''Nuclear Destruction'' is a

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 ...

(PBM) game. It was published by

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 Scott ...

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 reviewer Charles Mosteller, editor in chief of '' Suspense and Decision'', the modern PBM magazine, ''Nuclear Destruction'' is a "Strategic missile game with emphasis on diplomacy". The object is to be the sole survivor at the end of the game, by arranging for the other players to be destroyed with nuclear missiles. Lindahl 2020. Player tools include missiles, "anti-missiles", factories, and money for influencing other players. Flying Buffalo ran multiple versions of ''Nuclear Destruction''. In 1973 there was a "Ladies ND" as well as a two-player version where, in the latter case, the players were

USSR The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...

and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. Loomis 1973. p. 2. Also in 1973, groups of four to six players could also against each other in "Gang-War ND", and "Private ND" games were available for play with friends. In 1979, there was a "Partners ND" where two friends could play together; "Blitz ND", a costlier game with shorter turnaround times and priority mailing; and "Bribery ND" where players did not pay turn fees but could purchase extra resources (e.g., missiles and spies). Loomis 1979. p. 12.

Reception

In Issue 9 of ''Command'', Dennis Agosta admired ''Nuclear Destruction'' for the lack of any random factor. "It's intellect against intellect, where the outcome of the game is determined by how you and your allies (if any) make your moves." He concluded, "The excitement level of PBM ''Nuclear Destruction'' is very high, especially when the game is run on one or two week deadlines." Agosta 1976.

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Bibliography

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