GDW is planning a major product release this coming July, a Gary Gygax-Frank Chadwick authored fantasy RPG, entitled Dangerous Dimensions. What is unusual about DD (interesting choice of initials) is that it is being backed with concurrent Nintendo games from JVC in Japan, and distributed by Penguin Books, which will publish the usual slew of accompanying novels. GDW also will release two North Africa games on Kasserine and Tunis later this year. . . . Jack Greene is in the process of reviving his old company to do his beloved naval games, one a year, starting with Fleet Admiral: The North Sea Campaign followed by a redesigned Ironbottom Sound. He probably needs the money after blowing it all in Italy. In any case, he's looking for a company name. Best choice gets a free game, so send appropriate monickers to 2760 Knollwood Drive, Cameron Pk CA 95682 . . . quickly, so you can save him from the nerdy sounding bunch he already has. Effetto Pronto Games?? The success of 3W's Royalists & Roundheads has prompted KP to ink Markham to do follow-ups on Renaissance and Crusader battles. And plowing ahead like a berserk elephant, Poulter has also signed Richard Berg for Three Against Rome, an operational game on the campaigns of Pyrrhus, Hannibal and Belisarius. . . .Word from TSR is that the future of the SPI game line may be in doubt. . . . . Can't get enough reviews? Try "The Wargame Collector's Journal", which covers a lot of old, plus some new, games. About the same size and look as BROG, the last issue ran the gamut of old and new games: Rifle & Sabre, The Gamers' Barren Victory, The Vietnam Survival Tour (or, "Chutes and Black Pajamas"; I kept looking for the "Me So Horney" Square), 3W's Rorke's Drift, and the Oldenburg Grenadiers series from the late 70's. Write to Hexessential Publications, 3625 47th Ave SW, Seattle WA 98116-3727 for rate info. . . . Also dropshipped into our editorial pouch was a copy of The Gamer, a slick-cover gaming magazine from Pasadena, CA., which boasts some familiar names on its masthead: Greg Costikyan, Doug Niles and Scott Haring. Well, two familiar names. Purported by its ads to cover all aspects of gaming, the magazine appears to be heavily oriented towards RPG's. The only "wargame" feature was a Nostalgia Trail Tour of Wellington's Victory by Niles. For those interested in an industry-wide overview of all apsects of the hobby, send inquiry to 127 N.Madison Ave, Suit 202, Pasadena CA 91101. . . . And GMT Honcho, Gene Billingsley, is about to also go el-slicko with his in-house magazine, "InsideGMT". Some heavy names involved here, though, including Rodger MacGowan and John Vanore. Someone obviously doesn't think gaming is tapping out . . . . Look for a series of Operational-level ACW games from Joe Balkowski out of AH, covering the Valley, 1862, 1863, etc, etc. . . . "The Volunteers", the award-winning newsletter for Civil War gamers, has now been fully taken over by Rob Markham as editor. (He doesn't have enough to do?) The Big V is still a great source of info and commentary for almost every Civil War game that comes (or came) out. ACW designers and researchers, such as Jim Epperson, Jamie Adams, and Ed 'The Brick' Sasko, are regular contributors. If you do a fair amount of gaming in the ACW, this is invaluable stuff. $15 for 4 issues, from Volunteers c/o Medrow, 1322 Highland Dr., Rolla MO 65401. . . . And remember the West End "Tin Can" project? Remember the Resurrection? Well, keeping praying . . . you may get results! The latest issue of the French gaming magazine, "Casus Belli" contains a game on The Gallic Wars of Caesar, Bellum Gallicum. My French isn't up to translating rules (although I did just fine on the nice review they gave Alexander), but, despite lots of color, it's not on par with their last effort (1792) - at least not visually. The 250 counters (cut and paste time) are eye-pleasing but contain some unusual "picture" choices. The Gallic leaders are represented by crested helmets I would swear Roman centurions wore, while the Roman helmets pictured look more like what Pyrrhus wore; Germanicus and Ariovistus, both sporting very unusual hair-styles, seem to be twin brothers; and Vercingetorix gets that most unfortunate, Charles Laughton-like coin image for his counter. Given the noble-looking bust of Julie that the Casear counter got, they could at least have used the Vercingetorix statue! It's also area movement. (Boo! Hiss!) Who knows, though; looks like it could be fun with the right translator at your side. (Like Maria Schneider . . . and pass the butter.) Try their Canadian distributors, at Periodica Inc., CP 444, Outremont, Quebec H2V 4R6. And speaking of Europe, the entire BROG Staff will be in Eindhoven, Holland, June 7-8, for the gigantic EEC game con, "GAMES SPECTACLE". Rumor has it that the Gault Millauts of wargaming - Wimble-Zucker - will also be present, as will GRD's Winny, the Pooh, Hamilton. Truly a Spectacle. Back to Berg's Review of Games Vol. II #3 Table of Contents Back to Berg's Review of Games List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Richard Berg This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com