The Distribution Front

A few weekends ago I attended ORCCON with the rest of the GPG crew. It was our first convention with a couple issues of GameFix under our belt. Several of the retailers there related tales to us that have become all too commonplace.

Usually the conversation starts out with "I hear you guys are sold out of issue [insert number here]." "No," we respond, "where did you hear that?" "Our distributor, [insert name here], says that GameFix is out of stock at the source whenever we try to reorder."

If I had only heard that tale from one or two people I might not think much of it, but this problem has been related to me by numerous retailers spread out all over the US.

Unfortunately, there is not much that we at GPG can do about this problem. We have made distributors aware that back issues are still available, and have related these tales to them when appropriate, but we cannot make them buy our product.

What we can tell you is this: If you are a retailer who is trying to get back issues of GameFix, be assured that there are plenty of them left. If your distributor refuses to reorder them for you, contact us and we will provide you with an alternate list of distributors who carry GameFix.

If you are still unable to get back issues of GameFix, we will ship them to you COD, but you must provide proof that you have attempted to order them through a distributor first. We will provide this service only where the distribution network fails to do so. We do not wish to compete with any distributor, nor take away any of their business; but at the same time it is imperative that our business survive as well. Remember, please make use of this offer only as a last resort!

In the Hopper

Lots of folks have been asking what games are in the hopper for GameFix, beyond the next half dozen. A company policy at GPG is that we only issue a contract for a game when it is completed, and then we only do so for six games at any one time. GameFix is still a new venture, and we are unwilling to obligate the company to publish more than six games in advance of the current issue. (This policy could change at some point in the future after the magazine has taken off, and GPG is on sounder financial ground.) The games that GPG is currently contracted to publish in GameFix are:

• The Big One by Bill Banks. TBO is a redeveloped version of 2WW originally published by 3W. Paul Cooper has added many new units, as well as step reduction to Bill's original effort. We think you'll be impressed with what can be accomplished in the GameFix format, and TBO should be a showcase.
• Cybernauts by Joe Miranda. Cy is a game about computer hacking in the near future. Joe has given us two excellent designs for GameFix so far, and Cy should continue that trend.
• Edson's Ridge by Michael Scott Smith. ER is a tactical-level game dealing with this battle of the Guadalcanal campaign. Many have seen Mike's designs published by 3W and know him to be one of their finest designers. We are proud to add him to our team.
• So Sioux Me by Timothy Kutta. Tim has been one of our best contributors, and now he expands his role in GameFix with this design on the Indian victory at Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, in 1862.
• Biomech by Mike Anderson. Bmech is another card game from the unflappable Mr. Anderson, whom many of you know from his Bombs Away! game published in issue four. The game will be our first total science fiction game, and will be a precursor to Biomech the collectable card game, which we hope to release this summer.
• And Just in from Joe Miranda: Crisis Chechnya. We believe that Joe has truly found his design niche for GameFix. We count his designs as the best we've received, and this game should prove to be no exception. The game deals with the current struggle going on in Chechnya. We've put this one on the development fast track, so it may be published before many of the titles mentioned above.

From the beginning, we saw that GameFix offered the perfect opportunity to explore current conflicts as they developed. Joe has proven to be just the man for the job. Other potential hot spots he will be exploring for us in the future include the Caribbean and Africa.

We also have two games contracted for boxed publication:

• Fox One by Mike Anderson. FO is a card game of modern jet air combat. Play is swift, furious, and completely unpredictable. We originally intended to publish this game in July/August, but that schedule is currently undergoing reevaluation.
• Peace in Our Time by Bill Banks. Originally dubbed Dice of Decision, this game is a strategic-level World War Two game. Both European and Pacific theaters are included in this two map, 600-counter spectacular. Bill wanted to create a strategic-level WWII game that was big, simple, and fun, but didn't artificially restrict the decision-making process. The game begins with the various world powers vying for position. In this game, war never has to start, but if it does watch out! The pace can be frightening. POT is currently scheduled for publication in December 1995/ January 1996.

Playtesters Wanted

GameFix and GPG are always on the lookout for new playtesters. People interested in this job should contact Keith Schlesinger online at KEITHSCHL@AOL.COM. If you see a game mentioned that you would like to work on, let Keith know. By the way, call him "Kirk" (too many Keiths in this business, but the number seems to be shrinking...

Game Designs Wanted!

GPG is always on the lookout for new design talent and new design topics that fit the GF format printed in issue #1 and available by e-mail. A couple of subjects that we would like to see games on include:

• A fire fighting game. Actually, we would like to publish two games on this topic, one dealing with forest fires and the other with urban fires. We've been pondering doing these as card games. What do you think?
• Spy, counterspy. A card game pitting two spies against each other in a struggle for information and survival. Plenty of backstabbing and betrayal, along with a healthy dose of humor, ought to fit the bill. Any takers?