http://playbymail.net/mybb/ Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:59:28 +0000 MyBB http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=615 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:59:38 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=615
I was a big fan of The Kings of Steel and Saturnalia (?), don't suppose anyone has the Kings of Steel map or Rule book to hand - its was a simple yet satisfying game that may translate well to a simple turn based game/app...

Keep the spirit alive!]]>
I was a big fan of The Kings of Steel and Saturnalia (?), don't suppose anyone has the Kings of Steel map or Rule book to hand - its was a simple yet satisfying game that may translate well to a simple turn based game/app...

Keep the spirit alive!]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=614 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:01:57 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=614 Ilkor: Dark Rising. Welcome aboard Mike, we know you are going to be a great assert to the game and team. For the details, hop over to our blog and read all about it. :-)]]> Ilkor: Dark Rising. Welcome aboard Mike, we know you are going to be a great assert to the game and team. For the details, hop over to our blog and read all about it. :-)]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=613 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:55:28 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=613
Fate of a Nation needs a few more players to fill up one of the main continents. If you're interested in a strategic long-term PBeM which has a small but dedicated group of players have a look at our website:
http://www.fateofanation.net

Fill the registration form and I will create a player account that can be used to create a new nation setup file. The game is free to play.

There is a limited number of players that can be accepted. Setups will be accepted on a first come basis.

Best regards,

Peter]]>
Fate of a Nation needs a few more players to fill up one of the main continents. If you're interested in a strategic long-term PBeM which has a small but dedicated group of players have a look at our website:
http://www.fateofanation.net

Fill the registration form and I will create a player account that can be used to create a new nation setup file. The game is free to play.

There is a limited number of players that can be accepted. Setups will be accepted on a first come basis.

Best regards,

Peter]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=612 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:41:54 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=612 last blog on Ilkor: Dark Rising. We've got some pretty excitement developments happening. Things are really starting to hot up!!]]> last blog on Ilkor: Dark Rising. We've got some pretty excitement developments happening. Things are really starting to hot up!!]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=611 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:53:48 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=611
Just in time for the one year anniversary of the Rising Empires project we started our first ‘real’ play test of Rising Empires. A lot has been happening during 2011 and although progress hasn’t been as quick as we originally thought we are getting closer to completing Rising Empires. Or to quote Johan J, “The game is fully playable but some parts are not complete yet, there are hints around the game of missing functionality.” This issue, the eleventh, of the Norberg bulletin is a report of the first 20 turns of the play test...

The bulletin can be downloaded at the Rising Empires forum:
Norberg bulletin - Issue 11

Cheers!]]>
Just in time for the one year anniversary of the Rising Empires project we started our first ‘real’ play test of Rising Empires. A lot has been happening during 2011 and although progress hasn’t been as quick as we originally thought we are getting closer to completing Rising Empires. Or to quote Johan J, “The game is fully playable but some parts are not complete yet, there are hints around the game of missing functionality.” This issue, the eleventh, of the Norberg bulletin is a report of the first 20 turns of the play test...

The bulletin can be downloaded at the Rising Empires forum:
Norberg bulletin - Issue 11

Cheers!]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=428 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:24:48 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=428 blogged about the sign-up process including screenshots. Soon we'll have this in an alpha release so anyone who is interested may experience it and give us feedback.]]> blogged about the sign-up process including screenshots. Soon we'll have this in an alpha release so anyone who is interested may experience it and give us feedback.]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=427 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:56:13 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=427 our latest blog to see what is going down with the Ilkor: Dark Rising development crew.]]> our latest blog to see what is going down with the Ilkor: Dark Rising development crew.]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=425 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:04:51 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=425 by February 14th with initial build or login to your account and submit it through the website or fax me the initial build at 484-334-7634.

In addition to the standard rules, the game will be using:

1) Random Corporations (i.e. the Corporation numbers will be be based on the sector)
2) Victory is considered 90+ Sites.
3) EV command is available.
4) Starting year is Y165


Paul Franz
warlord@play-by-e-mail.com]]> by February 14th with initial build or login to your account and submit it through the website or fax me the initial build at 484-334-7634.

In addition to the standard rules, the game will be using:

1) Random Corporations (i.e. the Corporation numbers will be be based on the sector)
2) Victory is considered 90+ Sites.
3) EV command is available.
4) Starting year is Y165


Paul Franz
warlord@play-by-e-mail.com]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=424 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:40:30 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=424
Humans are the fifth race in Rising Empires to be presented and they are, well, humans...

Their racial description can be found in this post on our forum:
Human racial profile

Follow the development of Rising Empires on Google+. Add us to your circles!

Cheers!]]>
Humans are the fifth race in Rising Empires to be presented and they are, well, humans...

Their racial description can be found in this post on our forum:
Human racial profile

Follow the development of Rising Empires on Google+. Add us to your circles!

Cheers!]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=423 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:44:55 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=423 Hello all. As a PBM moderator from the "old days" (anyone remember Yellowseed Games?) I would like to keep my hand in and set up a PBeM game of space exploration and domination.

If you are interested in finding out more, there are some playtest positions for those who will give good feedback and are willing to stick with a beta test that may take a few months to complete.

If you are, please contact me at:

hyperdrive@hotmail.ca

Thanks, Lorne]]> Hello all. As a PBM moderator from the "old days" (anyone remember Yellowseed Games?) I would like to keep my hand in and set up a PBeM game of space exploration and domination.

If you are interested in finding out more, there are some playtest positions for those who will give good feedback and are willing to stick with a beta test that may take a few months to complete.

If you are, please contact me at:

hyperdrive@hotmail.ca

Thanks, Lorne]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=422 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:02:14 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=422
Destiny - The Final Crusade PBEM is now accepting playtesters. You can either send me a private message here, or visit the Yahoo Group I created and request a membership:

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/destiny...alcrusade/

Here's a rough description of the game:

A new play-by-email game in a fantasy setting, with the emphasis on roleplaying. Each player will control a single character in the game, striving to fulfill whatever goals them have set themselves. There are no deadlines, meaning you can participate in the game at your own pace, and no hefty rulebooks to wade through. The player will have a set number of points to allocate to a variety of attributes and skills, which will not only determine their strengths and weaknesses, but also make each character unique.

Thanks for your time, and I look forward to seeing you in the game. =D

Stephen]]>
Destiny - The Final Crusade PBEM is now accepting playtesters. You can either send me a private message here, or visit the Yahoo Group I created and request a membership:

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/destiny...alcrusade/

Here's a rough description of the game:

A new play-by-email game in a fantasy setting, with the emphasis on roleplaying. Each player will control a single character in the game, striving to fulfill whatever goals them have set themselves. There are no deadlines, meaning you can participate in the game at your own pace, and no hefty rulebooks to wade through. The player will have a set number of points to allocate to a variety of attributes and skills, which will not only determine their strengths and weaknesses, but also make each character unique.

Thanks for your time, and I look forward to seeing you in the game. =D

Stephen]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=421 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:00:36 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=421
Attached is a screenshot with an improved list for selecting technologies. We have a lots of news in this weeks 'Weekly update'. Both from the new alpha test that we are running and new stuff in the game itself:
Weekly update
Next week we'll also present the next race - Humans...

I hope you all have a good weekend!

  shot21.jpg (Size: 63.63 KB / Downloads: 7) ]]>
Attached is a screenshot with an improved list for selecting technologies. We have a lots of news in this weeks 'Weekly update'. Both from the new alpha test that we are running and new stuff in the game itself:
Weekly update
Next week we'll also present the next race - Humans...

I hope you all have a good weekend!

  shot21.jpg (Size: 63.63 KB / Downloads: 7) ]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=420 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:51:11 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=420 Empire Forge Conquests forums are down, with the forums, themselves, having been removed for inactivity back on November 10t, 2011, apparently.]]> Empire Forge Conquests forums are down, with the forums, themselves, having been removed for inactivity back on November 10t, 2011, apparently.]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=419 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:17:49 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=419 link to an interview about play by mail gaming conducted by the staff of The Chronic Rift.

The video is 7 minutes and 14 seconds in length.]]> link to an interview about play by mail gaming conducted by the staff of The Chronic Rift.

The video is 7 minutes and 14 seconds in length.]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=418 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:16:50 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=418 http://xott.wikispaces.com/

And still fantastic, for whimsical, yet epic fantasy with that human pbm touch.]]> http://xott.wikispaces.com/

And still fantastic, for whimsical, yet epic fantasy with that human pbm touch.]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=417 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:27:06 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=417
The 80s and 90s were great for PBM gamers, and I see the hobby isn't as dead as some might be inclined to believe. So I'm checking out what is still out there and hope to game with some of you soon.

BTW...still in Xott after all these years.

Junius "Trey" Stone]]>
The 80s and 90s were great for PBM gamers, and I see the hobby isn't as dead as some might be inclined to believe. So I'm checking out what is still out there and hope to game with some of you soon.

BTW...still in Xott after all these years.

Junius "Trey" Stone]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=416 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:54:37 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=416
order zithromax 250mg dosage in UK - order zithromax 500mg fast shipping in UK

buy zithromax suspension online in UK]]>
order zithromax 250mg dosage in UK - order zithromax 500mg fast shipping in UK

buy zithromax suspension online in UK]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=415 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:39:52 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=415 Watch Kim Kardashian Tape Video Get the latest Khloe Kardashian News, Bio, Photos, Credits and More for Khloe Kardashian on TVGuide.com Kim Kardashian is the most annoying celebrity in America, according to a new poll conducted by Parade Magazine.the 400 highest-earning tax filers earned an average of $110 million a year yet paid just 18% federal tax.actually
Kim Kardashian Sex Videos Kourtney Kardashian is best known for her appearances in Keeping up with the Kardahians, a TV show that documents the life and the hilarious antics of the Kardashian ...loves to secretly dress in women's clothing and lingerie.seeking an annulment.The pair's time as newlyweds was documented for the show "Kourtney & Kim Take New York," currently airing on E!.
She's holding nothing back in her verbal attack of the family's private life.Ellen says that Chrystie confided to her about Bruce's odd hobby.All the information you need about Kim Kardashian is at FHM.com.It's no secret that 2011 was both challenging and successful for Kim Kardashian - Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Part 1]]> Watch Kim Kardashian Tape Video Get the latest Khloe Kardashian News, Bio, Photos, Credits and More for Khloe Kardashian on TVGuide.com Kim Kardashian is the most annoying celebrity in America, according to a new poll conducted by Parade Magazine.the 400 highest-earning tax filers earned an average of $110 million a year yet paid just 18% federal tax.actually
Kim Kardashian Sex Videos Kourtney Kardashian is best known for her appearances in Keeping up with the Kardahians, a TV show that documents the life and the hilarious antics of the Kardashian ...loves to secretly dress in women's clothing and lingerie.seeking an annulment.The pair's time as newlyweds was documented for the show "Kourtney & Kim Take New York," currently airing on E!.
She's holding nothing back in her verbal attack of the family's private life.Ellen says that Chrystie confided to her about Bruce's odd hobby.All the information you need about Kim Kardashian is at FHM.com.It's no secret that 2011 was both challenging and successful for Kim Kardashian - Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Part 1]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=351 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:37:49 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=351
We've now presented the fourth of the six races that populate the Rising Empires universe - the Greenskins. Greenskin is a collective name for a couple of races living in the caves below the earth. The most common of these are the Goblins, the Orcs and the Ogres:

Their racial description can be found in this post on our forum:
Greenskin racial profile

Follow the development of Rising Empires on Google+. Add us to your circles!

Cheers!]]>
We've now presented the fourth of the six races that populate the Rising Empires universe - the Greenskins. Greenskin is a collective name for a couple of races living in the caves below the earth. The most common of these are the Goblins, the Orcs and the Ogres:

Their racial description can be found in this post on our forum:
Greenskin racial profile

Follow the development of Rising Empires on Google+. Add us to your circles!

Cheers!]]> http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=341 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:26:24 -0600 http://playbymail.net/mybb/showthread.php?tid=341 1. KJC Games will celebrate its 30th anniversary, next year (2011). What are the greatest challenges that KJC Games has faced, during that extended time frame, and what plans does KJC Games have for the future that you can share with PlayByMail.Net's readers?

The greatest challenge has to be the changing nature of multi-player gaming. We find ourselves a small fish in a big pond. We had to revaluate our product and how it fitted in with the modern gamer and industry. The future is about staying true to the core belief of turn-based gaming - this being that the game is in the mind, not on the screen or printout. This is what fundamentally separates us from typical online gaming.


2. Is the company's founder, Kevin Cropper, still involved with the company and its games?

Nope, not at all. We last spoke a few years ago. We are both busy in our own separate industries. Truth be told, Kevin lost interest when post became email.


3. On the KJC Games website, your company states, "We are looking to the future and bringing our unique style of gaming to a modern audience." What, exactly and specifically, is KJC Games' unique style of gaming?

Control of multiple concurrent positions in an persistent universe without the need for graphics.


4. Phoenix: Beyond the Stellar Empire seems to be KJC Games' flagship product, these days. What are the greatest challenges that your company has recognized to growing the player base of this game, and are there any further developments on this horizon for this game that you think gamers really need to know about?

If you stop moving, you are admitting defeat is the basic tenet of Phoenix development. We firmly believe that if we hold true to our ideals, everything else will fall into place, certainly not tomorrow, but one day.
We discuss the direction of the game each November in our annual meet. Having now mostly completed the professional feel to the game interface, our next task is open the game to those unfamiliar with this style of gaming while expanding the depth, i.e. after 17 years of development we will soon be ready to start "growing the player base of this game". I hope that was suitably cryptic.


5. Can you give our readers a rough idea of the size of Phoenix: BSE's player base, and how would you characterize the level of player-to-player interactivity within the game?

There are a few thousand pay to play positions and many thousand free positions, but players that run pay to pay positions, tend to run a few. In terms of activity, I would advise anybody to just take a look at the fully
interactive site and judge for themselves.


6. Since its inception in 1981, did any play-by-mail games by other PBM companies influence KJC Games' game development, and which PBM games and PBM companies do you think revolutionized play-by-mail gaming?

I cannot speak for Kevin and the years before my time, but for myself, having come to the industry cold, I have had no significant dealings with any other company of their games. Sure I have respect for lads at Madhouse and Harlequin and we swap the odd email, but we are all busy with our own ideas and doing our own stuff.


7. Were there any games, in particular, that KJC Games wanted to develop, but never did?

Never did implies never will whereas in fact haven't yet is closer to the mark. Ten years of hard graft into Phoenix and system independent platforms will pay dividends in the long run.


8. How did the play-by-mail genre of gaming influence you, personally, and what do you think will be PBM gaming's greatest lasting legacy to gaming?

It kept me focused on the principle that the game is all. No matter how pretty something is, eventually you will end up becoming bored unless it has content. PBM's legacy is that you can create a game where a person will be committed to it for decades. Phoenix is living proof. We have players controlling the same positions they started with 19 years ago.


9. The artwork used for KJC Games' It's a Crime game is some of my personal favorite in all of PBM gaming. Who was the artist or artists responsible for that artwork, and does your company intend to expand its artwork associated for that game for advertising or other purposes?

When we are happy with the ease by which players new to this style of gaming can become involved, we will once again ramp up our advertising. The style of the artwork will be appropriate to the game.


10. Has KJC Games ever collaborated with other companies, PBM or otherwise, to bring new games to the market?

Back in the 80's and early 90's there was some collaboration with other gaming companies, but the other companies fell by the wayside. Back in 2000, we teamed up with a software development company called Skeletal Software and signed and exclusive deal.


11. Other than games run by KJC Games, what are some of your personal favorite play-by-mail games that you have played over the years, and what were some of your least favorite PBM games that you have tried, and what about those respective games appealed to you or turned you off from them?

I'm afraid I stayed loyal to our games. This may be due to always looking at games through the eye of a designer rather than gamer. I suspect I would have been a pain in the arse for any other company.


12. How would you describe the Play-By-Mail game industry, as you see it from your perspective? Describe its past, it present, and its future through your eyes.

Dead. It was a niche industry that filled a gap created by people with a desire to be part of a big group involved in epic games that simply weren't catered for by tabletop gaming. This gap is now filled by mmorpgs. The future however is brighter, for us at least, as we push towards creating games with a professional and user-friendly online front-end while still giving them the level of long-term playability that cannot be offered by typical online games. We will never be epic, but we will dominate the corner of market simply because big companies will never be as insane as us.


13. What is your favorite genre of PBM game to design, and why? What is your least favorite, and why?

Anything with morals, individual interaction and strong diplomacy and illicit features is by far the most challenging. This spans the range from historical, fantasy and horror, right through to space opera. I have an
eclectic collection of tastes. As for least favourite, it has to be anything to do with sport.


14. Have you ever attended any PBM conventions or other gaming conventions, either as an individual gamer or as a game company, and what were some of your most memorable moments attending those?

I attended the last Flagship convention and go to the Birmingham Games Expo and of course we have our own annual weekend. As for the most memorable - it has to be staggering drunk through the streets of Bath with a hoard of Phoenix players.


15. What is your view on the role that magazines have played in impacting the Play-by-Mail genre of gaming, and what do you wish that those magazines had done differently, if anything?

They have certainly had their place in the history of the game for better or worse - especially where there has been a close relationship between reviewer/editor and a specific game. Outside the PBM industry, it has always proved difficult to create interest, largely due to the lack of immediate gratification inherent to this style of gaming and within the industry the level of migrant gamers has always been low - which is a good thing on the whole, but means advertising has a low return on investment. As to what they could have done differently, I wouldn't be so arrogant to tell somebody else how to do their job.]]> 1. KJC Games will celebrate its 30th anniversary, next year (2011). What are the greatest challenges that KJC Games has faced, during that extended time frame, and what plans does KJC Games have for the future that you can share with PlayByMail.Net's readers?

The greatest challenge has to be the changing nature of multi-player gaming. We find ourselves a small fish in a big pond. We had to revaluate our product and how it fitted in with the modern gamer and industry. The future is about staying true to the core belief of turn-based gaming - this being that the game is in the mind, not on the screen or printout. This is what fundamentally separates us from typical online gaming.


2. Is the company's founder, Kevin Cropper, still involved with the company and its games?

Nope, not at all. We last spoke a few years ago. We are both busy in our own separate industries. Truth be told, Kevin lost interest when post became email.


3. On the KJC Games website, your company states, "We are looking to the future and bringing our unique style of gaming to a modern audience." What, exactly and specifically, is KJC Games' unique style of gaming?

Control of multiple concurrent positions in an persistent universe without the need for graphics.


4. Phoenix: Beyond the Stellar Empire seems to be KJC Games' flagship product, these days. What are the greatest challenges that your company has recognized to growing the player base of this game, and are there any further developments on this horizon for this game that you think gamers really need to know about?

If you stop moving, you are admitting defeat is the basic tenet of Phoenix development. We firmly believe that if we hold true to our ideals, everything else will fall into place, certainly not tomorrow, but one day.
We discuss the direction of the game each November in our annual meet. Having now mostly completed the professional feel to the game interface, our next task is open the game to those unfamiliar with this style of gaming while expanding the depth, i.e. after 17 years of development we will soon be ready to start "growing the player base of this game". I hope that was suitably cryptic.


5. Can you give our readers a rough idea of the size of Phoenix: BSE's player base, and how would you characterize the level of player-to-player interactivity within the game?

There are a few thousand pay to play positions and many thousand free positions, but players that run pay to pay positions, tend to run a few. In terms of activity, I would advise anybody to just take a look at the fully
interactive site and judge for themselves.


6. Since its inception in 1981, did any play-by-mail games by other PBM companies influence KJC Games' game development, and which PBM games and PBM companies do you think revolutionized play-by-mail gaming?

I cannot speak for Kevin and the years before my time, but for myself, having come to the industry cold, I have had no significant dealings with any other company of their games. Sure I have respect for lads at Madhouse and Harlequin and we swap the odd email, but we are all busy with our own ideas and doing our own stuff.


7. Were there any games, in particular, that KJC Games wanted to develop, but never did?

Never did implies never will whereas in fact haven't yet is closer to the mark. Ten years of hard graft into Phoenix and system independent platforms will pay dividends in the long run.


8. How did the play-by-mail genre of gaming influence you, personally, and what do you think will be PBM gaming's greatest lasting legacy to gaming?

It kept me focused on the principle that the game is all. No matter how pretty something is, eventually you will end up becoming bored unless it has content. PBM's legacy is that you can create a game where a person will be committed to it for decades. Phoenix is living proof. We have players controlling the same positions they started with 19 years ago.


9. The artwork used for KJC Games' It's a Crime game is some of my personal favorite in all of PBM gaming. Who was the artist or artists responsible for that artwork, and does your company intend to expand its artwork associated for that game for advertising or other purposes?

When we are happy with the ease by which players new to this style of gaming can become involved, we will once again ramp up our advertising. The style of the artwork will be appropriate to the game.


10. Has KJC Games ever collaborated with other companies, PBM or otherwise, to bring new games to the market?

Back in the 80's and early 90's there was some collaboration with other gaming companies, but the other companies fell by the wayside. Back in 2000, we teamed up with a software development company called Skeletal Software and signed and exclusive deal.


11. Other than games run by KJC Games, what are some of your personal favorite play-by-mail games that you have played over the years, and what were some of your least favorite PBM games that you have tried, and what about those respective games appealed to you or turned you off from them?

I'm afraid I stayed loyal to our games. This may be due to always looking at games through the eye of a designer rather than gamer. I suspect I would have been a pain in the arse for any other company.


12. How would you describe the Play-By-Mail game industry, as you see it from your perspective? Describe its past, it present, and its future through your eyes.

Dead. It was a niche industry that filled a gap created by people with a desire to be part of a big group involved in epic games that simply weren't catered for by tabletop gaming. This gap is now filled by mmorpgs. The future however is brighter, for us at least, as we push towards creating games with a professional and user-friendly online front-end while still giving them the level of long-term playability that cannot be offered by typical online games. We will never be epic, but we will dominate the corner of market simply because big companies will never be as insane as us.


13. What is your favorite genre of PBM game to design, and why? What is your least favorite, and why?

Anything with morals, individual interaction and strong diplomacy and illicit features is by far the most challenging. This spans the range from historical, fantasy and horror, right through to space opera. I have an
eclectic collection of tastes. As for least favourite, it has to be anything to do with sport.


14. Have you ever attended any PBM conventions or other gaming conventions, either as an individual gamer or as a game company, and what were some of your most memorable moments attending those?

I attended the last Flagship convention and go to the Birmingham Games Expo and of course we have our own annual weekend. As for the most memorable - it has to be staggering drunk through the streets of Bath with a hoard of Phoenix players.


15. What is your view on the role that magazines have played in impacting the Play-by-Mail genre of gaming, and what do you wish that those magazines had done differently, if anything?

They have certainly had their place in the history of the game for better or worse - especially where there has been a close relationship between reviewer/editor and a specific game. Outside the PBM industry, it has always proved difficult to create interest, largely due to the lack of immediate gratification inherent to this style of gaming and within the industry the level of migrant gamers has always been low - which is a good thing on the whole, but means advertising has a low return on investment. As to what they could have done differently, I wouldn't be so arrogant to tell somebody else how to do their job.]]>