Steve Jackson's Blog, page 345

June 18, 2016: Andrew Frisch Is In The House!

Hello boardgaming world! The name's Andrew! I was born and raised in the great white north, where snow, brats, cheese, and sitting inside on a cold day rule supreme. My passion in life is graphic design and anything to do with soccer. My job here is simple: make Steve Jackson Games look visually appealing! "How would you do that?" very few of you may ask. Photoshop; it's magic (insert a bunny being pulled from a hat here)!



Other stuff about me: I am one of six kids, and I'm married with a few of my own. I lived in Wisconsin most of my life and played a lot of games because the weather there sucked. I hate snow. I really hate snow!



– Andrew Frisch



Warehouse 23 News: More Hassle For Your Castle!



When the Castle Panic Towers get attacked by Munchkin Monsters, it's time to panic! Munchkin Panic adds competitive Munchkin backstabbing with cooperative gameplay, for a game that's totally fun. Get it today from Warehouse 23 . . . and have fun panicking like never before!

June 17, 2016: Munchkin Musings: June 2016

Has it been a month already? Wow. If you missed the first installment in our new series of updates from the World of Munchkin, go read it right here.



Possibly the biggest news this month has been the Munchkin Fan Survey that we conducted at the end of May. We're still talking about it ourselves and we continue to see discussion from other quadrants as well. I wrote an article on Medium summarizing the results and talking about what we learned; if you haven't read it, take 15 minutes or so and check it out. We'll definitely be running a followup survey, asking some questions we missed the first time around and delving deeper into some of the questions that turned out to be more interesting than we realized. Watch this space!







The Munchkin anniversary isn't slowing down at all! Barnes & Noble got the Munchkin Apocalypse Guest Artist Edition and Munchkin Apocalypse 2 Guest Artist Edition  on shelves over Memorial Day weekend. Len Peralta did a great job on both sets and we're glad we don't have to keep them secret anymore! We're also glad that the Munchkin Fu Guest Artist Edition , with John Kovalic's long-overdue art, is starting to show up in stores.



Earlier this month, we started shipping the Munchkin Playmat: Flower Cashes In and three new Munchkin Monster Box designs to all our distributors (to go along with the early Monster Box that shipped last month from our friends at ACD). Both of these should be hitting game stores before the end of the month. A little later this month, the Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition , illustrated by Katie Cook, will be shipping out to distributors; we expect that to be in stores in July. We'll also have reprints of Munchkin 2 , Munchkin 3 , and Munchkin 4 around that time . . . if your Friendly Local Game Store has run out, more copies are on the way!



Here's a quick little announcement for those of you who read closely: I'm working on a major update to the Munchkin FAQ. It's been 18 months, so we thought it was probably time . . .



We will be hosting Eric Lang and Kevin Wilson at Munchkin HQ the last week of this month. Eric and Kevin have been working hard with Darryll and Devin to get the first wave of the Munchkin CCG completed, and I expect a whole lot of playtesting and spirited debate rule discussions that week.







I'll be a guest at ConnectiCon in Hartford from July 7-10. I will be on a couple of panels, signing some games, and playing lots of games in the company of our loyal Men in Black. I've never been to Hartford (or Connecticut at all), so I'm looking forward to this trip! This is my only trip up to the Northeast this year, so if you're in the area, I hope you'll come by and say hello.



Of course, our big summer convention is Gen Con, and we are looking forward to celebrating Munchkin 's 15th birthday this year! Watch the Daily Illuminator for more details about all our Gen Con plans – I guarantee you do not want to miss this!



See y'all in July with a ConnectiCon after-action report and more Gen Con previews, plus lots of other news from Munchkin Land.



– Andrew Hackard



Warehouse 23 News: Tomorrow Is What You Make It



Long story short, we blew up the world somehow . . . and now the fun can begin! With the GURPS After the End series, you'll make post-apocalyptic heroes and venture out into the badlands, with the rules and tools you need to forge a bold new tomorrow. Download them today, only from Warehouse 23!

June 16, 2016: Munchkin Swag For Charity - Thank You, John!

The rewards for supporting John Kovalic's charity bike ride include Munchkin swag. Read about it on John's blog. And remember: you can support from anywhere in the world, regardless of whether you can be there to see him pedaling away with a duck on his head. 



– Steve Jackson



Warehouse 23 News: Go Back To The Dungeons!



Add more Dungeons and Portals to your Munchkin games with Munchkin 6.5 – Terrible Tombs . With 20 new double-sized Dungeon cards and 16 new Portal cards, it's a great way to explore strange new Munchkin realms. Adventure awaits at Warehouse 23!

June 15, 2016: The Next Great American Game Is Recognized

It's rare that movies and TV focus on boardgames, so when someone does use our hobby as their subject in media, it's always nice to see their work get recognition. In this case, it's The Next Great American Game , a documentary following a dedicated game designer, his own struggles, and the inner workings of the boardgame industry. It also has a cameo by our very own Steve Jackson! 



Recently, the film was recognized by as an "Official Selection" to the 2016 Origins Film Festival. Not stopping there, it was also accepted into the GenCon Film Contest, a double dose of awesome achievement!



If you haven't checked it out already, The Next Great American Game is available to stream on their website, with more extras and bonus content than you can shake a stick at. Congratulations to director Douglas Morse and the subjects of the documentary!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: We've Got Issues!



If you love Munchkin – and who doesn't? – you owe it to yourself to check out the Boom! Studio comics. Enjoy the ongoing adventures of Spyke and Flower, with gorgeous art and hilarious writing. Pick up some issues today, from Warehouse 23!

June 14, 2016: Steve Jackson At Brickworld!

You may recall Guy's Daily Illuminator about the LEGO Munchkin board. Well, now you can see it in person! Guy is bringing the board to BrickWorld in Chicago, June 18-19. Brickworld is one of the premiere LEGO conventions in the United States, and many of us in the office are enormous LEGO fans, especially SJ. So that means he'll be making an appearance as well!



At 7 p.m. on Friday, June 17, Brickworld will hold a charity auction for convention attendees, where four seats at a Munchkin table with Steve and Guy will be up for grabs! Winners of the auction will be playing with the legend himself, on the awesome LEGO Munchkin board, and they'll get sweet loot just for participating. The winner always gets something really cool as well, but they'll have to get through SJ and Guy first!



Whether you're a master brick builder or an aspiring LEGO layman, we hope to see you at Brickworld later this month!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Visit The Jewel Of The Eastern Roman Empire



It's time to take you back to old Constantinople, with GURPS Hot Spots: Constantinople, 527-1204 A.D. ! Make this ancient city come alive with sights, landmarks, personalities, and more. It's a download away, only from Warehouse 23.

June 13, 2016: Interview With Munchkin Apocalypse Guest Artist Len Peralta

Welcome back to the spotlight, Len Peralta! We talked back in November about his work on Star Munchkin Guest Artist Edition . This time, we wanted discuss his work on  Munchkin Apocalypse Guest Artist Edition and Munchkin Apocalypse 2 Guest Artist Edition, out now exclusively at Barnes and Noble!



You were very open with your Star Munchkin drawing: streaming, YouTube, and social media posts. What was it like working on a more secretive project with Munchkin Apocalypse?



It was tough! I found out that I would be working on this project last summer, around the same time I found out about Bill & Ted's Excellent Boardgame . I worked on it, but I wasn't sure when it would be out. It was never announced officially with the other Guest Artist Editions, so I never knew if it would see the light of day. So it was a complete surprise when I started getting tweets about the game being on the Barnes and Noble shelves. With all this secrecy, it makes me curious what other surprises Steve Jackson Games has under its sleeves!



Did you look at the original version of the game before starting on your own?



I always do. First, I wanted to see how John Kovalic handled the original card so I don't repeat him. I've said this before, but John always took the best jokes! This makes my job so much harder. But I want to make sure my take on the card is original without straying too far from the original content.



You've worked on the Munchkin comic as well, and issue 15 in particular has a bit of an apocalyptic opening. Do you have a similar creative process to both, or do you tackle them in different ways?



Munchkin Apocalypse was a little different because it was full of its own tropes and inside jokes. So I had to make sure that apocalyptic feel still worked within that framework. Although I will say, I brought a lot of Mad Max: Fury Road vibe into the art. I did sort of cartoony versions of that wasteland and I hope fans of both can enjoy my take on it.



You knew this was coming: What is your favorite card from the set? Yes, I'm making you choose!



I love them all of course! My favorite ones were the Bloggers. They were so much fun to draw. And from the larger Seal cards, there is one called Firewall, which is fun because I based the character on my son Max.



What other projects are you working on?



Right now, I'm in between big projects, so if there is anyone who needs an artist on their game or on their book or comic, I'm your man!



Do you have any upcoming projects fans should keep an eye out for?



Look for a game called Order of Invention from Breaking Games. Also be on the watch this summer for my art in a few more issues of Munchkin comics! And if you're a deep cuts person, look for my artwork in a comic called The Depaysement about a Japanese rock band who is booked to play the moon.



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: In Hot Pursuit Of Loot!



Organizing your Munchkin hand is simple with the Flower Cashes In version of the Munchkin Playmat ! It's never been easier to keep track of your Class, Race, level, and – of course – loot! It also comes with a bonus rule to give you an edge. When it's not your turn, you can admire Edwin Huang's awesome illustration of Flower amid her own trove of treasure. Preorder today from Warehouse 23, and be one of the first to have Flower arrive at your door!

June 12, 2016: I Hate Zombies Horde Night Report

BGG Spring took place last weekend in Dallas, and SJ Games was represented by Randy Scheunemann, Devin Lewis, Hunter Shelburne, and yours truly. We had a blast premiering the I Hate Zombies Horde Night 48 player mega-game!



Our first Horde Night event was Saturday evening. Randy acted as our main moderator. The character cards were distributed, and the the players were briefed on the rules. We had two pairs of moderators working on opposite ends of the circle and began the game. The players got the hang of the game right away, and they did their best to save humanity or eat tasty brains! After a frantic 45 minutes, the last human fell, and the zombies celebrated their success! I Hate Zombies promo cards of Spyke and Ernie the BoardGameGeek were given to all, and three lucky players got copies of the game.



Sunday's game was a smaller event, with about 24 players, including a number of the BGG Con staff. After a short introduction, the struggle to decide the fate of humanity began! Despite a spirited defense, the human players could not hold back the growing zombie horde and were overwhelmed. Like the night before, we gave out promos, and 3 more copies of I Hate Zombies !



We had a great time running the game, and we're looking forward to doing again at other conventions! Thanks to everyone who participated, and to the BGG Spring staff for helping to make it a success. BRRRRAAAAIIIIIINNNNSSSS!!!



– Al Griego



Warehouse 23 News: Be Cthulhu's Guest



Cthulhu still has the power to surprise . . . and that's definitely the case with the Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition ! Fan-favorite artist Katie Cook (of Munchkin Love Shark Baby and Munchkin Kittens fame) turns her inimitable style to Munchkin Cthulhu . Preorder today from Warehouse 23, and be among the first to witness the abominable become adorable!

June 11, 2016: Demo Ogre: Objective 218 At Little Shop Of Magic!

The release of Ogre: Objective 218 is imminent, and to win you're going to need to prepare. So why not learn it early! We've selected a few stores to run early demos of the game, to help get you up to speed before the game comes out. These training sessions should get you acclimated to Missile Tanks, GEVs, and even the Ogre Mk III to conquer your opponent's base. Little Shop of Magic in Las Vegas, NV is the first proving ground!



Starting Saturday, June 11, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (TODAY!), swing by the store and get a taste of the tactical action of Ogre: Objective 218 ! Little Shop of Magic will also be holding more demos on Sunday June 12 from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Each weekend in June will be have more demo times, so check their schedule! Once you've learned how to play, preorder in store to make sure you secure a copy for yourself when it releases later this month.



Keep an eye on this space, as we'll be announcing more demo stores across the country. And if you don't have a store near you, check out our How To Play video on YouTube!   



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: What's A Wild West Shootout Without Weapons?



Don't let your Wild West gunslingers or Victorian adventurers go alone; with GURPS High-Tech: Adventure Guns , you'll outfit heroes of the mid-19th and early-20th centuries with iconic and rare weapons. GURPS gun goodness is a download away from Warehouse 23!

June 10, 2016: Announcements For September

Our September lineup is chock full of Guest Artists, and also brings one of the most requested accessories ever: card sleeves! This is going to be a big month for Munchkin , so get ready to stock up. 

Munchkin Pathfinder Guest Artist Edition



Bash goblins and slay dragons, now with new art!



The iconic world of Paizo's Pathfinder  series combined with Munchkin , and it's back with a fresh look! Be an Assassin or Witch, and take on the great Lamashtu and legions of other baddies. Shane White takes helm with his own Pathfinder pedigree, as the artist behind the Pathfinder: Goblins! comic series!





Munchkin Doors and Treasures Card Sleeves



Guard your cards!



Players have wanted them for long time, and they're finally a reality! These card sleeves will help protect your Door and Treasure cards from grubby hands, small spills, and mini-nukes. Ok, not that last one, but they are very protective! They're also opaque, so you can mix sets with different card backs with no problems. The art of Ian McGinty graces the backs of these fantastic sleeves. 

Munchkin Dungeon Card Sleeves



Defend your Dungeons!



You didn't think we'd leave out the oversized Dungeon cards, did you? Protect your Munchkin 6 - Demented Dungeons and the new Munchkin 6.5 - Terrible Tombs with these extra large card sleeves. Delve those dungeons with no fear of marring the cards! The Dungeon sleeves feature an impeccable illustration by Evan Palmer. 





Munchkin Kill-O-Meter Guest Artist Edition



Track your stats!



The art of Ian McGinty is back on a  Munchkin  Kill-O-Meter Guest Artist Edition! Based on the wildly successful Munchkin Guest Artist Edition , this new Kill-O-Meter is the perfect pairing to track your power and loot the room!



You can preorder all this and more at your friendly local game store.



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: So Big, It's Monstrous!



Munchkin is fun to play and collect, but how do you store all your loot? In your  Munchkin Monster Box, of course! It holds over 2,000 Munchkin cards, plus a Level Playing Field and other goodies. Preorder today from Warehouse 23, and be one of the first to get one of the three beautifully illustrated cover designs!

June 9, 2016: Dueling Wizards, Tricky Technomystics, Terrible Tomes, And More!

One of the first decisions many GURPS campaigns face is deciding what kind of magic is in the world, and how to make it more magical. Your options just got expanded, with Pyramid #3/91: Thaumatology IV , the latest issue of the long-running Pyramid magazine.



This installment includes an expansion of GURPS Magic that describes a Metal college of magic (including dozens of new spells). The issue also features a new magical art form for GURPS Monster Hunters – technomysticism – that provides a new template, powers, and spirits, all with GURPS stats.



But that's not all! This volume also offers a system for wizardly duels suitable for just about any GURPS magic system (plus GURPS Psionic Powers ); dark alchemical brews from David L. Pulver; and much more.



Whether you're looking for new rules, sinister background artifacts, additional options for your games, or inspiration for making your setting more exciting, Pyramid #3/91: Thaumatology IV has something you can use. Pick it up individually, or subscribe today for this and many more months of amazement.



– Steven Marsh



Warehouse 23 News: It's A Smash Hit!



There's no need for fists of fury trying to find Munchkin Fu Guest Artist Edition ; you can order it from Warehouse 23! Get the Hong Kong action-cinema fun of Munchkin Fu with all-new artwork from John Kovalic. Don't delay; order today!