VillainTech » Conventions

You Too Can Cthulhu! – “A Time of Crisis”

Anna Daugherty — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:26:03 +0000

Once again, the good people at You Too Can Cthulhu! allowed me to sit in on a few of their events. An awesome time was had by all.

The first event I attended was a brand new campaign this year entitled, “A Time of Crisis.” It takes place in Revolutionary France, where the head of the Committee for Public Safety has collected a team of individuals to track down a formerly well-respected doctor and philosopher. The team travels to a picturesque village, chasing the now mad doctor to arrest him, but find unspeakable horrors instead.

Six players participated in the campaign, including an actual medical doctor and his bookish companion, a coquettish spy, a ladykilling (allegedly) actor, a former soldier, and a no-nonsense inspector. Everyone did a fabulous job, and I was entertained the entire time.

Listen to some of the audio from the event here*:

1.) Introduction
2.) Thomas
3.) Afflictions
4.) Thomas (Again)
5.) Inspector
6.) Mysterious Boils
7.) Identifying Gustav
8.) Back at the Inn
9.) Climax/Big Finish!
10.) Black Letter Winner

*You may need to turn your speakers up or down accordingly. Pictures to follow.

Stay tuned for audio and character interviews from Sunday’s “Black Letter Game.” Trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

Day One of Gen Con ’09

Anna Daugherty — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:08:11 +0000

Had a fun-filled day full of interviews, booth-scoping, talking with authors and artists, and participating in writing seminars. Listen to some of my thoughts after the jump!

1.) An introduction to Day One of Gen Con Indiana.

2.) My thoughts on the population of the convention.

3.) Interview with Atari games about their upcoming release Champions Online and soon to be announced Star Trek Online.

GenCon ’09 – Day One!

Anna Daugherty — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:20:11 +0000

I’ve brought you full pre-convention coverage of new events, interviews with event holders and booth dwellers, and breaking news. Now it’s time to experience GenCon ’09! I’m currently traveling to Indianapolis, Indiana for five days (well, four and a half) of gaming goodness.

Throughout the weekend, I’ll be bringing you interviews, opinions, and reviews of games and those who play them. Stick around for the juicy scoop!

Comic Con ’09 – Author August Ragone

Donny Winter — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:14:15 +0000

After much searching I was finally able to find someone who was going to Comic Con this year that shares the same love for Japanese Giant Monsters (Kaiju Eiga) as I do. After 25 years of experience in commenting on Japanese film and popular culture whether it be online, on the radio, on television, or at various festivals; author August Ragone is bringing his inspiring knowledge to Comic Con!

1) What is your role in the convention this year?

I’m attending as a “Professional” on the behalf of Chronicle Books, much as last year, to promote “Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters,” I will also be hosting a presentation of 200 rare, behind-the-scenes photos from his “kaiju eiga”, called “Godzilla & the Master of Monsters.”

2) How long will you be attending?

I will be signing on Saturday at 2pm and presenting on Sunday at 1:30pm, but I’ll blow into town on Thursday.

3) What are you hoping to bring to people’s attention through your presentation?

To showcase the drive and genius of Eiji Tsuburaya — to give them some perspective as well as a better appreciation of the scale of his films. That’s the goal.

4) Do you have a website where people can learn about you?

Folks are encouraged to check out my blog, “The Good, the Bad, and Godzilla” — which will feature all of my obsessions — at http://augustragone.blogspot.com

August Ragone will be at Comic Con on the weekend of July 25th and 26th and his presentation on that Sunday will be held in Room 8. Be sure to attend his wonderful tribute presentation to Eiji Tsuburaya, Japan’s famous Master of Monsters. Not only will you learn about a phenominal man who took monsters to a whole new level, but you will learn about a genre of films that deserves a lot more credit and admiration than they are given.

GenCon ’09 – SkitSkat

Anna Daugherty — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:33:06 +0000

Tom of Peryton Publishing was kind enough to answer some questions about his Cthulhu roleplaying event, “SkitSkat.”

1.) Tell me about your event. How, why, and by whom was it started?

It’s the sequel to last year’s “Cthulhu at the Sands” where the Rat Pack battled to save humanity from the evil schemes of Liberace. No one wanted to play Jerry Lewis for some reason. Teamsters saved the day.

2.) What makes it different from other Cthulhu Mythos games?

I could be sued for using real persons as player-characters and NPC’s? I don’t really have an answer to this, except to say that I am trying to
stay apart of the CoC tradition of running interesting games in unique
settings. I try to be as well researched as most other CoC scenario
designers that I read, if prone to a little exaggeration here and there.

3.) How can other gamers join, and when/where does your event take place?

Too late. Already full. Even the after-game event in Dayton. The where and when? Sunday at GenCon, check the listings. And then a private spin-off game in Dayton for friends unable to make it the
convention.

4.) Any additional information you’d like to add, such as contact info or a website?

Tom K. Loney
Chief Flunky
Peryton Gamers
www.perytonpublishing.com

GenCon ’09 – Queen of Geeks Pageant

Anna Daugherty — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:05:42 +0000

One of the more exciting events from last year, The Queen of Geeks Pageant, is returning to GenCon! I had the pleasure of interviewing Kennetha, the coordinator of this awesome event.

1.) Tell me a little about your event and its history. By whom was it started, and who can participate?

When I started the event a couple of years ago I wanted to create a pageant that I would be comfortable entering myself. I don’t sing, dance, or act, but I’m told I’ve got a lot of great qualities and a brain full of useless knowledge. I don’t think pageants should be about whom looks best in a bikini and can walk in high heels without tripping. So I gave my show a little meat. Challengers have to show their knowledge of all things Geek by answering trivia question.

For the talent portion it’s ok if contestants sing or dance, but we’re really looking for something original. Last year our winner was Deodorant Dame. For her talent she sang an original song entitled “Why Don’t You Just Bath.” I also personally think that anyone can look good if they are comfortable in their own skin. So contestants are encouraged to dress in costumes that reflect their personalities.

I originally tried running the event at Gen Con 2007, but there was a lot of confusion about what I was trying to do. The event is set-up in two parts one listing is for the audience. The other portion is for contenders. As a result the contestant portion never got listed and very few people signed up to be in the audience, so the event was canceled. Last year was really our first year running the event. I personally didn’t think it went well and was really nervous about ever running again. But I’ve received a lot of encouragement, and several contestants from last year plan on entering again this year.

I’ve never really limited who can enter, but since it is called the Queen of Geeks, I haven’t had any men show serious interest. Last year Tracy Hickman threatened to enter because he gets mistaken for a female writer.

2.) Where is the event held? Do attendees need tickets to participate?

The event this year will be in the Westin Grand Ballroom IV. I try to hold it in the same room as the Killer Breakfast and Costume contest. Which is why we hold the even on Friday rather then Saturday. Everyone needs a ticket. Although it is a free event for audience members GenCon likes to keep track of who attends. The more people we have tickets for the more likely they are to let us hold the event again next year. For contestants the ticket price is eight dollars. Last year we were sponsored by J!NX t-shirts. So all the contestants got a shirt just for entering. I’m hoping to have something similar this year.

3.) What are the criteria to be in the pageant?
Ideally I want real Geeks for this pageant. That means no swimsuit portion, canned answers, or Vaseline on contender’s teeth. Aside from that all entrees need is two costumes and a talent.

4.) Any memorable stories from past contests?

Last year I made my husband one of the judges. I think he had too much fun. Before the event even started he had contestants running through the hotel looking for diabetically friendly snacks. We had some pretty interesting talents too. One contestant did a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy monologue with an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. We also had an entrée challenge one of the judges to a round of “Dance Dance Revolution.” One of my favorites though was from a contender who didn’t know about the events requirements and decided to stay regardless. She had to send her husband out for a costume and did a Fan Kata as her talent.

5.) Anything else you’d like to say, and is there a contact number or email that interested people can reach you at?

Keep it simple. Last year one of the challengers wanted to use an open flame. The look on the event staffs faces’ when I mentioned it was priceless.

Comic Con ’09 – Shout! Factory Itinerary

Anna Daugherty — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:54:17 +0000

We’ve just received a Press Release for the exciting events being produced by Shout! Factory at Comic Con 2009 this year.

At this year’s Comic-Con 2009, Shout! Factory will rollout in full force with a slate of popular and memorable television properties on DVD, special panel presentation and signings. Below, please find the outline of activities for your coverage planning.

The Middleman – Special Panel presentation follow by signing on Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Transformers: 25th Anniversary “Matrix of Leadership” Edition Collector’s Set Featuring Limited-Edition Gift-with-Purchase Comic Con Exclusive Lithograph (More in-depth info to come…)

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero: The Complete Series Collector’s Set
Featuring Limited-Edition Gift-with-Purchase Comic Con Exclusive Lithograph for the collector’s set (More in-depth info to come…)

Following talent available for interviews:

The Middleman cast (Natalie Morales, Matt Keeslar) and show creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach – Thursday, July 23

The Transformers and G.I. Joe (original animated) – Gregg Berger (Grimlock in TF) – Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2009

THE MIDDLEMAN Panel

When: 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Where: Room 6A

Talent: Show creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach and cast (Natalie Morales, Matt Keeslar, Mary Gleason, Brit Morgan and Jake Smollett)

The panel will feature exclusive table read of the lost 13th episode The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse, which was never produced for television but will be available as a graphic novel from Viper Comics.

This July 28, Shout! Factory will release The Middleman: The Complete Series box set. Available for the first time, THE MIDDLEMAN: THE COMPLETE SERIES DVD box set contains all 12 one-hour episodes that aired on ABC Family in 2008 and a payload of DVD bonus content featuring commentaries with the cast and crew, alternate scenes, web featurettes, gag reel, audition footage, The Complete “The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome” table read, a gallery of The Middleman photography by Ralph King and much more!

Based on the series of graphic novels by acclaimed writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (“Lost,” “Medium”), the popular ABC Family live-action television series “The Middleman” star Matt Keeslar (“Snowglobe”), Natalie Morales (“CSI: Miami”), Mary Pat Gleason (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”), Brit Morgan (“Buried Alive”) and Jake Smollett (“Eve’s Bayou”).

When: 12: 30 PM

Where: Shout! Factory Booth #3749

The Cast & Show creator signing for “The Middleman”

Show creator and graphic novelist Javier Grillo-Marxuach and actors Natalie Morales, Matt Keeslar, Mary Gleason, Brit Morgan, Jake Smollett

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2009

When: 1:00 PM

Where: Shout! Factory Booth #3749

THE TRANSFORMERS (original animated) and G.I. Joe (Original animated)

Special rare appearance signing by Gregg Berger (“Grimlock” in The Transformers and “Spirit” in G.I. Joe) as well as artist Andrew Griffith.

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2009

When: 1:00 PM

Where: Shout! Factory Booth #3749

THE TRANSFORMERS (original animated) and G.I. Joe (Original animated)

Special rare appearance signing by Gregg Berger (“Grimlock” in The Transformers and “Spirit” in G.I. Joe)

GenCon ’09 – Fat Dragon Games

Anna Daugherty — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:29:07 +0000

I had the pleasure of a quick interview with Tom of Fat Dragon Games. They will be hosting a booth at Gen Con this year.

1.) Tell me about Fat Dragon Games.

Fat Dragon Games is well known for creating best-selling cardstock
terrain for RPGs and wargames. We have won the silver ENnie Award for Best Miniature Product two years in a row and are consistently a best seller at RPGNow. We will be expanding this year into RPG supplements and some new genres for terrain offerings.

2.) How did you decide to start this business? How long do pieces take to create?
The business was originally started as a ‘fun little side business’
and in four years has grown into my full time job.

3.) Can you tell me more about your RPG materials?
We have supplements coming later this year for 4E, Pathfinder and some old-school fantasy releases.

4.) What’s your booth at GenCon like?
We always have two full tables crammed full of built up model sets,
lots of display images showing other sets not on display, and lots of
goodies that are exclusive to the con.

5.) What is the image you’re using as the header on the site?

Our Fat Dragon Logo (but Cthulhulian!).

6.) Is there any additional information you’d like to give,
including contact information and website?

www.fatdragongames.com

GenCon ’09 – Different Drummer Belly Dance Troupe

Anna Daugherty — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:49:04 +0000

I had the pleasure of interviewing Margaret Lion, founder and leader of the Different Drum Belly Dance Troupe, who will once again be performing at GenCon this year!

In addition to performing, these lovely and talented ladies will be hosting classes for beginning belly dancers, as well as incorporating the art into LARPing.

1.) What is your role in the group? I am the director and founder of the troupe Different Drummer Belly Dancers. Web site: www.ddbd.org. My primary reason for creating the troupe was so that I could dance to rock’n'roll with like-minded dancers.

2.) What’s your schedule like at GenCon this year?
This year will mark the 6th year we have performed at Gen Con!! Our big performance is before the Costume Contest of Saturday. (This happens usually at 3:45 pm or 15 minutes before the Contest begins.)
We also do roving performances on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.

I will be teaching classes on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. There will be two classes on Thursday and Friday which will be beginner/introduction classes. One is listed under SPA activities and one is listed under LARP (as I love to LARP and often incorporate my dancing in to my LARPing).

On Sunday there will be an advanced class that any one who has had any belly dance, including people to took a class with me during the week, can attend. There I will teach a simple choreograhy and everyone has a good time!! In fact, everyone always has a good time because belly dance is fun!!

We also have a booth in the Exhibit Hall and are usually found next to the entertainers – big names included. Come on down to our booth too as it will be active for the entire event.

3.) Are there videos available of your performances?
We have a YouTube channel and we are always interested in watching our performances.

4.) What about the other members?
Also, don’t let Melissa fool you! She is a woman of many talents and she belly dances!! She is a member of my student troupe, Calypso’s Pearls. Check out her bio here: http://www.ddbd.org/pearls/bios/melissa.html.

GenCon – Uncle D’s Airbrushing

Anna Daugherty — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:35:39 +0000

Uncle D. is a fantastic airbrushing artist who will be showcasing his work at GenCon, as well as helping to promote the Zombie Walk with his posters for the second year in a row!

I had the chance to exchange some interview questions with Uncle D., also known as Dale, about his artwork, his business, and his involvement with the convention. Stay tuned for coverage on Zombie Walk ’09!

1.) Can you tell me more about your bike? How long did it take to finish?

It’s a 2005 ultima, fat bastard with 100 cubic inch engine. Fabrication was done by Cycleboyz of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada which is all welding on frame. Fenders and tank. it took me 3 years to complete but total time 2 months to paint. It has a Revelations theme because I have painted many bikes with that theme and always had the bad guys winning so I decided to do a proper interpetation.

I researched Revelations from the Bible, picked my passages I wanted to illustrate, and drew up all the designs fitting it to the diferent locations on the bike then painted. Every symbol, design on armour or clothing all has meaning.

2.) I see that it’s a family affair at your house. Can you tell me more about how your family gets involved with your work?

My wife runs the business end of it but all my 3 kids are talented artists in other areas including, dance, music and film. Everybody poses for pics when dad needs them for references for my bike.

3.) What about this book that you were featured in? What is it about and where can interested people find it?

The book is Extreme Motorcycle Art by Merrel Publishers, and they pick the top 50 artists in the motorcycle biz (according to them). We were #1, which featured an orange chopper made by Cycleboyz and owned by my friend Rod Synder, painted by me, of course. It had monsters all over it and candied over in orange. The book can be found at Airbrush Action, Amazon, and most book store outlets.

4.) Where can people go to view your artwork at GenCon?

Me and my bike will be at the GenCon artshow along with prints and t-shirts of my art, all based around the bike theme and the Zombie Walk poster. Thanks for the interest.

You can view more of Dale’s work at Uncle D’s Airbrushing.

GenCon – DrachenFest Update with Venue!

Anna Daugherty — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:17:42 +0000

Following the jump, you’ll find all the information you need to head out and enjoy DrachenFest, GenCon’s only music festival!

Nik Roberts sent me these finalized details, as well as a schedule of the bands. It looks like a rocking good time. And, of course, Villaintech gets first dibs!

Final Venue, Maximum People and Time:
Union Station, Edison South at 6PM with 180 max people, closed to Gen Con Badge Holders only, tickets are free and can be purchased on the Gen Con RUBI website.

Schedule of Bands:

5:30PM – Open Doors
6:00PM – Specific Ocean Starts
6:30PM – Break-down/Set-up
6:45PM – Reloaded Starts
7:15PM – Break-down/Set-up
7:30PM – Chasing Canadia Starts
8:00PM – Break-down/Set-up
8:15PM – Highway Magic Starts
9:00PM – Break-down/Set-up
9:15PM – The Are You Ready’s Start
10:00PM – Break-down/Set-up
10:15PM – start67 Starts
11:00PM – Breakdown

Final Sponsors:
The Ram
GameWorks
Northstar Games
Downtown Comics

Final Giveaways:
$25 Downtown Comics Gift Certificate
10x 2hour GameWorks Cards ($200 in value)
Northstar Games Bundle which includes – Cluzzle, Say Anything, Wits and Wagers, and the ALL NEW Wits & Wagers Expansion Pack 1 which will be released to the public in Gen Con Indy
*more giveaways may become available

Official Website

Final Event ID:
ENT0906260

Comic Con – Special Guest Jerry Vanderstelt!

Donny Winter — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:58:08 +0000

So many wonderful guests will be attending Comic-Con this year, and one that really caught my eye was the science fiction and fantasy artist, Jerry Vanderstelt who has been an inspiration of mine for quite some time.

For those who don’t know who Vanderstelt is, he is well-known for producing the art for the box office hit trilogy The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) for New Line Cinema. Not to mention he has done art for Lucasfilm Ltd. as well. Along with that he has produced art for various publishing/book companies such as: Ace, Roc, Pocket, and Scholastic Books. For those of you interested in getting published or enhancing your artistic experience, he is a very good person to look to at the event. After all it is recommended that we aspiring artists look at other more experienced people in order to become aware of the necessary actions of becoming better at what we do.

I’m fairly sure he’ll be promoting and/or selling his famous art at Comic-Con, so I definitely recommend everyone check out his prints. Plus he may be promoting some art related to the new Hobbit movie that will be released at some point in the future. It’s not everyday one gets to see an artist of that immense integrity. Especially one who’s worked on Lord of the Rings! I mean come on, who could be better than that!?

Comic Con – David Tennant and Russel T. Davies!

Anna Daugherty — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:10:43 +0000

BBC America just announced this very exciting news via press release. Read about the Dr. Who event at Comic Con after the jump!

DAVID TENNANT AND RUSSELL T DAVIES ATTENDING COMIC-CON 2009

- BBC hosts Doctor Who talent for their first ever appearance at Comic-Con -

New York, NY – June 17, 2009 – In support of BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere of four Doctor Who Specials, the Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T Davies at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. They will take part in a Doctor Who panel along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 10:00-11:00am PT.

David will travel to Comic-Con, fresh from the Doctor Who set, having shot his final scenes as the tenth Time Lord. He and fellow panelists will discuss the latest incarnation of television’s longest running science fiction series and take questions from the floor. There will also be exclusive sneak peeks from the upcoming specials.

Fans can visit the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629) to capture their own photograph alongside part of the Doctor Who set – as well as purchase exclusive merchandise including David Tennant figures.

Fans of BBC AMERICA’s highest rated show ever, Torchwood, which will have just completed the five-part special, Children of Earth, will get to chat with the stars and makers of the show first-hand. Just 48 hours after the last episode, the show makes a return visit to Comic-Con with a panel featuring star John Barrowman, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT.

As part of the same panel, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT, catch the talent from BBC AMERICA’s most buzzed about new sci fi drama, Being Human. Creator and writer, Toby Whithouse, plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it’s like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. All four panelists will be signing exclusively at the BBC AMERICA booth, Saturday July 25, 3:00-4:00pm PT.

Cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated, The Mighty Boosh, comes to Comic-Con for the first time to celebrate the airing of all three seasons on Adult Swim, and the BBC’s DVD release, just two days before the convention begins. Inspired by the Perrier Comedy Award-winning live comedy show, creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown, will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, Friday, July 24, 4:45-5:45pm. The hit UK comedy series follows crazy zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir and was described by The San Jose Mercury News as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.”

Fans can also catch exclusive BBC AMERICA screenings during the convention with back to back episodes of Doctor Who and Torchwood. Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and a U.S. premiere viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant.

Underground Toys (#3949) will be selling their entire Doctor Who and Torchwood lines of toys and novelty items. In addition, this year they will once again introduce new limited edition Comic-Con action figures that have never been seen before.

BBC AMERICA Comic-Con Panel and Signing Schedule

Friday, July 24

4:45-5:45pm The Mighty Boosh: creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, currently airing on Adult Swim and released on DVD by the BBC two days before the convention begins. The San Jose Mercury News describes the show as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.” Room 6A

3:30-4:30pm The Mighty Boosh signing in the Autograph Area.

Saturday, July 25

3:00-4:00pm Being Human: creator Toby Whithouse and actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner signing at the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629).

7:30-10:00pm Torchwood/Doctor Who: Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and an advance viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant. Room 6A

Sunday, July 26

10:00-11:00am Doctor Who: actor David Tennant, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn and executive producer Julie Gardner discuss their creative process and experiences working on BBC AMERICA’s Doctor Who with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20

2:15-3:45pm Being Human/Torchwood: Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and cast members Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, are on stage to give an inside look at BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere sci-fi drama about the lives of three twenty-somethings and their secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. Following that actor John Barrowman, creator/writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn talk about the making of the epic five-night television event Torchwood: Children of Earth as well as take questions from the fans. Room 6BCF

About BBC Worldwide, America:

BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the UK public broadcaster, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and maintains offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, Rhode Island. The business brings together the seven core BBC Worldwide divisions: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Global Brands, Digital Media, Home Entertainment & Magazines. The highly acclaimed cable channel BBC America, now available in 64 million homes, and the smash hit Dancing with the Stars, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions are among the key brands in the region.

GenCon ’09 – North Star Games

Anna Daugherty — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:17:07 +0000

The nice people over at North Star Games are once again hosting their self-proclaimed #1 Party Booth at GenCon!

Stop by their booth to demo a quick 15 minute party game with 5 – 8 others. For just playing the game and having a good time, you’ll get free Funny Money. No word yet on what the actual value of the FM is, but it sure looks cute. Play well and win the game in order to spin the PRIZE-O-MATIC 5000!

They’ve kindly offered to send me two of their games, “Wits and Wagers” and “Say Anything” to demo and review before the convention. The games are described thusly:

Wits & Wagers is available at Target and Borders, as well as almost everywhere online that sells games, and your friendly local game store (FLGS).

It is a trivia game for people that does not know trivia. There are seven questions in a game, and it takes about 20-25 minutes to play. Basically, everyone writes down an answer to the same question, and then all the players bet on the answer they think is correct.

Wits & Wagers fixes a lot of the problems in other trivia games like Trivial Pursuit. No one is put on the spot or feels dumb, it plays quickly, and there is no waiting for your turn, since everyone plays at the same time. That is why it has won 21 awards, more than any party game in history.

Say Anything is a pure party game that will have people laughing in no time. The player whose turn it is (the judge) asks a question from a card, everyone else writes down an answer, the judge secretly chooses what answer they like best, and then the other players bet on what they think the judge just picked.

Very simple and fun. Again, about 30 minutes to play. It just came out last summer and already it is selling better than Wits & Wagers did in its first year. Say Anything is available at Barnes & Nobles and soon Borders.

I love board games, so I look forward to giving these two a go.

GenCon – DrachenFest Update!

Anna Daugherty — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:01:44 +0000

A quick update on the new music festival at GenCon. Two new bands have been added to the line-up. You can check them out at their MySpace pages: Reloaded and Specific Oceans. As more updates arrived we’ll be sure to keep you posted!

GenCon ’09 – DrachenFest: Breaking Event News!

Anna Daugherty — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:55:02 +0000

Villaintech.com got a heads up on an awesome new entertainment event taking place at GenCon this year called DrachenFest, and we’re here to bring you all of the juicy details!

DrachenFest will launch on Friday, August 14th, after the Exhibit Room closes for the day. It will be a power pop and rock music festival that will be open to everyone with a GenCon pass, as well as members of the public, though GenCon attendees get first dibs!

I spoke with Nik Roberts, the ambitious young man who has collaborated with bands and area sponsors to put on this exciting event. They’re currently seeking volunteers if anyone is interested in helping.

Here is what he had to say:

1.) What is DrachenFest? Where will it be held?

DrachenFest is a ENT (entertainment) event at Gen-Con that will hold 4 bands. Right now we do not have a “official” house for it but when we do we will post it on the Gen-Con forums and we will notify VillainTech. It will be Friday, August 14 and will start at 7PM EST. (Nik also informed me that they have a venue in mind, so we will be sure to bring you that information once it is finalized.)

2.) Which bands will be performing, and what genre/style are they? Do you have MySpace or website links to any of the bands?

The bands we currently have booked are Highway Magic , Chasing Canadia, and our headliner star67. We are currently setting a deal with a forth and possibly fifth band. The bands we are booking are in the pop-punk/rock genre of music.

3.) How can Gen Con attendees participate? Do they need tickets? How many can attend?

While this event is a official Gen-Con ENT event, we will have it open to the public and allow non badge holders to come and participate. Our cut off limit will be 555 people and sadly only Gen-Con badge holders will be able to participate in the giveaways.

At the moment our sponsors are The Ram, Downtown Comics, Northstar Games, NikRoberts Media, and GameWorks. We hopefully will have giveaways from each one of our sponsors. At the moment we do know we will be giving away GameWorks cards, And a Northstar Games board-game pack, This includes all publications by Northstar Games including Wits and Wagers and the new Wits and Wagers expansion pack.

4.) What gave you the idea to host this event?

I have always been interested in the local independent bands of Indiana and showed great support to them. As a local and a teenager, music has made a huge impact in my life and (I hope) many others. Music is a wonderful thing and I feel the local bands need to get known to the world. They’re great people and have great music and a great future ahead of them. I spoke with Robbie, the guitarist with star67 and he said “I don’t do this for the money, music is something I enjoy and always wanted to do. It seems we are getting a tad bit popular everyday and hopefully someday we all can do this for a living.”

5.) Any additional information you’d like to share, or a place where other media or gamers can contact you?

We are currently looking for volunteers for this event, if anyone is interested PLEASE contact me and we will set you up. We will take care of our volunteers.

We will be also be doing a “Promotion Day” Downtown Indianapolis Wednesday, August 12. Promo Day is when the bands play acoustic sets all around downtown to promote themselves, get the word about the concert out, and sell there merchandise. At the moment we will have a band at the circle, The Ram, Memorial Park, and the Indianapolis Convention Center.

If anyone would like to contact me don’t hesitate to call or email me. My email is nroberts@nikrobertsmedia.com and my direct line is 317-294-7618

Comic Con ’09 – 40th Anniversary!

Anna Daugherty — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:12:42 +0000

2009 is a special year for Comic Con, as it marks the 40th anniversary of the popular media, gaming, and comic book convention. So what’s on the table this year?

The official website describes the history of the even and this year’s convention thusly:

It all started in 1970 with a one-day minicon (think of it as “Comic-Con Zero”) at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. The first guests were Forrest J Ackerman (Famous Monsters of Filmland’s famous editor) and Mike Royer, best known for his work inking Jack Kirby’s “Fourth World” books. That one-day event tested the waters -— and raised funds —- for the first ever San Diego Comic-Con (then called “San Diego’s West Coast Comic-Con”) in August of the same year, which featured comics legend Jack Kirby and science fiction authors Ray Bradbury and A. E. van Vogt. And the rest, as they say, is history -— including Kirby, Bradbury, and Ackerman going on to become three of Comic-Con’s favorite guests over the years (both Ray and Forry were present again in 2008).

That first show and its logo set the groundwork for what would become, over the next 39 years, the country’s leading comics and popular arts convention. From the very beginning the event has focused on “comic art, films, and science fiction.”

As we gear up over the coming months to celebrate the momentous 40th convention, you’ll learn a lot more about Comic-Con’s exciting history, from those early days through the “Toucan years” (when Rick Geary’s colorful bird was Comic-Con’s mascot and logo), up to the present day. 2009 promises to be another amazing year.

In 2008, for the first time in its history, Comic-Con sold out in advance. That’s right—the show saw record attendance, with every membership—both four days and single days—all sold before the Convention Center doors even opened. And once again, we’ve sold out in advance. No memberships will be sold at the door.

Leading up to the event we will be highlighting a lot of the interesting panels and guests, as well as some artists, that will be present. Stay tuned for some very interesting articles!

Comic Con ’09 – “Lost” Panel

Anna Daugherty — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:44:11 +0000

In anticipation of San Diego’s Comic Con this year, at which our intrepid Dave Bergschnieder will be no doubt causing trouble, we will be highlighting some of the notable guests and events, beginning with the all-important “Lost” panel!

Despite some rumors early on, there will definitely be a panel this year. Though the room and time have yet to be determined, it will be held on Saturday, July 25th.

The “Lost” panel has been a big draw for the convention since 2006, and continually features answers to some of the show’s most boggling questions. This year may prove to be most useful to any fan of the show, considering next season will be the series finale.

In the past, there have been hints that the show was planned from the beginning, with a complete 5 season story arc that included what happened to all of the characters we’ve grown to love. But, if you take the time to go back and read through some of the transcripts of these panels, it becomes painfully clear that earlier answers to difficult questions about the show were either a.) Red Herrings, or b.) completely made up because the writers and producers had no clue what was going to happen in the future of the show.

Nevertheless, for fans of the show “Lost,” this is a must-see.

GenCon ’09 – Classes by DancingThroughTheRecession.com

Anna Daugherty — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:25:19 +0000

I am excited to announce that I will be attending GenCon again this year to represent Villaintech.com! In order to hype up the events, I will be showcasing interviews with exhibitors, event hosts, and assorted GenCon attendees, beginning with an interview with Alex from Dancing Through The Recession.

1.) Tell me about your group. Does it have an official name? How, why, and by whom was it started?

Alex: We’re running several dance workshops this year because we both want to share our love of dance. In 2007, when the second Gen Con dance, the Black and White Ball, was announced a lot of people on the message boards were lamenting the fact they didn’t know how to dance. I ran the first Learn to Dance! workshop as a crash course in social dancing so those people could go to the dance and enjoy themselves. Terri Ann and I met earlier in the con at a belly dance workshop and I persuaded her to give mine a try. We’ve collaborated on several projects since then.

2.) Are you and your girlfriend professional dancers or instructors?

Terri Ann: I am neither a professional dancer, nor an instructor of dance…though I am an instructional designer in higher education. I have studied dance for nearly two years.

Alex: I taught professionally for several years, though last November I applied to have my amateur status reinstated for competitions. I still run a business for social dance instruction and performance.

3.) How can other gamers join, and when/where does your event take place?

Alex: We’re running four workshops throughout Gen Con: Swing Dancing (SPA0900163) is in the Westin Grand Ballroom I on Thursday, 8/13, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.Latin Dancing (SPA0900167) is also in the Westin Grand Ballroom I on Friday, 8/14 from 10:00 AM to Noon. Dancing For Larpers (WKS0900146) is in the Marriott Indiana Ballroom E on Friday , 8/14 from Noon to 2:00 PM. And Learn to Dance (SPA0900159) is also in the Marriott Indiana Ballroom E on Saturday, 8/15, from 10:00 AM to Noon.

You can join by pre-registering or showing up with a generic ticket. No special shoes or clothes are required, and in my experience very few people show up with partners. Even if the event sells out (Swing is already sold out and Latin is close) show up anyway and we’ll see if we can fit you in.

4.) Is there story behind the header on the Villaintech site?

Terri Ann: I think this is a good pic of us.

Alex: We took that at Balticon last month, at their Steampunk dance.

5.) Any additional information you’d like to add, such as contact info or a website?

Alex: If you’ve never danced before this is a perfect way to try it out. Each of these classes will be taught from an absolute beginner perspective and will move at a beginner’s pace. Our main goal isn’t just to teach people to dance, but to make sure everyone has fun doing it! If you have any questions, please e-mail me at alex.w.jacobs@gmail.com or check out my blog www.DancingThroughTheRecession.com

Meeting Yancy Butler

Anna Daugherty — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:24:03 +0000

Since I was a young girl, I have had an interest in actors and actresses, no matter how obscure. At the age of 12, I became a fan of a sultry actress named Yancy Butler, and just recently had the chance to speak to her at Motor City Comic Con.

Yancy has had a quiet, yet successful, career playing tough women thanks to her square jaw and husky voice. She is very beautiful, but much of that beauty lies in her ability to portray strong female characters, such as Detective Sara Pezzini in the cult television series, “Witchblade.”

One of my favorite films that Yancy starred in is called, Let it Be Me, opposite Patrick Stewart, Jennifer Beals, and Campbell Scott. She plays a dance instructor who wrecklessly finds herself drawn to her student. It’s a great role, and she is a marvelous dancer.

When I got the chance to briefly talk with Yancy at Motor City Comic Con, I asked her about this role. She seemed surprised that I had even heard of this movie, as it is not well known, and remarked that I must be the one person on earth who has seen it. I went on to ask if she was a classically trained dancer, or if she had to train especially for the role. She smiled, laughed, and in that dusky, harsh voice replied that she trained for 8 hours a day, in high heels, to pull off the moves that she did. Well, it certainly impressed me.

It was a real pleasure meeting Yancy. She has always been something of a role model and a favorite actress since watching “Witchblade” in my youth. It’s nice to know that she really appreciates fans, and took the time to actually hold a conversation with me. She’s sweet, and just as beautiful in person.