This is a copy of the “script” we used to organise Brainwaves Episode 165. It is not a full transcript but should give you an overview of the news as we reported it. Quotes are in italics.
Headlines
Diamond Distribution go on a heist
- Diamond Distribution was one of the largest distribution companies for comics and rpgs in North America. It ran into financial difficulties earlier in the year, after a deal to buy the company fell through over accusations of fraud on the part of Diamond. THe potential buyer had accused diamond of inflating its numbers and lying about the status of its relationship with various publishers, including Wizards of the Coast
- Now Diamond is asking courts to let it sell any stock it currently has in its warehouses in order to pay off creditors. Naturally the companies who own that stock are not very happy about this idea.
- Diamond currently holds stock for over 128 companies. ENworld has a complete list of the companies involved
- In the filing to the court, Diamond states the following
Following the closing of the sales of a substantial majority of their assets, the Debtors are in possession of significant inventory that was shipped to the Debtors on a consignment basis.
- The consignors have not satisfied the requirements under applicable law to perfect their interests in this consigned inventory. As further explained below, this give the Debtors the right to transfer title to this inventory free and clear of the consignor’s interests.
- Paizo publishing, creators of Pathfinder and one of the consignors for Diamond,, have already said that their books will not be widely available for a while due to the stock not being sent to Diamond. This includes some August and September releases.
- Green Ronin, publishers of The Expanse, Mutants and Masterminds and a variety of other RPGs, have turned to crowdfunding to try and weather the storm.
- Nicole Lindroos, one of the co-founders of Green Ronin, says this in the gofundme,
- Diamond is attempting to use a legal technicality to claim ownership of millions of dollars worth of consigned inventory, which amounts to several hundreds of thousands of dollars for Green Ronin Publishing alone. This is stock that we still own and have not been paid for.
- This is a dire financial threat to our company, not just today, but well into the future. We must secure legal representation immediately before the deadline to do so passes.
- While there is no “good” time for someone to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of your property to sell for the benefit of their biggest creditors, it is especially challenging given that Gen Con is weeks away. Gen Con is not just a convention for us, it’s our most important annual event for connecting with TTRPG enthusiasts, our business partners, and our community, and this year is no exception.
- Nicole goes onto say that Dimaond’s issues have left it without a book trade distributor, a fundamental part of Green Ronin’s business model.
- A court hearing is scheduled on the 21st of July to hear objections from the many vendors that Diamond has seized stock from. This will likely include comic publishers like Marvel and DC.
- This last Wednesday, the 16th of July, was the deadline to raise objections to Diamond’s actions and three groups of creditors and numerous publishers have done so according to site ICV2.
- One group calling itself the ‘Ad Hoc Committee of Consignors” included as an exhibit the agreement between Paizo Inc, and Diamond. Another likely member of this group is Green Ronin who we mentioned above.
- Another of the group objections was filed by the Game Manfucaturers Association (GAMA) on behalf of some of its members. Named studios include Roll for Combat and Snowbright.
- The objections ranged from trying to change the nature of the proceedings so rather than ruling on the motion to allow Diamond to go forward with selling the stock in its possession, the ownership of that stock could be determined. Several of the objections include the accusation that the Diamondm Motion misinterpreted the law or mischaracterized the facts.
- We will put a link to the Green Ronin GoFundMe in the show notes.
Draughts union plans
Rascal report: https://www.rascal.news/draughts-workers-celebrated-a-unanimous-strike-vote-with-a-rally-and-a-police-visit/
UVW statement: https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/en/disputes/were-not-playing-anymore/
Strike fund: https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/en/donate/
- Hot on the heels of the ratification of the Tabletop Workers United Union’s contract in America, we have another board game unionisation story. This time, however, it’s from the UK.
- Draughts is a London based board games cafe with three locations in Waterloo, Stratford and Hackney. On the 1st of July, workers at the locations announced through United Voices of the World, a community union set up for low paid and marginalised workers across many industries, that they would be balloted for strike action.
- The list of demands include: Fixed hour contracts, a return to table service (no longer just QR codes), paid, on-site training and proper rota notice (minimum 24 hours).
- The latter demand is in response to reports from workers that rota could be cancelled at such short notice workers would be on their way to their shift before finding out they were not needed.
- From the UVW statement:
- “Draughts Bar was meant to be a haven of connection, creativity, and community – a place where first dates, old friends, families and total strangers could share a table and a game.
- “But behind the scenes, workers are facing slashed hours, erratic scheduling, and unmanageable workloads – all with little notice and even less consideration.
- “Instead of fulfilling its mission to be a ‘trailblazer in competitive socialising’ and a hub for all kinds of people, Draughts appears to be becoming like a profit-driven conveyor belt, where staff say they are being treated like cogs in a machine, not people with lives, commitments, and basic rights.”
- Following this announcement, Draughts owners have allegedly engaged in multiple union-busting tactics, including captive audience meetings (where staff are forced to listen to narratives with a clear anti-union bent) and Awed Nur, a union member on a zero-hour contract being “unceremoniously” fired in the middle of a shift with management citing the need for reduced staffing hours. UVW initiated legal proceedings on behalf of Mr Nur.
- On 14th July, union members and UVW staff held a peaceful demonstration outside the business’ Waterloo venue. What happened next was described by Pearl, a Draughts employee:
- “An especially empowering moment was when management decided to call the police despite our gathering being measured and completely peaceful,”.
- “An especially empowering moment was when management decided to call the police despite our gathering being measured and completely peaceful,”.
- The City of London Police, according to the UVW press release, confirmed that the protest was lawful and nonviolent, then dispersed. Rascal News contacted Draughts management to comment on their calling the police- as of this episode’s recording there has been no reply.
- Petros Elia, UVW’s general secretary, said of the strike:
- “This is what happens when bosses treat loyal staff as disposable. Draughts markets itself as a progressive, inclusive space, but behind the scenes, workers face insecurity, poor treatment and no voice. These workers are standing up for safety, dignity and basic fairness. They’re bravely leading the way in a hospitality sector where exploitative practices are widespread and strike action is still rare, but growing.”
Spiel des Jahres Award Winners
- The Spiel des Jahres, Kennerspiel des Jahres and Kinderspiel des Jahres are always hotly awaited awards in the board game industry.
- After announcing the nominees back in May, last Sunday, the 13th of July, it was finally time to crown and celebrate the winners during a live-streamed ceremony at the nHow in Berlin, Germany.
- For the Kinderspiel des Jahres, or Family Game of the Year, it was Topp die Torte by Wolfgang Warsch from Schmidt Spiele that won, it’s a cake‑building guessing game for 2-4 people aged 6 or above.
- Winner of the Kennerspiel des Jahres, or Advanced Gamer’s Game of the Year, was Endeavor: Die Tiefsee, or Endeavor: Deep Sea, by Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray from Frosted Games/Board Game Circus, a game for 1-4 players aged 12 or above.
- Finally, the most-coveted award, the Spiel des Jahres, or Game of the Year, went to Bomb Busters by Hisashi Hayashi from Pegasus Spiele.
- The jury had this to say of this cooperative game for 2-5 players aged 10 or above:
- “In Bomb Busters, we grow with each challenge. Step by step, we learn the ABC of bomb defusal. Using logic and a touch of interaction, we deduce the correct number pairs. The distinctive comic-book style lends the threatening theme a necessary lightness. It brings us together as a team, and later we can take on a wide range of missions that overturn our usual ways of thinking.”
- During the evening, Harald Schrapers, chair of the Spiel des Jahres association, reflected on the history of the modern hobby and reminded everyone that Catan was an important milestone and can be seen as the beginning of the modern hobby. Schrapers also talked about the present time and commented on the uncertainty of US import tariffs that affect a large part of the hobby, because many games come from the US and are manufactured in China. He concluded by saying this:
- “Anyone who builds barriers between creatives and consumers is creating a problem. Creatives need freedom, freedom of opinion, and freedom of the press.”
- Of course, the Brainwaves team congratulates all winners.
News
CMON announces cancellation of Degenesis: Clan Wars Gamefound campaign after breakdown in relationship
https://gamefound.com/en/projects/cmon/degenesis-clan-wars/updates/43
https://www.goonhammer.com/games-industry-news-roundup-july-8th-2025
- CMON, the US-based board game publisher whose ever dwindling stable of games is raising eyebrows across the industry, has shared an update with backers of their Degenesis: Clan Wars Gamefound campaign.
- CMON confirmed that the campaign will be cancelled and full refunds issued following the termination of the contract by SixMoreVodka Studio, or SMV for short.
- According to CMON, the game was at a very advanced stage of development. Extensive materials, including campaign books, dashboards, cards, tokens, and miniatures, had already been prepared. Factories had also completed moulds for the core box miniatures, with production well underway.
- Despite this, CMON said it received a demand from SMV for a payment exceeding the entire campaign’s value, including advances CMON had already paid, plus additional costs not part of their agreement.
- CMON insists it fulfilled all contractual and financial obligations and claims that SMV made the decision to terminate the contract unilaterally, with no breach of contract on CMON’s part.
- SMV founder Marko Djuredjevic told Boardgamewire that they disagreed with CMONs accounts in the strongest possible terms. Marko gave this quote to Boardgamewire
- “As a tiny company, we sought out CMON as a capable publishing partner to help us deliver the game we care so much about.
- “However, after we delivered all required materials over a year ago, communication largely ceased. Transparency is a core tenet in communication with our fans, but with the game in CMON’s hands and no details available to us, we were unable to uphold our standards, leaving us increasingly uncomfortable and eventually bringing us here.
- “In the meantime, we can confirm only that the contract has indeed been terminated by us, a step which was not taken lightly, after extensive attempts to resolve matters in a more amicable manner.”
- CMON says that all backers will receive a 100% refund once legal matters are resolved, asked supporters not to contact customer support for refunds until further instructions are provided, and pledged to remain as transparent as possible while respecting legal constraints.
- In their Gamefound update, CMON thanked backers by saying this:
- “Lastly, thank you for standing with us through this journey. It’s painful to fall short of a project so creatively rich and ambitious after coming so far.”
Asmodee partners with Maestro
https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/news/asmodee-launches-a-new-partnership-with-maestro-media
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/59936/maestro-media-strikes-exclusive-distro-deal-asmodee
- On the 23rd of June, Asmodee, the global board game publishing and distribution company announced a new exclusive distribution partnership with Maestro Media.
- Maestro Media is a Los Angeles-based board game publisher with a large number of popular licensed properties. Its portfolio includes The Smurfs: Hidden Village, Strawberry Shortcake: Sweet Journeys, Donald Duck in Happy Camper, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- Under the agreement, Asmodee will become the sole distributor for all English-language Maestro Media titles across the United States, United Arab Emirates, and South Africa.
- In the announcement, Maestro Media’s CEO and founder Javon Frazier described the agreement as follows:
- “Partnering with Asmodee is a defining moment for Maestro Media. As we enter this next stage of growth, we’re focused on expanding the ways fans connect with our games—and there’s no better partner to do it with. Asmodee’s reach, reputation, and commitment to quality align perfectly with our vision of continuously creating unforgettable, community-driven experiences. We’re honored to keep growing alongside them.”
- Asmodee’s Country Manager for the United States, Julien Sharp, added this:
- “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Maestro Media to our distribution portfolio. This partnership is a perfect match—Maestro’s innovative and fan-driven approach to game design, combined with Asmodee’s robust distribution network and retail reach, sets the stage for something truly special. Together, we’re poised to knock it out of the park and bring unforgettable gaming experiences to even more players across the country.”
- The agreement takes effect immediately, although product availability and release schedules will be announced in due course, and reflects Asmodee’s continued growth as a distributor in the tabletop games industry.
- In the meantime, Maestro Media’s titles remain available to UK and international customers via the company’s official online store. While the partnership does not currently cover the UK market, Asmodee’s presence in the region leaves open the possibility of future expansion.
D&D moves to a franchise model
- On the 10th of July, Dan Ayoub the head of digital product development at Hasbro, posted this on their LinkedIn
- We shifted our structure internally and D&D moved to a full franchise model, meaning everything: books, video games, film, and TV – everything touching the franchise lives under one roof. The impact here cannot be overstated; this is massive for D&D and will allow a strong, coordinated, and well-funded approach for the franchise, and most importantly, for us, the fans.
- Finally, in a moment that doubtlessly has my childhood self doing cartwheels (and okay, maybe some old man cartwheels too), I’ve been asked to lead this new group! As of today, I am thrilled, humbled, and somewhat freaked out to be leading the Dungeons and Dragons franchise for Wizards of the Coast. I look forward to connecting with all the fans and teams as soon as possible to make the next 50 years of D&D the best ever!’
- There has been much speculation across the industry about what this means for the game, but no one seems to be able to settle on an answer.
Tycoon Games acquires Gamelyn Games
https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogpost/175835/tycoon-games-acquires-gamelyn-games
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/59970/tycoon-acquires-gamelyn-brand
- On the 7th of July, Tycoon Games, the rebranded name for the publisher formerly known as Tabletop Tycoon, announced the acquisition of Gamelyn Games.
- Tycoon Games is probably most famous for publishing Everdell, while Gamelyn Games is known for its Tiny Epic series of games.
- Gamelyn‘s most recent release, Tiny Epic Dungeon Adventures, concluded a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, raising over a million dollars and demonstrating continued interest in the brand.
- Michael Coe, founder of Gamelyn Games said this about the acquisition:
- “After over a decade of building the Tiny Epic series with Scott Almes and our incredible fans, I knew it was important to find the right hands to carry it forward. Dan Yarrington and the team at Tycoon Games have a deep understanding of what makes Tiny Epic special. They’ve shown time and again that they value both creators and communities. I couldn’t ask for a better team to take the reins. I’m confident they’ll honour the legacy while continuing to grow the series in exciting new ways.”
- Dan Yarrington, CEO of Tycoon Games, added:
- “These titles have captivated players with their innovative mechanisms and immersive worlds. We are honoured to welcome Tiny Epic and Heroes of Land, Air, and Sea into the Tycoon Games family.”
- The acquisition forms part of a wider growth strategy. Tycoon Games recently acquired a number of titles from other publishers, including the Trailblazer line from Mariposa Games, Canvas from Road to Infamy Games, and, as we reported in previous episodes, CMON’s games Blood Rage, Rising Sun, Ankh: Gods of Egypt, Arcadia Quest, and Starcadia Quest.
- Thank you to Gavin Jones from our Discord for bringing this to our attention.
- Background: We shouldn’t forget that Tycoon Games was embroiled in a number of controversies over the years. Recent interview with Boardgamewire does address some of these but dismisses them for the most part.
- In 2016, Zev Shlasinger and Paul Gerardi, both of whom formerly worked for Z-Man Games), sued Dan Yarrington and Myriad Games, Yarrington’s game retail operationm, for fraud and breach of contract. Yarrington was subsequently found guilty, but no damages were awarded.
- Even Phil Eklund, a hugely controversial figure himself, joined in, claiming in 2018 that ShipNaked, another one of Dan Yarrington’s companies, was causing a 2-year delay in the fulfillment of some his games.
- Then in 20202, Starling Games, on of Tycoon Games’ brands, went after Etsy shop owners who were selling Everdell accessories.
Women in Toys – Wonder Women Awards – 2025 Nominees
https://www.womenintoys.com/nominees
- Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment, or WiT for short, recently announced the nominees for its 2025 Wonder Women Award.
- WiT is a non-profit organisation that champions and advocates for the advancement of women through leadership, networking and educational opportunities.
- Through their annual award, WiT honours exceptional women who are shaping the future of the toy, consumer products, licensing and entertainment industries and who are making a lasting impact.
- The award is divided into 18 categories, making the list of its 2025 nominees very long. So we won’t be naming everyone here. Instead, please check out the link in the show notes for full information. There you will find women from a wide range of well-known and high-profile entertainment companies, as well as smaller, less well-known ones.
- However, while we wish everyone the best of luck, we would like to use this opportunity to call out one person specifically: Ellie Dix from The Dark Imp. Dix has been nominated in the Designer/Inventor (Independent) category, and we hope she wins the award.
- The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, the 11th of September, at the
Cubicle 7 no credits?
- On the 27th of June RPG writer Emmet Byrne, posted this on their Bluesky
- Today, out of morbid curiosity, I picked up a copy of The Laundry by Cubicle 7. Despite it using the rule system I designed, and copy pasting thousands of words I wrote, I am not included anywhere in the credits. I also outlined the whole book and designed the character sheet. Oh well.
- This naturally caused some amount of consternation amongst the RPG community on Bluesky and attracted the attention of outfits such as Rascal.
- The book in question was only in PDF form at the time and Emmet reported that the situation had been resolved.
- We reached out to Cubicle 7 to enquire as to how this had occurred. Padraig Murphy, producer at Cubicle 7 got back to us saying this
- We always release our PDF a few weeks before finalising print files, which is a bit of a warts-and-all way of doing things, but it lets us catch many errors before committing anything to paper. We released the Laundry Files PDFs on DrivethruRPG and our own website on Thursday, the 26th of May, and the book’s producer spotted a social media post about a missing credit on the 27th/28th. The error was corrected on Monday, the 30th, the following business day.
- Making TTRPGs, or any large project like this, involves a lot of people, and mistakes can happen. We always try our best to credit everyone who contributes. We include the names of all the creative folks involved and our entire business team in every book, as we couldn’t make these games — or pay the bills! — without them.
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
Iain
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs
Tag der Brettspielkritik 2025
There was an excellent talk at the weekend that included the Spiel des Jahres Ceremony that we would like to draw your attention to. It’s by Tom Brewster from Shut Up & Sit Down and Daniel Wüllner, a German journalist and critic.
Tabletop Scotland
5th to 7th September
Royal Highland Centre
Tabletop Games Blog Raffle
http://tabletopgamesblog.com/raffle
- The raffle in aid of The Trussell Trust, a charity that runs UK food banks, continues in July. Tickets are still £1 and all proceeds, minus fees, go directly to the charity. The prizes for the July raffle are a number of games from Stuff by Bez, either brand new or review copies that are in great condition.
Patreon Shoutouts
Kevin Bertram
James Naylor
Shaun Newan
game-a-lot.fun/en
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Fanroll
https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783
Outro
Uno Casino edition
https://www.palms.com/press-room/mattel-debuts-uno-experience-at-palms-casino-resort
- The world of gaming is full of strange tie-ins, odd franchising opportunities, and lets face it, a large amount of tat.
- The tie-in you didn’t see coming is here as Uno, yes Uno, opens its doors to the first ever Uno Social Club at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. From the press release
- UNO Social Clubs transforms game nights into an elevated social experience where friends connect, compete and create memories in venues across the country.
- From may 19th folk can also enter a competition to create a TikTok video using the Uno Reverse card filter.
- the winner will enjoy a technicolor suite drenched in the brand’s iconic red, yellow, blue, and green colors, packed with UNO-themed features, including a private bowling alley and game-inspired décor.
- If that wasn’t enough there will be lots of UNO games on hand and a personal Uno game host to shuffle up the cards in style.
- Ray Adler, Vice-president and Global Head of Games at Mattel said of the collaboration
- “We created UNO Social Clubs to reimagine what game night can be—bringing people together for real-world fun, connection, and a bit of friendly competition. “The UNO Social Club in Las Vegas is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see how these new experiences inspire players to show up, play hard, and make unforgettable memories.”
- More Uno Social clubs will pop up across the country over the year, transforming everyday places into UNO inspired event spaces.
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