System Update 1.6... You Know you wanna

We sent out a major update for our backers today.  Version 1.6 replaces the original version of the White Copy and takes RED to a whole new level.  If you were thinking about backing us, we have 10 more days to go.  With the tactical optional rules and Art Explosion stretch goals funded, RED is looking to be, not only a fantastic game, but, an amazing book.  At less than 250 dollars left to go for our Alternate digital cover, the next 10 days should prove very exciting.

Just a word while waiting for Coffee!

With us taking the lead on production of SUPERS! the comic book RPG, not a lot of time for blogging.  Luckily I had a free minute in between loading the coffee maker and letting it do its thing. 

When you launch a Kickstarter, there are a lot of things to consider.  For me... the worst is the dreaded Video.  Don't get me wrong, me likee da video.  The problem is that it eats up a LOT of time.  That is time I could be spending on art, layout, other facets of production... or getting my coffee on (why, o', coffee maker do you taunt me... about 2 minutes to go).

Well, since we are waiting, might as well preview some art from the KS.  Here is the Blue Brawler!  Say that five times fast (that, that, that, that, that...)

And in case you missed it... we have a special incentive tier...

Regards,
Walt

Kicking it on BAMF!

Andrew and I join Ade, Jason, and superhost Mike on the BAMF Podcast to talk about comics, capes, and all things HEROIC!  Check us out on the podcast!

Regards,
Walt

The HEROIC Kickstarter can be found HERE

Zenith Comics Goes Heroic!

With Just about 12 days in, Zenith Comics has been rocking the Kickstarter scene with the promise of being HEROIC!  The new comic from writer Andrew Collas, has the look of the current polished books out there but is toting a script that takes things back before mega-events and crossovers.  We've gone to Kickstarter to not only fund the comic's first issue, but also to get the word out there about what Zenith is trying to create.

What is Andrew hoping to churn up with this project?  If we take from the Kickstarter page :

Heroes who are actually heroes. Heroes who inspire. Bigger than life, and with actual ideals. I am a big fan of the Bronze Age of comics - 1975-1985 in particular. I want to draw from that inspiration, but with a modern eye. I want heroes who inspire, but not ones who are cardboard cut outs of truth and justice. Icons, who stand for something, just like real people often stand for something. I reject that "realistic" means things are grim, humorless, and self-serving. There are people being heroic every day, people fighting for ideals every day. There is room for realistic people in fantastic situations. We used to write those stories. Zenith is going to write them again.

By the look and feel of the script and splashes of artwork by fan favorite Alex Williamson, Heroic aims to deliver.  

Now where does lil ol HAZARD Stds come into this?  Andrew and I are looking to do similar things in entertainment.  We want to bring back the fun in both Comics (his side) and RPG's (my side).  To that end we work together to produce items that will allow us to do that.  

If you haven't yet checked out the page for the kickstarter, you can find it here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/412792115/zenith-comics-presents-heroic

And don't miss out on the discussion over at the Zenith Comics Boards: http://bzenithcomicspresents.runboard.com/

Until Next time, Be HEROIC!

Regards, 

Walt

When we started on the road of SUPERS!, we weren't sure what kind of response we were going to get.  Andrew was well known about the various superhero game boards and I had been floating in and around the industry doing freelance work.  Simon Washbourne had formed Beyond Belief Games and was well known for his writing of the game as well as his other projects (Such as Barbarians of Lemuria).  Simon had come up with a fantastic little gem in SUPERS! and we wanted to make sure we did it proud. 

Immediately after taking the reigns from Simon, we reached out to the fans and assured them that while a new hero wore the mask and cape, SUPERS! was dedicated to being true to what makes it a great game.  

We crafted a forum and shouted out to anyone who would listen to come on by and share their experiences with the game.  In the short time we have been running we have close to two thousand posts and  a lot of great material... all generated by fans of the game.  While we are by no means the biggest SUPER on  the block, we have a dedicated following.  

I just wanted to take a minute and thank the fans for coming out and supporting us as we move forward to make SUPERS! a force to be reckoned with!  If you have been stopping by the forum, thanks for the experience, effort, and for hanging out.  If you have yet to stop by, please come on over and introduce yourself and join the fun.  

You can find us here: http://bzenithcomicspresents.runboard.com/

Upward and Onward!

Regards,

Walt

Just got back from Military Duty and am trying to set things at home and at work in order so I can slam out with the next batch of products and art.

At what point did my life go this crazy?

Super Powered Life!

YEAH!  SUPERS! is on the move as far as big things happening during 2013.  We have our Quick Start rules launching as soon as I can get free of some weighty family responsibility.

If you haven't tried SUPERS! yet, here are a couple of reasons to give it a try.

* SUPERS! allows for fast and furious comic book action where the rules drive the game while staying out the way.

* Character setup takes minutes and the character sheet is easy enough to understand that first time gamers won't be lost in the numbers.

*Game play gives experienced players room to work strategy in creative ways with rules that power Comic Book Action!

SUPERS! is on sale at fine e-tailers everywhere.  Don't forget to check out OUR FORUMS, active in SUPERS! action and the latest news.

We return!  Spent some time tonight talking with Mike Lafferty and Steve Kenson on the BAMF podcast talking about Steve's latest project, GREAT POWER for ICONS.  Roll on over to the BAMF podcast sight and check things out!

http://mikelaff.podbean.com/



Regards,
Walt

Image by Snake Toast (http://snaketoast.deviantart.com/)

Good Karma Experiment

So our good friend and partner Andrew had his car broken into and stuff stolen.  Not cool... But something has come from this...

http://bzenithcomicspresents.runboard.com/t73

You can also listen to us talk about it on the BAMF Podcast with Podcast SUPER Mike Lafferty.

http://mikelaff.podbean.com/2012/11/14/supers-news-and-the-good-gamer-karma-project/

Have fun and stay SUPER!
Regards,
Walt

Play Through your Halloween

Check out Dustland's conversions of Classic Monsters to our own SUPERS! Rpg.

http://bzenithcomicspresents.runboard.com/t65

Regards,
Walt

The PLAGUE!... She is Passing

I have almost gotten rid of the worst cold I have had in a while.  In other news, SUPER plans fare forming for our little slice of gaming, SUPERS! The RPG.  But while we are waiting on things to get a bit more solid, if there are publishers out there that have spandex action superhero products that they need a system for, they should drop us a line.

Video Review

A video review for our new game SUPERS!  Click the link and take a look!

SUPERS! Away!

Dateline Montreal, Canada - August 27th, 2012
ZENITH COMICS TO SHEPPARD SUPERS!
Effective immediately, Zenith Comics has purchased the exclusive rights and intellectual property to "Supers! The Comic Book Roleplaying Game" from Beyond Belief Games.

Simon Washbourne, creator of Supers! and owner of Beyond Belief Games had this to say;
"I'm pleased to have signed the deal with Andrew & Walt. These guys have shown the desire and commitment to continue the development and expansion of the SUPERS! line, to build on what I started and establish SUPERS! as one of the major super hero role playing games on the market."

Part of what Simon refers to is Zenith Comics plans to not only continue to offer the original game up for sale, but to create a Revised Edition, soliciting input from the fans of Supers! itself.  Furthermore, Simon Washbourne will be acting as an Executive Producer to the creative team, steering his creation as new ideas improve and expand upon what he created.  To which he said;

"I won't be stepping away from SUPERS! - in fact, I will be taking on a 'hands on' position to ensure that the SUPERS! line remains true to my original vision. Zenith Comics wants to keep the current fan base happy and reach out to new gamers who may not yet have realized what a great game they have been missing out on. I'm sure they will succeed in this and I'm happy SUPERS! is in the right hands to move the line to greater heights."

Zenith Comics and Hazard Studio (the official RPG arm of Zenith Comics) have a solid track record of working together and producing such hit lines as "Supervillains!" and "Type Casting" for other famous super heroic games.

"The time had come not only for Zenith Comics to have its own game," says Zenith Editor-in-Chief Andrew Collas, "but to have a game system that exemplifies fast paced comic book action, not one that gets bogged down in number crunching and minutia.  Supers! was that perfect system for me.  I fell in love with it the moment I countered a power blast with my eye-beams!"

While Zenith Comics has not revealed the long term plans at present, roster books, adventures and an eventual Narrators Guide are all on the drawing board.

So stay tuned fans and as always BE HEROIC!
- Zenith Comics

Insert Transformers Noise Here

To say that I am currently drowning in a sea of awesome is an understatement.  This past month we released Issue 4 of the TYPE Casting series and it is doing really well.  Thank you to all the folks who bought into the series and continue to support it.

Now we have a blast from the past with regards to Zenith Comics.  We will be giving our super villains book (which by the way is named Supervillains... can you stand the coolness of that?) a treatment for the Supers! RPG.  Those of you who have asked for this will be glad to know that it is in the pipe and should be released very soon.

TYPE Casting, Unusual Suspects is going back to layout and will be re-released for free.  We are going to color the artwork and make it look all pretty.  That should hit sometime around the first of September along with TYPE Casting 5.

Thanks again for the HAZARDous love
Walt

Stark City Rises

A little Logo work to round out the night.  Image for Stark City, the kickstarter project from Fainting Goat Games.  Make sure to stop by and check it out:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1925514456/stark-city-setting-and-city-building-toolkit-for-i?ref=live

There is a wealth of talent on this project!  Names from across the industry have been put together to breath life into Stark City.  Join the folks who have already thrown in with us to make this book a reality.

Sleek, Stylish, DANGEROUS!

It has a carbon fiber reinforced hull.  Holographic heads up display linked directly to your battle helmet.  An ejection seat will "unhorse" any rider that isn't you... And did we mention that if you are the Templar... This is so YOUR STEED!

The entire line of the TYPE Casting series is about quick setup and play.  Do you have the player who isn't familiar with the BASH UE! RPG.  How about the guy that just doesn't know what he wants.  This issue of TYPE Casting : Street Tough contains five templates that hail from the mean streets. Flip a page, pick your hero and go!  The great thing about the series is that any of these types can easily play the part of the villain.

Take a peak... for the price of a small pack of generic gum... this could be yours!

TYPE Casting Street Tough

Engage, Enjoy, and BASH! like you mean it.
Regards,
Walt

My Desk Threw Up

Putting the finishing touches on TYPE Casting # 4 Street Tough has been no easy feat.  It doesn't help when lurking just off camera is one of my Little Mayehms.  Gray, about 1 foot 2 inches tall... 6 pounds... ALL TERROR ALL THE TIME.  

For those just tuning in, Hi... My name is Walt and I am the main (sometimes only) force behind HAZARD Studio.  Now that I think of it, I wouldn't really call it a force... Much more like a light breeze.  I got into Hobby Publishing of RPG games and third party illustration of the same because I wanted to remain in the publishing industry (i had a bit part in a much larger industry at one point... want to know more... introduce yourself and we'll talk).  I didn't want to devote too much time to it as I have a career already as well as a jumble of interests that get in the way of stuff like the hours upon hours needed for a publishing studio. 

Enter HAZARD...  So getting back to the beginning of this post, We have been producing a some material for a game called Basic Action Super Heroes (Yep... acronym spells BASH!).  Our next product is set to hit once I get the cover all nice nice.  

So for our fans... Thank you for tuning in.  For those just stopping by, nice to meet you and thank you for tuning in.

Oh and we take requests, 

Regards, 

Walt 

No No! Not that kind of tablet.

It seems like yesterday when tablet was just that rock you hit with a chisel and wrote out some scrawl.  Followed almost immediately by that yellow lined paper pad with no cover that you write all your crazy notes on (and a few scribbles as well). 

Enter the digital tablets (I wont actually say Idevice because they sue happy).  These things are the greatest.  You can watch movies, read books (technically we could all do this stuff before but usually not in one device other than a computer), and follow your favorite adult film star... wait what?  Not to mention that it is wrapped up in an easy to carry package. I read a lot of my game books for HAZARD Studio on mine because I can carry an ENTIRE library on the thing and never break a sweat carrying it

Something neat that happened not to long ago is that companies like Basic Action Games decided to come out with a tablet friendly version of their rules to compliment the processing power of these devices.  Even six months after release tablets are considerably more powerful but it only stands to reason that a smaller file on the smaller screen with a duo core processor is going to do well.  Files like this eliminate the whole waiting for a graphics heavy page to load thing.  Fantastic.

Just want to give a shout out to Chris over at Basic Action Games for putting out a book that I use a lot in this format making it easy to read not only on tablets but on the smart phone as well.  Because while i can be sure that I will leave the tablet at home, the phone is usually with me.  We need more publishers to bundle two files with their products.  One file is the pretty high res, read this thing on a computer only for fear of blowing your phone's processor, file.  The other should be the tablet ready one.  Low res, quick to load and read.  What say you publishers... good idea or no?

Regards, 

Walt

Had a great podcast this afternoon with Ryan Sohmer of www.licd.com .  I was invited to be a co-host with Mike Lafferty of the BAMF podcast to interview Ryan.  It was a great time and a cool thing to interview someone who has done a lot to promote web comics as a main stream form of entertainment. If you haven't checked it out and you don't mind some adult humor, check it out.  Doctor's orders.

This weekend I am hoping to sit on my porch with a good cup of coffee and finish the cover for TYPE Casting # 4, Street Tough.  This one has been a long time coming.  Once the cover is done then we can upload and go to 'print.'

Here is the rough cover image

Regards, 

Walt

Kung fu is my muse.  When I throwing hands with the guys I bleed out all the stresses of the day and it allows me to think in a more focused fashion.  I have been working on several new things for HAZARD and things come smoothly if I am not bummed out by the impending holiday.

The down side to being in a service industry is that on a big holiday like the fourth, everything ramps up like crazy in order to stock the shelves so people can have what they need.  The rough side is that when the day off does come, we now have to pack 5 days worth of deliveries into four.

Enter Kung Fu.  When I punch and kick the crap out of folks, it allows all that tension to melt away.  This summer marks 32 years of kung fu.  The best part is that I am more excited about my training than I have ever been.  Although I don't do it for sport or for enlightenment ( i tend to gravitate toward realistic martial arts because of my other job in the Military) i have come to rely on it daily in order to clear my head.

Just goes to show you that therapists really don't have the market cornered, a good heavy bag and about twenty minutes of playtime is all you need to live stress free.

Regards,
Walt