Canadian game and sourcebook publisher Guardians of Order has announced plans to publish a d20 version of its three-time Origins Award-nominated multi-genre Japanese anime role-playing game, Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM).  In addition to the d20 Big Eyes, Small Mouth volume, which is slated for spring of 2003, Guardians of Order is also designating a spring release for d20 Mecha, a giant robot, starship, and vehicle compendium based on the previously published Big Robots, Cool Starships by David L. Pulver.  No price or page count information is available at this time.

Guardians of Order was the first game publisher to release the same game title in two editions--both as a d20 title and as one featuring its proprietary system; it released its superhero RPG, Silver Age Sentinels, as both a Tri-Stat and as a d20 title this summer (see 'Guardians of Order Announces d20 Superhero RPG').  The results, according to Guardians president Mark MacKinnon, were what led the company to produce these flagship titles in both versions as well.  Sales were approximately equal in the two versions, according to MacKinnon.  Although the Tri-Stat version came out first and with slightly higher production values than the d20 version, the equal sales indicated to him that there was demand for both versions, and that more games would be sold in two versions than in either one alone. 

Big Eyes, Small Mouth is a multi-genre game that can support science fiction, fantasy, espionage, horror, and superhero campaigns, so the BESM volume that arrives next spring will allow gamers to bring an anime flavor to any of their existing games.  Likewise the d20 Mecha book will have lots of potential applications with creation systems, specs, and rules for giant robots, powered armor suits, heavily armed space ships, sleek military assault vehicles, and even speedy hot rods.