2008 February | Forbeck.com

Busy Weekend

Feb 262008

On Saturday, Marty and I caught The Spiderwick Chronicles film, based on the books by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. Tony and Holly are both tabletop gaming refugees, and I got to meet them and sit on a panel with them at the 2006 Comic-Con.

Marty and I both enjoyed the film. I haven’t read the books yet, but we have an autographed copy of Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide, complete with a sketch from Tony. The movie only whetted my appetite for the books, which I hope to pick up soon. It had fun characters, good action, and some excellent moments of suspense, plus a cool ending.

On Sunday, I moved out of my old office and brought everything into the house. Don Perrin and Dan Schooff showed up and gave me a hand. I couldn’t have managed it without their help.

Now, of course, I’m surrounded by boxes. Eyeing all of it, it’s clear most of it can’t stay. There may be a pallet headed for eBay or Hobby Hearse in the near future. I’ll let you know when.

Favorite Horror Game

Raves No Responses »

Feb 242008

The fine people at FlamesRising.com are running a contest about your favorite horror game. Just write it up in 250 words or less, send it in, and wait for a tentacle-faced Ed McMahon to show up at your door. There are only 16 entries as I write this, so your odds are much better than in the “Facing Down Cthulhu” Sweepstakes.

Champions MMO

Raves 8 Responses »

Feb 222008

My friends at Cryptic Studios just announced the Champions MMO, as well as the fact they’ve purchased the property and licensed it back to previous owner Hero Games so they can keep making the tabletop RPG.

Jack Emmert, who’s in charge of Cryptic, has loved superhero RPGs forever. I remember chatting with him about my Brave New World RPG before it even hit shelves, and he just glowed with the superhero love.

I’m thrilled for Steve, Darren, and Tina at Hero, especially Steve, who broke into RPG writing many years ago with Dark Champions. This should be a good shot in the arm for them, and I’m looking forward to many more great things from them.

Many years ago, the original Hero Games crew set itself off on a course to create a Champions computer game. They even asked me to write some of the adventures for it once it got off the ground. Sadly that day never came.

Ray Greer, one of those original Heroes, had vowed not to shave his beard or cut his hair until the game shipped. He looked awful shaggy for a long time. I knew for sure the project was dead when I finally saw him looking trimmed again.

Now, though, it looks like it’s going to happen and be better than ever. This is a great teaming of creators and concept, and I’ll be first in line to play.

Book = Done

Professional 7 Responses »

Feb 222008

Sadly, I can’t talk about it yet, but I finished writing a book late last night. It should be out later this year, and as soon as I can I’ll tell you all about it.

I hate being a tease about such things, but I’m just thrilled to have topped that particular peak and had to share.

Back to the Blood Bowl comic scripts now. Woot!

Mutant Storytellers

Mutant Chronicles, Professional No Responses »

Feb 212008

My latest essay is up at Storytellers Unplugged. This one’s about my recent trip to Hollywood for a preview of the Mutant Chronicles film, why I was asked out to fly out for it, and why I went.

Blood Bowl Goes Boom!

Blood Bowl 10 Responses »

Feb 192008

Boom! Studios today banged out a press release for my upcoming Blood Bowl comic-book miniseries: Blood Bowl: Killer Contract. See below for the full text.

While we’re at it, here’s the concept art for the one of the three variant covers for issue #1. That’s #7 Dunk Hoffnung sailing over the crowd, with M’Grash and Spinne opening the way. Lads Helloven provided this piece and handles the interiors too.

Peter’s Open Letter

Con Report 24 Responses »

Feb 192008

ICv2.com has posted an open letter from Peter Adkison, CEO of Gen Con and Hidden City Games (and all-round great guy), about Gen Con’s entry into Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. If you’re interested in the show (and what self-respecting gamer wouldn’t be?), it’s worth the read.

I Voted

Personal 6 Responses »

Feb 192008

I voted this morning in the Presidential primaries here in Wisconsin. I had to register with the new address and vote at a different place, but in this state you can walk up and do so on the day of the polls and then vote right after. You can also vote for whoever you like, without having to be a registered member of any party.

Last night, Ann went to see Barack Obama speak while I sat home with the kids. I also watched after a nephew and niece, the kids of my step-brother Dan Schooff and his wife Alyssa Whitney. Alyssa served as treasurer for Governor Doyle’s first campaign, and Dan ran the campaign the last time around. Dan also served as our state assemblyman for six years, but he’s now the Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Dan managed to snag some VIP seats for himself and the ladies, so they got to sit only a few rows back from the stage in the Flood Arena at Beloit College. Ann called me up when Obama started to speak, and I listened to the entire speech over her cell phone.

While it was a strange way to join such an event, it reminded me of listening to an old speech broadcast over the radio. Here, in 2008, I experienced the speech much the way my grandparents would have listened to, say, FDR 70 years ago.

I’m excited about this election, and I hope you are too. No matter who you plan to vote for, get out and vote and be involved. If the last decade has shown us anything, it’s that politics really do matter.

Vote, Badgers, Vote

Personal No Responses »

Feb 182008

If you live in Wisconsin, as I do, don’t forget we have a primary tomorrow, and get yourself down to the polls. If you’re paying any attention to the world at all, this would be difficult to miss, but it always bears repeating.

It’s great to have a close race still going on with the Democrats this late in the process, as it means we get candidates stumping around the place for our vote. Chelsea Clinton will be here at Beloit College this afternoon, and Barack Obama will visit the same venue later tonight. There’s talk that Hillary Clinton might show up tomorrow too. John McCain, meanwhile, tours the middle part of the state, and I’ve not heard any word about Mike Huckabee.

Most years, the slates have already been decided by now, and the closest we get to the candidates is watching them on TV. Seeing them in person gets everyone more jazzed up for the elections than ever.

Storytellers Up for Stoker

Raves No Responses »

Feb 172008

Storytellers Unplugged, the communal writers blog to which I contribute a monthly piece, just snagged a nomination for a Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association. If the website wins, the award will go to our founders/moderators/organizers Joe Nassise and David Niall Wilson. These two put in a ton of work to make the website sing, and they deserve every accolade they get. Here’s hoping they get the big nod too.