Saturday 27 December 2014

The Village on the Hill: all-ages non-violent storytelling game now available


I hope you're having a fantastic holiday season and that you got everything you wanted from Santa. I just wanted to announce the release of a little storytelling game called The Village on the Hill, which you can pay what you want to download.

In the game, players become little spirits called Kami, who have to help the villagers on the Hill overcome obstacles in their daily lives. Together the players craft a collaborative story focused on teamwork and positivity - there are no combat rule here.

Each Kami has their own coloured aura, which helps them undertake tasks. For instance, a Kami with the purple Aura of the Body is strong and athletic. Character sheets are kept incredibly simple, with a focus on storytelling and interaction over rules.

The game uses a framework of obstacles, consequences and resolutions to build a shared story.

I've released The Village on the Hill in beta form, so please feel free to offer feedback on how to improve the game.

Download The Village on the Hill now.


Thursday 11 December 2014

Preview: Wolverines #1

Now that Wolverine is dead and all that, what comes next? Marvel has given us a sneak preview of Wolverines #1, which launches in January.

From the press release:

His death was only the beginning. Spinning directly out of the chart-topping Death of Wolverine, The Logan Legacy and The Weapon X Program comes a brand-new weekly series kicking off this January in WOLVERINES #1! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your new look at the blockbuster first issue from the star-studded creative team of Charles Soule, Ray Fawkes, Alisson Borges and All-New Young Gun artist Nick Bradshaw!

Wolverine may be dead, but the weekly journey is just beginning as his mortal remains, now encased in the rare and powerful adamantium, are up for grabs. The battle begins as various factions vie for control of this valuable artifact. But why does it matter so much? And why is a war brewing in Logan’s name?

Death is on the books for a number of Marvel’s heroes and villains, and Mystique is playing chess with them all. X-23, Daken, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, the mysterious man known only as Sharp and many, many more!






Wednesday 10 December 2014

Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection will feature Dredd's most famous stories




Judge Dredd has a long history, with some incredible story arcs, so it seems natural that 2000 AD should collate some of the best runs on the comic into a hardback collection.

Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection will be a fortnightly collection of stories by 2000 AD and Hachette Partworks that covers legendary stories like America, The Cursed Earth and Apocalypse War.

With stories that have never before been reprinted, The Mega Collection will give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the development of classic characters, scenes and storylines with:
-              specially commissioned feature content exploring Dredd’s world
-              interviews with the creators
-              previously unseen sketches and designs

The collection sounds like the perfect pick for anyone who wants to get into Dredd comics but might not really know where to start.

Issue one will be available at all good newsagents in the UK and Ireland from 21st January 2015 and you can subscribe here.



Tuesday 9 December 2014

I am the thaw - check out these Judge Dredd cosplay penguins


That's 30 years in the 'ice-o cubes' (I slay me), creep! Blind Mouse Toys and 2000AD have come together to create a penguin cosplaying as Judge Dredd. Yes, this was one of the weirder releases I received today.

This Judge Dredd-flavoured bird is the first in the 'Cosplay Penguin' line, and can be yours for $40. Creds not accepted. It stands 11.5cms, features a comic-accurate costume and, get this, a non-removable helmet. Makes sense.

Produced under license from Rebellion and 2000 AD, Cosplay Judge Dredd Penguin was sculpted and painted by Joe Amaro with box art by Eamon O'Donoghue. The first 1,000 orders will receive a frameable copy of O'Donoghue’s box art.

To get all the latest news on the Cosplay Judge Dredd Penguin go to the Blind Mouse Toys Facebook page.




Monday 8 December 2014

Toho to make own sequel to US Godzilla


File this under weird but also pretty cool. Toho, the Japanese studio that put out the original line of Godzilla flicks will apparently be filming its own sequel to the US reboot. Not only that, it will be launched in 2016, two years before the US sequel is set to hit theatres.

"This is very good timing after the success of the American version this year: if not now, then when? The licensing contract we have with Legendary places no restrictions on us making domestic versions," a Toho staffer told The Hollywood Reporter.

This will be the first Japanese-led Godzilla since 2004's Final Wars and it opens up questions as to how both studios will go ahead with the series and which will be canon. Perhaps this is where the newly-announced Godzilla Strategic Conference (Godzi-Con) comes into play. According to THR, this consortium of directors and executives will plan a new series of films while leveraging merchandising and 'other activities'.

Via THR

Preview: Operation S.I.N #1

While we wait for Agent Carter to hit the small screen early next year, Marvel is giving us a Peggy Carter-centric mini series riding off the back of the events in this years' event: Original Sin. Here's a sneak preview of what's to come:

From the release:

This January, venture into the dark corners of the Marvel Universe of  the 1950s for an all-new globetrotting adventure in OPERATION S.I.N. #1 – the first chapter in a blockbuster new limited series starring fan-favorite characters Peggy Carter and Howard Stark! From blockbuster creators Kathryn Immonen and Rich Ellis comes an untold story of the Marvel Universe spinning out of the explosive events of Original Sin!

At the height of the Cold War, a supremely powerful alien energy source is discovered on Russian soil. In an effort to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, secret agent Peggy Carter and Howard Stark must intercept it before it’s too late. Only they’re not the only interested parties…

A new terrorist splinter group named Hydra is on the hunt, seeking the alien technology for their own sinister purposes. It’s only when a mysterious operative named Woodrow McCord enters the picture that Peggy and Howard will see just how far some people will go to keep Earth safe from harm.

Explore Marvel history like you’ve never seen it before as Peggy Carter, Howard Stark and Woodrow McCord do battle against the rising forces of Hydra. You will not want to miss the first chapter of this epic, spy-espionage thrill ride when OPERATION S.I.N. #1 explodes into comic shops and on to digital devices this January!