Glad nobody called me to hook up (hint, hint, Hotseat)at Origins.
I just published the write-up, but basically I didn't sit there to wait and see what the result of my MayDay fun was. I heard Seth talking to someone, so maybe he didn't notice, but like they say, "Some jokes are just for me."
Check the report out on my site or here at the Fort blog. I have NO news from big companies as my goal was to give some love to the little guys out there this time around, and I have an assload of news about little guys you may not know about. Plus some humor, maybe.
Sorry... had I gone to play games I'd have most definitely tried to get together. I only went for one day, and strictly hung out in the exhibition hall. Talked to different publishers, designers... really just trying to make some more contacts.
Next year I think I'll do a multi-day thing and...gasp...actually play a game at Origins. I've gone twice and have never played anything.
Just got back from Origins. I posted something on BGG about it. In a nutshell it is a good thing for me. I got a good price and get to continue doing what I like without the administrative/business side of things which I don't like.
As for Earth Reborn. Yes it did not sell as well as I wanted but I have not given up on it. I put it up on Tanga to get more exposure for it and sold a lot of it. Then I got some restocks for it form distributors. So perhaps the marketing push was a success (at least for the time being).
I did print a lot of it because I took a chance - and sometimes it works out and sometimes not. But because I printed a lot of it I was able to keep it at a decent price. It just hurt me that the game missed 3 conventions and therefore did not get buzz. When it finally did come out it was less than 2 weeks from Xmas: so I was able to ship initial sales but you know nothing else was going to happen for weeks after that.
Anyway, I do hope ER grows some legs and starts moving better. But if not, I got a slew of games that are doing very well, so I'm not complaining at all.
Congratulations, Zev! There's absolutely nothing negative or bad about starting a company, growing it, and then cashing it in- that's good business. I hope this deal will give you some more family time, freedom, and money to do what you love.
As for Earth Reborn, the fact that it's not sold well is criminal. It beats the pants off of Mansions of Madness and any number of other "AT" games that have released in the past six or seven months. It's one of the best, most interesting games of the year and it's the reason I sold almost all of my tactical miniatures games other than Space Hulk. It's such an amazing system when you dig into it and don't cow away from the rulebook or card layout. Halfway through the year, I'd definitely put it on my shortlist for Game of the Year (Merchants and Marauders would be there too).
If only a prolific syndicator like myself were to play ER and give it an amazing review...
I saw it being played at the Board Room and it looked wicked cool. Someday when I have some money or someone trades me I'll get that bastard in my hands and get it going. I'm slowly but surely coming around. First, though, I need to get Ascending. That game rocks, and it should be the GotY of 2011. That's my second purchase, right after Survive. Once the birthdays are done and the hardwood floors are in I'll have the time and money to get back into my game buying.
As it rests, the sad fact is that while I really like Conquest of Nerath and Battleship Galaxies (15 plays now) I find myself still going back to Epic Duels, Heroscape, El Grande, Tikal, and other favorites when I can. I'm even in the midst (because of that bastard Avery) of casting a million little Hirst bits to make the most bad-ass Epic Duels/Space Hulk/Mutant Chronicles terrain ever constructed.
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