The Return of Tom VS Bruce

[Jon Shafer]

www.tomvsbruce.com

http://www.plughead.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Futurama-money.jpg

- Jon

[Telefrog]

OMG. Is this real? A Kickstarter???????? So much love.

[draxen]

Errr.. what is this exactly? :)

Edit: Nevermind, the kickstarter article explains all.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2023800195/the-return-of-tom-vs-bruce

[WarrenM]

This link should help : http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2023800195/the-return-of-tom-vs-bruce

[triggercut]

I'm in!

[Tyjenks]

Awesome. The 1Up link on the above link has another link that takes you to the archives (http://www.1up.com/features/tom-bruce-archive)!

[Otagan]

I said I was done with Kickstarter until I saw some results, but this is going to break that. My only question right now is how badly I want that shirt.

[DeForrestation]

I'm so in! Unreal Tournament 4evah.

[Hal9000]

This will be the most expensive shirt I've purchased, and I'm ecstatic to do it!

[Tom Chick]

I was just coming to post and thread and see that I've been usurped!

You guys are the bee's knees! We know the timing is awful, but we've been kicking this around for a few months and have only finally gotten around to finishing everything up. Bruce has even been playing Diablo III to practice.

-Tom

[serling]

Pledged the fuck out of this one. Well, at least $30 worth.

Anyway, hope this turns out great for you guys!

[Taranis]

I'm in :-)

[Cobra]

I so want a postcard signed by Tom. Do you guys post to the Netherlands?

[Alan Dunkin]

Sorry but... no.

--- Alan

[mono]

Postcard pre-ordered!

[triggercut]

Sorry but... no.

--- Alan

Thanks for the post of something you're not doing.

I'm currently not riding a bike, listening to a baseball game, or learning a foreign language.

[mouselock]

Do you want a Tom vs. Bruce of your favorite game, or an old classic, or some Disney Dream Princess Wii game?

I wish I was independently wealthy. I'm pretty sure it's not a crime to make Bruce play a Disney Dream Princess game. At least, it'd be hard to prosecute, right?

[Tom Chick]

I so want a postcard signed by Tom. Do you guys post to the Netherlands?

Absolutely! We wanted to avoid the hassle of sending T-shirts overseas, but we'd be happy to send postcards anywhere the mail goes. Especially the Netherlands. True story: I got a tattoo in the Netherlands.

-Tom

[triggercut]

Start writing fellas. This thing is going to sail to full funding and beyond (even without Alan Crankypants).

[Jmacgregor]

And I thought I would get through the whole Kickstarter craze without ever backing anything...

[Tom Chick]

Start writing fellas. This thing is going to sail to full funding and beyond (even without Alan Crankypants).

Aw, he just trying to be helpful. We specifically said we wouldn't ship T-shirts overseas, so it was a safe assumption that we wouldn't ship postcards. I'll go fix the wording on that.

-Tom

[WarrenM]

Jmacgregor - You didn't back Wasteland 2? Heathen.

[Kelan]

Cool stuff! I am in for some amount... hmm I will figure it out in the next couple days.

Not sure I should admit it here, but I always used to root for Bruce. Sorry, Tom :), but I loved the articles and looking forward to more!

[Brooski]

I so want a postcard signed by Tom. Do you guys post to the Netherlands?

Actually, overseas postcards are very reasonably priced. I think we may be able to make that one work. T-shirts, unfortunately, are USA only.

[serling]

I'll take my postcard in a cardboard box, please.

Thanks.

[GeeWhiz]

Do we get to pick the games you review together? That should be a level if you did not do it already.

Can use surveys like Steve Jackson did.


I would like to see the articles posted on a website for all to see not just those who support ( I will support).

[Nikolaj]

Do we get to pick the games you review together? That should be a level if you did not do it already.

They did. It's $1000. Tempted as I am to go for it and select Pride of Nations, I can't afford it.

[John Many Jars]

Smash the cult of game journalism celebrities

[Jmacgregor]

Jmacgregor - You didn't back Wasteland 2? Heathen.

Wikipedia informs me Wasteland came out the year before I was born, I hadn't actually heard of it till Kickstarter. Thank you anyway for making me feel very young.

[Soapyfrog]

I'm currently not riding a bike, listening to a baseball game, or learning a foreign language.
You always were a bit of a slouch. Tsk.

[Tom Chick]

I would like to see the articles posted on a website for all to see not just those who support ( I will support).

Oh, they'll definitely be posted for everyone, Mr. Whiz. We'll be posting them at tomvsbruce.com (http://www.tomvsbruce.com/). But we intend to have a two-day early access situation for anyone who backs us for $20 or more.

-Tom

[Tim James]

They did. It's $1000. Tempted as I am to go for it and select Pride of Nations, I can't afford it.Fortunately for me, I'm sure Bruce will choose Unity of Command at some point!

Of course now that I've mentioned it, they'll hold out until I pay up.

[Austin Arlitt]

Do the Tom vs Bruce postcards double as feelies for the articles?!

[warthurton]

Oh man. I was trying to go a whole month w/o a Kickstarter.

Do you have all the games picked out or can we make requests?

[Chris Woods]

This is great to see. Have you guys considered recording the conversations, pod cast style? I'm not an expert on how/what 'works' written but isn't fun to listen to if it's voiced, but it would be really sweet to get these things as 10 minute 'sketch routines' that I could listen to on the way to work.

Chris Woods

[Otagan]

Replay files with a commentary track I could run on the side (where applicable, of course, a Pride of Nations replay wouldn't exactly be viable) could be an interesting extra. Would have been great for the two Rise of Nations games played back in the day, as an example.

[WarrenM]

Wikipedia informs me Wasteland came out the year before I was born, I hadn't actually heard of it till Kickstarter. Thank you anyway for making me feel very young.

If you needed that ... sure, you're welcome.

At any rate, not having heard of Wasteland is a -50 gamer status penalty. Sorry.

[stusser]

I'm hoping for more Shoot Clubs, too! I miss Trevor.

[Manresa]

There's no reward tier for Tom vs. Bruce vs. You?

[GeeWhiz]

Ok - now we can all start naming the games they should review.

Defenders Chronicles 2 for the win! Can you imagine?

Or a video of both them playing the deluxe ogre set!

:>)

[Nikolaj]

There's no reward tier for Tom vs. Bruce vs. You?

To be honest, I'd much rather read through 10 articles of Tom vs. Bruce, than 10 articles of Tom vs. Bruce vs. some dude. No offense to you, of course (or me, or anyone else who might like to pay extra for that).

[Tim James]

Tom vs. Bruce vs. You is the pilot they're pitching to Nickelodeon if this takes off.

[KiloOhm]

I finally got to see Shadofax!

Tom - You're as clean shaven as I imagined. Bruce looked younger than I imagined a republican of his demeanor should.

Great news!

I thought the video was well done. I think mixing it up with a video every now and then would be great.

Are you planning on posting old TvB episodes?

EDIT: I see you have a link to old episodes in the kickstarter.

[UScr00ge]

Loved the articles from back in the day, so I chipped in!

Kickstart Shoot Club next :)

[Tom Chick]

Chris, Otagan, and Kilo, the commentary tracks and replays are the sorts of things we've wanted to play with in the past. Doing articles for the web will make it much easier for us to fold in that kind of bonus stuff, and we've definitely talked about it.

Also, I'm only clean shaven when I have to record a video. I have my full-on scraggly salt-and-pepper Ozark facial hair going right now. TMI?

-Tom

[Otagan]

Doing articles for the web will make it much easier for us to fold in that kind of bonus stuff, and we've definitely talked about it.
I knew I wanted that shirt.

[FieryBalrog]

It's funny that the only gaming related kickstarters I'm willing to support don't involve making games (this, and the Idle Thumbs one).

Bleh, I'm in.

[JPR]

I backed, and it's clear that you won't have any problems meeting your goal, but I have to say I think your rewards seem a little anemic.

If you look at the Idle Thumbs Kickstarter, for example, they were able to partner with a couple of artists and Brendon Chung to deliver some really appealing and unique stuff. I would have backed those guys anyway, but I felt like I was buying cool stuff and supporting them as a bonus.

With what you are doing, it feels more like a donation. The t-shirt is certainly something, but it's $100 and you aren't explicit about the designer. You guys know enough independent games people that it seems like you could work out some cross-promotional stuff.

Maybe fund the first round (as you clearly will) and line up some of this stuff for round 2.

[jpinard]

in...

[Hetz]

In! Good luck guys!

[Kool Moe Dee]

OK, I like 1) the continually-changing background items in the video (including SMAC + AC -- very funny), and 2) CAT!!!1!!1!

[charmtrap]

I backed, and it's clear that you won't have any problems meeting your goal, but I have to say I think your rewards seem a little anemic.


It seems like what could potentially trip up a lot of Kickstarted projects is promising way too many elaborate prizes that turn into an albatross around the necks of the creators. They spend too much time and money delivering the incentives and not enough working on the main project.

One tale of woe: http://www.vg247.com/2012/04/17/star-command-kickstarter-10000-spent-on-tiered-reward-system/

[claybob]

Content = meat
Reward = sauce

While sauce is totally delicious, its the meat that gets people in the door.

[khgoh]

In....

[JPR]

It seems like what could potentially trip up a lot of Kickstarted projects is promising way too many elaborate prizes that turn into an albatross around the necks of the creators. They spend too much time and money delivering the incentives and not enough working on the main project.

Yeah, that has been a common theme. That is partly why I pointed to Idle Thumbs specifically -- their more appealing rewards, the art and game, are being provided by third parties. They have mentioned on the progresscasts that the amount of work required to fulfill the 7", t-shirts, and postcards significantly exceeded their expectations.

And I don't disagree with the meat/sauce comment, either. I said as much myself. But if Tom and Bruce want to experiment with expansions to the formula and want money to do so (rather than the same base per-article pay they would have received 5 years ago), then I think they should consider plans for a beefier Kickstarter for season 2. That's plenty of time to figure out how much it would really cost to get a run of 500 hard bound Tom vs Bruce collections printed....

[Tom Chick]

I get what you're saying, JPR, and we went back and forth over a lot of stuff like that. And we totally intended to offer bound volumes as one of the tier rewards. But part of the advice we got from other people was to be careful about getting too wrapped up in tier rewards. Ultimately, we figured we're in the business of writing, and folks either want that or they don't want that. So we tried to keep it pretty simple.

But, yeah, I wish we could have done stuff as epic as the Idle Thumbs guys. Bruce and I have been talking about doing this for a while and the Idle Thumbs campaign was simultaneously encouraging and thoroughly demoralizing. :)

-Tom

[Ginger Yellow]

Backed. So tempted to spend a grand and make Bruce play Stalin vs Martians.

[JPR]

I get what you're saying, JPR, and we went back and forth over a lot of stuff like that.

Sure, I know you guys aren't dumb, and it's better to err on the side of a more conservative product that you are confident you can deliver. I just encourage you to re-evaluate after dealing with the fallout from this promotion and taking another 6 months to further build your brand.

[willk0]

Backed. At a dollar an article, anybody who is a fan of the old articles can easily afford to chip in.

[TurinTur]

Heh, the reaction in GAF is pretty funny...

I think that, in the end, some people don't consider gaming journalism (playing games, writing about them) a REAL JOB.

[Catshade]

Heh, the reaction in GAF is pretty funny...

I think that, in the end, some people don't consider gaming journalism (playing games, writing about them) a REAL JOB.

Looking at the state of mainstream gaming journalism nowadays, I can't really blame them.

[Brad Grenz]

Heh, the reaction in GAF is pretty funny...

I think that, in the end, some people don't consider gaming journalism (playing games, writing about them) a REAL JOB.

Yeah, I was going to mention that. There's some epic delusions going on over there. Not sure why they think since a writer can sit down and write for free that this kickstarter is materially different from any other. They don't seem to understand the same is true of all the programmers and artists whose games they've supported, or that even cases where equipment is being bought, that is ultimately an abstraction for someone's labor. They act like they shouldn't be paying someone's wage, but that's all any money on kickstarter ultimately does.

They're also completely out of touch with freelance compensation in general, or the work involved in writing a 3-4000 word article. Presumably few of them have made it to the stage in their schooling where 15 page essays are required.

[rezaf]

True - someone wrote "One guy's a surgeon, and he needs kickstarter money?". Totally besides the point.
Or, exactly the point, depending on how you look at it.
Writing these articles is going to take time, and doing "related work" will do the same. A surgeon doesn't have to work exactly long to get $1000, so it's unlikely the $500 (I'm assuming a 50/50 split here) will even cover Bruce's time if he were in it for the money.
It's little more than a small incentive and reminder to motivate him to actually work on those things regularly (roughly producing one each month).
(A similar scenario likely appeals to Tom as well but - sorry Tom - a surgeon just seemed to be the better example).
If that's not worth any money to you - fair enough, KS isn't forcing anyone to back any project, afaik.
_____
rezaf

[Rory Stewart]

I just checked the exchange rate...people are pissed off that two writers are asking for £6,423.12 to write ten articles???

I never read the original tvb but I'm tempted to fund the kickstarter just to make a point.

[Brad Grenz]

True - someone wrote "One guy's a surgeon, and he needs kickstarter money?". Totally besides the point.
Or, exactly the point, depending on how you look at it.
Writing these articles is going to take time, and doing "related work" will do the same. A surgeon doesn't have to work exactly long to get $1000, so it's unlikely the $500 (I'm assuming a 50/50 split here) will even cover Bruce's time if he were in it for the money.
It's little more than a small incentive and reminder to motivate him to actually work on those things regularly (roughly producing one each month).
(A similar scenario likely appeals to Tom as well but - sorry Tom - a surgeon just seemed to be the better example).
If that's not worth any money to you - fair enough, KS isn't forcing anyone to back any project, afaik.
_____
rezaf

Even with Tom, and I pointed this out on NeoGAF, any time Tom dedicates to this is time he could probably use to take a paying gig for a preview or feature for someone else. So it's a direct case of detracting from his primary means of support to do this project.

[Dan_Theman]

I've never been tempted to toss $1000 at a prject before, but the thought of Tom & Bruce having to do an article on some Disney Dream Princess game is awfully tempting. That said, reality dictates that I'll have to chip in for a bit less than that, lol.

[Murph]

I get paid Friday, and I will definitely make a contribution. Very excited to see this come back, and more than happy to support Tom, at least a little.

[Omniscia]

I've never been tempted to toss $1000 at a prject before, but the thought of Tom & Bruce having to do an article on some Disney Dream Princess game is awfully tempting. That said, reality dictates that I'll have to chip in for a bit less than that, lol.

If only we had a proxy to funnel the funds through. Someone to hold the donations in escrow until the amalgamated donor reached the $1,000 threshold.

[Indierthanthou]

If only we had a proxy to funnel the funds through. Someone to hold the donations in escrow until the amalgamated donor reached the $1,000 threshold.

We should do a Kickstarter to help us with this.

[Tom Chick]

That Neogaf thread is weird. I figure there are a bunch of people in there who are mad I didn't like a particular game. But assuming some of the complaints are in good faith, I'm baffled at some of the reasoning. Is this what happens with a generation of kids accustomed to getting stuff for free? Yeah, that's right, I just introduced piracy into the conversation. Or is it just kids accustomed to reading whatever stuff gets chucked up onto a blog or IGN affiliate?

Either way, man, Neogaf. I forgot what a mix it was of smart commentary and shrill tantrums.

-Tom

[TurinTur]

That Neogaf thread is weird. I figure there are a bunch of people in there who are mad I didn't like a particular game.
[...]
-Tom

Do you know what is REALLY funny?

It's that they don't consider to pay for gaming articles worth it, because hey, gaming journalism sucks.

And one proof of gaming journalism sucks is how the reviews are always 8-10. The big companies have too much power over the sites, etc etc, you know the drill.

And in the other hand... do you know what your name is "famous" in Gaf? Why the negative reaction? Because over time you have ticked off people here and there when you have given a low score to their favorite game/latest exclusive of their console

It makes so much sense.


It explains nicely the trend of the high scores in the last years, it's less to try not piss off game companies, and more try to not piss off videogame fans (and lose market share and therefore lose ad money).
Because they want the full range of scores... except for the games they are hyped for.

[Mark Asher]

Most of the people on Neogaf probably can't make games, but they all can write about games -- that's what they do when they make a post. It doesn't surprise me that a lot of people don't value writing. We all went to school. We all had to write a two page essay. Ergo, we are all writers! What's hard about it?

One angle about this that's interesting is that for $1000 a game studio or publisher can pay to have Tom and Bruce write about their game. I wonder if that will happen?

Anyway, good luck guys.

[Tom Chick]

One angle about this that's interesting is that for $1000 a game studio or publisher can pay to have Tom and Bruce write about their game. I wonder if that will happen?

So do we. :) Bruce was the one to sort of make it more explicit by calling it "sponsor level".

-Tom

[Ginger Yellow]

I'm curious about the marketing logic, or pscyho-economics, or whatever you want to call it, of that. I mean, the big publishers probably wouldn't bother because they'd be worried about not having control over the copy. After all, you might mention that the game doesn't actually cure cancer or something. Whereas the really niche developers don't have any money to spend on marketing. And other small strategy publishers/devlopers may figure that the audience for a freelanced Tom v Bruce article is probably their core audience anyway, so why spend valuable cash marketing to existing players? Somewhere there may be a middle ground of games companies for whom $1k isn't much of a marketing spend and the Tom v Bruce audience is worth marketing to. I'm not sure where it is though.

[John Many Jars]

So do we. :) Bruce was the one to sort of make it more explicit by calling it "sponsor level".

-Tom

OMG YOU WHORES

[Pogue Mahone]

This is worth money to me so yeah, count me in. Hope you guys meet the minimum, looking good so far.

[Starlight]

If I had the cash, you'd be doing Hello Kitty Online.
Sadly, I don't.

(Why? Because it's Hello Kitty Online. Sheesh!)

[KiloOhm]

Can we add a stretch goal:

Tom finally buys an Ipad (unless you have recently, I'm not current on the podcasts).

[Rory Stewart]

Can we add a stretch goal:

Tom finally buys an Ipad (unless you have recently, I'm not current on the podcasts).

and flies to PAX.

[KiloOhm]

and flies to PAX.

East. :)

[Quaro]

Can we add a stretch goal:

Tom finally buys an Ipad (unless you have recently, I'm not current on the podcasts).

That's a good one. 500 bucks open up a lot more games that aren't available on the touch.

[spelk]

Tom and Bruce are two of the most interesting/inspiring/informed folks playing and commenting on strategy and war-gaming, to have them rejuvenate and formalise the banter that went on in the original articles, as well as bringing to life the stuff that went on in the early Three Moves Ahead podcasts is just too good a deal NOT to fund it!

It looks like you're well on the way to your target, I only hope you make it, and you get some really novel, unique and outstanding games to fight and cogitate over. If the format works, perhaps somewhere bigger will become interested and throw more money at it long term?

Plus isn't it about time we got Troy on kickstarter in some capacity, perhaps offering a teaching course on history, politics, war and strategy gaming? ;)

I'm in for this Tom vs Bruce. I wish you guys all the best with it!

[MikeOberly]

I so wish I could kick in the 1k just to make Tom and Bruce do 'War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition'. But alas. Hope you much exceed your goal.

[Brooski]

Can we add a stretch goal:

Tom finally buys an Ipad (unless you have recently, I'm not current on the podcasts).
First of all, thanks everybody! We're thrilled with the response so far.

Second, yes, there will be stretch goals if we meet our target. We are also working on some additional rewards. Stay tuned.

[Tom Chick]

Tom finally buys an Ipad (unless you have recently, I'm not current on the podcasts).

Even though I have a perfectly cromulent iPhone that plays stuff like Defender Chronicles and Ascension just fine, I have it on good authority that I'm line for an inexpensive hand-me-down iPad.

-Tom

[Ephraim]

I'm in! I see Kickstarter as a modern twist on patronage, and to even pretend that Tom is going to be performing in my salon at my behest is good enough for me. Dance, Tom! And Bruce. DANCE.

[Quaro]

If you're buying it used, I'd pony up for the iPad 3. Once you go high rez you can't go back.

[Lantz]

Wish I had the grand to make you two face of on Dance Dance Revolution

[Starlight]

Eeevil thought. Would people be willing to put together a 1k combined bid together on these forums, and then VOTE on the game we wanted Tom to do ^^

[Beefeater1980]

In for $30. Looking forward to the first articles! Kickstarter is just about perfect for this kind of thing.

[eznark]

I made the GAF thread 1. knowing it would garner interest (lol you hate good games) for the project and 2. knowing it would generate hilarious reactions.

I hope I succeeded on the first and the second.....why is Bruce murdering people? (If GAF weren't down I would provide a link to that particular fantastic bit of tortured logic)

[vyshka]

This bit?



Okay basically, if his job is so demanding that he doesn't have free time to play video games, that means he would have to give up some scheduled surgical procedures if he knew he was getting $5,000 either way. Well at that point the hospital brings in their B-tier surgeon who fucks up the surgery and someone dies. Then you all got someone killed because you wanted to read an article about video games.

[eznark]

That and "so we're going to pay him to play video games instead of save lives?"

[Hal9000]

That and "so we're going to pay him to play video games instead of save lives?"



We all know superman was a selfish jerk.

[corsair]

Wikipedia informs me Wasteland came out the year before I was born, I hadn't actually heard of it till Kickstarter. Thank you anyway for making me feel very young.

Somehow, I suddenly very, very old.

[charmtrap]

Looks like someone actually pledged a grand.

[Ephraim]

Looks like someone actually pledged a grand.

I hope it's not one of those doofuses on GAF who threatened to do so and then pull their pledge at the last minute.

[DeForrestation]

I hope it's not one of those doofuses on GAF who threatened to do so and then pull their pledge at the last minute.

What a bunch of sabotaging jerk-offs (if that is the reason).

I saw that somebody had grabbed the 1K mark, and came in here to giddily speculate. Then I read that. Sigh.

[Starlight]

That and "so we're going to pay him to play video games instead of save lives?"

Someone needs to tell them about the Bioware founders.

(Post on NeoGAF myself? Screw that, I might get internet cooties)

[Warning]

I'm in. Always loved Tom vs. Bruce. But seriously Tom... The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan?

[eznark]

I hope it's not one of those doofuses on GAF who threatened to do so and then pull their pledge at the last minute.

It's at 60% in a day and a half. I doubt this one is going to struggle to get funded.

[Tom Chick]

Looks like someone actually pledged a grand.

It's legit and we're pretty delighted about who it is. :)

-Tom

[Murph]

It's legit and we're pretty delighted about who it is. :)

-Tom

This makes me giddy. :-)

[eznark]

It's legit and we're pretty delighted about who it is. :)

-Tom

I hope he is a Madden fan

[TurinTur]

It's legit and we're pretty delighted about who it is. :)

-Tom

Brad? :P

[CLWheeljack]

I'd think Paradox might want to sponsor one, although there may be too much overlap between readers of TvB and people who already own various Paradox games.

[Brad Grenz]

Ken Levine?

[Tim James]

I was thinking about the marketing cost. If you're a niche strategy publisher with a $30 game, you need to sell 34 games to break even (net?) You probably need more with overhead, but it's not like you need to sell a thousand copies here. Still, it's a decision you have to weigh about the anticipated readership.

[instant0]

Brad? :P

Pretty sure it is Mr. Smart :) Wonder where he is these days.

[JetLagger]

I was thinking about the marketing cost. If you're a niche strategy publisher with a $30 game, you need to sell 34 games to break even (net?) You probably need more with overhead, but it's not like you need to sell a thousand copies here. Still, it's a decision you have to weigh about the anticipated readership.

On the flip side, I think Tom needs be be very careful about publicly taking cash directly from publishers to play and write about that publisher's game on the Tom Vs Bruce site, even if the TvB article isn't an official Tom Chick metacritic review. Certainly don't need any implication of a Jose Liz type brouhaha around here.

I'm actually excited about the TvB site. Hopefully there will be enough money generated to include actual game video sessions and commentary. Maybe even live streams of the TvB games on twitch.tv or livestream...wink,wink,nudge,nudge.

-Tim

[stusser]

I think Tom needs be be very careful about publicly taking cash directly from publishers to play and write about that publisher's game on the Tom Vs Bruce site,
I don't see a problem. Just disclose that it's sponsored. They aren't reviews, anyway.

[delirium]

I don't see a problem. Just disclose that it's sponsored. They aren't reviews, anyway.

In some ways, the fact that it isn't a review makes it an even more desirable option for those looking for exposure. If a publisher were paying Tom to write a review, there is the chance he doesn't like it and tells people not to buy it. You can't give a negative opinion so directly in this type of article.

Still, I also don't see it as an issue as long as the sponsorship info is disclosed. It's nothing more sinister than any other venue for advertising.

[MikeOberly]

It's legit and we're pretty delighted about who it is. :)

-Tom

Cleve, obviously.

[Mark Asher]

Heh. I read Cleve's blog from time to time. The guy has gone so far around the bend he's lapping himself. He takes racism to a new level. When you are prejudiced against all homo sapiens because you consider yourself to be a neanderthal, well, it's hard to top that.

If only he had a game Tom and Bruce could play.

Hey, I know a good idea about stretch goals. Maybe pay Sparky to come up with a fake ad for each game Tom and Bruce play. Her ads for Computer Games were awesome. Sparky's pretty awesome.

[John Many Jars]

I love Cleve's blog, but recently I found that the whole secret Neanderthal thing is the premise of RA Lafferty's Finnegan novels. Not that I think Cleve has actually read those.

[jpinard]

Where's the tier for selecting Bruce to do brain surgery on us?

[robc04]

Bruce can always use more brains for his zombie medicine research.

[GeeWhiz]

I wish they could post an old article as an example on the kick starter. It would be the equivalent of having a demo to look at if this was a computer game and generate interest for the project.

[KiloOhm]

I wish they could post an old article as an example on the kick starter. It would be the equivalent of having a demo to look at if this was a computer game and generate interest for the project.

I missed it the first time I looked at the kickstarter but about 1/3 of the way down there is a link to all the old articles.

[GeeWhiz]

I missed it the first time I looked at the kickstarter but about 1/3 of the way down there is a link to all the old articles.



Thanks, I did not see it.

[Morberis]

I would feel better about donting $50 if it also included a fancy PDF of their past articles.

But! $10 is $10.

[dwinn]

In for 30. Also, Tom looks a lot like modern-day Joel Hodgson, and if I had a spare grand you guys would be playing Animal Crossing.

[Tom Chick]

I would feel better about donting $50 if it also included a fancy PDF of their past articles.

We would have loved to have done this, Morberis. Unfortunately, there's a rights issue. The previous Tom vs. Bruces are the property of 1up.

-Tom

[Tom Chick]

In for 30. Also, Tom looks a lot like modern-day Joel Hodgson, and if I had a spare grand you guys would be playing Animal Crossing.

Now I enjoyed the previous gags about making us playing Dance Dance Revolution or Madden or some such thing. But you have gone too far, sir. Too far. Just remembering that dog playing a banjo is forcing me to make a sanity check.

-Tom

[SamS]

In for $31 (like Kelly Wand, I don't donate amounts of money which are non-prime).

[Belisarius118]

I am in for 50 since I will probably end up printing the PDFs in shiny color.

[Kelan]

This is falling too far down! I finally got around to getting my pledge in today. Things are slowing down a bit it seems on the donations so hopefully it will pick up again soon.

[Brooski]

Thanks for your support, Kelan! For those who may have missed our latest update, we were interviewed for a French games site, merlanfrit.net

http://www.merlanfrit.net/Tom-Bruce-vs-le-crowdfunding

If you don't read French, there is a version in English as well.

http://www.merlanfrit.net/Tom-Bruce-vs-crowdfunding

[warthurton]

EDIT due to not reading the french article before posting!: How did you guys meet in the first place?

The rapport you have on podcasts and in writing is great.

Still not sure what I'd like to do more, PC gaming night at Tom's or board gaming with Bruce.

[Tom Chick]

Thanks, Mr. Thurton! But there's no reason it can't be both. The last Shoot Club at my house was a Battlestar Galactica session.

Man, I'd love to get Bruce in a game of Battlestar Galactica. He would be the world's worst human player, because he'd have everyone convinced he was a cylon whether he was a cylon or not!

-Tom

[Nixxter]

...in... and looking forward to T v B redux!

[rei]

In for $50!

[Hal9000]

Forgot about actually backing this until now. Ooops.

In for a hundred. Hope we can push it the remaining 14%!

[FieryBalrog]

geez, the momentum on this really stalled =/

[Hal9000]

Yep, but all it needs is 14 more people to donate a hundred bucks. Maybe some of the lower donations will increase their backings and put us over. I'd do that if it got close.

[Starlight]

geez, the momentum on this really stalled =/

This quite usual for projects with no updates during the middle of their runs.

[Tom Chick]

We have updates! And a daily Twitter feed! And a pretty cool announcement next week! And even another video on the way!

-Tom

[Starlight]

I mean KS content-updates. Think Order Of the Stick kickstarter :P

Also I'd suspect the last-day effect will be strong for your KS.

[Rory Stewart]

And a pretty cool announcement next week!

-Tom

You're including tall grass?

[mono]

Has RockPaperShotgun given you any publicity? Might be worth a mention to KG et al. I'd suspect their readers are familiar w/ the old TvB and it'd get you some Euro eyeballs/dollars.

[Hal9000]

Only 12% left! : )

[Warren]

Shows as 100% funded now! Yay! Congrats, Tom and Bruce!

[Hal9000]

Another $1000 backer? If it's legit, I'm totally stoked. Great, great news, and congrats to Tom and Bruce. (And me.)

[Tom Chick]

Oh, it's legit! We're pretty delighted with the identities of our two $1000 backers. We're uploading a new video today as a thanks and we're announcing a supercool stretch goal tomorrow.

Special thanks to you guys here on the forum. We couldn't have done it without you!

-Tom

[bandidoquest]

Congratulations! I'm looking forward to the new editions of Tom vs Bruce. I'm especially happy after seeing the update saying that the first article will be ready soon after the Kickstarter ends.

[Peter Frazier]

Congratulations! I'm almost tempted to check in that Neogaf thread to hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[TurinTur]

Someone bump the gaf thread with the news please! :P

[Alan Au]

100% funded? Update and stretch-goals time!

[wisdomchild]

Awesome! Can't wait to see what's in store for us.

[Pogue Mahone]

Really happy for you guys, and anxious to see the content!

[Manresa]

Sweet! At this point the stretch goals are $1000 per article, right?

[Inverarity]

Gettysburg would actually be my second choice, had I been able to donate $1000 to the cause. Dark Souls of course would be my first, so consider yourselves lucky I don't have that kind of cash lying around.

Congratulations on meeting the goal nonetheless.

[Brad Grenz]

Let's start a pool so we can make them play Asura's Wrath!

[SamS]

That scene of Von Manstein famously leading a charge of pioneers up Little Round Top is my favourite part of Gettysburg.

[jaygittings]

Super excited that you made your goal. Glad to be a part of it and can't wait to read them. Congrats!

[fuzzyslug]

Oh, it's legit! We're pretty delighted with the identities of our two $1000 backers. We're uploading a new video today as a thanks and we're announcing a supercool stretch goal tomorrow.

Special thanks to you guys here on the forum. We couldn't have done it without you!

-Tom

If I had known Bruce was going to be next door (I live 10 minutes from Gettysburg), I would have set up a board gaming night! :)

[charmtrap]

Haha. "Who wants to play a game about a speech?" Good stuff.

[serling]

Congratulations! :)

[Kelan]

Gettysburg would actually be my second choice, had I been able to donate $1000 to the cause. Dark Souls of course would be my first, so consider yourselves lucky I don't have that kind of cash lying around.

Congratulations on meeting the goal nonetheless.

I was actually wondering about that recently. Initially you could only do PC Games in CGW, right? Have you or do you plan on adding games like Dark Souls on the PS3 or other console games or perhaps very cool iPhone games like Ascension?

Either way, I am really looking forward to reading the articles and showing off in my new T-Shirt :).

[Nixxter]

Shadowcat looked spectacular and had commentary that was at least as illuminating as either of the humans involved in the making of the video.

[RepoMan]

Congrats on making the goal, guys. Good to see.

I'm going to fess up here: I haven't actually contributed yet, and there's a specific reason why not. I will share it here to see if it seems reasonable to you at all. Maybe your answer will sway me :-)

What I always liked least about Tom Vs. Bruce was the number of columns in which Bruce basically got walked all over by Tom. There was a period of time where there were many RTS games in rotation, and a typical column would go:

Bruce: WTF are all these weird things attacking me?
Tom: lol n00b learn 2 play
Bruce: I'm dead.
Tom: gg lol

I'm exaggerating, but only somewhat. After a while I started wondering why Bruce was bothering -- if he didn't know the game at all, and if it was a foregone conclusion that Tom would steamroller him, then what was the point? The amusement value eventually dropped to zero.

Here, let me cite one specific example. TvB #20, on Kohan 2 (http://www.1up.com/features/tom-bruce-20), a game that deserved a serious battle if ever there was one:


Bruce, 16:15: In case you were wondering, it turns out bonesmiths build skeletons. That is the picture of the anvil. If you see an anvil, do you think, "That's a big hunk of metal for making skeletons?" I don't. And as a result, I build the thing that makes ghouls. Ghouls are apparently made out of wood, for some reason that probably has to do with the last Ceyah elections. I have no idea what is going on, except that if I don't expand as fast as I can, Tom will own half the map before I have built my second city.

Tom, 18:47: While heading back with the newly risen Adellon to give those spiders what-for, I run afoul of one of Bruce's cities. It's called Dark Crossing, and it sits west of Thorfin, just north of my little cluster of sites at the bottom of the map. How did he establish himself down here so quickly? The Dark Crossing militia tangles with my trackers, who are sent into a series of unfortunate retreats. Adellon dies his second death.

It's time to hit Bruce as hard as I can, because he crumbles under aggressive tactics. Actually, Bruce also crumbles if I just turtle. In fact, I suspect Bruce would crumble if I were to just quit out and go play Doom 3. But that wouldn't be very interesting, so I decide to go with the aggressive tactics thing.

Bruce, 24:03: Judging from the size of the map and the number of cities I have, I suspect Tom and I are about even. Consequently, right on cue, Tom shows up with a big army and attacks my city of Dark Crossing. I assume this is the beginning of the end for me.

I'm sorry, but I'm not paying for that.

On the other hand, the TvBs where there was a more even matchup -- where there was actually a serious fight going on, and you guys were trading blows and talking seriously about tactics -- were reliably great. They had the humor, but they also had some tension and genuine gameplay-educational value.

So: for this new round, are you committing to both develop some level of skill with the games you play? Are you going to avoid uneven, lopsided matchups? If so, I'm in. If not, I can't justify the money.

Edit: what do you know. I went back and reread the whole Kohan 2 post, and it wound up better than I remember -- a bunch of good info in there. But still, it ended with:


Bruce, 1:10:50: Once he sets out from Dark Crossing, Tom is completely destroying me. I'm not sure what's going on, but the game has totally changed. I used to be able to win head-to-head battles against him, but because TimeGate Studios decided to base this game on fantasy roleplaying instead of military strategy, it turns out I can't win without leveling up my characters. If I wanted to do that, I'd play that werewolf game.

Please don't play games that one of you doesn't want to play effectively :-)

[Tom Chick]

I'm sorry, but I'm not paying for that.

That's entirely fair, RepoMan. Sometimes we skew too far on the side of trying to be funny over informative.

And for what it's worth, that's as much my fault as Bruce's. I play a metric ton of RTSs, and I'm pretty good at them. Over the course of twenty years or whatever, I've gotten really comfortable with the vocabulary of unit groups, managing resources, hotkeys, and so forth. Basically the whole multitasking vibe of RTSs. It's how some people are with fighting games or shooters. They jump in and they've immediately got an advantage. Bruce is a quick study, but he's always going to have a much harder time than me learning a new RTS.

We do appreciate the feedback though, and we hope you'll enjoy the new articles even when they're not the sort of thing you're willing to pay for. :)

-Tom

[Hal9000]

I would just like to say that I have many online avatars with this name: Hot Elf.

I think that's Tom's fault, as I seem to recall him once playing a female "hot elf" in order to get freebies from male players.

If so...well, it works! While I often name offline characters Hot Elf, my online ones almost always get free crap from guys. It's awesome.

I should be ashamed.

[Mr.GRIM]

Interesting. I find that having 2 different perspectives (skill wise) is much more informative about a game I haven't played. If it were a game I had played and I was into it, then yes higher skilled players can be more enjoyable.

[Tom Chick]

I would just like to say that I have many online avatars with this name: Hot Elf.

I think that's Tom's fault, as I seem to recall him once playing a female "hot elf" in order to get freebies from male players.

If so...well, it works! While I often name offline characters Hot Elf, my online ones almost always get free crap from guys. It's awesome.

I should be ashamed.

Ha, that was one of the World of Warcraft add-ons. I was the first Hot Elf* paladin on the server and someone sent me a chat message asking if they could teleport me to the main city. Being young and naive, I said "sure". When I went there, people were almost literally throwing money at me, because the add-on hadn't officially launched yet and I was the first Hot Elf they'd ever seen. I made some ridiculous sum of money doing that. Well, ridiculous for a new character.

I thought that was in a Tom vs Bruce, but I can't find it. We were definitely both playing.

-Tom

* That's one of the races, right? There are Sexy Elfs and Hot Elfs, if I recall correctly.

[KiloOhm]

Repoman - donate 1000 and pick War in the East. Problem solved. :)

[Nikolaj]

Wait, there's a werewolf rpg?

[Otagan]

Kelly Wand (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2023800195/the-return-of-tom-vs-bruce/posts/250817) is the first stretch goal guest.

[Tyjenks]

Finally ponied up for a postcard so my wife can REALLY make fun of me. As I posted on the Kickstarter page, I am not sold on funding theoretical projects, but Tom and Bruce have provided me with plenty and I am willing to pay them for services previously rendered and anything we get in the future is just icing as far as I am concerned.

EDIT: For me, it was worth $5 just to be able to read the responses to Tom's panning of Lollipop Chainsaw.

[Hal9000]

That Hot Elf article definitely exists, but I'd have to go through all my magazines to find it again. Of course, I first started out using a gorgeous female mesmer in Guild Wars, but no one cared that she wasn't an elf...which means that I'm not the best person to ask about the nomenclature of elves.

Regardless, I might get to learn more great tactics like that, and now perhaps even some from Kelly Wand! I couldn't be happier.

[Murph]

And the second guest is: Desslock (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2023800195/the-return-of-tom-vs-bruce/posts/251508)

[John Many Jars]

Don't you guys have anything better to be nostalgic about than game journalism from a few years ago? Old commercials, or something?

Plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is

[Hanacker]

I've fallen, and I can't get up!

[aeneas]

Right can everyone please get on with the donating to get the amount to $12450 so that when I put my $50 in I can feel like it was solely me that got them over the stretch goal.

Thanks.

[RepoMan]

Thanks for the reply, Tom, and thanks for the honesty about those particular columns. Now I know what to expect, and I'm in for $10 :-) I just hope you don't do more than 50% RTS games.

[TimElhajj]

If I had known Bruce was going to be next door (I live 10 minutes from Gettysburg), I would have set up a board gaming night! :)

Chambersburg? I grew up in a little town called Steelton, about 45 minutes north of Gettysburg.

[DeForrestation]

The final(?) potential writer... Erik Wolpaw (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2023800195/the-return-of-tom-vs-bruce/posts/252322)

[Telefrog]

Holy crap. The update from Erik had me laughing like a loon in the office.

[mono]

It's as if OMM had returned for a fleeting moment.

[Otagan]

I was hoping Erik would make a return to TvB. His previous appearances were great.

[Eric Majkut]

Erik's post is outstanding, hahaha.

[Ginger Yellow]

Damn you Tom and Bruce and friends! Now I'm going to have to increase my pledge.

[bandidoquest]

Tom and Bruce should consider featuring the potential guest writers a little better on the front page. Currently the only mention of them is at the very bottom of the pitch and I imagine that many people that see the Kickstarter page don't even notice it.

[bigdruid]

Holy crap. The update from Erik had me laughing like a loon in the office.

Seriously. I was walking down the street reading it on my phone and laughing hysterically. Convinced me to chip in another $20, too, although partly that's so I could get my t-shirt shipped to Germany.

[CLWheeljack]

Do they have a t-shirt design finalized yet? I think it might be good to get an image of it up before the kickstarter ends, just so that in the high traffic final 24 hours people have an extra enticement.

[fuzzyslug]

Chambersburg? I grew up in a little town called Steelton, about 45 minutes north of Gettysburg.

Littlestown. I go to Chambersburg every once and a while. I've never heard of Steelton but when I go North I'm typically just heading to Hershey. :)

[John Many Jars]

Hey, what road do you take to get to Hershey?

[TimElhajj]

Hey, what road do you take to get to Hershey?

Hershey highway. Butt, of course!

[Tony M]

OK, you got me. And thats an achievement because I'm incredibly cheap and I never pay for something I can honestly get for free.

The 3 guest update posts were very funny.

Tony

[TimElhajj]

Me too, Tony, but I like to call it thrifty.

[freddyg]

Littlestown. I go to Chambersburg every once and a while. I've never heard of Steelton but when I go North I'm typically just heading to Hershey. :)

Steelton is a suburb of Harrisburg.
Tough town.
I used to ride the River Rescue there on weekends.

[freddyg]

Gotta say, if Bruce breaks out the spinal epidural lubricant grease collection, Tom has NO chance.
None.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19797793

[TimElhajj]

Steelton is a suburb of Harrisburg.
Tough town.
I used to ride the River Rescue there on weekends.

Small world!

[Mark L]

I got two words for your final stretch goal:

Desert Bus.

[triggercut]

Erik's post is outstanding, hahaha.

Dude seems like he's almost effortlessly funny.

Kudos to Bruce and Tom for bringing in some seriously outstanding creative talent (Erik, Kelly, and Desslock) for this project. Really looking forward to it.

[Tom Chick]

Do they have a t-shirt design finalized yet? I think it might be good to get an image of it up before the kickstarter ends, just so that in the high traffic final 24 hours people have an extra enticement.

Oh, man, that's a good point. As much as I'd love to show something, I'm afraid we haven't finalized that yet. We're working with someone who's really talented, but we need to decide whether we want something discreet and a little mysterious (my preference) or whether we want to just splash our big stupid grinning mugs across our donor's chests (most likely no one's preference).

Right now, we're in the throes of working out the website itself, but I'll see if we can get some sort of mock-up posted before the Kickstarer campaign closes.

-Tom

[Tom Chick]

Tom and Bruce should consider featuring the potential guest writers a little better on the front page. Currently the only mention of them is at the very bottom of the pitch and I imagine that many people that see the Kickstarter page don't even notice it.

Great point and fixed!

-Tom

[Tom Chick]

Gotta say, if Bruce breaks out the spinal epidural lubricant grease collection, Tom has NO chance.
None.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19797793

That's one of Bruce's funnier articles. And a nice change of pace from all that boring history World War II wargaming stuff he writes: blah blah blah Dunskirk blah blah Molotov Ribbentrop pact blah blah blah Antietam D-Day nazis blah.

-Tom

[bandidoquest]

Great point and fixed!

-Tom

Looks better now! Here's hoping you guys can reach the stretch goal.

[lordkosc]

Tossed in $10 , I remember these articles when I was a young'n, back before I knew who Tom was or that he even had a forum.

[Ginger Yellow]

Oh, man, that's a good point. As much as I'd love to show something, I'm afraid we haven't finalized that yet. We're working with someone who's really talented, but we need to decide whether we want something discreet and a little mysterious (my preference) or whether we want to just splash our big stupid grinning mugs across our donor's chests (most likely no one's preference).

How about you and Bruce playing Rock, Paper, Scissors, but it's actually Rush, Boom, Turtle?

[Kelan]

Oh, man, that's a good point. As much as I'd love to show something, I'm afraid we haven't finalized that yet. We're working with someone who's really talented, but we need to decide whether we want something discreet and a little mysterious (my preference) or whether we want to just splash our big stupid grinning mugs across our donor's chests (most likely no one's preference).

Right now, we're in the throes of working out the website itself, but I'll see if we can get some sort of mock-up posted before the Kickstarer campaign closes.

-Tom

Or you could have the mysterious print on the front, and when people ask what the heck it is, you turn around and your mugs are printed on the back. And those of us that have shrines to PC Gaming could display our shirts in two different ways! (I don't really have this, but it would be cool... in a trophy room/case sort of way)

Ok, maybe not... that may be a little too corny :).

[CLWheeljack]

Oh, man, that's a good point. As much as I'd love to show something, I'm afraid we haven't finalized that yet. We're working with someone who's really talented, but we need to decide whether we want something discreet and a little mysterious (my preference) or whether we want to just splash our big stupid grinning mugs across our donor's chests (most likely no one's preference).

Right now, we're in the throes of working out the website itself, but I'll see if we can get some sort of mock-up posted before the Kickstarer campaign closes.

-Tom

If you don't mind letting the artist's name slip, you could provide a link to some of his other work, so people get an idea of what the style might be. I don't know if that would necessarily push anybody over the edge for the $100 donation if they weren't already, but it might.

[SamS]

Another $1,000. Stretch goal is looking good.

[rattledrush]

Holy crap. The update from Erik had me laughing like a loon in the office.

Im happy that erik's made a lot of money with valve and all that, and portal 2 is probably the funniest game ever made, but still: there are a lot of talented script writers, there are a lot of funny tv shows, movies— I can imagine a world where someone else (co)wrote portal 2. I'm not sure there's a funnier comedy prose writer on the planet.

[JAGuarinc]

Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination

Yes, that's correct. I have the power.

Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination

My first thought was Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. A 1999 RTS that was surprisingly good and probably the best pc game based on a musical based on novel that has ever been released. Alas and alack, Rage went out of business before releasing a multiplayer patch. That, and the AI can only be kindly regarded as having the IQ of an deceased fish. I may have won one game by continually pressing Enter.

We'll begin
With a spin
Traveling in
The world of my creation

Other games flitted through my head. A nice rousing game of Pong, Coleco Football or Atari Combat (invisible tanks, billiard hits, and complex maze of course).

What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation

I did kind of settle on Close Combat - Wacht am Rhein. Matrix Games' remake of Atomic Games' CC - Battle of the Bulge. Panzerschrecks, Peiper, and "Nuts!", oh my.

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it

Then, a very simple idea bloomed as a light bulb above Wile E. Coyote. Yeah, yeah, I know, mixed metaphor. Go with me here, I'm on a roll.

Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?

I'd contributed to TvB because it was an excellent refuge from The Year of Dating Hell (2004-2005). Also known as the Year of Bad Choices and The Year of Living Dangerously. I had met my first crazy woman and my second. Apparently, all those stories of my friends with gals chasing them around tables with knives actually could have happened. The articles didn't nag, they didn't demand apologies, nor did they throw crockery at my noggin.

There's nothing
To it

You know what else was good to me? You guys. And gals. And The Narrator. Literate, mostly mature adults discussing books and games and movies and TV shows. Writers and creators and artists. It was not the internet of trolls and ads. The signal to noise ratio was incredible. It harkened back to my BBS days. I could get home from work, browse the forums for a while and just relax. So as a big thanks for that... Let me back up a bit. You may have been wondering why I've been posting lyrics from Pure Imagination instead of "(I've Got A) Golden Ticket". That's because I want you to use your imagination. What game would you like Sir Tom and Sir Bruce to play? Yes, that's right, I'm opening up the floor for your nominations. After a bit, I'll put up a poll. Then we can force Tom and Bruce - wait, shouldn't that be in alphabetical order? Then we can force Bruce and Tom to play Deathmatch Hopscotch or Sid Meier's Gettysburg or have a Monk vs Wizard Bake-a-thon.

However, I do reserve the right to nix the winner. Just in case. So get cracking folks, let me hear some ideas.

[Shellfishguy]

A golden ticket indeed JA! Good on ya for that kind of support. I'd like to nominate a multiplayer game of Delve Deeper (http://store.steampowered.com/app/63800/). Dwarves! Treasure! Monsters! and Strategy with a healthy dose of screw your neighbor. Plus it supports more than two players in case they want to do it for an article with one of the guests.

[Pogue Mahone]

That's really big of you to put this out to the group for input, JAGuarinc, but crazy as it sounds I hate to impose a pick on these guys - mainly because I worry about picking a game that just doesn't interest them much and doesn't spark a good battle and article. Yeah, I know they're professionals and can suck it up, but even if the idea of a co-op round of Barbie Horse Adventures sounds like the funniest thing in the world, I can't imagine their tiny death of the soul would be too much fun to read. But hey, maybe that's just me.

[RichVR]

Almost forgot about this. In.

[DennyA]

I'm in. Wolpaw's post put me over the top. That's a stretch goal that has to happen!

[KaoFloppy]

C'mon! Only $188 to go!

[JAGuarinc]

Yeah, I know they're professionals and can suck it up, but even if the idea of a co-op round of Barbie Horse Adventures sounds like the funniest thing in the world, I can't imagine their tiny death of the soul would be too much fun to read. But hey, maybe that's just me.

Nope, not just you. Thus the 'nix' caveat. If something is goofy and entertaining but has some sort depth I'm all for it. If you believe there's a game out there that they'd enjoy playing and would make an excellent article/episode, even better.

Then again, they did the Sims Online where one competition was to be the first to urinate on the floor. Then more again, Wolpaw was a competitor. Thenner againster moreso, he came in last. In urinating. On the floor. I'd have lost big money on that. Thank goodness my bookie doesn't take those kinds of wagers.

[DennyA]

A mere $168 to go before it goes from "Tom vs. Bruce" to "Tom vs. Bruce vs. A Cavalcade of Stars." Hope it makes it...

[aeneas]

Ok im in for the $68 now can someone do the $100

[Sean Tudor]

Ok I have thrown in another $10. Have at it!

[RichVR]

In for $10 more.

[Brad Grenz]

$70 dollars in 66 hours. Totally doable!

[Tom Chick]

w00t (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2023800195/the-return-of-tom-vs-bruce?ref=live)!

Also, huge thanks to JAGuarinc, as well as the other two sponsors who I think we'll be announcing shortly (we just need to verify that no one wants to be anonymous). I can't wait to find out what games they (and you guys on Qt3) have in store for us.

-Tom

[wisdomchild]

Awesome! Congrats guys, so stoked for these!

[JM]

That's one of Bruce's funnier articles. And a nice change of pace from all that boring history World War II wargaming stuff he writes: blah blah blah Dunskirk blah blah Molotov Ribbentrop pact blah blah blah Antietam D-Day nazis blah.

-Tom

This one (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12019116) being the funniest. It's like reading Elitist Jerks.

[Murph]

Come with me
And you'll be
In a world of
Pure imagination

Yes, that's correct. I have the power.

Take a look
And you'll see
Into your imagination

My first thought was Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds. A 1999 RTS that was surprisingly good and probably the best pc game based on a musical based on novel that has ever been released. Alas and alack, Rage went out of business before releasing a multiplayer patch. That, and the AI can only be kindly regarded as having the IQ of an deceased fish. I may have won one game by continually pressing Enter.

We'll begin
With a spin
Traveling in
The world of my creation

Other games flitted through my head. A nice rousing game of Pong, Coleco Football or Atari Combat (invisible tanks, billiard hits, and complex maze of course).

What we'll see
Will defy
Explanation

I did kind of settle on Close Combat - Wacht am Rhein. Matrix Games' remake of Atomic Games' CC - Battle of the Bulge. Panzerschrecks, Peiper, and "Nuts!", oh my.

If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it

Then, a very simple idea bloomed as a light bulb above Wile E. Coyote. Yeah, yeah, I know, mixed metaphor. Go with me here, I'm on a roll.

Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?

I'd contributed to TvB because it was an excellent refuge from The Year of Dating Hell (2004-2005). Also known as the Year of Bad Choices and The Year of Living Dangerously. I had met my first crazy woman and my second. Apparently, all those stories of my friends with gals chasing them around tables with knives actually could have happened. The articles didn't nag, they didn't demand apologies, nor did they throw crockery at my noggin.

There's nothing
To it

You know what else was good to me? You guys. And gals. And The Narrator. Literate, mostly mature adults discussing books and games and movies and TV shows. Writers and creators and artists. It was not the internet of trolls and ads. The signal to noise ratio was incredible. It harkened back to my BBS days. I could get home from work, browse the forums for a while and just relax. So as a big thanks for that... Let me back up a bit. You may have been wondering why I've been posting lyrics from Pure Imagination instead of "(I've Got A) Golden Ticket". That's because I want you to use your imagination. What game would you like Sir Tom and Sir Bruce to play? Yes, that's right, I'm opening up the floor for your nominations. After a bit, I'll put up a poll. Then we can force Tom and Bruce - wait, shouldn't that be in alphabetical order? Then we can force Bruce and Tom to play Deathmatch Hopscotch or Sid Meier's Gettysburg or have a Monk vs Wizard Bake-a-thon.

However, I do reserve the right to nix the winner. Just in case. So get cracking folks, let me hear some ideas.

I don't even have anything I particularly wanna see them play, but I think this is totally awesome of you...both to front the cash, and to open it up to a Qt3 vote. Kudos man.

[Nightgaunt]

They're not going to play one of the Dune games, are they?? Going to make you thirsty? And a picture of Thumper? I mean, playing Dune II would be awesome, but it was never multiplayer. And weren't the later Dune(s?) kinda unremarkable? Oh well, we'll find out soon enough!

[Rob O'Boston]

I really like the idea of a video podcast of a Bruce vs Tom Shoot Club with all of Tom's cronies (who I imagine are just like the guys from Swingers). A complete game of The Resistance on video would be perfect. It isn't too long a game and it usually has plenty of drama and ridiculousness to make a good show. I've sent out an annoying email to some friends to try and drum up cash for this goal.

[Mike Cathcart]

Man, forget that. I want the four hour video of Tom, Bruce, and all three guest writers playing Battlestar Galactica. Also they have to read the flavor text and do impressions of the characters on the show.

[AWS260]

JAGuarinc, that's fantastic. Here's my suggestion:

Twilight Struggle, best of 3. First round is played on VASSAL, second round is played on the official PC version (to be released later this year--this would also serve a pseudo-review of this edition), tiebreaker is played via Skype, with the players having to maintain matching physical game boards.

[Otagan]

I want the four hour video of Tom, Bruce, and all three guest writers playing Battlestar Galactica. Also they have to read the flavor text and do impressions of the characters on the show.
I'd double my pledge if this would happen.

[rei]

Man, forget that. I want the four week video of Tom, Bruce, and all three guest writers playing Imperium Galactica.

*cough*

[wisdomchild]

They're not going to play one of the Dune games, are they?? Going to make you thirsty? And a picture of Thumper? I mean, playing Dune II would be awesome, but it was never multiplayer. And weren't the later Dune(s?) kinda unremarkable? Oh well, we'll find out soon enough!

I figure it'll be the old Dune board game by Avalon Hill. I think there's an online version somewhere.

[DeForrestation]

I figure it'll be the old Dune board game by Avalon Hill. I think there's an online version somewhere.

Beat me to it! Or at least Dune 2000. The picture of "Thumper" all but confirms it.

[Tim James]

Maybe the Dune Wars mod for Civ 4, assuming it supports multiplayer. Tom was a big fan of that.

[Nightgaunt]

Ah, Tim, your suggestion sounds more likely than the other things I was thinking. Let's see if Tom pouts because we've guessed it already.

[JPR]

Ah, I hadn't realized the old RTS wasn't multiplayer.

[aeneas]

Bump - lets get this over the $15k. I want a 4p ascension tourny!

[Brooski]

The Kickstarter ends today at 2:28 PM Eastern! If you haven't contributed but are thinking about it, consider contributing to help us get to our second stretch goal (Tom vs Bruce on-location video). We're only $220 away!

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Heh, only 35 bucks to go for the video.

[wisdomchild]

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Stretch Goal #2 Reached!

Bruce, better start packing!

[ydejin]

They really need to add Stretch Goal #3 "Buy Tom an iPad" unlocked at $14,000. I'd up my support for a few bucks for that one :-)

[Tim James]

Ah, Tim, your suggestion sounds more likely than the other things I was thinking. Let's see if Tom pouts because we've guessed it already.He may have pouted and slammed some doors, but he didn't show it.

That's already twice as professional as a lot of Kickstarters!

[Xemu]

Definitely Dune Wars mod. The top line of the pic gives it away.

[Tom Chick]

Do you guys know how hard it is to play Civilization V while also playing a Civ IV mod like Dune Wars? Yikes!

-Tom

[TimElhajj]

Dang, my credit card expired between the time I backed this project and when it got funded. Fortunately the good people at Kickstarter anticipated guys like me and it was an easy fix to get in on the updates.

Let the games begin! Is Bruce going to race around LA in a toga with a lit torch in his hand to get things rolling?

[lordkosc]

^ Pics if that does happen!

[Nightgaunt]

So, uh, not to be a jerk, but as an financial backer in this enterprise I'm wondering when we're going to see some return on investment. Gotta maintain my, um, fundamentals? And, uh, rebalance my portfolio. And maybe build some equity and liquidity. (Actually, I am trying to be a jerk, I guess.)

[Tom Chick]

You're not being a jerk at all! Unfortunately, half of the Tom vs Bruce equation has been out of pocket for a week or so. I'll be posting an update as soon as I know something.

-Tom

[Mike Cathcart]

I bet it's vs. That guy is a douche.

[John Many Jars]

I told you all it was a ripoff, but nooooooooooooooooooooo, you're all la ti da JMJ!

[Mike Cathcart]

Come on man we're getting postcards.

[Otagan]

The money for postcards mysteriously disappeared as soon as Bruce left on an unscheduled vacation to the Caymans.

[joefriendgood]

I too contributed and demand to have a status on the TvB!

Or just let us know when the first one is ready. That works as well.

[Brooski]

So, uh, not to be a jerk, but as an financial backer in this enterprise I'm wondering when we're going to see some return on investment. Gotta maintain my, um, fundamentals? And, uh, rebalance my portfolio. And maybe build some equity and liquidity. (Actually, I am trying to be a jerk, I guess.)
Night, we have not disappeared. Regarding the rewards, the postcards and t-shirts are specifically scheduled as being for August delivery as the Kickstarter will not release our money to us for two weeks after the Kickstarter closes, which is actually not until tomorrow. So once the money transfers to our bank account (which takes a few more days), and we are able to pay our printer and silkscreener to start working on the merchandise, and then it gets made, and delivered to us, and we make sure it is ok, and then we send it out to you, and then you get it ... anyway, as you can see, that's why we put the August delivery date on there.

Merchandise reward backers will get a survey asking for your mailing address info once we get close.

As for the new TvB, we are writing it up, and simultaneously working on getting the site ready to receive it, which needs some tweaking. All of this is slowed down by the fact that I am in New York this month working for ABC News on the medical desk, so if you need to hate on someone, that someone should be me and not Tom. But I won't that slow us down too much. If you're in New York, I'd be glad to buy you a beer for your trouble.

Hope that answers some questions for the people waiting on us.