By now you will have noticed that with each issue of GameFix, we are making small changes to the appearance of the magazine. As we go along, we intend to improve the quality and appearance of GameFix and make it the highest quality publication around. This new, expanded "Things to Come" section is another step in that direction.

Here we will inform you about the state of the magazine, what new titles are coming up, information about Game Publications Group in general, and whatever other information that might be relevant but that is not appropriate to include in the editorial.

The Blueline Blues

As I write this, issue two is at the printer's, and will not be available for blueline proofing for another five days. Printers have often been called the bane of the publishing industry, and their performance for GameFix has been no exception to that statement. Our first printer was ten days late, effectively making a liar out of us on our very first issue. Our second printer mislead us about pricing - or at least they didn't pay much attention when we showed them what we wanted. The disasterous set of bluelines they provided caused us to fire them on the spot.

Consequently, issue two was taken back to the original printer which caused a three week delay in its release. This issue, number three, will also be printed by our first printer - who may not have been so bad after all - after the extraction of numerous promises and guarantees that they will now perform on time.

All of these problems are, of course, very frustrating. They are also all part of the business of publishing, as I'm sure any publisher will tell you. Our promise to you, therefore, is that we shall forge ahead, in spite of these obstacles, and endeavor to bring you the best possible magazine we can each month.

Biting Nails and Stubbing Toes

Response to our premier issue was generally quite good. Of course, the old proverb "you can't please everyone" prevailed in some cases. The articles which drew the most attention were Dave Wood's "Armchair Gamer" and my own "Origins '94." While everyone seemed to agree with the assertions that Dave made, people almost unanimously said they wished he would have named names. Well, hold tight: those names are coming up.

The Origins article had the greatest diversity of comments; ranging from "great" to "garbage." In defense of it, I can only say that the intent was to show what a good time was had at the convention and thereby encourage others to attend in the future. It is a pity that point was lost on some.

Clearing the Air

There seems to be some confusion over the relationship between GPG and 3W. I'd like to put that to rest by saying simply that there isn't one. Yes, I was the General Manager at 3W, but I resigned from that position in March of 1994. 3W's offices are back in Cambria, but I kept mine where they were, hence the similarity of addresses between GPG's current address and 3W's old one.

As part of another deal, GPG acquired the rights to Ancients, Imperator, Modern Naval Battles, Modern Land Battles, 2WW, Strategy, Zulu War, and Rebel Yell from 3W. Modern Land Battles has subsequently been sold by us to GMT, though we will do the development on the game. The others will all be published or republished by GPG at some time in the future.

This Issue

Issue three features Richard Berg's Chicken of the Sea. Although we at GPG take what we do very seriously, we also realize that we are in the entertainment industry That means that we reserve the right to have some fun with what we do. Chicken of the Sea is a game about naval combat during the Punic Wars. Although the title is actually a reference to Claudius' casting of the fowl fortune tellers into the sea, it is also a good description of the game -- that is, playing chicken with big boats at sea.

Also in this issue, Meg Thompson tells us a bit of the history behind Chicken, and gives us her insights into the games historicity itself.

The "Zen of Wargaming" gives us the insights of James J. Schneider into wargaming in general, and gives us pause to rediscover what it is we are all about as hobbyists.

Dave Wood provides us with his final chapter on standards of wargame criticism. Dave recently asked me if I would rather he start reviewing games in lieu of this final piece. I said no, because I wanted his criteria for judgment to be firmly and completely established first. Issue four, therefore, will contain Dave's first real review.

You will also find printed on the inside of the Chicken map two new Ancients maps. These maps were originally done for 3W, and were supposed to go in the revised Ancients game they recently published. For whatever reason, they chose not to use the computer generated maps, so we've decided to provide them to you in GameFix.

Looking Ahead

Issue four will contain Mike Anderson's Bombs Away card game. I cannot say enough good things about Mike Anderson's games. I'm only happy someone else didn't discover him first. Bombs Away is a fast-paced card game of the Allied air offensive over Europe in 1944. The game will come with an 11x17 map and 100 playing cards (in lieu of counters). The cards, bound into the center of the magazine, will need to be cut out with scissors.

Issue five features Rob Markham's Winceby, a small game using Rob's successful Royalists and Roundheads system, published by 3W. The game will have the usual 11x17 map and 100 counters, and mainly features cavalry, making the action fast and furious.

By now you've noticed the advertisement for Rebel Yell on the inside front cover. We believe this game will be the definitive treatment of tactical level American Civil War battle. The price is still undecided, as is the final release date. We are currently doing preliminary map proofing. The rules have been completed, but have not been laid out. The counters are also still in the design stage. You will be able to keep up with any changes in the artwork by examining the ad from issue to issue.

We hope you enjoy this, issue three of GameFix. As always, we encourage you to send us any comments you may have about GameFix, or about GPG in general.