InQuest 17 - 20 - X-Files CCG, Donruss, USPC, NXT Games: Mention
IQ news
NEWS BITES
CONVENTION NEWS
Origins
• "I was really impressed with Ori-
gins," said Wizards of the Coast game
guru Richard Garfield. He was pleased
by the attendance of two game design
panels he appeared on but said that the
show had "too much to fit into one place.
With the Pro Tour and Nationals, there's
not enough full tournament time for
both." (Turn to page 74 for Magic
national championship results and page
76 for Pro Tour It! coverage.)
Magic's creator also had high praise
for the Columbus Convention Cen-
ter where the July 4-7 show was held.
Andon, the WotC-owned company that
runs Origins, has tentatively scheduled
the conventions 23rd annual installment
for the same site during next year's July
4 weekend.
NEWS BITES
CONVENTION NEWS
Origins
• "I was really impressed with Ori-
gins," said Wizards of the Coast game
guru Richard Garfield. He was pleased
by the attendance of two game design
panels he appeared on but said that the
show had "too much to fit into one place.
With the Pro Tour and Nationals, there's
not enough full tournament time for
both." (Turn to page 74 for Magic
national championship results and page
76 for Pro Tour It! coverage.)
Magic's creator also had high praise
for the Columbus Convention Cen-
ter where the July 4-7 show was held.
Andon, the WotC-owned company that
runs Origins, has tentatively scheduled
the conventions 23rd annual installment
for the same site during next year's July
4 weekend.
• WotC introduced its Arena League
for Magic ("WotC Launches Nationwide
Magic League," "InQuest News," InQuest
#15). Arena marketer Andy Collins said
over 200 enthusiasts participated. The
league will debut in August in Albu-
querque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dal-
las, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia,
San Francisco and Seattle.
• WotC's booth included costumed
mannequins, "gunslinging" Magic cham-
pions, a MicroProse Magic demo (see
"Magic. A Prebeta Test," page 16) and a
video setup that showed players' games
on a TV screen.
• The 1996 Wyvern national
championships were held at Origins.
The finalists for the sealed deck cham-
pionship were a father and son, David
Miller Jr. and David Miller III from
Bloomingdale, Ind. The son won. The
tournament deck champi-
onship match between Har-
ald Henning and Ralph
Anderson was postponed until
July 20. Both titleholders will
get $1,000 and a free trip to
Gen Con to compete in the
world championships.
for Magic ("WotC Launches Nationwide
Magic League," "InQuest News," InQuest
#15). Arena marketer Andy Collins said
over 200 enthusiasts participated. The
league will debut in August in Albu-
querque, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dal-
las, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia,
San Francisco and Seattle.
• WotC's booth included costumed
mannequins, "gunslinging" Magic cham-
pions, a MicroProse Magic demo (see
"Magic. A Prebeta Test," page 16) and a
video setup that showed players' games
on a TV screen.
• The 1996 Wyvern national
championships were held at Origins.
The finalists for the sealed deck cham-
pionship were a father and son, David
Miller Jr. and David Miller III from
Bloomingdale, Ind. The son won. The
tournament deck champi-
onship match between Har-
ald Henning and Ralph
Anderson was postponed until
July 20. Both titleholders will
get $1,000 and a free trip to
Gen Con to compete in the
world championships.
Dragon*Con
• The star of Dragon*Con/
Atlanta Comics Expo was proba-
bly Sandman comic book writer
Neil Gaiman.
• "The Crow: City of Angels,"
due in August, was previewed at the
show. Vincent Perez, who replaces
the late Brandon Lee in the title role,
was on hand to answer questions
about the film.
• Spotted at Dragon*Con: Darth
Vader's helmet and cape atop an paunchy
man in Elvis-style white suit with spark-
ing red sequins.... A 6-foot-tall, er, lep-
rechaun?.... Catwoman (here Kitty)....
A man in Scottish dress (uh, kilt) with
actual bagpipes.... A burly armored Klin-
gon leading a slip of a woman in green
skin paint and gold sash.... A skinny
white guy in basketball star Michael Jor-
dan's No. 45 jersey.
New Netrunner
Expansion
• The star of Dragon*Con/
Atlanta Comics Expo was proba-
bly Sandman comic book writer
Neil Gaiman.
• "The Crow: City of Angels,"
due in August, was previewed at the
show. Vincent Perez, who replaces
the late Brandon Lee in the title role,
was on hand to answer questions
about the film.
• Spotted at Dragon*Con: Darth
Vader's helmet and cape atop an paunchy
man in Elvis-style white suit with spark-
ing red sequins.... A 6-foot-tall, er, lep-
rechaun?.... Catwoman (here Kitty)....
A man in Scottish dress (uh, kilt) with
actual bagpipes.... A burly armored Klin-
gon leading a slip of a woman in green
skin paint and gold sash.... A skinny
white guy in basketball star Michael Jor-
dan's No. 45 jersey.
New Netrunner
Expansion
The first expansion set for Wizards of the Coast's
Netrunner collectible card game, Proteus, is due
September 1996.
The new set introduces game play elements
thought too advanced for the core set and empha-
sizes cards that transform either themselves or the
play environment.
Proteus will feature cards for both corporation and
netrunner that can change their keywords on the fly.
In addition, the netrunner will get "hidden resources,"
which, like certain cor-
poration cards, may
be played face-down
until they're used.
There are also runner
cards that give the
corporate player bad
publicity. Enough
bad publicity can
drive the corpora-
tion out of business,
flatlining him.
Netrunner collectible card game, Proteus, is due
September 1996.
The new set introduces game play elements
thought too advanced for the core set and empha-
sizes cards that transform either themselves or the
play environment.
Proteus will feature cards for both corporation and
netrunner that can change their keywords on the fly.
In addition, the netrunner will get "hidden resources,"
which, like certain cor-
poration cards, may
be played face-down
until they're used.
There are also runner
cards that give the
corporate player bad
publicity. Enough
bad publicity can
drive the corpora-
tion out of business,
flatlining him.
Despite this
increase in power
for the netrunner,
WotC says that Pro-
teus isn't an
attempt to fix any
perceived imbal-
ance in the game;
both sides will find useful new tools. Bob
Kruger, the editor for Netrunner, says that corporate
players buying Proteus will discover "the agenda to
beat all agendas."
In addition to work from noted card artists like Mark
Tedin, Doug Chaffee and Rick Berry, Proteus will also fea-
ture art from Moebius, perhaps best known for his work
on Marvel Comics' Silver Surfer.
Proteus was developed and designed by Jim Lin, Tom
Wylie and Richard Garfield. It will be available in 15-
card boosters at $2.95 each.
- Jason Schneiderman
X-Files Moves;
Red Zone, Top of the
Order Suspended
The X-Files collectible card game has moved from Donruss to
The United States Playing Card Co. and Red Zone and Top of
the Order are in limbo thanks to some corporate shuffling.
All this is fallout from Pinnacle's purchase of Donruss
("News Bites," "IQ News," InQuest #16).
increase in power
for the netrunner,
WotC says that Pro-
teus isn't an
attempt to fix any
perceived imbal-
ance in the game;
both sides will find useful new tools. Bob
Kruger, the editor for Netrunner, says that corporate
players buying Proteus will discover "the agenda to
beat all agendas."
In addition to work from noted card artists like Mark
Tedin, Doug Chaffee and Rick Berry, Proteus will also fea-
ture art from Moebius, perhaps best known for his work
on Marvel Comics' Silver Surfer.
Proteus was developed and designed by Jim Lin, Tom
Wylie and Richard Garfield. It will be available in 15-
card boosters at $2.95 each.
- Jason Schneiderman
X-Files Moves;
Red Zone, Top of the
Order Suspended
The X-Files collectible card game has moved from Donruss to
The United States Playing Card Co. and Red Zone and Top of
the Order are in limbo thanks to some corporate shuffling.
All this is fallout from Pinnacle's purchase of Donruss
("News Bites," "IQ News," InQuest #16).
Bob Markese, a USPC sales manager, said that The X-Files
would be slightly delayed, shipping to distributors in early
September rather than mid-August. The CCG is still the design
brainchild of NXT Games and will be very similar to the ver-
sion previewed at the GAMA Game Fair in March 1996. (See
"Unmasking 'The X-Files,'" InQuest #16, for a preview.)
USPC logos will replace Donruss' on card backs and some
icons were added to card fronts. The adjustments were
described as minor.
As for Red Zone and Top of the Order, NXT and USPC are
working together to negotiate rights from the National Foot-
ball League and Major League Baseball, respectively, for 1997
editions of the games. NXT President Duncan Macdonell says
that, unfortunately, the 1996 versions - currently just files on
NXT Games computers - will probably never see print.
- Lester Smith
