=> Official Update #70

Highlights:

2nd Wave English (and Single Shipment):

1. EU Hub: virtually complete. Just a few backers waiting for delivery of their parcel.
2. USA QML: Deliveries are complete.
3. USA Generati: Deliveries are complete with a few outstanding parcels being investigated as not delivered
4. UK Hub: Deliveries are complete
5. Australian Hub: Deliveries are complete
6. Canadian Hub: Deliveries are complete
7. Asia Hub: Almost all parcels have been processed

Translation Progress (2nd Wave Language):

1. Testing is nearly complete. There were some delays with the French translation.
2. Mass production may begin in early summer. Picking up from the factory is scheduled for late September. Deliveries to backers should start in the end of October.

APP Update:

1. 2nd Wave English app is approved and ready for download for Android and iOS.
2. They are still working on the other languages text for the APP.

Also … a note about the updates:

1. The next update will be in a few months regarding 2nd Wave Language edition. But expect a normal update in May.

=> Official Update #69

1. Language Edition 1st Wave has been completed. If you chose “split shipping” and did not receive your parcel, contact=> Awaken Realms Customer Support Team
2. English Edition 2nd Wave (and Single Shipment):
   • EU Hub: Nearly complete. Only a few dozen larger Pick N Pack pledges left, plus some parcels for non-EU European countries and some for the “rest of the world”.
   • US Hub – QML: Finished processing all parcels
   • US Hub – Gamerati: Almost all of the remaining 410 Pick N Pack parcels are shipped. A few parcels are being investigated (emails went to the affected backers)
   • UK Hub: Finished processing all parcels
   • Australian Hub: Finished processing all parcels
   • Canadian Hub: Finished processing all parcels
   • Asia (VFI) Hub: Almost 100% complete. Details are on their website.
3. ISS Vanguard APP:
   • 2nd wave English content and the English voiceovers is finished. It should be available at the Android and iOS app stores as soon as they are approved.
   • Language versions for 1st wave is ongoing with a substantial amount completed. Notifications will be made when ready.

=> Official Update #68

Highlights:

1. 1st Wave Language Editions – shipping has been completed. If you have not received yours, contact the Awaken Realms Customer Support Team
2. 2nd Wave English Edition (including Single shipment):
   • EU Hub: Over 97% have been shipped out. Still remaining are larger pick N Pack for EU plus some parcels for non-EU European countries and some from “the Rest of the World”
   • US Hub – QML: processing is completed
   • US Hub – Gamerati: 410 parcels left to process (Pick N Pack) – the delay is due to their processing other game orders at the same time
   • UK Hub: Finished processing all parcels (just a few are still in transit to backers)
   • Australian Hub: Finished fulfillment
   • Canadian Hub: Finished fulfillment
   • Asia Hub (VFI): Shipping is under way and over 95% of parcels have been delivered.
3. ISS Vanguard APP Update: The 2nd wave APP (English) is nearly ready complete with voiceovers. Should be ready next week after a short Easter break.
   The 1st Wave Language APP is delayed and should be ready at the end of April.

My six decades of playing board games was mixed with hundreds (thousands) of trips to the library (I love reading) and watching movies and shows (mostly Science Fiction). I remember watching the original Star Trek when it was first broadcast. While in grade school I used to ride my bike on a 5 mile trip to the public library to check out as many books as they would allow. The next week I would return them and check out another bundle of books (mostly Science Fiction I think). I’m sure the bike riding was good exercise for me, but it was the books!!! It was the books!!! I could sit and read for hours. I remember reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy (and The Hobbit) and liking it so much that I made my own 3D map of that “world”.

Well, thanks to my daughter inviting me and buying me tickets, I just found out that the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is back in the theaters! Movies like this need to be seen on the big (huge) screen! Marcus theaters have a special reduced price system to see the three movies in their system called Passport which lets you see all three movies for just $12 (plus get a 20% concessions discount with Reward member number).

=> Lord of the Rings Passport

Then on the Marcus Theaters PASSPORT page I noticed that they had a similar offer to see all episodes of season 4 of The Chosen (not available on DVD or streaming yet) for just $15 (and 25% concessions discount). So I am going to see all 8 episodes of The Chosen on the three days prior to Easter now too!

=> The Chosen Passport

I am rewatching seasons 1, 2 and 3 now to get back in sync before going to see season 4. You can watch all the shows in these three seasons for free from their website (as well as on YouTube):

=> The Chosen (streaming site)

While I truly believe that playing board games can enrich your life (see more below), The Chosen can enrich your spirit… and personally, I needed that right now! It relates the story of the Gospels from the Bible in a way that makes them come alive. I appreciate the time and effort (and financial cost) that went into creating the stories of Jesus’s life along with his apostles and followers (and Pharisees, Romans, etc). And what was extremely interesting is that they gave the show away for free on their streaming site! They funded it mainly with donations (kind of like Kickstarter) and at the end of season one they included the names of the donors! You can see them here in this YouTube video (queued to the right spot):

And now, back to enriching your lives by playing board games… I queued up this documentary to a spot that says this extremely well:

Scroll down under the YouTube video and read some of the comments! Board games actually really do impact peoples lives!