Novels for 2010

The fine people at Angry Robot have announced the release dates for both Amortals and Vegas Knights, my first two original novels. Amortals should be out in the UK and Australia in April 2010 and in the US and the rest of the world in June 2010. Vegas Knights is slated to hit the UK and Australia in June 2010 too, with the US/rest of the world release in July. Combine that with the release of my upcoming Guild Wars novel sometime next year, and it’s shaping up to be an amazing summer.

Now I just have to finish writing them.

Games On Demand

One bit of advice I gave people at TAGIE was to limit their risk with new games, especially when starting out. Rather than blow five figures on a short run of games through a traditional printer, try a POD (print on demand) service first. You’ll learn more about what you’re doing, and you won’t be out nearly so much money.

Even if you’re just coming up with a prototype for your games–for playtesting or for pitching to a publisher–POD makes a lot of sense. You can create a fairly professional-looking product for a small total cost. Large runs are better for when you go into full production and can be confident you’ll sell thousands of copies. Otherwise, print only as many as you need and keep the numbers as low as you can.

I’ve mentioned TheGamecrafter.com before. They had some space in a booth at ChiTAG, and the materials looked good. This isn’t top-quality material, but it’s just fine for limited runs. TheGamecrafter.com people have been courteous and speedy about answering any of my questions every time too, which is always a good sign.

If you’re looking for better quality, although without the slick, web-based interface, check out Superior POD instead. They can produce standard wargaming chits and chipboard game boards, for instance, and their boxes come in full-color, unlike the white corrugated materials that TheGamecrafter.com uses. They don’t offer game components like pawns, but I’m told they’re hoping to do so soon. My old pal Jeff Valent runs Superior POD. He’s been involved with games forever and understands the hobby as well as anyone.

I’ve not tried either of these services personally, but I will the next time I get the chance.

What a Card

Bill of Rights Card.jpg At this year’s Gen Con, my pal Dan Tibbles of Bucephalus Games gave me the birthday present he’d been threatening me with for months. I had no idea what it might be, and when he handed me my very own card for his company’s game Bill of Rights, he caught me by surprise.

I had the chance to play the game with Anthony Gallela at PAX, and it’s lots of fun. In the game, you take the part of someone involved in the Constitutional Convention, and you struggle with the other players to push through the version of the Bill of Rights that your character would like best. Each player has a card that secretly defines his or her positions on various issues. While the game comes with several of these cards, there was room for more, so Dan printed up a special set of promotional cards featuring famous game designers. The six cards feature James Ernest (Lone Shark Games), Andrew Looney (Looney Labs), Mike Selinker (Lone Shark Games), Mike Stackpole, John Zinser (AEG), and me.

You can get the cards from any of the people shown on the cards. I have a whole carton of them. Hit me up for one at a show or a signing, and I’d be happy to share.

TAGIE/ChiTAG Report

I had a fantastic time at the TAGIE/ChiTAG conventions this weekend. I drove down on Thursday morning and made it in time to join the panel on “Design and Development,” moderated by my friend Mike Gray of Hasbro. It’s always a kick to join Mike on one of these panels because I remember sitting in the audience of one of his panels when I was starting out, over 20 years ago.

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Off to TAGIE and ChiTAG!

Later today, I’m off to TAGIE (the Toy and Game Inventor Expo) held down at Navy Pier in Chicago. Assuming rush-hour traffic doesn’t devour me alive, I should be on my first panel at 11 AM on “Design and Development,” moderated by the ever-excellent Mike Gray.

Tomorrow, I have two panels. The first, “Online and Interactive,” starts at 10 AM, and the second, “Meet the Inventors,” is at 2 PM. That night, I’ll be at the TAGIE Awards ceremony at the Adler Planetarium.

On Saturday, I’m part of the “Ask an Expert” sessions. I hope to find some time to wander around ChiTAG (the Chicago Toy and Game Fair) too before I head home. That part of the weekend is open to the public at very reasonable rates ($5 for kids and $10 for adults), so if you’re in the area, stop by and check out it. And if you see me, be sure to say hi!

The Emperor’s Weekend

My son Marty has the titular role in the KFAD production of The Emperor’s New Clothes. The play runs this Friday and Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Beloit. If you live in the area, come on out and join us in watching Marty parade around stage in his long johns!

TAGIE and ChiTAG

Chicago Toy & Game Fair ExhibitorI’ve been asked to be a speaker again at this year’s Toy and Game Inventor Expo (TAGIE). I had to back out at the last second last year due to a family illness, but I had a great time at the show the year before. The convention is held on Navy Pier in downtown Chicago on November 19 and 20.

If you’re an aspiring mass-market game or toy designer, TAGIE is a fantastic introduction to that industry and provides a crash-course on what you need to do have a shot at succeeding in it. Hasbro is the lead sponsor this year, and that means you can expect to see top folks like Mike Gray and Mike Hirtle there among many other luminaries.

I’m also going to attend the TAGIE Awards ceremony, which honor the top creators in mass-market toys and games. This is slated for the evening of November 20 at the Adler Planetarium. Even if you can’t make it there, there seems to still be time to nominate people for Toy Inventor of the Year, Game Inventor of the Year, Rising Star Inventor of the Year, and Young Inventor of the Year. Reuben Klamer, who designed The Game of Life, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Leslie Scott, who designed Jenga, will be one of the presenters, along with actresses Daryl Hannah and Hilary Shepard, and Tim Walsh, designer of TriBond and Blurt.

If you love toys and games but don’t want to see how they’re made, come out for the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTAG) instead. It’s held on Navy Pier too, but on the two days right after TAGIE, November 21 and 22. It’s all about seeing and playing the latest and greatest toys and games instead. I’ll be wandering around the show that Saturday, soaking up all the fun. If you’ll be at either event, be sure to say hi!

Ann on TV

My wife Ann is a school social worker for the School District of Janesville, Wisconsin. Her main job is to serve as the homeless student liaison for the district. In this role, she’s spoken at conferences across the country, and just recently she’s been on local television twice.

Tonight, she also hauled herself out of her sickbed to appear on the Janesville Area Council PTA-Family Network show. This appeared on the Janesville public access cable channels (96 and 993) at 6:30 PM. Sadly, I can’t seem to find any archives for this show.

However, back on October 26, Ann appeared on Newsmakers, a production of WisconsinEye, our state’s version of CSPAN. If you scroll down to the second show on 10.26.09, you can watch or listen to the entire show, in which Ann discusses the increases in the homeless student population in Wisconsin, along with her counterparts from Milwaukee and Madison.