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A play-by-mail game is a game played through postal mail, email or other digital media. Correspondence chess and Go were among the first PBM games. Diplomacy has been played by mail since 1963, introducing a multi-player aspect to PBM games. Flying Buffalo Inc. pioneered the first commercially available PBM game in 1970. A small number of PBM companies followed in the 1970s, with an explosion of hundreds of startup PBM companies in the 1980s at the peak of PBM gaming popularity, many of them small hobby companies—more than 90 percent of which eventually folded. A number of independent PBM magazines also started in the 1980s, including The Nuts & Bolts of PBM, Gaming Universal, Paper Mayhem and Flagship. These magazines eventually went out of print, replaced in the 21st century by the online PBM journal Suspense and Decision.
Universe II is a computer-moderated, science fiction, play-by-mail game designed by Jon Clemens and published by Clemens and Associates, Inc. in 1979.
Gaming Universal was a magazine dedicated to play-by-mail games. The magazine was published between 1983 and 1988, in two separate print runs with Bob McLain as editor of both editions. Its first print run was published by Imagascape Industries between November 1983 and 1985. The first issue was called PBM Universal, with a name change by the second issue. The second edition ran between 1987 and 1988, published by Aftershock Publishing. The magazine received average to positive reviews from other magazine editors and reviewers.
LandLords is a fantasy play-by-mail game that was published by Quest Computer Services, beginning in 1984. The game was a computer moderated, closed-end game with the goal to retrieve treasures from castles in a medieval setting. The game received generally positive reviews in periodicals of the period, with specific mentions of its combat, maps, and low error rates on turn sheets.
Paper Mayhem is an out-of-print play-by-mail (PBM) game magazine that was published in Ottawa, Illinois. The staff published the initial issue in July 1983 and the magazine ran until mid-1998. Its format was 40 pages published six times per year. The magazine was the most well-known of the play-by-mail periodicals of the period, providing articles and reviews of play-by-mail games, as well as reader-informed ratings of play-by-mail companies, game masters (GMs) and games, both intermittently and on an annual basis. The magazine, along with its long-time editor-in-chief, David Webber, was influential in the play-by-mail community, even echoing into 21st century play-by-mail activities. The publication ceased suddenly in mid-1998 following the unexpected death of Webber.
CTF 2187 is a closed-end, computer-moderated, play-by-mail (PBM) game that was published by Advanced Gaming Enterprises in the 1980s. It involved teams of robots, of varying size and capabilities, battling on a hex-grid arena with the purpose of defeating the opposing team or their command post. Players assumed the role of a battle robot pilot. The game was tactically-focused, with combat action beginning on the first turn. Games lasted 5–10 turns, or about six months. Players began at the rank of cadet but could spend experience points earned from a completed game to increase in rank for future games, up to the rank of General.
Battle of the Gods is a closed-end, computer moderated, science fiction play-by-mail (PBM) game that was published by Integral Games.
Feudal Lords is a closed-end, computer moderated, play-by-mail game set in medieval England. Starting as a game run through a magazine in 1977, it was first published by Graaf Simulations, later run by Flying Buffalo, Inc, and is today published by Rick Loomis PBM Games.
The Weapon is a closed-ended, science fiction, play-by-mail (PBM) game.
Aegyptus is a computer moderated play-by-mail (PBM) game. Announced in 1984, it was published by World Campaigns
Terra II is a open-ended, play-by-mail (PBM) wargame published by Clemens & Associates.
Horizon's End! is a science fiction play by mail wargame published by Schubel & Son.
Conquest of Insula II is a closed-ended, computer moderated, play-by-mail (PBM) fantasy wargame.
Galaxy: Alpha is a science fiction play-by-mail PBM game available for play by 1984. Bruce Lockhart of Intergalactic Games co-designed the game as an improvement on the PBM game Starmaster by Schubel & Son. A human-moderated, open-ended game of medium to high complexity, the game had a massive gameplay setting. Players focused on expansion by conquest with combat as a central feature. The game received various reviews in gaming magazines of the 1980s, receiving low marks for its poorly written rulebook with high marks for gamemaster support and generally for the game overall.
World Campaigns is a closed-end, hand moderated, play-by-mail game. It was published by World Campaigns of Epping, New Hampshire. Pfodd Enterprises later offered a computer-moderated version of the game. Initially launched in 1980 as World Campaigns IV, the publisher modified the game over time, and changed to World Campaigns V by 1988. The game's purpose was world domination in a post-World War III setting. 35 players per game were assigned countries randomly and fought with World War II equipment and technology. With the loss of the world's superpowers, countries remaining for play ranged from India to Ecuador. The game was reviewed in various gamer magazines of the 1980s receiving mixed to positive reviews.
Moneylender is a closed-end, computer moderated, play-by-mail game set in renaissance Italy. The game was published by Rick Barr around 1981 and averaged about 8–12, sometimes taking less than six months to finish. Up to ten players role-played families with a focus on economics and resources, versus solely combat. The game received generally positive reviews in various gaming magazines in the 1980s.
Logan's Run is a closed-end, computer moderated, play-by-mail role-playing game. It was published by Sanctuary Games and based on the 1967 book Logan's Run.
Crisis is a closed-end, computer moderated, play-by-mail wargame. It was developed and published in the United States by 1981 by Rick Barr. Additional companies later licensed the game in the United Kingdom, including Mystery and Adventure Games and Timepatterns, the latter having sole UK publication rights by 2000. Multiple reviewers found the game similar to the boardgame Risk, while others compared it to the PBM game Nuclear Destruction. About nine players were in each game which last around 8–12 turns. The game setting was 21st century earth with 42 countries, some notional or supranational. Combat, including nuclear missile exchanges, diplomacy, and intrigue were elements of gameplay. It received mixed reviews in various gaming magazines in the 1980s.
Gladiators of Death is a closed-end, computer-moderated play-by-mail (PBM) gladiatorial combat game published by Fantasy & Futuristic Simulations. In play by 1993, it bore similarities to the PBM games Adventurers Guild, Blood Pit, and DuelMasters Players roleplayed teams of five fighters. Each fighter was designed, trained, and equipped before combat began. The game received positive reviews in various gaming magazines in the 1990s.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Derham 1984. p. 46.
- 1 2 Kelly 1987. p. 10.
- ↑ Muir 1983. p. 13.
- ↑ McLain 1983. p. 27.