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Bush's Board Game Thing sees Andy Bush celebrating board games and the experience of gaming with friends Jess Temby and Brian Murphy. Each week expect passion, enthusiasm, and multiple trips through gaming wormholes. This podcast is powered by Zatu - we're making sure the board game cogs keep on turning. Each week, I'll be bringing you the best bits here on the blog and letting you shop the podcast!
Last week, the trio went back and honoured the classics, we're talking Monopoly and Mousetrap. If you haven't already, catch up on episode 1 or take a read of the summary. This time around, they are exploring board games based on movies and TV shows. Do movie tie-ins work in the world of board gaming? Should we expect Jumanji-sized consequences? To listen to the full episode, be sure to check out Bush's Board Game Thing Episode 2 on all major streaming services.
Now, grab your popcorn, and let's get stuck in!
"You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat!"
One of the perks of hosting a podcast about board games is that you get to play board games! A few weeks ago, the team all paid a visit to Drafts Board Game Cafe in Central London. Whilst there, they all decided to play the board game version of Jaws. If you take a listen to this episode, you will hear Andy gush over how absolutely amazing he found the game.
At first, the trio was somewhat sceptical, as they couldn't imagine how they would make a classic film into a game. Releasing in 1975, this Steven Spielberg classic made sure that everyone was terrified to get back into the water.
Over a couple of beers, Andy, Jess, and Brian got stuck into Jaws and decided to record some live audio. Andy and Jess took on the roles of the crew: Quint, Brody, and Hooper. Brian was the titular shark - a noble beast. You'll be able to hear a snippet of the game and I can promise you that it will bring a smile to your face. So far, Brain had eaten a whole school trip, a honeymooning couple from Blackpool but refused to eat kids.
After lots of mind games and humming of the soundtrack, Brian did manage to win the game. Even becoming the self-proclaimed Ghost of the North Atlantic. However, it must also be noted that whilst in 'shark mode', Brian did manage to spill 2 pints of lager all over the table.
The components of Jaws are such a highlight of this beastly title. You had Andy and Jess chasing Brian's wooden shark in their own wooden boats, avoiding colourful wooden swimmers. There is a psychological element to the game as you never know where the shark is to catch it, leading to many devious mind games. But if you are one of the crew, you do get to throw barrels at the shark which certainly brought out a childish glee within Andy.
Listening to the team discuss Jaws: the Board Game might not get you back into the water, but it will encourage this game to get into your basket!
"Get Out of My Pub!"
Andy and the team would love to hear from you over on the @boardgamething Instagram. They are asking currently if they are any TV shows or movies that would make good board games? The team proved that Jaws could do it. but what else?
Over on Instagram, Dan S suggested the Human Centipede as a party game. That gets a firm no from Jess! With wooden meeples, just maybe that could be the Halloween game we are all missing...
In a rather dramatic change of tone, Darren R suggested Postman Pat. It would make a perfect pick-up-and-deliver style of game. Plus it would include the always lovable Jess. I do mean the black and white cat, not the lovely co-host Jess.
Finally, Janek suggested an Eastenders vs Coronation Street game featuring Albert Square and the Rover's Return. Similarly, on Twitter, Natalie suggested an Eastenders game in which you go through the seasons and try to make it to Christmas without dying.
"Yippee-ki-yay, Melon Farmer"
Here on Zatu, we stock enough film-based board games to hold our own Oscars ceremony! Some of Andy's favourites included Top Gun, Firefly, The Expanse, and Battlestar Galactica. The Academy Award winner, however, is Big Trouble in Little China: The Game. As a highly thematic game with some great components, it is a favourite within the Bush household.
Some other favourites on the Zatu website are that of Back to the Future: Dice Through Time and Lifeform which is based upon the Ailen franchise. An honorary mention has to be given to Die Hard: The Nakatomi Heist, a game that truly captures the essence of a great film.
To shop these games and anything else mentioned in Bush's Board Game Thing Episode 2, check out our podcast collection.
Brian's Board Game Fact of the Week
Now it's time for Brian's board game fact of the week (complete with a swanky new jingle)!
Last week, we got an insight into the dirty minds of the developers of Boggle.
This week we are talking about The Game of Life.
We all know and love this game, it was a staple of so many childhoods. But do you know the life story of Game of Life? It first hit shelves in 1860 and it originally featured sections in which you would go into poverty, depression, and in some cases, suicide.
Founder of MB Games, Milton Bradley sunk all of his money into a lithograph machine in the era of the American Civil War. In addition, he also had bought a brass print of Abraham Lincoln as he wanted to sell prints of the then president... then Lincoln grew his iconic beard. Financially ruined, Bradley turned to the world of board games, and The Game of Life was born.
As a bonus fact, Bradley hated gambling, hence the absence of dice in the game.
"That's All Folks!"
That just about wraps up Bush's Board Game Thing Episode 2. If you want to get involved, why not let us know over on Instagram? What TV show or film do you think lends itself to board gaming? Jess suggested The Butterfly Effect. Andy went for Casualty. What will your dream board game be? Let us know over on Instagram for a chance to be featured in next week's episode.
You can shop all of the games mentioned in both episodes of the podcast over on our Podcast Approved collection!
Tune in for episode 3 of Bush's Board Game Thing next Wednesday for more hilarity and insights into the mind of Brian!
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