07/31/13

Red Menace

Developer: R. Brent Ward

Pubhlisher: White Dog Games

Author: Scott R. Krol

Can nuclear war in the ‘50s translate into an exciting solo experience?

There was a time when kids looked to the skies in fear, expecting an incoming onslaught of Soviet missiles and bombers to wipe out the world in a blaze of nuclear fire at any moment. Today the biggest fear most kids have is not having enough Twitter followers. Times have definitely changed since the height of the Cold War, but now everyone can relive those glorious days of duck and cover with White Dog Games’ latest title, Red Menace. So put on a ‘I Like Ike!’ button, groove to Buddy Holly, and let’s fight the fight that never happened.

Red Menace is a solitaire board game set in the year 1959 of nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the United States, with collateral damage being spread to Canada, Greenland, Great Britain, and possibly Cuba. The player takes on the role of supreme commander of the joint forces of the USAF, RCAF, and RAF as they try to intercept waves of Soviet bombers, controlled partly by the game, before they drop their megadeath. At the same time the player sends out US and British bombers to turn Soviet cities into glowing piles of slag. Yep, family fun gaming at its most jolly!

What you get in the boxed version. Pretty cool components for a small company. Print and play and folio editions are also available.

Continue reading →

07/20/13

Interview: Chris Fasulo Sr of Grognard Simulations

Interview by Brant Guillory, 20 July 2013

This week, we are fortunate to have with us Chris Fasulo Sr, of the (relatively) new wargaming company Grognard Simulations. Grognard Simulations burst onto the scene with their Death Ride series of operational games that garnered a great reputation for its combined arms system. We managed to chisel a few moments out of his 18-hour days to talk about Grognard Simulations and his wargaming background.

Tell us a little bit about your wargaming background? When did you get started and what made you stick with it?
This will be difficult as I have an extensive background in wargaming. It started when I was but a teenager in the 70’s with my first game being the AH classic of France 1940. I still have it. This grew through my high school years and I was solidly convinced by my enjoyment of wargaming that I wanted to be in the Army. So, after having failed at my first semester at college I made my leap into the service. I enlisted and spent my active duty time in Hawaii. I found a small gaming group and built my desire to keep it up. I exited active duty and as a member of NJ National Guard I sought a commission as an officer. Having succeeded at becoming a Second Lieutenant as an Armor Officer I had so much fun that my gaming and military life began to be one.

Continue reading →

07/19/13

GARPA 23 – GrogHeads Advanced Research on Projects Advisory

It‘s that time again, whether you like it or not. GARPA is back for another Friday of gaming projects funded by you, the fans.

Come watch Lloyd and Dan explore new projects or at least watch them talk to themselves about what, in their minds, constitutes a cool project. Cool is the operative word here since it is presently hotter than a snake’s arse in Arizona in the summertime over most of the known world right now. Remember…cool.

Like what you see or think we missed something, make sure and leave some feedback on the forums, if for nothing else than to boost our egos.

Stay cool!

I AM ZOMBIE: Field Manual & RPG by Make-Believe Games

$23,343 pledged of a $30,000 goal funding ending July 31st

I AM ZOMBIE is a very unique take on the zombie genre. As you can tell from the title you are a zombie, well sort of. It is better if I let the game designers explain it.

“You are a Toxic, a victim of an age-old disease, the Scourge. The cycles of your life revolve around picking up and getting rid of Odium, a by-product of that which ravages your body. Odium build-up threatens to transform you into a mindless zombie – a Skag – whilst granting physical prowess. You might (sic) half-dead, but if you control your Odium, you can retain your humanity, at least some of time.

Continue reading →

07/5/13

GARPA 22 – GrogHeads Advanced Research on Projects Advisory

Authors: Dan Pinkham and Jim Zabek

The boys here at GARPA took some time this week to celebrate 4^th of July here in the US. Even with all the remembrances, parades, cookouts, and fireworks we are able to bring you an abbreviated version of GARPA (though LongBlade has managed to sneak in a couple of contributions of his own). Join us in two weeks when we are back with the full column.

Boardgames

Battle Merchants by Minion Games

$5,250 of a $30,000 goal funding ending August 5^th

We all love a good game set in a fantasy world, the good races of dwarves, elves etc. fighting the orcs, goblins, and other evil creatures. While this theme has been presented in many different ways it is usually entertaining and we can’t seem to get enough of it. However, when a game comes along that takes these fantasy themes and incorporates them in a unique way we tend to take notice. Enter Battle Merchants, set in a fantasy world that is embroiled in the good vs. evil conflict. Instead of controlling one of the sides you are in charge making and selling weapons to the warring factions. A kind of fantasy arms dealer or “merchant of death” if you will.

Continue reading →

06/28/13

Origins 2013 – Exhibitor Hall!

Brant Guillory, 26 June 2013

The exhibitor hall was refreshingly busy. Some of the dealers I spoke to had reported some slower sales, and the big guns of wargaming that had been present for so many years – GMT, MMP, Avalanche, Matrix, LNLP – were all missing for various reasons. But if you wanted to find some great gaming, there was no excuse, because it was everywhere. Even without the more well-known companies, there was plenty of wargaming to be found with Grognard Simulations, Proving Ground, Zvezda’s big booth, Collins Epic Wargames, VPG, and more.

What else did we find in the dealer hall? Check it out. Click on images to enlarge.