John Gonzalez

We've got a special treat for you all today. How about a bonus episode? Listen to @sirbearsworth.bsky.social, @bookofnerds.bsky.social and @panda8ngel.bsky.social talk about conventions, and let us know what you think!

thefiveby.fireside.fm/conventions-...

Time to get excited for a brand new episode! We've got lost creatures, space travel, a couple spooky segments and more! 🎃 Find out what @meeplelady.bsky.social, @sirbearsworth.bsky.social, @bookofnerds.bsky.social, @gameenthus.com and Justin are playing.

thefiveby.fireside.fm/166

It's time for another episode! We've got animals, constellations, aliens and more! Check out what Justin, @panda8ngel.bsky.social, @ovenall.bsky.social, @sirbearsworth.bsky.social and @bookofnerds.bsky.social are playing!

thefiveby.fireside.fm/165

Central map with dice and pieces

I played the Coral Cap Pirates

Our first 4P game of AHOY by @leder.games with the fun new expansions!
With @nathanrlong.bsky.social @sirbearsworth.bsky.social @bookofnerds.bsky.social

C’est la vie

Photo of a sealed cd of Nine Inch Nails’ Hate Machine on a wooden table.

I bought a cd. In the year 2025.

I should really give it a second shot.

Yesssss. I hope we get more of the good stuff. Romulus was pretty dope.

Also, how you been!?

A stillshot from a forthcoming video about Alien: Fate of the Nostromo. It shows the board game box on a table with a board game shelf background in background. Also in the foreground is a crt television showing the Alien theatrical trailer.

Been working on a video about Alien: Fate of the Nostromo from designer @scottrogers.bsky.social there must be something in the zeitgeist because I just happened to watch Legend for the first time and happened into a post from @boardgamefeast.bsky.social about that selfsame movie.

I feel like the whole movie can take place in that one Unicorn dream Deckard had in Bladerunner (same director).

Hahah omg I was like “there’s so much pollen in the air.” Although I did love the whole look of the film.

And I get it, it’s a small industry and people want to know who they are working/collaborating with.

So far this last month has been a reminder that if you can’t make it to conventions as a content creator to due to health/money, you are basically invisible to publishers. Networking is a big part of any industry.

Hahaha omg hopping into the conversation ‘cause I just saw Legend for the first time as well a couple days ago.

A zine printed on yellow paper with a Mr Yuk that looks like the CGE logo. The logo around it says “Yuk Yuk Says Stay Away” with the CGE letters below it. Below that, a hashtag: #BlacklistCGE

During Gen Con, I will have 250 of these zines with me.

The goal is to inform normies about what’s going on with CGE and a call to action to join the blacklist.

No buying, pitching, or covering CGE games until they give the community a proper apology and response on how they plan to make good. 🎲✂️

Thumbnail for Dice Tower Video 'Bad Guy, Good Game'

Disappointing but not surprising to see DT once again pledge themselves to indifference. Games are nothing without the people who make them, without the people who sit around the table and play them with us. To make excuses for terrible people and ignore their harm is to actively propagate it.

Author J.K. Rowling’s extreme anti-trans rhetoric has caused physical and emotional harm to a particularly vulnerable group, and the licensing fees she receives from the game will be used to support these attacks.

JKR is funding life-destroying legislation. When you license HP and put it on your product, the money you pay to do that is literally ruining lives. This isn't ambiguous, it is direct, measurable harm. I will never give a penny to a company who chooses money over the lives of my friends.

2025 GenCon info for CGE/Czech Games (July 30-August 3): Room 235 Booth 1003 Booth 245

Great timing for CGE to amplify super-TERF Jay Kay Rowling w/HP Codenames days before heading to GenCon.

For those in Indy, a productive way to counter CGE's online stonewalling of (trans) board gamers & content creators is to visit them in person & respectfully tell them how you feel.

A thumbs nail for a youtube video. The text in bold states “Solar Gardens Quick Look” the image is of a cat sleeping on a gaming table with a copy of Solar Gardens dominating the left hand side. The background is a bookcase featuring a lot of board games.

Up on our Cribbage & More YouTube channel is a quick look at Solar Gardens from publisher @darringtonpress.bsky.social who provided a review copy.

youtu.be/K__Sl1M-Dxg?...

Ok. Hear me out. It’s a screenshot of a stream featuring two cams. The face cam in the upper left shows John and under this is the top-down camera showing a table view of a painting of a clown. The painting is of Mickey Rooney as a clown. The facecam and the overhead cam are in a frame that makes it look like a vintage trading card.

On my twitch channel I have a reward that viewers can redeem to screenshot the current scene and it creates a trading card that gets posted to our discord. Someone used the reward while I was showing off a haunted painting I’m trying to get rid of. Now it will always be with us as a trading card.

In this episode I reviewed Dr. Finn's Book of Solo Strategy and Word Games by @drfinnsgames.bsky.social! Also check out great reviews by @bookofnerds.bsky.social, @gameenthus.com, Justin and @sirbearsworth.bsky.social!

Amanda Panda's Twitch Stream Schedule Crafty Therapy Session Tuesday, June 3, 2025 3 PM PST / 6 PM EST / 11 PM UTC Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel Youtube.com/@Panda8ngel LOTR: Fate of the Fellowship Thursday, June 5, 2025 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST / 7 PM UTC Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel Youtube.com/@Panda8ngel BGA games w/ Chat MPeebles Co-stream Friday, June 6, 2025 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST / 7 PM UTC Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel Twitch.tv/MPeebles FSTF : Chronicles of Light Darkness Falls Solo Sunday, June 8, 2025 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST / 7 PM UTC Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel Youtube.com/@Panda8ngel

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who watches, lurks, and chats with me on my streams. You really are an important part of my life. ❤️I greatly appreciate you! 😍🫶 And thank you to all my guests from the years!

📺 www.twitch.tv/panda8ngel
📺 www.youtube.com/@Panda8ngel

Fun game! thanks for bringing it!

Hot streak board game. 4 mascots on the winning podium, with MUM in 1st place, DUCKY 2nd. DANGLE 3rd, HURLEY last.

Hot Streak board game looks so cool with the roll-out race track and silly retro-style mascots, we couldn't resist taking lots of photos.

Mascots ready to race! Our bets are ready!

Hot Streak by @cmyk.games was a lot of fun!

Gobbler 🐻 is missing (he didn't come with the game I received, for some reason) and Ducky took his place.

With @nathanrlong.bsky.social @sirbearsworth.bsky.social @bookofnerds.bsky.social and Forrest.

The White Castle: Matcha, The Bird Oracle, Enemy Anemone, Darwin's Journey, Silver & Gold Episode 160: The White Castle: Matcha, The Bird Oracle, Enemy Anemone, Darwin's Journey, Silver & Gold

We've got matcha, stingy trick-takers and X's in our newest episode. Check out what Justin, @ovenall.bsky.social, @sirbearsworth.bsky.social, @bookofnerds.bsky.social and @gameenthus.com are playing!

thefiveby.fireside.fm/160

Awesome! Congrats on 1k *air horn*

Shout out and thank you to channels that have supported us!
@thingsgetdicey.bsky.social @rollingwithroc.bsky.social @panda8ngel.bsky.social @panikgames.bsky.social @bookofnerds.bsky.social @watchitplayed.tv @podfathergaming.bsky.social @dutchyodaplays.bsky.social
@banzainator.bsky.social

Looking for an alternative to Flip 7 that doesn't line the pockets of Mr. "I don't regret my vote"?

Here are some snappy light toss-it-on-the-table push-your-luck games with great energy (that are arguably better games anyhow.)

Push
Fruit Fight
Strike
TEN
Chicken!
No Thanks!

In this episode I reviewed one of my very favorite games, Castles of Burgundy, as a solo game! Also check out excellent reviews by @bookofnerds.bsky.social, @meeplelady.bsky.social, @gameenthus.com and Justin!