Laura Robinson, co-inventor of Balderdash and Identity Crisis, is interviewed on Marketplace on American Public Media.

Laura is also a Canadian singer-songwriter and a babe.

Here’s another interview from 2007 from the Gill Deacon show.

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No Dice Board Games is a branch of the media corp VIVE Productions of Denmark. They make TV and radio shows, and then make the merchandise for them.

No Dice has sold over 200,000 board games in the last three years, starting with the topical CEO (Cheat Every One, an English equivalent of their Danish only hit game PBX), games tied into Danish TV shows, and several trivia games, such as Master of Television, Master of Movies, and others.

Their game Betcha isn’t described, but it looks suspiciously like another entry in the modern trivia/betting genre.

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In the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Konami seems to be moving ahead of Upper Deck Entertainment, the game’s former (?) U.S. distributor. ICv2 reports that the U.S. District Court has sided with Konami and ordered Upper Deck to stop “promoting or holding itself out to members of the public as an authorized distributor or rights-holder to the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.” And sure enough, the Upper Deck web site no longer features Yu-Gi-Oh! products. Further, hobby retailers appear to be going with the flow, many having signed on for Konami’s Crimson Crisis sneak peak events taking place this weekend.

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The Radical Forgiveness board game is a mission tool to promote a concept from Colin Tipping, “The Radical Forgiveness Guy.” Radical Forgiveness is within the self, and recognizes that all things happen for a spiritual reason (a very superficial summary).

During the roll-move-pick cards game, you pick Event Cards and Context Cards—such as “someone betrayed you” and “school”—and then another person holds up a mask and you shout your head off at the mask. There are also karma cards, cards about which you are invited to agree or disagree, and incantations to perform. A whole year of psychotherapy in one play session.

The goal is to proceed through four levels of consciousness in order to get to Satori—total awareness.

Colin is hoping that the world achieves total forgiveness by the year 2012.

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Just to head off any confusion, this post is not about the “Bean Trading” game, aka Bohnanza, a popular modern card game, nor about The Glass Bead Game, a famous novel by Herman Hesse.

The Bead Trade Game from Hannah Braun-Allen is not described on the site, other than being a hobby game for beaders, and a list of components, which do not include the beads.

Near as I can make out, you actually ante your own beads and can win or lose them from other people.

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Tampa, FL: Two inmates escape from jail in part aided by warden’s obsessive distraction with card games. (source)

Kidlington, UK: Man goes to report robbery, but none of the 14 police officers would take his complaint as they were all gambling in the police poker game (legal in police stations for police officers, too). (source)

Fort Pierce, FL: A man’s girlfriend slashes his tires, and some other guy hits him in the head with a chair and another steals his wallet at a card game. (source)

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Mongoose is saying farewell to Babylon 5 with a 2 day A Call to Arms campaign weekend, Sleeping in Light. May 9-10 the emphasis will be on fun, even with unfair battles surprising players throughout the weekend. Nevertheless, there will be prizes awarded, including some unique Babylon 5 memorabilia.

Other Babylon 5 developments just before expiration of the license include:

• The recent publication in electronic form of Deconstruction of Falling Stars, a collection of setting notes, supplements, scenarios, and novels—all previously unpublished remainder material,
• Soon to be released, The Lurker’s Guide to Gaim, a study of the enigmatic insectoid race,
• Powers & Principalities, expansion rules for A Call to Arms, and
• Three books for running Babylon 5 games with the Traveller rules—Universe of Babylon 5, The Trouble With Drazi, and Warships of Babylon 5.

Also in the science fiction realm, the latest expansion book for Traveller should now be in stores. Scout provides new career options, equipment, and exploration rules.

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Inflation Deflation is a game meant to be “added on” to a Monopoly game. Essentially, it’s a variant that requires you to already own the Monopoly game and rules.

It isn’t connected to or licensed from Hasbro in any way, and it costs $19.95. But if you buy two it’s only twice that. If you buy four, only twice that yet again. It consists of, near as I can tell, a 4-page 8.5″ by 14″ laminated flip book and stand, and 17 additional cards.

And the rules, near as I can tell, cycle through 5 economic stages where players suddenly reap or lose great sums of cash.

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In a post in their French forums (translation), Asmodee announced that they will stop producing the Hell Dorado miniature game in the immediate future (most by April, and the rest by June).

The alleged reason is financial, although irresponsible, un-sourced, and unsubstantiated rumors hint that the company was pressured about its adult themed nature.

They’re looking at releasing the line as open source, or having another company pick it up.

(source)

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In addition to the previous time-wasters we all know and love that come built in to Windows, Windows 7 will have Internet versions of Checkers, Backgammon, and Spades.

They can be played online or solo, and an AI takes over if your online opponent drops out.

Hearts is about to get a run for its money.

(source)

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