Palladium Books® – Press Release – April 29, 2010
By Kevin Siembieda
This is gonna be a short one.
UPDATE: Triax™ 2 arrived early, this past Tuesday. Pre-orders have shipped. Distributor orders have shipped. The book is fabulous. You NEED to buy a copy this weekend. :)
UPDATE: Rifts® Hoodies are available right now. The Rifts® hoodies look amazing.
UPDATE: Rifts® T-shirts. We have FOUR new T-shirts debuting at the Open House. Three will become available next week. A Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms T-shirt, Rifts® 20 year anniversary T-shirt, and a new Game Master T-shirt. (The Palladium Open House T-shirt is only available at the Open House, sorry.)
UPDATE: Online Sales. Sales for the past weekend were down 40% or so. Sales the rest of the week were rather and up down. Sales of Rifts® Triax™ 2 have been super! And the handful of volunteers at the Open House LOVE it. Yep, good stuff.
UPDATE: Dad. My father, Henry, continues to do well, but was down when I saw him Tuesday for breakfast and a brief visit. I think he’s worried about his next cancer test in June and is troubled by his memory loss (early onset Alzheimer’s or Dementia). He decided to pass on coming to the Open House even for an afternoon, and I couldn’t talk him out of his decision. It must be hard knowing your memories are fading and being confused by things. He’s a great Dad and I comfort him as best I can.
Kudos to Kathy Simmons. Whenever we host an Open House, we all work long hours getting everything in place, but Kathy Simmons does a superhuman amount of work – as in like THREE TIMES as much. And she still manages to remain cheerful and generous. (I get cranky and irritable, but not Kathy.) She is amazing and without her the Open House would not be as much fun or as organized. Thank you, Kathy, you are appreciated more than you know.
UPDATE: Rifts® Movie News. As reported last Press Release, we renewed our option with the Walt Disney Company and JB Films to develop a Rifts® Movie. The thing is, this time, there seems to be excitement in the air and they are going send me a copy of the screenplay for my review. I can hardly wait. Of course, with all the secrecy around it, I won’t be able to reveal anything about the script. Gah, I hate secrets.
UPDATE: Licensing, New Markets and Crossovers. There continues to be interest in Rifts® and other Palladium intellectual properties, but nothing to report yet.
I approved the script for the Rifts®/Colt the Outlander® crossover comic strip for Heavy Metal® Magazine and the gents behind the project are busy drawing away. It is slated to appear in the July issue, so watch for it.
An ongoing Rifts® comic book series may be in our future. I have a conference call scheduled next week with the key guy interested in doing an ongoing Rifts® comic book series.
Palladium’s agent, Mark Freedman, Lonnie Freedman and the rest of the Surge Licensing team continue to actively shop Palladium intellectual properties around and there is a lot of excitement about the potential for Rifts® and other Palladium I.P.s.
The Palladium Open House is this weekend
It’s not to late to join the fun. So come on down, even if its for one or two days.
That’s why this Press Release is so short. I’m waaaaaaay behind where I need to be with the auction and my games so I gotta run and get back to it.
The Palladium Warehouse is set up. Most everything is in place and we’re geared up for a weekend of fun. Now if Kathy, the guys and I could only squeeze in a little sleep. Heck, we can sleep next week, eh?
I’ll post a report next week with photos for the multitude of you who couldn’t make it. We know you are here in spirit. Enjoy your weekend wherever you are. Think of Palladium fondly. Maybe play a Palladium RPG, enjoy your friends and family and have a nice weekend.
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer & Gamer
2010 Palladium Open House – April 29, 30, May 1 & 2
Today is VIP Night with our doors opening at 4:00 PM till midnight.
Friday is gaming and panel talks all day long, from 9:00 AM to midnight (with more gaming going on at the hotel).
Saturday is more gaming and panel talks, plus the Live Auction and the Costume Contest (it was awesome last year). 9:00 AM to midnight.
Sunday is more gaming, but it is a short day; 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or so.
ALL EVENTS are covered under the cost of admission.
3 Day Weekend: $40 per person (Friday thru Sunday).
Friday Only: $16 per person – games and panel talks all day long.
Saturday Only: $16 per person – gaming, costume contest and live auction.
Sunday Only: $12 per person – more games and panel talks.
VIP Night: Sold out.
Online: Click the links above.
By Telephone: Call (734) 721-2903 – have your credit card information ready.
Hotel: Call 734-455-8100 to make hotel reservations at the Comfort Inn Plymouth Clock Tower, 40455 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, MI 48170 (right off of I-275 and five minutes from Palladium Books).
Highlights:
Rifts® 20th Birthday celebration.
60+ scheduled gaming events!
Additional open gaming area and pick-up games.
Many panel talks. Many this year, all weekend.
Meet 30+ Palladium creators – the largest gathering of Palladium creators in the world!
Chat and get autographs from all the Palladium creators.
Open access to the writers, artists and creators all three days.
Costume Contest (Saturday evening) – Come as a Palladium character and maybe you will win a trophy plaque and prize.
Live auction (Saturday evening) with rare out of print books, books from the Erick Wujcik collection, original artwork, proofreader copies of manuscripts, collectibles and more.
Much, much, more.
ALL EVENTS are covered by the cost of admission.
2010 Palladium Open House – April 29, 30, May 1 & 2, 2010.
For more information and to pre-register, click here.
Rifts® Logo – “Zipper” Hoodie
– Available now
A white imprint of the Rifts® Logo on a black zipper hoodie. The famous Rifts® Logo appears front and back; a small logo over the left breast and a large logo printed on the back.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend; full zipper.
Sizes: Medium to 3XL.
Color: White logo on a black zipper hoodie.
Cost: $32.95 for Medium, Large and XL. $34.95 for 2XL. $36.95 for 3XL; plus shipping (approximately $6 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2546. Available now.
Rifts® Logo – “Pullover” Hoodie
– Available now
A white imprint of a large Rifts® Logo on the front of a pullover hoodie. Nothing on the back.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend; pullover.
Sizes: Medium to 3XL.
Color: White logo on a black pullover hoodie.
Cost: $28.95 for Medium, Large and XL. $30.95 for 2XL, and $32.95 for 3XL; plus shipping (approximately $6 to most places in the USA).
Cat. No. 2547. Available now.
Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two
– Available now
You heard right. Rifts® Triax™ Two arrived early. Some of you who pre-ordered may be getting it in the mail today or tomorrow. Enjoy.
Triax™ Two is the long awaited and hotly anticipated sequel to the hugely popular Rifts® World Book 5: Triax™ & The NGR (more than 100,000 copies sold). Fans want this book badly, and it is going to be a hot selling item. A ton of new weapons, vehicles, power armor, giant robots and much more make this a toy box you will not be able to resist.
27 new Triax weapons plus new body armor and additional gear.
10 new Triax giant robots including the Talon and Devastator Mk II.
10 cars and commercial vehicles plus more than 50 special features.
9 new robot drones including robot assistants, pets and Spy ‘Bots.
6 new Triax power armor suits, including the Predator II, Ulti-Max II, War Eagle, Fat Boy, and a flying Glitter Boy.
5 new aircraft and other combat vehicles.
The New Luftwaffe – not what you are expecting.
Cybernetic airframes and Cyborg Combat Pilot O.C.C. that will blow your mind.
Drop ships, deployment pods and makeshift fortifications.
Mobile NGR forts and bases.
Zoom, Atomix Powder, Rat & other drinks that augment the user.
History of the NGR and the Gargoyle War.
History of Triax.
The VGN – German Black Market.
Mercenaries, adventurers, work for hired guns and Gargoyle bounties.
The New German Republic, its society, and key cities.
The Autobahn, Railbahn and other places of interest.
The New German Republic’s military and plans for the future.
The latest on the Gargoyle War and Gargoyle Empire.
Update on the Gargoyle Empire and surrounding region.
More ideas for battles and adventure.
Cover by Scott Johnson.
Interior art by Michael Wilson, Allen Manning, Brian Manning, Mark Dudley, Kent Burles and Amy L. Ashbaugh.
Written by Taylor White, Brandon Aten and Kevin Siembieda.
192 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 881. Available now.
More Great Palladium RPGs and Products are Coming Your Way
- The Rifter® #49 – Now available
- The Rifter® #50 (special anniversary issue) – Now available
- Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™ – Now available
- Rifts® Hoodie (2 styles, zipper and pullover) – Now available
- Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two – April 29 – Now available
- Palladium Open House – April 29-May 2. Happening all weekend.
- Rifts® 20 Year Anniversary T-Shirt – May
- Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms – “Death is for the Weak” T-Shirt – May
- Palladium Books® – Game Master T-Shirt – May
- Rifts®/Phase World® Sourcebook: Heroes of the Megaverse® – May or June
- Rifts® Dimension Book™: Thundercloud Galaxy™ – May or June
- Armageddon Unlimited™ – June or July
- Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ – Summer
- Rifts® World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms™, Expanded & Updated – June
- Rifts® World Book™: Lemuria – Summer
- Robotech® UEEF Marines Sourcebook – Summer
- Robotech® New Generation Sourcebook – Summer
- Rifts® Chaos Earth™ – First Responders Sourcebook – Summer
- Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames – August
- Plus more Robotech® sourcebooks, more Mysteries of Magic™ sourcebooks (hoping to slot one in this summer), more Nightbane® sourcebooks, more Dead Reign™ sourcebooks, Warpath™ and other good stuff.
The Queen of Ghouls displays at the Open House
Kathy’s amazing life-sized Halloween “ghouls” and signs are displayed at the Palladium Open House (and for sale). They are awesome.
“Ghouls” include killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, executioners, mad doctors, vampires, werebeasts, monsters and soon, new styles of zombies that look even more life-like. Kathy’s also now offering an array of handmade Halloween signs, witch’s brewing pots and more. Best of all, her high quality creations are much more affordable and imaginative than most competitors. Affordable Halloween fun. You can see photos at Kathy’s Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.
© Copyright 2010 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, The Three Galaxies, Warpath, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.
This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.