GP Portland, I just signed the contract.

Its always a little scary for me to sign a contract for a ton of money. Excited but scarry, is how I would describe how it feels to have just dropped off the papers to rent the Oregon Convention Center for the GP.  Its a great space. I know its the right place to hold the event but still I have this little voice in my head saying “what if no one comes?”.  ”Is it to large?” I just rented over 60,000 sq feet of space for an event. http://www.cascadegames.com/events/818  (scroll down to see the site)

I know GP’s are huge now.  I am planning on doing a ton to get players to come to Portland for this event – but its still just a little scary. Scary but good.

Tim

Magic artist (Chuck Lukacs) teaches class in Portland

If your into SciFi &/or Fantasy art you should check out the class that Chuck Lukacs is teaching in Portland.  As you likely know already, Chuck is a artist who has done multiple Magic cards. You may have met him at signing at event including the prerelease in Seattle or Phoenix or GP Seattle. (BTW – He likely will be signing at GP Portland)

You should check out his one day class – info below.

Tim

https://secure.pnca.edu/ce/reg/detail.php?c_id=CED0571-1&sem_year=&program=1

Characters for SciFi & Fantasy Illustration

ID: CED0571-1
one day
Meets every: S
Hours: 10:00am-1:00pm
Date: 5/20/10 – 5/20/10
• No syllabus available yet

Tuition: $50

REGISTER

Drawing workshop designed for those interested in developing their conceptual skills in Creatures and Character building for multiple SciFi & Fantasy genres. Experiment and discover ways of combining forms, and surface textures with word association games, to design new and inventive concepts for eventual use in a SciFi & Fantasy fiction, or gaming portfolio.

Prerequisite(s): None

Instructor: Chuck Lukacs

Magic Grand Prix Portland

Thought I would post what the entrance to the rooms we will be holding the GP in.  Note the very cool solar map in the floor and the pendulum.

Oregon convention center room B entrance

 

 

Worst idea ever?

This is a real product. Now I’m a huge comic fan but this is crazy.  Who out there says I don’t like how I smell and I know how to fix it.  I’m going to small like the Hulk?  For those of you who may have forgotten the Hulk doesn’t bathe.

Worldwake in Prerelease in AZ.

Cascade Games will not be holding a prerelease in AZ. I have conflicted feeling about this. However clear to me that what Cascade Games does best is hold really large event. If attendance is low then thats not an event we should be running.

In AZ. we never broke 100 entrys – and that was no where close to 100 unique players. It just doesn’t make sense for Cascade Games to run that sized event.

So I’m sorry to everyone who this is a disappointment for.  But it just didn’t work out.

We will continue running PTQ’s and everything else that we do now – just not a prerelease.

Tim

Great – Onion article

From the onion http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/barack_obama_names_alan

Barack Obama Names Alan Moore Official White House Biographer

NOVEMBER 4, 2009 | ISSUE 45•45

02.10.09

WASHINGTON—At a press conference Monday, President Obama announced that he had appointed legendary comic book writer Alan Moore as the official biographer of his time in the White House. “As evidenced by his epic run on Swamp Thing #21–64, Moore’s deft hand with both sociopolitical commentary and metaphysical violence makes him an ideal choice to chronicle my time in office,” Obama said of the author of Watchmen and From Hell, whom he reportedly chose over others on a short list of potential biographers that included Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison, and Bob Woodward. “I look forward to seeing the kinds of subplots he will surely weave throughout the main narrative of my presidency, and how he’ll tie them all back together at the end in a way that just elevates the thing to a whole other level. God, that guy is the master.” Although Obama has not yet settled on a publisher for his White House biography, he is reportedly leaning toward DC’s Vertigo imprint for its creator-friendly ethos, high production values, and willingness to publish content for mature readers.

First artist for GP Portland

As artists sign up for the GP I will be posting here. Keep in mind that the events almost a year out so all artists are tentative and will need to be confirmed as the event comes closer – however I promise an amazing list of artists.

First artist to sign up is – RK Post.

 

This is going to be amazing folks.

Amazing news – GP Portland

I live in Portland. I love Portland and last night Wizards of the Coast web site went live with the news that Portland Oregon is going to get a GP. Thats right – Portland Oregon is getting a Grand Prix.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/other/110509a

For years players have been asking me –  ”When will Portland get a GP”  and I have never had a good answer – well now I do. The Grand Prix Portland will be Sept 11 and 12th.

So Good. So flipping good.

I can’t wait to show off Portland – easily one of the best cities in the world to everyone at the GP.

I know everyone wants details as soon as possible and I have been working for months on getting this event together and will be ready to announce things like location, hotels, artists and side event schedules over the next weeks.

But for now – I’m just so happy to announce that Portland gets a GP.

Tim

Microsoft surface and D&D

You got to check this out.

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/10/d-and-d-microsoft-surface/

Special thanks to Aaron Hamer for the link.

Yes this needs to be faster and cooler but what a great start.

Tim

Newest Lvl 3 Magic Judge

I am pleased to announce that Eli Shiffrin has passed his lvl 3 test and now joins the ranks of lvl 3 Magic Judges.

Way to go Eli.

Tim