Ten days before the launch of their much-anticipated Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, Paizo Publishing today announced that the first print run of the book has sold out, with all preordered copies on their way to stores for an August 13 release. With preorders more than five times greater than for any previous product in Paizo's seven-year history, orders for the Core Rulebook continue to mount even as the company speeds to produce another print run. Paizo.com has retained enough copies to handle all paizo.com subscriptions and pre-orders. Customers who have not already placed a pre-order with paizo.com or their game or book retailer are encouraged to seek out a copy immediately following the book's retail release, as supplies are expected to run out well before the arrival of a second print run in early November.

Wizards of the Coast today announced an innovative initiative to breathe life into its flagship roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. The new strategy, dubbed DDIYF, or “D&D In Your Face,” coincides with the cessation of all print products and sales to retail outlets.

“Fantasy gaming has its roots in fantasy literature, which has a strong oral tradition. We feel the game is better off transmitted in the old ways,” said Mike Mearls, Lead Designer of the world’s most popular roleplaying game. “Once the magic of direct internet communication with our fans wore off, we decided the only way to really connect with players…err, purchasers of our games was to meet them where they play.”

Wizards of the Coast is making some changes to the core sets for Magic: The Gathering, beginning with the set scheduled for release July 17, 2009. Unlike the previous core set, 10th Edition, the set released in July will use a year designator: Magic: The Gathering 2010, to reflect the upcoming year.

Beginning with Magic 2010, core set will be released on an annual schedule, each July, instead of every two years. In additional, Magic 2010 will be black-bordered and include approximately 50 percent new cards, instead of being all reprints. Magic 2010 will contain 249 cards, including 15 mythic rares. And since core sets will now contain new cards, WotC's Organized Play program will include prerelease events and launch parties for core sets as well as expansions. The Magic 2010 core set will be used in Limited-format Grand Prix events this year.