GAMA Seminar Notes

Since a few people have asked about the seminars I held at this year’s GAMA Trade Show, I’ve posted the notes from them in my Downloads section. “Seven Habits of Effective Freelancers” is for beginning freelancers, while “Advanced Freelancing” is just what it says.

They’re incomplete, of course, since they’re just my speaking notes. I used these for the first twenty minutes or so of each seminar and then took questions for the rest of the hour. If you find them useful–or entertaining–drop me a note to let me know.

Concinnity Indeed

I had a great time at Concinnity this weekend. My hosts treated me like royalty, and the attendees who showed up to my panels were clever and interesting and asked good questions. On Saturday, I sat on a panel with James Lowder and E.E. Knight. Jim and Eric made everything easy and pleasant, and afterward I grabbed dinner with Jim at the Water Street Brewery, an old favorite for us both.

I came back and played in a demo of Obsidian, a dark future roleplaying game published by the Apophis Consortium. Matt M. McElroy (of Flames Rising and Twilight Games) ran it, and we all had a fine time. I also hung out with Monica Valentinelli (freelancer for Flames Rising, Eden Studios, and others), Mike Holmes (of Universalis fame, I believe), Travis Legge (of Aegis Studios and the Contagion roleplaying game), Matt Wilson (of Primetime Adventures) and his wife Meredith, Derek Stoelting (of Eden Studios and Flames Rising), Travis Marg (the gracious and helpful convention chair), Sara (of Flames Rising), and many others.

“Concinnity,” by the way, is a perfect word for what game designers should always strive: “Harmony in the arrangement or interarrangement of parts with respect to a whole.”

P.S. Here’s a shot of me and Mr. McElroy that Monica took back at Gen Con 2004.

Bertolini Wins!

Max Bertolini created the covers for each of my Blood Bowl novels, and we’ve put together a promotional comic for a new line of toys (REVs) from Playmates, too, which should hit shelves in June. He’s a fantastic artist and a pleasure to work with.

In late February, one of his pieces won an art contest sponsored by BioRob 2006, the first International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, held in Pisa, Italy. The conference attendees voted on the award, and Max took it home for his wonderful work. Congratulations, Max!

Gaming as Culture

I just got a note from Patrick Williams about Gaming As Culture: Social Reality, Identity and Experience in Fantasy Games, a new book that he edited (along with Sean Hendricks and Keith Winkler) that treats fantasy roleplaying games as serious works worthy of study. It’s wonderful to see this relatively new field of entertainment get some respect from the halls of higher learning, and I’m looking forward to getting a chance to read it.

And that’s not just because it includes an article by the well-educated Michelle Nephew, my friend and one of the owners of Atlas Games. See the table of contents and back cover copy after the break.

Read More

Spreading the Battle Dice Word

Playmates Toys has asked me for ideas on how to get Battle Dice into more players’ hands. I have my own notions, of course, but I wonder if you might have some of your own you’d be willing to share. What would get you to play a game like this? What would pique your interest? What’s stopping you now?

Consider this an informal market research quiz. Hit me with what you got. Think as far outside the box as you like. I’m looking for whatever fresh ideas you may have. Thanks!

Malkovich Makes Mutants

John Malkovich has signed on to play opposite Tom Jane in the upcoming Mutant Chronicles movie.

Wow. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to see this all come together. I worked many years on the Mutant Chronicles roleplaying game (as well as on the Doomtrooper collectible card game and the Warzone miniatures game). I helped breathe life into the characters that will be in the film, and even created one or two from whole cloth.

I can’t wait to see this.

Concinnity Coming Up

This Saturday and Sunday (April 1—2, 2006), I’ll be at Concinnity, a gaming and science fiction convention held on the campus of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. My tentative schedule looks like this:

Writing and Freelancing. Learn the basics of getting published and dealing with the challenges of writing fiction, RPGs and more. Featuring authors Matt Forbeck, James Lowder, and E.E. Knight. Saturday, 3 PM.

A Question and Answer Session with Matt Forbeck. Just what it says. Sunday, 10 AM.

If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there!