1. Wizards of the Coast buys TSR. Like, duh.
2. Wizards of the Coast gets CCG patent. Perhaps even more imporatant than the actual patent was Wizards' announced plans to obtain licenses from those other card games they thought were in violation of their patent, and to pursue legal remedies against those who refused. The continuing dogfight over all this could easily be the biggest news story of 1998.
3. Mayfair shuts down, rescued by Iron Crown. Hard to believe that the company that brought us Settlers of Catan couldn't make a go of it, but it says a lot about the state of the gaming market in 1997. Iron Crown grabbed up Mayfair as a subsidiary, so at least some of those games will continue to be available.
4. Magic Championships televised on ESPN2. OK, so it was late-night filler. But did you ever think that anything we gamers played would end up on ESPN?
5. Resurgence of inventive roleplaying worlds. From In Nomine to noir, Deadlands, Fading Suns, Trinity, Asylum, Blue Planet and more, it was a good year for roleplaying games.
6. Continued retrenchment in the card industry. The big studs -- Magic, Star Wars, Star Trek, Middle-earth -- were still strong, most everything else faded from sight. Only two major new card games made any impact at all -- FASA's Shadowrun and the Aliens vs. Predator by Harper-Prism (designed by Precedence Publishing).
7. Wizards of the Coast buys Five Rings Publishing. Adding their Legend of the Five Rings title to their already formidable lineup, Wizards also picked up some top-notch marketing talent.
8. More bankruptcies and departures. Companion Games, Daedalus Games, Gamesmiths all called it a career, though Companion and Daedalus both announced plans to be back after reorganization. And Australian Realms and arcane magazines ceased publication after years of excellent articles.
9. Wizards of the Coast opens Game Center. Their Seattle showcase is perhaps the ultimate gamer's clubhouse, with plenty of room for card tournaments, separate private rooms for roleplaying, networked computers for the latest electronic games, an arcade, video rooms, a snack bar, and even its own game store. It's this last part that has some retailers worried -- if this concept is successful and spreads, what does it mean to the existing game stores?
10. GAMA considers restructuring. The talk of last spring's GAMA Trade show was a proposal to kick the retailers and distributors out of the organization, on the premise that the manufacturers had conflicting agendas with the other two divisions. This could of been a more important story in 1997 if, as seems typical with GAMA initiatives, something had actually happened beyond the talk stage.
-- Scott Haring
By all means look at the web pages (in English!) of the game's creators, Doris Matthäus and Frank Nestel. Steffan has also posted some new gene ideas you can fool with.
Now, what I do NOT know is how you can GET this game. Bug your local retailer; tell him it's an import; see what he says.
-- Steve Jackson
Loren is one of the original Secret Masters of Gaming (it was Loren who popularized the phrase, "Evil Geniuses for a Better Tomorrow"). He will be doing a couple of different things for us, including overseeing the GURPS Traveller line of products, as well as art directing and some production.
Of course, we'll also be taking advantage of his years of experience on the convention trail, so be on the lookout.
-- Scott Haring
Well, that's not entirely true . . . While the offices are closed Dec. 25 and 26, and the entire week of Dec. 29 to Jan. 2, you might find one or more of us here, burning the midnight oil.
But you might not. So if you're having trouble reaching us by phone, e-mail, fax or carrier pigeon, that's why. Please don't panic, all will be back to semi-normal on Monday, Jan. 5.
Happy Holidays!
-- Scott Haring
The Darwin Awards are given, usually posthumously, to the individual(s) who remove themselves from the gene pool in the most spectacular fashion. You will be amazed at the stories they have collected. Don't try ANY of these at home.
- Site suggested by Shig the Unmentionable ([email protected])
Anyway, enjoy the card. Merry Christmas!
-- Scott Haring
Pyramid #28 left the building late last week, and will be out in January. The issue features a GURPS Black Ops adventure by Gene Seabolt, a Call of Cthulhu - Paranoia crossover you have to see to believe, plus tons of reviews, Industry News, Murphy's Rules and more!
-- Scott Haring
And sometime this week, Walter Milliken and the Archangel Beth, creators of
GURPS IOU, will be coming
by . . . I predict they will like the new IOU t-shirt design. "What t-shirt?"
you ask. Well, when you're cleared for it, we'll tell you.
-- Steve Jackson
This photo shows one of the army-surplus lockers that we use to transport our Geo-Hex foam terrain. We think it was an ammo can, but we don't know for sure. It's metal; the lid is a separate piece. There are metal carrying handles that swing out at each end, and three latches on each side and two on each end (see closeup). It's 31.5" long by 19.25" wide, and only 10.5" deep.We have only three of these. We'd like about five more . . . and we can't find any. They provide really great protection for our nice foam terrain, although transporting them internationally has proven to be a great way to get special attention from customs inspectors. (The time in Germany when a box had a vacuum inside from its hours in the unpressurized hold, and therefore wouldn't open, was especially memorable.)
Whoever brings us information that leads to our buying the cans we want will make the Illuminati very happy; just what you get for your favor will be negotiable. So call your local surplus store . . .
-- Steve Jackson
Bugs outnumber all other forms of animal life on the planet. Stomping them
is noisy and exhausting, and poisons have a tendency to get out of hand. So
what'll we do? Well, the creative folks at Iowa State University have come
up with a number of Tasty Insect
Recipes. Get in the spirit of the season with Banana Worm Bread and
Chocolate Chirpie Chip Cookies!
(Site suggested by John Karakash)
You can download sound files at the Sandia website.
-- Steve Jackson
Also, we maintain a list of active AADA Chapters. Check it out if you're looking for autoduellists near you.
And remember, if you'd like to add a link to us on your site, we have a nifty little button for that purpose:
Why is duct tape like the Force? Because it has a bright side, and
a dark side, and it holds the Universe together. The Duct Tape Page will answer
all your questions about the use, care, and feeding of the world's most
powerful tool, unless you want to know about gerbils.
- Submitted by Shig the Unmentionable
Yes, the reason that cover looks like a Rowena is because it is. The APG should be in your stores in less than two weeks - maybe a lot less, if they pre-ordered it from their distributors.
In the same shipment is the new printing of GURPS Magic - same edition, just a few typos and whatnot fixed.
The current (November) issue of Comics Retailer features an interview with Peter Adkison. In that interview, Adkison squarely addresses the question of "evil," as follows:
"Well, we're certainly not considering anything evil."
There you have it. What could be more definite? I know I'll sleep much better now.
-- Steve Jackson
So . . . here's the Warehouse 23 Dumpster. Explore it at your own risk. It's never been emptied . . . dig down far enough, and you may find the very first thing the Men in Black ever cleaned off of their warehouse shelves.
-- Steve Jackson
Will science make it possible for us to take control of our own evolution, individually or as a race? What's the next step beyond humanity? This page is a collection of resources about transhumanism.
- Submitted by C.D. Skogsberg ([email protected])
-- Steve Jackson
Those of you who live in Austin already know about Too Much Coffee Man – but did you know that Shannon is doing a signing? Two, actually - 7pm December 6 at Fringeware, 2716 Guadalupe (494-9273) and 3-5pm December 7 at Borders, 10225 Research (795-9553). This is to promote his new book "Wake Up and Smell the Cartoons." Too much weirdness, man.
-- Steve Jackson
If you've been keeping up with Pyramid Magazine at all, you know that I'm a big Call of Cthulhu fan and a great admirer of the Pagan folks. They've done a bunch of great CoC stuff, but perhaps nothing finer than Delta Green, a modern-day creepfest where the truth is really out there, in a way that makes a certain popular monsters-and-conspiracies TV show look like Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
Anyway, the latest addition to the Delta Green universe is Delta Green Online. It's got new fiction and scenarios, adventure ideas, and even a way to register as a Delta Green agent! Well worth a visit.
-- Scott Haring
