12/30/07- Avalon Hill’s Diplomacy Returns!
The long awaited return of Diplomacy has a tentative release date! March 14th, 2008!
For those wishing to ensure a copy of this game upon release, we are now taking reservations! No money is necessary at this time, but we will confirm your reservation about 30 days prior to release, at which time we will collect a portion of the cost to guarantee your copy. For more information, or to sign up, see us at the store!
12/24/07- Merry Christmas, Hours Update, And New Programs!
Merry Christmas to all of you. May the day find each of you happy and enjoying your time with family and friends! I will be doing the same, spending a much needed three days away with local and visiting family.
Phoenix Games will be closed on Dec 25th and 26th, but will reopen on Thursday, Dec 27th.
A huge thank you to every one of you who frequent the store and make this dream possible! Whether you've spent hundreds over the past year or just a couple of bucks, it's your patronage that allows us to grow and spread the joy of board games to an ever-growing base of families and friends around Snohomish and King Counties and beyond. Each and every transaction is appreciated, regardless of customer or quantity.
We do feel, however, that we need to show our appreciation to our shoppers, both big and small, in some tangible way- those who have helped us grow and continue to contribute to Phoenix Games' success. To that end, we are announcing two new programs that we have been testing on a small scale recently, and are ready to roll out for the new year.
First, like most stores, Phoenix Games tends to have three distinct types of shopper:
1.) The frequent visitor, who generally makes many small purchases. Each sale is relatively small, but this shopper is a frequent contributor to our success.
2.) The bulk shopper, who generally buys their boosters by the box, their games by the dozen. We tend to see these shoppers regularly, although less frequently than the first group, but they have an equally large impact on our success, moving lots of product in a very short amount of time.
3.) The one-time or occasional casual shopper. These folks find us either via the phone book or recommendation, and have a very specific person or item they're shopping for. While not necessarily individually influential, this group makes up the bulk of our sales and, because of their size, adds significantly to our overall success. We're always working to convert this third group to one of the other two!
The first two groups, with their regular visits (that includes just about all of you here), are the focus of our newest programs.
For the bulk shopper, we've standardized our box and bulk pricing, which in all instances has reduced the amount of money you'll pay for a sealed box/ case of boosters! Across the board, on ANY product you purchase by the box/ case (Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, Magic, minis, etc), we have set our pricing to reflect a 5/1 ratio- buy 5 boosters, get 1 free! On 24 pack purchases, you'll receive 4 of those boosters free, on 36 pack purchases, you'll receive 6 of those free! Buy a sealed 6 pack of minis and one of those is free as well! Any sealed box, buy 5 get 1 free! Of course, sometimes the deal will be better, but you can always count on this as our minimum.
For the small and frequent purchaser, we appreciate your contributions as well! So we're setting up an easy frequent- buyer program! No cards, no hassle! Just have us input your name and information into our computer with every purchase you make and all of your purchases will be automatically tracked for this program! You don't need to do anything more than you already do, just shop with us!
Each quarter, we'll evaluate your purchases and send you a gift certificate for 50% off your next purchase(s), up to an actual value of 15% of your total accumulated purchases. For example, if you purchase $100 in merchandise, we will send you a gift certificate for 50% off your next purchase, up to $15 off (15% of $100). Of course, spending more gets you more, but even the smallest of purchases counts towards your total! Buying just one booster pack a week for the quarter will earn you almost two free boosters on your next purchase! All you have to do to receive these rewards is register! And there's no annoying card to carry, forget or lose!
We hope you're as excited as we are about these rewards programs and look forward to seeing you soon, and throughout the new year!
Enjoy your holiday festivities, tolerate your families, and here's to another year of great games!
Be safe, all!
12/22/07- Last Minute New Releases At Phoenix Games!
Friday saw the release of two hotly anticipated expansions for popular games, just in time for the Christmas push!
Memoir '44 Air Pack
Carcassonne Abbey & Mayor
As mentioned previously, we still have some copies of the newly released Zooloretto expansion, as well as the Primordial Soup Freshly Spiced expansion, but they're going fast!
Plus, we're gearing up for a special DC and Marvel HeroClix Brick promotion! Stop by to hear all the details before they're announced on December 28th! Two words- GREAT PRICES! ...or maybe we should have gone with FREE STUFF!
Oh well...
12/22/07- Bats and Supes as Clix Brick Figure In February
First Ever Limited Edition & Numbered HeroClix Figure!!!
WizKids' DC HeroClix: Crisis release, due out in February 2008, will feature a limited edition, numbered 3" figure of both Batman and Superman as the free figure for customers who purchase a brick of 10 boosters from a retail store. The limited edition of 5000 is the first numbered HeroClix collectible.
Get your pre-orders in NOW for this sure to be sold out figure!
12/18/07- Santa, Baby- Put A Dragon Under The Tree, for Me...
Hello, All!
As the final week of crazy shopping kicks into ultra high gear, we want to update all of you on new releases and old favorites still in stock!
New In Store-
Amyitis, Cuba, La Citta, Darjeeling,
Yugioh Gladiator's Assault Special Edition Packs,
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Card Sleeves & Deck Boxes,
Zooloretto Expansion,
Primordial Soup Expansion,
New Chess Pieces,
Star Wars RPG Starships Of The Galaxy Book,
D&D Races & Classes, Elder Evils, Dungeon Tiles 6: Dire Tombs
and more!
Hot Sellers Still In Stock-
1960: The Making Of The President (Highly Recommend!),
Last Night On Earth,
Carcassonne,
Puerto Rico,
Ticket To Ride (all versions!),
Blokus,
Settlers Of Catan (all classic and revised versions),
The Pillars Of The Earth (Game Of The Year!),
Hey! That's My Fish!,
Axis & Allies (all titles!),
If Wishes Were Fishes (Family Game Of The Year!),
World Of Warcraft Fires Of Outland Boosters (Going Fast!),
Cineplexity,
Sudoku Game Board,
Yugioh Holiday Tins,
and of course your old standbys- Clue, Life, Monopoly, Risk, Battleship, et al.
Recent Releases-
World Of Warcraft March Of The Legion Boosters,
Star Wars PocketModels Tins,
GIANT Blokus,
Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage,
Starcraft Board Game,
The Good, The Bad & The Munchkin,
Star Wars Force Unleashed Minis,
HeroClix Mutations And Monsters Minis
Bottom line, there are still plenty of gift ideas for EVERYONE on your list, and NO mall traffic or headaches to deal with! You can park just five feet from the door!
And of course, we still have dragons that can be put under the tree, Santa baby. They come in blue, black, white and, of course, Colossal Red!
See you all soon!
12/13/07- 'WoW: Fires Of Outland' Sold Out!
Upper Deck has announced the sell-out of the Fires of Outland expansion for its World of Warcraft TCG. Sales on the set have been the best since the launch, due at least in part to a highly desirable loot card, the Spectral Tiger Mount, which is currently selling for $400 to $1000 on eBay.
The Fires of Outland set was the hottest WoW TCG set since launch, when the Heroes of Azeroth set was a quick sell-out. Fires of Outland boosters are still available in the Feast of Winter Veil Collector's Set.
We still have a small amount of this release left, for those of you looking for something to get your favorite WoW addict for their stockings! Supplies are running out!
12/8/07- WotC Announces Magic Tourney Rules Change... And It’s Good!
Wizards of the Coast has announced that effective December 20th, 2007 all new Magic the Gathering releases will become legal for Constructed play on the day of the product's release. The new policy replaces the previous strictures under which new cards would not become legal until the 20th of the month following their release. The first new set that will be affected by this change of policy will be Morningtide, which will become legal for Constructed play on February 1st, 2008.
11/27/07- 3rd Annual Toys For Tots Holiday Toy Drive Now On!
Phoenix Games' 3rd Annual Holiday Toy Drive for Toys For Tots is now in progress! Help us help the Marine Corps Reserves make the holidays brighter for those kids and teens unable to otherwise partake in this year's holiday. Contribute a new, unwrapped toy or game to our Toys For Tots drop box and make a difference!
This year's drive faces a new challenge as the Reservists out of Fort Lewis, who apparently spearhead the state's efforts, are deploying to Iraq in January. Preparing for their deployment has left them shorthanded for this year's toy drive, which means fewer collection sites across the state, making our modest collection efforts all the more important!
We're also collecting, as always, cash and check donations in store. As we get closer to the holidays, cash becomes even more important than toys to the Marines. Last minute requests for donations from families in need make it difficult for the Marines to fulfill the precise needs of those families. Cash donations allow the Marines to give the families a gift card to be used on just the things their family needs, be it a toy, a game or diapers for their baby.
Stop by anytime between now and the holiday and contribute to this wonderful cause!
10/24/07- Pokemon Secret Wonders Pre-Release Reminder...
Pokemon Secret Wonders Pre-ReleaseSunday, October 28th, 2007
$25 Fee- Covers 6 booster packs to build your deck from, plus two additional packs at the end of the tournament. Also includes other special pre-release exclusives!
Registration starts at 9am
Packs distributed promptly at 10:00am
End time projected at about 3:00pm
Additional booster draft side event scheduled after the main tournament.
If you know someone who plays, please let them know about this event! 8 packs for $25 is the BEST price you'll find on Pokemon boosters, and you get them BEFORE anyone else!
Hope to see you there!
10/24/07- Worldwide D&D Game Day Kit Inside Scoop!
Our Worldwide D&D Game Day kit arrived today and we've got the scoop on what's in store for you! Those volunteering to be DMs can swing by the store to receive the campaign and begin plotting their adventures (You will also be contacted individually)!
For players, a special giveaway has been received as well- but only 30 copies have been sent, which means the first 30 to sign up and attend our event will receive these items! If you're thinking about participating, and haven't yet signed up, NOW is the time to do so! We're already halfway in our signups, so don't miss out on your chance to walk out with freebies! If you have friends who are thinking of participating, let them know they want to sign up NOW!
Saturday, November 3rd, starting at 12:00pm!
Worldwide D&D Game Day!
See you here!
10/2/07- D&D Worldwide Game Day Is Coming!
D&D players, mark your calendars! This year's Worldwide D&D Game Day is scheduled for Saturday, November 3rd and, once again, we're hosting events! This year's campaign will travel to Icewind Dale, home of one of the most famous D&D heroes, Drizzt!
We're always looking for DMs for this event, so if you'd like to run a game, let us know. As we did last year, anyone who DMs the campaign will receive some pretty cool stuff!
To participate, stop by the store and sign up on the sheet, or just message us via MySpace and we'll add you! Campaigns will begin at noon!
8/8/07- Inconceivable! ’Princess Bride’ Merchandise To Be Released Toy Vault will produce a line of merchandise based on Princess Bride, the 1987 fantasy cult hit directed by Rob Reiner and starring Peter Falk, Billy Crystal, Andre the Giant, and Fred Savage, among others. The film was based on a 1973 book by William Goldman. A Toy Vault spokesperson called the film "one of the best cult movies of all time," and compared it to Monty Python and Holy Grail (a property on which Toy Vault has based a host of merchandise). Princess Bride is the source of a number of tag lines, sayings that can be used as anchor points for merchandise.
Toy Vault's Princess Bride product line will include dolls, talking figural key chains (press it and you hear a saying), and plush. The first releases, in March, will be key chains and some plush items. The first characters to get the plush treatment will probably be Fezzik and the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Toy Vault continues its line of Monty Python merchandise with the Black Beast of Aaarrrggghhh Hat, out in September. Toy Vault plans to release a Monty Python Trivia Game in Q1 2007. It will use both cards and a board.
The company's original Swearbear line has been doing very well in game stores, according to the spokesperson. In September, a Swearbears Talking Keychain will be released.
Toy Vault will also release a number of Cthulhu products before the end of the year, including the Hallow's Eve Cthulhu, the Peeping Cthulhu Plush (with suction cups), and Cthulhu the Wicked.
8/4/07- Back In Business! Just a quick announcement to let you all know we should be "open" this afternoon. Not everything is settled, but we will have the doors unlocked a little bit later this afternoon, so if you're feeling the need to pick up a game, D&D book, need a new set of dice or just want to take a look around the new joint, come on by!
Looking forward to seeing you all in the new space!
Phoenix Games is NOW located at:
11811 Mukilteo Speedway, 110
Mukilteo, WA 98275
(425) 353-5584
Across the street from QFC and Jack In The Box, next to Spiro's Pizza and McDonald's!
8/1/07- Hey! Someone Moved My Game Store! Well, we said it was coming and it's here!
Finally, we are moving to a new, larger location! Barring any last minute issues, we will be moving just up the way, across the street from QFC and next to McDonald's and Spiro's Pizza. The new address for Phoenix Games will be 11811 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, WA 98275. The phone number should stay the same and will be forwarded if it changes.
Papers are signed and we're eager to open for business. However, there has been a small delay in getting the spot ready and available to us, so we'll be taking a couple of days off! An opportunity to lean back, relax, and reflect on the last three years...
OK, maybe not. Still way too much work to do! Phone calls to make, people to talk to, appointments to make. So much coming in the days and weeks ahead...
But, rest assured we're working to resolve these issues just as soon as possible and, like the Phoenix it was named for, come back bigger and better than before!
Will keep all of you posted!
7/17/07- The 33rd Annual Origins Awards The 33rd Annual Origins Awards were announced last Saturday at a ceremony starting at 8:30 PM. A -X denotes that these items are carried by Phoenix Games. Some of the winners are as follows:
Miniatures Game or Expansion of the Year
Dreamblade Game Mat (Gale Force 9)
Dreamblade: Rules (Wizards of the Coast) -X
Heavy Gear Blitz: Rules (Dream Pod 9)
HORDES: Monstrous Miniatures Combat (Privateer Press) -X
Rezolution: Shadow War (Aberant)
Winner: HORDES: Monstrous Miniatures Combat -X
Miniature or Miniatures Line of the Year
Colossal Red Dragon (Wizards of the Coast) -X
Hordes: Monstrous Miniatures Combat (Privateer Press) -X
Easley Dragon (Dark Sword)
Ptolus: Minotaur Priest (Paizo Publishing)
Rezolution: Shadow War (Aberant)
Winner: Colossal Red Dragon -X
Non-Collectible Card Game or Expansion of the Year
Cowpoker (Steve Jackson Games) -X
High School Drama (Shifting Skies) -X
Knights of Charlemagne (Playroom Entertainment) -X
Munchkin Impossible (Steve Jackson Games) -X
Treasures & Traps (Studio 9 Games)
Winner: Munchkin Impossible -X
CCG or Expansion of the Year
Anachronism (TriKing Games)
Magic the Gathering: Time Spiral (Wizards of the Coast) -X
Pirates: Davy Jones' Curse (WizKids) -X
The Spoils (Tenacious Games)
UFS (Sabertooth Games)
World of Warcraft (Upper Deck) -X
Winner: Pirates: Davy Jones' Curse -X
Historical Board Game of the Year
Command & Colors Ancients (GMT Games) -X
Epic of the Peloponnesian War (Clash of Arms Games)
Italia (Phalanx Games) -X
Napoleon at the Crossroads (Operation Studies Group)
Wavell's War (GRD)
Winner: Command & Colors Ancients -X
Origins Hall of Fame Inductees
Jonathan Tweet
Alan R. Moon
Pendragon: The Role-Playing Game of Arthurian Britain
Napoleon's Battles
Game Accessory of the Year
Campaign Cartographer (ProFantasy Software)
Dungeon Tiles I (Wizards of the Coast) -X
GameMastery Combat Pad (Paizo/Open Mind Games)
Hero Lab (Lone Wolf Development)
Settlers of Catan Event Deck (Mayfair Games) -X
Winner: Settlers of Catan Event Deck -X
Roleplaying Game Supplement of the Year
Deadlands Reloaded (Pinnacle/Great White Games) -X
GURPS Bio-Tech (Steve Jackson Games)
Out in the Black (Margaret Weis Productions)
Ptolus (Sword & Sorcery)
Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords (Wizards of the Coast) -X
Winner: Deadlands Reloaded -X
Roleplaying Game of the Year
Burning Empires (Burning Wheel)
Exalted, 2nd Edition (White Wolf) -X
Faery's Tale (Firefly Games)
Hollow Earth Expedition (Exile Game Studio)
RuneQuest (Mongoose Publishing)
Winner: Burning Empires
Board Game or Expansion of the Year
BattleLore (Days of Wonder) -X
Hey! That's My Fish (Mayfair Games) -X
Oshi (WizKids, Inc.) -X
Shear Panic (Mayfair Games) -X
Treehouse (Looney Labs)
Winner: Treehouse
7/17/07- Magic: The Gathering Gets A Makeover!
July 17, 2007
Mark Rosewater, the Head Designer for Magic the Gathering, has announced that the Lorwyn block, which debuts in October, will deviate from the standard three-set blocks that Magic fans are familiar with. Lorwyn and its successor Morningtide, which is due out in February, will form a mini-block, instead of the three-set block previously announced, and will be followed by another two-release mini-block with sets code-named "Jelly" and "Doughnut."
The Lorwyn block and its successor will each have their own distinct themes, mechanics, and look. Henceforth the typical MTG block will consist of a large set (with tournament packs) and a small set, rather than a large set and two smaller "expansion" sets.
This will result in something of a schedule change for MTG fans, who have gotten used to the release of large set in October. Though Lorwyn, which is due out this October, is a large set, the next large set, code-named "Jelly," will be released in May/June of 2008, rather than in October.
The Lorwyn block and its successor, though different and distinct, will also in Rosewater's words "be synergistic and interconnected." For Limited Tournaments the Lorwyn and "Jelly" blocks will be treated like two distinct blocks, but for Constructed Tournaments the two mini-blocks will be considered as one uber-block. Thus the Lorwyn mini-block and the Jelly mini-block will rotate out of formats at the same time. For example Time Spiral will rotate out of Standard when "Rock," the block after Lorwyn and "Jelly" rotates in -- and the two mini-blocks, Lorwyn/Morningtide and Jelly/Doughnut will all be together in the same Block Constructed format.