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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Odd 1980s TSR Boardgames

A recent posting by a social media friend of a video of a 1985 TSR boardgame based on the All My Children soap opera.  You can discover more about this game on Board Game Geek here.



A couple years later, TSR managed to secure the rights to produce The Perry Mason Game (1987).  More info can be had here.


Although neither of those games would have interested me any more then than now, the game they produced at the beginning of the 1980s might be worth a shot.  See more on the Escape from New York (1981) game here.


A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming
 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Events & Play Wednesday - Cons & Gamedays for May

As we move to the time between Gary Con and Nexus, there is still quite a bit happening locally and all over the place.  In the northern hemisphere, the lessening of the severity of the weather seems to get more and more people out to game at places beyond their homes.


Locally, this Saturday, May 2nd, Wayne Targo (founder of Southern Lakes Area Gamers AKA S.L.A.G.) is running a demo at Lake Geneva Games of Star Wars: Armada from Noon to 2 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm for four players each, though anyone can just watch.  On Sunday, May 3rd, Kris Herzog has scouted a new location for his early-in-the-month gamedays and chosen a nice restaurant with game space in Union Grove called the Parkside Cafe (1400 HWY 11, Union Grove, Wisconsin 53182).  This one runs from 11 am to 5 pm with more information on Facebook where it is organized here.  As always, the third Saturday and Sunday this month feature the Burlington Gameday on Saturday, May 16th, which sets up events through the Burlington UCC Game Day group on Facebook here and A Gathering of Gamers on Sunday, May 17th, set up by the South Lakes Area Gamers here.  The former is in Burlington, WI at the Plymouth UCC space and is free taking place from approximately 11 am to 5 pm.  The latter takes place at the Pizza Ranch in Elkhorn, WI, and requires a $12 fee for the all you can eat pizza and fried chicken buffet (salad bar, soft-serve ice cream machine, etc.) plus unlimited soft drinks and coffee from 11 am to 8 pm.  At the end of the month, on Saturday, May 30th, Lake Geneva Games is having a gameday with the details here.


Where ever you are, be sure to make your plans for May 21st, the "Thor'd Thors'day" of May, since it is the monthly Game Like a Viking Day!  It's a chance, no matter where you are, to break out your Viking-themed tabletop games and have at it.  See more of this ongoing monthly day of fun on the Facebook page here.


You can also find a whole list of gaming events all around the country and beyond on Warhorn.net here and they include:

May 1-3 Cincycon Hamilton, OH
May 1-3 ConTRAPtion 2015 Worthing, WSX, GB
May 1-3 Demicon 26 Des Moines, IA
May 1-3 OASIS 27 Orlando, FL
May 1-3 SCORPION Lexington, SC
May 1-3 Tri Con Spring 2015 South Sioux City, NE
May 9 ConTroll Dorchester, DOR, GB
May 15-17 HeroiCon 2015 Decatur, IL
May 15-17 The Convention at Stonekeep Bloomington, IN
May 21-25 Game-o-Rama Atlanta, GA
May 22-24 Mobicon 2015 Mobile, AL
May 22-24 Monster Promenade 2015 DeKalb, IL
May 22-25 Gamex 2015 Los Angeles, CA
May 22-25 Kublacon 2015 Burlingame, CA
May 24 Warhammer Fantasy Tourney Mobile, AL
May 28-31 MomoCon 2015 Atlanta, GA
May 28-31 Phoenix Comicon 2015 Phoenix, AZ
May 29-31 ConCarolinas Concord, NC
May 29-31 FOG CON II 2015 Pekin, IL
May 29-31 Seelie Court 2015 Philadelphia, PA
May 29-31 UK Games Expo 2015 Birmingham, BIR, GB
May 30 Greater Kansas City RPG Day #2 Overland Park, KS

Some of this information (and more can be had) is from the excellent lists on upcomingcons.com/gaming-conventionsGameConventionCentral.comHMGS (the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society), and  as well as many, many gamers on Facebook and Google Plus, to whom I am grateful for the help in this compilation.  Thanks so much and have a great game!

News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures
from those I have attended and games I have played.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Tech Tuesday - Hobbit Home, d20 Shifter, & Cat Head

Over on goodshomedesign.com, they are showing off what they are calling a "Hobbit-Style Eco-Friendly House Built From Scratch For Just $220" here.


Also, on americanshifter.com you can now get a stick shift knob fashioned like a d20 here.


Finally, on laughingsquid.com, check out "A Giant, Creepy, Realistic Wool Cat Head You Can Wear as a Mask" here.


News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
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Monday, April 27, 2015

Media News Monday - Daredevil Film, Galaxy Quest, & Jurassic World Trailer

According to cosmicbooknews.com here, Daredevil is going to get the movie treatment.


The hollywoodreporter.com tells us here, that a "'Galaxy Quest' TV Series in the Works."


Finally, on the Universal Pictures YouTube channel, check out the "Jurassic World - Official Global Trailer." enjoy!



News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
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Sunday, April 26, 2015

Sunday Funnies - Bat v Supe, Chatty Jedis, & Downton Wars

Three from YouTube this week with the first being a recent take on the upcoming Batman versus Superman film if it were done with Adam West and Christopher Reeve as rivals.  Enjoy!



Also, check out what happens when you give Wesley and Inigo Montoya light sabers.  Hilarious!



Finally, check out the first part of "Downton Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Valet."  Funny!



Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.
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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Surviving, Raiding, & Hunting

Three from Kickstarter this week and all of them already funded.  First up is "Surviving: One month in" by Teddytech here.


Next up is "Raiders of the North Sea" by Shem Phillips here.


Finally, check out "Vampire Hunters" by Dark Gate Games here.


Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Friday, April 24, 2015

The Friday Grab Bag - Origins Award Noms, D&D Digital Maps, & Fantasy Grounds on Steam

Over on originsawards.net, the 2015 Origins Award nominations are available here.


Also, on The Daily Dot, they tell how "Dungeons and Dragons comes to life on digital maps" here.


Finally, over on Steam, Fantasy Grounds has been implemented and allows for playing Dungeons & Dragons 5E here.


The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
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Thursday, April 23, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Fred Fields, 81 Dungeon Game Ad, & the Clarke-Asimov Flame War

Over on the blog of Dave Gross, he shares his brief interview with veteran game industry pro Fred Fields here.


Also, on battlegrip.com, Phil Reed shares a "1981 Dungeon Boardgame Ad from Boys’ Life" here.


Finally, on barnesandnoble.com, they discuss "The Decades-Long Flame War Between Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov" here (which was published on April 1st, so reader beware!).


A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming
 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Events & Play Wednesday - Lake Geneva Area Gaming, Late March through Late April

Lots of gaming even post-Gary Con round Lake Geneva, WI, including a Franksville Gameday that took place on April 12th at Greg's Catering, a Burlington Gameday last weekend followed by A Gathering of Gamers at the Elkhorn, WI, Pizza Ranch.  Quite a bit of boardgaming at the Taco Bell on Tuesdays and Culver's on Fridays as well, and the weekly 1E AD&D gaming group at Lake Geneva, Games was going strong.  Here are some highlight photos but the bulk of them can be found in a Facebook album here and on Google Plus here.




News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures
from those I have attended and games I have played.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Tech Tuesday - Electric VW Bus, External Hard Drives, & SW BB-8 Toy

Over on minds.com, they let us know that the "VW Bus to be re-released as an electric vehicle" here.


Also, on getrektgaming.net, on their Chopping Block, they discuss External Hard Drives here.


Finally, on gizmodo.com, they ask "Is This Our First Look at Sphero's Official The Force Awakens BB-8 Toy?" here.


News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
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Monday, April 20, 2015

Media News Monday - New GoT Chapter, Batman v Superman Trailer, & SW News

George R.R. Martin has put up a new chapter for The Winds of Winter from the A Song of Ice And Fire series here.


Also. a leaked release of the Batman v Superman teaser trailer prompted a proper release of it by Zack Snyder and Warner Brothers soon after.  Enjoy.



Finally, the Internet and all media have been abuzz over the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer, particularly the appearance right at the end, as well we should all be.  Over on io9.com, Meredith Woerner looked at things a little more closely in the article "The Empire Has A Whole New Name In Star Wars Episode VII" here.



News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
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Sunday, April 19, 2015

Sunday Funnies - Hawking Sings Python, Artoo In Love, & Avengers Family Feud

A few from YouTube this week including one from the Monty Python channel titled "Stephen Hawking Sings Monty Python… Galaxy Song (Music Video)."  Enjoy!



Also, from the Evan Atherton YouTube channel, a short film titled "Artoo In Love."



Finally, from the Jimmy Kimmel Live YouTube channel comes "Avengers Family Feud" wherein "Jimmy hosts a game of Family Feud with Avengers cast members Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner."



Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - RPG Bookmarks, Low Life, & Autarch Adventure

Three from Kickstarter this week with the first being "Fantasy RPG Bookmarks for Players & Game Masters" by Nord Games here.


Also, check out the humorous "Low Life Playing Cards" by Andy Hopp here.


Finally, if you've been waiting for a "ready-to-play adventure scenario designed for use with the Adventurer Conqueror King System & other classic fantasy RPGs," have a look at "The Sinister Stone of Sakkara" by Autarch here.


Keeping an eye on those Kickstarter & IndieGoGo
projects plus other crowdfunding efforts.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Friday, April 17, 2015

The Friday Grab Bag - S&W App Day, AAW Job, & News Against Humanity

I hope everyone got in on Swords & Wizardry Appreciation Day 2015.  Check out the doings as they come to a head later today here.


Also, on adventureaweek.com, they have details on some jobs available here.


Finally, from boardgamegeek.com news, the top story is about "Legal Trouble for Cards Against Humanity" here.


The Friday Grab Bag on CreativeMountainGames.com 
Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Throwback Thursday - Early 90s PC Sounds, 80s PC Booters, & Kids React 70s Tech

Chris Higgins recently reminded us on mentalfloss.com how labored the sounds of a computer booting up were here, this one a "1993 PC Boot Up."



Working our way back a bit further, check out this list of 1980s "Booter Games" here.  One of my personal favorites was "Suspended: A Cryogenic Nightmare," "an interactive fiction video game written by Michael Berlyn and published by Infocom in 1983."


While we're on the subject, have a chuckle on how Kids React to a 1970s computer.  The screen shot is one explorer's expression while in search of a non-existent "mouse."



A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming
 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Events & Play Wednesday - Gary Con VII Picture Roundup

Had some fun times at Gary Con VII and the pictures are finally up to view, Tag, and Share on Facebook and Google Plus:

Tuesday, March 24th, 2015 pre-pre-con setup - Facebook & Google Plus

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015 Day 0 - Facebook & Google Plus

Thursday, March 26th, 2015 Day 1 - Facebook & Google Plus

Friday, March 27th, 2015 Day 2 - Facebook & Google Plus

Saturday, March 28th, 2015 Day 3 - Facebook & Google Plus

Sunday, March 29th, 2015 Day 4 - Facebook & Google Plus

Monday, March 30th, 2015 Day 5 - Facebook & Google Plus




News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures
from those I have attended and games I have played.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Tech Tuesday - Wingsuit, Fancy Hammers, & Google Mooshots

Over on Sploid, a recent article showed us how "Crazy wingsuit guy smashes right through a sign while flying super fast" here.


Also, on gearjunkie.com, they reveal the source of some of the greatest hammer smithing in the world here.


Finally, on The Kernel, "These Google X ‘moonshots’ will radically change the world" here.


News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
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