Leacock’s Lab: September 2024 Update
Game premieres, appearances, trivia results, and good reasons to use the laser cutter
Ziggurat is now rolling out to a fine local game store near you!
In This Update:
Gen Con Report
Upcoming Appearances
10-year Anniversary Game Results
Getting Crafty
Gen Con Report
Ziggurat Premieres!
Mindware threw a big pancake breakfast at Gen Con for the premier of Ziggurat. Rob Daviau and I taught the game to a ballroom filled with heroes, bellies full, all attempting to scale the ziggurat and learn its secrets. Corey Godbey, who did the fabulous artwork for the game, was also on hand to sign copies.
By the time you’re reading this, Ziggurat should be available at your friendly local game store or you can order it directly from Mindware.
Flickering Stars Previews
Friendly Skeleton held all-day demonstrations of Flickering Stars at Gen Con in an amazing, fully decked-out demo room and took pre-orders. (Note: If you pre-order the game, they’ll throw in a free playmat.)
I don’t have a street date for the game yet, but it’ll likely be in early 2025. While you’re waiting, please enjoy this 4-second video clip from a playtest session from 2019:
I’m planning on putting together a design diary that charts the eight ( ! ) years Josh Cappel and I spent developing this game. I’ll try to give all you faithful newsletter subscribers an advanced look.
Pandemic Survival Returns
I was also happy to preside over a Pandemic Survival Charity Tournament benefitting Doctors Without Borders at Gen Con. We had a great turnout with nearly two dozen teams competing. The Pandemic Survival World Championships haven’t yet returned, but I hope to see them in the coming years.
Upcoming Appearances
Daybreak at the 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub; San Francisco, California; Tonight! (September 18).
Signing Ziggurat at Gamelandia; Palo Alto, California; September 22.
Essen Spiel; Essen, Germany; October 3–6.
Schmidt-Spiele (3F410), signing Daybreak, 2–3pm on Saturday
Spiel.talks: Sustainability, Saal Ruhr, Congress Center East, October 4
Festival Internacional de Juegos (guest of honor); Córdoba, Spain; October 11–13.
Game Market West; Fremont, California; October 19.
BoardGameGeek.con (guest of honor); Dallas Texas; November 13–17.
10 Year Anniversary Trivia Game Results
Looks like I made the trivia game a little too hard—the best score was 8 out of 10. You can still give it a go if you missed it the first time around. (But skip the next bit if you do: spoilers!)
Most Missed Question
For a many years, every game I designed had a skull depicted in it somewhere—even the party game, Knit Wit. (Jean-François Gagne hid one on the side of the box without me even knowing at the time.) I wonder if he was the person who got this one correct…
Not Fooled By Owlbears
In contrast, a clear majority of you are pretty sure I haven’t put an Owlbear in a game yet. (Although, interestingly Donna very nearly got this one wrong.)
Getting Crafty
Finally, I powered up the laser cutter this month and made two sets of wine charms to auction off in support of Michigan House of Representatives candidate, Shadia Martini and Arizona House of Representatives candidate, Karen Gresham. States matter! Find out more about how you can help.