A funny thing happened to us on the way to becoming a war game publishing company. We didn't succeed.

Three years ago a small group of 'hard core' wargamers (six to be exact) got together and decided that more and better games were in demand by our fellow gamers. After a fact-finding trip in 1969 across the U.S. to find out what gamers specifically wanted, plans were set afoot to create a game company in San Diego.

The cogs turned slowly. The background research to set up a legal corporation from scratch and produce boxed games where none had existed before took time. In October of 1971 we became the Simulations Design Corporation. (SDC - San Diego, California. Clever, huh?). Then Strategy & Tactics (Poultron Press) became Simulations Publications, Inc. They were already nationally known-we appeared to be copying their lead. And we were.

We imitated S&T. We imitated success. Except that we didn't succeed using the S&T formula. For whatever reasons, our inexperience in business, advertising, marketing, etc., SDC didn't work out on the initial level we wanted to achieve. The fact is, after investing close to $10,000, after jeopardizing three years of college, after finding out the hard way that it takes more to run a business than knowing how to invent new games, we nearly folded. All of our efforts to attract subscribers to our magazine and buyers for our first bookcase game gained a pathetic response--we received orders from an estimated 0.4% of the national simulation/gaming market.

The accomplishment for nearly two years of research, design, playtesting, typesetting, artistry, layout, and menial labor? All of you are going to receive your games and at least three issues of the magazine this year. What kind of a rip-off are we? We have gained in return no monetary compensation whatsoever; have, in fact, lost $1,000 per month since incorporation. We don't seem to be on the right side of this 'rip-off.'

A funny thing happened to us on the way to failure. We didn't. If you're confused at this point, welcome to the feeling. Somehow we have pulled things together, and SDC is going to survive.

We are changing the format of the magazine beginning with issue three. Also, we are increasing the line of boxed games we will offer. All of this will happen before December, and by using our existing staff. We've centralized our operations back to one new office in San Diego.

We've already tried your patience once. All things come to him who waits.