Interplay (magazine)

Last updated

Interplay is a gaming magazine that was published from 1981 to 1982 by Metagaming Concepts.

Contents

Contents

Interplay was a magazine focusing entirely on Metagaming products, particularly The Fantasy Trip . [1]

Publication history

Metagaming Concepts had sold off The Space Gamer , and they later turned to publishing a new magazine called Interplay: The Metagamer Diaries #1 (May/June 1981). Per Shannon Appelcline, "Unfortunately, it wasn't up to Metagaming's previous standards. The magazine's black & white covers were a clear step down from the glossy full-color covers of The Space Gamer. Its interior also looked a lot more like the fannish magazines then being produced by Judges Guild than Interplay's more distinguished predecessor." [2] :222 The company began having financial difficulties, and in Interplay #8 (September/October 1982), Howard Thompson touted the most successful series of games from Metagaming and promised that new products were soon to be released, although these were never actually published. Thompson soon left the game industry, but before that Genesis Gaming Products purchased Interplay in addition to Dwarfstar Games (1981–1982) from Heritage USA. [2] :225–226

Reception

W. G. Armintrout reviewed the first issue of Interplay in The Space Gamer No. 41. [1] Armintrout commented that "If you can't live without Metagaming designer notes and errata, then you'll have to have Interplay. For TFT material, it seems to me that you should buy the annual supplement instead. I found the first issue to be useful (though not well-written or well-edited)." [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Fantasy Trip</i> Fantasy tabletop role-playing game

The Fantasy Trip (TFT) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game designed by Steve Jackson and published in segments by Metagaming Concepts starting in 1977 and culminating in 1980. In 2019, Steve Jackson Games republished it as The Fantasy Trip Legacy Edition.

<i>Ogre</i> (board game) Board game designed by Steve Jackson

OGRE is a science fiction board wargame designed by the American game designer Steve Jackson and published by Metagaming Concepts in 1977 as the first microgame in its MicroGame line. When Steve Jackson left Metagaming to form his own company, he took the rights to OGRE with him, and all subsequent editions have been produced by Steve Jackson Games (SJG).

<i>Ares</i> (magazine) Science fiction wargame magazine

Ares was an American science fiction wargame magazine published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI), and then TSR, Inc., between 1980 and 1984. In addition to the articles, each issue contained a small science-fiction-themed board wargame.

Metagaming Concepts, later known simply as Metagaming, was a company that published board games from 1974 to 1983. It was founded and owned by Howard Thompson, who designed the company's first game, Stellar Conquest. The company also invented Microgames and published Steve Jackson's first designs, including Ogre, G.E.V. and The Fantasy Trip.

Howard M. Thompson is an American wargame designer and founder of Metagaming Concepts. His first game was Stellar Conquest, a popular and well-designed simulation of interstellar warfare.

<i>Melee</i> (game) Board game

Melee is a board wargame designed by Steve Jackson, and released in 1977 by Metagaming Concepts. In 2019, Melee was revived and re-released by Steve Jackson Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizard (board game)</span>

Wizard is a board game system of medieval fantasy magical combat published by Metagaming in 1978 that was designed to complement the previously published Melee, a system of melee combat rules. Forty years later, Wizard was revived and re-released by Steve Jackson Games.

Adventure Gaming was a consumer magazine published by Manzakk Publishing, Inc. covering all aspects of the burgeoning gaming industry. It ran for 13 issues starting in July 1981. The magazine ceased publication in 1982.

Gamelords was an American game company that produced tabletop role-playing games and game supplements.

<i>The Illhiedrin Book</i> Tabletop role-playing game supplement

The Illhiedrin Book is an adventure for fantasy role-playing games published by Judges Guild in 1981.

<i>Zienteck</i> Role-playing game adventure

Zienteck is an adventure for fantasy role-playing games published by Judges Guild in 1981.

The MicroGame line by Metagaming Concepts consisted of tabletop microgames published from 1977 to 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tollenkar's Lair</span> Tabletop role-playing game adventure

Tollenkar's Lair is a 1980 fantasy role-playing game adventure for The Fantasy Trip originally published by Metagaming Concepts and re-released by Steve Jackson Games in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grail Quest (The Fantasy Trip)</span>

Grail Quest is a solitaire Arthurian fantasy combat adventure published by Metagaming Concepts in 1980 that uses the combat rules from The Fantasy Trip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Test 2</span>

Death Test 2 is a 1980 fantasy role-playing game adventure for The Fantasy Trip published by Metagaming Concepts. It was re-released by Steve Jackson Games in 2019.

<i>Pegasus</i> (game magazine) Roleplaying game magazine

Pegasus was a gaming magazine published from 1981 to 1983 by Judges Guild.

<i>Helltank</i> Board game

Helltank is a science fiction board wargame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1981 as part of its MicroGame line. The game simulates combat in the future between a supertank and more conventional forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Master of the Amulets</span> Tabletop role-playing game adventure

Master of the Amulets is a 1981 fantasy role-playing game adventure published by Metagaming Concepts.

<i>Starleader: Assault!</i> Combat module for science-fiction table-top role-playing game.

Starleader: Assault! is a science fiction microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1982 that was designed to introduce the rules of combat with firearms for a forthcoming science fiction role-playing game that did not get published before Metagaming went out of business.

Death Test is a 1978 fantasy role-playing game adventure for The Fantasy Trip published by Metagaming Concepts.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Armintrout, W. G. (July 1981). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer (41). Steve Jackson Games: 38.
  2. 1 2 Shannon Appelcline (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '70s. Evil Hat Productions. ISBN   978-1-61317-075-5.