Inspired by 1980s Saturday morning cartoons, acclaimed game designer Kevin Wilson has planted his tongue firmly in his cheek and created Awesome Kingdom: The Tower of Hateskull.  IDW Games will release the new game in July.

The Awesome Kingdom card game is a light-hearted satirical take on the traditional "dungeon crawl" style of roleplaying games.  Players compete to become the "most awesome" hero, playing such characters as the "Ragebarian" or "Prestidigimancer."  The heroes delve into a dungeon, fighting against the traps and monsters within and attempting to outmaneuver the other characters.  The one who emerges with the biggest pile of loot wins.

Wilson is better known for heavier gamer fare as the creator of Descent and The X-Files and co-creator of Arkham Horror, all of which feature much darker themes than Awesome Kingdom.  With this new title, he aims for something lighter and more "fun."

Awesome Kingdom: The Tower of Hateskull features artwork by Ciro Cangialosi.  It is intended for 2-4 players, ages 10 and up, and plays in about 30-45 minutes.  MSRP is $29.99.

IDW Games also recently announced Pirates of the 7 Seas, scheduled to release in August (see "Innovative Pirate Game From IDW Games").