Steve Jackson's Blog, page 354

March 20, 2016: Crowdfunding Focus: Vigilante Game Bar

Today's Crowdfunding Focus gives the stage to a local Austin business: Vigilante Bar on Kickstarter. Owner Preston Swincher took a moment to answer some questions about his new business continuing on the trend of combining boardgames, food, and drink.



Hi Preston, congrats on nearly funding already! Tell me a bit more about the Vigilante Bar. What makes it different from other board game and tabletop establishments?



Thanks! We're really excited to be this close, and are still chasing some ambitious stretch goals. We're very different in that we A) are not a retailer and B) are a full service restaurant. We are 100% focused on making the perfect social gaming experience. We're akin to the Alamo Drafthouse/Dave & Busters of board games. Our custom engineered tables have cup holders, food trays, meeple drawers and card holders. Each seat has an "Accio Service" button: focus on your game and we won't bother you until you have an order. Each table has a Vigilante signal that shines on the ceiling to indicate that you're open to people joining your game. Our menu is designed to be easily eaten while playing. No detail has gone unexamined.



What made you want to open a board game bar?



My gaming group typically wraps up game night and then goes out (but wished we could keep playing). We want a bar atmosphere devoted to both bar culture and gaming culture (and take the work out of game night)! This has been a dream of mine for over six years: to go out and game at the same time. As we've gotten older it's been tough to get the gang together. Now there's a real desire for a place where we can meet other gamers. Plus, there are so many fun events and games we can play at a social setting devoted to games; the ideas are endless and fun!



How many games are you hoping to have in your library, give or take?



We're looking at over 100 titles at launch, but are dedicated to growing that library. Every month our Secret Society members will vote on the new titles we add to our collection. More importantly: we're reboxing and organizing our games to simplify setup and takedown. We'll also have digital game menus and a game-savvy service staff to help fit you with the right title for your evening.



Do you have a favorite game? If you had to pair a drink with it, what would it be? 



Battlestar Galactica. I love the long con. We're a beer and wine bar, so I would have to go with Thirsty Planet's Thirsty Goat. It's tasty, smooth, and I can drink it all night. Drinkability is crucial when settling into a lengthy game. As for pairing food & games: a bottle conditioned beer (live yeast within) with Pandemic? Or if I swap a Thirsty Goat for a Live Oak Hefeweizen, could we call that trading sheep for wheat? We're fans of a new brewery in Austin called Friends and Allies, which seems like a natural pairing for cooperative games like Sentinels of the Multiverse!



Can you talk a bit about the stretch goals? You have some quite unique sounding bonuses if you pass your initial goal.



Our stretch goals are all about enhancing that bar/board game hybridization. Early stretch goals include custom table electronics: our Accio Service and Looking for Group signal. Our patrons want to hang out for time spans that are atypically long for a restaurant. Accio Server relieves our service team from constantly monitoring tables and enables our patrons to mitigate distractions. Looking for Group is part of how we will encourage people to meet other gamers. These technologies all integrate to give us some powerful tools to provide better service.



Our later stretch goals make us us audacious and awesome. We want to upgrade our private rooms so that they are behind secret doors. Furthermore, we want each room to be themed so that it feels like you're entering another world. Current proposed themes: The War Room (ie. Dr. Strangelove) and a Wizard's Study (eg. Dumbledore's office). Finally, we want to construct a mezzanine, adding 30 or so lounge seats above the bar. The ability to serve more patrons at capacity is invaluable to any restaurant, and the mezzanine would add a vertical dynamic to our interior design that will punch up our "wow" factor. It will feel like a private lounge with a killer view of the action going on in the game room. We'll be unveiling more as we get further into March, but we're really excited at how unique of an experience these spots could be.



Awesome, is there anything else you want to mention?



We're really grateful to the Austin nerd scene for rallying to us: we've received over 700 unique survey responses, hundreds of comments, dozens of messages, and tons of input and advice. We've leaned heavily on the community for input in designing our menu, atmosphere, bar features, table design, and even beer selection. We're gamers building a bar for gamers, and their input has been crucial in making this a community space. Please get involved: Like our page, share our Kickstarter, and back us if you dig what you see!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Demons In Mythic Europe!



They come in all sizes and shapes, but they only want to drag you into damnation. Ars Magica: Realms of Power - The Infernal tells you all you need to know about demons. Some seek to corrupt, others to deceive, and most just want to destroy. Do you have the strength and faith to defeat them? Available in PDF or print from Warehouse 23.

March 19, 2016: JoCo Cruise 2016 Wrap-Up

Last month I was given the fantastic opportunity to work on the JoCo Cruise 2016, running demos of our newest games – and some top-secret playtests – in the ship's Game Room (sponsored by Steve Jackson Games). Not only was this my first JoCo Cruise, but also my first cruise ever! Needless to say, I had no idea what to expect going into it.



What can I say about my time as a Sea Monkey? Well, first off, the Freedom of the Seas is a HUGE ship, basically a floating city-block, so it took the first couple of days to find my way around. There's the 4-story dining room, the bountiful Windjammer buffet, the two theaters and a lounge where the concerts took place, the cafe (whose curry chicken rotis I highly recommend), the pizza place whose pizza magically becomes more delicious after midnight, the karaoke bar where I took a couple turns singing, and, among many other locations, the Game Room (sponsored by Steve Jackson Games) where I spent most of my time showing off our newest offerings to gamers of all ages. Even the ship's doctor made some "house calls" up to the gaming festivities!



Among some of my favorite time outside the Game Room (sponsored by Steve Jackson Games) was spent at the ports of call we visited along the way: Coco Cay in the Bahamas, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten. I feel my time exploring the cities, lounging on beaches, and drinking fruity beverages was well-spent.



The very best part about being on the JoCo Cruise as opposed to a regular cruise was not only getting to see some of my favorite performers (and rub some elbows with them on occasion) but being surrounded by fellow gamers and geeky people of all kinds the whole time. It was like being at a great big party where everyone knew the inside jokes. It comes as no surprise that I made dozens of fantastic friends whom I hope to keep in touch with going forward.



There are certainly worse ways to spend a week at work. Did I mention the Game Room was sponsored by Steve Jackson Games?



You can sign up for JoCo Cruise 2017 now!



– Andreas Stein



Warehouse 23 News: Adventure Amid The Wastelands



Make new heroes for a rebooted world, with GURPS After the End 1: Wastelanders . Use its included quick-play templates and rules, and get ready for post-apocalyptic gaming like there's no tomorrow! Download it today, only from Warehouse 23.

March 18, 2016: Volunteer To Run Munchkin Steampunk Demos On March 26th!

SJ Games is looking for people to help us run demos of Munchkin Steampunk at select Books-A-Million and 2nd & Charles stores! These events will happen from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 26th. Volunteers will receive a copy of Munchkin Steampunk , Munchkin Guest Artist Edition , and a set of sweet promos! It's a great opportunity to help grow the Munchkin community in your area, and introduce new people to boardgames.



Respond to this form with your name, contact information, and what store you can volunteer at from the list. Thanks for donating your time!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Don't Get Stomped!



Get your fellow dinosaur enthusiasts together, and go on the hunt! In Dino Hunt Dice , you try to catch dinos for your park; can you get the most? But watch out for those dino feet, or you'll get stomped! Available from Warehouse 23.

March 17, 2016: Steve Jackson Games At ECCC, With Marvel And Guest Artists!

SJ Games is taking Seattle by storm! Our crack events team will be attending Emerald City Comicon from April 7th - 10th, bringing the most anticipated new and upcoming games.



We'll be demoing Munchkin Guest Artist Editions , as well as the upcoming Simon's Cat Card Game and Bill and Ted's Excellent Boardgame . Andrew from USAopoly will be on hand, and we'll have Munchkin Marvel Edition for sale for the first time, in limited quantities! This will be the first time you can get your hands on this game, and there will be some early copies of Munchkin Fu Guest Artist Edition , Munchkin Knights , and Munchkin 6.5 – Terrible Tombs for sale as well. It's a bevy of new stuff! There will also be two Guest Artists in the building, so you'll have the opportunity to get some of your Munchkin loot signed.



As you can see, ECCC is chock full of games and guests. Swing by if you're in the area and get all this new stuff!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Blood, Sweet Blood - On Sale!



If you're a bloodsucker looking for a home, the sinister domain called Lord Drake's Castle is available for immediate move in! With the Domain of Blood: Virtual Boxed Set , you'll get gorgeous blueprints of the castle plus the surrounding village and buildings. It's a stunning ready-to-populate set of downloadable maps from the masters at 0one Games . . . and it's on sale for 30% off for the rest of the month at Warehouse 23!

March 16, 2016: Munchkin Comic #15 Preview

We've got a sneak preview of the upcoming


Len also did a Speed Drawing of the cover! You can check it out on his YouTube channel. 



Munchkin #15 is available later this month at Friendly Local Comic Stores everywhere. And don't forget the promo code in the back!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Up Your Mind Games With Cool Psionic Gear



The power of psionics comes from within, but sometimes you need an outside boost to give you that extra edge. GURPS Psi-Tech covers all aspects of technological aid, from real-world parapsychological equipment to fantasy herbs and crystals to the wildest gadgets of science fiction. Download it today from Warehouse 23; we won't mind!

March 15, 2016: SJ Games Con Schedule For 2016

Our crew is hitting the road in 2016! It's another busy year of cons, and that means a lot of opportunities to demo games, get promos, or even meet special guests! Our presence is different depending on the con: some will have retail, some demos, and some are just special appearances. You'll even have an opportunity to play on our new and improved Lego Munchkin board at a couple of Lego conventions this year. We'll have follow up announcements as each convention gets closer, with more details and surprises! 



Emerald City Comicon - April 7th - 10th, Seattle, WA


PAX East - April 22nd - 24th, Boston, MA


Chupacabracon - May 13th - 15th, Round Rock, TX


BGG.CON Spring - May 27th - 30th, Dallas, TX


UK Games Expo - June 3rd - 5th, United Kingdom


BrickWorld - June 15th - 19th, Chicago, IL


Texicon - June 23rd - 26th, Hurst, TX


RTX - July 1st - 3rd, Austin, TX


ConnectiCon - July 7th - 10th, Hartford, CT


Brick Fiesta - July 7th - 10th, Houston, TX


GenCon - August 4th - 7th, Indianapolis, IN


PAX Prime - September 2nd - 5th, Seattle, WA


BGG.CON - November 16th - 20th, Dallas, TX
You can find details about who is attending the event on our Conventions page. SJ also has his own convention schedule, which you can find on his Appearances page. It's going to be fun (and busy) year for the event team. We'll see you on the show floor!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: It's A Prime Time For Slime



Not all dangers that GURPS Dungeon Fantasy heroes face are creatures of claw and fang; some are downright squishy, yet no less hazardous to your health. With GURPS Dungeon Fantasy Monsters 2: Icky Goo , you'll get rules and stats for oozes, fungi, slimes, molds, spores, and more. Dozens of deadly new options can be yours with just a download, only from Warehouse 23!

March 14, 2016: Interview With Jim Zub

Our Guest Artist Edition  series has given us the unique ability to work with artists of many backgrounds and styles, many of whom are stars in the comic industry. One of these incredible talents is Edwin Huang, who's helming his own version of Munchkin Guest Artist Edition . I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jim Zub, co-creator of Skullkickers with Edwin, to get the inside scoop from an amazingly talented colleague, and Jim was more than happy to help!



Who is Jim Zub? What have you worked on and why are you so awesome?



I'm a comic writer based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Over the past 15 years I've written for pretty much every major comic publisher in North America. I love telling stories and making comics!



What's it like working with Edwin Huang?



Edwin is an absolute dream to work with. He's a pro in every way. He brings so much skill and energy to his artwork, but he's open to feedback and always delivers stunning visuals every time. Working with Edwin has been one of the highlights of my career.



What other projects are you working on? Anything with Edwin?



Last year Edwin and I finished a 5 year journey on our sword & sorcery-comedy series called SKULLKICKERS . We don't have anything currently in the hopper, but I'm hoping that will change in 2017.



If you could make a Munchkin card based on Edwin, what would it be called?



The Edwin card would be called "Speak Softly, But Carry A Big Pen." He usually lets me do most of the talking, but his art speaks volumes!



What's next for you?



I'm launching the new Dungeons & Dragons comic series from IDW in April and Thunderbolts from Marvel in May. To keep up with my latest projects and read tutorials on how comics are written, check out my website, www.jimzub.com.



 



Thanks to Jim for taking the time to talk to us! Keep an eye out for Edwin's Guest Artist Edition later this year!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: A Gentleman's Supplement That's Worth A Shot!



Whether you're a Wild West gunslinger or a Victorian adventurer, your firearm is often all that stands between you and an unseemly end. Gain the edge that your late 19th-century hero needs with GURPS High-Tech: Adventure Guns , a collection of iconic and odd firearms from that era, including ammo, cartridge belts, and more – plus era-appropriate rules and design details that make the game come to life. Getting armed and dangerous is only a download away from Warehouse 23!

March 13, 2016: Help Us Find Where We're Going

If you've been following SJ Games for a while, you'll notice we publish a lot of different newsletters and leaflets to keep you guys informed about our company. One such document was Where We're Going , a newsletter talking about upcoming products, happenings around the office, and other such geekery.



Well now, we call upon you folks to assist us in locating one of these lost treasures. Archiving is very important here at Steve Jackson Games, and it seems we do not have our normal archival copy of Where We're Going #87. So we appeal to you, loyal reader, to help us out! We need a clean copy of this newsletter to go straight into the company archives: to be preserved for all time in our historical loot! We are looking for multiple, clean examples. Folds are ok, but limited damage if possible. The first 2 people to send a quality issue will get a very special prize from our company archives. This isn't your everyday bounty!



If you have a copy, email community@sjgames.com and we will get you the shipping details. Help us preserve our history!



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Don't Panic!



Test your fortitude in Munchkin Panic ! The castle walls are under attack, and it's up to you and your fellow Munchkins to fend off the invasion. The only other problem is . . . your fellow Munchkins! Backstabbing and betrayal go hand in hand with helping your teammates defeat the Monsters. Can you ignore the impulse to grab Treasure from your buddies long enough to save the castle? Available from Warehouse 23.

March 12, 2016: Wise Words About Wastelanders

Are you curious ab out the new  GURPS After the End series, but want to know more before jumping into the apocalypse feet first? It's reasonable to not want to charge out into the New World unprepared! Fortunately, reviews are already coming in for GURPS After the End 1: Wastelanders , the introductory character-and-gear supplement:



Douglas Cole's review on Gaming Ballistic and


Blind Mapmaker's review on The Blind Mapmaker.
As well, don't miss the lively discussion about Wastelanders on the SJ Games forums, where you can read even more opinions, or ask questions and make comments of your own. Or check out sample characters created by Paul Stefko or yours truly. After all, sometimes a little knowledge is the only thing that can keep you alive after Armageddon . . .



– Jason "PK" Levine



Warehouse 23 News: A Whole New Vector Of Threats To Humanity!



Not all GURPS Monster Hunters threats are creatures of the night; some come from a place much darker: outer space. GURPS Monster Hunters 5: Applied Xenology adds extraterrestrial dangers, technomagic, science-focused character revisions, and more. Upgrade your Monster Hunters game with just a download, only from Warehouse 23!

March 11, 2016: Munchkin Steampunk Events At Books-A-Million And 2nd & Charles

Great Scott! This is positively astounding news, I dare say!







To coincide with the release of the  Munchkin Steampunk core set, we're holding Learn to Play events at participating Books-A-Million and 2nd & Charles stores around the country. Come out on Saturday, March 26th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and join the steam-powered fun with your local MIB demo team! In addition, these stores are now selling a special version of  Munchkin Sketch Edition that includes a copy of  Munchkin Dragons ! This special edition includes the original Munchkin game, with blank art ready for sketches and doodles. You can make your set 100% one-of-a-kind! (Learn more in this Daily Illuminator post.)



If you don't have an event near you, fear not: you can also gear up for our steampunk costume contest! Just take a selfie in your most dapper steampunk attire, and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #MunchkinSteampunk. The dashing winner receives a copy of Munchkin Steampunk !



If you don't happen to have a store near you, you can also order from Warehouse 23. 



So grab your goggles, charge your tesla coils, and jet to your participating Books-A-Million or 2nd & Charles stores on March 26th! It's elementary, my dear.



– Hunter Shelburne



Warehouse 23 News: Liven Up Your Space Lanes



What GURPS Space game couldn't use a clever, chaotic, kleptomaniacal alien? That's no problem at all, with GURPS Aliens: Sparrials . It includes a full GURPS template, plus intel on the tech, traits, history, and mindset of this fascinating interstellar species. Download it today, only from Warehouse 23!