Steve Jackson's Blog, page 309

June 26, 2017: Touring Factories

I'm back from Hong Kong, after touring seven different factories in China, and happy to report that several projects are moving forward nicely. We reviewed Munchkin Shakespeare , the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game , and Ogre Miniatures Set 1 , and also got a look at new games like Port Royal and Muertoons flowing through the manufacturing process. These factory tours are always equal parts exhausting and rewarding, but we also uncovered new tricks that are already driving new opportunities.



For those of you who couldn't join us in China, we put together this short video of the trip. Would you like a peek behind the scenes? Here ya go!





I'd like to thank David, our rep at GPI, for coordinating the trip and for making sure that we got enough time at each factory to both oversee current projects and discuss upcoming items. This year marks a decade of working with GPI, and we cannot thank the GPI team enough for all of their assistance in manufacturing our games. We've run some big projects through the GPI factories - including Munchkin Quest and the Ogre Designer's Edition  - and their expertise has made our lives easier and less stressful. Thanks!



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: The Mad Magician Moop Is Coming For You!

Destroy Moop's monsters, with weapons such as the Sockodiles or the Beaver Cleaver. The Owligator and Kangarooster aren't going to wait! Pick up your copy of Moop's Monster Mashup at Warehouse 23 today!

June 25, 2017: Toy Research Trip!

After several different trips for the office, it is time for a micro-vacation. I'm set to fly out next week for a visit to New York and the Strong Museum. This short trip is both a chance to unwind and an opportunity to explore the Strong's archive of Playthings magazine, over 100 years of toy-industry news in a single location. I have visited the museum before, when a solid day of research uncovered some unexpected sales data and fabulous retailer impressions on toys of the '70s, '80s, and '90s, so I'm excited for another chance to sit down and explore the archives.



I'll also get in a little Steve Jackson Games business, but the primary focus of the journey is seeking information that should help a lot as I work on a new book project. Over the last four years, I've published eight books about toys - and a ninth book is at print right now - and getting time for these personal projects helps me stay sane as I push office projects forward. We all need an outlet, right? Is it my fault that my form of stress relief involves work of a different sort?



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: A Zoo For You



Add all sorts of animals to your GURPS Third Edition game with GURPS Classic: Bestiary . Download this magnificent menagerie today, only from Warehouse 23!

June 24, 2017: Stewart Wieck

We received news late tonight, as I write this, that Stewart Wieck has passed away at the age of 49. His brother Steve wrote a brief note on the Tenkar's Tavern forum with a few details.



White Wolf was a titan of roleplaying in the 1990s and the early years of this century and its impact is still being felt in today's generation of RPGs.



I'm racing to get this news queued before midnight, and I'm sure we will have more to say about this next week. Stewart deserves more than this brief obituary.



SJ Games extends our sympathy to the Wieck family, to all who knew Stewart, and to the thousands of fans of his work over the last 25-plus years.



– Andrew Hackard



Warehouse 23 News: We Sell "See" Spells



Discover how to sense danger, detect poison, or set up a magical "watchdog" with GURPS Sorcery: Protection and Warning Spells . This supplement contains 38 new spells for GURPS Thaumatology: Sorcery . Make your games more magical today with this great download, only from Warehouse 23.

June 23, 2017: Q&A With Munchkin Spell Skool Artist Katie Cook!

To celebrate the release of Munchkin Spell Skool , exclusively at Walgreens (hitting stores in the next week or so, so swing by your local Walgreens to pick up a copy, before they disappear), we sat down with Katie Cook and asked her a few questions about the game, her thoughts on magic, and her favorites from the set!
 
You've done a lot of work on Munchkin sets now – Munchkin Love Shark Baby, Munchkin Puppies, Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition , Munchkin Oz Guest Artist Edition . Did you approach Munchkin Spell Skool any differently?
 
    I try to approach everything I do with a sense of humor and enthusiasm . . . the Munchkin stuff especially so. These sets are such a blast to work on. 
 
As you know, players in this Munchkin game are young students at a magic school. Did that theme inspire you? How?  
 
    I guess you could say I am a fan of a certain series of books about students at a magic school. 
 



Which was your favorite card to draw for Munchkin Spell Skool?

 
     Maybe the Food Fighters? Eggs-and-bacon food-fight face is a classic. 
 
Was there a card or cards that gave you trouble in this set?
 
     I think I drew a few things that were made of barf in this set . . . yet had to make it cute. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. 
 
Was there a card you thought was the funniest or the punniest?
 
     The Rap-Scallions cracked me up. (Editor's note: They crack me up, too. -HS) 
 


Do you believe in magic?


 


     If you don't believe in magic, the world gets to be pretty boring. 


 


Do you have secret magical abilities? 


 


     I am a mom. I am all-knowing and all-seeing. 
 
How are your other projects? Anything upcoming that fans should look for?
 
    I've been illustrating some Star Wars books for Disney/Lucasfilm Press:  ABC-3PO and Obi-123 !
 
Where can fans find you on the web? 
 
     I'm katiecandraw on all the social media: Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Wordpress, and Facebook. 
 
You can find out more about Munchkin Spell Skool in our previous Daily Illuminator post and our feature on Forbes.com. Start your summer schooling at Walgreens now! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: We Sell "See" Spells



Discover how to sense danger, detect poison, or set up a magical "watchdog" with GURPS Sorcery: Protection and Warning Spells . This supplement contains 38 new spells for GURPS Thaumatology: Sorcery . Make your games more magical today with this great download, only from Warehouse 23.

June 22, 2017: Going To Chattanooga For LibertyCon

Chattanooga's a great city, LibertyCon is fun - I'm going back next weekend. I hope to ride a train or two whilst there. The city, not the con. If the con had its own trains, I might just never leave.

I'd love to tell you to come, but they are totally sold out. So it goes. If you've already got a membership, I will see you there! I will be bringing three unpublished, unannounced game designs to try out on a live audience. Yes, I want to experiment on you!



Next convention appearance after this: I'll be at Gen Con in August; I'm doing a panel and we will be repeating the Munchkin Tavern.



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Munchkin In Vinyl

Do you need a mascot? (Of course you do!) Grab one of the Munchkin Vinyl Figures from Funko at Warehouse 23 - regular, "classic" brown, or glow-in-the-dark. Each comes with its own special card . . . so heck, get all three!
 

June 21, 2017: Summer School Starts With Munchkin Spell Skool

We kept it under our magic hat for a while, but now the secret is out: Munchkin Spell Skool is coming to a Walgreens near you!



This new Munchkin game features the adorable art of Katie Cook, who's drawn everything from Munchkin Kittens and Puppies  to Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition , so you know it's got charm! Speaking of charms, if you're looking to learn about spellcasting, this is the game for you. Join one of the school clubs, like Chess Club, Potion Club, or the Forbidden Magic Club. Fight off the Rap Scallions with your Starter Wand, but watch out for the fearsome Moldy Mort and his minions! If you want to get a quick spellcasting primer, check out our How To Play video on Youtube and start training. 



Munchkin Spell Skool was even featured on Forbes.com, focusing on games appearing in new places. (Who knew we'd see the day when Munchkin would show up in Forbes? To be fair, businesspeople do have a lot of loot to take, so it may have been inevitable . . .)



Look for Munchkin Spell Skool at your local Walgreens soon. Mix it with previous releases, like Munchkin Grimm Tidings or Moop's Monster Mashup to make the ultimate magical mix-up! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: All Your Zombies In One Place!

Who says you can't have it all? Zombie Dice Horde Edition is a compilation of Zombie Dice and its current expansions ( Double Feature and School Bus ), all in one convenient, Munchkin -sized box with a custom dice bag. Preorder it at Warehouse 23 now, before the horde finds you!
 

June 20, 2017: Back From Origins!

While SJ Games didn't have an official booth at Origins Game Fair this past weekend, we did send one intrepid explorer out to meet the press, get the lay of the land, and enjoy scenic Columbus, OH. That individual was myself! This was my first Origins ever, and it was a whirlwind of activity.



You may have seen me on the BoardGameGeek live stream, talking about the upcoming releases Munchkin Shakespeare Deluxe and Port Royal . Forrest Bower also took a look at Port Royal , as well as Muertoons , coming later this year. Look for more content like this coming out in the weeks after the convention from these creators, as well as others like Through Gamer Goggles, GeekDad/GeekMom, and more! 

I was also able to play some very fun and unique games from fellow publishers in the industry. Codenames Duet, a two-player cooperative version of the classic word game from CGE, is looking to be another smash hit. Spinderella, from Zoch Verlag, is an adorable game of spiders that descend from the trees using magnets! Hotshots, coming later this year and produced by our friends at Fireside Games, is a tense cooperative game. We were able to put out all the wildfires at the last minute! As a racing-game fan, Restoration Games' Downforce, a game about racing and betting, has me intrigued, as well. 

On a personal note, I want to thank everyone who took the time to sit down with me, do an interview, play a game, or just hang out. Special thanks to Adventure Retail, who had an immense SJ Games section, and to Nerd Night, who gave away some of the Munchkin Messenger Bags for charity! This was one of the most enjoyable conventions I've ever attended, and I hope I can make it back next year. 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Fight The Martians!



The fate of the Earth hangs in the balance in GURPS Mars Attacks. The popular setting comes to life with history, templates, and campaign advice for playing either side of the conflict. Will you save the world . . . or help conquer it? Buy it today - as a hardcover or PDF - from Warehouse 23!

June 19, 2017: Ogre Game Day Locations

Stores across North America will fire up their demo copies of Ogre Sixth Edition this weekend. Attend, and you might get a set of premium Ogre dice for free.  



What better time than the present to play the game of future tank warfare? Find an Ogre event near you! 



UNITED STATES 



Alabama



Bud's Place Games and Comics - Leeds 
Haven: Comics, Etc. - Madison 
Rogue Merchant Games - Madison 



Alaska



BOSCO'S - Anchorage 
Gateway Games - Ketchikan 



Arizona



Imperial Outpost Games - Glendale 



Arkansas 



Imagine! Hobbies & Games - Sherwood 
The Gamer Utopia - Rogers  



California



BaT Comics & Games - Chico
Gator Games & Hobby - San Mateo 
Geeky Teas & Games - Burbank  
Leisure Time Games - Santa Maria
North Coast Roleplaying - Eureka  
Pair a Dice Games - Vista
Paladins Game Castle - Bakersfield  
The Game Chest - Mission Viejo 



Colorado



Break from Reality - Johnstown 



Florida



Gods & Monsters - Orlando
Sci-Fi City - Orlando 
Kitchen Table Games - Saint Petersburg 
Gamesville Tabletop Inc. - Gainesville 
Cool Stuff Games Waterford Lakes - Orlando 



Georgia



Quest Comic Shop - Carrollton 
Tyche's Games - Athens 



Hawaii



Other Realms Ltd. - Honolulu



Idaho



All About Games - Boise 
Safari Pearl - Moscow 



Illinois



Castle Perilous Games and Books - Carbondale 
JustForFun - Peoria 



Indiana



Reader Copies - Anderson 
Saltire Games - Indianapolis 
The Game Annex - Fort Wayne 



Kansas



Collector's Cache by Feral Events - Olathe
Grog's Games - Topeka
Huscarl Hobbies and Games - Topeka 



Kentucky



HobbyTown - Bowling Green 



Maine



Weekend Anime - Westbrook 



Maryland



Alternate Worlds Comics & Games - Hunt Valley 



Massachusetts



Round Table Games - Carver 



Michigan



White Cap Comics - Walker
The Outer Limits - Wyoming 
RIW Hobbies and Games -  Livonia 
Dreams of Conquest - Bay City



Missouri



Capital City's Game Emporium - Jefferson City 
CCYDNE Hobbies - Lebanon 



Nebraska



Game On - Grand Island 
Game On - Kearney 
Game On - McCook 



Nevada



FRANK-N-FREDS COMICS & CARDS - Elko 
Little Shop of Magic - Las Vegas 



New Hampshire 



The Relentless Dragon - Nashua 



New Jersey 



All Things Fun! - McGuire AFB
3rd Earth Comics - Middlesex 



New Mexico 



Zia Comics and Games - Las Cruces 



New York 



Cloud Giant - New Hartford 
Modern Myths, Inc. - Mamaroneck 
The Arena - West Babylon 
The Compleat Strategist - New York City 



North Carolina 



DreamDaze Comics Fun & Games - Wilson 



Ohio



Fun Factory - Mt. Gilead 
Timewarp Cards and Comics - Cincinnati 
Checkmate - Toledo 
Immortals Inc. - Rocky River 
Next Level Gaming Center - Gallipolis 
Sci-Fi City - Cincinnati 



Oregon



Matt's Cavalcade of Comics - Corvallis 
Rainy Day Games - Aloha 
Wild Things Games - Salem 
Fine Games - North Bend 
Guardian Games - Portland 



Pennsylvania



Mister J's Asylum - Muncy 
Six Feet Under Games - New Holland 
The Gamer's Edge - Stroudsburg 
Firefly Bookstore - Kutztown 
Phantom of the Attic Games - Pittsburgh 



Texas



Fleur Fine Books - Port Neches 
Space Cadets Gaming Gaming - Oak Ridge North 
Dimensions Comics - Seabrook 
Comic Asylum - Richardson 
Court of Gamers - San Antonio 
Geek Out - Burleson 
Three Suns Unlimited - Longview   
Black Dog Enterprises - Lubbock 
Phoenix Games and Collectibles - Borger 
Wonko's Toys and Games - Austin 
A Galaxy Called Dallas - Garland 



Utah



High Gear Hobby - Taylorsville  



Virginia



The Compleat Strategist - Falls Church 
Kaboom - Virginia Beach 



Washington



Let's Play! Cafe - Monroe 
Dice Age Games - Vancouver 
Games Plus - Lake Stevens 
Wandering Havoc Games - Marysville 
Around The Table Game Pub - Lynnwood 
Dragon's Hoard Games - Silverdale 



West Virginia



Nerd Rage Morgantown - Morgantown 



Wisconsin



Gnome Games Green Bay East - Green Bay 
Gnome Games Appleton East - Appleton 



Wyoming



Games of Chance - Riverton 



CANADA



Ontario 



Twice the Fun Games - Kemptville 
Scalliwag Toys - Belleville 



-- Ariel Barkhurst



Warehouse 23 News: It's Not The End Of The World! Oh, Wait . . .



Rebuild the world from the ashes of the old! Make post-apocalyptic heroes with GURPS After the End 1: Wastelanders , then unleash the danger of tomorrow with GURPS After the End 2: The New World . Download them both today, only from Warehouse 23!

June 18, 2017: Illuminated Site of the Week: Pony-Trekking Or Camping

What if there were no such place as Finland? More to the point, is there such a place as Finland? Looks like a lot of folks presented some pretty convincing evidence that it doesn't exist. Skeptoid podcast, whether in a fit of pique or out of a desire to maintain a favored vacation spot, urges you to clap your hands and keep it on the maps. Why, they ask, would people eat up the suggestion that an entire landmass isn't there? How do these things get going and what keeps them going? Brian Dunning writes and talks about it at the site.



He doesn't do it from Finland, mind you, but there's probably good reason for that.



– Suggested by Andrew Hackard



 



Warehouse 23 News: Avast, Ye Munchkins!



Pirates are known for hiding loot, and Munchkin pirates are no different! Order Munchkin Booty 2  -  Jump the Shark and Munchkin Booty: Fish & Ships from Warehouse 23 today, before Davy Jones reclaims his treasure!

June 17, 2017: Interview With David Ladyman of Star Traders

We recently had the chance to sit down with David Ladyman, designer of Star Traders . A new edition of that classic game was recently funded on Kickstarter, so we wanted to get the skinny on this space-hopping adventure! 



1. Star Traders still has a strong niche popularity. When you decided to publish a new edition, did you keep it mostly the same, or did you have some new ideas you wanted to squeeze into your design?



The basic concept is still there. At the same time, nearly every rule has been at least nudged slightly. You could say it's had 30 years of playtest, and there were definitely things that slowed the original game or made it less fun. In fact, that's one overall change - where the original game sometimes chose "realistic" over "fun," this version chooses "fun."



For example, when you are about to make a jump from star to star in the original game, you had to declare where you were trying to go and then roll to see if you made it. With this version, you roll first, and then decide where you're going to jump or whether you're going to do something else entirely. The first is much more realistic (choose a destination and try to reach it), but the current version means you get to do a lot more in your turn, which is more fun.



2. There are a lot of references to sci-fi in the game. What were some of your biggest inspirations designing Star Traders?



From the beginning, the game has had a significant tongue-in-cheek science fiction flavor. For example, the world Shower exported Fungus and the world Helix exported Designer Genes, and a few of the worlds were named after sci authors.



I really liked the sci-fi author names in the original, so this time around, I decided to go full-bore with that. I got permission to include the names of recent and current authors in the game. Each world is named after an author, and it exports something relevant to that author's stories.



Meanwhile, you also have a hand of cards. In the original, they had generic sci-fi references, plus a few inside jokes and nods to playtesters. This time, I focused the cards on pop media - mainly TV and movies, but there are also some references to other games. It was a matter of matching the references to the effect of the card; for instance, one set of cards gives you more actions in a turn … those cards are titled "It's Bigger On The Inside." One card gives you Prestige - for winning the MST 3K race. And so forth.



The game has always had an overarching generic SF theme - a futuristic galactic realm, ruled by an arbitrary emperor. With this version, I've been able to include my favorite sci-fi authors and references to a lot of sci-fi TV shows and movies. I've read a lot of books and watched a lot of shows - I guess I'd have to say that is my biggest inspiration.



3. Steve is in the game! What role does he play?



Steve is the Hero, of course! Actually, he's one of two Heroes. There are 10 Personalities in the game; when you play a Personality, you get an advantage of one sort or another. (And there's a wonderful, 500-word backstory for each Personality.) We created art for 20 Personalities (there are a male and female version of each one), modeled on various people for a variety of reasons. I wanted to include the masters of game design with whom I've most closely worked, and I was delighted that Steve, Richard Garriott de Cayeux, and Chris Roberts all agreed to be Tuckerized as Personalities in the game. Because of your great popularity throughout the galaxy, you gain extra Prestige when you play the Hero.



That answers your question, but there's another answer, as well. Without Steve, there would be no Star Traders . Thirty years ago, when Steve Jackson Games acquired the "Isaac Asimov Presents" license, he could have simply decided to design the first Asimov-licensed game himself. Instead, he graciously declared a company-wide competition, and I tossed the design that became Star Traders into the ring. After a whole lot of development of all the games, Steve and the rest of the design committee chose Star Traders . That original game has my name on the cover, but Steve is credited as the developer, and rightly so - he had a great deal of influence on the original game.



4. Now that the game has been successfully Kickstarted, will players have a chance to buy it in stores?



I certainly hope so! I can design games; I'm not nearly so good at marketing them. We plan to have the game available in stores across the nation, and you can always order it online.



Speaking of which:



5. Where can gamers find you online? 



You can get the game on our site at www.TradersLuck.com. And for a limited time (that being, until we run out), you can get the Emperor's Codex as well, with larger art of all the Personalities, a short description of the stories of all the authors in the game, and a brief history of the development of Star Traders .



Thanks to David for taking the time to talk with us. Look for Star Traders at your local game store in the near future! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Bring Your Favorite Worlds To Life



Turning a beloved book, movie, or TV series into a GURPS campaign has never been easier, thanks to GURPS Adaptations . This invaluable advice - with six examples - is just a download away, only from Warehouse 23!