goblin cartoons

I’ve come to the conclusion that I like playing the Lego Star Wars video games (in my case, on the PS2) more than I like watching the Star Wars films. As much as I love playing games, this kind of surprised me. I do loves me some Star Wars movies (yes, even the prequels–and if you comment here on my blog about how you think George Lucas peed in your corn flakes, I’ll ignore you), but the Lego Star Wars games are absolutely fantastic, and provide me with more fun and entertainment than the movies do.

For one thing, there’s no clumsy dialogue or wooden acting in the video games. (I did say I love the Star Wars movies, right? Well, that doesn’t mean I’m blind to their faults.) But more than that, I love that every character–even *shudder* Jar Jar–has a role, something you need them for, something for them to do in the game. I love how movie sequences both major and minor are extended in the video games, filled with colorful set pieces and clever puzzles. Basically, the games combine two things I loved to do as a kid, play with Legos and play with Star Wars action figures, in a way that is completely engaging and fun. Playing the video games makes me feel like a kid again, and you all know how much I like that. Plus, it’s something my daughter likes to do with me. I feel like I’m passing this legacy of fun and play and imagination on to her. The Force is strong in my family.

In 2008, I got back into playing role-playing games on a regular basis, something I’d fallen out of.  I joined a regular Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay group, which was good. (I can take or leave the Warhammer game itself, but the group I played with was a lot of fun.) I also started playing Burning Wheel with two guys I met online, and I’ve fallen in love with the game. Burning Wheel has quickly become one of my favorite games.

But there’s an itch that still isn’t getting scratched. I love being a player, but I also love being a game master, so I’m determined to run a game in 2009. I would very much like to run the new Mouse Guard RPG, and I think I can get enough players to make it happen. I’d also love to run a few sessions of In a Wicked Age, as well as try out Vincent Baker’s new game, Storming the Wizard’s Tower. Of course, my big dream is to run a regular, long-term superhero game, almost certainly using Chad Underkoffler’s nifty Truth & Justice, but I don’t know if I could get that going.

At any rate, I want to run something. And I’m feeling inspired and fired up enough to make it happen.

There are some games that immediately grab me, shake me by the collar and yell “PLAY ME!” in my face. And yet for various reasons, I never seem to get a chance to play them. Castle Falkenstein is one of those games. The first time I read it, I fell in love, and sometimes I pick it back up and reread it (although my copy is completely falling apart at this point) and feel that love all over again.

Nine Worlds is another game that I’ve fallen for immediately, but never played. (I would link to the Nine Worlds website, but it’s down at the time of writing.) I own a copy of the original printing, but I’ve always intended to get the revised printing (with a better binding). Because it looked doubtful I’d have a opportunity to play it, though, I always put buying the revised version off. Which was a big mistake, because Matt Snyder, the designer and publisher, is getting out of the business and won’t be selling his games or making them available in any way. Nine World is out of print, and at this point, Matt says it will never be printed again. Damn.

I know Matt has his reasons, and I assume they’re good ones, but this makes me sad. I took it for granted that opportunities don’t always last. And he we have another missed one for me.

(It just occurred to me: Castle Falkenstein also went out of print, and both games use playing cards rather than the more typical dice. Huh.)