It’s been ages since I posted any #jokes and today I made up a new one of my own. Watch out #EdinburghFringe !
“Today I attempted to make the worlds shortest thermometer.
It works as well… to a degree ;)”
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So Scholastic have set the next six #FightingFantasy books into motion. Another five revivals and a brand new title, The Gates Of Death, should be joining us around April. Whilst not many of the die hard fans appreciated the cover art of the first six releases last year, at least they was all done by the same artist and looked generic. Unfortunately we are now met with a change in design. It’s not good.
Though one may argue the artwork is slightly more in line with the classic series (I said slightly) , it has been confined to a tiny circle in the middle of the page with about 80% the rest just a single colour broken by white lines. I’m pretty certain this is a money saving device. When you consider the full cover of art we had in the 80s – 00s this isn’t progress nor very eye catching. With the last six covers Scholastic gave the excuse they was using this type of art to appeal to an era of video gaming children. So why the change? I guess they’re admitting they was wrong and the fans we’re right and now going down the cheapest route tasting sour grapes.
The Gates Of Death will be the first ‘presented’ written FF adventure since Jonathan Green’s wonderful Howl Of The Werewolf, and from the look of it Charlie Higson (of The Fast Show fame) will be the first non series creator to have his name boldly displayed on the front cover. Prestigious that may be, but is this a marketing twist to attract his own fans to buy this new quest? Either way, I am grateful for another new story and hope it goes down well with fans expectations and spurs Scholastic to employ other guest writers too such as the aforementioned Jonathan Green, Dave Morris, Jamie Thomson etc etc
Jam meets Charlie Higson at FFF2
The past 12 months have seen me go from exstaticly happy to as down as duck fur. But here we are at another brand new year, with the rest of our lives ahead of us. Our memories are there to recall other things but we must continue to go forward and evolve.
I’m looking forward to watching baby Cassia grow up, and possibly start sea fishing. I’ve just started Ray Mears autobiography which is really interesting and eagerly await playtesting Jonathan Green’s upcoming epic.
Wishing you the best of New Years x Jam out.
Author Jonathan Green shoots for a hatrick in his third exciting ACE gamebook adventure, Neverland – Here Be Monsters. After the success of funding Alice’s Nightmare In Wonderland and The Wicked Wizard Of Oz, this newly launched Kickstarter project is already 40% funded in just 10 hours.
The book, part story part game, will see you play a survivor of the doomed Titanic ocean liner. When you come to, you find yourself washed up on the shores of a strange island packed with rampaging monsters a swashbuckling pirates. But what’s this…? Peter Pan?
Once again Jonathan weaves a popular child classic into a steampunk-style yarn, beautifully illustrated once again by the inks of popular artist Kev Crossley.
Why not check out this fantastic third book at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1412864360/neverland-here-be-monsters and see those amazing rewards on offer, including being an official playtester!
Jam out!
#FightingFantasy has exploded back into being in many forms over the past couple of years, and this evening I managed to listen to the audio story version of The Warlock Of Firetop Mountain: The Hero’s Quest. It was rather well scripted, with the vocal talents of Rachel Atkins, Tim Treloar, Toby Longworth and Harry Primus. (The former sounding in my opinion very much like the late Lynda Bellingham).
Each track is a new scene of the adventure on the CD, as we follow Vale Moonwing and her unwillingly aquired companion, Cassius Stormblade, through the mountain to defeat Zagor the Warlock. It is rather true to the gamebook from which it is based with crowd pleasing appearances from familiar monsters.
FoxYason Music Productions LTD have proven they can churn out a great audio adaptation of the popular Fighting Fantasy series’ first adventure, so it will be very interesting to see if they can bring on other gems including the ever popular Deathtrap Dungeon or hotly under-used House Of Hell.
We Titanese wait patiently in the wings…
Had a lovely day today. Walked Magic up to the shipyard and plotted some gps gaming areas, did a bit of work at the community garden and this evening took baby Cassia to her first swimming lesson with Vic. She enjoyed most of it until her gums started hurting. Poor baby, teething must be so painful.
Also managed to get rid of my copy Trolltooth Wars Graphic Novel. Well, the creators never replied so clearly they thought it wasn’t worth their asking price either. Sold it at a much worthier price as well. Oddly enough, the same price they think a small bit of card’s worth! Good riddance to it and their filthy not-so-flawless-as-they-think customer relations skills.
My good friend Dave Sharrock has released his first gamebook in recent times which will get its own review here when I next get a window. Jam out!
Lots of lovely hits to my blog recently. I see there are many playing Lair Of The Lunatic which is wonderful and I hope you’re enjoying it. Not much to report here other than I now own a copy of Doctor Who And The Fescan Threat. Certainly the largest single gamebook I have ever laid hands on at 2001 references and its as big as an Argos catalogue. Seek and acquire.
So nothing else to report. In the meantime here’s my latest FF meme. Corny as cereal flakes.
While it’s all quiet on the Western Front I just have time to say to everyone Jonathan Green will be launching another Kickstarter soon to fund his new adventure gamebook, Neverland. This will be another classic tale based adventure with the Green twist.
Dave Sharrock has also produced a physical gamebook under the Woven Paths label. It looks mighty big next to a Fighting Fantasy book so should be well worth checking out HERE.
Time for some job hunting. Jam out!
Getting settled in sounds quite a relaxing term but it’s anything but settling. The first two weeks have been a whirlwind of fatherly duties, dog owner duties and job searching. My best two bets at the moment are in a care home or in a distillery. Universal Credit is the most pathetic and barbarically cruel system ever devised by the so called ‘Government’ and their rules are if people can’t afford bills because they have no money left, charge them more. Bloody spazmo’s its no wonder the country’s gone down the pan.
Still, on a lighter note we have made two great new friends and they have been kind enough to make us dinner and take us out on their boat. Baby Cassia and I have such a lovely bond. Her smile still melts me every time x
Today I relocate to Scotland, to live with my fiancee and beautiful baby girl Cassia. I can’t wait for our new life to begin. However without a job to go into this is a step into the unknown, but so worth it when it’s to be with the woman of your dreams and dream come true.
Jennifer Rush put it best, nailed it even.
We’re heading for something
Somewhere I’ve never been
Sometimes I am frightened
But I’m ready to learn
Of the power of love
JamsPlace - Literally Immersive Gamebooks 
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