Sad news from Palladium's website

Sad News about Erick Wujcik
By Kevin Siembieda

I’m afraid I have some sad and shocking news. I’ve tried a dozen different ways to write this, but none of them sound right. So I’ll just say it:

My sweet, brilliant friend – Erick Wujcik – is dying of cancer.

Yes, Erick Wujcik, the mastermind behind such role-playing games and RPG products as Amber® Diceless RPG, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® RPG, Ninjas & Superspies RPG, Weapons & Assassins, Revised RECON®, Rifts® China One & Two, and a host of other RPG books.

Erick, age 56, has pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver. There was no advance warning. Erick was healthy and doing fine. He thought he had come down with the flu, and when he couldn’t shake it, he went to the doctors. The prognosis was unexpected, to say the least.

We thought about letting people know after Christmas, but Erick’s time is, all too quickly, running out. We thought it would be wonderful to give the millions of people who have loved the man and played his games, the opportunity to express their appreciation for him. I’m sure Erick will be pleased to read people’s warm regards.

While this is sad news that weighs heavily on our hearts, we’d like this website (www.erickwujcik.com) and the comments posted on it, to be a celebration of Erick’s wonderful life.

Just as you did when Palladium announced its Crisis of Treachery, let Erick know how much you have enjoyed his games and ideas. How Ninja Turtles (or Amber or whatever) turned you on to gaming or opened up your mind to new possibilities, and similar commentaries, thoughts and regards. I know your kind words and warm remembrances will put a smile on his face and warm his soul.

We’ve chosen to go with a blog style. Post as often as you’d like. Share your recollections about encounters with Erick, the first time you heard him speak or met him at a convention, what he and his work has meant to you, funny convention stories, and whatever else feels right.

I can tell you that I love Erick Wujcik. He has been my friend and mentor, confidant and cohort in so many adventures in gaming and in life, that it would be impossible to list them all. I am a better person for having known him, and I have reveled in Erick’s intelligence, wit, energy, friendship and the warmth of his smile. I will miss him more than words can express, but I am so lucky, my life so much richer, for having had such a rare gem of a person in it. I smile every time I think about our antics together. How Erick basks in the exuberance of gaming conventions (and life). At how Erick practically floats above the ground at conventions, enthralled in the fun of exchanging ideas, running games, seeing old friends and meeting new people. He simply drinks in the thrill and joy of it all.

I’ve talked to Erick a lot these past few weeks. He sounds great. Same as always. If you didn’t know better, you’d never know anything was wrong.

Erick tells me he has no regrets. And I believe him. Erick is one of those rare individuals who has lived his life to the fullest and lived it well. He has an army of friends that span the globe and he has touched millions more through his works in the role-playing industry and videogames. When you look up the word “networking” in the dictionary, there should be a photograph of Erick Wujcik grinning back at you.

These are just a few tiny things I can tell you about my friend, Erick. I’ll have more to say, joined by thousands of others in the days to come.

Smile Erick, you are loved.

Thank you.

Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Artist and Friend
December 22, 2007

Protoculture Addicts celebrates it's 2nd decade with a BANG

In case you're wondering, Protoculture Addicts started out 20 years ago as a Robotech fanzine, which eventually evolved into an all-anime magazine. And now, for the magazine's 20th anniversary, PA's issue #94 will have two articles retracing the history of both Robotech and the magazine itself.

Macross Frontier news

Just in time for my 30th birthday, the Anime News Network announces that the newest chapter in Shoji Kawamori's space opera saga, Macross Frontier, will debut in Spring 2008 which will include a 27-minute version of the series opener.

NTT Resonant's goo Internet portal website has confirmed that the Macross F (Frontier) sequel is planned for a Spring 2008 broadcast. The finalized story will take place in A.D. 2059, five decades after the story of the first Macross television series and less than two decades after the last two major sequel stories, Macross Plus and Macross 7. In the story, the Macross Frontier space colonization fleet is hosting a concert of an idol singer from the nearby Macross Galaxy fleet when a mysterious enemy attacks.

The January issue (on sale December 10) of Kadokawa's Newtype magazine will confirm the project's voice cast. Newcomer Megumi Nakajima had previously won a nationwide audition to perform and sing as Ranka Lee, a high school student who works part-time at a Chinese restaurant. Yuuichi Nakamura (Mobile Suit Gundam 00's Graham, Clannad's Tomoya) will play the main male lead, the fighter pilot trainee Alto Saotome. Aya Endo (Lucky Star's Miyuki, Gundam 00's Kinue) will play Sheryl Nome, the current top idol in the Macross universe. Hiroshi Kamiya (Honey and Clover's Yuuta, Gundam 00's Tieria), Jun Fukuyama (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion's Lelouch), and Houko Kuwashima (Gundam Seed's Flay, Inuyasha's Sango) will play the supporting characters of Mikhail Buran, Luca Angeloni, and Nanase Matsuura, respectively.

The official Macross website has confirmed that this month's Macross 25th Anniversary Special program will feature co-creator Shoji Kawamori as a guest and a 27-minute director's cut of the first episode of Macross Frontier. Kawamori will be working with the studio Satelight (Noein, Macross Zero) and composer Yoko Kanno (Macross Plus, Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop) on the new series. The special will also feature the television entertainers Hiroyuki Miyasako, Chihara-Junior, Shinya Arino, and Akane Ōsawa.

Whoopie!! I'm very excited!! :D

Michael Bradley Unplugged

Yes, it's true. According to Michael Bradley's MySpace page, he's going to release an acoustic album of Robotech songs.

I'm excited, aren't you. :D

Tobey Macguire to the RESCUE!!!!!!!!!!!

From Hollywood Reporter:

Maguire, WB attack the big screen with 'Robotech'

By Borys Kit

Sept 7, 2007

The anime "Robotech"

TORONTO -- After slipping on a mask for Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire might be slipping into a giant robot for "Robotech."

After a lengthy negotiation, Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up the rights to bring anime classic "Robotech," which featured giant robots known as mechas, to the big screen. Maguire is producing through his Maguire Entertainment banner and is eyeing the lead role in what the studio plans on being a tentpole sci-fi franchise.

"We are very excited to bring 'Robotech' to the big screen," Maguire said. "There is a rich mythology that will be a great foundation for a sophisticated, smart and entertaining film."

Drew Crevello also is producing through his Supercool Hollywood BigTime Prods. Craig Zahler ("The Brigands of Rattleborge") has been tapped to write the screenplay.

"Robotech" was a cartoon series during the 1980s from Harmony Gold USA and Tatsunoko Prods. It was re-edited and re-dialogued to combine three Japanese anime series to give the producers enough episodes to air as a daily syndicated series.

A sprawling sci-fi epic, "Robotech" takes place at a time when Earth has developed giant robots from the technology on an alien spacecraft that crashed on a South Pacific isle. Mankind is forced to use the technology to fend off three successive waves of alien invasions. The first invasion concerns a battle with a race of giant warriors who seek to retrieve their flagship's energy source known as "protoculture," and the planet's survival ends up in the hands of two young pilots.

Frank Agrama of rights-holder Harmony Gold will exec produce; Jason Netter will serve in a producer capacity.

Matthew Reilly brought the project to Warners and is overseeing. Daniel Shafer brought the project to Maguire and will shepherd for the company.

The success of DreamWorks/Paramount's $311 million-grossing "Transformers" has other studios looking to assemble a giant robot movie of their own. Last month, Regency picked up 1980s Japanese anime series "Voltron," with Mark Gordon attached to produce. Ironically, Warners had the first giant robot movie back in 1999: Brad Bird's animated feature "The Iron Giant."

Maguire is repped by CAA, Management 360 and attorney Steve Warren. Zahler is repped by UTA and attorney P.J. Shapiro.

It's OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Palladium.com:

Robotech® is back!

I imagine we’ll be doing a super-whammy Robotech® license announcement in the next week or two, but in the meanwhile I know our fans are dying to know, does Palladium Books have the license or not?

The answer is . . . yes.

I signed contracts last week, Friday, and received the signed agreements from Harmony Gold USA, Inc. this morning. Been smiling ever since.

I can’t tell you how excited we are to have the Robotech® license back. We are shooting to have the Robotech®: Shadow Chronicles RPG out in time for Christmas, but no promises. More details to come in the “official” Robotech® press release in a week or two!

At long last!!

After six long and painful years, Palladium has finally decided to renew their contract with Harmony Gold and thus revive the Robotech RPG license. This will include a Shadow Chronicles campaign to go along with the present RT modules and supplements, IIRC.

In the meantime, I'd better start saving my money. :D

Suprise, suprise

You won't believe where I used to live next to:



And, the first-ever Robotech comic that I've bought:

A Robotech Wiki?

Robotech Wiki.

Yes, Virginia, it does exist.

Yesterday, it happened

I finally got my copy of the first volume of the Robotech II: The Sentinels Script Book in the mail yesterday which completes my RTII Script Book collection. I bought it for $7.00 last week at and it was mailed from Las Cruces, NM. I am very excited to obtain this copy of this script book and will add it to my ever-growing RTII Sentinels collection very soon.

Sad day for Robotech Fans: Ulpio Minucci, 1917-2007

From Robotech.com

---

Ulpio Minucci passes away at 89

Composer scored ABC Television's 'Saga of Western Man' and Harmony Gold's 'Robotech'

Author: Los Angeles Times

Ulpio Minucci (89), resident of Los Angeles, California, passed away March 9, 2007, at his home in Brentwood.

Born in Italy on June 29, 1917, he studied at Santa Cecilia Music Conservatory in Rome, graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Palermo, Italy, and eventually became a concert pianist and composer. Mr. Minucci also held a doctorate of Law from the University of Palermo.

Composer of such pop music classics as Domani (performed by Julius LaRosa and Bing Crosby), A Thousand Thoughts of You, and Make Me (sung by Nat King Cole). Music scoring projects included the ABC-TV series, 'Saga of Western Man,' the animated TV/DVD series, 'Robotech,' and many other TV, film, and stage projects.

During his 12 years at CBS Records, Mr. Minucci was Director of Music for Theater, Motion Pictures & Television at CBS International, also worked in Artists & Repertoire (A & R), in addition to working at April Blackwood Music Publishing.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Catherine Minucci, also of Brentwood, his daughter Nina Minucci of Marlborough, New Hampshire, and his son Chieli Minucci of Forest Hills, New York, as well as three grandchildren.

At long last

I, finally, purchased Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles earlier today at Wal-Mart for only $19.99. No kidding. :D

Farewell, Darkwater. :(

As you've heard by now, Darkwater has resigned from reporting Robotech and Robotech-related news as of yesterday, March 11th, 2007.

I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

What The?! (Look where circled)

I'd never thought that an Adm. Hayes would show up in the film, Star Trek: First Contact