September 18, 2003
Grave Robbingentry,
I promised a meaty news update, and you're getting it. It's in the form of a product review.
At ComicCon 2003 I was introduced to a card game called Grave Robbers from Outer Space. I played it a few times there at the 'con, and decided that I HAD to have it. Since then I've gotten the original, as well as the two sequel games, Cannibal Pygmies in the Jungle of Doom and Kung Fu Samurai on Giant Robot Island, and I've played them all with unmitigated delight.
Before I go any further, here's the Z-man Games website, deep-linked straight to Grave Robbers. Here also is a news piece, about Grave Robbers and CCG.
I love this game. It's like "Magic" meets "Uno," in that the cards have all the character of Magic cards, but the game is not collectible -- you've got everything right out of the box just like Uno. But that's not why I love it. That's just why I'm happy to own it.
Have you and your friends ever had one of those conversations where you quote bad B-movie lines to each other, and ended up rolling on the floor laughing? If so, this game is for you. It's not so much about winning, per se, as it is about reading the goofy lines on the cards as you play them. That said, the strategy involved in this game is anything but simple. Laugh too hard, forget where you were, and you're doomed.
The game is for two to six players, but I've found it's best with three, four, or five. Oh, and all players need to be the sorts of people who'll get into RPGs, or who'll quote Monty Python in casual conversation. You know the type. The game is MUCH more fun that way.
So... where can you buy it? I dunno. Go to the comic-book store or games den and ask about it. Support local retailers, eh?
In unrelated news, the buffer has plummetted to single digits (but not prime numbers, yet). I think I've got bronchitis. I KNOW I've had back-to-back travel (my Seattle trip was fun, though). I've got seven scripts ready to draw on, so mostly I need to get my game on and DRAW. I need encouragement, though, because I'm still under the weather. Email me. Tell me you love me. Egg me on. Just don't throw eggs on me.