Here's a round up of recent news.
(Round up get it? Yesterday we had a Review Rodeo. Oh, nevermind. Just click the read more link).Smirk & Dagger Games
S & D is hopeing for a December release of Cutthroat Caverns: Relics and Ruins (expansion pack2). Images and information are now up on their website , and rules are now available for download.
Z-Man Games
Neuroshima Hex (English edition) should be out "sometime around October." An expansion is "in the works." More information is available on the Z-Man Games website , including rules download.
Heads of State is also scheduled to be released in October. Word is that this is an area control game. The description includes "assassination attempts, the gallows, and the axeman," "treachery" and "The Spanish Inquisition." However, it also refers to collecting sets of cards. Possibly a Euro with direct player interaction??? Could be cool, but could suck.
Nexus Games
Bruno Faidutti has posted some more images from Ad Astra on his website. Bruno says that Ad Astra is "a big science fiction game about space exploration and empire development using a "Catan-like" resource and building system" that uses "a face down card programming system" that was going to be used in Warrior Knights. Ad Astra is being published by Nexus games and is scheduled for release Spring 2009.
Flying Frog Games
Jason Hill of Flying Frog has posted the rules online for their latest offering, "A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game". Head on over to http://www.flyingfrog.net/atouchofevil and check it out.
Twilight Creations
Looks like "Zombies!!!" is about to get the XBox Live/PS3 treatment. Here's the Press Release:
"Zombies!!! to Become Video Game
The immensely popular Zombies!!!® Board Game is set to hit the video game world in 2009. Twilight Creations, Inc., the publishers of the game, has reached an agreement with Big Rooster, LLC, an entertainment software company, to develop the Zombies!!! board game into a video game property.
Initially the game will be developed for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and the Steam online game distribution website according to Timothy Gerritsen, Executive Director of Big Rooster. Later releases may include the Nintendo DS and Wii systems.
"Zombies!!! is a perfect game for the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation 3 Network," said Mr. Gerritsen. "We were surprised that no one had seen the huge potential in the Zombies!!! property."
Originally released in 2001, Zombies!!! has been a consistent seller and is considered one of the core products in the hobby-game industry. The base set has sold over 125,000 copies worldwide. It has also spawned many expansions and spin-offs. Combined, Zombies!!! products have sold in excess of 300,000 units.
In Zombies!!! players race around the board trying to find a way to escape the ever-growing zombie horde. The game is simple to play and extremely addictive according to its fans. The tile based board and the many expansions work to keep the game fresh and new each time you play it.
"We are tremendously excited," said Twilight Creations' President Todd Breitenstein adding, "This is a great opportunity for both of our companies. Zombies!!! is a great property and we really can't wait to share it with a much broader audience."
Twilight Creations, Inc., founded in 2002, is a Kentucky board game publisher based in the city of Cold Spring. In addition to the Zombies!!! line, Twilight Creations also publishes many successful lines such as the Haunting House series and ZombieTown.
Big Rooster, LLC is a videogame development company based in Madison Wisconsin and was founded in 2006 by a group of videogame industry veterans. Big Rooster develops games for the PC and for latest generation game systems, such as Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.
Asmodee
The English Edition of Okko hasn't been out all that long and Asmodee is already talking about the release of the expansion, titled Okko: Yakuza Hazu Akai. From their website:
"This expansion, which will hit the shelves in October, contains 9 new characters and 5 equipment cards. Between the poisonous Kunoishi (a Geisha of low morals....) and the imposing Chained Ogre, the players' teams will be ready for new challenges and scenarios!
To enhance your games of Okko and download extra game material, head to the official website at: http://www.okko-thegame.com"
Fantasy Flight Games
A Game of Thrones LCG Core Set and Black Goat of the Woods, and King in Yellow are now shipping.
More woman over 18 play e-games than boys under 17
Entertainment Software Association's 2008 report found that 40% of e-gamers are woman. Woman over the age of 18 make up 33% of the gaming population, while boys under 17 represent only 18%.
Internet Wank
The Open Source Boob Project has now spawned the Con Anti-Harassment Project. If you don't know what the Open Source Boob Project is you really haven't been paying attention. Google it.
Star Trek Movie 2009
Entertainment Weekly has a cover story on the Star Trek movie, with pictures, interviews, etc.
I don't know. Maybe in 1968, the real Kirk and Spock looked gay, too.