Games Workshops Tim Huckelbery sent along the latest pressrelease about the upcoming Games Day Los Angeles: “Games Day conventions are the annual gaming extravaganzas for the Games Workshop series of hobby games such as Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000, the world’s most popular tabletop battlegames. There will be gaming events ranging from beginner to expert for all the games, plus painting contests, seminars, demo games, special guests, and more.” [More]

Games Day conventions are the annual gaming extravaganzas for the Games Workshop series of hobby games such as Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000, the world’s most popular tabletop battlegames. There will be gaming events ranging from beginner to expert for all the games, plus painting contests, seminars, demo games, special guests, and more. This year the action will spread to 4 locations, with Atlanta joining Los Angeles, Chicago, and Baltimore as host cities. There will be lots of new Lord of the Rings tabletop battlegame events too, including special displays and promotions.

This year will feature expanded Club Games where members of the Regiments of Renown Club Support Program run great games at each show. These are always original and feature the best from the local gaming community, and will include a large Blood Bowl tournament. The crew from Warhammer Online (www.warhammeronline.com) will also be at the event, demonstrating the upcoming online game for fans. And of course the Golden Daemon Painting Competition, always the highlight of any Games Day, will be showing off the finest painting and modeling in the country. There will also be new Create and Keep scenery construction classes, where people will be provided materials for making their own gaming terrain piece and can then keep their new creation after they are done!

Each Games Day will also feature huge tournament gaming for Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000. These will run on Saturday, and registration will be at 8:00AM at the door on a first come, first served basis. Entry for a tournament will be $20 in addition to the normal Games Day ticket. Games Day T-shirts, sold only at the event, will also be available.

The 2004 US Games Day Miniature: Archaon on Foot
In conjunction with the upcoming global campaign – Storm of Chaos – our 2004 US Games Day miniature will be the mighty chosen one of Chaos itself – Archaon, Lord of the End Times, on foot. This mighty scion of the Dark Gods is provided free with the purchase of each full-price admission to a US Games Day (models will be distributed upon entry to Games Day) and will also be available for sale separately at each show for $20.00 USD. 5 other new limited edition models will also be available at the show as well!

Visit the Games Day 2004 and the Los Angeles 2004 websites for all the latest news!
http://gamesday.us.games-workshop.com/GamesDay2004/Los_Angeles/LA_04.htm

Want to see all of the cool things you can do at a Games Day? Click here!
http://us.games-workshop.com/e-zine/issues/blackgobbo-11/gamesday/default.htm

Event Details:
Games Day Los Angeles
Show Date: Saturday, April 24
Location: Ontario Convention Center
2000 Convention Center Way
Ontario, CA 91764
Exhibit Hall A & B
Hours: 10am – 6pm
Tickets are $30 and go on sale January 31st
Scheduled Special Guests: Sculptor Jes Goodwin, artist Paul Dainton, and Games Designer Gavin Thorpe

Ticket Information
Each ticket includes full admission for the event, entry to the day-long seminar program, participation in the Golden Daemon competition, 2 free Registered Game sessions, unlimited gaming in the Club and Open Gaming areas, plus this year’s free Games Day miniature! Additional Registered Game session tickets will be available at the door.

You can get tickets through Mail Order at 1-800-394-GAME, the Games Workshop website www.games-workshop.com, your local Games Workshop Hobby Center, selected Independent Retailers, or at the door.

Special Runtherd (Parents) tickets are also available. Runtherd passes allow a parent or guardian to attend Games Day (but not play in any of the games or events) and keep an eye on their kids. 2 Runtherd passes are available per ticket for parents of children 16 and under.

For more information or to order tickets, visit www.games-workshop.com or call 1-800-394-GAME.

Games Day History
Long a tradition in England where the Games Workshop hobby started, Games Day in the USA started over 10 years ago in one of Maryland’s Games Workshop Hobby Centers. Despite the small venue, nearly 100 dedicated fans showed up for the full day of fun! The next year the show was moved to a real convention hall, where the show grew even larger. So big in fact that two years later the show moved to the Baltimore Convention Center and spread into a 2 day event. Each year the show has expanded in both size and attendance, with thousands arriving each year to play, paint, and celebrate the miniature gaming hobby.

Each year has seen such wild events as Squig Hopper Races, fun (but messy!) Speed Painting competitions, and Formula Waaaagh! Demolition Derbies. One highlight has always been the Golden Demon miniature painting competition, showcasing the best figure painters in the country and their work with the finest miniatures in the world. Last year’s Games Day conventions drew nearly 10,000 enthusiastic hobby fans from all over the country, and even more are expected this year.

Peter Jackson, already one of the world’s most successful movie directors, is expected to earn even more money creating video games based on his films, The New York Times says. The paper said Jackson, who with fellow Oscar winners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens is being paid a record $34 million to make King Kong, worked out a deal with game maker Ubisoft and the film’s backer, Universal Pictures. [More]

Ringer Spy Linuxelf writes: Hi just a reminder for all NZ fans; this week friday is the start of the Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo; also GREAT NEWS!! two new LOTR guests has been added!! see below for details! [More]

Ringer Spy Linuxelf writes: Hi just a reminder for all NZ fans; this week friday is the start of the Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo; also GREAT NEWS!! two new LOTR guests has been added!! see below for details!

as from the website www.pulpexpo.com;

Where:
Aotea Centre and Town Hall Auckland

When:
Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo
April 16-18th

Guests:
Lord Of the Rings – John Rhys-Davies
John will be attending all three days of the Expo.

Witch King himself & LurtzLawrence Makoare
Appearing Sunday 18th April only

The Steward of Gondor Himself, John Noble
Appearing Saturday 17th April only

Gil-Galad, Mark Ferguson
all 3 days

Gamling, Bruce Hopkins
all 3 days

Opening Times / Days:
Friday 16th 9am-6pm,
Saturday 17th 9am-6pm
Sunday 18th 9am-5pm April 2004

Entry Prices:
Entry cost – Adult one day $14

Child (12 and Under) – one day pass $10

Family pass (2 Adults & 2 Children) – one day only $40

Three Day Pass – $40

There will be two enterances to the expo, with twice as many tils operating to keep ques short.

I would also recommend bringing abit of money because the guests hopefully will be signing autographs, from previous experience you need to buy the photos to be signed on the Day. This helps paying the airfare & costs back to the guests.

I’m packing my bags and heading off that way thursday morning!! woohoo!!!

Nominees have been announced for the 2004 Hugo Awards, recognizing excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy. Named for legendary magazine editor Hugo Gernsback and awarded annually by the World Science Fiction Society, the Hugos will be presented Sept. 4 at Noreascon Four, the 62nd Worldcon, in Boston.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

•28 Days Later
•Finding Nemo
•The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
•Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
•X2

A whole slew of people pointed out that Gollum got a Hugo-nomination as well, for his MTV Awards-acceptance speech:

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

•”Chosen,” Buffy the Vampire Slayer
•”Gollum’s Acceptance Speech,” The 2003 MTV Movie Awards
•”Heart of Gold,” Firefly
•”The Message,” Firefly
•”Rosetta,” Smallville

Check out the entire list of nominees here!