News
Independence Game Day
Do the recent gas prices have you down?
Reconsider that long trip and come here instead on Friday, July 4th.
Feel free to bring family members and/or friends as well as your favorite games to share to add a wide selection we will have available. Also, be sure to bring a side dish or dessert which will compliment a burger or brat.
Posted 3 hours ago,
July 4 2008, 09:47
Halo Board Game in September
From Genius Products
This September Genius Products and B1 Games are launching the first every board game based on the hugely popular Halo video game. The Halo Interactive Strategy Board Game captures the essence of the bestselling video game as players control UNSC Marine and Covenant forces in strategic battles for power. With its family-friendly features this game, which is designed for players 10 and up, should expand the audience for the popular first-person shooter Halo franchise.
The Halo Board Game features the same premise and characters (Master Chief, A.I., Covenant, etc.) of the video game, which has sold over 20 million copies in its various iterations. It offers a modular game board that can be reconfigured into limitless combinations. In the game players command armies of three-dimensional collectible character pieces that can be utilized in two different levels of playthe Heroic mode for faster casual games, and the Legendary mode for more advanced games who want to include more strategy. Players can expand the Halo experience in campaign mode or go head-to-head in Slayer or Capture the Flag modes.
Genius Products is planning to release additional expansions for the Halo Board Game that will add adventures, new vehicles, characters and weapons.
Posted 1 day ago,
July 2 2008, 14:55
Red November in October
The Board Game as Disaster Movie
Fantasy Flight Games has announced the October release of Red November (MSRP $24.95), a cooperative board game in which players assume the role of a gnome adventurer trapped inside a doomed Russian nuclear submarine. The sub is descending fast, the nuclear reactors are overheating, there are fires breaking out everywhere, the hull is springing leaks from the rapidly increasing pressure, a giant Kraken is lurking nearby, and, worst of all, the crew is running out of vodka! As players move around the board more trouble breaks out in this board game equivalent of a disaster movie.
Bruno Faidutti and Jef Gontier designed Red November for 3-8 players with a playing time of 1-2 hours. With its cooperative emphasis the game works best with 5 or more players who have to get organized, divide the tasks and sometimes even sacrifice themselves for the good of all.
Posted 1 week ago,
June 24 2008, 10:08
WotC Opens Up Pre-Release Events
Greatly Expands Venues to Include Retailers
Starting with the Shards of Alara release for Magic the Gathering on October 3rd, Wizards of the Coast is changing the dates of its Pre-Release tournaments and significantly expanding the number of locations where prerelease events will be held – effectively opening up Pre-Release tournaments to retail locations.
Beginning with Shards of Alara, Pre-Release tournaments will take place six days before the release date, while Launch parties will be organized the weekend of the set release. Pre-Release events will provide a tournament experience while Launch parties will provide the sort of events that made Game Day a success.
Responding to criticism from game retailers, WotC is expanding its Pre-Release events far beyond the PTOs (Premier Tournament Organizers) to include brick and mortar hobby retailers who have long provided key retail support for Magic. According to a WotC spokesperson: Making these events broadly accessible to all is one of our top priorities. Pre-Release tournaments and Launch Parties are therefore becoming key components of the Wizards Play Network; any organizer who meets the criteria for running these events will have the opportunity to host a prerelease and launch party.
We expect to receive additional information in July. Stonebridge Games, will of course, be applying to run both the Pre-Release and Launch Parties events. We will keep you posted. In any case, keep September 27th and 28th open for Shards of Alara Pre-Release Events and October 3rd through 5th free for Shards of Alara Launch Parties.
Posted 1 week ago,
June 20 2008, 13:50
The Hunt For Illidan Loot Cards
Exclusive ‘WoW’ Items
Upper Deck Entertainment has revealed the loot cards that will be included in The Hunt For Illidan, the latest expansion for The World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, which is launching on July 1st.
The Upper Deck World of Warcraft Loot Cards give players who have them access to unique World of Warcraft MMORPG in-game items. The Hunt For Illidan Loot Items will be available for in-game redemption after Blizzards 2.4.3. patch. The World of Warcraft is the worlds most popular subscription-based MMORPG.
There are three levels of loot cards for The Hunt For Illidan. The most common is The Path of Illidan card, which allows players to walk or run through Azeroth leaving a trail of green glowing footprints. The uncommon loot card for The Hunt For Illidan is D.I.S.C.O., which enables players to start a party anywhereit comes with a disco ball, swirling lights, and music and any nearby players, whether they are from your faction or not, can join the party and dance.
The rarest loot card in the new expansion is the Ethereal Soul-Trader, which becomes an in-game ethereal cosmetic pet capable of collecting souls and depositing Ethereal money in a player’s bags. With Ethereal money players can buy any of the Ethereal Soul-Traders ten unique items.
Posted 2 weeks ago,
June 20 2008, 10:22
Revised 4th Edition Talisman Board Game
From Fantasy Flight in October
Fantasy Flight Games has announced an October release for the Revised 4th Edition of the Talisman Board Game (MSRP $49.95). 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of this fan favorite magical quest board game and FFGs revised version adds 14 highly detailed plastic figures (toads included), a revision of the rules, and upgraded components all around. Upon the launch of the Revised 4th Edition, FFG will also make available an upgrade kit, which will include the new plastic figures, revised rules and cards, for those who purchased Games Workshops 4th Edition of Talisman, which was released in October of 2007.
The 4th Edition of Talisman was based primarily on the 2nd Edition of the game, which was considered more popular with gamers than the 3rd Edition. It remains to be seen where Fantasy Flight, which has loads of experience creating board games, will take Talisman, which it acquired earlier this year along with the rights to Games Workshops RPGs and card games.
FFG has also announced that a plethora of expansions for Talisman are in the works. The first of these, the Death and Glory Expansion (MSRP $19.95) is slated for release by Christmas 2008.
Posted 9 weeks ago,
May 2 2008, 06:26
October Magic Set Name Revealed!
The set due out in October is called Shards of Alara, and it promises to be one of the best Magic sets ever. Between now & then however, we have Shadowmoor (due out May 2nd) and Eventide (due out in July), both of which should be a nice counterpoint to the Lorwyn/Morningtide sets. 2008 is a good year for Magic, with more sets and great content!
Posted 14 weeks ago,
March 24 2008, 11:12
WotC's 3'rd 'MapleStory' Release
P3TS Due Out This Spring
Wizards of the Coast has announced the spring release of P3TS, the third set for the MapleStory iTCG. Last November WotC, in partnership with Nexon America, launched the MapleStory Internet Trading Card Game, which is based on Nexon’s popular 2D MapleStory MMORPG.
The MapleStory MMORPG is free to play, but players can buy character and game enhancements at online shops. WotC’s MapleStory iTCG, which is designed for boys from 10-17, includes special cards with exclusive codes that can be redeemed online for virtual goods that can be used in the MapleStory MMORPG.
Each nine-card MapleStory P3TS booster pack contains an online code card. The P3TS Booster Packs are available in both booster displays and in single boosters that are blister-packed.
Posted 15 weeks ago,
March 17 2008, 12:08
Catan: Traders and Barbarians
Due From Mayfair on June 26th
Mayfair’s new Settlers of Catan expansion, Catan: Traders and Barbarians, provides lots of new ways to explore Klaus Teuber’s award-winning board game including a two-person contest, a wealth of new wooden pieces and characters, plus four variants and five scenarios that allow players to reinvent their Catan experience.
The five new scenarios include: “The Fishermen of Catan,” “The Rivers of Catan,” “The Caravans,” “Barbarian Attack,” and “Traders and Barbarians,” and players can combine these scenarios to create a full-fledged campaign.
Catan: Traders and Barbarians (MSRP $42.00), which is designed for 2-4 player and can be played in 90-120 minutes, contains 24 wooden knights, 12 wooden bridges, 36 wooden barbarians, 22 wooden camels, 4 wooden wagons, 40 coin counters, 14 new region and water tile pieces, 120 new cards, special victory point cards and tokens, as well as a “Variants and Scenarios” booklet. Mayfair plans to ship Catan: Traders and Barbarians to retailers in time for a street date of June 26th.
Posted 15 weeks ago,
March 17 2008, 11:59
Ticket to Ride Card Game
Days of Wonder has announced the May release of a Ticket to Ride Card Game. Designed by Alan R. Moon, who designed the original Ticket to Ride board game, the Ticket to Ride Card Game (MSRP $25.00) is a stand-alone game that offers several twists on the original board game that should have aficionados of that game excited about purchasing the card game.
In the card game players work to collect sets of illustrated Train cards, which can be used to complete Destination Tickets, but before the Train cards can be used, players face the prospect of “train-robbing,” where another player can force them to give up their hard-earned cards.
The Ticket to Ride Card Game was designed for 2-4 players, ages 8 and up—and it can be played in 30 minutes. The deluxe full color box includes 96 Train cards, 6 Big Cities Bonus cards, 46 Destination Tickets, and a rule book.
Posted 18 weeks ago,
February 25 2008, 05:27
Fantasy Flight Gets Games Workshop's RPGs, Board and Card Games
Fantasy Flight Games and Games Workshop jointly announced that they have reached an agreement for Fantasy Flight Games to become the exclusive publisher of board games, card games (including collectible card games), and role-playing games based on Games Workshop’s intellectual properties including Warhammer Fantasy Battles and Warhammer 40,000. The deal will also grant FFG the exclusive rights to print new versions of the classic board and card game titles published by Games Workshop over the past 25 years.
A second agreement between the two companies will transfer the rights and system of the Universal Fighting System CCG from Sabertooth Games to FFG. FFG will continue production and new product support for the UFS CCG, which will continue to be published in the traditional starter and booster pack CCG format. FFG has no current plans to adapt the UFS CCG to its LCG (Living Card Games) sales model.
Fantasy Flight Games plans to issue a new printing of the 4th edition Talisman board game along with an expansion. FFG also plans to continue production and new product support for the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay RPG and the new Dark Heresy RPG.
This agreement does not cover games such as Blood Bowl and Space Hulk in which miniatures are a predominant component, which indicates that Games Workshop is determined to concentrate on its core miniature-based tabletop war-gaming category. After streamlining its sprawling operations and finally staunching a 3-year sales decline this agreement with Fantasy Flight Games indicates that Games Workshop is intent on further reducing overhead and paring away all but the most profitable elements of its core business.
Posted 18 weeks ago,
February 22 2008, 17:58
Yu-Gi-Oh! Phantom Darkness Sold Out
The Yu-Gi-Oh! Phantom Darkness booster set, which was just released on February 5th, has sold out from the manufacturer. With 100 new cards the Phantom Darkness booster set is the biggest Yu-Gi-Oh! set in years, and it contains the elusive “Ghost Rare” 3D card.
Stonebridge Games has managed to obtain additional Phantom Darkness boosters for sale at the store.
Posted 20 weeks ago,
February 14 2008, 07:22
Age of Conan Due Early Summer
Fantasy Flight Games will publish the English language version of Nexus Editrice’s Age of Conan—The Strategy Board Game early next summer as part of a simultaneous world release. The game was previewed at Essen last fall. The big box board game is for two to four players.
The game mechanic was inspired by War of the Ring, which was designed by the same team, but it has gone through considerable change during development. According to Nexus Editrice, “The core mechanic is still based on a modified Action dice system, adapted to work with a single pool of Fate dice available to all players.” A new campaign system was introduced in the game, which requires players to win a series of linked battles to militarily subjugate an independent kingdom.
Posted 21 weeks ago,
February 5 2008, 10:16
Green Ronin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire RPG'
To Debut at GenCon
Green Ronin’s major release of 2008 will be the A Song of Ice and Fire RPG, which is based on George R.R. Martin’s popular series of fantasy novels. The new game will feature a unique gaming system custom crafted to reflect the conditions of the seven kingdoms in Martin’s fantasy universe, which is notable for its colorful and highly detailed medieval setting.
Green Ronin plans to provide potential customers with a taste of the A Song of Ice and Fire RPG with a free short adventure, A Song of Ice and Fire Quick Play, which will be given away at game stores participating in Free RPG Day on June 21st. The actual game itself launches in August with a full color, 192-page hardcover core rulebook followed quickly by Peril at King’s Landing, an adventure designed to help gamers initiate their campaigns. Later in the fall Green Ronin will release A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide, a 256-page full color hardcover, which will provide all the information necessary to create fascinating RPG campaigns and adventures set in any of the Seven Kingdoms.
A Song of Ice and Fire TV series has been announced by HBO, though it has not yet been greenlit. Fantasy Flight Games has released A Game of Thrones CCG and A Game of Thrones strategy board game, both of which are based on the first novel in Martin’s series as well as a deluxe The Art of the Song of Ice and Fire volume. The now defunct game company Guardians of Order created A Game of Thrones RPG, which utilized the d20 and Tri-Stat dX rule systems. Nine months after Guardians of Order told Martin in July 2006 that no further A Game of Thrones RPG products would be released, Green Ronin acquired the RPG rights to the property.
Posted 22 weeks ago,
January 30 2008, 07:07
M&M To Do Manga & Anime
Green Ronin has announced that it will initiate new styles of play for its Mutants and Masterminds RPG system in two new books, one based on manga and anime, and one on comic fantasy. Both will be released in the second half of 2008. The tentative titles are Mecha & Manga, and Warriors & Warlocks.
The company has also revealed more information about its new RPG for Wild Cards. The second release in the system after the core campaign setting will be All-In, an anthology of five Wild Cards adventures, due out this fall.
Other 2008 Mutants and Masterminds products will include Worlds of Freedom, which presents variants of Freedom City; Book of Magic; a villain book titled Freedom’s Most Wanted; and a M&M Deluxe GM Screen, which will be in the new super-sturdy format used for Green Ronin’s True20 GM Screen and will also include a second edition update of Time of Crisis, a classis M&M adventure.
Posted 23 weeks ago,
January 24 2008, 09:49
Catan Dice Game
Mayfair Games has announced that it will release the Catan Dice Game in May. The $12.00 game, for one to six players ages seven and up, plays in a quick 15-30 minutes. It includes six colorful, embossed wooden dice, a pad of Catan maps with scoring tracks, and rules.
The Catan Dice Game is one of several lower-priced Catan releases scheduled for the first half of 2008 in the wake of the launch of the new edition of the bestselling core game late last year.
Posted 23 weeks ago,
January 24 2008, 07:30
'Heroscape' Brand Goes to WotC
First WotC Expansion Out in June
Wizards of the Coast has announced that effective April 1st, the Heroscape brand, previously managed by Hasbro, will join the WotC family of products. Originally released by Hasbo’s Milton Bradley Games in late 2004, Heroscape is a build-and-battle miniatures game that should fit in well with WotC’s other fantasy game offerings.
Wizards of the Coast is already working on Heroscape products and expects to release its first Heroscape SKU, Small Expansion Set 8: Defenders of Kinsland, a 19-figure set, which will include assorted heroes, militia, Marro GRoK Riders and Elves. WotC is also planning to release additional Heroscape sets later in 2008.
Keep an eye on the Stonebridge Games Events Calendar for future Heroscape events!
Posted 23 weeks ago,
January 23 2008, 09:41
DC HeroClix: Crisis Sold Out at Manufacturer Level!
WizKids Inc. has announced the manufacture sellout of DC HeroClix: Crisis five-figure boosters and bricks. Crisis, releasing February 27, is completely sold out at the manufacturer in North America due to unexpectedly high preorder sales. DC HeroClix: Crisis brings to players tabletops characters from the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Infinite Crisis, Identity Crisis, 52 and the ongoing Final Crisis storylines.
The Crisis release attests to the close collaboration between DC Comics and WizKids the closest collaboration over any HeroClix release, said Joe Hauck, WizKids EVP of Sales, Marketing and Product Development. The results have been far more impressive than either DC Comics or WizKids could have anticipated.
Even though Stonebridge Games has ordered heavy for this highly anticipated HeroClix release, we expect it to sell out quickly.
Posted 23 weeks ago,
January 23 2008, 09:40
Mayfair Announces Catan Items
Mayfair will release several Settlers of Catan items this spring. Settlers of Catan and Catan: Cities and Knights Expansion replacement decks will street April 24th, each at $9.00 MSRP. The Settlers of Catan Replacement Deck includes 95 Resource Cards and 25 Development Cards. The Catan: Cities and Knights Expansion Replacement Deck includes 36 Commodity Cards, 54 Progress Cards, and 6 Victory Point Cards.
The Settlers of Catan Pre-2007 Adapter Kit will be released on May 13th. The kit will provide an outer frame to enclose the 19 hexes that make up the island of Catan in pre-2007 versions of the game, the frame extension pieces for the 5-6 player extension, and the harbor pieces that allow you to vary the harbor locations from game to game. Players will also be able to use the Catan: Seafarers 2007 edition with pre-2007 editions of Settlers.
Posted 23 weeks ago,
January 22 2008, 07:15
WizKids Powers 'Pirates' with Promotion
WizKids has announced the “Spot the Plot” promotion to support its Pirates of the Cursed Seas: Rise of the Fiends PocketModel release later this month. The promotion focuses on ten stories about Pirates characters, which will be randomly found in game packs. Players that find the stories in packs (they’ll also be available online) will also be able to download a mail-in coupon for a special edition Specter, a glow in the dark ship.
This is the first release of WizKids’ Pirates game under the PocketModel brand.
Posted 23 weeks ago,
January 22 2008, 07:12
Magic Releases Legal on Street Date
Starting With Morningtide
Wizards of the Coast has announced that effective December 20th, 2007 all new Magic the Gathering releases will become legal for Constructed play on the day of the product’s release. The new policy replaces the previous strictures under which new cards would not become legal until the 20th of the month following their release. The first new set that will be affected by this change of policy will be Morningtide, which will be come legal for Constructed play on February 1st, 2008.
Posted 30 weeks ago,
December 6 2007, 07:30
Black Friday Game Day
Join us this Friday for an all day board gaming event. The store will open at 8:00 am. Feel free to bring your own games or join in on one of the many games we have planned. Tables will be available throughout the day until we close at approximately 10:00 pm. Call the store if you have any questions.
Posted 32 weeks ago,
November 21 2007, 21:46
New Magic Release Announced
WotC’s ‘Jelly’ Will Be ‘Shadowmoor’
Major Release Set for May
Wizards of the Coast has announced that its May 2008 release for Magic the Gathering codenamed “Jelly” will be known as Shadowmoor. The release of Shadowmoor will follow the February 2008 release of Morningtide, which is the small set that complements Lorwyn, which is due out on October 12th.
WotC is ditching the old 3-set block format (a big set followed by two small sets) in favor of a new format consisting of two inter-related mini-blocks consisting of a large set and a smaller release. Thus Lorwyn (a large set) will be followed by the smaller Morningtide, just as Shadowmoor (also a large release) will be followed by a smaller release (still code-named “Doughnut”). The Lorwyn mini-block and the Shadowmoor mini-block will each have its own theme, its own mechanics, and its own creative design. However, the two blocks are designed to be synergistic and intentionally interconnected.
Posted 39 weeks ago,
October 4 2007, 19:11
WizKids Gets New Line License for HorrorClix
WizKids has acquired a license from New Line Cinema that will allow it to include horror characters from three films in its HorrorClix line. According to a WizKids spokesperson, Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface will appear as HorrorClix miniatures in early 2008.
The New Line characters will join other licensed characters from Aliens vs. Predator and Hellboy in WizKids’ HorrorClix line.
Posted 45 weeks ago,
August 20 2007, 06:11
Re: 'D&D 4th Edition' Announced at Gen Con
OH MY GOD
4th edition!!yay.
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 17 2007, 10:45
Star Wars Ground Assault
Expansion for SWPM TCG in October
At GenCon WizKids is demonstrating Star Wars Ground Assault, the next installment of its Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game. The new Star Wars Ground Assault Booster Packs, which will ship in October, add new ground and space PocketModel units from the Star Wars movies as well as a host of new playing cards.
Using cards and models from the original SWPM TCG release and the forthcoming Ground Assault expansion, players will be able to build their Star Wars forces with all ground units, all space units, or a combination of both. The premier ground unit introduced in the new expansion is the AT-AT, the giant Imperial “walker” featured in The Empire Strikes Back, but the set also includes a number of battle droids plus cards for the Ewoks and new cards featuring Obi-Wan, Darth Vader and Yoda.
The Star Wars PocketModel TCG combines elements of trading card games and collectible miniatures games by adding three dimensional vehicles, which can be punched out of cards and assembled. Like the first SWPM release, Ground Assault Booster Packs will have an MSRP of $4.99 and will contain 4-8 PocketModel vehicles to punch out, plus six random game cards, 2 micro dice, complete rules and assembly instructions.
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 17 2007, 10:22
'D&D 4th Edition' Announced at Gen Con
Online Component Added
Wizards of the Coast is announcing at GenCon today that it will release the 4th Edition of its category-leading Dungeons and Dragon roleplaying game in 2008, the first full new edition in eight years. The three core books will be released next summer on a monthly schedule: Player’s Handbook in May, Monster Manual in June, and Dungeon Master’s Guide in July. Pricing and page counts of the new products will be consistent with current packaging. Graphics have been updated, art will be used on the covers, and interior design has been opened up to make the books less intimidating to new players.
Lead-in products, Wizards Presents: Classes and Races and Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters, will be released in December. An April release, Keep of the Shadowfell, will include a set of quickstart rules for 4E.
While there are changes in play (such as incorporating “epic-level play,” with 30 levels instead of 20), they are described as “evolutionary” rather than “revolutionary.” Other changes include new power sources, changes in resource management, and new encounter design, and more clearly defined monster roles. Changes will speed play, make the game easier to learn, and make DM-ing easier. Concepts for 4th Edition gameplay were tested in the new Star Wars RPG, and the Book of 9 Swords.
What the company does describe as revolutionary is the method of product delivery, which will incorporate online play for the first time. WotC is incorporating online components into the game through a new Website, DnDInsider.com. Each paper product will include codes to unlock digital versions on the site for a “nominal” activation fee. Players will also be able to use DnDInsider tools and access regular new content similar to the material that was previously released in Dragon and Dungeon magazines for a monthly fee greater than the old subscription price, but less than a MMORPG subscription. Magazine-style content will be added to the site three times a week and compiled into digital “issues” monthly.
Gameplay features on the Web will include a digital D&D game table, and voice chat and text messaging, to allow online players to communicate with each other. The online play is designed to “supplement, not replace” meatspace play.
The Open Gaming License will continue as it has in the past, allowing the use of the rules in other publishers’ games.
Work on the new edition began in 2005, with the major work all accomplished in the last year.
D&D products released between now and the launch of 4th Edition will fall into three groups. Edition-proof products (which are mostly story) will not include mechanics that are edition-specific. Some products will be “enhanced” to 4th Edition mechanics after release through DnDInsider, and a couple of series will end as 3.5 products.
The setting for the core books are campaign neutral. Forgotten Realms will be the first campaign setting to be updated (in August 2008). Other campaign settings will be updated at a rate of one per year.
Marketing support will initially focus on migrating the existing player base, and then move to an acquisition strategy to re-activate lapsed players and acquire new ones. Midnight launch parties will be used to kick off sales of the first new release in May.
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 16 2007, 12:09
Re: Magic 'Jelly' Expansion Date Announced
Mistake
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 15 2007, 18:14
Re: Magic 'Jelly' Expansion Date Announced
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 15 2007, 18:13
Magic 'Jelly' Expansion Date Announced
Prepare to Jam This Spring
Wizards of the Coast announced that “Jelly,” codename for the next expansion after Lorwyn and Morningtide Magic: The Gathering expansions, will be released on May 2, 2008. “Jelly” will be followed by “Doughnut,” the smaller set that will complete the block in WotC’s new two-set block configuration
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 14 2007, 10:28
Magic 'Jelly' Expansion Date Announced
Prepare to Jam This Spring
Wizards of the Coast announced that “Jelly,” codename for the next expansion after Lorwyn and Morningtide Magic: The Gathering expansions, will be released on May 2, 2008. “Jelly” will be followed by “Doughnut,” the smaller set that will complete the block in WotC’s new two-set block configuration
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 14 2007, 10:21
Magic 'Jelly' Expansion Date Announced
Prepare to Jam This Spring
Wizards of the Coast announced that “Jelly,” codename for the next expansion after Lorwyn and Morningtide Magic: The Gathering expansions, will be released on May 2, 2008. “Jelly” will be followed by “Doughnut,” the smaller set that will complete the block in WotC’s new two-set block configuration
Posted 46 weeks ago,
August 14 2007, 10:20
WizKids Clarification - Pirates PocketModel
WizKids’ Pirates constructible strategy game will be converted to PocketModel branding with the first release of 2008. That will bring it in line with the Star Wars PocketModel TCG, and its recently announced licensed Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel game.
The game play will be compatible with previous Pirates releases. Unlike the Star Wars PocketModel TCG, neither WizKids’ nor the licensed Pirates PocketModel games will include TCG elements.
A WizKids spokesperson provided this clarification of the branding change:
“WizKids is committed to innovating the constructible game category and continuing to produce quality games on this platform. As such, we are using the trademark PocketModel to represent all of our games that we produce on this platform. If you see a title from WizKids in the future that is a PocketModel game, you will know that the game involves the building of playable game pieces. Within the PocketModel brand, however, you will see several types of games.”
“Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game is a combination game that includes build elements combined with the depth and strategy of a trading card game.”
“Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel Game is a strategy game involving build elements and strategic movement. There are no trading cards used in the game and we are not modifying the play system from the Pirates CSG games that players know and love.”
“Expect to see more entries into the PocketModel universe in the future and don’t be surprised if we add new twists to the PocketModels line down the road.”
Posted 47 weeks ago,
August 9 2007, 17:38
Pirates Going PocketModel
Backward Compatible
WizKids’ Pirates constructible strategy game will be converted to PocketModel TCG mechanics with the first release of 2008. That will bring it in line with the Star Wars PocketModel TCG, and its recently announced licensed Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel game.
The CSG mechanics will be backward compatible with previous Pirates releases; the TCG feature will not have a counterpart in earlier releases.
Posted 47 weeks ago,
August 7 2007, 11:04
Axis & Allies War at Sea - Set 2
You’re hearing it here first!
Wizards of the Coast is making a second set of Axis & Allies minis War at Sea. This second set will release mid 2008 and will feature a wide variety of ships. We can’t get into too much detail just yet, but will post here when more information is available!
Posted 47 weeks ago,
August 6 2007, 09:54
WizKids' Battle-Damaged Scarab
WizKids has unveiled the largest figure it has ever created, an exclusive Battle-Damaged Halo 3 Scarab a model of the giant Covenant tank, the largest vehicle in the Halo 3 universe. Only 500 of the 24” x 24” x 20” figures were produced to celebrate the unveiling of WizKids’ Halo ActionClix CMG at the San Diego Comic-Con. One of the Battle-Damaged Halo 3 Scarabs was given away to the winner of a contest, while the others will be sold for $250 to selected show attendees who have registered to buy the exclusive figures.
WizKids plans to produce an undamaged version of the giant Scarab Tank with its four mechanical legs that will retail for $250 and will be available for all retailers to order for fall delivery. The first series of Halo ActionClix, which contains more than 80 figures and which will allow players to replicate the multiplayer action from all three Halo games, will be released in September.
Stonebridge Games is taking pre-orders for the Scarab with an expected delivery in November 2007. Visit www.wizkidsgames.com for more information including a picture of this huge piece!
Posted 49 weeks ago,
July 27 2007, 10:18
Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel Game
WizKids announced an agreement with Disney to produce Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel trading card game, set to release in October. The agreement allows WizKids to use content from all three movies and the PocketModel format allows players to build 3-D pirate ships from pieces punched out of a styrene card and use movie characters and action scenes on the cards to play the game.
Each game pack (MSRP $3.99) will include two ships to build, one island/terrain card, a treasure or crew card, a rulebook and a die.
The Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel TCG follows on the heels of the recently released Star Wars PocketModel TCG which launched in June and both games follow in the wake of the popular Pirates Constructible Card Game which has sold 20 million ships since 2004.
Posted 49 weeks ago,
July 24 2007, 08:42
Magic Game Day Tops 1200 Stores
Wizards of the Coast has announced that 1,249 North American stores participated in Magic Game Day, held last Saturday. That represents around 35% of the roughly 3600 stores that participated worldwide. Based on the 40% of participating stores that have submitted reports to WotC to date, the average number of players per store was 23.
Thanks to everybody that participated in Magic Game Day at Stonebridge Games. We had 25 players for the Sealed event and many more participating in the League and Mini-Ladder events!
Posted 50 weeks ago,
July 20 2007, 10:21
Magic Blocks Shift Formats
Two Mini-Blocks Per Year Planned
Mark Rosewater, the Head Designer for Magic the Gathering, has announced that the Lorwyn block, which debuts in October, will deviate from the standard three-set blocks that Magic fans are familiar with. Lorwyn and its successor Morningtide, which is due out in February, will form a mini-block, instead of the three-set block previously announced, and will be followed by another two-release mini-block with sets code-named “Jelly” and “Doughnut.”
The Lorwyn block and its successor will each have their own distinct themes, mechanics, and look. Henceforth the typical MTG block will consist of a large set (with tournament packs) and a small set, rather than a large set and two smaller “expansion” sets.
This will result in something of a schedule change for MTG fans, who have gotten used to the release of large set in October. Though Lorwyn, which is due out this October, is a large set, the next large set, code-named “Jelly,” will be released in May/June of 2008, rather than in October.
The Lorwyn block and its successor, though different and distinct, will also in Rosewater’s words “be synergistic and interconnected.” For Limited Tournaments the Lorwyn and “Jelly” blocks will be treated like two distinct blocks, but for Constructed Tournaments the two mini-blocks will be considered as one uber-block. Thus the Lorwyn mini-block and the Jelly mini-block will rotate out of formats at the same time. For example Time Spiral will rotate out of Standard when “Rock,” the block after Lorwyn and “Jelly” rotates in—and the two mini-blocks, Lorwyn/Morningtide and Jelly/Doughnut will all be together in the same Block Constructed format.
Posted 50 weeks ago,
July 17 2007, 09:09
Ticket to Ride Swiss Map Expansion
Available in October
Days of Wonder has announced the October release of the Ticket to Ride Swiss Map Expansion (MSRP $25) for the Ticket to Ride board game. The Swiss Map Expansion, which requires an original copy of Ticket to Ride or Ticket to Ride Europe to play, provides a new board map that was previously only available in the Ticket to Ride Computer Game.
The Swiss Map Expansion was designed for 2-3 players, ages 8 and up and requires 30-45 minutes to play. The 46 “Destination Tickets” include new city-to-country and country-to-country routes in addition to the normal city-to-city tickets. Alan R. Moon, who designed the Ticket to Ride board game, has declared that the Swiss Map is his personal favorite of all the Ticket to Ride Maps.
Posted 51 weeks ago,
July 13 2007, 09:49
2007 Origins Award Winners
At the Origins International Game Expo held over the past weekend in Columbus, Ohio the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design announced the winners of the 33rd Annual Origins Awards. This year retailers voted on nominees presented by game manufacturers at the GAMA trade show (see “Origins Awards Include Retailer Votes”) and the five entries in each category that received the most votes became the finalists (see “Origins Finalists Announced”).
This year’s winners included both Dragon (“Best Non-Fiction Publication of the Year”) and Dungeon (“Best Fiction Publication of the Year”)—awards that may well have represented a fond farewell to the two publications, which were recently cancelled, and which have meant so much to the world of adventure gaming over the years.
Other key awards went to Looney Labs’ Treehouse (Board Game of the Year), Privateer Press’ Hordes: Primal (Miniatures Game or Expansion of the Year), WizKids’ Pirates: Davy Jones’ Curse (CCG or Expansion of the Year), Burning Wheel’s Burning Empires (Role-Playing Game of the Year), Mayfair’s Settlers of Catan Event Deck (Game Accessory of the Year), and Wizard of the Coast’s Colossal Red Dragon (Miniature of the Year).
Here is a complete list of the 2007 Origins Award Winners:
Board Game or Expansion of the Year
Treehouse (Looney Labs)
Miniatures Game or Expansion of theYear
Hordes: Primal (Privateer Press)
Miniature or Miniatures Line of the Year
Colossal Red Dragon (Wizards of the Coast)
Non-Collectable Card Game or Expansion of the Year
Munchkin Impossible (Steve Jackson Games)
CCG or Expansion of the Year
Pirates: Davy Jones’ Curse (WizKids)
Game Accessory of the Year
Settlers of Catan Event Deck (Mayfair)
Fiction Publication of the Year
Dungeon Magazine (Paizo Publishing)
Non-Fiction Publication of the Year
Dragon Magazine (Paizo Publishing)
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Burning Empires (Burning Wheel)
Role-Playing Supplement of the Year
Deadlands Reloaded (Pinnacle/Great White Games)
Origins Vanguard Awards
Piece of Eight (Atlas Games)
Play By Mail Game of the Year
Starweb (Flying Buffalo)
Historical Miniatures Game of the Year
Vlad the Impaler (Warhammer Historical)
Historical Miniatures Line of the Year
40mm American Civil War Line (Sash and Saber)
Historical Board Game of the Year
Command & Colors Ancients (GMT Games)
Posted 51 weeks ago,
July 11 2007, 09:44
Halo ActionClix WizKids Biggest Miniature Ever
WizKids will be unveiling its Halo ActionClix at the San Diego Comic-Con along with the largest “miniature” that WizKids has ever produced, a Halo 3 figure that will be 24” x 24” x 20.” The gargantuan figure will be awarded as a prize to the winner of contest that will be held at the WizKids booth in San Diego.
WizKids’ first series of 80 Halo ActionClix is due to be released in September and since it shares the same basic game mechanics with other WizKids Clix games, players will be able to use their Halo ActionClix with other Clix figures or to mimic Halo multiplayer action using teams of USNC or the Covenant or mixed teams. In addition to each figure’s combat dials, they also come with stat cards listing the specific abilities of that piece. Using different “move and shoot” capabilities and blocking terrain players attempt to get the best shot at their opponent’s pieces, replicating the first person shooter action of the hugely popular Halo video games.
The first series of Halo ActionClix figures will come in two different pack formats, a $10 pack that includes 4 figures, 4 stat cards, 2 die, and a map, and an $11 sku, a five-figure blind-pack that comes with 5 stat cards, rules and a map. The $10 pack provides all that is necessary for two players to begin playing the game.
Posted 51 weeks ago,
July 11 2007, 09:35
Star Wars Miniatures Starship Battles
The new Star Wars Miniatures Starship Battles is now in stock at Stonebridge Games! Although we have plenty of Starters and Boosters in stock, don’t delay. Wizards of the Coast sold out of the initial order to retailers and distributors, although they are allowing us to purchase a minimum number of starters every week through Christmas.
Here is a description of this new product:
Conquer the hyperspace lanes with the best fleet of starships you can muster from all eras of the Star Wars saga. Drawn from the landmark films, the computer games, the comics, and the novels, these starships give you a whole new way to decide the fate of the galaxy. The Star Wars Miniatures Starship Battles Game Starter Set contains everything needed to play head-to-head Star Wars space battles. Add Starship Battles Booster Packs to expand players’ options so they can create more powerful fleets and decide the fate of the galaxy. Beautifully detailed, this highly-anticipated set will excite players, collectors, and movie fans.
Posted 83 weeks ago,
November 29 2006, 06:21
More 'WoW' Boosters & Starters
Upper Deck Entertainment plans to produce and release additional quantities of both boosters and starters for the debut set of its World of Warcraft TCG: Heroes of Azeroth. Sales of the WoW TCG have been strong here at Stonebridge Games.
The second wave of WoW: Heroes of Azeroth will be available at Stonebridge Games in early December. We will have more information very soon on how you can reserve your booster boxes and starters.
The decision to produce more of the debut set product indicates that Upper Deck is interested in continuing to expand the customer base for the new game, which is based on the ultra-popular online RPG (MMORPG) that has more than seven million adherents worldwide.
Before the next wave of Heroes of Azeroth hits store shelves, WoW players will have the chance to acquire the Onyxia’s Lair Raid Deck, which is due out on November 22nd. The new Raid Deck allows multiple players to take on the role of an epic foe and work together as heroes can to defeat the mighty Onyxia. Lucky players can win the chance to crack open the exclusive “Treasure Packs” in the Raid Deck and reap rewards not found anywhere else.
Although Stonebridge Games has ordered plenty of product for this release, we recommend that you stop by the store to reserve your copy. While Upper Deck is taking steps to keep the Heroes of Azeroth Boosters and Starters available at least through the end of the year, there is no guarantee that UDE will reprint the Raid Decks.
In the meantime, be sure to participate in our WoW tournaments held every Saturday throughout November. These are constructed tournaments and we are providing WoW boosters as prizes for the top players. Check the Events Calendar for more information.
Posted 86 weeks ago,
November 7 2006, 08:49