The sun is shining. 

The heat is comfortable.

​The wind blows genitally. Then a little more forceful, making cards fly off tables and frantic gamers scramble after them. Only to return to the table with a giggle on their lips and the game continues.

Yes, we are outdoors at a weekend festival called Paris est Ludique. ​Not "Gay Paris" but "Playful Paris." Where publishers from all over France come to demo their new game, classic big sellers and games for the future. First time and famous designers show up to to get reactions from their prototypes and maybe their signature on a contract. Also Belgium publishers get in on the act and somewhere, hidden away there is even an English one too. 

But that is not what you see as you walk around the Pelouse De Reuilly. It's all the smiling faces from the thousand guests that are walking around. From the demonstrates, content to retell the story of why their detective is addicted to cigarettes or why it's important to save the animals in the zoo. Even from the security personnel, who are amazed to see some many gentle people having fun together. And these smiles reflect in the environment all around.

This is not the first time that I have been here and felt this ambiance. PeL (Paris est Ludique) is my local big event, where I get to catch up with friends and contacts that I have made over the years. It is the second best event that I attend every year, after Essen (nothing will beat that). And I enjoy every minute of the wondering and babbling that takes place there. It's family friendly exterior entices thousands of parent to sit down and have fun with their kids.

With it's outdoor events, gaming tournaments, there were also the awards for the editor and authors of games. So much going on but all well organised.  A lager event that is getting larger and large. In fact, this years ticket sales were 7,000 more than the year precede. A total of 20,000...(your gonna need a bigger boat!)

So I played as much as I could, so I could show you what is new and coming to our hobby. And maybe a be of that smiling has been captured on video and rubs off onto you. Roll on PeL 2019... =)

There was a time where you had to wait to see a review of a game before you even knew it existed. Not no more. For years, I watched Board Game Geek stream from the big events in the States, just so I could see the latest games. Even at the Essen Spiel, until I was actually there.

Twitch is another channel all to itself. And I thought about dabbling in doing live videos of game play, rules explanations and blogs. While keeping my Youtube channel full of fully produced content. 

Obviously, it's early days yet.

I have starter tinkering with the components and idea of doing this, to try and broaden  my viewing audience. Also the chance to pump out a little more, ad-lib content that will keep me up to date. As you know, I spend a great amount of time playing a game before I start a camera rolling. Giving you a rounded view of a game that has been played many times and not just a first impression, as many other reviewers do. Maybe I'll keep twitch as a "First Impression" channel for games that I have just that second played!

One thing that is evident is, if I live stream a play-through of a game with friends, if will probably be in French. All of my gaming buddy speak a little English and a lot of slang, so maybe it will be a little more adult. 

I will give a try and see how it lands.