OVS - Happy Xmas from OVS

Well, here at Omnivistascope studios, it's been a successful* year with the collections of Solar Wind and the most impressive issue yet of Omnivistascope and I'm looking forward to 2009 as a year full of potential for the comic, games and novel. Until I do anything, it all remains as just as potential, but I shall get back to work soon. Ish.

In the meantime, a big thank you to all of my friends who have helped me with my comics, games and life. I couldn't do any of it alone, and as always I am extremely grateful and a little bewildered by your continuing support. Thanks also to everyone who has bought one of my comics this year, I'm glad to have you all on board.

Have a great holiday and see you all in 2009!

Paul

*Obviously, by success I mean I've achieved most of what I set out to do. Not what most people count as success such as fame, money, yachts etc. Although I have managed to transmute a good deal of my modest wealth into lead this year. Although I try not to parade it around too much as I appreciate the sight of my dull grayish hoard could be seen as somewhat insensitive in these difficult times.

Games - The Mad Monks (and more games from OVS...)

Well, playtesting has gone well on my new game, The Mad Monks, and there is now a version to download free from the yahoo group. Comments and reviews are, as ever, welcome of course. It is the 'Night of Madness' at Bierbrau Monastery where one fortunate monk will get the Chance to taste the beer they produce throughout the year. The beer barrel must travel throughout the monastery and the monk who gets it to his cell wins. However, monks may attempt to chastise (hit) or berate (shame) their brethren to win the barrel from them and steal the game. Presiding over all of this is the Abbot, who tolerates little tomfoolery and maintains the monastery's strict rules.

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/madmonks/

In early 2009 I hope to offer all of my current games for free download, with more luxurious pdf versions for sale for a modest sum (I'm currently estimating £2 each). My hope is that my games can make a contribution to the cost of maintaining the website. Just as I tried to rationalise what I was doing with my comics work in 2008 (collecting Solar Wind and moving all my other comics to Omnivistascope) I hope I can get the games sorted in early 2009. I've had some great ideas for getting some of the games ready and available and hope to invite a few friends to join me with some of their games that I enjoy playing.

Most of all I want the games to be played. Too many of them have been hiding in the dark all of this time. If it's successful, it should also spur me on to produce more games. I have updated the Games section, adding The Mad Monks, The Workshop and general updates. There is much planned for the new year!

Happy Christmas Gaming

Comics - The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a beautiful book by Brian Selznick. It's not a comic as such, though it does have a graphic narrative (without speech bubbles) and is interrupted by brief written passages. The pencil drawings that make up a large part of the book are lovely enough to make you catch your breath as you turn the pages. They remind me of animation flick books, but much more luxurious to be savoured at a leisurely pace. There is a real magic and emotion as you turn every page. The black bordered pages of the book, reminiscent of a trip to the cinema, heightens the visual experience and helps to make the book ooze with luxury.

The story is set in France in the early 1930's, and features a young boy, Hugo Cabret. Hugo has had a difficult and complicated life, and currently is living a strange secret existence. As the story starts his life is about to be interrupted by a serious of chance encounters that will lead to mysteries and magic. To tell you more about the story would be the act of a cad, as it really is a book to be savoured and explored on your own. It's a big book, but as it's largely pictures, it is a short but very satisfying read. You won't want to read it too quickly, yet you also won't want to dawdle too long as it has a fantastic pace to it.

Highly recommended to anyone as a present for an imaginative child or adult whether they read much or don't! Or why not treat yourself to a little bit of magic, available in all the places where good books are sold, or your local library is likely to be able to order you a copy.

Games - Here Come the Monks (Monks, Monks, Monks-Monks)

Hey all, just a note to say that I have a version of my new mini-board game, Mad Monks (working title) ready to playtest. The game was largely inspired by me buying a load of 'Jolly Monk's' from the Wargames Foundry range of figures, and then wondering what to do with them. I thought this boardgame was the answer, but practicalities mean only 7 figures are required at the moment, so the other 18 brothers must wait their turn.

The game is intended to be a simple, fun and quick game of booze, bitterness, violence and sermons. I shall post up more once I've had a play and seen what's wrong with it.















Here is a sneak peak of the game, which I'll admit doesn't really give you many clues.

Economy - My Answer

It's been a while since I posted anything sensible, so I've decided to turn my not-inconsiderable-idea-generating-brain to the economy. And of course I have come up with an answer to all of our problems.

Ladies and Gentlemen may I introduce the 25p coin. It works very simply, four x 25p coins to the pound and two x 25p coins to the 50p piece. The 20p piece will of course be scrapped, and I think after you have seen my design for the new 25p coin, you'll agree with me in thinking that the 20p looks rather silly now.

The new 25p coin will solve all of the nations money worries overnight and will promote a new confidence in the pound. The design is elegantly simple. It is a five-sided coin, for the five x 5p coins it represents. Also, it will be made with a small amount of real silver to confer additional protection against werewolves. I have also added a picture of a sausage to promote Britishness.

I suggest you all e-mail the Royal Mint immediately to tell them to take up this great idea. They will of course be annoyed because they have just released new coin designs. Don't listen to them if they say it would cost a lot, because what they don't want you to know is that they print their own money (hence the expression 'minted').

Anyway, behold...