Monday, February 29, 2016

Media News Monday - 88th Annual Academy Awards

Here's a quick note about some upcoming website adjustments for the CMG Blog Triad that will manifest in March.  I've often felt that having some types of cartography on Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com was shoehorning.  While I feel battlemats, battlemaps, and the like work well for this category, because they are essentially two-dimensional terrain, larger scale maps and cartography are going to move starting in March to the Grymvald.com corner of the CMG Blog Triad appearing on what will be dubbed as Mapping Monday.  They fit better with the setting-oriented blogging for Grymvald.com.  This will replace the old Monday blog on Grymvald.com known as RPG Media Monday which will in turn move to the CreativeMountainGames.com Monday blog slot.  That will replace Media News Monday, since I have often felt that news there was not very timely.  What I had posted there either had been widespread news by the time it was posted or would work well enough under the heading of RPG Media Monday.  I hope these adjustments don't throw anyone for a loop.  I feel they will work better going forward. 
Thanks! - Mark CMG
Seems fitting to go out on a big story and for media, the Oscars are about as big as it gets.  I was working on some Gary Con VIII prep last night but had the 88th Annual Academy Awards on in the background.  As usual, no one will ever agree on whether there were movies and artists that should have been nominated but all in all there were some very good films in 2015.  I've seen five of the eight Best Picture nominees including The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, and The Revenant.  From the other categories, I caught Trumbo, The Hateful Eight, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and (one of my favorites of the year) Ex Machina.  Congrats to it on getting Best Achievement in Visual Effects.  It was amazing!


I was glad to see The Hateful Eight get something, even if just Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score because I enjoy Tarantino and feel his movies speak to the GM in me with the way he throws characters together and I'm never sure what is going to happen next.


I was also happy for Mark Rylance getting Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in Bridge of Spies but mostly because of his work in Wolf Hall.  That show has such rich characters and fine performances, and is a real lesson for how to portray NPCs in RPGs.  This whole final post, by the way, is a good example of how even though I am writing about media in general, I still have this inclination to steer it toward something gaming related.


News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
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Sunday, February 28, 2016

Sunday Funnies - Humor Dark & Full

Over on the RocketJump 2 YouTube channel, a video from last year mocks "Every 90s Commercial Ever (Uncensored)."  Enjoy!



Also, on the Double Prizes YouTube channel, they developed a spin off in "Law and Order: GOT."  Tune in!



Finally, on the Late Night with Seth Meyers YouTube channel, they show "Melisandre at a Baby Shower - Late Night with Seth Meyers."  Full of Terrors!



Humor, often gaming-related,
to start the week with a chuckle.
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Saturday, February 27, 2016

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Tiles, Verdan, & Evolution

Three from Kickstarter this week with the first being "Tiles of Adventuring: Tabletop Grid System" by Walt Langhans here.


Also, have a look at "Siege of Verdan" by patrick siebert here.


Finally, check out "Evolution: Climate (a stand-alone boardgame)" by North Star Games here.


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

Friday, February 26, 2016

The Friday Grab Bag - CMG & GM's Day!

Here's a quick note about some upcoming website adjustments for the CMG Blog Triad that will manifest in March.  I've often felt that having some types of cartography on Terrain Tuesday on MFWARS.com was shoehorning.  While I feel battlemats, battlemaps, and the like work well for this category, because they are essentially two-dimensional terrain, larger scale maps and cartography are going to move starting in March to the Grymvald.com corner of the CMG Blog Triad appearing on what will be dubbed as Mapping Monday.  They fit better with the setting-oriented blogging for Grymvald.com.  This will replace the old Monday blog on Grymvald.com known as RPG Media Monday which will in turn move to the CreativeMountainGames.com Monday blog slot.  That will replace Media News Monday, since I have often felt that news there was not very timely.  What I had posted there either had been widespread news by the time it was posted or would work well enough under the heading of RPG Media Monday.  I hope these adjustments don't throw anyone for a loop.  I feel they will work better going forward. 
Thanks! - Mark CMG

Also, don't forget about the GM's Day Sale with the holiday just a week away.  With the holiday fast approaching, CMG is offering up some great prices on offerings for your GM or yourself.  All of the items in the CMG catalog are marked down to $1 and the remaining three items are at 50% off the normal selling price.  Grab something for you GM *OR* for yourself while the prices are so low. Check out the savings here.


Pick a copy of "30 Things Can Happen" for just one dollar here.  Furthermore, the excellent "Fighting Fire - Ernie Gygax Benefit Adventure" is available for half the normal price here.  Finally, the dangerous sourcebook "Superstitions" is only one dollar, as well, here.


Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Throwback Thursday - D&D & Gary Con

Over on myth-weavers.com, there's an old thread on their forum I stumble upon delineating the "30 Greatest D&D Modules/Adventures of all time."  See if you agree here.


Also, on the Jon Peterson YouTube channel from a couple of years ago, he discusses "A History of D&D In 12 Treasures."  Enlightening!



Finally, on the Dorks of Yore YouTube channel, a recent video shows Luke Gygax discussing Gary Con.  Enjoy!



A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming
 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.
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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Events & Play Wednesday - Last Month & Coming Up

In the past I have made two posts on Events & Play Wednesday on the last two Wednesdays of the month, the first highlighting the events I attended and the next featuring upcoming events, locally and further afield.  Starting today, I am going to be combining those posts which will include up front a couple of links to where I have uploaded the pictures from the events of the last month that I have attended then expounding on future events.

Lots of gaming in and around Lake Geneva and Southern Wisconsin.  Here are some pictures taken at the various events, many of them at Lake Geneva Games (Facebook page here)!  Check out more pictures on my Facebook album here and a Google Photos album here.


Locally, make plans to go to Second Sunday which falls on March 13th at the Lake Geneva Games store.  They are located at 918 S Wells St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 and their phone number is (262) 885-1515.  The event runs from Noon until 9 pm and is mostly about pickup boardgames though planning particular games is certainly encouraged.  Sign up for this event and discuss it further on Facebook here.  There will also be a Burlington Gameday scheduled for March on the third Saturday, the 19th, with details at the Burlington UCC Game Day group on Facebook here.  It will be held in Burlington, WI at the Plymouth UCC space, taking place from approximately 11 am to 5 pm.  All are welcome!  The third Sunday in March features A Gathering of Gamers on the 20th, set up by the South Lakes Area Gamers here.  The event 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.


Of course the big news is Gary Con VIII, happening this year at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, WI, over the first weekend of March  There's always plenty of gaming to be had even if you don't preregister, so come on over to the big show and rub elbows with designers and gaming legends from every era.  Just check out the special guest list here!


And don't forget that March Fo(u)rth is GM's Day!  It's the day we celebrate the wonderful people who prep the games we love to play.  There's a Facebook page for GM's Day here and a Facebook event setup here.

For more information on events coming up and happening near you, please check out the following websites (and let me know if there are other links I can include in this section!)



News of Conventions and Gamedays as well as pictures
from those I have attended and games I have played.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Tech Tuesday - Image, Images, & Imagination

Three from Science Alert this week with the first a refutation stating "The formula that's supposed to 'prove beauty' is fundamentally wrong."  Find out more here.


Also, they explain "The awesome physics behind how mirrors work" here.


Finally, they tell us "The ability to control our dreams could help us solve the mystery of consciousness" here.


News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
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Monday, February 22, 2016

Media News Monday - Leia, Orion, & Pee-wee

Over on thefw.com, they tell us "8 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Star Wars’ Costumes" here.


Also, on the Master of Orion YouTube channel, they share "Master of Orion: Voice Actors Revealed."  Enjoy!



Finally, on the Netflix US & Canada YouTube channel, we are treated to the "Pee-wee's Big Holiday - Official Trailer."  heh-Heh! Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!



News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
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Sunday, February 21, 2016

Sunday Funnies - Star Trek Video Laughs

Three videos from YouTube this week, all about Star Trek, with the first being from the ba55bar channel treating us to some "Cockney Star Trek."  Enjoy!



Also, from the huckbone channel, they envision "Star Trek as The A-Team."  Nice fit!



Finally, from the comedy4cast channel, a video all about the "Star Trek: Redshirts."  Poor fellows!



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

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Black Hack, Iron Edda, & OZ to US

A couple from Kickstarter this week and one from GoFundMe with the first being "The Black Hack" by Peter Regan here.


Also, from Kickstarter, check out "Iron Edda: Tales of the Skalds" by Tracy Barnett/Exploding Rogue Studios here.


Finally, on GoFuneMe, have a look at "Oz to US" as our friend Heath builds his warchest to bring him around the world for Gary Con VIII.  See more here.


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

Friday, February 19, 2016

The Friday Grab Bag - GM's Day Sale

With the holiday fast approaching, CMG is offering up some great prices on offerings for your GM or yourself.  All but three of the items in the CMG catalog are marked down to $1 and the remaining three items are at 50% off the normal selling price.  Grab something for you GM *OR* for yourself while the prices are so low.  Snag a copy of "30 Things Can Happen" for just one dollar here.


Also, the excellent "Fighting Fire - Ernie Gygax Benefit Adventure" is available for half the normal price here.


Finally, the dangerous sourcebook "Superstitions" is only one dollar, as well, here.


Essentially, a clearinghouse for topics not covered
elsewhere or needing a particular focus.
Please Like, Share, Plus, Tweet, Follow, and Comment!

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Throwback Thursday - Space Travel, Past Programs, & Ghost Dad

Over on thedrive.com and theverge.com, they let us know "NASA’s Giving Away Brilliant Space Travel Posters For Free" here and "These NASA travel posters will make you dream about space exploration" here.


Also, on blog.archive.org, the Internet Archive Blogs announce "Internet Archive Does Windows: Hundreds of Windows 3.1 Programs Join the Collection" here.


Finally, on mirror.co.uk, they tell us that a "Teenager who found dead father's 'ghost' on racing video game tells moving story" here.


A look back at early tabletop hobby gaming
 or gaming-adjacent topics of the past.
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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Events & Play Wednesday - Count-I-Con 2016

Chicago Wiz let me know about an event I had not know existed before and right in my own back yard.  He told me of Count-I-Con 2016 which takes place at the Lake County Fairgrounds in north Illinois in late August (27th & 28th?).  More specs can be found here.


While I understand gaming isn't meant to be the primary focus of the event, the organizers seem to be quite receptive to it.  They have a good space dedicated to gaming of 3,600 ft and run the spectrum from CCGs, wargames, RPGs and boardgames.  More on that here.


I know this is six months away but I figured for something this close to home I'd get some word out early.  Though we're past the early bird discount phase, they are still setting up the vendor space for anyone who might be interested in that aspect 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, February 16, 2016

Tech Tuesday - Geeky Hoodies

Over on fashionablygeek.com, they tell us "This Kylo Ren Hoodie Is Perfect For Sith And Artists" here.


Also, on stylinonline.com, they show off the "Star Wars Chewbacca Han Solo Reversible Hoodie" here.


Finally, on thinkgeek.com, they share the "Technomancer 2.0 Digital Wizard Hoodie" here.


News focused on Technology
as it might interest gamers.
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Monday, February 15, 2016

Media News Monday - Science Plus

Over on io9.gizmodo.com, from when Ray Bradbury passed away over half a decade ago, they suggested we "Read the last thing Ray Bradbury ever wrote: An Ode to Books" here.


Also, on futurism.com, a couple years back, they heralded "Huge Collection of Free Science Books in Honor of World Literacy Day." Get the skinny of you missed it here.


Finally, on scifiagenda.com, they explain, "What the most mainstream lists of recommendations share is a tendency towards least common denominator appeal. Movies that stay in the middle and pacify the mind. It is our conviction that the thinking person often wants something more, something for both thoughts and senses; the visceral viewing of cerebral cinema."  There is quite a bit on that list I have yet to see.  I do highly recommend Moon (2009).  See the full list here.


News for Movies, Television, and more
of gamer-relevant Media.
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Sunday, February 14, 2016

Sunday Funnies - Devs, Orks, & Adventure

Over on imgur.com, donthitsave clues us in to "The Dev Dilemma" here.


Also, on gckatz.deviantart.com, gckatz wants us to know about painting space orks here.


Finally, on the Kirk Damato YouTube channel from a couple years back, it's "The epic fantasy adventure concerning a party of heroes... and the teenagers who control them through a role-playing game."  It's fine as a one off chuckle but it's a shame more was made of this.  Enjoy "Critical Hit!" Dungeons & Dragons pilot w/ Bobby Moynihan, Ellie Kemper, Ezra Miller, Jon Gabrus.



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

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Saturday Crowdfunding Roundup - Milestone, Lost Temple, & Explorers

Three from Kickstarter this week with the first being simply an announcement from Kickstarter telling us "The First 100,000 Funded Kickstarter Projects in 100 Numbers" here.


Also, have a look at "The Lost Temple of Forgotten Evil, a 5e/OSR adventure" by Dark Naga Adventures (Kevin Watson) here.


Finally, check out "Explorers of the North Sea" by Shem Phillips here.


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