With the resurgence of our favorite game via the great Fantasy Flight edition, and Expansion 2 “Cosmic Conflict” coming very very soon (Jan or Feb) of 5 planned, we have a great opportunity to reinvigorate the Cosmic Community. I was just chatting with Kevin WIlson at FFG yesterday about expansion set 3 :).

Today, Cosmic fan, Alan Varney via twitter and Board Game Geek has declared February 12 as National Cosmic Encounter Day :). We heartily concur!
National Cosmic Encounter Day | Cosmic Encounter | BoardGameGeek

Join us on twitter to keep in (and magnify) the cosmic loop.
@pgocosmic

It’s free for those of you not on twitter. And if you are reticent – just make a twitter account solely for the purpose of building the Cosmic community. That’s how I use it and it rocks! ONce you have an account, do a search for Cosmic Encounter (and other terms that you think might apply) and you will on your way.

In other news, Cosmic Online player “yuropa” Glen Pepicelli has been working with Bill Eberle and me on relocating Cosmic Online to the Amazon EC2 Cloud as well as beginning work on new CE Online aliens from the FFG Set.

If you have projects which need cloud support email Glen at support@1201restart.com

Looking ahead to a good Cosmic 2011.

Peter

@pgocosmic

http://www.futurepastimes.com/peterolotka

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the net,
Not an alien was stirring, at Cosmic just yet.
The browsers were cued on computers with care
In hopes that an email soon would be there.
The players were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of game play danced in their heads.
And we at our keyboards ’bout ready to snap
Been working long hours, keeled over to nap.
When down in the disc drive there arose such a clatter
I spun round in my chair to see what was the matter
Away to the hard drive I flew to check FLASH
Tore open the guts much fearing a crash.
The screen with the driver became all aglow,
Gave a luster of midday to flash objects below,
When then as my tiring eyes came a glower,
I saw miniature aliens and each with a power,
With a very bold player so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment I just had to click.
More rapid than saucers his aliens they came.
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
Now Macron! now Empath! now Zombie! and Warrior!
On Virus, on Oracle, on Pacifist and Sorcerer!
To the top of the planet, to the top of the game
Now dash away dash away, bring me my fame.
As dry notes before the office fan fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up on the internet the aliens they flew,
With a game full of fun and the bold player too.
And then in a twinkle, I realized my goof,
By enhancing the drawing of each little proof.
As I drew back my head and was turning around,
Through the portal bold player came with a bound.
He was dressed all in sweats, a right portly old bloke
And his clothes were all tarnished with pizza and coke.
A bundle of powers he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a coder, he took me aback.
His eyes how they squinted! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were quite sallow, his nose like a cherry.
His droll little mouth made him look wide awake,
And the beard on his chin was right flecked with cake.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his fist,
And the smoke, it encircled us both, like in Myst.
He had a broad face and a giant round belly
That shook, when he laughed as though full from the deli.
He was chubby and plump, and came forth quite near
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of my fear.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went right to the game,
And filled all the planets frame after frame.
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod up through the portal he rose.
He sprang to the ether, to his pals gave a whistleho,
And away they all flew like an unguided mistletoe.
But I heard him exclaim as he faded to black
Happy Holidays to all, you can bet I’ll be back.

Peter Olotka
Designer Cosmic Encounter Online 2001
With apologies to Clement C. Moore

DATE:
Thursday June 10

TIME:
8 PM EST (or anytime after if you can make it.)

PLACE:
http://www.tempdomain1.info/prod/game/login.html

NOTES:
Just fill in the player name and password

We want to get a bunch of players in the game on the development server to try to replicate the LAG problem that’s been plaguing the game since we have been running on Network Solutions.

Our goal is to fix up the current game and then add aliens from the new FFG set.

The wait is almost over!

This Winter, the Cosmic Encounter universe will explode! New alien cultures are now racing towards the site of the conflict. They each want to carve out their own piece of the galaxy for themselves.

Cosmic Incursion is the first expansion for Cosmic Encounter. Including 20 new alien races, each with their own unique power; exciting new cards, and components to add a sixth player, Cosmic Incursion is a must for serious Cosmic Encounter players.

Over the coming weeks on the FFG website, we will be revealing the aliens that may be familiar to some of you (reprints of past favorites) and unveiling aliens no one has ever seen before.

Cosmic Encounter puts you in charge of the fate of an alien race. Each flavor of extraterrestrial strives to be the first to conquer five enemy col onies and establish themselves as the dominant life form. Every faction has a unique power, a power they intend to use to crush their enemies. With over 50 aliens to choose from no two games will be the same.