Open Core Quick

I am putting the finishing touches on my next project, and more "rules light" approach to a system. Like the baseline Open Core System, OCQ has been developed from the best in available open content. However, this is not just the Open Core System with some of the options cut out. OCQ is a complete role-playing system that has been structed from the ground level to be fast and robust, with many system difference between it and the parent system.

Playtesting of the book is winding down and I am finishing the layouts...getting them into just the look that I want them to have. People who have been playtesting and people who have seen the early layouts have been really impressed with things. I think that I have developed the system that I really want with this one (not that I don't want the other system).

OCQ will be available through the usual outlets, as well as our new online retailer of Steve Jackson Games' e23 store...once we've finished all of the paperwork for the site. Keep your eyes open for more information.

Baen Books to launch online sf mag edited by Eric Flint

Boing Boing: Baen Books to launch online sf mag edited by Eric Flint

"Copyfighting SF writer Eric Flint will be editing a new online adventure sf magazine for his publisher, Baen Books. The magazine will be called Baen's Astounding Stories.

"The magazine will focus on publishing side-stories from the long-running serials that are Baen's stock-in-trade, and promises to pay enough that writers could make a substantial portion of their living from for them."

Boing Boing: Sony anti-customer technology roundup and time-line

Here's a round-up up what Sony's been up to lately:

Sony anti-customer technology roundup and time-line

"Since Hallowe'en, we've been posting the details about he revelations relating to Sony's DRM systems, which show jaw-dropping contempt for their customers, for copyright law, for fair trading and for the public interest. With all these posts strung out over a couple weeks, I thought it was high time we put together an omnibus post, summing up all the posts to date."

The 4 Ways to Choose Your Next Game

Some interesting advice on techniques to use in swaying your group towards playing the game that you want to GM. Reading it makes me glad that it is a concern that I really don't have as a GM>

The 4 Ways to Choose Your Next Game

"When your group is ready to start a new game, there are a numbers of ways to handle deciding what to play. By far the most common approach I?ve seen is this one: The GM says, 'I?m going to run this game,' and the rest of the group says, 'Okay' (or sometimes, 'No thanks, we?re going to go play World of Warcraft').

"There are some obvious downsides to this approach, though ? so let?s look at the 4 ways to choose your next game (and there really are only 4 ways!), and then ask an open question: How does your group tackle this?

"This list assumes that you?re not in the market for a new group ? in other words, you want to start up a new game with your regular group. (Things are a bit different if you want to GM, but don?t have any players. In that situation, joining another group and waiting for your chance to GM, or picking a game and looking for folks who want to play it, are the two best approaches.)"

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

[via Jonathan]

NEWSARAMA.COM: PAUL LEVITZ: JSA'S NEW/OLD GUY

NEWSARAMA.COM: PAUL LEVITZ: JSA'S NEW/OLD GUY

"When a veteran comic book writer with hundreds of stories to his credit returns after a hiatus of more than a decade, it's newsworthy.

"When that same writer is also the man responsible for creating the Huntress and for developing Power Girl into a major character in the DCU, his return merits even more attention. But when that writer is also DC Comics' President and Publisher, returning to a group of heroes with whom he was closely associated more than two decades ago, then it?s big news indeed!

"Paul Levitz, who helmed the Justice Society's All-Star Comics series in the 1970s in a series of team adventures that rank right alongside his Legion of Super-Heroes tales as some of the best books in his impressive resume, is returning to the keyboard in early 2006 to once gain tackle the exploits of the Justice Society. This time, Levitz will be writing a six-issue run in JSA, where he'll be joining a true all-star creative team that includes a pair of the most respected artists working in comics today: George Perez and Rags Morales."

Food Not Buns

Did I go to sleep last night and wake up today in a completely warped world? I mean even more than usual.
Food Not Buns

"A model parades in front of street children, some of whom are sniffing glue, in the drug-infested 'Barrio Triste' (Sad Neighborhood) in downtown Medellin in Colombia November 7, 2005. The event was organised to entertain the children by a member of a local charity that helps children in Barrio Triste by providing food, clothes and cleaning facilities."

Empire's 50 Greatest Independent Films

Empire's 50 Greatest Independent Films

I'm not really familiar with the website (I came across it through a link at Boing Boing), but it doesn't seem too bad. The only one in the top ten (which is what I linked to) that I might dispute would be Sex, Lies and Videotape.

Let the debate begin. Post a comment with anything you think is wrong.

The Dark Side of Hello Kitty

The Dark Side Of Hello Kitty

[via Boing Boing]

Portable Apps

Portable Apps

These portable applications can be run entirely from a USB thumbdrive, portable hard drive, iPod, CDRW, etc.

* Portable AbiWord - The lightweight AbiWord word processor
* Portable FileZilla - The excellent FTP client
* Portable Firefox - The popular Firefox web browser
* Portable NVU - Edit web pages with NVU
* Portable OpenOffice.org - The full-featured OpenOffice.org office suite
* Portable Sunbird - The handy Sunbird calendar
* Portable Thunderbird - The popular Thunderbird email client

I have already checked out the portable versions of AbiWord and Firefox (I am actually making this blog posting using Portable Firefox) and AbiWord opened a Microsoft Word (Standard XP ver. 2002) without trouble. Great streamlined and portable applications that you can run on the go. Now if only they had one for Desktop Publishing.

Check the site out. And, if you download any of these programs and have spectacular successes or failures, please be sure to leave a comment about them. Just feedback since I am pluging these apps.