Comic ConQuest game, spoofing comics events, revealed

By John Freeman on July 17, 2013

Those of you who can’t afford to shell out for the flight and hotel to attend San Diego Comic Con (save your money for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival or Thought Bubble!) can soon enjoy all the fun of a being at a major US event without the press of 100,000 plus media fans to worry about. Sleepy Giant Entertainment has partnered with Free Lunch Design (creators of the Icy Tower franchise) on Comic ConQuest, a free-to-play tactical RPG adventure set in a giant comic and sci-fi convention in which costumed fans have been transformed into the characters they portray.

The homemade costumes and plastic weapons become real, and the show floor becomes a battleground as the attendees-turned-heroes use their newfound powers to fight their way to faction supremacy.

Comic ConQuest – which funnily enough, launches this week – will feature the talents of Emmy award-winning producer and renowned comic book artist Jeff Matsuda, whose career spans 18 years in TV, film, comics and videogames. He is best known for producing The Batman and Jackie Chan Adventures, and for his work on US comic titles such as X-Men, Batman, Wolverine, The Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

“I’ve always loved going to Comic Con and seeing Klingons walking around talking to Harry Potter and Batman,” says Jeff, who’s also Executive Producer on the game. “And I’d think, how awesome would it be if they had actual powers and fought to see who could rule the con? So when Sleepy Giant came to me with the idea for this game, I dove in headfirst.

“We’ve got a super nerdy dream team over here with backgrounds in art, comics and gaming, and we’re passionate about making Comic ConQuest a fun, die-hard nerd experience.”

This is an epic adventure in a world where the suit really does make the hero. Players battle their way through the con, fighting for survival, hunting for swag, forming guilds, and striving for supremacy in the war-torn wasteland of the once (mostly) peaceful show floor.

Comic ConQuest is slated to launch across web, mobile and tablet platforms later in 2013. Players who register by 31st August, 2013 will receive free exclusive early access (to the web version) along with a set of virtual steak knives.

• Sign up and learn more at comicconquest.net

• Become a fan: Comic ConQuest Facebook | @Comic_ConQuest | @SleepyGiant | Sleepy Giant Facebook

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.