Origins Game Fair opened today. I wasn’t able to go, but it has me thinking about the next convention I will be able to attend, Gen Con. For great reporting from that event (second, of course, to Purple Pawn), I look forward to the twice-daily podcast, This Just In From Gen Con. With new hosts this year, the show is also planning a 5 minute morning preview and a live-blogging Tumblr feed.

To raise money for the production of This Just In From Gen Con, hosts Daniel Perez and Rich Rogers have launched a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo. Perks for contributors include stickers, t-shirts, and hugs, but for a little more you can sponsor an episode and get some advertising exposure.

• 1 Comment

WizKids is launching an online HeroClix game with an open but paid beta program starting immediately. HeroClix Online will provide a 3D virtual tabletop, where players can add their HeroClix figures—starting with the Hammer of Thor and Fantastic Four sets—and play with up to 64 people in a single tournament. Those who join the beta by July 5th will receive an exclusive figure when the game goes live.

• Comments Off on HeroClix Online

Martin Wallace is dipping his unique toe into the deck-building game genre with his new game A Few Acres of  Snow.

AFAoS is a card-driven war game for two players, representing the British and French struggle for control of North America in the 17th and 18th centuries. Cards are acquired and drawn using deck-building mechanics, and like most card-driven war games can be used for multiple purposes.

You acquire location cards by playing adjacent location cards together with matching resource and settlers symbols. Of course, there are several types of combat involved, including siege, ambush, and raid.

English rules available here [PDF].

• 1 Comment

Jakks Pacific is a big player in the toy industry but doesn’t venture into (non-electronic) games too often. This Pirates of the Caribbean-themed game Master of the Seas, designed by Forrest-Pruzan Creative, is an interesting first attempt at a strategy game.

The game comes with 3D ship and terrain pieces, as well as a navigation compass to measure movement – yes, it uses miniature game movement mechanics. Your job is to collect specific treasures (randomly distributed face down) using dice based movement and combat. You can hire crew to improve your dice results, so there is some decision making.

While not aimed at the serious gamer, the game might contain some cross-over appeal.

• Comments Off on Pirates of the Caribbean: Master of the Seas

Silver Fox Productions’ subsidiary RAFM presents officially licensed miniatures to replace your wooden bits for Settlers of Catan. Unless I’m mistaken, pictured is a few settlements and cities, roads, and a robber.

Minis come in Vikings, Chinese, Egyptian, or Bavarian flavors (tasty [1]).

[1] Yeah, you probably shouldn’t eat them.

• Comments Off on Silver Fox Crosses Minis with Settlers of Catan

Click on a header to sort by the column.

New:

Read the rest of this entry »

• 6 Comments

Click on a header to sort by the column.

New:

Previous:

On Springboard:

• 3 Comments

Games Workshop is raising prices (again) by as much as 20-25% on 270 products. They have also ordered that retailers in Europe may not sell products to customers outside of Europe, in order (they say) to boost the revenues of local stores that provide free services. (source) Not everyone is happy. GW’s profits, revenues, and shares are all up. (source)

Meanwhile, Hasbro is axing 145 jobs in MA and adding 70 to RI, now that they have received their state tax benefit. Eat that, MA. Hasbro is calling their new operation, which combines both video and board gaming operations,  “The Center of Excellence for Games”. (source)

• Comments Off on GW Restricts European Retailers; Hasbro Moves Jobs Out of MA

Paizo and WizKids have announced that they will produce a (non-random) set of prepainted plastic miniatures to go along with the Pathfinder RPG Beginner Box. While sold separately, the set is specifically designed as an accessory to the introductory Pathfinder RPG product. On the other hand, I know at least a few D&D players who are hoping that Paizo and WizKids will extend the line, to replace the D&D Miniatures dropped by WOTC.

• 1 Comment

In 2009, famed Warhammer co-designer Rick Priestly left Games Workshop to join Warlord Games. Warlord produces their own rules and minis, and also sells rules and minis from other companies.

Rick’s first book for Warlord (with Jervis Johnson – who also worked on Warhammer as well as Blood Bowl – and John Stallard – also of Warhammer fame) was Black Powder, a gentleman’s game of war in the age of muskets. He follows this up with Hail Caesar, covering battles in Ancient Rome.

Buy Hail Caesar from Warlord Games and you get a free mini, as well as free worldwide shipping (during May). In any case, check out their site for minis appropriate for both books.

• Comments Off on Hail Caesar