Tabletop (web series)
| TableTop | |
|---|---|
| Presentation | |
| Hosting | Wil Wheaton |
| Genre | Gaming |
| Language | English |
| Updates | Bi-weekly |
| Length | 30 minutes |
| Production | |
| Production | Sheri Bryant, Felicia Day, Kim Evey, Wil Wheaton, Adam Lawson, Boyan Radakovich |
| Publication | |
| Debut | March 30, 2012 |
| Provider | YouTube |
| Website | http://tabletop.geekandsundry.com/ |
TableTop is a web series created by Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day.[1] TableTop is published on Felicia Day's YouTube Channel, Geek & Sundry.
In every episode, one or more boardgames are explained briefly by Wheaton and then he and his guests, usually web or TV personalities, play the game.[2] During Season 1, at the end, the winner receives a temporary trophy with his/her name taped on it, and the other players are interviewed by Wheaton on the "loser's couch". For Season 2, the trophy was replaced by a Certificate of Awesome, which the players do get to keep.
A wide range of hobby gaming titles were selected for their inaugural season, from classic euro games and family games to RPGs and card games.[3]
It has been described as "…like Celebrity Poker meets Dinner for Five, where interesting people got together for tabletop games." [4]
It is possible that a DVD compilation of the series may be available after the end of the first season.[5]
On March 25, 2013, Wil Wheaton announced that TableTop would have a second season premiering on April 4, 2013.[6]
As of February 6, 2014, Wil currently has a win-loss record of 6-24, not including the co-operative team win/loss games.
Episodes
Season 1
| No. | Game | Guests | Winner(s) | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Small World" | Grant Imahara, Jenna Busch, Sean Plott | Sean Plott | March 30, 2012 |
| 2 | "Settlers of Catan" | Neil Grayston, Jane Espenson, James Kyson Lee | Neil Grayston | April 20, 2012 |
| 3 | "Tsuro, Zombie Dice & Get Bit" | Rod Roddenberry, Ryan Higa, Freddie Wong | Ryan Higa | May 4, 2012 |
| 4 | "Ticket to Ride" | Colin Ferguson, Anne Wheaton, Amy Dallen | Colin Ferguson | May 18, 2012 |
| 5 | "Munchkin" | Steve Jackson, Felicia Day, Sandeep Parikh | Steve Jackson | June 1, 2012 |
| 6 | "Castle Panic" | Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt, Andre Meadows | Team Win | June 15, 2012 |
| 7 | "Gloom" | Amber Benson, Michele Boyd, Meghan Camarena | Amber Benson, Meghan Camarena & Wil Wheaton | June 29, 2012 |
| 8 | "Fiasco, Part 1" | John Rogers, Alison Haislip, Bonnie Burton | N/A | July 13, 2012 |
| 9 | "Fiasco, Part 2" | John Rogers, Alison Haislip, Bonnie Burton | N/A | July 27, 2012 |
| 10 | "Say Anything" | Josh A. Cagan, Matt Mira, Jonah Ray | Jonah Ray | August 9, 2012 |
| 11 | "Elder Sign" | Felicia Day, Mike Morhaime, Bill Prady | Team Win | August 23, 2012 |
| 12 | "Dixit" | Casey McKinnon, Beth Riesgraf, Leo Chu | Beth Riesgraf | September 6, 2012 |
| 13 | "Wits & Wagers" | Veronica Belmont, Phil LaMarr, Jimmy Wong | Veronica Belmont & Jimmy Wong | September 21, 2012 |
| 14 | "Pandemic" | Robert Gifford, Morgan Webb, Ed Brubaker | Team Loss | October 4, 2012 |
| 15 | "Last Night on Earth" | Riki Lindhome, Kate Micucci, Felicia Day | Riki Lindhome & Kate Micucci | October 18, 2012 |
| 16 | "Star Fluxx" | Alex Albrecht, Chloe Dykstra, Jordan Mechner | Wil Wheaton | November 1, 2012 |
| 17 | "Alhambra" | Ashley Johnson, Shane Nickerson, Dodger Leigh | Dodger Leigh | January 3, 2013 |
| 18 | "Chez Geek" | Andrew Hackard, Paul Sabourin, Greg "Storm" DiCostanzo | Andrew Hackard | January 17, 2013 |
| 19 | "Dragon Age, Part 1" | Sam Witwer, Kevin Sussman, Chris Hardwick, Chris Pramas | N/A | January 31, 2013 |
| 20 | "Dragon Age, Part 2" | Sam Witwer, Kevin Sussman, Chris Hardwick, Chris Pramas | N/A | February 14, 2013 |
Season 2
| No. | Game | Guests | Winner(s) | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Formula D" | Grace Helbig, Greg Benson, Hannah Hart | Hannah Hart | April 4, 2013 |
| 2 | "The Resistance" | Felicia Day, Amy Okuda, Ashley Clements, Allison Scagliotti | Felicia Day & Allison Scagliotti | April 18, 2013 |
| 3 | "Once Upon a Time" | Amy Berg, Mike Phirman, Chris Wyatt | Amy Berg | May 2, 2013 |
| 4 | "King of Tokyo" | John Bain, Craig Benzine, Greg Zeschuk | Craig Benzine | May 16, 2013 |
| 5 | "Forbidden Island" | John Scalzi, Jason Finn, Bobak Ferdowsi | Team Loss | May 30, 2013 |
| 6 | "Smash Up" | Rich Sommer, Cara Santa Maria, Jen Timms | Cara Santa Maria | June 13, 2013 |
| 7 | "Star Trek Catan" | Jeri Ryan, Kari Wahlgren, Ryan Wheaton | Kari Wahlgren | July 18, 2013 |
| 8 | "Star Wars: X-Wing" | Seth Green, Clare Grant, Mike Lamond | Seth Green & Clare Grant | August 8, 2013 |
| 9 | "Lords of Waterdeep" | Felicia Day, Pat Rothfuss, Brandon Laatsch | Pat Rothfuss | August 22, 2013 |
| 10 | "Shadows Over Camelot" | Tara Strong, Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik | Wil Wheaton | October 3, 2013 |
| 11 | "Betrayal at House on the Hill, Part 1" | Ashly Burch, Keahu Kahuanui, Michael Swaim | N/A | October 17, 2013 |
| 12 | "Betrayal at House on the Hill, Part 2" | Ashly Burch, Keahu Kahuanui, Michael Swaim | Wil Wheaton | October 24, 2013 |
| 13 | "Takenoko" | Harley Morenstein, Rosanna Pansino, Drew Roy | Harley Morenstein | November 14, 2013 |
| 14 | "Unspeakable Words" | Troy Baker, Erin Gray, Felicia Day | Troy Baker | November 28, 2013 |
| 15 | "Qwirkle & 12 Days" | Kelly Hu, Meredith Salenger, Nolan Kopp | Meredith Salenger | December 12, 2013 |
| 16 | "Carcassonne" | Jesse Cox, Nika Harper, Kumail Nanjiani | Wil Wheaton | December 26, 2013 |
| 17 | "Tsuro of the Seas" | Kevin Pereira, Brendan Halloran, Andy Hull | Andy Hull | January 9, 2014 |
| 18 | "Ticket to Ride Europe" | Emma Caulfield, John Kovalic, Anne Wheaton | John Kovalic | January 23, 2014 |
| 19 | "Fortune and Glory" | Brandon Routh, Ryon Day, Felicia Day | Wil Wheaton | February 6, 2014 |
| 20 | "Lords of Vegas[7]" | - | - | February 20, 2014 |
Extended Editions
| No. | Game | Guests | Winner(s) | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extended Edition: "Small World" | Grant Imahara, Jenna Busch, Sean Plott | Sean Plott | March 14, 2013 |
| 2 | Extended Edition: "Castle Panic" | Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt, Andre Meadows | Team Win | March 21, 2013 |
| 3 | Extended Edition: "Pandemic" | Robert Gifford, Morgan Webb, Ed Brubaker | Team Loss | March 28, 2013 |
| 4 | Extended Edition: "Formula D" | Grace Helbig, Greg Benson, Hannah Hart | Hannah Hart | June 27, 2013 |
| 5 | Extended Edition: "Star Trek Catan" | Jeri Ryan, Kari Wahlgren, Ryan Wheaton | Kari Wahlgren | September 19, 2013 |
Impact
Evidence presented by a Canadian online game retailer showed that games featured in TableTop received a boost in sales after the episode aired: this was dubbed "The Wheaton Effect".[8][9] Game publisher Days of Wonder has divulged that its titles featured on the show had significant boost on sales.[10]
After the game Tsuro was featured, demand was so high, that the publisher exhausted all stock reserves. The game was, for a time, unavailable in Europe as production tried to cope with US demand.
In 2013 the web series won the Diana Jones Award,[11] citing that 'Tabletop has brought a new energy and humour to the board-game field: its blend of good humour and gameplay is pitch-perfect and has introduced a range of titles from modern classics to indie RPGs to thousands of new players.'.
TableTop won the gold ENnie for Best Podcast at the 2013 Gen Con EN World RPG Awards for its Dragon Age episodes. The award was accepted by Chris Pramas on behalf of Wil Wheaton.
International TableTop Day
Geek & Sundry channel asked its fans to gather at local game stores and community centers on March 30, 2013, and play games. Aiming to remind its fans and community to spend more time and strengthen their bonds, by playing games together. Tabletop gaming promotes many positive social and cognitive benefits like increased communication, team work, planning, and is an excellent stress relieving activity for all ages.[12]
There was a long live streamed video on Geek & Sundry YouTube channel on the day where several games were played just like in the regular show. Games included Takenoko, Ticket to Ride, 7 Wonders, Smash Up and Star Trek Catan. Several of the first season guests returned for these live games.
The date for the second annual International TableTop Day will be April 5, 2014.[13]
References
- ↑ Biggs, John (April 3, 2012). "Join Wil Wheaton And Friends In A Rousing Tabletop Gaming Session". TechCrunch. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ↑ Banks, Dave (April 20, 2012). "Tabletop Returns With Settlers of Catan". GeekDad. Wired. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ↑ Morgan, Matt (March 20, 2012). "Details Emerge on Wheaton-Hosted "Tabletop" Gaming Web Series". MTV Geek. MTV. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ↑ Doctorow, Cory (March 20, 2012). "Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day team up for Tabletop, a show about tabletop games". Boing Boing. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
- ↑ Thorne, Scott (June 11, 2012). "Talking About TableTop". Rolling for Initiative. ICV2. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ↑ Schneider, Mark (March 25, 2013). "Announcing Tabletop Season Two!". WIL WHEATON dot NET. Wil Wheaton. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
- ↑ Wheaton, Wil (December 18, 2013). "Escape From Waterdeep". WIL WHEATON dot NET. Wil Wheaton. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ↑ Wong, Tao (May 8, 2012). "The Wheaton Effect". Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ↑ Wong, Tao (August 16, 2012). "The Wheaton Effect – A Follow Up". Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ↑ "TableTop Impact on DoW's Games". ICV2. August 30, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ↑ "Wheaton Announces Tabletop as Winner of Award". Retrieved August 18, 2013.
- ↑ "About TableTop Day".
- ↑ "Geek & Sundry announces date of International TableTop Day for 2014". Retrieved 20 January 2014.