Steve Jackson's Blog, page 34

November 29, 2024: More Free GURPS Adventures?!?

At the beginning of November, I told you about the free GURPS 1Shot Adventures collection.

GURPS super-scribe Phil Masters (author of myriad fantasy races expansions, various GURPS Steampunk supplements, and many more) informed folks on the forums that he also has a collection of free ready-to-use adventures. I haven't had a chance to read through most of them, but my quick skimming has revealed (unsurprisingly) that they all seem pretty great; I especially liked this mystery adventure set in the world of Masters's GURPS Steampunk Setting: The Broken Clockwork World .

The full library is available here. Thanks for the tip, Phil, and thanks for letting folks know it's there!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 28, 2024: Thomas E. Kurtz, 1928-2024

Thomas Eugene Kurtz, co-creator of the BASIC programming language, passed away on November 12 at the age of 96.

Although not directly involved in the tabletop gaming industry, the BASIC language was nonetheless a vital aspect – at least tangentially – to gamers of a certain era and mindset in the late 1970s and early 1980s . . . the dawn of the home-computer era.

I was curious, so I searched through the Space Gamer archives published by Steve Jackson Games, looking for the earliest instance of BASIC referenced in this fashion. I knew I'd find something eventually; I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was, in fact, name-dropped in the very first issue we published – Space Gamer #27, cover dated March/April 1980. Bruce F. Webster's "Deus Ex Machina" column mentioned that you should be able to convert the formulae he presented into BASIC fairly easily. (This was an era when full BASIC program listings were common in computer magazines.)

Another noteworthy mention of BASIC came in Space Gamer #39, cover date May 1981. There, Lord British offered designer's notes for his computer game Akalabeth (and, tangentially, Ultima ): " Ultima is written in Basic [sic] and machine language. ( Akalabeth was primarily Basic.)" Yes, one of the most foundational computer RPGs owes its life to BASIC.

The language's hobbyist nature meant that it continued to be a go-to language for years; a letter from Gus Smedstad in Space Gamer #73 (March/April 1985) notes that he wrote a short BASIC program to calculate some figures for a then-ongoing Shockwave debate about Superheavy Tanks.

Speaking personally, many of my own earliest computer memories were looking at a blank screen and a blinking cursor – and knowing that my arcane-yet-understandable commands would bring the silicon to glowing-green-monochrome life.

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 27, 2024: Games As Art And Literature

You're never going to play all those games, you know. The ones you got at your FLGS when they had that big anniversary sale. The ones you bought at the game convention swap meet. The ones that seemed like a great idea but you and your friends never had that much time. And yet . . . you're watching your mail, because you just got a shipping notice for that really cool game you backed on Kickstarter. We all have them, the games we're never going to play. But we keep getting more. Because games are more than . . . well, games. They have their own value. When you think about it, we don't need other people to appreciate art with us or to read books with us. Those are things we do by ourselves, for ourselves. Certainly art galleries and movie adaptations of books exist, but they're another form of appreciation; they're not mandatory. And games are no different. They have their own aesthetic, partaking somewhat of art, and of literature, and of something I can't really put a finger on, so I'll just call it "design." So we can appreciate games on their own. When you've purchased a game or supplement ( Bottled Sea comes to mind) beause the art is outstanding, you're doing it. When you've bought a game because the lore and setting is fascinating ( Old Gods of Appalachia ), you're doing it. When you've bought a game just to appreciate how it all works (just about anything SJ has ever touched), you're doing it. Games transcend their role as things to be played and become things to be appreciated and enjoyed just because. After all, chess players who have a perfectly good chess set nonetheless buy other sets because they're beautiful or interesting; why should RPGs or boardgames be any different? So don't feel guilty about that box you're so eagerly watching the mail for. It's something you're going to enjoy, even if that particular form of enjoyment – like that of the chess player who buys a beautiful handmade glass chess set for their collection – will never be played as a game. It's art, it's literature, it's design. Go ahead and enjoy it. 

– Jean McGuire

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 26, 2024: Trivia Answer: Alpha!

I recently asked which Steve Jackson Games item that is currently available for sale is first alphabetically, and which is the first item alphabetically that's a complete game and currently available for sale?

As I hinted, there's some nuance here, so the no-points we're awarding are worth even less. Still, here are the answers I came up with.

Our system sorts numbers before the letter A. Based on that, the first alphabetical item still available for sale is the 12 Days of Munchkin Christmas Coloring Book . (And it's getting to be a good time to add it to your holiday wish list!)

The first "complete game" we're selling, by the same logic of "numbers come first," is the 1976 Ogre Playtest Booklet . Sure, it's a cheat, but obviously it's a complete game; otherwise it wouldn't form the foundation of a line that's still delighting fans after six editions.

Nonetheless, those answers may not prove satisfying, and you want to have some real alphabet in your alphabetical answers. We hear you! In that case, can I interest you in a PDF download of the AADA Road Atlas V1: The East Coast ? If you're looking for physical items that are for sale, that honor goes alphabetically to the AADA Vehicle Guide , reprinted a few years back.

As far as the complete game that's "first alphabetically" in a "probably starts with 'A'" kind of way? Well, that honor technically goes to Autoduel , the archival Windows release of the beloved computer game from the 1980s.

Okay; that answer might not satisfy you. No worries! Let's keep digging. It's too bad that Awful Green Things from Outer Space is out of print; otherwise, that would've been a good candidate. Going further down the list, I find . . . another holiday release. Drum roll . . .

Bad Christmas , the card game of awful presents.

If you figured out any of these answers, give yourself a pat on the back! And if you found a better candidate for these categories, please feel free to share your thoughts on the forums.

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 25, 2024: Munchkin In Romania!

I'm delighted to announce that Munchkin will soon be available in yet another language. Editura Geekach is a new publisher, and they could not possibly have chosen a better game to bring to their fans, right? Right!

I would now tell you how many languages Munchkin has been printed in, but I, err, forgot. Now I need to check it, if only for my own curiosity. But killing the monsters and taking their stuff is a Universal Truth. So remember:

Ucide monștrii, fură comoara, înjunghie-ți prietenul!

– Steve Jackson

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 24, 2024: Your Life, One Second At A Time

What would you do if, on January 1st, you could watch a little bit of your life from every day of the previous year? Wouldn't that be fun? Well, you can easily do just that with one of my all-time favorite apps: 1 Second Everyday! 1 Second Everyday is a free app (with paid upgrades available) that challenges users to record a few moments of every day of their lives. It could be 30 seconds of your trip to a brewery, 15 seconds of your dog rolling on his back in the grass, or even a minute of you talking about your day. But in the end, you'll need only a single second of that time because, as the name states, it's 1 second every day. To make a video, you'll record something on your phone, open the app, then choose one second out of your recording. The app makes it easy with a sliding bar that allows you to grab that perfect instant. No video-editing skills are necessary! You can view your year to date at any time, and at the end you can view all 365 days stitched together!  Now that 1.5 second videos are available for free, my yearly compilations are 9 minutes, 12 seconds long! (Fortunately for all my friends, I only subject my husband and parents to watching.) If you'd like to pay for the premium subscription, you can edit up to 3 seconds daily! It's available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. 

– Michelle Richardson

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 23, 2024: Can Your Monster Hunters Defeat The Face Of Fire?

If heroes are defined by the threats they face, then GURPS Monster Hunters champions are about to be forged like never before . . . with GURPS Monster Hunters Adventure: The Face of Fire .

This sandbox campaign opens peril and possibilities from several angles, pitting the investigators against a mysterious force that could well end the world. Available in print (currently on pre-order) or PDF (for immediate download), it includes the locations, adversaries, would-be allies, and adventure seeds to bring this multi-tendrilled threat to life. Add it to your own dark-defying setting, or use it as a stand-alone campaign world. The world is waiting for you to save it today, at Warehouse 23!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 22, 2024: Sharing Games With The Texas School For The Deaf

Steve Jackson Games goes to a lot of different events during the year, and we enjoy teaching and sharing our games by bringing demo copies to every event. The other day, a few of us went through the marketing office, pulling out old editions, demo copies, and discontinued games that can no longer go to events. As we did, we discussed how we could donate them to keep the sharing going.

After some research, we settled on The Texas School for the Deaf, an amazing school that helps students of all ages learn skills to help them navigate and find their place in a world not designed for them. I reached out to the school and got in contact with a woman named Anne. She was delighted to hear about the games and said, "Yes, please!"

The team and I went through every demo game to make sure all the pieces, cards, and boards were still in the boxes, and we packed them into my car. All in all, we ended up with enough games, dice sets, and pocket notebooks for the entire school to share! As Anne and I loaded the games onto her cart, we talked about all the different lines. As I explained which game would work best with each grade, we were both filled with joy at the thought of these gently used games finding new homes where they will be loved again for years to come.

If you find yourself falling out of love with your older games and are thinking of getting rid of them, consider donating them to a local school, after-school program, or public library. Boardgames bring out the best in people. Games can be an escape, a way to connect with others face to face, and even a way for those who may not be able to communicate readily to come together and have fun! And we certainly need more of that.

– Revka Dow

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 21, 2024: The Most Mysterious Song On The Internet Has Been Found!

Depending on how online you are, this will likely either be old news to you or a completely alien concept. Still, I'm fascinated by it . . .

Anyway, after being unidentified for almost 20 years, the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet has been identified! 404 Media has the info . . . including the song's actual title that will (if you're familiar with the original muddy-sounding tune) make you go, "That's what they were singing?!"

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

November 20, 2024: Meeples For The Mountains

For many people, tabletop games are a way to relax with friends. But for Hannah Bink, they became a lifeline during an extreme weather crisis."When Hurricane Helene hit, we lost all ability to contact each other for days," she explains. "However, friends and neighbors kept showing up at my house knowing that I had a grill and dozens of boardgames. We played games for days on end, just spending time together and making the best of a terrible situation." Hannah knew she wasn't alone. Families across her home region of Western North Carolina could also find solace in tabletop games, but many had lost everything. That's why Hannah founded Meeples for the Mountains, a boardgame drive that aims to give families some much needed joy.  "The basics are absolutely necessary (and still in high demand) – but so is mental reprieve," she says. "Boardgames are the best gift you can give to families that have lost everything and just need a little bit of levity in the midst of devastation." In addition to fun, tabletop games can help give people space to relax and recuperate from stress, both of which are essential for healing and mental health. And boardgames can also be played without electricity – a vital asset for areas still grappling with infrastructure challenges. Meeples for the Mountains is working with Well Played Board Game Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina, to collect and store donated games. North Carolina residents can drop off games at one of several collection sites, while those outside the state can purchase games from an official Amazon Wishlist or their FLGS, then send them to the Well Played Board Game Cafe. (Amazon Wishlist purchases are automatically delivered to the correct address.) Games should be new and unwrapped, and should be designed for 4+ players. Donations must be received no later than December 14. "The charities we are working with already have distribution processes in place for families within the impacted area," says Hannah. "We'll deliver the games to charities, like BeLoved Asheville and Centro Unido Latino Americano, help them sort and wrap them, and hand them out directly to impacted families just before Christmas. "There are hundreds of people doing amazing work to provide shelter, food, and clothing to those in need. Meeples for the Mountains is focused on providing an escape to families struggling to get through the day and wants to make sure everyone has a gift to open during the holidays." Donations to Meeples for the Mountains can be sent to: Meeples for the Mountains c/o Well Played Board Game Cafe, 162 Coxe Ave, #101, Asheville, NC 28801. Boardgame retailers that would like to collect games for this initiative can visit meeplesforthemountains.com/get-involved to learn more.

– Katie Duffy

 

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!