Something old, something new, something borrowed and something...rude? This week’s News Collider is looking to the new autonomous games studio from Wizards of the Coast headed up by former Bioware writer, and then leaps back a few centuries to early Viking invasions of England before taking a quick look at some of the happenings going on in the world of board gaming business.
Wizards of the Coast opens Archetype Entertainment Studio
Archetype Entertainment is the new and previously secret studio that Wizards of the Coast announced way back in April 2019. Truth be told we don’t know a huge amount more than we did then, but we know something more.
Archetype Entertainment is helmed by former lead BioWare writer, James Ohlen (his writing credits include; the Baldur’s Gate series, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire and Dragon Age: Origins).
The first project to be delivered from this studio which is strictly outside of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering is a new, multi-platform RPG. The as-yet-unnamed game is “set in an all-new science fiction universe that will send players on a story-driven epic where choices they make will have real consequences on how their story unfolds.”
Ancient gaming piece discovered on Lindisfarne
A crowdfunded archaeological dig by DigVentures at Holy Island (or Lindisfarne as it also known), in Northumberland, has unearthed a gaming piece from hnefatafl or “King’s Table” that dates back to the eighth or ninth century. The discovery of this very pretty blue and white swirling glass gaming piece is an important archaeological find for a number of reasons, not only does it give an insight into day-to-day life beyond religious activities, but given the opulence of the item it suggests that someone wealthy, important or both was playing a Nordic game prior to, or during the first Viking raids on the UK by the Vikings.
Equally interesting is that this piece was discovered by a volunteer, the mother of one of the team members who was visiting for the day since most of the work being done on the tidal island is being undertaken by DigVentures which is staff mainly by volunteers.
You can check out a 3D model of this ancient gaming piece here.
Board Game Business News
The last week has seen some notable changes, appointments and acquisitions in the board gaming world, and if you are of a mind to be interested in such things you’ll find these news briefs below:
Asmodee Entertainment recruits Alexander Thieme from Games Workshop
Joining Asmodee Entertainment from Games Workshop, Alexander Thieme takes the role of Licensing Manager based from the Asmodee head office in the UK. Alexander’s primary focus will be on European licensing opportunities from publishing, collectables and other product categories. He will be working closely with Asmodee’s SVP of Business Development, Darren Kyman who is focusing on developing Asmodee’s range of IPs for television, film and other media opportunities.
CMON appoint Co-CEO
David Doust, one of the founders of Cool Mini or Not, has been appointed as co-CEO of CMON. David’s key focus will be upon expanding the CMON presence in Asia.
Cards Against Humanity Acquires Clickhole
“Because all content deserves to go viral” that’s the Clickhole Company Motto, a satirical parody website set up by The Onion back in 2014 which creates clickbait-style articles that have been bought by Cards Against Humanity, this is a further step in the company's plans for diversification after they opened their Chicago based Board Game Cafe and Escape Room earlier this year.
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