 February 2006 Archive
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« January 2006 | Main | March 2006 »
03:02 PM: Mike Sugarbaker says... Since I don't have the podcast up yet, this thing that would have been in it: Bay Area GMs are invited to come run any RPG in print at the April Fool's Con at Endgame in Oakland on the 1st and 2nd. Pimp your favorite game and enjoy some fine hospitality.
11:57 PM: Allan Sugarbaker says... For those that missed the catalog mention, impending hugeness was reiterated last week. Wizards made a D&D Miniatures news announcement on its website that mostly repeated known plans for 2006. Perhaps most important, it brought more attention to the War of the Dragon Queen set, coming in July. Adding more punch to the "Year of the Dragon", the set will contain "12 Huge figures in this 60-figure set", as well as some epic-level figures with the characteristic second stat cards. The rarity distribution of the huge figures in Dragon Queen will be at least slightly different than that of the Giants of Legend big boys, which were 12 of a 72-figure set.
11:19 AM: Mike Sugarbaker says... In this episode, we discuss the mysterious upcoming WotC announcement that, um, isn't so mysterious since we recorded the show. Also the various WizKids announcements, and a play report on Infinity. Stay tuned later this week for our talk with Aldo Ghiozzi of Impressions and (late of) Wingnut.
09:35 PM: Allan Sugarbaker says... Now, is this ToyFair picture a sign that HeroScape is getting completely out of hand, or yet another "It must be mine!" item? (*sigh*) Possibly both.
11:29 AM: Allan Sugarbaker says... If you're up for an online version of a nifty boardgame (one nifty enough to have had a pair of sequels), GameTable Online has something to entice you with. From tomorrow though the end of February, a new online version of 10 Days in Africa by Out of the Box will be available to non-subscribers. The site will also be hosting a chat with designer Aaron Weissblum, and two tournaments. See the press release below for the details, and start planning your travel itinerary if so inclined.
11:34 PM: Allan Sugarbaker says... There's been considerable speculation about what Wizards of the Coast will reveal in its "big announcement about our newest game for 2006" at the Monday dinner at GTS next month. Sure, most of it has been by retailers, both fearful and anxious about what WotC plans to put into the market and whether it will sell for them or not. Still, little has been said about this surprise announcement. But I've heard rumors... tantalizing, juicy rumors...
03:13 PM: Mike Sugarbaker says... The press release is a bit vague (see below) - along with the usual boilerplate from the respective companies' leaders about how thrilled they are to be working together, there are just a few sentences about what is actually happening. But it looks like Apples to Apples publisher Out of the Box will be "offer[ing] the entire collection of Rio Grande board games." That could mean that the little catalog they slip into their boxes just a got fatter, and that's all - or it could mean we will start seeing Caylus on the shelves at Go! The Game Store in the mall. (If, indeed, we see it anywhere, but that's another story.) Either way, here's hoping it helps RGG get its product-delivery act together.
05:46 PM: Allan Sugarbaker says... Having displayed the ability to create high quality metal miniatures in its Gamemastery: Compleat Encounters sets, Paizo Publishing now has an agreement with Monte Cook and Malhavoc Press to publish miniatures for the Ptolus uber-campaign setting. A series of monthly minis releases will begin in May, leading up to and beyond the Ptolus release in August (press release is below). I'd wager this is a DM's dream for Cook, who has been running the setting in his personal campaign ever since writing the Dungeon Master's Guide. But the fact that a least one of the Paizo folks, Keith Strohm, is in Cook's campaign always amuses me: it's that extra complication Real Life (TM) throws in the way. "There's secrets about your character in that chapter, Keith. Could you have someone else edit it?"
11:55 PM: Allan Sugarbaker says... With the semi-recent rerelease of Roborally, and his appearance at Magic Worlds 2004, it seems Richard Garfield will continue to dabble in Wizards' business. I'm all for it, though I have to admit to being a bit undecided on his upcoming game. Garfield's next Avalon Hill boardgame, Rocketville, hits next month (as today's press release reminds us), and has the appearance of a bidding game with a humorous slant. From what I can gather, 3-5 players race to gain the most popularity from various districts as each competes to become mayor of the city. If you're curious like I am, you can get a look at Rocketville on March 10, and pick it up for $35.
12:55 PM: Mike Sugarbaker says... Here it be. Hey, if you need something to comment about, how about this: how can conventions change to serve gamers better? (Keep it at least a tiny bit realistic, please.) Subscription link, as if you still need it, is available here.
12:35 PM: Mike Sugarbaker says... Full details here, but the view from 1000 feet up is this: new core rulebooks that integrate, oh, twenty years' worth of rules into a new, allegedly simple whole, plus some somewhat confusingly-named Starterbooks for the factions (I think), and - coolest part - an introductory box set with plastic figures. All sounds good, and Lord knows FanPro's recent track record shows that the launch will go smoothly *cough*hack*wheeze*. I'll be strongly tempted to pick up one of those boxes, though.
12:11 PM: Mike Sugarbaker says... That about says it all, except for how it doesn't have much to do with the oncoming con season or Mike's new favorite game Perplex City. And other things. Get with us as we gab it up.
10:30 AM: Mike Sugarbaker says... Here ya go. I'd wager that both the theme and the presence of "Clix" in the name are meant to appeal to collectors of plastic things, rather than gamers. Collectors are the sole remaining audience for Clix games as far as I can tell. I mean, maybe they don't not appeal to gamers, but they don't do much for me. And I am a representative sample. Yes I am. Quit looking at me like that.
09:33 AM: Mike Sugarbaker says... Dear whoever's in charge of writing press releases for Wizards these days: okay, seriously, I know there's no good way to deliver bad news, but we're not retards, alright? It's bad enough that the D&D Minis Colossal Red Dragon will cost $75 and miss Indy by a month; that makes you look a little clumsy. This just makes your corporate voice literally sound like that of someone who's about to have a nervous breakdown. Note that I do not ascribe fault for this to Bill Slavicsek, whose name is on the linked note. And they may just be hamfistedly trying to tell us that they decided to upgrade the paint job, which is cool if true. But man, to leave out any acknowledgement that some gamers might be unhappy with a price hike and delay... this should have been caught by the first marketing person who looked at it. (Someone in marketing did look at it, right??) |
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