Board Game Breakfast: Episode 35 - Be an Encourager

Tom Vasel takes a look at the news for the week, joined by a host of friends!

[TheGameFatha]

I always look forward to your segments Chaz Marler. Keep up the good work.

[garesonc]

A little feedback...stay family friendly.  I got tired of all the junk on cable that wasn't family friendly(or friendly to our values) so we cancelled it.  Now we just stream stuff...and Dice Tower videos are a staple for this family of boardgamers to enjoy regularly.  The Top 10 lists are a family favorite. I run a gaming group at my church and it is nice to be able to point newcomers to the hobby to your channel.

[Diogmetes]

Alright Tom *rolls eyes* here you go: I love you soo much *mwa* *mwa* *mwa *mwa*. ohh my lil tommy -so special .. who's a good board gamer? Yes you are, yes you are!  Seriously though, Tom, you are the one who brought me into this hobby.  Your written reviews on RPG.net were my introductory guide to boardgames and you almost never steered me wrong.  I am grateful to you, and so are the friends who have followed me into this hobby.  Been a fan since 2004 and so glad to see all your success!

[BenThorp]

"The Esoteric Order of Gamers will be returning soon...." :(

[BarryDoubletBoardGames]

Thanx Tom. I have received one message from a viewer and it choked me up. It was just one, but it made such a difference to my day.

[Fenixd]

I really think the bad comments are over-represented on internet.. I almost never write comments, but I would not watch your videos if I didn't like it.. I think many people are just like me.

Tom, I certainly do not agree with all your review (far from it), but you are just a great source of informations and I enjoy all your video even when I do not agree with you :)

[ainvestigations]

@ Nick, I've enjoyed your kickstarter updates and have used them to look at some games I didn't know were coming up, and even pledge to some of them. Thanks!

@ Zee, I think you are very entertaining, genuine, and you have helped me discover a few games I wouldn't have otherwise, like Friday (the game, not the day).

@ Sam, I have enjoyed your perspective on the Dice Tower and respect how you hold your own. I would love to play Memoir '44 with ya, or TI3 (everyone I know is scared of the epic-ness of TI3).

I have never been to a convention, but you guys (even Tom ;)) have made me consider going to the Dice Tower Con. Thanks!

[kwk]

Tom - I know you're not fishing for responses, but what you do for a living has incredible merit and has had a HUGE impact on my appreciation of this wonderful hobby.  Keep on trucking my friend.

The negative will always be there, for anyone that opens themselves up to the public - unfortunately that is the fruits of the fallen human nature.

[TheCrippledWerewolf]

Criticism is criticism. I invite a lot of criticism by being critical. There's a reason why Tom Vasel's reviews are the gold standard, and even if people like me grumble with criticism and nitpicks of the effort, there's a ton of work involved and it's much appreciated!

[geneinkc]

Tom, I don't mind that you're dropping cubes in your coffee, but why on earth are you doing it on that beautiful Geek Chic table?!?  :-O

[darkmatterdragongames]

You do great work Tom haters gonna hate. Stay enthusiastic about the stuff you like and keep it up. You are one of my inspirations for board game content creation as I hope to do some things in this space as well. 

[davidcurtiswatts]

I watch your reviews, most especially the top tens all the time. In fact, I now own about thirty games based on your top ten lists. Enough said.

[Davearmstrong]

Love Iain James! I can't watch him without just getting happier. Keep up the good work, Iain!

[ernestgerrardtoh]

Board Game Breakfast is the only cure to my Monday blues! Keep up the GOOD job Tom :)

[wetwillyccma]

Great job Tom, I always look forward to Mondays after work to catch this. Rodney,   Rahdo, Drive Thru Review, Starlit Citadel, Board to Death, Crits Happen, Undead Viking and you are the channels I watch on a regular basis. I love seeing all the different opinions and it helps me decide what to buy. I may not agree with someones opinion but I leave comments sometimes and try to be kind at what I don't like. It serves no purpose to be nasty. But some people don't have a good life and take it out on other people. I guess it makes them feel better. Too bad for them.

[rvillaver]

Tom just keep it up, your life work pushed this industry by leaps and bounds. The people you've inspired  in your network as with others cascades the same passion and fire is shaping the landscape of board gaming today. The best has yet to come.

When I need to know about = I go to:

News + Top 10 + Quick Reviews = Tom Vasel
HighQuality Board Game Entertainment = Wil Wheaton
Game Design Concepts = Scott Nicholson
Very very detailed playthroughs = Richard Ham
Clear and Relaxing Game Tutorial = Rodney Smith
Capturing Genuine Reactions to Games = BoardGameReplay Group

[TheVosack]

Tom, you're the reason I got into the hobby. I almost always buy your (and your reviewers') top games. Thanks to you guys (and other reviewers and sites like WIP) I have over 90 games on my shelves. Now I just need to find people to play with ;)

[jamessertis]

It's great to preach about there being too much negativity, but this rant was an enormous deflection from a serious mistake Tom made, and I wish he'd just be honest about it. How many people commenting here actually read the threads Tom referred to? Here's the gist: Tom took a substantial amount of money to produce a paid preview for the game New Dawn, currently on Kickstarter. At the end of the preview, Tom "took off his previewers hat" and confessed that he loved the game. This is something he's only done maybe one other time, out of dozens and dozens of paid previews. And it completely invalidates the entire system. If someone else pays Tom for a preview, and he doesn't "take off his previewers hat" and gush about it, they - and any viewer who is familiar with Tom's videos - will know that he doesn't like it. It's completely unfair to everyone else who paid him money but didn't get a super duper bonus positive review at the end. He should have just taken the money, produced the preview, and shut up about it until he got a production copy for review. He screwed up, but instead of apologizing, he posts a rant that is essentially inviting a love fest from those who are ignorant to the real reason he's even ranting in the first place! I don't believe he intended to do anything unethical here, but it certainly doesn't help his reputation. By his own admission in the rant, some negative criticism can teach you to be better. I hope that is the case here, as I'm a big fan, and this has really disappointed me.

[MisterChris]

Well I think you are adorable. We may not agree on every game (i.e. I am more of a cube pushing,  euro-game lover), but i I have a strong faith in your integrity. And I enjoy your youtube channel. keep them coming.

[JTBritch]

Suzanne and Scott are the reason I watch Board Game Breakfast every week. I think they do an exceptional job with their segments and have a positive, sincere attitude. All of the contributors to Board Game Breakfast are great, but these two stand out every episode.