It is done. Gen Con Indy 2009 has come and gone and, with just one missed Gen Con between this one and my previous visit, the whole thing still managed to take on an odd foreign feel. I spent a large part of the show being introduced to people it turns out I knew already but did not recognize, or pestering people I know and like with the two most boring questions of the show:
- “How’s the show going for you so far?”
- “Seen anything good in the exhibitor’s hall?”
The answers to these questions can be interesting, provocative conversation starters, but I asked these questions so frequently — often of the same people, especially for certain values of “the same people” that equal “Robin Laws” — that even I got tired of hearing me ask them. So it goes; I was out of practice.
Over the course of this week, though, I’ll write a bit about games I saw or played (not enough of either, by far), starting with a quick rundown, right now, of a few things that jumped out at me, but which may not get posts of their own this week:
- Catalyst Game Labs’ and Posthuman Studio’s transhuman game of space-whales, robot-brained larcenous octopuses, and post-Earth adventure, called Eclipse Phase, is released under a Creative Commons license. Not just the website, but the text and art of the game itself. To which you say, if you are like me, holy shit. Because, holy shit. That is not only a fat roll of twenties where their mouth is, over at Posthuman’s progressive studios, that is also one hell of a dare to you and I in the audience. Gamers intending to lament this missing technological item or that absent cultural detail are hereby challenged to add to the game world.
- If I’d had any common sense, I would’ve mentioned this during our guest stint on “This Just In From Gen Con.”
- Paul Tevis apparently sold out of his brilliant new game, A Penny For My Thoughts, which is wonderful to hear. I own and admire that game, but managed to see Tevis for four days and not play it once… so I somehow remain an unfinished fan.
- Game blogger and Gameplaywright commenter, John Arcadian, recognized me at the White Wolf party based solely on, it seems, my profile picture online and the telling way I drink well-rum and Coke. Good eye there, John, and thanks for introducing yourself. Sorry if I went on and on about zeppelins.
- This was my first chance to be spoken to, in person, about Things We Think About Games, and I thank everyone who referred to it as “your book” in conversations with me. That was very nearly, but not quite, as thrilling as hearing that you read it. Thanks for doing that. Thanks, too, to the people who bought the book this year at the IPR booth.
- Kenneth Hite’s full-page introduction to Gen Con, published in the convention’s program magazine, was written at a time when we thought the next Gameplaywright Press book would be out in time for Gen Con. It wasn’t. But, if you read Ken’s page, then you already know that it is called The Bones. I will save further details on that for a future post.
That’ll do for now, won’t it? Later on I’ll gab about games I bought or played (or both) at the show, including the game I’m hoping to run this week: Jeremy Keller’s Chronica Feudalis. Stay tuned.
Man, I totally should have bugged you to bring the book and get more people to sign it!
I picked up your book at the Indie Press Revolution booth, and read it before I got home last night. Very interesting. I can’t wait for The Bones to come out – do you have an estimated release date?
Also, would LOVE to pick your brain. I learned so much at this convention, but regretted not having a chance to sit down and chat with you and Jeff as well. Thank goodness for teh interwebz.
I had no idea that Eclipse Phase was CC-licensed in its entirety. That is awesome. It attracts me more to their game than any marketing they could have done, and the ballsiness of the move makes me feel cowardly in comparison.
Our conversations were all too brief at the show, we’ll have to plan for lunch or something next time. I did recommend TWTAG several times while working at the IPR booth.
Rob, I almost brought it, actually, but figured it should’ve been an account of that one year. Drop me a line with your mailing address, eh?
Jess, thanks for picking up the book! It was great seeing you at the show again. Drop me a line in general and let us talk.
Matt, I agree. You’re one of the poor souls I hit with both the boring questions and the mis-memory. I was sort of half-asleep for much of the show, alack. Drop me a line about what you think an e-pub copy of TWT should look like?
I’m also looking forward to Eclipse Phase. Being CC licensed is pretty cool. I almost had someone pick up a copy for me but I did’t want them to stand in line and maybe/maybe not get one since they were rationing them. I added TWTAG to my wishlist. Always wanted to support people I know (Jeff) and people I will know (Will).
I want to make it back to GenCon, have not been since it went to Indy, but timing and life have not been good with scheduling the last few years.
You’ve got a distinctive beard. I know of only one other game designer who has something similar, and he shaved it off a while ago.
“How’s the show going for you so far?”
That was the question I used most to start up conversations with random people. It might be boring, but a good question. Everyone is willing to talk about their experiences at a shared event like a convention, especially when some people are designers and some people are fans. The designers will start talking shop, the fans will start talking experiences and games.
Eclipse phase is CC licensed. That is awesome. Now I have to own a copy. I’ve always loved it when a company puts something out there for the fanbased to mix and remix.
I couldn’t make it this year, or I would have hunted you and Jeff down, Will. I bought a copy of “Things” and very much enjoyed it.
I also wrote a big chunk of one of the upcoming Eclipse Phase expansions, Gatecrashing. EP is a lot of fun, the Catalyst lads certainly practice what they preach. The Reputation system in the core book is very worth checking out, by the by.
As it happens, I wrote a bit of the EP rulebook that got cut and should appear online someday. I didn’t find out it was CC licensed until later, though. Forces willing, I get a copy of the book ere long and maybe get another chance at writing for it, too.
John, wait until I’ve asked you that question nine or ten times, then tell me how much it makes you want to converse. 🙂