# Wil Wheaton's new show about boardgames **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 20, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324 "2012-03-20T15:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/21 "2012-06-02T06:31:16Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > This is the first episode I watched all the way\*, and it was fun. I was thinking about buying it, but: HOLY CRAP! Twenty-five bucks for something that probably costs $1.38 to produce?!?!? There’s a few things to consider: [ul] [li]The cards need to be made of durable cardstock that can stand up to repeated handling. This is more expensive than you’d think. Even a single deck of playing cards costs about $5, and those have the advantage of mass volume to keep the per-unit price low.[/li][li]It’s color printing, and there’s 168 cards to print not counting the game board. Even at a penny a card we’re over your estimate (yes I know you didn’t intend to be accurate :p).[/li][li]The manhours that go into development and playtesting of even a fairly simple game can add up pretty quickly.[/li][li]The typical retail markup.[/li][/ul] Between printing costs, creator fees, and retail, $25 is fairly reasonable, though I’d prefer to pay $20 or even $15. Then you get into cost comparisons: [ul] [li]It’s roughly the cost of a new hardcover book you might read through once or twice.[/li][li]A typical session runs about 90 minutes, which is about average for a full-length movie, and it’s played with 4 people on average. Four tickets to a movie will run you something like $40 these days.[/li][li]You own the game and can play it over and over again for as long as the materials hold up. If you do play a lot, the cost gets amortized out over the game’s lifespan and it winds up being real cheap for entertainment.[/li][/ul] Really, Tabletop’s aim is to show you, a non-gamer, that these kinds of games really are worth the money. Gaming provides an opportunity for socialization that even watching a movie doesn’t really offer, and you get a different experience each time. That $25 goes a long, long way, which is admittedly hard to see if you’re thinking “Well, it MIGHT be nice to have IF I ever have a group of friends over who MIGHT like to play…” ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/22 "2012-06-02T11:53:28Z")
That is similar to valuing the Mona Lisa for the cost of the paints.(by the way Munchkin is avilable for $16 online) I’ve paid WAY more that 25 for games - I always compute it as / play, and I could redulce that to $ / hour. I know my copy of 7 Wonders has been played \> 60 times. For Munchkin, the devolpement costs have probably been amortized. (for me this was a “fun to play once” game) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/23 "2012-06-02T12:24:54Z")
> [@FlightlessBird](#): > > Wow, I didn’t even link the show? I’m the lazy one. > > [Munchkin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6oMBSiL7Zs) > > Wait, I said Munchkin in my previous post. Laziness abounds! Heh, sorry, don’t know how I missed that. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/24 "2012-06-02T12:26:16Z")
I have always enjoyed reading things Wil Wheaton has written. Watching this show, though, I now know that I do not like to see or hear him speak. (I liked him just fine in The Guild though!) ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/25 "2012-06-02T18:46:11Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > That is similar to valuing the Mona Lisa for the cost of the paints.(by the way Munchkin is avilable for $16 online) Sure, but that’s what **Oslo** brought up, so I wanted to refer to cost value before bringing up what the game is actually worth to the consumer. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/26 "2012-06-02T18:56:16Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Not as fun as actually _playing_ the games, but Wheaton’s awesome. I agree, but I am biased. The first arcade game I designed was roundly panned, and didn’t make any money. But when it came out on MAME, Wheaton wrote a review, and actually liked it. So I think he has impeccable taste. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/27 "2012-06-03T16:24:53Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > This is the first episode I watched all the way\*, and it was fun. I was thinking about buying it, but: HOLY CRAP! Twenty-five bucks for something that probably costs $1.38 to produce?!?!? > > Not a chance. I mean, the physical cost of a CD or book is under a dollar. The physical cost of an MP3 or ebook is literally zero. Do you have a problem paying $10-$25 for those? Games are intellectual property too. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/28 "2012-06-03T17:35:03Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > This is the first episode I watched all the way\*, and it was fun. I was thinking about buying it, but: HOLY CRAP! Twenty-five bucks for something that probably costs $1.38 to produce?!?!? > > Not a chance. I know some professional board game designers - the margin on board and card games is pretty small. That $25 board game probably costs about $22 a box to manufacture. ---
**Author:** ![FasterThanMeerkats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@FasterThanMeerkats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FasterThanMeerkats)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/29 "2012-06-04T13:38:17Z")
Also, playing Munching once a month with two friends for an hour is 10 hours of entertainment over a year for $25. Assuming three people going to 5 two-hour movies at $10/ticket is 3x5x10 = $150. So it’s much cheaper, more fun when you factor out the crappy movies, and more social since you can actually talk while you play. You could even buy 5 more boardgames to spice it up and still come out even versus movies. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/30 "2012-06-04T17:59:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I know some professional board game designers - the margin on board and card games is pretty small. That $25 board game probably costs about $22 a box to manufacture. That and I think there’s a long selling time on games. It’s not like a movie where you make a huge percentage of the sales in the first week or two and get the money you invested back quickly. You can release a game and even if it’s successful the sales will trickle in over a period of months or even years. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/31 "2012-06-04T18:43:12Z")
Heh. I just watched episode 4 (with Ticket to Ride). I cracked up when Wil’s wife (Anne?) smacked the table during the end game scoring, causing the pieces to scatter. I thought “she doesn’t accept losing gracefully”. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/32 "2012-06-07T21:48:23Z")
Damn, Wil Wheaton and his friends make board gaming look like fun. A talented actor, indeed! ---
**Author:** ![ripopgome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@ripopgome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ripopgome)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/33 "2012-06-08T14:50:39Z")
This show is great… I’ve bought a bunch of the games because of it. Really impressed with the production values. Thanks for the tip, to the OP! ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/34 "2012-06-08T15:17:42Z")
I love the show. It’s a cross between Jon Favreau’s Dinner for Five and Celebrity Poker. It really gives me a good feel for how games are played without having a rule book read to me. We’ve got a board game group at work and prior to playing Settlers of Catan, I recommended folks watch that episode so they could get a feel for it. So far they’ve played: **Small World:** Don’t have it, kinda want it **Settlers of Catan:** Have it, love it \*\*Tsuro: \*\*Don’t have it, really want it. \*\*Zombie Dice: \*\*Bought it because of the show (also, is available as a free iOs download for the 1 player version). **Get Bit:** Don’t have it, not too interested. **Ticket To Ride:** Have it and love it. **Munchkin:** Didn’t have it and didn’t want it based on the much maligned reviews of the game, now I do want it. Based on the games listed at the [bottom here](http://tabletop.geekandsundry.com/), the next ones up should be: **Gloom:** Already have it, fun game with a Richard Gorey-esque art **Fluxx:** Have it, used to love it now I dislike it (too random-little strategy) **Dixit:** This might be one that will push me into buying it **Last Night On Earth** I’ve heard great things about, but have Betrayal at House on the Hill so not sure if I need another **Fiasco:** Never heard of. **Elder Sign** Been curious about. Someone on a boardgame forum mentioned that board game stores are selling out of the games after they’re on Table Top so that’s kind of awesome to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/35 "2012-06-08T15:45:12Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Someone on a boardgame forum mentioned that board game stores are selling out of the games after they’re on Table Top so that’s kind of awesome to hear. Yep. I swung by the game store at the mall last week to pick up Munchkin and asked the employee how Tabletop’s been treating them. Instant enthusiasm; apparently business has picked up significantly. Ticket To Ride sold out pretty much the day they got a shipment in primarily because of the show. Heck, I was there for Munchkin myself. While I was there someone was trying to track down Zombie Dice, and I guess the store only had one left. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/36 "2012-06-08T16:52:21Z")
I thought _Small World_ looked cool, but as with all games involving a having a card hand, solitair play appears unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/37 "2012-06-08T17:17:25Z")
I’m really looking forward to the Fiasco episode. It’s actually an RPG, not a board game, but one with a huge emphasis on storytelling. There are only two dice rolls in the entire game, and they’re used to generate random story elements that the players can use to create a Coen-brothers-esque caper. I’ve played twice: one game was set in Dallas, September 1963. I was a used car salesman and heroin smuggler who got his hands on a suitcase full of an alleged “cancer vaccine.” I ended up being murdered by FBI agent Lee Harvey Oswald. (Wheels within wheels, man!) The second game was set in WWII, and involved stolen Nazi gold. I was a wide-eyed farm boy who successfully scammed the rest of the group into killing each other while I absconded with the treasure. Both games were hilariously fun - it should make for a killer episode of Wheaton’s show. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/38 "2012-06-08T17:41:18Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > I thought _Small World_ looked cool, but as with all games involving a having a card hand, solitair play appears unlikely. I’m pretty sure Smallworld doesn’t have cards. Are you sure you aren’t thinking of another game? On the other hand, since Smallworld is a fantasy game with an arbitrary setup, wouldn’t playing it solitaire be like playing chess solitaire - what’s the real point? ---
**Author:** ![Miltonyz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Miltonyz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miltonyz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/39 "2012-06-08T18:00:15Z")
I bought Munchkin because of the show. Never been a tabletop gamer but it looked really fun so I gave it a shot. My wife and my buddies wife were pretty reluctant to play at first, but once we got the basics down it was a very fun game. I became a thief and not long after stole my buddies armor, in retribution he buffed a monster and got me killed on the next turn. Later I yoinked some gear of my wifes only to have her play a card that stripped it away. The backstabbing and trading made for a very fun card game. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324/40 "2012-06-08T18:25:59Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > I’m pretty sure Smallworld doesn’t have cards. Are you sure you aren’t thinking of another game? > > On the other hand, since Smallworld is a fantasy game with an arbitrary setup, wouldn’t playing it solitaire be like playing chess solitaire - what’s the real point? What’s wrong with playing chess solitaire? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wil-wheatons-new-show-about-boardgames/616324.md?page=3)