www.toyfair.com

Arguably, the largest show of it’s kind in the United States, Toy Fair is where all the major buyers for large retail stores (like Barnes & Noble, Toys R US, etc.) go to find their games and toys, and I’ll be at the center of it! I’m really excited for Toy Fair this year; trust me when I say that this year’s show is going to be awesome. So if you’re in snowy New York City this weekend, please come visit me at booth #6246.

Yes, I’m in LA Friday and NYC in Saturday. That’s what we call jet-set, baby!

Shifting Skies Games wishes everyone a prosperous New Year!!!

It is traditional for businesses in China to offer prayers on the second day of Chinese New Year for a year of good fortune for their company and employees. I could not think of a better time to kick off my sophomore year as a game industry insider than Chinese New Year. And looking at the production schedule for 2008, I can tell you that it is going to be an outstanding year!

I have been granted the licensing rights to a very  important major motion picture, whose licensing department asked me to develop a full line of games to compliment their property. The official press release has not been announced yet, so all I can do is offer a very tempting teaser. But people who have seen me playtesting one of my strongest prototypes should know what movie license I’m referring to. So, I expect a very big year for Shifting Skies for this Year of the Rat!

But before start moving forwards, I would like to apologize for all the major technical difficulties I’ve been going through over the last month. I know it must be very frustrating for all you devoted fans out there to be cut off from the source without any word or seamingly without any means to contact me. I am sorry for all the technological heartache you’re feeling, trust me when I say I sympathize. For people who prefer the Mayan calendar to the Chinese, you know that the days between the close of one year and the beginning of the new one are seen as being very unlucky. And with 1) my server going down; 2) all my email to start bouncing; 3) my computer breaking down, being rebuilt, only to have a fatal memory error and go into perma-blue screen of death; 4) my cell phone dying on me TWICE and then 5) having my car run into while it was safely parked –  I have to agree that for the first few weeks of January, I have had a technological nightmare.

But like I always say: “Bad luck at the beginning signifies good luck for the remainder.”

… and with the sort of calamitous bad luck I’ve had over the last quarter, this is going to be an AMAZING NEW YEAR!!

http://www.conevents.com

Just packing up for the big Phoenix con. If you’re in the area, please make sure to come by one of the many HSD events that I’ll be running. Once I have a little more time, I’ll report back with convention updates. Be sure to check back in!!

http://www.pulpgamer.com/

When the guys at Pulp Gamer gave me a call the other day to do a full interview for their show, I was very excited about the opportunity to promote HSD! When they told me that their regular host Jeremiah wasn’t going to make it and that they wanted me to fill in for his spot, I got a little nervous because I’ve never done a radio show or anything like it. But I swallowed my pride and sat in on Episode 14 of their Out of Character segment. I must say: I absolutely had a great time doing it!

Special shout out to Don, Derek and Jeremiah! If you guys ever need me to fill another spot, please don’t be afraid to ask. For my regular readers who are interested in the behind the scene’s perspective, you can read on to get all the things I meant to say.

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http://www.originsgames.com/aagad/academy

The kind people at the Academy of Adventure Gaming, Arts and Design have informed me that HSD is officially in for the Origins Award for “Best Traditional Card Game for 2006.” Now this is definitely news to celebrate but don’t break out the bubbly just yet — there are two rounds of voting that have to take place before any official titles are given.

But don’t worry. I’m fully confident that HSD will make it to the final round because we have two excellent reasons why we did actually put out one of the best traditional card games for 2006 — 1) the production value of the professional-quality game itself, and 2) a fully-themed gaming experience that gamers and non-gamers can relate to!

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http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/26522

Board Game Geek (BGG) is a fantastic website for the gaming community specializing in analog games (non-computer) like HSD! Once you get your copy of the game, please visit the website and post any reviews, images or write-ups of your gaming sessions.

If you’re already a member, you know what a good source of information it is. If you’re not yet a member, signing up is easy to do. Especially going into the holiday season, this will be a good place find tips on exciting new releases … like HSD!

Delivered on 10/27/2006 (which makes HSD! a scorpio just like daddy) and a healthy 2350 lbs, 13 oz.

After nine long months of designing, playtesting, printing and shipping High School Drama! has finally arrived. There were some complications in the delivery which have delayed HSD!’s release to the public, but it seems that HSD! is doing well now and should be ready to come home and brighten everybody’s lives shortly.

GenCon SoCal is a large convention held each November in Anaheim, CA and this will be the big debut for HSD! Can’t wait to get HSD! all dolled up and ready for the show. Please email me directly at boyan@shiftingskies.com if you’d like to get an advanced copy of the game.

Thanks to everyone who came to the release party and contributed in making it such a great time! It was absolutely a fantastic experience, and from what I could tell from the constant buzz in the room, I think everyone had a good time as well. Also, special thanks to all the people who couldn’t make it but called to send their best wishes. It really would have been fantastic if everyone could have made it, it was such a great party. You’ll have to make it out to the next release party!

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