New Tabletop RPG and Entertainment Media Imprint Launched from Acclaimed Graphic Novel Creators Magnetic Press — First Game Coming this Year
Acclaimed publisher of graphic novels and art books, Magnetic Press, (a Polarity-owned company) today announced the formation of “Magnetic Press Play,” a new imprint focused on tabletop games and transmedia properties. The first project to launch under the company’s banner will be Carbon Grey, an original Tabletop Role-Playing Game based on the popular graphic novel series by Hoang Nguyen and originally published by Image Comics. Other projects in the works include games and supplements based on popular licenses such as Chaosium’s Call Of Cthulhu and several beloved anime series. More details on these, and additional projects, will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Tabletop gaming is all about creating new stories through gameplay, and it’s the kind of experience I’ve wanted to return to since leaving a 20-year career in video games,” said Mike Kennedy, Founder and Publisher of Magnetic Press Play. “We’ve put an incredible amount of time and effort into creating a tabletop company and putting together our product lineup, and it’s exciting to finally pull back the curtain on them!”
Magnetic’s first project under the new imprint is also the first to capitalize on their licensing partnership with the well-known game publishing house, West End Games, best known for their D6 System role-playing ruleset. This ruleset served as the core for several top-selling (and beloved to this day) licensed tabletop RPGs, including the original Star Wars and Ghostbusters RPGs, and will serve as the foundation of Carbon Grey’s gameplay mechanics.
“We’re very excited to work with Magnetic Press Play on their lineup of D6 System-based titles,” said Steve Wieck for West End Games and Nocturnal Media. “We’re honored that they chose West End Game’s time-tested system as the core of Carbon Grey and their other planned titles and can’t wait to see the results when it hits tables.”
Magnetic Press Play’s first title, Carbon Grey, sets players in a unique alternate history reminiscent of World War I-era Europe, but with fantastic dieselpunk technologies and elements of the paranormal. In the game, players will explore a war-torn universe filled with mystery, prophecy, and intrigue. The sourcebook is being written and overseen by game designer and graphic novelist Andrew E.C. Gaska, an ENnie and UKGE award winner for his work on the recent Alien RPG from Free League and the lead writer of the Terminator RPG from Nightfall Games.
Other titles coming from Magnetic Press Play include a series of expansions for Chaosium’s popular RPG Call of Cthulhu that will make use of Magnetic Press’s background in the graphic novel marketplace, as well as games based on various anime and manga licenses.
More info about Magnetic Press Play is available on Facebook, Twitter, and the official website.
About Magnetic Press Play
An imprint of the award-winning publishing house Magnetic Press, LLC, Magnetic Press Play seeks to bring interactive experiences to their library of award-winning graphic novels, art books, and periodicals, with a focus on tabletop gaming and new media.
Magnetic Press Play, founded and led by entertainment, comics, and game industry veteran Mike Kennedy (Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Electronic Arts, Activision, and others), brings several decades of experience and expertise to each and every project. Currently announced projects and properties include Carbon Grey, based on the Image Comics series by Hoang Nguyen, and an official expansion to Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu role-playing universe.
About Polarity
David Steward II’s Polarity is a diversified global media company with a mission to bring authentic content to a diverse global audience. To create a richer content experience and offering, the company believes in the value of embracing diversity and highlighting previously unheard voices, as well as new and emerging views and voices. In addition to Magnetic Press, the Polarity portfolio also includes Lion Forge Animation, Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, and Illustrated Syndicate.
With broad operations in animation, publishing and general media, Polarity has established itself as an impactful force in the entertainment industry. Steward II has been putting resources behind his vision of expanding the market for comics and comic-related pop culture to new age groups and demographics since the early 2010s, building a portfolio of titles and imprints that feature characters and creators from a wide variety of backgrounds. He’s extended that vision and ethic to the larger media landscape with an organization that can orchestrate content development, production, financing and distribution across different channels.
