Daily Illuminator Archive for January 2006

All Archives

January 1, 2006:
As 2005 entered its closing hours, we hit a big milestone for UltraCorps. The first big, open alpha-test with the new codebase is starting now . . . read article

January 2, 2006:
As has become our custom, the Table of Contents for GURPS Traveller: Interstellar Wars is our first sneak peek. Of course, we've also tossed in the Index and a sweet image of the Indomitable for extra holiday goodness . . . read article

January 3, 2006:
Last night, at 10pm, the UltraCorps playtest ticked for the first time. Some of us were on the edges of our seats . . . this is by FAR the biggest game we've tried with the new codebase . . . read article

January 4, 2006:
How would you like it if you had a controllable mental condition . . . and the drug that let you control it was taken off the market with no substitute? It can happen . . . read article

January 5, 2006:
We are finally, completely, thoroughly moved out of the old building. They'll probably knock it down in a week or so . . . read article

January 6, 2006:
I was interviewed recently by GamerGod . . . read article

January 7, 2006:
Even those of us who lack the skills to replicate these constructions can marvel at them . . . read article

January 8, 2006:
Stephen King thought the original big-screen version of his novel The Shining was too over-the-top for its own good, and the folks at P.S. 260 agree with him. They've edited the film's trailer and made it what it was always meant to be: a romantic comedy . . . read article

January 9, 2006:
At the end of this month I'll be a guest at Warpcon in Cork, Ireland. For many of my readers that's not an easy trip . . . on the other hand, for the folks in Europe, it might be doable . . . read article

January 10, 2006:
The University of Texas campus is dominated by a large tower, which is normally lit in white. On special occasions, though, the top is lit orange . . . read article

January 11, 2006:
Backups, as they say, are not mission critical. RESTORES are mission critical . . . read article

January 12, 2006:
GURPS Traveller: Interstellar Wars has shaped up to be a very good-looking book. We've just added the splash from Chapter 11: Campaigns to the Interstellar Wars page . . . read article

January 13, 2006:
Got a childhood memory of going to the library and reading a book about UFOs or werewolves? Do you wonder what became of those beloved volumes of high weirdness? . . . read article

January 14, 2006:
When I visited Japan late last year I was invited to add a bit to the "Huge Dungeon" map that was being created. This one might give the "World's Largest Dungeon" some competition . . . there was an awful lot of it . . . read article

January 15, 2006:
We trust that everyone has read about the green pigs from Taiwan. If this makes you wist for the original Dr . . . read article

January 16, 2006:
I haven't been to a Worldcon for too long. Looks like I'll be going to the next one - which is in Los Angeles, and the L.A. group knows how to DO this stuff, so it'll be a good one even by the elevated standards of Worldcons . . . and I'll be taking the Chaos Machine with me . . . read article

January 17, 2006:
The work of German physicist Burkhard Heim is incomprehensible even to most of his fellow researchers, but some take it seriously . . . and if his theories are correct, they could lead to faster-than-light travel. Cross your fingers . . . read article

January 18, 2006:
This little exercise in self-referentiality left me helpless with laughter the first time I read it, and it's still good for a grin. So I share . . . read article

January 19, 2006:
We're pleased, on the whole, with the way the forums are going. While there are problem users from time to time, the level of discourse is on the whole quite civilized and informative, compared to many online communities . . . read article

January 20, 2006:
If you think all the really interesting space battles happened in the 1950s, , go retro - literally - with Atomic Rockets . . . read article

January 21, 2006:
Got somebody you want rubbed out? Suspense novelist Lisa Gardner can help, and all you have to do is fill out a web form! . . . read article

January 22, 2006:
The UltraCorps test game India ended at 10pm Saturday night. It was a huge success; at no time was play interrupted by a crash or major bug . . . read article

January 23, 2006:
On Saturday, February 11, I will be at OwlCon, a game convention at my alma mater, Rice University in Houston. If you're in the neighborhood, come see me! . . . read article

January 24, 2006:
Do not apply if you are allergy prone . . . Austin's full of pollen, and that's what's taking Wil away from us . . . read article

January 25, 2006:
This is a call for playtesters for In Nomine Superiors: Asmodeus, the latest in the successful e23 series. Those who desire to be in on the playtest must send email to In Nomine Line Editor Beth McCoy at arcangel@io.com with [ASMODEUS] in the subject line and the following information in the text: Pyramid username (see e23 to subscribe to Pyramid) e23 username (if it's different from the Pyramid one) The email address you want to use for the playtest The name you want to use for playtest credit, if any And finally, a brief explanation of why you should be on the list . . . read article

January 26, 2006:
A set of awards being voted on at Game Wyrd lists SJ as one of four nominees for "The Writer or Artist Most Likely to be in Communion with the Great Old Ones." We're honored, we think. Oh, and GURPS Banestorm is also nominated, for "The RPG or Supplement Most Likely to Improve Your Campaign." And that is definitely an honor . . . read article

January 27, 2006:
Changing Times is a GM guide, campaign book, and GURPS Fourth Edition conversion for Transhuman Space, written by Phil Masters, scheduled to appear soon as a PDF at e23. The Changing Times playtest will be a closed mailing list playtest . . . read article

January 28, 2006:
No man can know the exact hour and manner of his death . . . you're kind of limited to the manner. The Death Psychic will tell you just how you'll meet your maker based on your name and age . . . read article

January 29, 2006:
Two more excerpts from GURPS Traveller: Interstellar Wars have been added to the book's site. This week, we look at two alien races significant to the Terrans: the Vegans, and the Nugiiri . . . read article

January 30, 2006:
Scott was a busy, busy editor last week, and the result is that we've got a pile of early GURPS books back "in print" on e23. Now you too can thrill to these thrilling tales of yesteryear . . . . . read article

January 31, 2006:
This is the short version; there will be more later. I left my computer in the States when I flew last week - it went to Apple for warranty service - so I have pretty much NO IDEA what has happened in the office or the world since last week . . . read article

TopDaily Illuminator Archives


Steve Jackson Games
Top of Page | Home