Be an Angry Robot

 Amortals, Raves, Vegas Knights  3 Responses »
Oct 272009
 

AR-Mask1.jpgMy friends (and publishers) at Angry Robot have helpfully provided a solution for all your Halloween costuming needs: the Angry Robot mask. Just print, cut, strap (or staple, glue, weld, etc.), and you’re all set to scare the simpering souls out of your fleshy, free-willed friends.

Better yet, the Angry Robots promise the nebulous award of “prizes” for the best photos taken that include Angry Robot masks. That’s over and above the fun from playing with/wearing/fearing the mask itself, I think.

[By the way, if you're interested in review copies of Angry Robot books, plus a shot at other prizes, be sure to join the Robot Army too.]

Weekend = Halloween Party and Geek.Kon

 Con Report  2 Responses »
Oct 262009
 

Photo on 2009-10-23 at 19.59 #4.jpg I had a jam-packed weekend. I started off by taking Ann down to the High Voltage Software Halloween party in Hoffman Estates on Friday night. This is held in a motion-capture studio—essentially a wide-open warehouse—filled with dozens of wildly creative people competing to come up with the best costume. Ann went as a geisha girl—a.k.a. ninja momma—while I broke out my tux and went as everyone’s favorite British spy, complete with a name tag that read “HELLO. MY NAME IS Bond, James Bond.”  

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Bring on Geek.Kon!

 Con Report  6 Responses »
Oct 202009
 

This weekend, you can find me at Geek.Kon, the all-geek-matters convention in Madison, Wisconsin. I’m one of the guests of honor, along with Bill Bodden, Aaron Pavao, Kyle Herbert, Chad Corrie, Sandeep Parikh, and reps from Raven Software.

I’ll be wandering around for a good part of the show, but my confirmed schedule includes “Gaming Publishing” at 1 PM on Saturday, another showing of the Brave New World film proof-of-concept at 4 PM on Saturday, and “Professional Writing” at 10 PM on Sunday. I will likely also be at the mass signings at 3 PM on Saturday and noon on Sunday.

If you’re in the area, come on down and join the fun. I hope to see you there.

Taking Gaming by Swarm

 Raves  3 Responses »
Oct 132009
 

Mike Bohlmann caught one of my seminars at Gen Con this summer. Afterward, he introduced himself and explained his idea about sourcing new RPG projects by tapping the collective gaming hivemind. The result is bySwarm.com.

It all seems like a solid plan and an engaging way for players and designers to be involved at every step of the process. As Mike points out, this is aimed mostly at new designers and artists hoping to break into the field. If you’re interested in getting in on the ground floor, the RPG setting concept contest has already started.

BySwarm aims to tap the gaming hivemind to develop viable, self-improving projects that can help launch careers. Can it work? At the very least, it’s a grand experiment, and I’ll be watching to see how it all turns out.

Marvel Encyclopedia in Stores Today

 Marvel  8 Responses »
Oct 052009
 
Marvel

TMEcover.jpgI’m told that the new edition of The Marvel Encyclopedia, which I revised for DK Publishing, should be out in stores in North America today. I had a ball working on this book. I’ve never had such a great excuse for reading so many comic books in a stretch. The fact that I get to share a byline with Tom DeFalco and Tom Brevoort too is a real kick. Many thanks to Alastair Dougall, who edited the book, and Robert Perry, who helmed the graphic design. They helped make this job fun.

I’m told my copies should be arriving soon, and I’m struggling to be patient. If you give in to the urges and pick one up, be sure to let me know what you think. I saw a lot of the artwork and graphic design as PDFs, and I can barely wait to see it all in print.

Marvel Encyclopedia Limited Edition Details

 Marvel  No Responses »
Oct 022009
 
Marvel

The fine people at DK Publishing have given me more details on The Marvel Encyclopedia Limited Edition.

  • The limited edition is printed on high-quality art paper.
  • Only 1,000 copies of the limited edition were printed, and it will be available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and retailers who buy from Diamond Comics, as well as several wholesale clubs.
  • The book is packaged in a cloth presentation slipcase. It comes with two exclusive prints, one of which is signed by artist Brandon Peterson.

MarvelLtd.jpgSupposedly, it—along with the regular edition—is already available in the UK, and its official release date here in the US is Monday, October 5, 2009. I can’t wait to see it myself.

High Adventure: Back in the Game

 High Adventure  No Responses »
Oct 012009
 
High Adventure

I recently signed on to be part of a team of tabletop game designers writing “High Adventure,” a series of columns for the best all-around gaming magazine on the web: The Escapist. I’ve been a faithful reader of the magazine for years and even wrote an article about Prey back in early 2007. Now, though, I’ll be chipping in something every month, alongside Allen Varney, James Maliszewski, and Monte Cook.

For my first column, “Back in the Game,” I write about how being a professional game designer can affect your gaming habits, then I segue into going to Gary Con with my son Marty, and I wrap up with how the second thing is going to help change the first. Be sure to go give it a read, and then tell me what you think.

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