Post-Apocalyptic Board Game Millennium And New York's Freedom Tower Live On

Freedom Tower New York City 2020

September 11, 2001, is certainly a date to remember for many reasons. It's hard to believe that it's been almost 20 years since that event took place and gripped our nation in the unknown.

I had just retired that same year and moved to Florida like many people from the Northeast, trying to get away from the cold and the snow. I sure miss spending Christmas in New York and New Jersey.

But life goes on and here we are in the midst of a pandemic. Not exactly a surprise but nevertheless, a blow to the economy in so many ways.

It's great to see that New York City's Freedom Tower has stood the test of time and stands tall and proud alongside the former Twin Tower footprints; a destination on my bucket list for sure.

Today also marks the date I had set to launch my new board game, Millennium. September 11, 2001, is an important date for the board game because it serves as a backdrop to the Millennium landscape, which references September 11, 2001, as the catalyst for change in America. As it turns out, COVID-19 in the year 2020 is another flashpoint that certainly has shades of an impending apocalypse; not to mention the chaos the coming presidential election in November might bring.

Yes, folks, the future apocalypse is alive and well in America and around the world, hence the board game Millennium. Here are some of the package designs I've tested over the years.

Current Design 2020

As the game stands now it's in development hell due to financial reasons, although, that being said, I've updated the game and currently still play-testing the sepia-toned version you see above. As you can see, this box features the first book, Edge of The Apocalypse.

I think this box tells a better story on its cover and so most likely I'll print this packaging for the debut box hopefully out next September 11, 2021. Unless we're in for another dose of COVID-19 or God forbid something worse. You never know.

And so this is how it goes. I spend 3 years developing Millennium and along comes this pandemic and wipes out all the momentum I had going. Boohoo, cry me a river okay. Get over it. It's just a game. Right. That's what I keep telling myself.

No worries. Let's just hope we're all around in the year 2021 with a new outlook on life and everything it has to offer. So stay tuned for more about the game. I'm hoping to put out a promotional video soon.

Check out my previous posts on this blog for much more about the game and the three companion books, which are all out on Amazon in paperback or ebook versions.

See the Books

See Millennium on The Game Crafter

Passengers | The Movie - Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence

 

Okay folks, I'll make this short and not so sweet. What's the best part about Passengers? For me, since I've been around the block a few times and for the most part I detest formulaic screenplays (you know the ones I mean; most of them. Movies with a beginning, a middle, and a predictable ending.) Yes, Andy Garcia's two-seconds cameo was a nice surprise but come on, stop that Hollywood. That's a cheap trick, if ever.

So just about the best part for me was the Avalon Spaceship itself. Wow, if you're a sci-fi enthusiast you gotta love that ship. This is where the movie earned its stripes in my opinion, including Pratt's interaction with the vessel. And just as a head's up to Hollywood producers, (not that they need it from me) there's a whole mini-series waiting to happen based on the Avalon. Go for it. I'll wait for my royalties in the mail.

Okay, enough of that. Jennifer Lawrence, you're gorgeous but annoying to watch; listen to. Did she have to almost kill him? Please. I mean a bit over the top performance, despite the script. Scary. Almost turned into a horror flick. Pratt, a bit more nuanced in his approach. He's cool, okay. 

Look, everything hangs on the concept, which is quite good except that a ship as advanced as the Avalon should have detected and avoided colliding with an asteroid belt or whatever. But of course, if you use that logic then you have no story. 

What's one to do? Nothing. Pray for better movies.

Two out of five stars.

P.S. No disrespect to Laurence Fishburne (he's always good) and Michael Sheen. I've always loved Fishburne since Apocalypse Now and Sheen does shine in Frost/Nixon. In this film, he's the subject of comic relief but nicely done as an Android; an interesting hook.

FIRESTONE - Book 1 by RYAN CARRIERE [Fantasy Steampunk] A Tale of The Eternal Stones Series

Get Your Free Copy Today! (Limited Time)

Lovers of Fantasy and Steampunk stories, check out this new series by Ryan Carriere. I got this on short notice but I like what I've seen so far. Amazing book covers and vids. I just downloaded my free copy so I'll be busy reading for a while.

This is so different from my series, The Edge of Time, which, is a different genre (contemporary post-apocalyptic fiction) but either way, I'm enjoying Ryan's first book in his series, A Tale of The Eternal Stones. An amazing story. Get it today!

Check out Ryan Carriere and his new book series on Facebook too. 

Timelapse of The Entire Universe - Apocalyptic

ARCHIVE: A New Sci-Fi Movie - A Rothery VOD Film

Directed by Gavin Rothery. With Rhona Mitra, Theo James, Toby Jones, Stacy Martin. 2038: George Almore is working on a true human-equivalent AI. His latest prototype is almost ready. This sensitive phase is also the riskiest. Especially as he has a goal that must be hidden at all costs: being reunited with his dead wife.

I'm watching this movie tonight so I'll post my review on Sunday. I've got my fingers crossed so I hope it's a good one. Happy watching.

Here's an update about my review of this movie:

Loved the concept and "special effects" or visuals. But unfortunately, this is one of those movies with very little tension or subtext to keep you riveted and keep you in suspense. Couldn't get into this film as much as I wanted to. Otherwise, it was interesting enough to watch until the end.

The ending for me fell short because I could hardly hear their soft-spoken voices but even when I got the words I'm not quite sure I got the ending.

I'll have to watch it again to see if this film gets any better.

SPOILER:

Okay, so after watching this movie again I can say that this film has a The Sixth Sense meets Ex Machina kind of feel. I think I loved it because it definitely had some good moments.

Board Games and Coronavirus - How Millennium is Dealing With COVID-19

Hey folks, I hope you're safe, healthy, and still living the American Dream in one way or another. Without question, COVID-19 has dampened spirits and has changed our daily lives in unexpected ways.

But no worries, my response to this virus regarding the Millennium game is simple because viruses are certainly a part of the apocalypse and it's fairly easy to add playing cards and chits to thematically reflect a sign of the times, which I already had in play as a generic plague.

New COVID-19 Playing Card

The question is, what does COVID-19 look like in the year 2157? For now, it looks like the common flu since several vaccines have been developed to fight it, however, about 5% of the population is still dying when infected. Anything goes at this point and the details are only as important as the action you want to add to the game.

I don't like to use losing turns like a game mechanism, but this is COVID-19 after all so the punishment fits. I can adjust the number of turns lost and will probably wind up with 2 turns lost so as to not discourage gameplay.

Other than that, Millennium is better than ever and I plan to print another prototype this coming month and continue testing the game. I've already started working on the introduction video to the game and I'll be able to add game-play rules as soon as I get the new box and game board. As far as the launch date, that remains to be seen because I had planned to launch this game on September 11 but I might push that to a later date; maybe November or even another month in 2021 because of the election this November.

As anxious as I am to get Millennium out there, I don't want to rush things either. The launch date is important because The Game Crafter website helps promote the game initially and so I want to pair that with my own promotions to generate stronger momentum.

That first push and intro are important to keep high and wide at first and then narrow the promos to the niche audiences who are most likely to buy the game. Some might say that the opposite is true but I think that wider exposure from the outset is the way to go.

Either way, Millennium will be on the market soon enough and my 3-year secret will be exposed for everyone to see. 

Millennium's stealth mode is about to unveil the inevitable and glorious introduction to one of the most exciting and most innovative board games planet Earth has ever known.

Lofty hyperbole, yes. You've got to think big and reach for the stars, my friends. We've got but one life so we must make the very best of it while we can.

Live long and prosper.

Post-Apocalyptic Board Games - A Millennium Game Update

New Millennium Game Box

Hey folks, I hope all is well by you and that being home isn't driving you up the walls. Many people have adapted to working from home as I did 12 years ago. It's best if you have a dedicated home office, otherwise, the distractions are maddening.

Family game night is back and so it's a good time to try something new if you're tired of the old classic games. I was hoping to get Millennium out there by the September 11 deadline but since the manufacturer (TheGameCrafter.com) had been closed and I've had to add additional COVID-19 theme cards and chits, that has set me back a bit.

But no worries, the game is better than ever and holding up nicely despite minor delays. I still have a gameplay video to produce once they print the final prototype. Mama mia, (I'm watching the Godfather for the 100th time as I work) this game is never done.

Grazie. Prego.

Absolutely one of the best films ever made. You gotta love the classics and that includes classic games but once in a while you have to take a walk on the wild side. Like watching Mad Max Fury Road for a change. That's a modern classic right there.

I like to think that Millennium will become a modern classic game in its own right someday. I designed it with that thought in mind so the game does have many classic themes and scenes that resonate and are familiar to many players.

That's one thing to keep in mind when you design a board game of any kind. It's best if a new game has familiar mechanics and themes that all players can relate to. I've always been fond of stories that take you back in time and so that's a big part of Millennium, as the cover shows.

But the game is about so much more than visiting the past as it explores Earth's possible future, which is a hopeful one. The themes and plot devices run deep in the game and so it is also more than a search and rescue game. Millennium lives and plays on many levels and draws you in and takes you in many directions. There are many choices and you'll have plenty of decisions to make along the way so its many adventures are unpredictable.

It's going to be an exciting game and I really look forward to announcing when the game is finally done. Soon. Hopefully very soon.

Meanwhile, let's be safe out there.

Hill Street Blues. (Google it youngbloods.)