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Empyrean Challenge
''Empyrean Challenge'' is a strategic science fiction play-by-mail (PBM) game. Published by Superior Simulations in 1978, its introduction was important to the nascent PBM industry. 150 players per game strived to dominate a cluster of star systems. Diplomacy, combat, economics, technological development, colonization, and other factors were important aspects of gameplay. Detailed work was required in all aspects of the game, requiring a significant investment in time for players. Reviewer Jim Townsend stated in 1988 that ''Empyrean Challenge'' was "the most complex game system on Earth". Various observers reviewed the game in the 1980s across gaming magazines such as ''Dragon'', ''The Space Gamer'', ''White Dwarf'', and ''White Wolf''. Commentators focused on the detail, complexity, and time required for the game, noting it was generally for more advanced players. Play-by-mail history Some games have long been played by mail between two players, such as chess and Go. McLain ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Play-by-mail
A play-by-mail game (also known as a PBM game, PBEM game, or a turn-based 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''. Play-by-mail games—becoming known as "turn-based games" in t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Play-by-mail Game
A play-by-mail game (also known as a PBM game, PBEM game, or a turn-based 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''. Play-by-mail games—becoming known as "turn-based games" in t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Play-by-mail Game
A play-by-mail game (also known as a PBM game, PBEM game, or a turn-based 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''. Play-by-mail games—becoming known as "turn-based games" in t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Tribes Of Crane
''The Tribes of Crane'' is a play-by-mail game that was published by Schubel & Son. According to Jim Townsend, the game was launched in "roughly" 1976. Gameplay ''The Tribes of Crane'' was a turn-based game where players took on the role of leader of a tribe on the planet of Crane, and attempted to accumulate warriors, gold, and other resources. It was the first commercial play-by-mail game that was moderated by a human game master instead of a computer, although later the game master was assisted by a computer. A new player started by picking what type of tribe they wished to lead (herdsmen, warriors, merchants or sea people), and what type of climate and terrain they wanted to start in. The player would then be sent details of how many people and livestock were in the tribe. The player would mail a monthly turn, which consisted of a movement or stand-in-place order, a combat order, a transaction order, and any special orders. Special orders were unusual for play-by-mail games ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nuclear Destruction
''Nuclear Destruction'' is a play-by-mail (PBM) game. It was published by Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1970. As the first professional PBM game, it started the commercial PBM industry. Offered by postal mail initially, the game is available by email as well in the 21st century. Active for 52 years, as of October 2021, Rick Loomis PBM Games publishes the game. Players use strategic missiles, factories, money, and other elements of gameplay with a focus on diplomacy to win by becoming the sole survivor. Development ''Nuclear Destruction'' was the first game offered by Flying Buffalo Inc., and started the professional PBM industry. It was the first professional PBM game. Flying Buffalo Inc. offered the game through mail initially, but it is a play-by-email (PBEM) game in the 21st century as well. Mosteller 2014. p. 21. As of October 2021, Rick Loomis PBM Games publishes the game. ''Nuclear Destruction'' has been active since 1970. Loomis 1981. p. 3. Gameplay According to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Battleplan (play-by-mail Game)
''Battle Plan'' (or ''Battleplan'') is a closed-end, military strategy, play-by-mail (PBM) wargame. It was first published by Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1972, as one of the company's game offerings after '' Nuclear Destruction'', the game that started the PBM industry in 1970. In August 2021, Rick Loomis PBM Games began publishing the game. To win the game, players must conquer 29 countries in Europe through the use of five types of military units or eliminate the other players. Four to eight players play the game which involves significant player interaction. Players today can play by email or postal mail. Another variant of the game is the complex ''World Wide Battle Plan'' with the same rules but encompassing a world map and up to 31 players. History and development By 1996, ''Battle Plan'' was one of Rick Loomis's longest running games at nearly 25 years since publication. Lewandowski 1996. p. 13. In 1996, Flying Buffalo had also run 1241 games, a significant number in the PB ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heroic Fantasy
Heroic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy in which events occur in a world where magic is prevalent and modern technology is nonexistent. The setting may be entirely fictitious in nature or based upon Earth with some additions. Unlike dark fiction, it provides a setting in which "all men are strong, all women beautiful, all life adventurous, and all problems simple". This means that adventures based in heroic fantasy are unlikely to mention any wider problems that cannot be fixed by a quest. Characters within heroic fantasy are likely to be underdogs of humble origin who are placed in situations forcing them to act in a heroic manner, past what is expected of them. Characteristics Frequently the protagonist is reluctant to be a champion, and/or is of low or humble origin, and may have royal ancestors or parents but does not know it. Though events are usually beyond their control, they are thrust into positions of great responsibility where their mettle is tested in a number of spi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Schubel & Son
''Schubel & Son'' was a hobby and gaming company that published play-by-mail (PBM) games. The company began in 1974 and expanded to large-scale PBM games in August 1978. It also published the game ''The Tribes of Crane'' in 1978, followed by ''StarMaster'' in 1980 and ''Global Supremacy'' in 1982. History Schubel & Son opened for business on October 4, 1974 in Sacramento, California. For the first few years, the company worked in science hobby supply. Schubel & Son 1990. They began in the PBM field in 1974 and began moderating large-scale PBM games in August 1978 with the game ''The Tribes of Crane''. Paper Mayhem 1990. p. 26. The company stated that it proved very popular in the initial months of play and enrollment quickly expanded. They later published ''StarMaster'' in 1980 and ''Global Supremacy'' in 1982. Both of these were human-moderated PBM games. In the September–October 1983 issue of ''The Space Gamer'', the company announced that they had merged with Venture Manageme ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Science Fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, extraterrestrial life, sentient artificial intelligence, cybernetics, certain forms of immortality (like mind uploading), and the singularity. Science fiction predicted several existing inventions, such as the atomic bomb, robots, and borazon, whose names entirely match their fictional predecessors. In addition, science fiction might serve as an outlet to facilitate future scientific and technological innovations. Science fiction can trace its roots to ancient mythology. It is also related to fantasy, horror, and superhero fiction and contains many subgenres. Its exact definition has long been disputed among authors, critics, scholars, and readers. Science fiction, in literature, film, television, and other media, has beco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Starweb
''Starweb'' (or ''StarWeb'') is a closed-end, space-based, play-by-mail (PBM) game. First published by Flying Buffalo Inc. in 1976, it was the company's second PBM game after '' Nuclear Destruction'', the game that started the PBM industry in 1970. Players today can choose a postal mail or email format. Fifteen players per game assume one of six available roles and explore and conquer planets within a universe comprising 225 worlds. The object of the game is to attain a predetermined number of points which are generated by various actions during gameplay. Multiple game variants are available. ''Starweb'' is still available for play as of 2021 through the company Rick Loomis PBM Games. ''Starweb'' has received numerous reviews from the 1970s to the 21st century with positive and negative comments. Reviewer and game designer Timothy B. Brown stated in 1990 that "''StarWeb'' is arguably the best-loved, most widely known play-by-mail game in history," Brown 1990. p. 76. and the edi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flying Buffalo Inc
Flying Buffalo Inc. (FBI) is a game company with a line of role playing games, card games, and other gaming materials. The company's founder, Rick Loomis, began game publishing with ''Nuclear Destruction'', a play-by-mail game which started the professional PBM industry in the United States. Loomis added games and players while introducing computer moderation and soon incorporated into the company Flying Buffalo Inc. The company published games in other genres, including card games such as ''Nuclear War'' and a role playing game called ''Tunnels & Trolls'', a game similar to ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Flying Buffalo acquired its 10,000th customer account number in 1980 and reached its largest size of 21 employees in 1983. In July 2021, Webbed Sphere bought Flying Buffalo with plans to incorporate Flying Buffalo's products. The PBM games were not included in the sale and were continued by a separate company called Rick Loomis PBM Games. History Flying Buffalo Inc. was founded in Jan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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