GE38: 5 Reasons Ray Harryhausen was Incredible

Geeks Explicitly, Movies and TV, Podcast, Technology No Responses »

May 092013

GE38: 5 Reasons Ray Harryhausen was Incredible [ 31:05 | 14.26 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (147)

Ray Harryhausen may not be well known to today’s moviegoers. But, he was a special effects genius best known for his unique brand of stop motion animation.

Mr. Harryhausen created stop motion characters that explode off the screen. He was best known for his work with the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts. Mr. Harryhausen passed away on May 7, 2013.

In the episode Jonathan says it is Episode 39. He is wrong. It is actually episode 38. Please accept our apologies.

Free Comic Book Day 2013

Comics, Literature No Responses »

May 042013

FCBD2013-Free I just came back from Free Comic Book Day 2013.

You may have heard me discuss this on GE37: 5 Reasons Free Comic Book Day is Awesome.

Down the street from my house is a New England Comics. As a child and teen my parents, and those of my friends, would bring my friends and I to NEC to gape and buy the latest issues that our meager allowances could afford.

We loved titles by Image with our emphasis being on Spawn. Al Simmons made a deal with the Devil and was stuck as one of the Dark One’s Hellspawn…his breed of generals that would lead the armies of Hell in the final war with Heaven. Beautifully illustrated and written it was more mature than my adolescent mind could handle at the time.

Many years passed and I’m delighted to return to NEC Norwood. New managers and a new store layout opens up the store. The location is in the center of town. You cannot miss it today. Superheroes stand at the intersection with signs saying “Free Comic Book Day” and arrows pointing towards the store.

Below are some pictures of my loot. NEC allows people to take 2 free comics from the table, 2 free comics from a box of older, and presumably harder to move, titles along with a copy of the special 2013 issue of the Tick. NEC created the Tick, which you may have seen in the 90s on TV on the Fox channel.

FCBD2013-GI-Joe On top of that NEC is running a few special deals. They offer 30% off any title from their racks. These are current comics but ones that are not the newest arrival. I snagged two G.I. Joes titles.

They are also donating 100% of proceeds of specific Marvel titles to One Fund Boston. Marvel titles excite me and any chance to help out a good charity is something I cannot pass.

The Avengers #1
Fantastic Four #1
Fearless Defenders #1
Incredible Hulk #1
Thor #1
X-Men #1

FCBD2013-One-Fund-Boston The new manager asked me if I wanted to pay full price or discounted (these titles were from the 30% off rack) for the Marvel books. He said they offer both to customers and either way they’ll donate 100% of what is paid to the fund. I eagerly said I’d pay full price.

I walked into the store with expectations of fun and hope that this would be a positive experience to bring me back to NEC as a regular customer. I left with many amazing books and happiness in my heart.

Have you been to FCBD? What titles did you pick up? Tell us about your local comic book store and why it is awesome.

Wargaming Recon #90: Henry Hyde Editor of Miniature Wargames now with Battlegames

Podcast, review, Wargaming Recon No Responses »

Apr 292013

Wargaming Recon #90: Henry Hyde Editor of Miniature Wargames now with Battlegames [ 1:32:20 | 42.3 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (135)

Henry Hyde Editor of Miniature Wargames now with Battlegames.

Henry Hyde reveals lots of amazing news to the Wargaming Recon audience before anyone else!

Editor Henry Hyde is back to discuss the upcoming release to his book, the Wargaming Compendium, and his role as the newest editor of Miniature Wargames magazine.

Henry first appeared in Episode 58: Henry Hyde and Battlegames Magazine, which is in our list of Top 10 Most Popular episodes.

We also discuss:

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Jonathan doing a 3 mile walk to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis – DONATE HERE
100th episode plans
You can Sponsor an Episode for $5. Get full details here
Atlantic Publisher’s change of position for digital subscriptions
Release date for Henry’s Wargaming Compendium
Wargaming tables, Salute, and imagi-nation campaigns
View from the Veranda with Neil Shuck, podcaster of Meeples & Miniatures

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Troll in the Corner Podcast Network

Indie Talks – bi-monthly on Wednesdays covering independent games, film, television. Includes many interviews. Hosted by Trollitc owner Ben Gerber.

Monsters of the Shattered World – monthly on the last Saturday. Story of a young scholar encountering strange animals on another world.

– monthly on the 2nd Monday. A podcast that discusses parenting as geeks and using those skills to raise the next generation of awesome people.
Promos for the TCPN podcasts appear at the end of the show. Many thanks to Jeremy Kostiew, Troll ITC’s logo designer, for the amazing logos. Check out his portfolio at MightyNightGaunt.com

12-7-Games.com Proudly Sponsors Wargaming Recon

I want to send out a special word of thanks to the folks behind the following domains that were used to create a new hosting account with BlueHost with my Blue Host affiliate link recently. As you know, I earn a commission each time someone clicks through my link to sign up with Blue Host. So thank you!

Accounts that were created recently:
- Why not consider Blue Host for your web hosting needs (affiliate link)?

Note: The fact that I have linked to these accounts is only to acknowledge that these folks have used my affiliate link to create a hosting account with BlueHost. These links are not an endorsement of any content that may be posted to these sites. If you ever recognize content blatantly offensive at any of these links, please let me know and I will be sure to evaluate and consider if the link should be removed from this post. These accounts are all brand new and may not be active yet. Also, it is possible that some of these domains were previously owned and my not have been transfered to BlueHost just yet.

Penny for Your Thoughts

We hope you enjoy this episode of Wargaming Recon and welcome your feedback. Send it all to:

cwfgamecast@wargamingforums.com (Audio files welcome)
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Our intro song is “Downtown” by Matthew Ebel. Please give his other music a listen at www.matthewebel.com.

This recording is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 license.

Wargaming Recon #89: More Secrets of Wargame Design

Literature, Podcast, review, Reviews, Wargaming Recon No Responses »

Apr 012013

Wargaming Recon #89: More Secrets of Wargame Design [ 1:33:48 | 42.97 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (158)

Wally Simon’s More Secrets of Wargame Design Volume 2.

Imagine a booklet answering your questions on game design. It inspires you to modify your favorite game rules to suit your needs. That’s what this booklet does.

Editor Russ Lockwood is back to discuss the 2nd installment of the Wally Simon series of Secrets of Wargame Design. Pick up your copy of Wally Simon’s More Secrets of Wargame Design Volume 2 from On Military Matters in the US/Worldwide or Caliver Books in the United Kingdom.

We also discuss:

Wargaming Recon #88: Save the Higgins Armory

Literature, review, Table Top, Wargaming Recon No Responses »

Mar 182013

Wargaming Recon #88: Save the Higgins Armory [ 1:07:00 | 30.7 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (115)

Save the Higgins Armory Museum.

Imagine a place where you get first hand experience with military history. A place more incredible than anything you could imagine. That place is the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts and it is closing for good on December 31, 2013..

We share the news about the closing and why the museum needs to be saved. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette has an interesting article on the closing. The article covers the reasons behind the closure.

A Save the Higgins Facebook page is raising awareness of the closure in the hope of keeping the incredible museum open.

Adam of the Fencing Frog Blog wrote us a wonderful message, which we read in the episode, as to why the Higgins should stay open. Visit the Higgins Armory Museum website to plan your visit before the museum permanently closes.

We also discuss:

Reality Makes the Best Fantasy: A Bunch of Discounted Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books

Role Playing Games No Responses »

Feb 012013

Spec Fic Daily Dollar Daze

So because a perfect storm of illness, lack of time and stress has descended upon my house in a big way, I am posting a link to Spec Fic Daily, an ebook deal site that is currently running their Dollar Daze Fantasy and Sci-Fi special. Eighteen books, all of them marked down to a DOLLAR. All are available on Amazon, some are available at other ebook etailers (Kobo, Nook and iTunes; prices may vary).

In addition, SFC is running a Rafflecopter with prizes that include gift cards and signed books. Definitely check that out for your chance to win!

Eighteen books for $18! That’s a lot of potential fodder for your next campaign! Hey now!

GE17: Meet Ben and Brent

Geeks Explicitly, Reviews, Role Playing Games, Technology No Responses »

Sep 202012

GE17: Meet Ben and Brent [ 43:12 | 19.8 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (254)

Ben Gerber & Brent Newhall cover for Jonathan while he’s engaged with real life stuff for his first home.

Brent and Ben sneer at real life, preferring to spend our time on the internet. Where it’s virtual, and friendly. They do what comes naturally, which is talk about themselves.

They discuss their upcoming projects, talk a bit about board game design, and Ben also does a month in the life of a indie publisher, where the cover about the numbers. Total units “sold” (including free stuff), total gross and total net $$$ and the fact that a lot of people who get a free copy to review it, don’t end up reviewing it.

Many thanks to Ben and Brent for covering for me while I was indisposed.

Don’t forget to listen to Episode 16: 5 Great Soundtracks, if you haven’t done so yet.