The print version of the exciting new Hot War game book is now available from the Contested Ground Studios online shop, priced at £15 GBP (plus postage and packing).

Hot War is a game of friends, enemies, secrets and consequences set in a post-apocalyptic, 1960s London. For those of you who want to find out more about Hot War before buying, you can have a look at the Hot War pages, where you can download a 15 page preview of Hot War, check out the art or visit our support forums. There's also reviews of Hot War already available from Bruce Baugh (at Tor Books) and Shelby Babb (on RPGnet) that will give you opinions on what the game is like.

To buy a print copy of Hot war go here.

As well as this, we have also made Hot War and Cold City v1.1 available together as a bundle. The Cold War bundle is priced at £25 GBP (plus postage and packing). That means you get both books at a saving of £5.

To buy the Cold War bundle go to our online shop.

You can also buy all of our fine products, in print and PDF, from Indie Press Revolution.

And if you are at Gen Con Indy 2008, Contested Ground Studios will be at booth 2039 as part of the Play Collective. You can check out Hot War, Cold City 1.1 and many other fine games produced by our friends in the Play Collective. There's lots that is new and exciting, such as Beowulf from Joshua A.C. Newman, Under My Skin from Emily Care Boss, Misspent Youth from Robert Bohl and much, much more.

Cheers
Malcolm

In the manner of boxninja (whose new game 3:16, Carnage Amongst The Stars, you should buy immediately), I've been going through what people have been saying about Hot War and picking out a few choice cherries from the ripening bush that is comment upon the game.

"This is a must have for anyone looking for a post apocalyptic game."
Josh Bazin, Dead Planet Creations review

"This is my dream setting I never knew I wanted. Pitch-perfect art, with a really atmospheric series of '9 months after...', '10 months after...' diary entries, warning notices and ID papers."
Adrian Price, RPGnet

"I read the game last night and was really captivated."
Derek Johnston, RPGnet

"Woo! So excited."
John Harper, Story Games

"But the simple story-driven mechanics, emphasis on player input in setting building, and quality of what really was there won me over. Hot War won me over for doing well what it set out to do."
Shelby Babb, RPGnet review

"This is an absolutely marvelous game that fills me with envy."
Bruce Baugh, review at Tor Books

Cheers
Malcolm

Voice of the Revolution, the regular podcast from Indie Press Revolution, has a new show. Paul and Brennan are always worth listening to, with lots of cools stuff about games, interviews and gaming techniques.

This time around, Episode 21 of of Voice of the Revolution gives some love to both Hot War and 3:16. Paul and Brennan mention them in he first part of the show, talking about the latest releases to appear at IPR and stuff that is coming out for Gen Con. Check it out.

Cheers
Malc

Much to my surprise and delight, a review of Hot War has already appeared. The esteemed Bruce Baugh penned an extremely comprehensive (weighing in at 4,000 words) piece on the new Tor Books group blog. You can read the complete review right here.

To lift a handful of snippets from the piece:

"This is an absolutely marvelous game that fills me with envy"

"Malcolm consistently calls attention to the fact that it's not his game alone. Paul Bourne delivers staggeringly excellent illustration and graphic design."

"Back in my White Wolf days, then-developer Richard Dansky told me that the real test of a book of resources for a character class or other such group is whether it made the reader think, "My life is a hollow lie if I don't play this." I've referred ever since to the hollow-lie test, and been delighted when anything I help make gets that response in reviews and comments. Hot War passes it with flying colors, for me. I really need to reassemble my playtesting group pronto, because I want to play this game so bad."

Thanks to Bruce for the review. You should also check out the rest of the stuff that is going on as part of the Tor Books blogs and site. Some interesting and very worthwhile stuff there.

And just a quick reminder that the pre-order for the hardcopy version is still on. Order it from Indie Press Revolution and get the PDF pack free and straight away. The pre-ordered hardcopies will be sent out to customers at the beginning of August.

The PDF version of Hot War is also available from Drive Through RPG and RPGnow at the bargain price of $13.

Cheers
Malcolm

Contested Ground Studios is delighted to announce the release of an upgraded version of their hit Cold City RPG.

Cold City v1.1 takes all the information from the original book and combines it with the Cold City Companion to create one comprehensive source for Cold City games. In addition to all of that, there's a new, revised system chapter that offers smoother gameplay and more guidances for participants.

There's internal artwork by Stuart Beel (SLA Industries, Changeling, Werewolf and many other RPGs and CCGs ) and Paul Bourne (3:16, a|state, Hot War, Piledrivers & Powerbombs), offering a great visual experience.

Cold City v1.1 allows you to create games all about hidden agendas, trust and monster hunting in the gradually recovering city of Berlin in the year 1950. Working for the secretive Reserve Police Agency, the characters must confront the needs of the nations they respresent, while trying to carry out their arduous, horrific tasks.

Praise for the original version of Cold City:

"Supernatural investigators in Cold War Berlin. I totally want to play this. Proof that you can come out of left field with a setting idea and still maintain clarity of concept." - Robin D Laws, creator of 'Over The Edge', 'Feng Shui' and 'The Dying Earth RPG'

"It's a wonderful book, allowing the players to explore the darkness that engulfs the horror-filled streets of post-Nazi Berlin, while exploring the nature of the own group and characters as well." - Jeramy Ware, 2007 ENWorld-Gen Con 'ENnie' Awards judge

For those who own the original books, there's no need to rush out and buy this new version. The revised system chapter is available for free download at the Contested Ground Studios website. We sincerely appreciate all the customers who have purchased the game and wouldn't like people to feel that they have to get v1.1. If you have the original book and the Cold City Companion, then simply download the system chapter PDF and you're good to go!

There's also a downloadable preview available for perusal.

The hardcopy will be available at Indie Press Revolution from 1st August, but you can pre-order the combined hardcopy and PDF package for $33. You'll get the PDF straight away and receive your book as soon they arrive in stock.

Cold City v1.1 is also available as just a PDF from Indie Press Revolution and Drive Through RPG, priced at $13.

The book will be available from the Contested Ground Studios online shop from mid-August.

Contested Ground Studios will be at Gen Con Indy from 14th ot 18th August. Come along to the Play Collective booth (booth number 2039) and say hello and check out all of our stuff, including Cold City and the brand new Hot War.

Just a quick query to those who may live in, near or have been to, Washington DC.

Any recommendations for places to stay that are reasonably priced and not in areas known for gang warfare?

Cheers
Malc

Who would have known?

Noted games writer Bruce Baugh has recently been a contributor to the Tor Books groupblog, talking about presenting setting in the context of a game.

How surprised was I when mr_orgue pointed out that both Cold City and Hot War were mentioned in glowing terms!

Anyway, you can read the full article here. And there's a lot of other interesting stuff in the Tor blogs that is well worth reading.

Cheers
Malc

Just as a quick FYI, the PDF version of Hot War is now available from Drive Through RPG and RPGnow at the bargain price of $13.

Want to know more? Then let me remind you of the exciting preview available on our website:

A 15 page PDF preview...

Samples of the amazing art...

Actual play threads...

And a whole bunch more stuff.

The pre-order for the hardcopy version is still on. Order it from Indie Press Revolution and get the PDF pack free and straight away. The pre-ordered hardcopies will be sent out to customers at the beginning of August.

Cheers
Malc

On my meanderings round the globe, I got to play a fair number of games with a lot of good people. And I even managed to get actual play reports written up about some of them. This being the case, I decided to bring them all together in one place for the edification of all.

( The actual play... )

( Links to the games mentioned... )

Sales figures are in for Q2, so here;s the quarterly excitement-o-rama that is the CGS numbers!

BUT! The big news of the quarter is that Cold City topped 1000 sales! Yes, by the end of Q2, we had hit 1022 sales. Which is wonderful. So thank you to everyone who has commented on, helped with, played, run, supported or had anything at all to do with Cold City. Hitting 1000 copies before the second anniversary of release was certainly an ambition, but it is a milestone that I am still extraordinarily pleased to have hit.

( Boring sales figure stuff behind this cut... )

London. Winter. 1963.

It is a year since the Cold War went hot.

And this was not just a nuclear war. Far more sinister, darker weapons were deployed from the shadows.

Hot War, the new game from Contested Ground Studios, is now available for pre-order through Indie Press Revolution! Pre-order the book now and you'll receive the PDF version absolutely free!

What is Hot War, we hear you cry! This alternative history/horror game for three or more participants has players dealing with life a year after the apocalypse. You'll confront hidden agendas, sinister factional machinations and see the changes in relations with friends and enemies.

Hot War allows both short term and campaign play, with a system that allows the group to work out exactly the kind of game they want to play amongst the wreckage of 1960s London.

Want to know more? Then head over to the Contested Ground Studios website where we have:

A 15 page PDF preview...

Samples of the amazing art...

Actual play threads...

And a whole bunch more stuff.

Hot War will be available to pre-orderers at the start of August and will also go on sale through the CGS shop and in PDF form on Drive Through RPG at the same time.

NAME OF GAME:
Hot War

AUTHOR:
Malcolm Craig

PUBLISHER:
Contested Ground Studios

ILLUSTRATORS:
Paul Bourne

PRICE:
$28/£15

PAGES:
204

SIZE:
Digest

DUE FOR RELEASE:
Pre-order from Indie Press Revolutionduring July 2008 (order the hardcopy and get the PDF free, pre-order period begins during the week of 7th July), see it at GenCon US (14-17 August 2008) on the Play Collective booth

DESCRIPTION:
A game of friends, enemies, secrets and consequences in the aftermath of a horrifying war.

Features stunning and terrifying artwork by Paul Bourne. Many elements of information in the game are shown through propaganda posters, protest sheets, memos, diaries and documents, giving a real feel for the world.

This alternative history/horror game for three or more participants has players dealing with life a year after the apocalypse. You'll confront hidden agendas, sinister factional machinations and see the changes in relations with friends and enemies.

Hot War allows both short term and campaign play, with a system that allows the group to work out exactly the kind of game they want to play amongst the wreckage of 1960s London.

You can find out more about the game on the CGS forums.

Seeing the first band you ever saw live perform again after the thick end of two decades is a potentially strange experience. Especially if the band in question are the creators of one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Would My Bloody Valentine, back together for the first time in an age, be as blindingly, terrifyingly potent to my 33 year old self as they were to my 16 year old self?

Yes. Yes they would be.

Last night at the hallowed halls of the Glasgow Barrowlands (arguably the greatest rock venue in the world) they played a forceful, almost overpowering set. Some bands claim to be loud. Some bands are loud. MBV go beyond loud into some sort of loudness space that probably has health and safety running for the sound level meters. At their London gigs, punters were handed earplugs at the door and advised to use them. Maybe Glasgow gig goers are considered a hardier breed. Maybe staff care less about the aural wellbeing of their customers. However, the girl on the merch stall did inquire if we needed earplugs. Maybe you only get them if you show enough commitment to the band by buying a shirt?

From the first notes of 'Only Shallow' to the 20 minute, gig closing sonic wall of 'You Made Me Realise', you were watching a band demonstrating supreme artistry, inventiveness and technique. Tracks from 'Isn't Anything' and 'Loveless' still sound fresh and vital today, hallmarks of great work.

And with 'You Made Me Realise', the band hit the summit of what makes up a huge part of the MBV legend. A pulverising sequence of sound and video that had non-earplug wearers clutching their heads and sticking fingers in their ears. For many bands, such a display would be indulgence, pretentious lack of regard for their audience. With them, however, it is still daring and wonderful.

Seldom do I wax lyrical about this kind of thing in writing, but My Bloody Valentine, even 17 years on from the release of the greatest work, are still as important and powerful as they always were.

Oh, and I'm sure my gig companion jonhodgson will have some commentary on the event as well.

Cheers
Malc

Hot War is now in the final stages of proofing and typesetting, ready to go to print in the very near future. Hot War is a game all about friends, enemies, secrets and consequences in a 1960's, post-apocalypse London that most certainly isn't swinging.

As part of our continuing endeavours to let people see what the game is going to be like, here's another poster and art piece from the game. And may I say that Paul is really outdoing himself with Hot War. The graphic design is outstanding, the artwork brilliant and it all comes together to really bring alive the world.

In the near future, some PDFs will be available to let you see how this is all looking in situ. But for now, be vigilant and keep your ID on you at all times...

( Vigilance & Headaches )

For those who might not yet know, I'm going back to New Zealand in a couple of months. Specifically, to do an MA (research) in history at Victoria University, Wellington. I'll be visiting the USA on the way to do some archival research in Washington (DC), Independence (Missouri) and Abilene (Kansas). Also: Gen Con.

Exciting times indeed.

Cheers
Malc

Paul is busy beavering away with the art and design for Hot War (and it's looking great), so I thought we could share a couple of snippets from the game.

( Under London )

Further to the last entry about Hot War (which you can have a look at here) which talked about the most recent sections of the game text relating to game and character creation, there's now more stuff posted up at the CGS forums.

You can take a look at the latest versions of the parts relating to scenes and scene framing as well as the section devoted to creating and using NPCs.

More stuff to follow in the near future. I'll post up more sections to do with the conflict resolution mechanics and some of the bits and pieces from the background.

Cheers
Malcolm

I recently posted up the latest versions of the character creation and game creation sections of the Hot War text up on the Contested Ground Studios forum. I'm really excited about this, as I think that the game has come together excellently. Some polish required to be sure, but I'm thrilled by the evolution from a simple port of the Cold City mechanics into a set of mechanics that support what Hot War, as a totally different game, is all about.

The first section of the game creation bit has changed radically and is directly inspired by the way the DitV talks simply and easily about what players/GMs/characters/NPCs do in the different phases of the game. This is something that I think is pretty cool, as I was really struggling with getting across in a succinct amnner what should be going on at different times. Then again, I could be well wrong on this. What's the general thinking on this? Opinions are always appreciated, especially as it all goes to making the game much, much better.

Cheers
Malcolm

The first quarter of 2008 has, in many ways, been a very positive time for CGS. The release of the long-awaited Avenues & Alleyways supplement, plus the a|state PDF, gave the sales of our oldest product a real shot in the arm. Cold City sales are down slightly, going from an average of around 43 per month to 30 per month. However, this seems to be a natural trend and still represents healthy ongoing sales. The Companion also performs well, selling better than expected for a small supplement. The only disappointmet is the continued lacklustre performance of Mob Justice.

( Figures below the cut )

So, one great thing about Melbourne is that Federation Square has completely free wifi access. Everywhere. In the entire square. So, here I sit, in front of a huge video screen, watching this:



Isn't technology wonderful?

Cheers
Malc