Artist Wanted

 No, not for us but Looney Labs is looking for an artist to draw cats for their upcoming Cat Fluxx game, releasing late 2025 or early 2026. Not sure at to what pay would be but here is the link to the form in case you are interested.

Batman Fluxx

 Looney Labs released Batman Fluxx back in 2015 and the game went out of print back about 2018. It plays just like Fluxx only with a Batman skin and I hate to think how much Looney Labs spent to get the license for the game. The game uses art from the Animated Adventures series and generally uses the villains as Creepers, however they also get incorporated into Goals.

I find it interesting that Looney Labs first license for Fluxx, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, still remains in print well over a decade after Looney first acquired the license.

Sponge Bob Fluxx

Sponge Bob Fluxx coming July 30th. Plays like Fluxx but with a SpongeBob theme. MSRP is $19.99:

You probably already know who lives in a pineapple under the sea, but now you can join the whole Bikini Bottom gang in an undersea version of Fluxx! You can steal Mr. Krab’s Money or Squidward’s Clarinet, give a Krabby Patty to Plankton – you could even drive off in the Invisible Boatmobile! So, if nautical nonsense be something you wish, you don’t have to use your imaaaagination, just play Fluxx like a fish!

Marvel and Jumanji Fluxx Coming

From a press release from Looney Labs:

CARDINAL INDUSTRIES AND LOONEY LABS TEAM UP FOR TWO NEW FLUXX LICENSES

College Park, MD—February 14, 2019 Cardinal/Spinmaster and Looney Labs are pleased to announce a new partnership to create licensed card games for all channels. The companies are currently working on two games—Marvel Fluxx and Jumanji Fluxx. Both companies will publish versions of the games, each in the same slightly-larger-than-typical sized box. The Cardinal version will release with a $15 MSRP for mass market, whereas the Looney Labs version will contain seven bonus cards, and will sell for $20 in specialty and hobby. In addition, both versions will display a premium poker chip style collectible turn token in a clear window on the front of the package! This is the start of a creative partnership between the two companies, which will see more jointly released games in the future.

“We are so excited about these titles! Andy has created some really innovative new cards for these versions that will keep Fluxx fans coming back for more, and partnering with Cardinal means that we will be able to introduce Fluxx, the card game of ever-changing rules, to a much broader audience than ever before,” said Kristin Looney, CEO of Looney Labs. “Our goal is for a win-win-win. Cardinal adds Fluxx to its line of classic card games, Looney Labs reaches a larger audience, and specialty retailers not only get to sell a special version, but they will hopefully experience a sea change in the level of demand for Fluxx products.”

The Looney Labs versions will release in July of this year and the Cardinal versions will release in August. Look for them in stores everywhere!

About Looney Labs

Looney Labs was founded in 1996 by Kristin & Andrew Looney, a husband and wife team that gave up successful careers at NASA to pursue their hobby business full time. They could tell early on the true hit potential their card game Fluxx had, and with the creation of new and exciting versions of Fluxx, the popularity of the game has spread worldwide and spawned numerous international publications. The Looneys believe one of the most important things they create is the fun people have while playing their games. Andy continues to create new games, from those with lighter play, like Loonacy and Just Desserts, to more strategic games like Chrononauts and Pyramid Arcade. About SpinMaster/Cardinal Industries

Since 1945 Long Island City, New York, based Cardinal Industries has grown to become one of America's top signature board game and puzzle companies, offering more than four hundred items including traditional games such as dominoes, checkers and poker sets, as well as an extensive line of licensed games and lenticular, wood and basic puzzles. An industry leader with worldwide reach, Cardinal products can be found throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Cardinal games and puzzles have won many awards, including the LIMA International Licensing Award, TOTY award nominations, and many Vendor of the Year awards from Toys “R” Us.

In 2015 Cardinal became part of Spin Master Ltd., a global leader in multi-category children’s entertainment since 1994. The purchase made Spin Master the second largest games company in the U.S. Cardinal remains committed to making family-friendly, challenging and innovative games and puzzles, and making them affordable to all.

Star Trek Fluxx

Or is that Fluxxes? Anyhow, Looney Labs has announced they have the licese to produce a series of Star Trek Fluxx games releasing later this year:

We are very excited to announce three new Star Trek Titles from Looney Labs - two standalone card games and an expansion pack that allows you to shuffle both decks together!
 
Star Trek Fluxx: Featuring characters from the Original Series,
including Spock, Uhura, and Scotty!

Star Trek: The Next Generation Fluxx: Featuring TNG characters,
including Troi, Riker, and Worf!

Star Trek Fluxx Bridge Expansion: 12 cards that allow Kirk to meet Picard,
Spock to meet Data, and the Past to meet the Future!
 

Chemistry Fluxx

Looney Labs released Math Fluxx a couple of weeks ago, now here comes Chemistry Fluxx. Fun and educational at the same time.

Looney Labs Pyramid Arcade Sales Policy

Looney Labs, the publisher of myriad editions of Fluxx, just announced a new sales policy for their upcoming Pyramid Arcade game. Essentially, the new policy does not allow online sales of Pyramid Arcade by any online retailer that does not have an agreement with Looney Labs .  Already, Looney Labs has posted a list of about 2 dozen online retailers not allowed to sell the game.

Another Distributor Exclusive Ends

In case you missed the announcement earlier this week, Z-Man Games announced that, on March 15, it would end the exclusive distribution deal it has had in place for several years with Alliance Game Distribution, broadening its distribution channel to include not only Alliance but also Southern Hobby, ACD, GTS and Peachtree Distribution. Z-Man Games is probably best known for itsPandemic line of co-operative board games but the company also produces theCarcassonne, Agricola, Stone Age, Tragedy Looper as well as Camel Up and Dark Stories.

Z-man Games is part of the F2Z Entertainment publishing house, which also publishes the Plaid Hat, Pretzel and Filosofia lines of games and the success of Plaid Hat Games and Pretzel Games in using multiple distributors is what likely encouraged the company to end the exclusive arrangement with Alliance and move to a less exclusive arrangement with the other four distributors, which still leaves out smaller and regional distributors such as Aladdin’s and Mad Al.

By my calculations, this leaves about four publishers exclusive to one distributor or another. Alliance Game Distribution still maintains an exclusive relationship with WizKids Games, publisher of the HeroClix line of collectable superhero miniatures games; and Twilight Creations, best known as the publisher ofZombies! and its dozen or so expansions. ACD has an exclusive arrangement with Playroom, publisher of Geek Out and Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot (if it ever gets back into print, copies are going for over $100 on eBay); andPersonally Incorrect, a card game similar to Cards Against Humanity, is distributed exclusively by Lion Rampant Imports.

In addition, Looney Labs reduced its number of distributors a couple of years ago to two, ACD and Alliance (see “Looney Labs Cuts Distributors”), and added a third, GTS, six months ago; while whoever publishes Kittens In A Blender had an exclusive arrangement with GTS, though I am not sure if that was a permanent arrangement or just for the first (and only) reprinting of the game.

So far, WizKids seems pretty happy with how Alliance has handled distribution of their lines and, especially with HeroClix's heavy reliance on distribution of Organized Play materials to drive participation in OP events and hence sales of HeroClix products, I see no reason to expect WizKids to end the exclusive relationship now and since, from what I understand, money is involved in the ACD/Playroom deal, it is doubtful that one will change any time soon.

However, I would not be particularly surprised to hear an announcement from Looney Labs that they will expand their distribution channels from ACD, Alliance, and GTS to encompass the other two distributors as well. It would give them greater access to retailers that do not have one of their current three distributors as one of their first choices and would make it much easier for stores to restock products like Fluxx and Just Desserts as they will not have to hold off putting in an order until time to place one with one of Looney Labs' current distributors.

The thing that concerns me most about the expansion of Z-Man to additional distributors is the company’s notorious out of stock problem. Though Pandemicand its expansions remained in stock through this holiday season, this has not been the case in past years and the need to bump up production to supply the needs of four additional distributors may prove problematic for the company. I am hoping we don’t see a return to the days of Z-Man’s popular games out of stock for weeks or months again.

Firefly Fluxx Coming

Announcing Firefly™ Fluxx!

It's shiny!

Join Mal, Wash, Zoë, Inara, Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, River, and Book as Fluxx enters the 'Verse at full speed. With the rules constantly changing, Firefly™ Fluxx is just as unpredictable as misbehaving in space! Featuring sumptuous art by Adam Levermore, Firefly™ Fluxx is perfect for fans and collectors of both Firefly™ and Fluxx.

Firefly™ Fluxx
Street Date: March 18, 2016
SKU: LOO-070
UPC: 857848004352 
MSRP: $20

New Old Fluxx Title

Looney Labs will release an updated version of its Eco Fluxx game, retitled Nature Fluxx in November:

Street Date: November 6^th!

LOO-071 Nature Fluxx $16.00 SRP Nature Fluxx - The nature game with rules that change like the weather! In the wild, you have to adapt to survive. Grown from the seeds of EcoFluxx, Nature Fluxx is ready to take root in the game libraries of gamers all over the world. Full of rules that are constantly changing, Nature Fluxx has players constantly adapting and evolving - just like in nature! Nature Fluxx is the next evolution of EcoFluxx. It maintains the same cards and gameplay, but updates the card frame art and packaging. Full of plants and elements and things-that-eat-other-things, Nature Fluxx will remind and teach everyone about the wonders of nature (all while playing an all-natural game of Fluxx)! 2-6 players Ages 8+ 15 minute play time

Firefly Fluxx Coming

Coming 1st quarter of 2016

College Park, MD - September 10, 2015 Looney Labs is thrilled to announce the newest, out-of-this-world version of Fluxx: Firefly Fluxx! Join Mal, Wash, Zoë, Inara, Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, River, Book, and more as Fluxx enters the 'Verse at full speed. With the rules constantly changing, Firefly Fluxx is just as unpredictable as misbehaving in space! "We love the adventures of the crew of the Serenity," stated Andy Looney, Chief Creative Officer of Looney Labs "and welcoming them into the Fluxx 'Verse has been wonderful. It's a natural fit, as both Mal and Fluxx players have to constantly adapt the rules in order to win!" "We are excited to introduce the Browncoat Nation to Firefly Fluxx. We have been playing Fluxx for years and this version of the card game with ever-changing rules will not disappoint" says John Kovaleski of Gale Force Nine. "It's fast, fun, and Shiny!" A game of strategy, skill, and the luck of the draw, Firefly Fluxx echoes the aesthetics of the futuristic western. Featuring sumptuous art by Adam Levermore, Firefly Fluxx is perfect for fans and collectors of both Firefly and Fluxx! Firefly Fluxx will be in stores in early 2016, with an MSRP of $20.

It's Nice When Manufacturers Listen to Stores

It’s rather nice when a manufacturer asks a question of retailers, then actually listens  to what stores say and acts upon it. It seems to most retailers that manufacturers generally ask what stores want, listen and then go ahead and do whatever they planned to do in the first place. The recent releases of Batman Fluxx, and  Adventure Time Fluxx and the upcoming release of Fluxx Dice by Looney Labs are one of those great examples of a publisher reaching out to retailers, asking said retailers what should happen in a given situation and then acting on what said retailers  recommended Looney Labs do in order to make it easier on stores and maximize sales.

The original publishing schedule for the three releases was to release Adventure Time Fluxx in late July, Batman Fluxx in early August and Fluxx Dice in late August.  Due to a flux in the space time continuum, or more likely a shipping and delivery problem, the release date for Adventure Time Fluxx had to get pushed back to early August, releasing at the same time as Batman Fluxx. So Looney Labs did what any publisher ought to do and so few do, reach out to the people who will be selling most of their products to the end consumer, the retailers. 

Looney Labs wanted to know, should the company release both Fluxx titles on the same  day, potentially creating a greater impact  and grabbing more mindshare from the consumer or stagger the releases a few weeks apart, allowing each release to generate buzz on its own. Most of the retailers who responded chose spreading out the two releases over the month for two main reasons:  1) As noted above, spacing out the two allowed Looney Labs and stores to spread out the impact of each release, allowing stores to focus on and promote each separately, rather than  putting together a larger promotion that would increase attention on the Fluxx brand but could dilute the impact of either release on its own and 2) from a financial standpoint it is much easier for retailers to absorb the impact of stocking both games  if they can spread the “hit” to the budget over a month rather than stocking both at the same time and having the bill for both coming in at the same time as well.

Looney Labs did listen to the stores and pushed the release of Adventure Time Fluxx to later in August, releasing Batman Fluxx on August 7^th, Adventure Time Fluxx two weeks later and, so as to smooth out the release schedule even more, bumping Fluxx Dice back into early September. 

It would really help stores, and overall sales, if more companies would do both of these things:  talk to us and spread out their release schedules more for new products. Paizo’s release schedule for Pathfinder generally calls for new products to release the last Wednesday of each month, meaning that a Pathfinder player who wants to pick up everything for the game has to plan on dropping an average of $100-$200 that week on Pathfinder products. Spreading out new releases on a weekly  schedule, ala Games Workshop, would mean:  1) new products every week for the Pathfinder player and 2) lest of a hit at the end of the month on said Pathfinder player’s wallet, and the store’s budget too, for that matter.  Think about it, would you Paizo?

Final Thoughts on Gencon 2105

Wrapping up a Magic Game Day weekend while grading final exams makes for a very busy weekend but I still had some thoughts about last week’s Gencon:

1.        Attendance.  Reported attendance topped 61,000 people. That’s over double 2010’s attendance of  just over 30,000 through the door and, while still just under half the attendance of the pre-eminent pop-culture convention, San Diego Comic Con, the numbers GenCon posts far eclipse that of the second largest gaming convention, Origins, which posted n numbers of just under 16,000 this year. Whatever else one might say about Gencon, and lots of people have lots of things to say, the people running it are certainly doing something right to generate those kinds of numbers.

2.       Dealer’s/Exhibit Hall.  With the kind of attendance numbers GenCon has generated the past decade, the convention has become THE place to be if you are a game company, especially if you are a smaller game company or a seller of gaming related paraphernalia, such as t-shirts, bags, etc. As I mentioned last week, a number of companies reported selling out of their con stock of a production run on day one (Looney Labs and Green Ronin come to mind) and had to get a rush delivery to restock for the rest of the con. However , the huge demand for space in the hall has caused GenCon to move to a priority points based system for allocation of space, with vendors needing to accumulate so many points in order to get a booth. Factors determining the number of priority points a vendor gets include number of years displaying at Gencon, size of the booth, sponsorship level and other factors that I wasn’t able to find with a quick search.  This means that smaller vendors with low priority point levels get relegated to less desirable spots in the hall. Couple that with a booth fee in excess of $1500 for a 10’ x 10’ booth and smaller vendors can feel  quite squeezed, to the point where they may find it financially infeasible to return to the show.

3.       GenCon Releases.  Still quite a bit of a problem with small publishers even after all these years. Wanting to make a splash and draw attention to their booths, publishers hold or target new releases for GenCon (see the aforementioned Looney Labs and Green Ronin.  Batman Fluxx released the week after Gencon and we still have not seen Fantasy Age or Titansgrave in store yet). This doesn’t hurt stores that are a good distance away from Indianapolis. However, one of the selling points for Indianapolis as a location for GenCon is that 70% of the US’s population lies within about a day’s drive of the city, meaning that a good number of stores lose sales to Gencon.  It’s also possible to look at this problem in another way. True, the store lost sales to Gencon, but the store can also look at this as a demo opportunity. I know of stores that have customers come back with Gencon purchases and want to play them in the store. Instead of getting angry, the store manager looks at this as a promotional opportunity, taking advantage to show the game off to those customers that did not get to go to Gencon, and there are a lot of them out there.

And with that, Gencon 2015 is on the books.

A Quick Look at GenCon

Gencon, in case you missed it, took place this past weekend. I did not go. Missed the sign up date for the Trade Day and had other things to work on but did hear a few interesting tidbits from the show. 

Upper Deck’s Vs. card game attracted quite a bit of attention. The game has shifted format from a collectable version to a customizable one, apeing Fantasy Flight Games LCG system, though of course they cannot call it that. The Cypher System rules from Monte Cook Games also had a successful launch as did Titansgrave and the Fantasy Age rules from Green Ronin, no doubt building on the success of Wil Wheaton’s Titansgrave web series.

 Looney Labs, meanwhile, sold through 200 hundred copies of Batman Fluxx, nearly all they brought, on day one of the show. Not too shabby.

Word of the day on the Exhibit Hall floor, though, was “Kickstarter” as many smaller companies were either selling games they had just produced through Kickstarter or talking about upcoming releases they planned to fund through Kickstarter. Amazon tied into Gencon with a Daily Deal offering a number of board and card games, including offerings from Steve Jackson Games, Iello, Asmodee, Cool Mini or Not and Days of Wonder, among others at discounts ranging from 35% to just over 50% off.

More comments likely on the show later in  week.

Batman Fluxx Coming

Next Week from Looney Labs:

We're very excited to announce that Batman™ Fluxx will be in stores August 7! With art in the style of The New Batman Adventures, Batman™ Fluxx introduces the Caped Crusader (and his Rogue's Gallery of villains) to the ever-changing card game of Fluxx. To celebrate Batman's adventures in the Fluxx universe, you'll be able to get a limited edition Batman™ Fluxx coin and Two-Face Flip card in the August issue of Game Trade Magazine, which will be available for FREE at GenCon (while supplies last)! JULY 30 TH We're back at GenCon this year, and can’t wait to play our newest games with everyone! Come see us in Booth 1401 and pick up pre-release copies of Adventure Time Fluxx and Batman™ Fluxx! LINK TO EVENT » AUGUST 8 TH It's Looney Labs Day at Foam Brain Games! If you're in the Troy, New York area be sure to come meet Andy and play some games with him! LINK TO EVENT » AUGUST 27 TH Are you going to PAX Prime and interested in game design? Be sure to hit Andy's panel at PAX Dev, How To Design a Game with Andy Looney! LINK TO EVENT » Whether you are a casual player of Looney Labs games or a dedicated Game Tech, our fan club is the place for news and special insider programs from Looney Labs! We can never get enough of Just Desserts, the super fun game of serving sweets! Delicious-looking illustrations and easy gameplay will keep you and your guests coming back for more! Perfect excuse for a dessert party gaming night! Q: When can we get our hot little hands on the awesome new batman fluxx, adventure time fluxx, and fluxx dice?? A: Official release dates are Batman Fluxx on August 7, Adventure Time Fluxx on August 21, and Fluxx Dice on September 4, but you're in luck, because they are all available for pre-order RIGHT NOW! Head to our webstore, fill up your cart, and you'll get these exciting new releases as soon as they're available! But remember, if you order them all in one order, the shipment will be held until the latest applicable release date! Moon Rabbit Toys is a super cool toy store in Santa Fe, New Mexico that also carries awesome games like Fluxx and Looney Pyramids! It's the perfect place to pick up a fun gift, so be sure to check it out if you're in Santa Fe!  FOLLOW US: @LOONEYLABS LOONEYLABS.COM PO BOX 761, COLLEGE PARK MD 20741 301.441.1019 UNSUBSCRIBE © 2014 LOONEY LABS