Tag Archives: cost

An interview with Warmonger Games

Warmonger Games Malta is a new online store, which sells all kinds of table top games – be it board games, card games and role-playing games. Being a fan, today I am sitting down with the owner of this fairly new Maltese business.

  • Who are you, and what made you choose an online store for table top games?

My name is Sam Spiteri and I am the owner of WarMonger Games. Also an avid gamer with over 15 years of gaming experience in various game systems. Been playing all sorts of table-top games since the tender age of 10 and I’m now 34. *Argh!* Time flies!

Opening a business is always s big risk especially in a market which isn’t as strong as other markets say for example the food market. Local property prices have exaggerated to the point that even with a monthly wage of 1,200-1,400 euro, its still difficult to purchase and maintain a property not to mention support other expenses/loan costs etc.

Thus, an online store minimises financial risks and certain expenses not to mention you would also be able to put your name out there more easily even overseas. – Although we exclusively sell locally first and foremost, however we are happy to say we also have clients from Canada, North American, Poland, Norway and most recently the Netherlands and Belgium. In other words, WarMonger Games have started experimenting in satisfying gamers needs even from outside Malta.

  • Since you are a gamer yourself, what is your favourite game and why?

*Rolls eyes*I don’t have a straight answer. I’ve got many favourites and its hard to choose because they all have something special or particular to me.

Although not an all-time favourite however it was the title that got me into the hobby. It was Games Workshop’s 1996 edition of Space Hulk.

I remember it was my 10th Birthday and my dad took me to Funtasia Toy Store in San Gwann to buy my present. As usual, my dad wanted me to buy a model car or something related. I stumbled in a room of the store in which they had a lot of science fiction and fantasy related models/figurines and that’s when I saw it… A giant of a man clad in bright red bulky armour, surrounded by other giants of similar appearance, all bearing and handling fantastic weapons of various designs and yet they were being attacked by equally-impressive monsters of some sort. They reminded me of the xenomorphs from the famous Alien movie franchise and yet were completely different to it. Then I noticed the tag line of the game box “A Battle To The Death In The Chilling Depths Of Space”.

I was so impressed by those words that I immediately wanted this box even though I had no idea what it is and if its a game or not. I just wanted it! Little did I know at 10 years of age that THAT box will send me through a rabbit hole of infinite space….. and I’m still falling *winks* :).

  • What is your top selling game?

Not in any particular order however I had multiple sales on the following games:

Keyforge, Azul, This War of Mine, Mice & Mystics, Stuffed Fables, A Song of Ice and Fire, RuneWars: Miniatures Game.

  • For those who are new to your website, can you explain how the reward system works?

For every 1 euro purchased you gain 1 point. 1 point is equivalent to 1 cent thus a 100 points would be equivalent to 1 euro.

You can redeem your points at check out, and depending how many points you would have redeemed, you gain a discount equal to the amount of points used.

Please note accessory items are worth half-points. Example a card game deck box costing 4 euros would be worth 2 points.

  • Are you working on any new website features we should be aware of?

We are constantly researching and brainstorming new ideas, however it would be unwise of us to share trade secrets before they’re finalised and implemented 😛

  • Are there any new games coming out in the near future which you can tell us about?

How about liking the store’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WarMongerGamesMalta/ to be informed on all games new and coming soon at our store?!

  • What distinguishes your business from your Maltese competitors?

I’m quite possibly the better looking one 😛 – jokes aside, I will leave it to our clientele to answer this question and be the judge on this matter.

  • Are all the games advertised on your website ready to be delivered and available in-stock? What is your delivery policy?

Its impossible to have every item in stock not even online store giants such as Amazon manage that. The reasons are many as to why. Top two culprits would be level of clientele demand and if the game is undergoing a reprinting which sometimes takes months if not a year or two.

We tend to deliver quickly, in less than two days typically, however this is always subject to schedule availability. For example: it is impossible for us to deliver in the next day or two if we’re fully booked throughout the week. The Warmonger is many things but Padre Pio isn’t one of them! *winks*

  • Do you have a message you would like to deliver to the community and fellow Maltese gamers?

I definitely would like to say a big thanks to anyone and everyone who have supported us from the beginning, during our year long soft launch and after we launched publicly in June 2018.

This also includes all the local gaming clubs in Malta namely, the Realms of Pure Fantasy, WARS Club and the Dungeon Group.

Keep on gaming to your heart’s content and never, and I mean never let anyone to tell you to do otherwise. WarMonger Games will see you at the table-top 🙂

How To Feel Better About Yourself This Year

The beginning of a new year is often a fresh start for many people. For some, it can be a daunting thought that it’s just going to be the same old, but in a different year and that can be depressing for some, especially when you see people on social media appearing to have much better lives than you do. If this is sounding familiar then you more than likely need a confidence boost, and a helping hand to feeling better about yourself. Here are some ways in which you can feel better about yourself this year.

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Eat cleaner

A common reason for someone feeling sluggish and down in the dumps is purely down to the fact that you’re not eating the right foods. Junk food will bring you down in many ways, not just your weight. It will cause you to breakout in spots, have drier skin, and it can even affect your mental state of mind. Try eating cleaner and you will feel much better in yourself quicker than you think. You will notice that you’re less bloated, your skin will clear up, and you will have much more energy than before; therefore having a brighter outlook on life.

Sort out money matters

Another reason that people feel down in the dumps is because money is tight or their is a debt looming over their shoulders. Take on some extra hours at work or get another part time job so that you can build money up and not feel like you’re living paycheck to paycheck. If you’re in debt and are worrying about how to pay off what you owe, it might be worth thinking about borrowing money to consolidate all existing debts into one loan and paying just one thing off every month. Take a look at these small unsecured personal loans and see if there’s anything that can help solve your situation.

Try something new

Trying something new can give you a brighter outlook on life almost instantly. This could range from trying a new place to eat out with your partner, or it could be taking on a new hobby that you haven’t tried before. Hobbies don’t have to cost much (if anything) either, and they can bring a new breath of fresh air into your life and make you feel better. Alternatively, if you’ve got something that’s been on a bucket list of yours, then why not take the opportunity to tick off something on your list?!

Have a clear-out

Having a cluttered home can bring even the strongest of people down. Take some time to clear out your home of unwanted belongings and give it a deep clean. Having a fresh clean home can make you much happier, and if things are more organised you’re likely to keep it clear too.

Finally, if you’re feeling hopeless a lot, don’t hesitate to speak to your GP. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of and you should never suffer alone!

Things a’changing

There are days, when I question things about my life, and my choices. Today has been one of these forsaken days. Actually, I have been at it since 3AM, but that is beyond my point.

I was thinking about back in 2011, when I had my first Christmas alone, living far away from my family, friends, and on top of that, in another country – How courageous was I, to take such a big leap, leaving everything and everyone behind!

Before then, I have never lived alone, and I had no idea about the kind of responsibility and effort it entails to live and make ends meet at the end of the day, and month when all bills came crawling up. I have done a great job, and learned a lot from this experience.

When I have moved back to Malta, I was not willing to move back with the family, as I enjoyed my independent life too much to let go of it. So much so, that within a year of renting, I purchased my own property.

Although this made sense financially, this has indirectly tied me to this country without even realising at the time. Now that I have settled down in such a “grown up” lifestyle, it seems to me that I have become more self conscious when taking decisions. And I shall give you an example. This week, I was meant to travel, but my plans fell apart, and I have decided to give up the holiday based on two reasons:
1. I should not travel alone at night
2. Accommodation has risen up in price (it also being Christmas holidays, and included NYE), and a last minute purchase would have costed me my entire savings for my holiday.

If I did not have my house to worry about, and if I were not such a wuss, I would be in the UK right now, enjoying cold weather, possibly fog and snow, and beautiful beautiful scenery. How silly am I? Where has all my self confidence gone? What has tarnished my spirit in such a way?

And if you are wondering why I wrote this and why I am sharing this with my readers, it is because I want to be able to read this whenever I need to, so I do not repeat such thing ever again. And also, to try to keep reminding myself that not all my decisions in the past years have been as bad.

Now to try and live life guilt free… and keep moving forward… >>>

Perfect Perth

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Perth not only enjoys wonderful weather, beautiful beaches and a laid back demeanor but there is more to this captivating city than the myriad of bars, restaurants and activities. Perth’s pristine parkland, nearby bush, and river and ocean beaches allow its visitors to spread out and enjoy what’s on offer.

The transport system is fabulous but to truly take advantage of all that’s on offer you may wish to hire a car. Burswood Car Rentals offers free delivery to all city hotels allowing you to explore further afield and visit some of the less well known yet spectacular spots that cost next to nothing. (Please note that costs may apply for some activities)

Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is accessible from Rockingham which is less than an hour’s drive south of Perth. Swarming with marine life including sea stars and urchins as well as a number of fish species flitting through the shipwrecks and makes for excellent diving, snorkeling and wildlife watching. While in the water you’ll probably run into a pod of bottle-nose dolphins and can swim with these on the regularly operated tours.

Penguin Island, a breeding colony for an array of perth1incredible birds, has Little Penguins which breed in the burrows and you can watch them being fed at the interactive center.

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If you have a dive permit, The Saxon Ranger, a 400 tonne former fishing vessel takes residence at the Park. The boat is first purpose sunk dive wreck in the Perth metropolitan area.

Just 20 minutes east of Perth, sample the divine fruits of the vineyards of Western Australia’s oldest wine region at the Swan Valley and Darling Range.  Here you may indulge on award-winning local produce, discover the incredible local heritage or simply relax in the stunning bush-land of the Darling Range. The antithesis of the bustle of city life, it can be reached via road or aboard a Swan River Cruise from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty.

Sharing a glass of red with the vineyard owners, they are happy to recount stories of the generations of their families who owned the vineyards before them, some dating back to the early European settlers.

With over 70 eateries to choose from you are spoiled for choice or pack a lunch enjoying the breathtaking views of your surroundings.

You can also partake in many activities including horse riding, cycling and Indigenous culture.

perth2If you fancy getting even closer to some furry friends, head to Caversham Wildlife Park –  where close encounters with kangaroos and koalas is order of the day.

Alternatively you could choose to drive along the Great Eastern Highway to the blissful tranquillity of the Avon Valley heritage town in under an hour and a half. One of the few towns in WA to hold ‘Historic Town’ status, the proud residents of York have taken great care over restoring its many Victorian and Federation buildings. Due to retaining its heritage charms, it remains Perth’s favourite country escape.

No wonder this area is a top spot for romantic weekends or family fun.

Why use TripAdvisor?

Some of us do not see the purpose in Trip Advisor and think that saying your thoughts about the service you have received in a restaurant is like you are attacking them personally, or attacking the employees. The way I usually end up rating a restaurant is with regards to various aspects:

  • The food
  • The atmosphere
  • The service
  • The value of money considering all the above

Most often than not, before making a complaint on Trip Advisor,  I try to talk to one of the employees; let them know I am disappointed or that something was not as expected. If they choose to not do anything about it, then it is no longer my problem. I have tried, and I got nothing out of it. And I feel like it is about time to share this with the Trip Advisor society, to warn them on things they can expect. When something goes wrong, I would still when possible mention the good sides of the place I have visited. And just because I see something as wrong, it does not mean that everyone should agree with me. It is only my point of view.

At this point I have given almost 200 contributions to this site, and I have received over 40 helpful votes; I think I am doing something right. I’d say, that even if in Malta it is not yet as popular as it is in any other country, the tourists are looking at it to decide on the best locations and services

So before you complain about a negative rating, learn from it and fix things… Reply with concern to negative rating.. That way a customer feels like his review was read and dealt with.. Especially if the negative comment is ‘voted up’.

Then, move on.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/members-reviews/SteffiGrimm

GermanWings plane crash; 150 dead

Today I will dedicate my blog post as a remembrance for those 150 people who are presumed to have lost their lives this morning in a plane crash aboard GermanWings Flight 4U9525. The passenger list is said to include two babies and 16 students who were on a school trip. The crash happened in a remote snowy area in the French alps. The plane left Barcelona to its destination being Düsseldorf in Germany.

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A little under an hour since its departure, the officials received a call of distress.

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A rescue helicopter from the French Security Civil flies over the French Alps during a rescue operation after the crash of an Airbus A320, near Seyne-les-Alpes. (Reuters)

Since the weather conditions are considered to be drastic, with local storms, snow is above 1,800 metres and relatively low clouds, it is proving to be very difficult to land in the area with helicopters. French police explain that due to the difficult terrain, it is expected to take days to retrieve the bodies and debris.

During the conference, GermanWIngs CEO stated that the pilot has worked with the company for over 10 years and has over 6,000 flight hours under his belt. He continued saying that the crash itself lasted just 8 minutes. The crashed plane; A320 is 24 years old and has been serving with GermanWings since 1991, according to online database airfleets.net.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she will head to the crash site.

GermanWings is a low-cost airline based in Cologne, and is part of the services offered by Lufthansa.