Friday 15 March 2024

Gamebook Friday: The Darkness Over Arkham - the first reviews

The first reviews are in from those people who have had a chance to read the ARC* of The Darkness Over Arkham via NetGalley, and they make for pleasing reading. Here's what three reviewers had to say about the first Arkham Horror Investigators Gamebook.

"This was... my first introduction to Arkham Horror and I enjoyed the vibe of it. It's very Lovecraftian and atmospheric. The storyline was really engaging; I ended up playing a bunch of times and I loved that each of my endings was a grim one. The Darkness Over Arkham was such a cool experience, I highly recommend reading this when it comes out in May!" ~ 5/5 stars

"An enjoyable addition to the Arkham Horror universe. Fun to play through and a cool investigation in a book." ~ 4/5 stars

"Recommended for people going on trips, who like the world of Arkham, or really enjoy playing gamebooks. The story is good, the plot really moves, and there are plenty of different ways to do things for a bit of replayability." ~ 4/5 stars

The Darkness Over Arkham is released by Aconyte Books in the US in paperback and as a global ebook on 7 May 2024, and in the UK in paperback on 18 July 2024.

* Advance Reader Copy.

Friday 1 March 2024

Gamebook Friday: Cannes Festival des Jeux 2024

Last weekend I spent a very enjoyable three days in the south of France at the Cannes Festival des Jeux*. I was there at the invitation of both Scriptarium, who publish the French language version of the Advanced Fighting Fantasy RPG 2nd Edition, and Alkonost Editions, who publish my ACE Gamebooks in French.

Veteran gamebook author Dave Morris, he of Virtual Reality Gamebooks and Fabled Lands fame, was also in attedance with his wife Roz, who is also an author.

A large part of the weekend was spent chatting with French gamebook fans and signing copies of my Fighthing Fantasy adventures as well as my ACE Gamebooks.

Highlights of the weekend included two fabulous meals out with our hosts (and Dave and Roz are excellent company), making lots of new friends, seeing an edition of the French translation of Knights of Doom I don't own, and meeting Emmanuel Quaireau, France's bestselling author of gamebook graphic novels, who publishes under the name Manuro.

But probably the biggest highlight was winning an award at the Prix du Livre-Jeu 2023 awards!

The hordes waiting to enter Le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes.

Patrick readying the Alkonost stand.

ACE Gamebooks en Francais - a.k.a. Les Contes tordus de Green.

Florent and Frederic on the Scriptarium stand.

This is the pile of books one fan brought from Paris to Cannes for me to sign.

Guillaume Romero brought this copy of Knights of Doom for me to sign, and it was the first time I had ever seen one. I need to add this to my personal collection!

Emmanuel Quaireau, a.k.a. Manuro, with his latest graphic gamebook,

Sunset over the French Riviera.

Making my short acceptance speech at the Gamebook Awards 2023.

And here is the award itself with the re-issue of Night of the Necromancer.

Back row: Laurent Centro, of Alkonost Editions, and Florent Haro, of Scriptarium.
Front row: Roz Morris, Dave Morris, and Yours Truly.


* The Cannes Games Festival - rather like the UK Games Expo but smaller and with more je ne c'est quoi. 

Tuesday 27 February 2024

Tie-in Tuesday: The Darkness Over Arkham

If you would like to read a review copy of The Darkness Over Arkham, my first Arkham Horror gamebook months before it is published, you can apply to be a Netgalley reviewer here.


You are an Arkham Investigator – your choices will decide the outcome of a terrible murder mystery and a sinister plot threatening Arkham – in this brand new gamebook adventure in the world of Arkham Horror.

When a renowned professor is found dead, it’s up to the Investigators of Arkham to discover what occult horrors were involved. Pick your path, Investigator, and collect allies along the way to hunt down his killer before they strike again. However, Arkham is full of mysteries, with many wishing to keep the truth buried, and who are hungry to usher in a new era full of death and darkness to devour the world as you know it. Can you stop them before it is too late?

The Darkness Over Arkham is released in the US and as a global eBook on 7 May 2024, and in the UK on 18 July 2024.


Monday 19 February 2024

Gamebook Monday: Jonathan Green meets Jordan Sorcery

I was recently interviewed by Jordan Sorcery about my work for Fighting Fantasy and the Black Library, and the video went live yesterday. And you can watch it here...

It was nice to be given the opportunity to talk about things people don't often ask me out, such as my involvement with Games Workshop and the early days of the Black Library. However, having watched the interview back, I must apologise for the number of times I use the word 'fun' during the course of our conversation.

Jordan Sorcery has been putting out some fantastic content on his YouTube channel and has interviewed the likes of Sir Ian Livingstone, Rick Priestley, Alessio Cavatore, Gav Thorpe and Andy Chambers, to name but a few. You will also find an interactive history of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks on there.

Friday 26 January 2024

Gamebook Friday: Alko Venturus

Issue #4 of Alko Venturus, the French gamebook and RPG webzine co-written and co-published by Scriptarium and Alkonost, is out now and includes a substantial interview with Yours Truly.


You can download Alko Venturus #4 here and, best of all, it's free!

 

Friday 19 January 2024

Gamebook Friday: Cannes Festival International des Jeux 2024

I am delighted to be able to share the news that I will be attending the Festival International des Jeux in Cannes, from Friday 23 - Sunday 25 February 2024.

I will be the guest of both Alkonost Editions, who publish the ACE Gamebooks series in France, and Scriptarium, who will be publishing the French language edition of YOU ARE THE HERO.


So if you happen to be attending the festival at the end of February, do make your way to the Alkonost/Scriptarium stand and say hello. Or maybe bonjour.