I was browsing for some new Rock Band and Guitar Hero tracks, when I stumbled on this: The Mutant Chronicles film is now available for rental, in both standard and HD formats, on XBox Live. While it won’t be in theaters in the US until later this month, you can see it already in your home. Very cool!
Buyout is Out to Buy
Fellow Michigan alumnus Alex Irvine’s new book Buyout is on shelves today. I worked with Alex on the Beast several years back, and I came to respect this talent then. As the marketing copy says:
From acclaimed author Alexander C. Irvine comes a gritty near-future thriller in the paranoid, prophetic vein of Philip K. Dick and Richard K. Morgan.
One hundred years from now, with Americans hooked into an Internet far more expansive and intrusive than today’s, the world has become a seamless market-driven experience. In this culture of capitalism run amok, entrepreneurs and politicians faced with rampant overcrowding in the nation’s penal system turn to a controversial new method of cutting costs: life-term buyouts. In theory, buyouts offer convicted murderers the chance to atone for their crimes by voluntarily allowing themselves to be put to death by the state in exchange for a one-time cash payment, shared among their heirs and victims, based on a percentage of what it would have cost taxpayers to house and feed them for the rest of their natural lives. It’s a win-win situation.
See, he’s got me right there. My copy’s already on the way.
Going to GTS
After having to skip last year’s show, I’m on my way back to the GAMA Trade Show (April 14—17). I’m on two seminars here: “Secrets of Good Game Design” on April 15 at 10 AM and “Tips for Freelancers” on April 16 at 10 AM.
If you’ll be there, let me know. I only have a short stay in town, and I’m looking to make the most of it.
[Edited to correct the dates.]The 2009 Scribe Awards Nominations
The IAMTW just announced the nominees for its 2009 Scribe Awards, which are for the best tie-novels of the year. The awards committees were kind enough to nominate my Mutant Chronicles novelization for two awards: Best Speculative Fiction Adapted and Special Gaming Scribe – Best Adapted.
See below for the full list nominees, many of which were written by good friends of mine (including fellow Alliterate member Steve Sullivan), and all of which are by excellent and talented writers. Congratulations to them all, and good luck to them in the final round–even those who are up against me! I feel blessed to be in such fantastic company, and this should make Comic-Con and Gen Con that much more fun.Read More
Nuclear Ronin Interview
Chris O’Kennon was kind enough to interview me for the first issue of his brand-new magazine, Nuclear Ronin. The magazine also features an article on cosplay, a profile of model and writer Sun Karma, and fiction by Chris, among other things. If you like, you can order it in PDF or hard copy format.
Work on the Conduit
My name recently came up in public about this, so I suppose it’s finally time to share. Last fall, I helped out my friends at High Voltage with the backstory of their upcoming game The Conduit.
As usual, I had a blast working with the team down there. They have an amazing group of people coming up with some incredible games. The Conduit looks fantastic, better than anything else out there for the Wii, and I cannot wait to finally play it for more than a few minutes at a time.
More when I can talk about it, but that’s enough for now.
Varney on the State of RPGs
My friend Allen Varney has an excellent article in this week’s Escapist: “Internet Killed the Tabletop Star.” In it, he suggests the internet has helped the tabletop RPG industry as much if not more than it’s harmed it. Be sure to check it out.
Danforth on Games and Libraries
My friend Liz Danforth is not only an extremely talented artist but also a librarian. I’ve known Liz for years and even been fortunate enough to have some of her work grace a few of the tabletop gaming books I’ve worked on. Recently, the Library Journal named her their new writer for their “Games, Gamers, and Gaming” blog.
If you have any interest in libraries and games–or, better yet, both–be sure to stop by and see what Liz has to say. She’s as strong an advocate for games in libraries that anyone could hope for, and I’m looking forward to seeing the good I know she’ll do.
Keith Herber, RIP
I just found out Keith Herber died this morning. Among many other accomplishments, he wrote some of the best RPG supplements every made, most notably several of the finest books created for Call of Cthulhu.
I only met Keith once that I recall, outside the Fleetwood Diner in Ann Arbor, Michigan, back when I was going to college there. At the time, I had no idea who he was, just another guy into games, like me, but I remember a friend of mine (Bryan Winter, I think) later telling me all about him, pointing out that Keith’s Arkham Unveiled was dedicated to the Dawn Treader, the best used-book store in a literary town.
Reading up on Keith, I see how our orbits crossed more than once. Besides living in Ann Arbor at the same time as me, he used to work for High Voltage Software, for which I’ve also done some writing.
Keith fell out of RPG writing for a while, but he thankfully returned to it just last year, founding Miskatonic River Press to publish his efforts. While Keith is gone, he left us many gems to remember him by, and here’s hoping his partners at MRP manage to solider on in his stead.
Ann on the Radio
My lovely and wonderful wife will be on the radio this morning! Ann and her boss Marge Hallenbeck are slated to join the Stan Milam Show at 10 AM to talk about homeless students in the School District of Janesville, Wisconsin. This is a growing problem everywhere, and Ann’s become an expert on the subject, speaking out for kids here and presenting at national conferences too.
As you might imagine, I’m terribly proud of Ann and her work. While I clown around and try to entertain people, she’s out there trying to help the neediest kids in our area every day. It balances out our family karma.
It also makes it hard for me to complain when work keeps her late. (Me: “I have a deadline for this comic book.” Ann: “I have to help with this grant to set up a shelter for homeless teens.” Me: “Ah. Right. I’ll pick up the kids and make dinner.”)
If you’re local, tune into WCLO 1230 AM to listen in. For the rest of you, there doesn’t seem to be a live stream, but the station regularly turns Stan’s shows into podcasts. Once I have a link for the show with Ann, I’ll post it here.