I think I have to agree with Boing Boingers on this one. Never thought that I would see an ad like this. Go to the Boing Boing site for the direct link to the jpg file.
Boing Boing: Anti-MMORPG ads from D&D
"This anti-MMORPG ad from Dungeons and Dragons is STONE BRILLIANT. It reads 'If you're going to sit in your basement pretending to be an elf, you should at least have some friends over to help. Dungeons and Dragons: Get together. Roll some Dice. Have Fun.' Way to play to your core strength."
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Welcome to Dime Novels
It's been a while, but I am back with an update of some new Dorkiness for all of you. Nothing has really gotten by attention for a while, but this was pretty good:
Welcome To Dime Novels
"Stanford's Dime Novel and Story Paper Collection consists of over 8,000 individual items, and includes long runs of the major dime novel series (Frank Leslie's Boys of America, Happy Days, Beadle's New York Dime Library, etc.) and equally strong holdings of story papers like the New York Ledger and Saturday Night.
"Both genres flourished from the middle to the close of the 19th century in America and England (where the novels were known as "penny dreadfuls"), and benefited from three mutually reinforcing trends: the vastly increased mechanization of printing, the growth of efficient rail and canal shipping, and ever-growing rates of literacy.
"The dime novels were aimed at youthful, working-class audiences and distributed in massive editions at newsstands and dry goods stores. Though the phrase conjures up stereotyped yarns of Wild West adventure, complete with lurid cover illustration, many other genres were represented: tales of urban outlaws, detective stories, working-girl narratives of virtue defended, and costume romances.
"Story papers, weekly eight-page tabloids, covered much the same ground, but often combined material and themes to appeal to the whole family. The chief among them had national circulations greater than any other newspaper or magazine, some reaching 400,000 copies sold per issue. Unlike the dime novels, which generally confine illustration to the cover, the story papers integrate text and illustration (in the form of wood engravings) throughout.
"You might wish to begin your exploration of Dime Novels by taking one of our guided tours, by browsing the collection's images, or by reading one of the Dime Novel texts
Welcome To Dime Novels
"Stanford's Dime Novel and Story Paper Collection consists of over 8,000 individual items, and includes long runs of the major dime novel series (Frank Leslie's Boys of America, Happy Days, Beadle's New York Dime Library, etc.) and equally strong holdings of story papers like the New York Ledger and Saturday Night.
"Both genres flourished from the middle to the close of the 19th century in America and England (where the novels were known as "penny dreadfuls"), and benefited from three mutually reinforcing trends: the vastly increased mechanization of printing, the growth of efficient rail and canal shipping, and ever-growing rates of literacy.
"The dime novels were aimed at youthful, working-class audiences and distributed in massive editions at newsstands and dry goods stores. Though the phrase conjures up stereotyped yarns of Wild West adventure, complete with lurid cover illustration, many other genres were represented: tales of urban outlaws, detective stories, working-girl narratives of virtue defended, and costume romances.
"Story papers, weekly eight-page tabloids, covered much the same ground, but often combined material and themes to appeal to the whole family. The chief among them had national circulations greater than any other newspaper or magazine, some reaching 400,000 copies sold per issue. Unlike the dime novels, which generally confine illustration to the cover, the story papers integrate text and illustration (in the form of wood engravings) throughout.
"You might wish to begin your exploration of Dime Novels by taking one of our guided tours, by browsing the collection's images, or by reading one of the Dime Novel texts
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Coolest eBay Auction Evar!
"1950s SOVIET SPACE MONKEY'S FLIGHT PANTS
"It's offered to your attention the 'space pants' for macaque small monkey to wear it during the experimental space flight. This pants has been used for animals (monkeys) experiments in 1950s - 1960s in the USSR Institute of Biomedical Problems (IMBP, Moscow). The monkey's 'space pants' are designed with many clasps to fit bigger or smaller monkey."
1950s Soviet Space Monkey's Flight Pants
I have no idea why this didn't sell. Its a bargain at half the price.
"It's offered to your attention the 'space pants' for macaque small monkey to wear it during the experimental space flight. This pants has been used for animals (monkeys) experiments in 1950s - 1960s in the USSR Institute of Biomedical Problems (IMBP, Moscow). The monkey's 'space pants' are designed with many clasps to fit bigger or smaller monkey."
1950s Soviet Space Monkey's Flight Pants
I have no idea why this didn't sell. Its a bargain at half the price.
Friday, September 09, 2005
The Library of Halexandriah
The Library of Halexandriah
"Halexandriah is a Synthesis of new physics, sacred geometry, ancient and modern history, multiple universes & realities, consciousness, the Ha Qabala and ORME, extraterrestrials, corporate rule and politics, law, order and entropy, trial by jury, astronomy, monetary policy, scientific anomalies, and a whole host of other subjects ranging from astrology and astrophysics to superstrings and sonoluminesence to biblical and geologic histories to numerology, the Tarot, and creating your own reality. It is an attempt at bridging of the Age of Pisces and the Age of Aquarius."
Click on the link...you know that you want to.
"Halexandriah is a Synthesis of new physics, sacred geometry, ancient and modern history, multiple universes & realities, consciousness, the Ha Qabala and ORME, extraterrestrials, corporate rule and politics, law, order and entropy, trial by jury, astronomy, monetary policy, scientific anomalies, and a whole host of other subjects ranging from astrology and astrophysics to superstrings and sonoluminesence to biblical and geologic histories to numerology, the Tarot, and creating your own reality. It is an attempt at bridging of the Age of Pisces and the Age of Aquarius."
Click on the link...you know that you want to.
Boing Boing: My Barbarian
Ok, I am back and I have a special treat of Dorkiness for all of you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you My Barbarian.
"If Gwar was a children's show, it might look something like Los Angeles performance troupe My Barbarian. Imagine a pagan musical theater production of a fantasy novel and you'll be ready to behold the magick. Of their video 'Unicorns L.A.,' my twisted pastel artist pal Barnaby Whitfield says, 'I'm in LOVE!' From an LA Weekly article:
My Barbarian call their brand of entertainment 'showcore,' which means a preoccupation with exhibitionism, masks, unicorns, choreography, flare and sass. New material like 'Tropical Vacation' and 'Unicorns L.A.' are equal parts softcore porn, Solid Gold dancers and junior high school dance team — a Kids Incorporated episode held hostage by queens. As such, My Barbarian are a revolution, so far ahead of anyone else on the scene right now in terms of humor and guts that many an audience member may be put off by their retarded/brilliant rock operatic fiasco."
The My Barbarian website.
"If Gwar was a children's show, it might look something like Los Angeles performance troupe My Barbarian. Imagine a pagan musical theater production of a fantasy novel and you'll be ready to behold the magick. Of their video 'Unicorns L.A.,' my twisted pastel artist pal Barnaby Whitfield says, 'I'm in LOVE!' From an LA Weekly article:
My Barbarian call their brand of entertainment 'showcore,' which means a preoccupation with exhibitionism, masks, unicorns, choreography, flare and sass. New material like 'Tropical Vacation' and 'Unicorns L.A.' are equal parts softcore porn, Solid Gold dancers and junior high school dance team — a Kids Incorporated episode held hostage by queens. As such, My Barbarian are a revolution, so far ahead of anyone else on the scene right now in terms of humor and guts that many an audience member may be put off by their retarded/brilliant rock operatic fiasco."
The My Barbarian website.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Oxford to turn away child prodigies
Oxford to turn away child prodigies
"Yinan Wang, the 14-year-old Chinese boy who clinched a place at Oxford University last week, will be the last child prodigy to study there under reforms being considered by admissions tutors.
Despite an almost perennial flurry of headlines on children barely in their teens being offered places, the university is considering an unprecedented blanket rule on minimum ages for undergraduates.
"'The admissions executive is in discussions around whether we should introduction a minimum age of 17 for undergraduates,' confirmed Ruth Collier, a spokesperson for admissions to Oxford. 'We have been pushed to consider it, not because of concerns about whether it is psychologically healthy for children to study here, but because of child protection laws which have come into play this year for the first time.'
"Oxford is the only university in Britain that currently accepts undergraduates who are under the age of 17. Individual colleges decide which candidates they will accept as undergraduates, but Collier confirms that age is rarely, if ever, a factor.
"'It's up to each college who they accept, but if you're the best student for the place and are 14 years old, then the general attitude is "so be it",' said Collier. 'We have always said our policy is entirely non-discriminatory and we are proud of that openness, which we consider crucial to Oxford's ethos, but we have discovered this year that there are heavy costs in having that policy.'"
"Yinan Wang, the 14-year-old Chinese boy who clinched a place at Oxford University last week, will be the last child prodigy to study there under reforms being considered by admissions tutors.
Despite an almost perennial flurry of headlines on children barely in their teens being offered places, the university is considering an unprecedented blanket rule on minimum ages for undergraduates.
"'The admissions executive is in discussions around whether we should introduction a minimum age of 17 for undergraduates,' confirmed Ruth Collier, a spokesperson for admissions to Oxford. 'We have been pushed to consider it, not because of concerns about whether it is psychologically healthy for children to study here, but because of child protection laws which have come into play this year for the first time.'
"Oxford is the only university in Britain that currently accepts undergraduates who are under the age of 17. Individual colleges decide which candidates they will accept as undergraduates, but Collier confirms that age is rarely, if ever, a factor.
"'It's up to each college who they accept, but if you're the best student for the place and are 14 years old, then the general attitude is "so be it",' said Collier. 'We have always said our policy is entirely non-discriminatory and we are proud of that openness, which we consider crucial to Oxford's ethos, but we have discovered this year that there are heavy costs in having that policy.'"
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Star Frontiers dot com
This, my friends is old school gaming at its finest. Star Frontiers was one of the early SF games (after the Metamorphosis Alpha/Gamma World stuff...if you consider that to be SF). And now, thanks to the wonders of the internet most of the books are available in PDF and/or HTML. Download and enjoy.
Star Frontiers dot com
Star Frontiers dot com
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
You Got Your Domibia Games In My Seraphim Guard!
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: August 15, 2005
CONTACT:
Tim Huntley - Seraphim Guard, LLC. | tim@seraphim-guard.com | http://www.seraphim-guard.com
YOU GOT YOUR DOMIBIA GAMES IN MY SERAPHIM GUARD!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LA HABRA, CA - Domibia Games today announced that they have purchased the assets of Seraphim Guard, Inc., and are continuing business as Seraphim Guard, LLC. In addition, Seraphim Guard, LLC. has re-acquired the rights to the popular HeartQuest: Romantic Role Playing in the Worlds of Shoujo Manga line of role playing games.
As a result of this merger, Seraphim Guard, LLC. now holds sway over two of the first commercially published role playing games for the Fudge System: Gatecrasher, from Domibia Games, and HeartQuest, from Seraphim Guard, Inc.
Tim Huntley, of Seraphim Guard, LLC., could not be more pleased: "I'm so excited to have been able to pull this together. It took a lot of work, but the results were certainly worth it. With both Gatecrasher and HeartQuest under our belt, we've got an excellent starting lineup for the new Seraphim Guard." Seraphim Guard, LLC. plans to continue publishing the anime role playing games that Seraphim Guard fans know and love, and will also branch out into non-anime role playing games with continued support for Gatecrasher and other games. "The remainder of 2005 will see a huge re-release of the HeartQuest line," said Tim Huntley, "and 2006 should see the publication of Gatecrasher 2371, our completely rewritten and updated vision of that enduring setting."
For more information, please contact Tim Huntley via e-mail to tim@seraphim-guard.com, or see the Seraphim Guard, LLC. website at http://www.seraphim-guard.com.
##########
Seraphim Guard, LLC., is an Oregon company founded in 2005 via the merger of Domibia Games and Seraphim Guard, Inc. Seraphim Guard, LLC. is the publisher of the popular HeartQuest line of shoujo manga role playing games and the enduring Gatecrasher line of science fantasy role playing games.
DATE: August 15, 2005
CONTACT:
Tim Huntley - Seraphim Guard, LLC. | tim@seraphim-guard.com | http://www.seraphim-guard.com
YOU GOT YOUR DOMIBIA GAMES IN MY SERAPHIM GUARD!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LA HABRA, CA - Domibia Games today announced that they have purchased the assets of Seraphim Guard, Inc., and are continuing business as Seraphim Guard, LLC. In addition, Seraphim Guard, LLC. has re-acquired the rights to the popular HeartQuest: Romantic Role Playing in the Worlds of Shoujo Manga line of role playing games.
As a result of this merger, Seraphim Guard, LLC. now holds sway over two of the first commercially published role playing games for the Fudge System: Gatecrasher, from Domibia Games, and HeartQuest, from Seraphim Guard, Inc.
Tim Huntley, of Seraphim Guard, LLC., could not be more pleased: "I'm so excited to have been able to pull this together. It took a lot of work, but the results were certainly worth it. With both Gatecrasher and HeartQuest under our belt, we've got an excellent starting lineup for the new Seraphim Guard." Seraphim Guard, LLC. plans to continue publishing the anime role playing games that Seraphim Guard fans know and love, and will also branch out into non-anime role playing games with continued support for Gatecrasher and other games. "The remainder of 2005 will see a huge re-release of the HeartQuest line," said Tim Huntley, "and 2006 should see the publication of Gatecrasher 2371, our completely rewritten and updated vision of that enduring setting."
For more information, please contact Tim Huntley via e-mail to tim@seraphim-guard.com, or see the Seraphim Guard, LLC. website at http://www.seraphim-guard.com.
##########
Seraphim Guard, LLC., is an Oregon company founded in 2005 via the merger of Domibia Games and Seraphim Guard, Inc. Seraphim Guard, LLC. is the publisher of the popular HeartQuest line of shoujo manga role playing games and the enduring Gatecrasher line of science fantasy role playing games.
Wizards Of The Coast To Open Art Vaults To Public For First Time
AUGUST 15, 2005 (Renton, Wash.) - The eyes of the art world will be on Seattle this fall as a portion of one of the largest privately held collections of fantasy-themed art in existence is made available to the public for the first time in a Limited Edition art collection. Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) and publisher of the famed MAGIC: THE GATHERING Trading Card Game (TCG) and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS roleplaying game (RPG), announced today that it will sell Limited Edition art pieces from its expansive archives in the fall of 2005.
"The acclaimed work of some of the world’s top fantasy artists has long been available for public enjoyment in the form of 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch trading cards and as ancillary illustrations in game manuals. The debut of the Limited Edition Collection will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for connoisseurs of fantasy art to acquire several celebrated pieces in full-size, collection quality format.
"'For over thirty years the fantastical, otherworldly art of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and MAGIC: THE GATHERING has inspired the creative energies of millions,' said Laura Tommervik, Brand Manager for the Limited Edition Collection at Wizards of the Coast. 'Our archives are filled with more than 15,000 pieces of completely original, fantasy art commissioned for our games and novel lines during the last three decades. This limited sale of ten iconic pieces is a first of its kind for Wizards.'
"Ten select pieces of MAGIC: THE GATHERING and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS art will go on sale in early fall of 2005 with 250 artist signed and numbered canvases and 1,000 artist signed and numbered prints for each selection. Available exclusively via online sale through wizards.com, prices will range from approximately fifty to three hundred dollars each."
"The acclaimed work of some of the world’s top fantasy artists has long been available for public enjoyment in the form of 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch trading cards and as ancillary illustrations in game manuals. The debut of the Limited Edition Collection will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for connoisseurs of fantasy art to acquire several celebrated pieces in full-size, collection quality format.
"'For over thirty years the fantastical, otherworldly art of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS and MAGIC: THE GATHERING has inspired the creative energies of millions,' said Laura Tommervik, Brand Manager for the Limited Edition Collection at Wizards of the Coast. 'Our archives are filled with more than 15,000 pieces of completely original, fantasy art commissioned for our games and novel lines during the last three decades. This limited sale of ten iconic pieces is a first of its kind for Wizards.'
"Ten select pieces of MAGIC: THE GATHERING and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS art will go on sale in early fall of 2005 with 250 artist signed and numbered canvases and 1,000 artist signed and numbered prints for each selection. Available exclusively via online sale through wizards.com, prices will range from approximately fifty to three hundred dollars each."
Old Comics Reborn
I remember Saint Germaine from the good old days of Caliber Comics (which would be from before the crappy later days of the company). The company put out some really good stuff once upon a time, and it is good to see that some of that stuff hasn't disappeared along with the company.
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