Washington, Iraq and the ICA

The War on Terror sure does get around. Just recently, we've had two of our EVIL challenges broken - one in Iraq and one in Washington - and now it's even in two galleries in London (the Political Cartoon Gallery and the ICA, in case you thought the title was a dyslexic rendering of CIA). Culture ahoy!

we got sent this amazing photo from a patrol base in Baghdad First we got sent this amazing photo from a patrol base in Baghdad, of troops taking some time out from the real 'war on terror' to play its boardgame counterpart. There are smiles all round, which is lovely to see, but we're not sure if it's post-modern irony, or simply relief that the violence is abstracted for once. We'd love to see more WoT-lovers on the 'front line', so if you have any photos, please send them our way. We'd also love to know what you think of playing a game about a war you're engaged in. Which one, for example, is more pointless?

It's obviously the season for EVILness as just a week later an enterprising fan sent in a series of photos taken during a trip to Washington DC. They're quite impressive, especially as the only security restriction they encountered was being told that they couldn't use a tripod to take the photos.

And, to bring the war back home again, we're very chuffed to announce that War on Terror is being stocked by both the Political Cartoon Gallery, just round the corner from the British Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, right on the Mall. Here's the lowdown on the ICA from their website:

"The ICA is home to the best new art and culture from Britain and around the world. A meeting point for exploration between artists and audiences, the ICA examines the questions that shape our culture, society and individual lives."

Hopefully, the next time the Queen rides by, she'll pop in and grab herself a copy.

Slowly but surely, WoT is mutating into what we always wanted it to be - a board game, a piece of art, a political statement, satirical subversion, lots of FUN and a free balaclava.

One day there'll be a category for just that in 'Toys R Us', but until then, we'll settle for the ICA.

And the 'Most Inventive Medium for Propaganda' Award Goes To ....

Not sure how we missed this, but a recent trawl through our site stats revealed that we had won an award that not only were we not aware of, but also seems entirely invented for the purpose of bestowing upon us.

The rather low-key, but extensive (just check out their archive) Socialist Unity Network voted War on Terror, the boardgame the 'Most Inventive Medium for Propaganda' in their prestigious, annual Socialist Unity Awards.

Our response to this great honour is threefold: 1) Thanks guys! 2) Why weren't we invited to the awards ceremony? (Just because we drank all the booze once doesn't mean we'll do it again). 3) It's not propaganda, it's just a game, man.

In other news - and almost legitimising the above award - you may recall that War on Terror has been sneaking appearances in the background of the IT Crowd set. Well knock us down with a feather-tipped WMD if they weren't actually playing the darn thing in episode four. It's about 4 mins 20 seconds into this YouTube clip.

(For geeks though, they weren't paying much attention to the proper rules. Tsk!)

Breaking News: Oi oi Australians! You can now get the game cheaper by buying it from the excellent New Internationalist (who incidentally rated the game 5 stars). This is the first of hopefully many outlets in Australia, so our antipodean liberation starts...

WMD's found in Reading University!

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GEN CON UK Fri-Sun

The early bird of Akrilia catches the Worm of Hope...or in other words, a chap named Paul, got up early at a games convention, found a WMD card that was half tucked behind a registration board and presented himself to us, proudly waving his WMD.

So we had the first eagle-eyed winner of our game. Over the next few days more WMDs were coming out of the wood work or being peeled from fire hydrants, found on the underside of stairs, unstuck from walls. You name the place, we had them hidden. Not a lot of people believed the intelligence when we told them WMDs were out there but then who can blame them?

Possibly the best reaction to receiving a free game was this: 'I've found this, do I really get a free game?', 'Yes, here have this one' and before any more could be said the very happy figure left our stand running and screaming. We hope you enjoy it, friend, whoever you are! (You can catch some of the other slightly more static competition winners in Photo form in the gallery). The only WMD not to be found was, incredibly, the one lodged in the tray of the bar till. This was nothing short of a miracle, especially considering the bar was busy enough to be drunk dry on the first night. Luckily normal service resumed for each and every night that followed - of course with that amount of drink being drunk we’re not sure that the term ‘normal’ really applies.

Friday night saw us wander into a rather fine looking Fancy Dress party in the Students' bar (that should read 'LARP Party' - Role-Playing Ed.). They had all sorts of costumes that we didn't understand and a few we did, From Chewbacca in high heels (very sexy) to blood splattered zombies (level 7 grade 2 zombies from the shoecupboard extension pack of the now deleted 'Zombie Zombie') The night was great, even when Andy persuaded Tom to join all the entrants on stage. 'If you're asked, just say you're the character 'John'. Amazingly Tom wasn't asked and got a cheer when it was his turn to raise his arm. It was either big love or the drink, either way a great night was had by all and it ended when we staggered back to our rooms to try out a Laser chess type of game that we picked up from the Bring n Buy stall opposite ours (Andy won - Game Results Ed.).

The only WMD not to be found was, incredibly, the one lodged in the tray of the bar till Saturday saw more insults flown between the 'Bring and Buy Boys’ and ourselves via the medium of the humble paper airplane. The VIP artists and Tom were asked to create some new and original artworks for a crazy game entitled '1000 blank cards'. The basic premise runs thus: Name of card, card action plus an effect if desired, points awarded by said card ranging from -1000 to +1000. You play the cards (There were over 50 original superbly drawn cards by the VIP's - and a few from Tom) and you draw your own to combat the card you've just received! It's that simple, and a hellava lot of fun...it just gets silly! Luckily the set was the second highest article at the charity auction on Saturday night. Big up the VIP's. We blame Tom's interference for it not hitting the number one slot.

Saturday night's entertainments went on into the early hours which appears to be the norm at gaming conventions we discover. 5am Sunday morning and our guitar wielding group had a grumpy visitor wearing a medieval tunic of sorts: 'I was really enjoying killing Goblins but they keep blowing the candles out which is just childish so I've stopped', A few more Irish Whiskies and we set off to bed at 7am. Buzzing from caffeine and not able to sleep, we were fresh faced for Sunday Morning and the last day of trading. It proved to be our best day

We had a great time, met lots of wonderful gamers, tradesmen and tradesladies and wish to praise the organisation of 'Horsemen Events' for doing such a good job and for being so bloody nice to us all weekend. And now…We’re going to get some sleep.

GenCon, Reading - Day One

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We're off to GenCon! Packing goes well - sheep's skulls, squashed rats, 'warning: unexploded bomb' signs, rubber vulture, life-size suicide bomber and politician standees, 'mine' signs (x3), painted bedsheets ... but no camo netting. It's at this moment we remembered we left our camo netting in LA. So in a bid to blag some last-minute camoflage Tom phones the local TA, who unsurprisingly refuse to help us out. Tom makes a new enemy when he tells the TA colnel that he'll try the 'proper army' instead.

So a quick detour to Luton Army & Navy stores and we're kitted up and off to Reading, stopping occasionally to pick up interesting rubbish we see for our stand. We're possibly the last people to arrive, meaning that we have just two hours to set up, but we're old hands at this now and Reading University soon has its very own piece of armagheddon-themed terror.

Sadly (and thankfully) Reading isn't Vegas and there's little to do but end the night with a game of chess. Rock n roll.

Up early the next day and we meet our convention neighbours who are staring wide-eyed at the horror which has sprung up next to them overnight. It's not long before we're 'known'. Despite our new camo netting, blending in is not an option when you're wearing a bright orange jumpsuit. The day passes quickly, with lots of classic reactions, from sheer disbelief to loud, insane laughter. We also hide some WMDs around the place for people to find after stealthyly removing the orange jumpsuits ( we had previoulsy tried hiding WMD's whilst wearing the suits and couldn't work out why we were constantly being watched - we are stupid sometimes).Although there's a reward of a free game, WMDs still prove elusive - no one's found any yet. But this time it's not down to dodgy intelligence.

We also hide some WMDs around the place Tom makes himself a second enemy in one day by approaching a LARP (Live Action Role Playing - weird shit) booth, picks up a troll outfit and declares with genuine child-like enthusiasm "Oh I love fancy dress!". Tom is firmly informed that the correct term is 'Larp gear' and under no circumstances 'fancy dress' or 'dress-up'.

We were humbled on many occassions by the genoristy and noisy vocal enthusiasam of many 'fresh blood' visitors to our stand who wished to take as many postcards as they could carry (And that's a lot!) to spread the 'terror' on our behalf...Big up all you guys, you know who you are.We love ya!

In the evening, there's a game-themed quiz. The promise of free wine and food draws us in, but we know full well we're going to be rubbish. And yet, we are recruited into a team despite all our warnings that we'll be nothing but a hindrance. Our team ends last, with the lowest ever score in GenCon history. Question after question is met with blank faces at our table, while ubergeeks all around squeal with knowing delight. Example question: 'You are Morlock and have the Dagger of Oblivion. If I have a Spellcasting power of four, where and how can I invert your Targ energy?' Our team-mates are briefly hopeful when the 'Boardgames and Publishers' round is announced and look at us expectantly. We then had to explain that we're here by accident and know next to nothing about boardgames and publishers and might even struggle to answer a question about TerrorBull Games. Turns out we know less than next to nothing, since our score for that round was a big fat zero. And that was the round we played our joker. Thankfully wine, as is often the case, rescues the evening.

The night ends with a short scavenge for more rubbish. The big find of the evening: a pair of rubber gloves. Nice.

War on Terror Cameo on The IT Crowd

Check it out - blog binge! We fall silent for ages and then it's non-stop bloggy action. Just a quick one this time - the new series of Graham Linehan's (Father Ted) rather amusing sitcom, The IT Crowd, has just started on Channel 4. Those living in the UK with particularly eagle eyes may have noticed something familiar on set.

Yep, it's only the bleedin' War on Terror on the shelves behind Moss's desk. Even though we've known about this for a while, we still did a little wee of triumph when we saw our beloved cardboard baby on TV. So cute.

If you haven't ever seen The IT Crowd, give it a go next Friday, Channel 4 (9.30pm). Try a drinking game, taking a shot every time you see the War on Terror. It's a cheap night in, what have you got to lose?

we still did a little wee of triumph Apparently, in one episode this series, Moss and Roy are actually going to play our game. Since the sitcom stars the twin pillars of genius that are Chris Morris (Blue Jam, Brass Eye) and Richard Ayoade (Garth Marenghi's Dark Places, Man to Man With Dean Learner), you can imagine we're really rather chuffed.

Three cheers for free product placement!

Edit 29/08/07: For those of you not in the UK, or who don't have a TV, or who simply can't be arsed, here's episode one on You Tube. Skip to 2'45'' for some vintage War on Terror action.

Edit 20/07/15: Moss and Roy actually play the game briefly in episode four. It's about 1 min 50 seconds into This clip