White Wolf’s World of Darkness, which primarily compromised Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse and Mage: The Ascension, was one of the most iconic roleplaying franchises and its influence extends far beyond the realms of gaming.  Much of the recent portrayal of supernatural creatures could be tracked back to this series.

World of Darkness: The Documentary charts the creation and development of the World of Darkness in 2001, through the meteoritic rise of White Wolf, to when the series concluded the game’s metaplot in 2004, and the legacy it left behind.

It is credit to the documentary’s creators that they were able to bring together such a disparate group of individuals, many of whom have all gone their separate ways.  Central to this story is Mark Rein-Hagen (interviewed here), who created Vampire: The Masquerade, as well as Steve Wieck and Stewart Wieck.

Rather than discussing their time with the World of Darkness through rose-tinted glasses, these are surprisingly frank conversations that discussed both the high and low points of their journey creating the World of Darkness, such as the meteoritic rise of White Wolf, through to the table-top gaming slump in the early 2000’s.

The documentary also examines the impact that the World of Darkness has had on society, looking at the television series based on Vampire: The Masquerade (Kindred: The Embraced), as well as the films and television shows were that influenced by the World of Darkness.

The documentary focusses on the LARP element of the World of Darkness (otherwise known as the Mind’s Eye Theatre System), which was a major focus on the World of Darkness franchise.  However, the documentary spent paid overly long focussing on the different players involved in the game, rather than on the creators involved in the development of the game.

A consequence of this is that whilst many of the major topics pertaining to the World of Darkness’s development are discussed, they are rarely explored in depth.  As such, we are left with tantalising nuggets of information, rather than a complete picture.

Nonetheless, anyone with even a vague interest in roleplaying games and/or modern-horror gaming should take the time to watch World of Darkness: The Documentary. Lasting only 85-minutes, this is a concise profile of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises.  It is also currently free when subscribed to Amazon Prime.

As much as we at Geek Pride like comics and Sci-Fi, we are also really into our gadgets.  If we can help save the environment at the same time, then all the better.  Thus, when WingLights, a technological solution to the number of bicycle accidents at junctions landed on our desks, we could not help but take an interest.

Three years ago, the company CYCL launched on Kickstarter, introducing WingLights; direction indicators for bicycles.  Three years later, with WingLights having made 50,000 bikes safer, CYCL are back with their next idea – WingLights 360.

Having released a first version of WingLights, turn indicators that flash with a single a tap, the six-strong team listened to requests of their backers.

CYCL have integrated a permanent white/red side light function in their bicycle indicators. All cyclists need to do is snap the WingLights 360 on the ends of the bike’s handlebars and switch on: one tap for flashing indicators, continuous hold for steady side lights. Positioned on the most protruding part of the bike, the WingLights therefore highlight the cyclist’s width.

Given that 25% of accidents are caused by drivers’ failure to judge cyclists’ paths, WingLights 360 remedy this by allowing cyclists to clearly indicate their direction of movement, in addition to initial hand signals.

Using a CNC aluminum construct, WingLights 360 are both shockproof and waterproof. They magnetically attach to handlebar ends and can be reduced in size to that of a keyring for safekeeping.  They are also USB rechargeable, providing three hours of continuous use after only 30 minutes of charging.

With the number of commuters increasing, this provides an elegant solution to the risks the increasing number of cyclists are exposed to, thereby hopefully encouraging more people to cycle and not to rely on their cars.

WingLights 360 are currently on Kickstarter and can be backed here.

Now, I am off on my bike!

The Horus Heresy, the long running book series from the Black Library which started in April 2006 with Dan Abnett’s Horus Rising, is coming to an end.

The final book of The Horus Heresy will be The Buried Dagger and will be published in 2019. The best selling series of books which tells the story of the galaxy-spanning civil war occurring 10,000 years before the main setting of the table top game Warhammer 40,000 will have featured over 50 books by the time it ends (along with numerous audio dramas and other things). Back through the mists of time we featured this article on the series.

Whilst it’s easy to cynically sneer at the undeniable cash cow that the Horus Heresy has become for the Black Library (and Games Workshop) and the series is undeniably variable in its quality due to behind the scenes drama impacting things, it’s still worth noting how much of an achievement the series has become as a whole.

The Buried Dagger will be written by James Swallow and will feature Battle-Captain Nathaniel Garro, the stalwart straight arrow of the Death Guard who first appeared in Swallow’s Flight of the Eisenstein, book number 4 in the series.

But as the Horus Heresy ends a new story begins with Games Workshop announcing The Siege of Terra, a new book series that will the tale of the bitter conflict on Holy Terra itself.