Join us for Dina & Ed's Las Vegas Adventures!

Beginning Monday, March 13 join Dina & Ed on their Las Vegas adventure.  They will be attending the 2006 Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Tradeshow in Las Vegas.  Check back each day as they report on new games, cool stuff and whatever else they might uncover!

Monday, 3/13/06: It begins with Happy Hour...

After a long plane ride Dina & I finally made our way to the hotel and we began preparation for the long days ahead.  While I was preparing our notes, Dina ventured forth to find Happy Hour!

Later that evening our Tradeshow began with a special dinner hosted by Wizards of The Coast.  They announced a new and very cool miniature game called DreamBlade.  The basic concept is that players take on the role of "masters" of a dream universe.  The lead game designer spoke about a game of fast pacing and balance across four very different factions.  The Brand Manager also spoke of tournament support that would reside in the local stores rather than professional organizers.  (Sounds great to us!)  I managed to steal a few pictures.  More details soon!

Tuesday, 3/14/06: Thank You.  Thank you very much!

Because sometimes you just can't get enough Elvis!  And so started Day Two of our adventure.  After an early morning meeting with Wizards of the Coast to discuss D&D in 2006 and the Year of the Dragon!  It was off to a meeting with WizKids and then the show floor.  We learned a ton of cool things today!

Dragons are cool!

This is a bad picture of the new Colossal Red Dragon Due out in September.

Ed is not a Jedi.  (So Sorry...)

We also learned a few very cool things from our friends at WizKids!  Some of you may have heard of their new product call HorrorClix.  It looks amazing.  They've managed to capture the feel of all those classic horror flicks in this game which is also compatible with HeroClix!  And with this first set they are also offer a huge figure that you can purchase if you "Buy HorrorClix by the Brick!"  We were the first people in the world to see the...

WizKids wasn't done with the announcements at that point.  They also announced ToonClix.  Yeah, that's correct a light cool kids game based on cartoons.  What's that you ask?  Which cartoons?  That's the really cool part!  They managed to secure characters from the entire Warner Brothers catalog, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Hanna Barbera!  Scooby, Daffy, Dexter, Space Ghost and the Power Puff Girls just to name a few!

Pretty Cool Stuff!  More tomorrow!

Wednesday, 3/15/06: Guten Tag!

Another busy day here in Las Vegas!  We started the day with Breakfast with the good folks from Bandai.  Which want me to remind folks that All Things Fun! will be taking part in the Navia Drapt New Guy Weekend at the end of the month.  (Come in buy a starter and get two boosters free!)  We then visited with our friends at Looney Labs.  They have just released a new game that involves the Ice House Pieces.  When we get back come on in and we'll show you how to play!  I managed to get a few pictures of the tradeshow floor.

And then we managed to find time for a quick lunch before our afternoon meetings!

(Yummy german food...schnitzel....)

More tomorrow!

Wednesday, 3/15/06: The End of the road...

Ok, so it is the last day of the show and we had just a few things to wrap-up before the publishers went home.  On my way through the Exhibit Hall the Wizards guys call me over.  Last chance to try a demo of their new game, Dreamblade.  The game is played on a 4x4 grid.  You summon creatures from the mystical dream realm.  These creatures all have special powers and abilities.  I'm still going to wait to see how the game is promoted by Wizards.  The game mechanics are pretty good and the Brand Manager at Wizards seems committed to the game!

So how does this work????

And then we managed to stop by and visit the folks at Upper Deck and got a sneak peek at the artwork for the new collector's box from the VS DC Comics' Infinite Crisis and Marvel's Heralds of Galactus Expansions.  Gorgeous!

And with that the show came to a close.  We've got dozens of leads to follow-up on when we return.  But for the next few days we plan on visiting with family and trying to relax a bit!  See you all soon!!!!

-Dina & Ed