The Play-By-Mail Association (PBMA) announced its formation. The PBMA was formed to promote responsible play-by-mail moderating. The association also plans a newsletter and advertising of the play- by-mail hobby. For more information on the association, its 24 charter members, or the newsletter, write to Rick Loomis, Executive Director, PBM Association, 8149 E. Thomas Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251. The National Hall of Fame of Science Fiction and Fantasy located in Beaumont, Texas, is offering memberships. Its goals and programs include recognition of individuals who have made contributions to the fields of science fiction and fantasy in the areas of literature, film, art, and music; foundation of the National Academy of Fantastic Art to sponsor an annual exhibit; honor fantasy gaming with annual awards and hold an annual show of fantasy miniatures; and act as a respository for information dealing with science fiction and fantasy During March, 1985, a film festival and horror conference are scheduled. For more information, contact The National Hall of Fame of Science Fiction and Fantasy, PO. Box 3150, Beaumont, TX 77704 (409) 838-1424. Duke Seifried is offering wargame weekends for small groups that feature gourmet meals and two days of miniatures gaming on custom designed tabletop battlefields. Several companies are interested in using the weekends as management training courses. Trivia addicts can get relief by dialing a 24-hour newswire 1-900-410-5050. The telephone company charges 50~ to connect the call. The first day of operation, January 2, 1985, brought calls from 1,320,000 people. Triviaphile Inc. supplies the questions and answers on six topics which change daily The questions are based on Trivia-Update 1984 edition, manufactured by Triviaphile Inc. The Game Designers Guild has reorganized after a period of inactivity. New President and newsletter editor is Dana Lombardy, while Greg Stafford of Chaosium Inc. is Secretary/Treasurer. The first new issue of the Guild newsletter was mailed in February, with the awards ballot for the 1983 game releases (not yet selected). Guild members vote for the five titles they feel were the best new games released in a given year-games are not divided into categories for the purposes of awards. Only paid members may vote for the awards, but anyone may join the Game Designers' Guild if they're interested in promoting the industry, or would like to get a game published. Yearly dues are $25.00 and include the quarterly Guild newsletter. An annual Guild awards ceremony and party is held at the Origins National Game Convention, which will be at Towson State University near Baltimore this year To join the Guild, receive the newsletter, and find out more about the awards ceremony and party, write to Game Designers' Guild, PO. Box 2321, Manassas, VA 22110. Magazines and newsletters of interest to gamers seeking publications that specialize in specific games include the following: Stardate, which features science- fiction-especially the Star Trek role- playing game. No subscriptions; available at hobby stores carrying FASA Corp.'s STAR TREK role-playing game. The Feb/Mar issue will feature robots. Mar/Apr, Dr Who. Dale Kemper is the Editor. On All Fronts is a newsletter for the SQUAD LEADER player. It offers articles and scenarios on all levels of the SQUAD LEADER series. For more information, contact On All Fronts, PO Box 265, Marshall, AR 72658. Chronicles of Chaos is a Stormbringer fanzine. it's approved by Chaosium Inc. and features a mini-solo adventure in every issue. Published quarterly For more information, write Mike Jarrell, 8~21 McNair Dr., Alexandria, VA 22309. Black Unicorn Productions in Kingsport, Tennessee, offers custom portraits and miniatures of your favorite characters. Write for a catalog to BMT Designs, PO Box 3591, Kingsport, TN 37664. Games Workshop U.S. has been granted the 1icense to do AD&D metal figures. They will also be releasing a line of fantasy jigsaw puzzles. Late News The award-winning Fire & Movement wargaming magazine has been sold. The new editor will be Wallace Poulter, Editor of The Wargamer Poulter will also be Editor of a new magazine, VIP, premiering in June, 1985. Scorpion Swamp by Steve Jackson of Steve Jackson Games, Inc. is scheduled for release this month by Dell- Laurel Leaf. Scorpion Swamp is a book featuring a programmed adventure. CHAMPIONS is being typeset and repackaged. There will be few rules changes and they will not affect existing modules and supplements. The changes are listed in Adventurers Club No. 6 The solution to the "Queen's Park Affair," the latest Sleuth Publications module for SHERLOCK HOLMES CONSULTING DETECTIVE, will be awarded at the American Booksellers Convention in San Francisco on May 28, 1985. Prizes totaling $ 10,000 will be awarded. The AMAZING STORIES GAME will be released by TSR Inc. this fall when the NBC television series STEVEN SPIELBERG'S AMAZING STORIES debuts. TSR Inc. owns the trademark rights to the Amazing Stories publication. STARBLAZER model kits will be available with English instructions and the original Japanese art through Twentieth Century Imports. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, FASA Corp.'s new introductory role-playing game uses a comic book style to explain the mechanics of the rules. The combat example shows both characters explaining their weapons and skills in four panels before the fifth panel that tells the players to let the dice decide. The game is geared for the 8-12 year old market. Gamescience announce at e 100-sided die will be available in May, 1985. Also available from Gamescience is a 12-page booklet for the SPI game collector that lists each game and cross references the quadre games, Ares and S&T magazine games, as well. For a catalog write Gamescience, 01956 Pass Road, Gulfport, MS 39501 (800) 647-9549. FANTASY HERO is scheduled for release from Hero Games during 1985, Nova Game Designs is expanding the LOST WORLDS product line with a series of booklets called HEROES AND MONSTERS OF MEDIEVAL MYTHOLOGY The first book will feature unicorns, Also announced were THE LOST WORLDS GAME ADVENTURE SETS, which contain adventures, a three dimensional display of a cavern or other location, metal figures and equipment provided by Ral Partha, and 2 LOST WORLDS character books. Mayfair has announced The Bkackmoor Chronicles by Dave Arneson, a series of 12 adventures from Blackmoor, one of the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS campaigns. Games Workshop U.S. is offering fantasy art jigsaw puzzles with art by Chris Achilleos and Iain McCaig among others. The Fighting Fantasy line of books will also be available through Dell Publishing. Grenadier Models will be producing a Lord of the Rings Middle Earth miniatures series for use with Iron Crown Enterprises' MIDDLE EARTH ROLE PLAYING GAME. Grenadier also offers a boxed set of CHILL licensed figures. TSR Inc. will release DUNGEONS & DRAGONS MASTER RULES SET #4 for characters from 26-36th level, in July, 1985. Also announced was the Dragonlance Chronicles Triology based on the DRAGONLACE ROLE-PLAYING GAME. Pacesetter has announced a CHILL board game and another called WABBIT WAMPAGE, that has Wodney the Wabbit with chainsaw. Rafm introduces the Reptiliads series, PRIVATEERS AND GENTLEMEN licensed figures, and a series of inter-related boxed sets starting with Wandering Adventurers. Ral Partha is introducing a line of paints called Partha Paints. Included in the line is a spray sealer and primer. Also offered is Dragonscale metallic creme in six colors. Ral Partha is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year as is Grenadier Models. Both companies are planning special releases to mark the event. Back to Table of Contents -- Game News #1 To Game News List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Dana Lombardy. 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