of Wonder
Green Deal by Karma Games

QUICK TOPICS - (23:14):

Privateer Press has announced on the heels of the Asmodee changes to its distribution rules that it too will be limiting distribution to online retailers.
The CR will be participating in the Home Away Boston gaming charity event being hosted by the gang at The Cardboard Jungle podcast to raise money for cancer patients while undergoing treatment. It's for a good cause and they'll be giving numerous games away as prizes. Best part: you don't have to attend to participate. Consider making a donation today!

Previous Episode

Vox Republica 114: The Staying Power Of Codenames

Episode 114: The Staying Power Of Codenames

Length: 58:04

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 30 - 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: This week, Erin and Ryan cover a whole slew of topics, including some GAMA news, our first annual Laurel awards, and Snakes & Ladders: the video game. Then we dive into a brief review of the super popular social game Codenames.

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:36):

Paradox by Split Second Games
Fury of Dracula by Fantasy Flight Games
Warehouse 51 by Passport Game Studios
The King Is Dead by Osprey Games

QUICK TOPICS - (22:22):

With the 2016 GAMA gaming convention coming to a close, Ryan shares a handful of news bits that caught his attention.
For reasons that baffles everyone, someone has decided to make Snakes and Ladders into an FPS-style computer game.
The Daily Worker Placement gamer survey results continue! We look into some of their most recent findings.
We have unveiled The Laurels, our first annual Games of the Year Awards!

REVIEW - (38:53):

This week we wade right in to the heavy-hitting social game Codenames by Czech Games Edition. Since it's unassuming debut, Codenames has taken the party/social game category by storm, quickly becoming a fan favorite and making its way to many gamer's shelves. In this word association game, two teams of players, each led by a Spymaster, seek to beat the other team by finding all of their team's words from among those on the board. Using single world clues from the Spymaster, their team must guess their leader's intended word choices without accidentally aiding their opposition - or stumbling onto the game-ending assassin. Simple but engaging and with copious replayability, we explore why Codenames still has staying power in the months since it came out.

A typical 5x5 word grid The board based on what the Spymasters have to work with Red would like to say 'Animal: 2', but Mole is a Blue card, which likely won't work Being Spymaster can be a bit mentally taxing thing... Codenames in action. Currently Blue is leading 5 to 4

PLUGS - (57:16):

As always, Cardboard Republic YouTube videos and the BGG Guild are still ongoing. Subscribe to either - or both if you reall...

Next Episode

Vox Republica 116: North Wind (Is Totally Not A Pirate Game)

Episode 116: North Wind (Is Totally Not A Pirate Game)

Length: 1:18:17

Show Links: RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Download Episode

Welcome back to Vox Republica, the Cardboard Republic Podcast!

We post new episodes every other Thursday, with each episode being about 45 minutes long.

Vox Republica is proudly supported by our Patreon. Consider contributing today!

DESCRIPTION: This week, Erin and Ryan review the game North Wind - which is absolutely not a pirate game. They also dive into the cesspool that is sexism in gaming, but then shine some positive light on the hobby with a discussion of a recent gaming charity event!

GUEST: None

RECENTLY PLAYED GAMES - (01:03):

Apotheca by Knapsack Games & Renegade Game Studios
Odin's Ravens by Osprey Games
Mottainai by Asmadi Games
ETI: Estimated Time to Invasion by Eye-Level Entertainment
The Grizzled by Cool Mini Or Not

QUICK TOPICS - (24:45):

We address the recent ongoing issues regarding harassment in gaming. Hold on to your hats.
But to make up for it, we recap our time at the Home Away Boston gaming charity day. There is hope!
Plus we mention our next convention appearances.

REVIEW - (43:25):

This week we wade right in to the lightweight but super visually-appealing sailing game North Wind by Z-Man Games. In this 2-4 player game, each person is the admiral of a ship - who are totally not pirates - looking to help a trio of pirate-ransacked islands get back on their feet. Each island comes with its own set of needs, from money and wine, to basic foods, to the capturing of the very pirates responsible for their plight. Your goal is to be the first ship to successfully complete 8 or 10 tasks, depending on player size. To do this, you take turns sailing around the waters of these different islands (each represented by a stack of randomly assigned tiles). Each tile allows you to buy and sell the game's five basic resources or purchase equipment to upgrade your 3-D ship with more crew, faster sails, and more cannons - all of which fit right on the ship itself. Of course, you can also run into the pirates themselves, which results in a battle of a few success/fail dice roll. With excellent component quality, striking table presence, straightforward rules, and copious replayability, we dive into why North Wind is such a successful hour of casual gaming entertainment.

One possible tile assortment for the Fort Haven stack This tile allows you to buy or sell up to 2 grain resources for 3 gold each This Lookout spies island tiles and adventure! Red is heading into port well stocked with two crew, four commodities, and a captured pirate captain White is the winner, having placed all 10 of their task cubes first. I'm selling two...pineapples...and broccoli?

PLUGS - (1:17:23):