Rants/Raves
Open source software works because not everyone in the world can code software; you still, in the end, have raw consumers. But an open source game system is different, because anyone who can read and write can now design their own game system based off the core rules. And that dilutes the product. And that's not good.
"Traders went on a buying spree on 1st Edition Players Handbook today, pushing it up 50 cents. On EBay, Dragon Magazine #1 fell $30 as a collector posted a new issue for sale. 3rd Edition rule books were unchanged."
A St. Petersburg Times story this morning claimed Bragg had assaulted the child and left him to die because he was interfering with Bragg's enjoyment of the popular online computer game, but lawyers on both sides emphasize EverQuest was a minor factor, at most.
One of the things I find most interesting about MMORPGS is how much money people are willing to spend for imaginary items. Have you ever spent that much on an object from an online game? Would you? Do you know someone who has? Are they in therapy now?
As if the upcoming release of Cyberpunk 203x from R. Talsorian wasn't enough, on January 1, 2001, two new homegrown Cyberpunk-themed Role-Playing Games were released online. One of these, Iconoclast, comes with the disclaimer that I personally worked on it (so yes, I do have a personal stake in announcing this). The other, Emancy, is the work of Alex Peake.
Mention the words "Boot Hill" to most ordinary people and they'll respond with "Dodge City," a reference to the long-forgotten Wild West town which is home to the cemetery of that name. Mention Boot Hillto a gamer and they're likely to respond with "TSR," a reference to the soon-to-be-forgotten gaming company who, aside from revolutionizing the gaming industry with Dungeons & Dragons, managed to churn out a forgotten (but certainly not forgettable) Wild West RPG a couple decades ago.
After over a decade of anticipation, the Dungeons & Dragons movie is finally released nationwide today. I've not seen it yet, but I'm sure a lot of our readers certainly will, so let us know what you think by posting your reactions and reviews here.
There are fantasy games, and there are sci-fi games, and there are horror games, and there are cyberpunk games. And then there are those weird games that don't seem to fit in anywhere, the ones nobody talks about any more, the ones that have all but vanished over time. The Forgotten Games.
Not much to say here from a reporting angle, other than Wizards has totally redesigned their website. In the process, they've relegated Dungeons & Dragons to a mere text link on the sidebar, one of 50 other links, with the same billing as Alternity, Star Wars and Marvel Super Heroes. More inside...
I took the time to download the Dungeons and Dragons movie trailer today. I should have just spent the extra 5 minutes in bed. In case you don't have DSL or a cable modem, I'll take the time here to walk you through the trailer, scene by scene, line by line. You may need an airsickness bag.
