A Pirates game, just like Pirates!

Pirates of the Spanish Main from WizKids is getting a Pirates of the Caribbean facelift... and it looks really, really cool.

July 23, 2007 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., creator of runaway hit games like the HeroClix® CMG and the Star Wars™ PocketModel™ TCG, announced today its agreement with Disney to produce the Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel game. The game will release in October of 2007.

Under the agreement, WizKids will be able to use content from all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The PocketModel game platform allows players to construct 3-D pirate ships from pieces punched out of a styrene card. Players are then able to use movie characters and action scenes on cards to help control the strategy of the game.

Since the debut of the Pirates line in 2004, WizKids® has sold over 20 million constructible ships to consumers worldwide. The PocketModel platform was introduced with the Star Wars PocketModel TCG, and is being continued with the Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel game.

“We are extremely excited to up the ante on the already successful PocketModel platform by adding Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, one of the world’s most successful entertainment brands,” said Lax Chandra, WizKids president. “For under $4, players will get the full Pirates of the Caribbean experience through building the models like the Black Pearl and playing the characters like Captain Jack Sparrow.”

Each Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean Game Pack (MSRP $3.99) will include everything a player needs to play, including two ships to be assembled by the player, one island/terrain card, a treasure or crew card, a rulebook and a die. The Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel game will be available at hobby retailers nationwide, as well as Target and Wal-Mart.

Magic 10th Edition Worldwide Game Day

Just a heads up for you making plans for the weekend. Saturday we're going to be participating in the Worldwide Game Day for Magic: The Gathering 10th edition.

In addition to the fact that there will be a boatload of people around to play Magic, there will be some special events going on:

Magic Game Day Sweepstakes: This Sweepstakes is open only to the first fifty (50) participants who go to a participating Magic Game Day retailer. One winner will be selected in a random drawing by Wizards on or about August 14, 2007. One winner will be awarded a prize consisting of two (2) roundtrip coach air-tickets to New York City, New York to attend the 2007 Magic World Championships. Both winner and his/her guest must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry.

Official Rules

Scavenger Hunt Contest: Game Day retailer will serve as the judge of the Contest for his or her respective store, review all eligible entries, and select one (1) winner on July 14, 2007 who brings in the most of the 30 enumerated items (to be revealed no later than June 22). There will be one (1) prize winner per participating Magic: The Gathering Game Day retailer. Each such winner will receive a prize consisting of a Magic: The Gathering backpack.

Official Rules

Be sure to give Seth a call at the store if you have any questions regarding start times or events.

Painting Night Tonight

Quick reminder.

Our monthly Painting Night is tonight. We normally start at 6pm and end.. 8-9pmish. Get there early if you like and claim some space.

I'll be there around 5:30pm myself. See you there!

Coming Soon...

With Gencon happening next month the big releases for gaming will be on the rise. The following are some of the more noteworthy releases that I've discovered to be available at/near the time of the convention:

Monte Cook's World of Darkness:

This looks to be sort of a one-shot D20 version of the World of Darkness with a setting as envisioned by Monte Cook. It's not just the current setting with new rules, it seems darker and almost post-apocalyptic in a way. I don't have the space to describe it here but if you want to check out some teasers and discussion, head over to this topic of RPG.net.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy Preview:

The Game doesn't come out until February but Black Industries is planning to take hold of your mind and soul between now and then by releasing a big, fat preview of the game. It sounds like you might even be able to try out the game with the included (stripped down) rules. This will be a free download on their site as well.

Changeling: The Lost:

Taken from your home, transformed by the power of Faerie, kept as the Others’ slave or pet — but you never forgot where you came from. Now you have found your way back through the Thorns, to a home that is no longer yours. You are Lost. Find yourself.

The 5th World of Darkness roleplaying setting.

Battlestar Galactica RPG:

From the people that brought you the Serenity RPG comes a roleplaying game based on the new Battlestar Galactica show. Uses a similar rules set but improved and updated. If you liked Serenity your going to want to give this a look.

Hordes Evolution:

It's not all roleplaying games. Privateer Press will have their latest installment for Hordes out in August. But then, you don't need ME to tell you that.

Classic Battletech Introductory Boxed Set:

In recent years Battletech has sort of dropped off the map for me. Fan Pro, its former publisher, did nothing to really revitalize the brand... a brand that I've loved for many years. The new owners, Catalyst Game Labs, seems to be trying to bring some new blood to the game and they've created a new intro boxed set to do it. I've heard good things and I'm hoping that this will bring the setting back in a way that Fan Pro never did.

Talisman:

It's not a great game. It's really not, and yet there's an indefinable SOMETHING about this game that makes it fun to play and keeps people coming back edition after edition. I know that I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with it this time.

I'll continue to keep an eye out for new things that I think that you should know about. Feel free to discuss these releases here or in our forum.

A new look...

You know, it's been a while since we did anything new to enhance the look of the site. I was thinking that it was about time.

The thing is that we've been transitioning from Griffon Games to Greenfield Games for almost two years now. Two years is a long time to be in transition. So, the site has gone from the old traditional red and gold of Griffon Games to the Green of Greenfield Games. I know that some of you will lament the loss of the old Griffon but one must find a way to move on.

This change isn't finished. I'm going to continue to change and tweak it as I get the time. For now, it's at least a better representative of the new name.