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12/11/07: Animalball Games is proud to announce that it has completed it's magnum opus, Instant Game, and is releasing the RPG for free download on its website. Want to play a traditional fantasy wizard trapped in a modern world populated by superheroes? We've got that. How about far future elves trying to survive on a dying planet slowly being eaten by the Dark Lords of the void dimension? We've got that too. How about a Ben Franklin clone trained in drunken monkey fighting battling his way through an underground middle-earth dungeon? Yup. 12/8/07: In Animalcast Episode 30, Mike and Kyle interview independent horror movie writer/director Scott Phillips. Scott wrote and directed the cult movie classic Stink of Flesh, which the guys first discussed in Episode 23. Scott's getting ready to release his newest horror flick, Gimme Skelter. 12/2/07: Animalcast Episode 29- Due to the Thanksgiving holidays, the guys took a couple of weeks off. Fear not, faithful listener! We have outtakes! In this half-hour episode, Kyle introduces three sets of outtakes, including a discussion of their respective families' Halloween, Kyle's favorite book (House of Leaves), how Mike is a callous ass to Boner, and an indepth discussion of the 'new' television season (okay, this outtake is a bit dated)- including Bionic Woman, Reaper, Heroes and Pushing Daisies. 11/18/07: In an unprecedented experiment in cutting-edge podcasting, Mike and Kyle record an entire episode without any preparation in Animalcast Episode 28. Daring, no? In this episode, Mike and Kyle intentionally decided not to preplan any topics for this show, and when they accidently thought of things to talk about before the recording, those topics became forbidden to discuss. To re-emphasize-- they allowed themselves absolutely no preparation. 11/3/07: In Animalcast Episode 26, the guys try to talk about Heroscape, the miniature-style wargame by Hasbro. But they get sidetracked by a lot of side issues. First they offer some expensive comics in return to anyone that can provide a good, original theme song. They talk about Kyle's bad haircut and what not to tell your barber. Mike goes on about how much he loves Allen Varney and Paranoia XP. Mike and Kyle also talk about Paizo Publishing's Critical Hit Deck, and their new Pathfinder books for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5. Kyle gets nearly orgasmic reviewing Paizo's current Rise of the Runelords adventure arc. 3/3/07: Amazing new game announcement! We're realease four new games for the price of one! Enough exclamation points, here's the official press release: Four for the price of one! That’s right: four simultaneous releases from Animalball Games. 2/17/07: We've finally finished Animalball Melee! Mike's homage to the classic combat game Melee is available for free download. Here's the official press release: ABG Releases Animalball Melee for Free Download! 1/28/07: So much to say, so little space. First, I had a baby. Yes, it's number seven. Yes, I know that's a lot of kids. No, I'm not a mormon. Second- from now on, everything at Animalball is free. All our old games and the new ones we'll be rolling out soon are all free. Here's the official press release: Everything's Free at Animalball Games! 8/19/06: We're Back in Business (and Still Lazy)! My main computer I do for layout has been sick (read: unable to boot) for many months. Well we're back! Not much has happened for us, but have you seen Caz's new site? It's Hefty Wrenches and he's going to be selling his new game Covert Generations at Indie Press Revolution. As for us, ABG hasn't been doing much lately except posting up the same pointlessly funny garbage in our forums. I just posted up a new piece of fiction in the Safford Files, and if you're looking for some fun game reading, check out Mike and my collaborative effort to develop 50 Random Bar Encounters. 5/9/06: We're Lazy (again)! So, what's new with you? No kidding? That's soooo awesome. Yeah. So we've been kind of lazy. I mean... there's new Fiction That Changed the World up. And Jeff wrote a review of IG Barebones on RPGnet. And... uh... you know, Mike had a kid and my computer was down for about a month. And... well... not much has been going on. Sorry. Oh, but you know what? You know who's really been doing a bunch of stuff? Green Ronin has, that's who! Man, I envy those guys at Green Ronin. They work hard and stuff. Here's what they're up to: FREE TRUE20 QUICK START AND ADVENTURE ON TRUE20.COM April 18, 2006—Seattle, WA: Quick Start Rules and a free adventure for Green Ronin's latest hit RPG, True20 Adventure Roleplaying, are now available for download at the game's dedicated website, www.true20.com. The Quick Start Rules give gamers an overview of the True20 system and enough info to play the free adventure. "True20 Adventure Roleplaying hit stores last week," said Green Ronin Publishing President Chris Pramas, "and we want to show fans why it is the must-have RPG of 2006. These two downloads let gamers give True20 a shot without risk and we're sure they're going to like what they see." The free adventure is none other than Death in Freeport, an Origins and ENnie Award winning scenario originally written by Pramas and True20 updated by designer Steve Kenson. "What better way to show off the adaptability of True20 Adventure Roleplaying than by revising one of our own classic adventures," added Pramas. True20 Adventure Roleplaying, a 224-page hardback rulebook, can be found in quality game and bookstores now. For more information, go to www.true20.com or www.greenronin.com. Company Information Green Ronin Publishing is the first name in roleplaying games in the 21st century. Since the year 2000 no RPG company has won more awards for quality and innovation than Green Ronin Publishing and fans are still abuzz about perennial favorites like Mutants & Masterminds, Book of the Righteous, Testament, and Freeport. Hobby giant Games Workshop recognized the company's unparalleled record of excellence when Green Ronin was chosen as the exclusive RPG developer for its Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 properties. The first product of this historic union, a new edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, won three Gold ENnies at GenCon 2005. With great licenses like Thieves' World and Black Company, groundbreaking games like Mutants & Masterminds and Blue Rose, and the best design talent in the industry, Green Ronin Publishing is the crème de la crème of RPG companies. Green Ronin Media Contact: Nicole Lindroos ( info@greenronin.com) 2/11/06: Our latest press release: Sandbox Hill and Steadfast Shield in Print! 2/3/06: A new year and a whole new feature. This month Animalball is starting what it hopes will be a very regular feature: Fiction That Changed the World! If you want all the details, click the link, but essentially it's an opportunity for people to post up amateur fiction and explain the story behind the stories. The first installment is Mesuphial, by me! In other news, Herobattle is quickly becoming one of the most recurring features on our site. We're currently running a Celebrity Battle (Karl Rove and Ben Stiller have already been slaughtered) and Mike's already announced that the next game will be Zombie Battle, with special undead rules. Sign up now! 12/31/05: What a way to say goodbye to 2005. In the last month and a half, we've had a lot of new events-- I just haven't been doing any updates. To start with, we finally started up the Safford Files again with an awesome review Mike wrote of the New Orleans-inspired book "Beyond the Storm." It's a good book for a good cause. Read Mike's full review for the scoop. We've also drafted and started the 2006 Animalball Deadpool. There's a whole scoring system and complicated whatnot invovled, but you really don't want to know the whole story... that's bad karma. Finally, we've started some fun, easy games in our PB3 forum: HeroBattle; Choose Your Own Adventure; and Battleship. New games are starting up all the time, keep checking back to sign up for the next installment. It's been a great 2005, everyone. Maybe in 2006 we'll write some games! 11/19/05: Our latest press release: ANIMALBALL GAMES RELEASES FREE DOWNLOAD OF ASCENSION TO OLYMPUS 10/20/05- Animalball Games announced last week that it was contemplating litigation against the estate of H.G. Wells for misappropriation of intellectual property. A spokesperson for the company explained that the fundamental problem were the striking similarities between H.G. Well's game Little Wars and Animalball Game's wargame Sandbox Hill. 10/9/2005: Fall Lull 2005 is on! Accordingly, we've been too lazy to do anything or update the "What's New" page. Thus, enjoy Green Ronin's latest press release: MUTANTS & MASTERMINDS SECOND EDITION NOW SHIPPING September 30, 2005--SEATTLE, WA: Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition, the most anticipated RPG of the year, has begun shipping to distributors. With a distributor release date of October 12, this will put the game in stores by the weekend of the 15th. This includes the Standard Edition and the Deluxe Edition. "If you want a copy of the Deluxe Edition, you should snap it up as soon as you see it on the shelves," says Green Ronin President Chris Pramas, "We're shipping out every copy, so stores that sell out will not be able to get more." Mutants & Masterminds debuted in 2002 and was an immediate breakout hit. Since then it has sold out three sizeable print runs and won a string of awards for quality and innovation, becoming the most popular superhero game in the RPG industry in the process. Product Information Mutants & Masterminds, Second Edition The World's Greatest Superhero Roleplaying Game Returns! It has been called "the best, most exciting superhero RPG in years." It sets "new standards in design and presentation." It has won awards that include the Pen & Paper Fan Award for Best RPG, the ENWorld Award for Best d20 RPG, and the prestigious EN World Peer Award for 2003. Now the World's Greatest Superhero Roleplaying Game is even better! Mutants & Masterminds, Second Edition is all the best of the award-winning RPG, with new updates, refinements, and expansions to make it the most complete, detailed, and fun version of superhero gaming yet! In this 256-page hardcover with stunning new cover art by Ramón Pérez, you'll find a complete game. Based on the popular Open Game License, Mutants & Masterminds has everything you need to create your own superheroes and villains. It offers more than a dozen ready-made superhero archetypes and even more ready-to-use supervillain archetypes, so you can start playing right away! Included are two introductory adventures, one providing an introduction to the award-winning Freedom City campaign setting. Don't let your super-powers fall behind! Mutants & Masterminds, Second Edition will take your game (and your heroes) to the next level! Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition Deluxe Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition Deluxe is a premium collector's item for the true superhero connoisseur. Limited to only 500 copies, this version of the new core rulebook features a red leatherette cover embossed with the M&M logo, silver-gilt page edges, and a red ribbon bookmark. No secret headquarters would be complete without Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition Deluxe! Order yours today, because when they are gone, they are gone forever. Mutants & Masterminds Second Edition Deluxe will be shipping along with the regular edition of the game at the end of September. Company Information 8/1/2005: The new installment of the Safford Files is up and this month Mike finally explains the mystery behind Animalball. What does it mean? Where did it come from? Is it a type of vegetable and is it naturally harvested in your local area? Some of these questions and more are answered in the Safford Files: What Is Animalball? (Hint: it's not water polo.) In other unimportant news, I finally got rid of the stylized graphics for the dates on this page. Now it isn't that much work to update the page. Finally, Animalball also has a livejournal account. We will be using the lj account for announcements and as an opportunity to keep us with the numerous animalballers who also have lj accounts. You're welcome 3278! 7/9/2005: In the most recent edition of the Safford Files, Mike writes a classic review of two games we used to play as kids. Awwwwww. Our most recent press release: WIZARDS WON'T BE ACQUIRING ANIMALBALL GAMES 6/9/2005: Animalball's most recent press release: Animalball Games (www.animalball.com) unfortunately must announce that its attempts to obtain Wil Wheaton (www.wilwheaton.net) as a spokesperson have failed. As Animalball Games has documented in its Featured articles (The Safford Files), it has made several lucrative offers to Wil Wheaton, including: handcrafted ceramic art, publicity stills of the founders of Animalball Games, and naming rights to an undeveloped GURPS product. As tempting as these offers were, Wil Wheaton had to decline for personal reasons. Animalball's "Wil Wheaton Is Not My Friend" shirts (www.cafepress.com/animalball) will be discontinued in the near future. Accordingly, Animalball Games is seeking resumes of other qualified spokesmen/women. Current candidates we are considering making offers to: Justin Whalin (star of the D&D movie); Vin Diesel; and Margaret Thatcher. If you would like to apply for the position, please feel free to send a resume and headshot to spokesman@animalball.com. Animalball Games is an equal opportunity employer. Animalball Games is a small, independent publisher of unique games that do not fit into the traditional mold of "mainstream" rpgs. When developing its products, ABG heavily depends on the assistance of its online community to give feedback, input and playtesting help. It is ABG's philosophy that the best games are those developed by the gamers themselves. Wil Wheaton doesn't know what he's missing. 4/23/2005: With May just around the corner, Animalball has designed an entire line of Spring Wear! Well, maybe not an entire line, but we have opened up a "Merchandise" section of our store where, in conjunction with Cafe Press, you can get Instant Game Shirts, Mugs and baby goodies! Now go to the Animalball Store at Cafe Press and celebrate your consumer impulses. Animalball Games is also trying to show its charitable side by raising money for Amnesty International, Wil Wheaton's charity of choice (at least according to his website). Animalball Games is donating all of its profits from the sale of the Wil Wheaton Is Not My Friend Shirts to Amnesty International. Can't you find it in your heart to spend a few dollars to help out Amnesty International? Think about the children. 3/12/2005: We actually have exciting new developments. Due to the "Chump Factor" of the layout and content of our previous store (e.g., not being able to immediately download purchased products, or having to purchase through paypal), ABG has decided to use RPGNow to sell all of our products. Through RPGNow, you can purchase any game and immediately download it. RPGNow has been in business for a while and has a good reputation. We're very happy with the transition. Check out the new ABG Store and judge for yourself. Even more exciting news: we have another product! Sandbox Hill is now for sale in the ABG Store. Sandbox Hill is the purest tactical wargame ever. All you need are the rules, some army men, matchbox cars, rubber bands and a hammer. Confused? Click here for the sneak peek. Go to the ABG Store to buy it now. No seriously, I'll wait. As we announced last time, we also have Caz Granberg's amazing debut for sale: The Steadfast Shield. An OGL beginning-level adventure for four to six characters, the Steadfast Shield is straightforward fantasy gaming with the dementia and twists you'd expect from Caz's brain. Click here for a look inside. You like what you see? Buy it now at the ABG Store. Finally, while the team keeps plugging away at Instant Game, we understand that the hungry masses need a fix. Lucky you, because Mike has done a basic layout on the Barebones Edition of Instant Game. It's not nearly as cool as the full version will be (it has only a fraction of the tables and text), but it will get you through those lonely nights when you need to fill that random-gaming void. 1/1/2005: It's been three months since my last update? Shame on me. But now with the holidays behind us, it's time to get back to business. And speaking of which: Steadfast Shield is for sale in the Animalball Store! Finally, Caz's OGL adventure for beginning level characters is finished and ready for download (for a moderate fee-- you know that Caz has twins to feed, right?). The end product is fantastic and I'm sure everyone will love it. Thanks to everyone who helped playtest and tweak it. Sandbox Hill-- the simulated war game with rubberbands and green army men-- is nearly completed and in the final stages of layout as we speak. It should be for sale before the end of the month. All of this progress is great because it frees us up to work on our next project: an expanded Instant Game with full tables and rules. Mike and I are pretty excited and we need playtesters to help adjust the character creation rules. I think we've run six sessions, and they've all kicked ass. Any help is welcomed. Finally, the Safford Files will return this month (with an expose on Instant Game) once I get the bugs worked out of my server (having trouble uploading files). 10/1/2004: Wow. September came and went and nothing much happened for the site. I got a new job and moved offices, so there wasn't much time for the site. But now we're back in business. What with the busy schedule, we missed publishing our mid-month edition of the Safford Files, but we're back this week with Paranoia Madness: Secret Societies. Mike is wicked smart, isn't he? The results from the last contest are up, and once again we got a great response. Make sure to check out the results, and submit your entry for this month's contest. 9/1/2004: September has come and I don't have as much to report on the games in progress-- Steadfast Shield and Sandbox hill are still in layout, and will be done as soon as we can finish them. Hopefully in the next month or so. The product is looking great, though. Our last edition of the Safford Files featured Patient Zero, a kick ass super villain from the twisted brain of Cazmonster. Needless to say it is wicked. The newest article is my classic review of the old Lost Worlds Combat Book System. Don't know what I'm talking about? Go read up on it- the game is a fun way to spend less than ten bucks. Finally, we have brought a close to yet another contest with great results. Don't forget to enter in this month's contest for your chance to win two pieces of original artwork. Nothing but the best for the animalballers. 8/1/2004: It's August and we've successfully finished our first contest. Well, I'm not sure it was successful, but at least we got a lot of good stories. The completion of one contest marks the beginning of a new contest. The August contest has fancier prizes and potentially jucier stories. Enter early and often. Since the last update, we had the Safford File's first installment of "Monsterball." Eli's Tiny Terrors are fascinating and an interesting new element to try in your campaign. Starting today, we have the Safford File's first installment of "Kyle Presents." In this article, I explain my hatred of Star Wars freaks. Why do you make it so easy for me, Star Wars Freaks? Finally, the Animalball Beer and Pretzels Challenge was a huge success. We're actually going to publish some of the games. So be sure to look for them in the store. In other retail news, progress is continuing on Cazmonster's D&D module, "The Steadfast Shield." We also anticipate finishing the final touches on the strategy/army-man epic "Sandbox Hill." These should be available in the store before years end. 7/1/2004: What's new? Everything is new! Including this page! Enough with the exclamation points. This page will be updated every month just to let you know the new goings-on with Animalball Games. As you can see, we have a new navigation logo at the top of every page that will allow you to more easily navigate around the revamped site. Along with the slightly new look, we also have added new, recurring content: The Safford Files is our page for various articles related to gaming. We're planning reviews of classic and current games; new monsters and bad-guys for various gaming genres; and metaphysical rantings about the state of gaming (right, I'm talking about "Kyle Presents"). And because you demanded it (which you didn't), there will be a new featured article twice a month. Check out the Contest Page for a new contest every month. This month, if you submit the best entry on the "Creepiest player you've ever gamed with", you will win an authentic, sandstone sculpture of an eyeball. We'll have a new contest (with new, wonderful prizes) every single month. So make sure you check it out periodically. Most importantly, the Animalball Store is open for business. We've got two products for sale: The Steadfast Shield (a kick-ass D&D adventure for beginners) and Pariah (a standalone game about mutant kids being hunted by the feds). We've also got a couple freebies to download. There's a bunch of stuff in the works as well, so check back here every month to see what new products are available. Finally, we've added a page of useful links. Yipee! A links page! Why does every site have to have a links page? Wow, I'm just so happy to be like every other site! Sigh. |
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