The Origins Awards nominations were announced at the GAMA Trade Show this past week. See the full list after the break. Congratulations to all the nominees!
(Things I worked on didn’t receive any nominations this year, but that’s not too surprising as I had little in the way of games come out last year. Also, the fiction category (in which I had several releases) apparently got cut due to “insufficient submissions.”)
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I made it back from the GAMA Trade Show (GTS) late Wednesday night, while the show still raged on in Las Vegas. For those who are interested, you can read the details of my trip after the break.
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The GAMA Trade Show will no longer be held at the Riviera. Next year, it’ll be at Bally’s instead, and a month later in the year to boot. Perhaps not too coincidentally, this moves it away from the inaugural Games Expo, which will be held in Las Vegas also, near GTS’s traditional dates, but at the SouthCoast.
See the full press release after the break.
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The latest issue (#169) of Comics & Games Retailer, a trade magazine for two tightly bound industries, concentrates on the state of the gaming industry. Along with the regular doom and gloom, editor James Mishler commissioned an article from me about how the industry looks from a freelancer’s point of view.
The answer in short: confused but hopeful, with an option to go to PDF publishing if traditional work-for-hire isn’t working for you. Pick up a copy if you want the long version, please.
Dennis Mize, one of the first two sculptors at (legendary and now defunct miniatures company) Ral Partha, died this week. He also created gorgeous figures for Dark Sword Miniatures, Reaper Miniatures, and others. The Miniatures Page has an excellent memorial post about him.
I never knew Dennis, but like anyone who starting gaming in the ’80s, I appreciated his work. He’ll be missed.
At the GAMA Trade Show, Playmates introduced a full organized play system for Marvel Heroes Battle Dice. Toymania has the press release.
The latest run of the Marvel Heroes Battle Dice starter set contains a free mini-comic written by Todd Degazo and illustrated by Ron Lim. Apparently it wasn’t ready for the first wave, but it comes free with the set now, for no additional price.
Ron drew many of the cards for the WildStorms CCG I co-designed. Although I may have never met him, it’s cool to think we’re working on another great project again.
For me, though, the best part of the comic is seeing Spider-Man and the Human Torch actually playing Battle Dice in one scene. As a long-time Spider-Man fan, I never thought I’d see him playing one of my games.
Getting ready to attend my 20th high school reunion (and to drool over the just-announced Mutant Chronicles Collectible Miniatures Game from Eric Lang and Fantasy Flight) has made me a bit nostalgic. To see if you’re on the same wavelength with me, I present two amazing bits of clever webbery:
Got in late last night. Still recovering and plowing through e-mail. Had a great time. Saw and made many wonderful friends. Left my voice in Vegas. More soon.
I’m off for the GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas on Sunday. If you’ll be out there (it’s for gaming industry professionals only, I’m afraid), give me a shout. I’m only sticking around through Wednesday, as I have many duties calling me home. (I can think of at least five by name, and they live in the bedrooms next to mine.)
With luck, you can find me wandering the exhibit hall on Tuesday afternoon, or possibly manning the Playmates Toys booth, helping show the latest bits for my Marvel Heroes Battle Dice game and my upcoming DC Battle Dice game. In addition, I’m officially scheduled for the following events:
Monday, March 13th, 2006, 10-11 a.m.
Seven Habits of Highly Effective Freelancers
With so much riding on every release, publishers need to choose wisely whenever they outsource projects. Learn the qualities a freelancer should make sure they embody, for themselves and their publishers, as well as qualities publishers should look for in the freelancers they hire.Tuesday, March 14th, 2006, 10-11 a.m.
Advanced Freelancing
For the committed professional who now derives the majority of their income from freelancing in the game industry, there are whole new challenges to consider. Topics of discussion include: effective time and project management, tax planning for the self-employed, handling royalties, and legal recourses for the Freelancer.
If it’s vital you get a hold of me at the show, shoot me an e-mail, and we’ll set up an appointment. My time in town is short, so it’s always best to schedule these things ahead of time if we can. See you there!
For the rest of you, if this blog suddenly gets quiet, now you know why.