Pandemic got you down? Got a case of cabin fever and the wintertime blues? Well, whether you’ve had your vaccination or not, we have the cure for what ails you!
But first, a little history…
The ’80s was the greatest era for entertainment. Ever. It’s no stretch to say that almost everything cool done in the last decade has its roots in the ’80s. My proof? Rick & Morty; The Mandalorian (and Baby Yoda!); giant robot trucks riding giant robot dinosaurs. That’s more than enough to drop the mic and walk away, but I’ve got more to say.
For many of us, the ’80s defined our childhood and shaped our imaginations. And one of the most defining experiences for anyone that grew up in the ’80s was the weekly ritual of Saturday morning cartoons—the only legitimate reason to ever get out of bed before noon on a weekend. It’s a technological tragedy that everything is available now to stream anywhere, anytime. Kids today can’t comprehend how special Saturday mornings in front of the boob tube were. We had barbarians riding dinosaurs, space cops riding robot horses, secret agents riding vehicles in disguise—if you could ride it, they made a cartoon of it. And that doesn’t even scratch the surface—alien cat warriors, teenagers stuck in RPGs, heroes on the half shell, and giant cat robots that combined to make a more giant robot! For cartoons and creativity, the ’80s was the Wild West with boundless possibility and endless promise. And over three decades later, it remains the bottomless well of inspiration from which all great ideas spring.
When Riot Quest was conceived, we described it as the “’80s Saturday Morning Cartoon” version of the Iron Kingdoms. And we’ve clung to that thematic touchstone like a mynock to a space freighter (’80s reference!). So, when we launched the Riot Quest: Wintertime Wasteland Kickstarter campaign last year, we built in a very special stretch goal: we pledged to create an ’80s Saturday Morning Cartoon-style theme song for the game. And let me tell you, dear readers, that’s exactly what we’ve done.
My ten year old doesn’t get it. He’d say, “If you love the ’80s so much, why don’t you marry it.” To which I would reply that if it were a possibility, the only thing standing between me and the best years of my life would be his mother. But what does he know? He still thinks Minecraft is cool. *
<record screech>
To which I would reply, “That’s not possible, but how about I write it a love song…”
Felt good, didn’t it? Makes you glow all over like a warm hug from Nana and a cup of cocoa with so many marshmallows you can’t even see the chocolate.
If you’re humming that tune and asking yourself where in Grayskull you were when the Wintertime Wasteland Kickstarter was going off, the answer is: same place we all were, sheltering in place, riding out 2020—a year that has absolutely nothing in common with the ’80s. But you’re in luck, friends! Not only did you just get to experience the greatest ’80s Saturday Morning Cartoon intro made since 1990, but Riot Quest: Wintertime Wasteland just showed up in stores today. We may never get a second shot at the ’80s, but if you missed out on the Kickstarter, today’s your big chance to get a taste of the loot life and experience this bonkers game that everybody’s talking about.
And to all our backers who made Riot Quest: Wintertime Wasteland a possibility, this theme song is dedicated to you. You are the SUPER BEST!
You can also pick up copies at your FLGS or online RIGHT NOW!
*If I happen to get fired, it’s because my wife didn’t agree with the joke above.
