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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] |
Paper Mayhem
''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. Moore 1988. p. 4. 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. History Rick Loomis of the game company Flying Buffalo, Inc. stated that, after the early 1970s, the play-by-mail community had sufficient interest to support only two magazines: ''Paper Mayh ... [...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] |
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] |
Flagship (magazine)
''Flagship'' is an independent magazine for gamers that was published from 1983 to 2010. Published bimonthly in the UK, it started in 1983 for play-by-mail game (PBM) players. The magazine also had a United States edition. In 2002, it expanded coverage to encompass other types of games such as boardgames, card games, computer games, and others. Nicky Palmer was the founding editor, with Carol Mulholland assuming editorial duties as of issue No. 70. The magazine ceased publication in 2010 after issue No. 130. History ''Flagship'' began publication in the United Kingdom in October 1983, the month before ''Gaming Universal's'' first issue was published in the United States. The editor for the initial Winter 1983 issue was Nick Palmer. ''Flagship'' was edited by Carol Mulholland from issue 70. Shortly after publishing issue 130 in 2010 Carol Mulholland suffered a serious illness and the magazine ceased publication. Coverage An average issue in 1987 was about 56 pages. The magazine ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gaming Universal
''Gaming Universal'' (or ''PBM 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. Contents ''Gaming Universal'' was a professionally produced magazine devoted to the play-by-mail game field. An "epic poem" by L. Sprague de Camp appeared in the second issue, which was panned by readers due to its non-PBM theme. Initial publication The magazine was first published in November 1983 by Imagascape Industries. Rick Loomis, of Flying Buffalo, Inc., noted that this was because Bob McLain had identified the lack ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Nuts & Bolts Of PBM
''The Nuts & Bolts of PBM'' (also known as ''Nuts & Bolts of Starweb'', ''Nuts & Bolts of Gaming'', or ''NABOG'') was a magazine dedicated to play-by-mail games, first published in June 1980 as ''Nuts and Bolts of Starweb'', and edited by Richard J. Buda. The magazine incorporated in 1983 to Bolt Publications. Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Games stated in 1985 that the ''Nuts & Bolts of PBM'' (first called ''Nuts & Bolts of Starweb'') was the first PBM magazine not published by a PBM company. Loomis 1985. p. 36. He stated that "It was a fun magazine, but somewhat ahead of its time, and it had no financial backing." Afterward, the name changed to ''Nuts & Bolts of Gaming''. Evolution The editors of ''Flagship'' magazine stated that the ''Nuts & Bolts of Gaming'' was "the oldest PBM magazine". The magazine started in mid-1980 in Chicago, IL, as the ''Nuts & Bolts of Starweb''. Spencer 2022. According to Rick Buda, the initial issues were a fanzine for ''Starweb'' and were made of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diplomacy (board Game)
''Diplomacy'' is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959. Its main distinctions from most board wargames are its negotiation phases (players spend much of their time forming and betraying alliances with other players and forming beneficial strategies)Parlett, David. ''The Oxford History of Board Games''. Oxford University Press, UK, 1999. . pp. 361–362. and the absence of dice and other game elements that produce random effects. Set in Europe in the years leading to the Great War, ''Diplomacy'' is played by two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power (or, with fewer players, multiple powers). Each player aims to move their few starting units and defeat those of others to win possession of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map; these supply centers allow players who control them to produce more units. Following each round o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diplomacy (game)
''Diplomacy'' is a strategy game, strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959. Its main distinctions from most wargaming, board wargames are its negotiation phases (players spend much of their time forming and betraying alliances with other players and forming beneficial strategies)Parlett, David. ''The Oxford History of Board Games''. Oxford University Press, UK, 1999. . pp. 361–362. and the absence of dice and other game elements that produce random effects. Set in Europe in the years leading to the World War I, Great War, ''Diplomacy'' is played by two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power (or, with fewer players, multiple powers). Each player aims to move their few starting units and defeat those of others to win possession of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map; these supply centers allow players who control them to produ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rick Loomis
Rick Loomis (August 24, 1946 – August 23, 2019) was an American game designer, most notable as the founder of game publisher Flying Buffalo, which he managed until his death. Career Early years Richard F. Loomis was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona and attended Coronado High School.Helser, Linda"War on the Homefront: Scottsdale inventor makes conflict and mayhem a game" ''The Arizona Republic'', Phoenix, Arizona, 96th year, number 349, April 30, 1986, page C4. He served in the United States Army for three years starting in 1969, and was stationed at Fort Shafter in Oahu, Hawaii. He had discovered the wargame '' Gettysburg'' by Avalon Hill in a toystore, and in 1970 had invented a game called ''Nuclear Destruction'' which—unlike most tabletop games—included hidden movement; in January 1970, Loomis started sending mail to readers of '' The General'' who had advertised for play-by-mail (PBM) opponents, offering to moderate multiplayer ''Nuclear Destruction'' games. He ... [...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] |
Game Master
A gamemaster (GM; also known as game master, game manager, game moderator, referee, or storyteller) is a person who acts as an organizer, officiant for regarding rules, arbitrator, and moderator for a multiplayer role-playing game. They are more common in co-operative games in which players work together than in competitive games in which players oppose each other. The act performed by a gamemaster is sometimes referred to as "Gamemastering" or simply "GM-ing". The role of a gamemaster in a traditional table-top role-playing game (pencil-and-paper role-playing game) is to weave the other participants' player-character stories together, control the non-player aspects of the game, create environments in which the players can interact, and solve any player disputes. The basic role of the gamemaster is the same in almost all traditional role-playing games, although differing rule sets make the specific duties of the gamemaster unique to that system. The role of a gamemaster in a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Turn-based Games
In video and other games, the passage of time must be handled in a way that players find fair and easy to understand. This is usually done in one of the two ways: real-time and turn-based. Real-time Real-time games have game time progress continuously according to the game clock. One example of such a game is the sandbox game ''Terraria'', where one day-night cycle of 24 hours is equal to 24 minutes in real time. Players perform actions simultaneously as opposed to in sequential units or turns. Players must perform actions with the consideration that their opponents are actively working against them in real time, and may act at any moment. This introduces time management considerations and additional challenges (such as physical coordination in the case of video games). Real-time gameplay is the dominant form of time-keeping found in simulation video games, and has to a large degree supplanted turn-based systems in other video game genres as well (for instance real-time strateg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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