COOL STUFF: "Abducted Pumpkins?" (19 November 2007)

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TOP: "Oh NO, Mr. Bill!"

Hi All,

The best thing about having Halloween as your birthday is that Halloween becomes a year-round event... folks are always sending me cool Halloween-themed photos and web sites. This was probably my favorite pumpkin this year...

TOP: "Beam him up, Grozblorg! Get the probes ready..."

Just in case the photos didn't come through clearly, they are of a little guy getting beamed up by a UFO... Gotta love that!

I think that the quality of pumpkin carving seems to go up every year... more and more folks are buying the pumpkin carving kits now available and really going to town!

Viva la Halloween!

Have a great Monday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures / videos: These are not all my images and videos. I am using various images and videos from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images and videos under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

MINI WARGAMING: "Monsterpocalypse Is Almost Upon Us" (14 November 2007)

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TOP: Monsterpocalypse, a new game coming out from Privateer Press.

Hi All,

Well, I'm not always the quickest with breaking news, but I always get around to what I want to... sooner or later. This news, an impending Kaiju game called Monsterpocalypse came out slightly before Halloween so, without further ado, check out the below announcement from Privateer Press (PP):

Privateer Press Announces Collectible Miniatures Game!

Today we are excited to announce our plans to produce a collectible miniatures game (CMG) named Monsterpocalypse™.

Monsterpocalypse brings the kaiju (loosely translated from Japanese as ‘giant monster’) genre to the tabletop in the form of a fast-paced, action-packed CMG.

The Monsterpocalypse CMG will launch with over 80 pre-painted plastic figures in the initial set and will include large-scale monsters, destroyable city structures, and vehicles. Planned for release at retail in 2008, figures will be sold in randomized booster packs and non-randomized starter games, and special figures will be available at events throughout 2008.

Privateer Press announcement link here:
http://www.privateerpress.com/monsterpocalypse/default.html

And while I'm not the biggest fan of Collectible Miniature Games (CMGs), I do love Kaiju and for a Kaiju-o-phile, it doesn't get much better than this.

TOP: The 1998 Zilla, an American Godzilla, born & bred to trash NYC.

TOP: Monsterpocalypse's dino-lizard Kaiju prototype...

Hmmm... I wonder if they have licensing deal?

I'm a bit wary about what PP plans to do with rules... while I like PP's big games War Machine and Hordes, I'm not sure that a similar set would be good for kaiju gaming. However, there's always Monster Island (MI), a set which has already stood the test of time. And speaking of MI, I ran into Patrick Sweeney, the creator of Monster Island, this past weekend and we chatted about what's on the horizon for MI, to which he announced Monster Island II should be coming out next year in 2008 as well. Between MI-II, Monsterpocalypse, and a possible new Giant Monster Rampage (GMR) rule set, 2008 should be a great year for kaiju gaming!

Firefly Games, the makers of Monster Island:
http://www.firefly-games.com/

Giant Monster Rampage game entry at BGG:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12129

TOP: UFO, anyone?

Here are some more links to discussion of Monsterpocalypse at some of the mini game forums out there:

TMP link here:
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=124041

Another TMP link here:
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=124063

Frothers link here:
http://www.frothersunite.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12348

TOP: A little mecha will make it go down...

I'm really impressed with the prototype sculpts that PP has released to the public... I only hope that the vehicles and buildings scale in around 6mm... Well, here's hoping!

Have a great Wednesday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures / videos: These are not all my images and videos. I am using various images and videos from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images and videos under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

MINI WARGAMING: "6mm UFOs For You Too!" (6 October 2007)

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TOP: Welcome, MAJIC Miniatures!

Hi All,

If you keep up with something long enough, people eventually notice you no matter how much you might think you've gone unnoticed. In my case, I've been a hardcore 6mm gamer since the late 1970s although I didn't really crank it up until the 1980s. Along the way, I've written a number of smaller sets of rules, tried to release a much larger commercial set of rules which is on hold, been credited in a GW / Specialist Games product, been credited in a Mongoose product, been credited in a Baccus product, established the largest 6mm Yahoo E-group EVAH! (...almost over 2,000 members), established many more Yahoo E-groups, painted hundreds of 6mm models, helped playtest lots of other 6mm rules, played lots of games, and generally had a ball!.

TOP: Which one does not belong?

Alien UFO, weather balloon or P-51 Mustang?

However one of the things I love best about being known in the gaming community is that folks often seek me out when launching new products because I've always been friendly enough to spread the word and wish them well.

Well, here's something new, which tickles me pink... UFO battles over Roswell!

Hi Maksim,

I thought you might be interested that I have just released an aerial combat game based on the infamous Roswell Incident. I would appreciate it you would mention it on your blog. I realise this e-mail was unsolicited so I won't hold you to it!

With Best Wishes,
Oliver of MAJIC Miniatures

P.S.
(Just as a by the way the P-51D Mustang Sculpt is a modified commission by Mark Cleaver of Raiden Miniatures, just in case it looks familiar).

No worries, Oliver... happy to help a fellow 6mm nutball out!

Here's Oliver's press release:

MAJIC Miniatures are proud to announce the release of the first game in the UFO INTERCEPTION range.

TOP: Can't a UFO help his crashed buddy out?
Without pesky interference from those annoying "huu-mons!"

"UFO INTERCEPTION: Roswell 1947" is available as a Limited Edition Set of only 600. This includes: The UFO Interception 45 page Rulebook, (1/285) 6mm scale Roswell UFO + 'MAJIC Flying Base', (1/285) 6mm scale P-51D Mustang + 'MAJIC Flying Base', Roswell New Mexico 'Flat Earth Terrain' Gaming Mat (4'x4' / 1.22m x 1.22m), *MOGUL Balloon+ 'MAJIC Flying Base, *Crashed Roswell UFO, Reference Cards, Dice, Templates, Data Cards and Decals.

The limited edition set is £95 ($195.00 USD) and has...
FREE UK POSTAGE until the 31 October 2007.

The Rules, (unlimited) miniatures and accessories are also available to purchase separately.

*Limited Edition Set not sold separately.

Please visit www.majicminiatures.com for more details.

Good luck, Oliver and you'll have to let us know more about your pricing schemes for US gamers interested in your product such as any distribution outlets out of the UK and any possible price discounts for non-UK customers.

Have a great Saturday!

And a hearty Gut Shabbos to my Jewish readers!

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures / videos: These are not all my images and videos. I am using various images and videos from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images and videos under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).