GTS Schedule

I’ll be at the GAMA Trade Show again. It’s still in Las Vegas, but this year at Bally’s in April. I’ll probably have to zip in and out of the show, but I’m giving two seminars there on Monday, April 23. If you’ll be at the show, I hope to see you there!

Monday, 11 am—Noon:
Getting Your Game Published
Come learn how to submit your games to publishers and get them published. Discover the obstacles you may face in getting your game on shelves, and discuss strategies for overcoming them. Explore the option of self-publishing your game instead. (Skyview 1)

Monday, 2—3 p.m.:
Career Freelancing
Getting your first game, book, or article published is only the first step. To keep from being a flash in the pan, you need to educate yourself about how to turn your hobby into a business. Learn how to set up your business, act professionally, pay taxes, and get that next gig–and the next and the next and the next. (Skyview 1)

Wikiversity for Games

This effort is still in its infancy, but the people behind Wikipedia have started Wikiversity designed to teach people about all sorts of topics. One of the coolest sections is the School of Game Design. There’s not a lot up there yet, but at least someone’s taken the time to stake out the territory on which to build.

Coming Home

I’m posting this from the regional bus depot at O’Hare, tapping into the internet via the Hilton Hotel across the street. Man, I love the internet and my wireless iBook. All that and my 1-gig thumb drive filled with portable applications made my trip so much easier than it could have been.

I had a wonderful week on the road. I made many new friends, saw lots of old ones, did some very cool work, and learned some new things too. Sadly, my flight to Chicago got delayed last night, enough for me to have to reschedule my trip back for this morning, but I took advantage of it to impose on my hosts’ hospitality a bit longer and had a wonderful evening.

Now, of course, I have three deadlines to hit on Monday, including one that landed in my lap on Friday afternoon. Thankfully they’re all short, so I should manage it at night after spending some much-needed time with my wife and kids. Wish me luck!

On the Road

I know, it’s been quiet around here. I’m out of town this week, working on a secret project in an undisclosed location. I’ve been hammering away at other bits and ends in the evenings, too, which hasn’t given me much time for posting here. I’m on my way home tonight, though, so I should be able to chip in more next week. Hope you all have an excellent Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend!

Vacation Plans

On a happier note, my wife and I finally made use of the certificate for a free week’s stay at a resort. We won it back in November in a raffle held to raise funds for Kids’ Fun and Drama (KFAD), a local organization that introduces children to singing and acting. Our son Marty joined this past fall and acted in his first play, Oliver! During the intermission, they held the drawing, and we won the big prize.

So, later this year, we’re off to Costa Rica. Neither of us has ever been farther south than Matamoros, Mexico, so this should be a real treat.

Missing Melissa

I barely know how to write about this, so forgive me if it comes out ragged. One of my wife’s best childhood friends, Melissa Bessen, died on New Year’s Day. She fell down a flight of stairs and broke her neck. I can barely imagine the pain her parents and brother are going through. Her brother, Matt, called us to tell us the news. What a brave young man for taking on that duty.

We hadn’t seen Melissa in a few years, much to our regret, but we loved her still. She was Ann’s next-door neighbor through her high-school years in Ironwood, Michigan, the little sister she never had. Back when Ann’s parents still lived in Ironwood, we spent many Christmas Eves at Melissa’s house, celebrating with her and her family. She was a bridesmaid in our wedding.

As regular visitors know, my grandfather died a few weeks back. At the age of 92, he’d lived a full life and was ready to go. He left painlessly, in a warm bed, surrounded by family. Melissa was only 35 years old, in the prime of her life, a beautiful and talented young lady who we all hoped had a long, full life ahead of her.

Tragedy is the only word for it.

So, what can we take from this? Grief for her family, for sure. No parents should ever have to bury a child. But also that life is always too short, it can end at any moment, and that we never have as much say in how it ends as we would like.

We loved Melissa, and I only wish we’d said that to her more often, that we’d seen her more often so we could do so in person. I know she knew it, though, and there’s some small comfort in that. Here’s to those who she touched, who will miss her so much. May your love for her mitigate the pain of her passing, even as it amplifies it, and may she stay in our hearts until we all pass on as well.

Wicked New Games

My friend Luke Johnson reports that he’s been made editor-in-chief of Wicked Fantasy Factory, a new roleplaying game publisher. I don’t know anything more about it than what it says on the site, but I like the emphasis on action and fun. Best of luck to Luke in his new venture.

Free Old Games

The fine people at Reaper Miniatures have allowed a fan to set up a website that features free downloads of the minigames published by Heritage USA back in the early ’80s. The site has eight classic games posted. They require download and some assembly, but they’re a real blast from the past for gamers who had the chance to play some of them when they were first published.

Thanks to Greg Costikyan for pointing these out, and to Reaper for letting people enjoy these games again.

Tim Gerritsen Gone

My pal and former boss Tim Gerritsen has left the company at which I worked with him, Human Head Studios. I had a great time working with Tim and the crew there, although it’s now a much different company than the one I left, complete with brand-new offices and a hit title (Prey) on its hands. My friend Jason Blair, who took over as the head of the adventure games division after I left, is still there though and now working as the company’s spokesperson too.

Best of luck to Human Head in finding a new CEO and to Tim in the next chapter of his life!

The Brave New World Movie

A talented group of indie filmmakers from Chicago–a group known as Reactor 88 Studios–are working on a proof of concept for a film based on my Brave New World roleplaying game. I sat down and had dinner with them in December and met the cast and crew, led by producer Darren Orange. They have a tremendous amount of energy and a real passion for the project, and I’m excited to watch them pull it all together.