Gadget Gurus - Analog Special - Descent: Journeys into the Dark

Home

Analog Special - Descent: Journeys into the Dark

Written by Michael Todd

Descent: Journeys into the Dark is a 2-5 player high adventure fantasy game where epic heroes delve the depths of dangerous dungeons fill with formidable foes. One of these players takes the role of ‘The Overlord’ and pits his strategic wits against the hero players using ogres, dragons, and a wide array of deadly traps.

The hero players choose from a set of epic characters with their own unique abilities. Each character grows in wealth and power as the adventure continues, but they must still be wary, for The Overlord’s power grows as well. For those who just cant get enough of this great game, Descent also boasts a pair of expansions. Descent: Well of Darkness, and Descent: the Altar of Despair. The third expansion, Descent: The Road to Legend, is slated for release this march.

Descent: Journeys into the Dark has been around in its classic board game format since 2005, so why did we wait so long to tell you about it? Because it’s finally going digital. Board Games Online has just closed the beta test for the new Descent: Journeys into the Dark PC game. This game will be the first game launched using BattlePawn, a new 3D boardgame engine. The game promises to be faithful to the widely popular boardgames feel and style with a fully realized 3D environment, 20 customizable heroes, and options for internet play.

ANALOG SPECIALS: Even though we are admitted techno-geeks, every now and then, we find an enjoyable ‘no-tech’ form of entertainment that catches our notice. These "Analog Specials" can vary from a highly recommended theatrical performance, to a complex, irresistible puzzle, although they often have an interactive online community or a digital aftermarket version. Today, it seems that everything eventually has a digital component to it, but sometimes, it is important for even the most avid gamer to see the world as bigger than your new 22" diagonal screen, or occassionally as small as a rubics cube in the palm of your hand.

[ Back ]

TECH2 LAKE HOUSE

UPDATE - The exterior of the Technology Lake House is complete and we are now working on interior finishing and electronics. Last year, San Francisco's Channel 7 ABC News ran a special video report on the construction progress of the Technology Lake House, and we expect them back for a follow-up soon. Click HERE for a DLINK Live Video Feed with pan and zoom features (userid=user, no password, daylight hours only).

Ron Rosberg's current project home, the Technology Lake House, is currently under construction on the shores of Clearlake in Northern California. Even though the house is a wireless demo house, we have installed more than seven miles of wires in the walls for dozens of flat panel TVs, speakers, control panels, and sophisticated lighting. So far, more than a dozen technology and fixture manufacturers have agreed to sponsor this project, which has been simmering in Ron's head since he attended the first CES show in New York in 1967. The 7,500 square foot project (plus three existing rustic cabin guest houses) is being built on a five-acre Honeymoon Cove resort with 500 feet of beach directly across from Konocti Harbor Resort. This summer retreat will host technology gatherings annually, inviting Western states home builders, contractors, and technology consultants for a live open house showcasing the latest in home technologies. There is room to park plenty of boats, so plan on coming up for some lake fun after the project is complete. For more info, send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 707-995-2683. To see the latest photos, visit Ron's Flickr gallery.

We are currently looking for products to evaluate in these areas:

Home automation: lighting, security, and entertainment
A/V technology for the 500 SF home theater media demo room

Hot News on Cool New Features: The ENTIRE front of the home is made of 21 sliding NanaWall glass panels that fold into the walls, opening the entire home up to the lake during demo days.

Who are the Gadget Gurus?

Gadget Gurus technology reviews are heard and read by millions of people across the United States, including more than a dozen print publications, dozens of tier-one radio stations, on third-party websites, and more than ever, online at our own website.

NEWS: This year, you will see a number of exciting announcements from Gadget Gurus, including podcasts, our syndicated "Gadgets-in-a-Minute" broadcasts, and our ever-expanding "Best Of" lists. Also, you will be seeing our portfolio of magazine "gadget pages" growing into a number of vertical markets.