Monday Miniature: Show us Your Army
For the last few months we have been exhibiting half a dozen identical minis, each painted in a slightly different way every Monday on this blog. It’s a wonderful exercise, but seeing how all of those painters work on other projects, from time to time it’s a nice change of pace to see what other projects people are working on. This week we see what armies people are working on.
In Praise of Planning
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I paint often, and when I paint, I binge watch/listen to a show in the background. It keeps me engaged, and gives me something to do while I am waiting for a layer to dry. The last few weeks Babylon 5 has filled that roll nicely. As a show, I think it is awesome, and easily the best sci-fi of its era. Sure, these days the graphics are a little rough, and it started off a little slow, but as get ready to start the third season there is so much to appreciate, and so much to like.
Though the sci-fi epic certainly deserves an article, that’s not quite what I want to talk about today. Instead, I want to talk about the nature of plot and story arc’s.
Disney Reveals Their First New Jedi
Disney has begun teasing teasing the first new Jedi developed on their watch, and according to the USA Today, he’s a cowboy. A cowboy Jedi. I don’t know why I like the sound of that, but to borrow a phrase from Karl Pilkington, this news has me dead chuffed.
Monday Miniatures: Leisynn
This week’s mini is Leisynn, thrower of snakes. At least, that’s what I think his profession is. He might also be a skull model. There are at least 10 on his outfit. The point is that he is an interesting character, and this week our painters have all painted him different from each other’s minis. That’s really interesting considering how similar the paint jobs can sometimes turn out.
A Dieselpunk Classic Seeks 3rd Life on Kickstarter
When it comes to science-fantasy and horror roleplaying (and miniature wargaming), there aren’t many games that can hold a candle to Warhammer 40K for tone, content, or style. However, back in that nebulous pre-historic age called “the early nineties” there was one spunky game that gave 40K a run for its money. That game was Mutant Chronicles, and it’s back on Kickstarter.
Monday Miniatures: Wench
So apparently there is a large degree of overlap between people that watch the Super Bowl, and people that like to paint minis. I wouldn’t have guess that, but the emails I got from regular painters telling me that football parties got in the way of their artistic endeavours certainly prove the point.
I would have thought that a beer carrying bar maid would be welcome at those sorts of parties. Fortunately we have a few people that made the time to paint. Take a look.
Revenue Streams and Drought
There are a lot of articles about how well Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sites are doing. Indeed, in 2012 they raised $320 million but by 2013 the total haul had increased to $480 million, an increase of 50% growth year over year. That’s none too shabby for a website that is a marketplace rather than a creator. 2013 was a good year for a lot of people. The S&P was up almost 30% by comparison.
I maintain however, that the money Kickstarter channels to indie creators must come from somewhere, and this week I have found another data point for that thesis.
Double Fine Delivers
Yesterday, Tim Schafer’s Double Fine studio delivered on their long awaited, Kickstarted adventure game, Broken Age. Or the first half of it at any rate. Now that the original big time video game Kickstarter has ostensibly delivered, how are people reacting?
Peek below the fold for more.
Caffeineforge 
Guardians of the Galaxy Unleashes the Squee!
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