Moves (magazine)

''Moves'' was a wargaming magazine originally published by SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.), who also published manual wargames. Their flagship magazine ''Strategy & Tactics'' (''S&T''), was a military history magazine featuring a new wargame in each issue. While S&T was devoted to historical articles, ''Moves'' focused on the play of the games. Each issue carried articles dealing with strategies for different wargames, tactical tips, and many variants and scenarios for existing games. As time passed, reviews of new games also became an important feature. While the majority of the articles dealt with SPI games, the magazine was open to and published many articles on games by other companies.

Founded by Jim Dunnigan, ''Moves'' began publication in 1972. SPI carried a huge inventory of their games, and was very successful as a direct mail marketer of their games. But with the rise of role playing games and multimillion-dollar sales for that arm of gaming, SPI expanded into hobby shops and increased their market. However, retail meant significantly higher print runs and lower margins, and with the rapid inflation of the 1970s, the rise in paper costs put them in a financial bind. When the recession of 1980-81 hit, the company found themselves short of cash and unable to continue without a loan. TSR appeared to be a savior, making the loan as a promissory note, but then reversed course and demanded payment. ''Moves'' was among the assets acquired by TSR. The final issue (#60) of the original run was published in December 1981.

A second run of issues began publication in 1991 with issue #61, when 3W ceased publication of '' The Wargamer'' in favor of restarting the well-known ''Moves'' title. It was bought, along with ''Fire & Movement'' and ''Strategy & Tactics'', by Decision Games and continued publishing into the 21st Century.

Editors

*James F. Dunnigan: Number 13 (Feb/Mar 1974) - Number 14 (April/May 1974)
*Howard Barasch: Number 15 (June/July 1974) - 23 (October/November 1975)
* Redmond A. Simonsen: Number 25 (February/March 1976) - 57 (June/July 1981)
*Jeff Albanese: Number 64 (August–September 1991) - 65 (October 1991)
*Christopher R. Cummins: Number 103 (Feb/Mar 2001) - 108 (Spring 2002)

External links

Review
in the Chicago Tribune

{{WargameMag

Magazines established in 1972
Magazines disestablished in 1991
Magazines published in New York City
Monthly magazines published in the United States
Wargaming magazines