Luckily we had lots of help to go from sparse to WOW!  Although the five convention attendees set things up we couldn’t have done it without the support and assistance of our stay at home development partners, Rob Franklin and Scott Jack. A special thanks to Nathan and Sue at the Writers of the Round Table for the stand up banners, information handouts, and booth signage. Their contribution made our presentation special and we are pleased to report that everything was on site the morning of day 1. Here is how it all came together:

We were ready when they opened the doors – but we had NO idea what was coming. For four days we talked and played and talked some more. The Herobits booth was always busy with people learning about and playing the game. We had players young and old come over and try Herobits:

When we were not talking and/or playing we were probably wandering around the convention to check out all the other great games, like Hero Mages from D20 Studios LLC. Not just games though as Craig discovered some of the most amazing gaming tables on one of his recon missions. The tables are by a company called Geek Chic and they’re second to none. What’s more, the Geek Chic team invited us to display Herobits cards on one of the game tables in their booth; we said, “hell yes” and here they are:

One of my favourite parts of the show was finally meeting Ed Greenwood in person. I still can’t quite understand why Ed has been so helpful nor can I say enough good things about the man. On Saturday he wore his Herobits golf shirt around the show and to fan signings (his fans that is). Thanks Ed! We also had a number of other writers and artists come by the booth. We’re anxious to work with them and will be focusing on getting our first Herobits short fiction writing contest rolling soon.

Was Gen Con a lot of work? Yes. Was it worth every minute of it? Absolutely!

In fact, we’ve already got our first official review of the Herobits game, and we scored an impressive (in my humble opinion) 8.5 out of 10 – so go check it out at: http://geekspective.com/2343/herobits-more-than-just-a-bit-of-fun/

Michael Wills

Lasalle, Ontario, June 19, 2009 — Herobits Corp. is proud to announce the launch of its new collectible card game (http://www.herobits.com/), Herobits, a sci-fi themed armored hero game for kids. Herobits will be available in your local game store starting on Sunday, June 21st. The Herobits card game permits friendly combat between two people, face to face, with the great personal interaction so rare in today’s world.

Herobits Series 1 consists of three complete 50 card collectible decks, each one featuring a single armored hero. This easy to learn and fast paced game is centered on a devastated future Earth where great wastelands have formed. Mechanical monsters called Reapers dig, drill, and blast to feed “the Machine”; but, inside Arcadia, one of the last remaining human enclaves, powerful armor and weaponry are being developed, and Arcadians known as Herobits are training to wield them. Working together, Herobits prepare to combat the Machine and restore the Earth.

Players can sit down, learn the rules, and be playing within 10 minutes right out of the box. There are no booster packs, eliminating the need to spend more money to truly enjoy the game. Game play requires just 2 players aged 8+, each with their own Herobits 50 card deck. New 3 character releases are scheduled at two to three-month intervals. Every new series will feature new artists and great new artistic styles. Providing entertaining games for kids (http://www.herobits.com/characters/) and a collectible, Herobits is easy to learn, play, and enjoy for two players.

The Canadian distributor is the reputable Grosnor Distribution, Inc. Herobits will be added to their already extensive lineup of products. In the United States, ACD Distribution LLC will help stock the US retailers in time for the June 21st release date. The card games (http://www.herobits.com/herobits-world/) will be shipped from ACD warehouses from California to Pennsylvania. ACD has been working with Herobits Corp. to get the games into numerous hobby and game stores throughout the United States.

Vibrant artistry is unique to each Herobits character as artists from around the world imagine their own Herobits, in their own unique style. Cards are printed to collectible card grade standards by Cartamundi, the same company that prints some of the most popular and sought after collectible card games on the market. Ed Greenwood, a Canadian author of over 30 fantasy novels, when shown a private preview of the card game said, “The cards look beautiful. The color really impressed me!”

Included with the 50-card deck are a rules sheet and character poster. You’ll find store displays with a choice of the three Series 1 characters, four decks for each character currently available. Series 1 Herobits include James Willstorm, Li Kui and Ulrika Vidar. More characters are on the way, including the LRX1 Reaper, sworn enemy of the Herobits.

The Herobits Corp. Canadian Launch event will be held at 401 Games in Toronto, Ontario, on June 21st, starting at 11:30 that morning. Meet the Lead Rules Smith, Stephen Helleiner, and sit down for a game of Herobits. Series 2 artist Ryan will be on hand to sign and give away limited run posters of his Herobits character, Johnny Awesome.

About Herobits Corp: Herobits Corp. is a Canadian game company founded in 2008 with a focus on kids games (http://www.herobits.com/the-game/). You can visit the Herobits website at Herobits.com to learn more of the story about Herobits. You can also visit Herobits Corp. at their game booth in Indianapolis at GenCon Indy 2009 starting August 13th. Go directly to booth #1439 in the Family Fun Pavilion.

Stephen is looking forward to seeing you, so come on out to 401 Games on Sunday (401 Games – 401 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON).

We are pleased and proud to confirm that we will be launching the game on June 21st, on time, across North America. Cards are printed and shipping to retailers as I write this.

As of Sunday you should be able to buy Herobits at your local hobby and game store. If you can’t find it at your local store, just ask them to bring it in. In the US retailers should contact ACD Distribution LLC and in Canada contact Grosnor Distribution Inc.

If that fails you can always safely order Herobits online from our Paypal secure Herobits online store.

See you on Sunday…

Grosnor Distribution Inc. is a Canadian owned and operated sport collectible distribution company. Founded in ‘89, Grosnor is Canada’s leading trading and game card distributor. Their 25,000 square foot warehouse is located in Toronto. To set up an account, call Grosnor at (1-800-268-9066) – and tell them the Herobits team sent you.

As of April 27th, 2009, you may now pre-order any or all of the Series 1 Herobits trading card game decks. Visit our simple and secure Online Store to place your pre-orders. You are guaranteed Series 1 product for orders placed before June 21st, and that your order will ship on June 21st, the Official Street Date – but not before June 21st.

The Herobits Online Store uses PayPal to safely accept all forms of online payment, including major credit cards. Shipping is handled on a “flat fee” by geographic region regardless of order size. Order multiple decks to save on shipping costs. Get together with your friends to combine orders – and still pay one price for shipping. All prices are in US dollars and include all applicable taxes, which Herobits Corp will remit as required.

Check out the store and order your decks today. Don’t wait for this exciting kids game and risk missing your chance to own collectible cards decks from Series 1.

ACD Distribution, LLC is a full line game distributor with a long history in the gaming industry. With the help of ACD, Herobits will be available to US retailers in plenty of time for the June 21st street date. Herobits will be shipping from ACD warehouses in Fresno, CA; Madison, Wisconsin; and Harrisburg, PA. Contact ACD today to find out more about how to order the Herobits collectible card game for your retail store. To set up an account, call ACD at 800-SOS-GAME (800-767-4263) – and tell them the Herobits team sent you.

As of March 25th the Herobits Forum is open. Visit the forum HERE and get involved in the growing Herobits community.

The forum is a great place to learn about upcoming events and maybe have a quick chat with a Herobits Artist. Check out the latest Herobits and submit your own rule variations or other great ideas.

See you in the Forum.

Lasalle, Ontario (PRWEB) March 23, 2009 — In an age where game-playing can take place across the Internet against a virtual opponent, the concept of a card game presents a low-tech but more personal alternative. No batteries, electricity, or wireless connection required — just two or more people, in person, facing off against each other in a friendly game.

For Mike Wills, a lifelong sci-fi fan, this concept has launched not only his new business, but hopefully the careers of some up-and-coming artists as well. Wills and a group of dedicated gamer friends created “Herobits”, a collectible card game (http://www.herobits.com/the-game/) that allows players to become heroes in powered armor fighting to save the planet.

Inspired by his daughters’ fascination with the extended worlds created for their toys, Wills wanted to create a game for youngsters and adults who enjoy sci-fi adventures. “I saw that the toys themselves were only part of the fun for my girls. They enjoyed building a world around the characters and giving them all a bit of personality,” says Wills. “It struck me that it would be fun to be able to collect and play with a totally new set of sci-fi heroes, to be able to build on their story, and add to their heroic powers.”

Complete decks eliminate booster pack purchasing.

The idea took hold and Wills began researching games, only to discover that most card games of this type required booster packs. Kids had to keep paying out money in order to get more enjoyment from the game. Not with Herobits, Wills insists. Each 50-card deck is complete. All it takes to play the game is two people and two decks.

Herobits is played with a series of decks, each one featuring a single armored hero. The object is to strengthen the hero’s skills through practice battles with other heroes or to face off against the wicked Robots to be featured in upcoming decks. According to Wills, new Herobits characters with their own 50-card decks will be released about every two or three months. Every new character will feature a new artist. “In the near future, we will also be inviting new professional writers to imagine Herobits with short stories and works of fiction, in their chosen writing style, to expand the Herobits’ universe,” says Wills.

“This is a game of strategy and simple math,” explains Wills. “Players need to add points from their Attack and Resist cards in order to gain strength but they also need to think about the best way to use the cards in their deck.” Deciding when to play special upgrade and instant effect cards provides an additional level of fun and strategy.

Herobits artists come from around the world.

Wills admits he’s a diehard sci-fi aficionado, but not an artist. So he went online to find artists who would be inspired to create the characters and artwork for Herobits (http://www.herobits.com/artists/). His search found him rising stars in China, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States. Each artist created his or her own armored hero and illustrated every card in the deck. The styles vary from deck to deck, based on the artist’s unique skills. Wills says this reflects the worldwide community of talent in a diverse range of styles. “These cards reflect the amazing artistry of the comic book genre as much as the game-playing aspect.”

The future of the planet is in your hands.

Set in the year 2160 and beyond, Herobits has an environmental message that resonates today. The human race has become a minority on Earth. Robots run by a greedy corporate CEO-turned-machine are pillaging the planet’s natural resources in search of the fuel they need to exist. Meanwhile, one group of surviving humans has created a safe haven called Arcadia. Inside this remote island community they’re training new armored heroes, called Herobits, to battle the machines and save the planet.

Herobits will be released in North America on June 21, 2009, through local hobby and game stores. For the full story of this world of the future and more information about Herobits, visit the Herobits website (http://www.herobits.com).

Lots of exciting things are happening at Herobits Corp. The first three, of many, Herobits character decks are about ready to go. The website works, the background story is just about done, posters and other promotional materials are ready, and the game itself is a lot of fun to play. On June 21, 2009, we’re going to let it fly.

On this initial release we will be delivering exciting decks from Emmanuel (James Willstorm), Melencio and his team (Li Kui), and Carla (Ulrika Vidar).  These First Series cards will have a First Print run of 10,000 decks each, and will be available at hobby, comic, and game stores in North America. Contact a store owner near you and tell them you’re interested in Herobits; they’ll know what to do.

All Herobits cards will be professionally printed on collectible grade stock (of not less than 20% recycled material) by the best printing company in the business. Herobits characters are packaged individually in 50 card decks with a rules sheet/character poster. Store displays will include 12 decks – four each of James Willstorm, Li Kui, and Ulrika Vidar. Expect prices to be very competitive for this grade of collectible game card. Make sure your favorite store has these First Series cards available for you.

That’s it – watch the countdown to June 21, 2009, and get ready to have some fun!