The numerous clubs, periodicals, and games being created can only help the hobby. Comparison and competition help to refine and improve products and services; old established companies will have to try harder and change -- new companies will have to offer something really different at an equal level of quality in order to survive.

For our own part (Simulations Design Corporation) we are going to concentrate on CONFLICT magazine in 1973, and postpone our new line of boxed games until 1974. By doing so CONFLICT will become more polished, and more importantly, we can establish a REGULAR publishing schedule. No one likes to wait for their games or magazines.

Already CONFLICT has drastically improved: issues #1 and #2 were 32 pages, one color; issue #3 and #4 were 48 pages with four to five colors; and issue #5 (to be out by the end of May) will have 56 pages. Continued growth is possible due to the outstanding response from our earlier issues - we now have several issues planned and in the works. The physical quality of CONFLICT is improving as we add more artists and sources for photographs and maps, and the articles and games we publish will steadily improve as we gain experienced amateur and professional designers/writers.

Our philosophy is to provide a different approach than what has been established. This means that we do not keep all designing/writing within the organization, but seek quality materials wherever they may be found. Nor do we standardize or systematize our games and magazine. The wide variety of games produced in just the past year should indicate our diversity and versatility: DUNKERQUE-1940 (a very complex - level 3 - game); GUERRE A OUTRANCE (a level 3 simulations); MINUTEMAN (a level 2 wargame); ASSASIN! (a level 2 game); and NORAD (a level 1 game with unlimited variations for growth).

This variety both in the format of CONFLICT and the game published with each issue should insure that we do not fall into a monotonous routine: same type of magazine issue to issue, same type of game (boxed or otherwise) year after year. We want the hobby to grow and develop, not become stagnant. As the hobby grows, so shall we.

The Future of Wargaming Comments from Five Wargame Publishers

Donald Greenwood, Avalon Hill
John Hill, The Conflict Game Company
Dana Lombardy, Simulations Design Corporation
T. T. Dalgliesh, Gamma Two Games, Ltd.
Don Lowry, Guidon Games