Steve Jackson's Blog, page 322

February 2, 2017: New Releases For January

We started off 2017 with a bang in January with some new Munchkin loot, and the double-sized finale of our long-running Munchkin comics produced by our friends at BOOM! Studios. So I guess we started off the year with a bang and a boom! 

Munchkin Valentines



Munchkins love stealing treasure – but why not try stealing hearts?



You can do that with these Munchkin Valentines ! Each package comes with five valentines and envelopes, so you've got five chances to make someone like you. We believe in you! Kind of!



And the best part? You can give your flames the gift of Munchkin , because the package also comes with five small packs of Munchkin cards that fit inside the valentines!

Munchkin Hidden Treasures



These cards belong in a museum!



For several years, we have sold sets of cards for many of our Munchkin games in our online store. Munchkin Hidden Treasures combines almost* all of those cards into a single, easily transported package! 



Encompassing many different versions of Munchkin , you'll find cards in Hidden Treasures no matter what flavor you are into. Plus, you don't need to do any manual labor to get them; we dug them up for you in advance! 



*A few odd-sized cards are not included.

Munchkin #25



Celebrate the series finale of Munchkin comics!



In this month's issue, Brother Skeeper teaches a class about the Gazebo. But does he really know what he's talking about? He does not, and the result could be deadly. Then, in the second story, the marvelous magician Moop feeds Spyke and Flower some special brownies! That is, he feeds them brownies that teleport them to magical and distant places, like Oz and the Land of Legend.



Look in the back pages of this issue for a special promo code to get The Official Munchkin Bookmark of the Garb of the Gazebo and five Munchkin promo cards from Warehouse 23 for a penny, plus a bonus Munchkin rule!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Cats And Puppies And . . . Hedgehogs?



Don't get fed last! With the  Simon's Cat Card Game  in your paws, you and your cat friends can dodge Simon's attention and avoid the Blame. This 3-6 player card game is available now from Warehouse 23!

February 1, 2017: #PlayOgre At Your Local Retailer On February 11

Ogre Sixth Edition has arrived and we wanted to launch it with a bang! So we shared our enthusiasm with stores around the country that are participating in our #PlayOgre Launch Event with a Launch Kit!



These kits include tons of great giveaways like dice and counter sheets, and even a demo game. Now all we need is you! Head to your friendly local game store on Saturday, February 11, play Ogre Sixth Edition , post pics of yourself playing to social media, and tag your store! Not only will you have a chance to take part in post-apocalyptic, AI-fueled futuristic warfare, you'll be entered in our weekly contest. So stop by your local shop, play some Ogre , and get some awesome swag. 



Check this list of stores to see if your favorite location is participating, and join us February 11 for the game day!



Alabama



Game Time Hobbies - Opelika
Haven: Comics, Etc. - Madison
Mini War Game - Fairhope
Quality Collectibles - Jasper
Rogue Merchant Games - Huntsville



Alaska



Bosco's Comics Cards & Games - Anchorage



Arizona



Game Depot AZ - Tempe
Game Depot - Mesa
Imperial Outpost Games - Glendale
Isle of Games - Tucson



Arkansas



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



California



BaT Comics & Games - Chico
Black Diamond Games - Concord
Brookhurst Hobbies - Garden Grove
Crazy Squirrel Game Store - Fresno
Dice House Games - Fullerton
Empire Collectibles - San Diego
Endgame - Oakland
Gator Games & Hobby - San Mateo
North Coast Role Playing - Eureka
Pair A Dice Games - Vista
Paladins Game Castle - Bakersfield
Ottos Video Games & More! - Bakersfield



Colorado



Black & Read - Arvada
Break From Reality - Johnstown
Chaos, Games and More - Pueblo
Gamers Haven - Colorado Springs



Florida



Cool Stuff Games Waterford Lakes - Orlando
Friendly Local Game Store - Jacksonville
Gamesville Tabletop - Gainesville
Kitchen Table Games - Saint Petersburg
Living Dead Comics - Orlando
Phoenix Game Zone - Lake City
The Comics Club, Inc. - Brandon



Georgia



Heroes & Villains, Inc. - Warner Robins
Meeple Madness - Flowery Branch
Quest Comic Shop - Carrolton
Tyche's Games - Athens



Hawaii



Other Realms Ltd - Honolulu
The Armchair Adventurer - Honolulu



Idaho



Game Pulse - Rexburg
Infinite Heroes Games - Nampa



Illinois



Castle Perilous - Carbondale
Da Sorce - Chicago
Draxtar Games - Batavia
Fair Game - Downers Grove
Games Plus - Mount Prospect
JustForFun - Peoria



Indiana



Deck Factory - Fort Wayne
Games Inn - Hobart
Readers Copies - Anderson
The Game Annex - Fort Wayne
The Game Preserve #4 - Lafayette
The Traveling Gamer - Walkerton
White Flag Games - Mooresville



Iowa



Geek City Games and Comics - Coralville
Mayhem Collectibles - Clive



Kansas



Gatekeeper Hobbies - Topeka
Huscarl: Hobbies and Games - Topeka
The Geekery - Shawnee



Kentucky



Comics 2 Games - Florence
HobbyTown - Bowling Green



Louisiana



+1 Gaming - Metairie
Go4Games - Metairie



Maine



Game Citadel - Bangor
Weekend Anime & Games - Westbrook



Maryland



Alternate Worlds Comics & Games - Hunt Valley
Dream Wizards - Rockville
Looking For Games - Frederick
Play More Games - Germantown
Xpanding Universe - Aberdeen



Massachusetts



Command D - Lowell
New England Comics - New Bedford
Round Table Games - Carver
The Compleat Strategist - Boston



Michigan



Dreams of Conquest - Bay City
Flat Land Games - Wixom
RIW Hobbies and Games - Livonia
White Cap Comics - Grand Rapids



Minnesota



Collector's Connection - Duluth
Lionheart Games LLC - Waite Park
Paddy's Game Shoppe - St. Cloud



Mississippi



Caster's Den - Luka
Dark Knights Gaming - Long Beach
maCnarB Gaming - Gauiter
Tupelo Sportscards - Tupelo



Missouri



CCYDNE Hobbies - Lebanon



Montana



KAB Sports Cards & Collectables - Billings
Orion's Keep Games - Hamilton



Nebraska



Game On - Grand Island
Game On - Kearney
Game On - North Platte
Gauntlet Games - Lincoln



Nevada



Little Shop of Magic - Las Vegas



New Hampshire



Pop Culture Cards Comics and Games - Raymond
Relentless Dragon - Nashua
The Game Castle - Londonderry



New Jersey



3rd Earth Comics - Middlesex
All Things Fun! - JBMDL
Elite Battlegrounds - Green Brook
Elite Battlegrounds - Middlesex
The Game Room Store - Woodbridge



New York



3rd Universe - Croton-on-Hudson
A Nu Toy Store - Tarrytown
Brothers Grimm - Selden
Dragon Snack Games - Buffalo
Foam Brain Games - Troy
Game Master Games - Hicksville
The Compleat Strategist - New York City
Zombie Planet - Albany



North Carolina



Cape Fear Games - Wilmington
Comic Monstore - Salisbury
DreamDaze Comics Fun & Games - Wilson
HyperMind - Burlington
Scott's Collectibles - Kannapolis



Ohio



Beyond the Board - Dublin
Checkmate - Toledo
Diversions - Newbury
Fun Factory - Mt Gilead
Next Level Gaming Center - Gallipolis
Sci-Fi City - Cincinnati
The Rook - Cincinnati
TimeWarp Cards and Comics - Cincinnati
That Game Shop - Hudson



Oregon



Guardian Games - Portland
Rainy Day Games - Aloha



Pennsylvania



Comic Store West - York
Showcase Comics and Games - Bryn Mawr
Showcase Comics - Swarthmore
Six Feet Under Games - New Holland
The Compleat Strategist - King of Prussia
The Gamer's Edge - Stroudsburg



South Carolina



2nd Player Video Games - Sumter
Firefly Toys and Games - Columbia
Ray's Hobbies & More - Sumter



Tennessee



Pair A Dice Games - Athens



Texas



A Galaxy Called Dallas - Garland
Alien Worlds 1 - San Antonio
Alien Worlds 2 - San Antonio
Court of Gamers - San Antonio
Dimensions Comics, Music & More - Seabrook
GeekLife - Houston
Generation X Comics & Games - Bedford
Gerard's Gaming - Friendswood
Phoenix Games and Collectibles - Borger
Space Cadets Gaming Gaming - Oak Ridge North
Wonko's Toys and Games - Austin



Utah



Game Grid - Layton
Gamers Asylum - Ogden
High Gear Hobby - Taylorsville



Virginia



Bardic Tales Inc - Hopewell
Comics and Gaming - Fairfax
Kaboom - Virginia Beach
The Compleat Strategist - Falls Church



Washington



Around The Table - Lynnwood
Dice Age Games - Vancouver
Dragon's Hoard Games - Silverdale
Games Plus - Lake Stevens
Let's Play! Cafe - Monroe
Meeples Games - Seattle
Mission: Fun & Games - Oroville
TerraCrux Games - Tacoma
Wandering Havoc - Marysville



Washington, DC



Labyrinth Games & Puzzles



West Virginia



J and M's Used Bookstore - Parkersburg



Wisconsin



Adventure Games - Oshkosh
Friends' Olde Fashioned Hobby Shoppe - Kenosha
Gnome Games - Appleton
Gnome Games - Green Bay
TK Games - Menomonee Falls



Wyoming



Games of Chance - Riverton



– Joshua Surfus



Warehouse 23 News: The Elder Gods Have Never Been This Adorable!



Katie Cook, illustrator of  Munchkin Love Shark Baby  and creator of  Gronk: A Monster's Story , brings her own patented form of adorable to  Munchkin Cthulhu ! Losing your mind has never been so cute. Celebrate 15 years of  Munchkin  with the Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition from Warehouse 23 now!

January 31, 2017: Munchkin Shakespeare Is Coming To Kickstarter!

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely munchkins! SJ Games is proud to announce our next Kickstarter project:  Munchkin Shakespeare ! 



Set in the plays and poems of the world's most famous bard, Munchkin Shakespeare lets slip the dogs of foolishness, with all the classic looting, backstabbing, and leveling up of the original Munchkin game, combined with Shakespearian jokes that the groundlings would love. Featuring new art from John Kovalic, the game will start as a Munchkin Christmas Lite size tuckbox, but we have plans to grow it based on the success of the campaign. So the better the project does, the more cards and fun stuff we can stuff in your shipping boxes! 



But why Kickstarter? To crowdfund or not to crowdfund, that is the question. We decided to use Kickstarter for this project because of its origin. Munchkin Shakespeare started off as a fan-created project on the JoCo Cruise. Steve and Andrew polled audience members for card ideas and added plenty of their own. Considering how it began, we wanted to bring it to the people to make this game a reality. Of course, local game stores will have incentive to back throughout the campaign as well, and if it funds we'll release the base game at retail when it delivers to backers. Ultimately though, we wanted this set to be by the fans and for the fans, and we believe Kickstarter is a great way to make that happen. (Watch for another Illuminator later this week by Munchkin Czar Andrew Hackard, talking about why we went this route in more detail.)



We'll have more details when the campaign launches on February 7. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss out! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: The Best Valentine For A Munchkin Fan!



For a limited time, with orders of physical product of $75 or more, we will send you a Valentine's Monster Box at no cost! Like, free! This big box features art by Katie Cook, illustrator for for the My Little Pony comics as well as our very own Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition and Munchkin Love Shark Baby. Stay ahead of your fellow Munchkin fans . . . this Monster Box will not be available for sale until 2018!  Place your qualifying order from Warehouse 23 now, and get yours while you can! 

January 30, 2017: Munchkin Grimm Tidings Update

Last year, before the holidays, we shipped the last copies of Munchkin Grimm Tidings to the Walgreens distribution centers. At this moment, we have no plans to reprint  Grimm Tidings , so what is now on shelves is all that's available. (Walgreens currently has  Munchkin Zombies  and  Munchkin Legends  on shelves if a store is out of  Grimm Tidings .) We may reprint Munchkin Grimm Tidings in the future – probably in a different box – but that wouldn't happen until 2018 at the earliest. 



If you have been holding off on adding  Grimm Tidings to your collection, we suggest visiting your local Walgreens today. Otherwise, you'll find yourself buying the game at an inflated rate on the after-market (and we never advise that!) or waiting until our reprint queue clears enough that we can put Munchkin Grimm Tidings back into circulation.



If you're unfamiliar with Munchkin Grimm Tidings and would like to know more, please check out:



Andrew's designer's notes.


John's art notes.


Andrew's notes on mixing Munchkin Grimm Tidings with Munchkin Legends and Munchkin Oz .


The official Munchkin Grimm Tidings webpage.
– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Travel Through Time And Party On Dudes!



Strange things are afoot, and you have an oral history-report due! Hop into the phone booth to travel through time and collect famous historical dudes and dudettes with Bill & Ted's Excellent Boardgame ! Get your copy now from Warehouse 23.

January 29, 2017: Crowdfunding Focus: Wyrmwood Game Master Screen

Wyrmwood Gaming has been a friend of SJ Games for a while. They're known for some pretty stellar wooden gaming equipment (like our Zombie Dice convention tray). Well, Eric gave me a quick, hands-on demonstration of their newest Kickstarter accessory, and it's a doozy. 



I'm talking about their Magnetic Game Master screen. This isn't some small-time screen; this bad boy is decked to the nines with tons of options, perfect for that game "master" moniker we like to throw around. (You thought you were a master, but once you see this, you may second-guess yourself.) Three individual screens are connected by magnets, with the ability to change their orientation. Not only that, but the trim on each screen is magnetized, to let you put all sorts of resources in, like monster stats, maps, or other props for your campaign. The main screen is even reversible, letting you reveal that terrifying beast, or show off a letter from a dignitary for players to read, or even give them insight into the dungeon layout. 

 



But Wyrmwood didn't stop at screens. Two optional towers are unlockable stretch goals. The first (which is unlocked) is a dice tower – and even that has a quirk! You can angle the bottom slat to either aim behind the screen for your secret monster attacks, or toward the players for a dramatic lockpicking check. The other tower (currently locked) houses multiple drawers to store accessories like dice, figures, or tokens.



As if all that wasn't enough, backers can piecemeal their perfect screen. Maybe you don't want the towers, or you just have to have it all; either way they have you covered. Even the wood is customizable!



You still have some time to get in on the Kickstarter, and I definitely recommend it. The options are endless, and it would surely improve your GURPS campaign or any other roleplaying game. 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Those Pesky Humans . . .



In Zombie Dice, you are a zombie trying to avoid being shotgunned by humans. Test your luck, with a roll of the dice, to see if you get a tasty snack or shot to a pulp! If you're at PAX South today, you can check out our tournament set for 11:30 a.m. If you can't join us at the convention, you can still get plenty of braiiiiiiiins by getting your very own copy of Zombie Dice from Warehouse 23 now!  

January 28, 2017: Off To The Nuremberg Toy Fair!

Over the last few years, the Nuremberg Toy Fair has become more important to our plans as we sit down with translation partners and discuss upcoming projects. We review the stages of various games, discuss translation opportunities, and spend three to four days at the convention trying to guarantee that our European licensees have everything they need to continue translating Steve Jackson Games' titles for languages including German, French, Spanish, Russian, and many others.



One highlight of the trip each year is blocking out a day or two to see something outside of the convention center. The most successful "tourism + business" trip to Germany in recent years had to have been the one during which I spent a day in Prague with David Blanchard, our rep at GPI (the company that oversees the majority of our manufacturing needs). It has been tough to top that trip – David drove us from Prague to Nuremberg, and he even made arrangements for us to stay in a fabulous German village while we were there – but this time around, I am hoping to improve on past success. How? Well, I've got the address to the Nuremberg toy museum and (hopefully) time to visit it.



Nuremberg is the home of centuries of toymaking, and exploring the Nuremberg toy museum before sitting down for business at the Nuremberg Toy Fair strikes me as an excellent use of time. The toy museum we visited in Prague a few years ago – photos posted here – was amazing, but looking at the Nuremberg toy museum website, I find myself with high expectations. Fingers crossed here that the museum is everything I'm hoping for!



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Slug It Out With Hovercrafts, Tanks, And Infantry . . .



Modern warfare has never been so satisfying! Check out our booth at PAX South, and head over to our  Ogre Sixth Edition  tournament at 1:00 pm today! If you aren't going to PAX but still want to rumble, you can always get your own copy of  Ogre Sixth Edition  right here on Warehouse 23.   

January 27, 2017: The Finale Of Munchkin Comics, In Stores Now!

We're two-excited for this month's double-sized, double-covered finale of Munchkin comics, with two all-star stories! 



Munchkin #25 celebrates the end of our BOOM! Studios comic run with a huge sendoff. Munchkin  Czar Andrew Hackard writes two tales, containing more classic characters than you can shake a stick at. In "The Ecology of the Gazebo," illustrated by Phil Murphy, learn about the most dreaded of monsters and how to (unsuccessfully) avoid them. "Brownian Motion" mashes up Moop, Flower, and Spyke for a whirlwind tour through different Munchkin worlds, like Munchkin Oz , Munchkin Legends , and Munchkin Grimm Tidings ! Len Peralta gives us his take on these worlds and the gnarly inhabitants. Who thought brownies could be so magically potent?



Of course, an issue of Munchkin wouldn't be complete without the special rule at the back, as well as your BOOM! Bookmark Bundle code. Don't forget to use them!



It's been a long, hilarious, fun road for Munchkin. We've met a number of talented creatives through the book, and we hope readers have enjoyed it as much as we have! Let's not call this "the end." Let's call this "the end, for now." Pick up a copy (or two – you know you need both covers!) of Munchkin #25 at your friendly local comic shop today! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Can You Outsmart Batman?



Today at PAX South, we're running a tournament to find the ultimate supervillain . . . but even if you aren't attending, you can try your hand at this quick and easy dice game! Do you have what it takes to beat the Bat? Get your copy of Batman: The Animated Series™ Dice Game  on Warehouse 23 and find out! 

January 26, 2017: Play Ogre At PAX South And Get Exclusive Prizes!

This Saturday, SJ Games will be at PAX South in San Antonio, TX, and we're bringing the Command Post with us! That's right, Ogre Sixth Edition will be in the house, and we've got some fun stuff planned for it.



Not only will we be demoing the game at our booth (TT104), but we're also hosting an Ogre Sixth Edition tournament, this Saturday at 1:00 p.m., to see which commander will reign supreme! 16 players will battle it out over elimination rounds, until only one remains. Participants will be going home with unique swag, available for the first time at PAX South. First, players will receive a Command Post in clear-blue acrylic, with etched details. This 2-D marker, which represents the 3-D tokens from Ogre Sixth Edition , is a thick, chunky little piece that makes a great centerpiece for a Pan-European defense. We'll also be giving out hard-to-find counter sheets for Ogre , with lots of units in alternate colors. Plus, the top four finalists will each walk away with a copy of Ogre Sixth Edition , ready to battle at home.

For the winner, we have something a bit . . . bigger. To commemorate this occasion, we've created an acrylic Ogre Mark V, scaled to use in Ogre! You could be the first and only (for a while) person in the world with this Ogre! 



This is the first time we've made these items, and we're excited to get them into the hands of some skilled gamers . . . but we don't know if or when we'll have more acrylic promos like this. So if you are at PAX South, sign up for the Ogre Tournament for your chance at these limited-edition goodies. If you can't attend, you can still participate and #PlayOgre at home! Share pictures on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram this weekend with the hashtag #PlayOgre, and you'll be entered to win one of the acrylic Command Posts. One random winner will be drawn on Monday, so share your Ogre experience.



We'll see you at PAX South! 



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Grab All Of The Cute In One Bundle!



We've gathered a plethora of adorable and stuffed it into one bundle for you (or your favorite valentine). Our 2017 Munchkin Bundle of Love includes all the cutest boosters, the Munchkin Valentines, and your very own Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition! Share the Munchkin love by getting yours from Warehouse 23 today!

January 25, 2017: Munchkin Valentines Sold Out At Main Warehouse!

We started shipping the new Munchkin Valentines set to distributors on January 9 . . . and already, our primary warehouse is out of stock! We've had good luck with similar Munchkin sets in the past (the Munchkin Halloween Pack was a big hit), and it is fabulous to see that you guys heart Munchkin so very much to make this new pack sell through this fast. We hope Warehouse 23 is loaded up to get us through this and next year's Valentine's Day, but since there are no plans to reprint the set, we wanted to alert all of you that our Georgia warehouse is effectively out of the sets.



Retailers – Please don't forget our special offer of a Valentines-themed playmat when you order Steve Jackson Games  Munchkin goodies with a total MSRP value of $200 or more. Click here for the details, and make sure to get your order in to your favorite distributor before the end of the month. Today is not too soon . . .



If you aren't a retailer and would like to get your hands on the playmat, please visit your favorite local game store today and tell them about this promotion. We greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word, and we're certain that your local retailer will find some nice way to reward you for directing them at this chance to bring in more Valentine's Day fun.



– Phil Reed



Warehouse 23 News: Scheme, Plot, And Plan Your Way To Victory



It's a Revolution! Will you bluff your opponents or use your cunning to win enough influence in town? Fight your way to the top in this three- to four-player strategy game. Get your copy from Warehouse 23 and start a revolution today! 

January 24, 2017: SJ Games At PAX This Weekend!

We're off to the Alamo City! That's right, we are at PAX South this weekend, in the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. Stop by the booth to say "hi" to Andreas, Ariel, Guy, Hunter, Jimmy, Veronica, and me, check out our latest games, and pick up some to take home!

Munchkin fans will be able to grab Munchkin Pathfinder Guest Artist Edition and Munchkin Pathfinder: Truly Gobnoxious! You'll also be able to get our new Munchkin Valentines, so you can show the munchkins in your life how you really feel. There will even be sneak peeks of upcoming Munchkin goodness, like Munchkin Apocalypse: Judge Dredd, Munchkin Curses, and Munchkin: X-Men Edition from USAopoly (and, of course, sweet promos)!



If you're feeling villainous, then Batman: The Animated Series Dice Game is for you! Play as Gotham City's greatest supervillains, get lots of loot, but watch out for the Caped Crusader! Then try a demo of our most excellent, giant-sized copy of Bill & Ted's Excellent Boardgame! Can you collect enough figures of historical significance to ace your oral history-exam, or will you go to Oates Military Academy? Cat lovers should try Simon's Cat Card Game. Have fun, but don't get blamed for the messes!



Do you like candy? Well, Ghosts Love Candy, too. You're a ghost trying to haunt kids and take their candy. Watch out, though – if you scare them, they'll run away, and you'll lose points! In that vein, save humanity by playing I Hate Zombies. Be careful: if you fail, the zombies will eat your BRAAAAAIIIINNNSSS!



Ogre Sixth Edition, the classic game of armored combat, will be rumbling in, crushing everything in its path. In fact, there will be an Ogre tournament, where you can win marvelous, limited-edition swag.



Our MIB Demo Team will be running demos in the gaming area, and the wonderful PAX crew will be running some cool events, like the Munchcathlon – a huge, multi-round Munchkin tournament with awesome prizes. The crew will also run a Zombie Dice tournament. Check the online schedule or event book for details. 



Keep an eye on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and come by our booth (TT104) to show us your post with the hashtag #PAXSuperMunchkin to receive extra-special swag: a hard-to-find promo for Art Baltazar's Super Munchkin Guest Artist Edition!



It's going to be an awesome event! We'll see you there this weekend. 



– Al Griego



Warehouse 23 News: A Ninja You Shall Be



Become ninja and compete to deliver fast food, on time, whatever the obstacles, ANYWHERE AT ALL, in Ninja Burger Secret Ninja Death Touch Edition. Will you bring honor to your franchise? Join the elite Ninja Burger delivery team to see if you have what it takes! Failure is not an option! Get your copy from Warehouse 23 today.