Author Archives: Mark

EmDrive and Physics in General

So, if the news can be believed, the EmDrive has triggered some re-thinking about how the universe works. Obviously, this all supposes that the engine actually works. Today’s related link comes fromYahoo! News:

EmDrive: UK scientist claims ‘new physics’ explains galaxy rotation and theoretical space propulsion

The original article is from IB Times UK, who blocks you if you’ve got an Ad Blocker on.

(And, yes, I’m alive. The day job is still really busy. In retrospect, it’s amazing that I made any conventions at all last year.)

Comic-Con 2016 Information

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So I’ve got more information: we’re going to be in Room 15AB this year. That’s in the main hall, on the Mezzanine level. We’re officially there from 1 to 5 on Friday and Saturday, and from 1 to 4 Sunday — but there will be some bleed both directions, as we’ll be setting up and tearing down every day. (The Comic-Con page is here.)

The games and what we’ll be doing:

Starships: I’ll be running the usual demo that can accommodate up to four players. The quickest I’ve run it has been about 15 minutes. We’ll be using Lego this year instead of painted minis. I’ll also be passing out SDCC discount codes for the PDF. (More details on the game here.)

Aliens Built My Hot Rod: We’ll be running the demo. We’re still using the prototype decks, without art. (See my post here for why.) The game will support up to six players, and takes longer to explain than play. (It was the game designed to be played while waiting for Hall H.)

The Skating Dead: Zombies playing hockey. It’s for two players, and we’ll be running a playtest. Teaching the rules should take a couple of turns and 10-15 minutes. Finishing a game will take longer, and I’ll be asking folks to fill out surveys.

And because no post is complete without a picture, here’s how badly I ground down my stick blade before I replaced it recently (I play roller on concrete):

Yeah, that's my stick.

Blade Wear from playing on Concrete

More about the EM Drive

From Futurism, we have an article on the latest theory about the EM drive.

In short: the drive is not reaction-less, but emits photons. They’re not being detected because they’re coming out of the drive in pairs with opposing phases. Those photons escape the EM drive’s cavity because the phase conflict eliminates the photons’ magnetic field — which also means that the photons can’t be detected by normal means.

Obviously, add “theoretically” to most every sentence above. The cool thing about this theory is that it fits the observations and doesn’t seriously challenge what we already think we know about physics.

The monkey in the wrench? It’s finding those emitted photons to prove the theory. In the Daily Mail’s version of the article, the author suggests that they’ll need an interferometer to do it. (That’s the same device that was just used to detect gravity waves.)

Comic-Con 2016

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Lego Starships

Lego Starships

So the good news is that we’re going to be at Comic-Con again this year. The bad news is that we didn’t get invited until the last minute, so are rushing to get things prepared. (The lateness of the invite isn’t anybody’s fault. I think they assumed they’d invite us at Kingdom Con, but the day job prevented that.) If everything comes together, then we’ll be in the Game Room on the afternoons of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

What we’ll be doing:

  • Demoing Starships with Lego (hence the picture above). Based on last year, this audience will be more receptive to toy gaming over miniatures gaming.
  • Demoing Aliens Built My Hot Rod, with the intent to find a publishing partner and/or an artist who likes cars and aliens.
  • Demoing a very raw version of The Skating Dead. The tag line: “After the Canadian Apocalypse, there is only hockey.” At this point, you’ve probably figured out that it’s a Zombie Hockey game.
  • Lastly, there’s going to be a bit of networking for a video game, Bandar Rig. We’ve got access to a third-party CRPG engine, so we’ll be able to concentrate on the story. If you’re a fan of sword and sorcery crossed with Indiana Jones, this game is for you. Well, will be, when it’s finished.

State of the Purple Fuzzy Monster (May 2016)

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As you might have noticed, my last post was in November of last year. For the last six months, I’ve been on Mandatory Fun Overtime for the Day Job. The good news (for me) is that they paid me for it.

The bad news, obviously, is that Purple Fuzzy Monster suffered. Badly.

That PFM went dark for six months has led me to re-evaluate my priorities, so there are going to be a few changes around here. PFM will be focusing on products that can be left to sell themselves if I’m unavailable. By that, I mean either PDF/print-on-demand products like Starships, or software built around existing engines and third-party assets. Any other games that tumble out of my brain will be looking for others to publish.

This means, of course, that I’m looking for a partner to finish Aliens Built My Hot Rod.

There will still be occasional workbench articles — they hit that happy spot where I find them fun to produce, and they sell copies of Starships. I have pictures of my last project uploaded onto my computer, so you should see something in the next week or so while life gets back to normal.

Workbench: a Xuvaxi Fleet

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Raw metal from Studio Bergstrom

Raw metal from Studio Bergstrom

As you may have gathered from the last post, I made another order to Studio Bergstrom. For this post, the important parts of that order are more samples of the Xuvaxi, working my way through the smaller models that match up with the other Starships fleets. As usual, click on the pictures to see the full size versions.

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On the Workbench: (Bergstrom) Terran Cruiser

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So the holidays are coming up, and I’m starting to get swamped. I have a little free time this week, so I’m going to try to clear a couple of workbench posts out of the backlog. This one is a Studio Bergstrom model, their Terran Cruiser. Not be be confused with any other Terran Cruisers.

Terran Cruiser right out of the box.

Terran Cruiser right out of the box.

Like the caption says, that’s a top view of the Terran Cruiser. The coin on the left is a Susan B. Anthony dollar, and the models up top are Bergstrom “Cobra Fat Boy” fighters. (Is that what they call a teaser?)

As usual, click on the picture to get a full size version. Continue reading →

Painting an ORCDeF Cruiser

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ORCDeF Cruiser.

ORCDeF Cruiser.

Someday I’ll learn: the most unassuming models usually end up being the best to paint. It was true of the Cold Navy models; I ended up liking the way the Mauridians painted up better than the Terrans, which was the fleet that drew me to Cold Navy in the first place.

The same is true so far of the Studio Bergstrom stuff. I made the order for the fighters, and added the ships just because. The Adjudicator has already convinced me to buy more Xuvaxi.

Today, we’ll talk about the ORCDeF cruiser I got in the same order. They’re from the Future Frontiers line.

(As usual click on the pictures for the full-size versions.) Continue reading →