Difference between revisions of "The Space Gamer"

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[[File:Space Gamer N.32.png|right]]
 
[[File:Space Gamer N.32.png|right]]
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[[Space Gamer]] was a generic sci-fi gaming [[periodical]], that published several [[Traveller]]-related articles.  
+
[[The Space Gamer]] was a generic sci-fi gaming [[periodical]], that published several [[Traveller]]-related articles.  
 
   
 
   
 
== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
 
== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
−
''Space Gamer'' supported a number of other games and [[author]]s, but it included nearly the whole gamut of early [[Classic Traveller]] [[author]]s and [[artist]]s as well.
+
''The Space Gamer'' supported a number of other games and [[author]]s, but it included nearly the whole gamut of early [[Classic Traveller]] [[author]]s and [[artist]]s as well.
−
 
+
 
=== Selected Traveller Articles ===
 
=== Selected Traveller Articles ===
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"  
−
|+ Space Gamer Traveller Articles
+
|+ The Space Gamer Traveller Articles
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Name
 
! Name
Line 18: Line 18:
 
| [[Tony Watson]]   
 
| [[Tony Watson]]   
 
| 3 Jan 78
 
| 3 Jan 78
−
| [[Space Gamer 15]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 15]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Robert P. Barger]]  
 
| [[Robert P. Barger]]  
 
| 3 July/Aug 78
 
| 3 July/Aug 78
−
| [[Space Gamer 18]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 18]]  
−
| None
+
| [[Laser Pistol]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Psionics|Psionics in Traveller]]  
 
| [[Psionics|Psionics in Traveller]]  
 
| [[Kenneth W. Burke]]   
 
| [[Kenneth W. Burke]]   
 
| 2 Nov/Dec 78
 
| 2 Nov/Dec 78
−
| [[Space Gamer 20]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 20]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Mercenary|Mercenary: a Reviw]]  
+
| [[Mercenary|Mercenary: a Review]]  
 
| [[Tony Wilson]]   
 
| [[Tony Wilson]]   
 
| March-April 79
 
| March-April 79
−
| [[Space Gamer 22]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 22]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Tony Wilson]]   
 
| [[Tony Wilson]]   
 
| January-February 80
 
| January-February 80
−
| [[Space Gamer 26]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 26]]  
 
| None
 
| None
−
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Alternate Characters for Traveller  
 
| Alternate Characters for Traveller  
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| 2 Oct 80  
 
| 2 Oct 80  
 
| [[The Space Gamer 32]]  
 
| [[The Space Gamer 32]]  
−
| None
+
| This was the first "Special Traveller Issue."
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Ithilien class Scoutship|Ithilien Class]]  
 
| [[Ithilien class Scoutship|Ithilien Class]]  
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| [[Kenneth W. Burke]]
 
| [[Kenneth W. Burke]]
 
| 1 Jan 81  
 
| 1 Jan 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 35]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 35]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[K.L. Jones]]  
 
| [[K.L. Jones]]  
 
| 6 Feb 81  
 
| 6 Feb 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 36]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 36]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Alien. For sadic GMs: The Alien for D&D and Traveller
+
| Alien for sadic GMs: The Alien for D&D and Traveller
 
| [[K.L. Jones]]  
 
| [[K.L. Jones]]  
 
| 6 Feb 81  
 
| 6 Feb 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 36]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 36]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Timothy B. Brown|Tim Brown]], [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| [[Timothy B. Brown|Tim Brown]], [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| 2 Apr 81  
 
| 2 Apr 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 38]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 38]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Steve Winter]]  
 
| [[Steve Winter]]  
 
| 1 May 81  
 
| 1 May 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 39]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 39]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Marc Miller|Marc W. Miller]]  
 
| [[Marc Miller|Marc W. Miller]]  
 
| 2 Jun 81
 
| 2 Jun 81
−
| [[Space Gamer 40]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 40]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Steve Winter]]  
 
| [[Steve Winter]]  
 
| 8 Jun 81  
 
| 8 Jun 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 40]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 40]]  
 
| Planet of Adventure is a series of four science fiction novels by Jack Vance. Tschai is a planet and a center of action.
 
| Planet of Adventure is a series of four science fiction novels by Jack Vance. Tschai is a planet and a center of action.
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Steve Winter]]  
 
| [[Steve Winter]]  
 
| 3 Jun 81  
 
| 3 Jun 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 40]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 40]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| Unknown
 
| Unknown
 
| 2 Sep 81  
 
| 2 Sep 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 43]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 43]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| 4 Sep 81  
 
| 4 Sep 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 43]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 43]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[AFV|AFV's in Traveller]]  
 
| [[AFV|AFV's in Traveller]]  
−
| [[Donald Gallagher]]  
+
| [[Donald Gallagher]], [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| 10 Oct 81  
 
| 10 Oct 81  
−
| [[Space Gamer 44]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 44]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Kenneth W. Burke]]  
 
| [[Kenneth W. Burke]]  
 
| 3 Dec 81
 
| 3 Dec 81
−
| [[Space Gamer 46]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 46]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[J. Andrew Keith]]  
 
| [[J. Andrew Keith]]  
 
| 2 Jan 82  
 
| 2 Jan 82  
−
| [[Space Gamer 47]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 47]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| 3 Mar 82  
 
| 3 Mar 82  
−
| [[Space Gamer 49]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 49]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| 1 Jun 82  
 
| 1 Jun 82  
−
| [[Space Gamer 52]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 52]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| [[William A. Barton]]  
 
| 3 Oct 82  
 
| 3 Oct 82  
−
| [[Space Gamer 56]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 56]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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| [[Christopher Kupczyk]]  
 
| [[Christopher Kupczyk]]  
 
| 1 Apr 83  
 
| 1 Apr 83  
−
| [[Space Gamer 62]]  
+
| [[The Space Gamer 62]]  
 
| None
 
| None
 
|-
 
|-
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=== External Links ===
 
=== External Links ===
−
# EXTERNAL LINK: [http://www.spacegamer.com/ Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer]  
+
* [http://www.spacegamer.com/ Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer]  
−
# EXTERNAL LINK: [http://www.spacegamer.com/default.asp The Space Gamer] homepage at Better Games.
+
* [http://www.spacegamer.com/default.asp The Space Gamer] homepage at Better Games.
  
 
== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
 
== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
−
''Meta-history & Background:'' The Space Gamer was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the late 70s through the mid-80s. The magazine is no longer published, but the Better Games maintain a web presence using its final title Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer.  
+
The Space Gamer was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the late 70s through the mid-80s. The magazine is no longer published, but the Better Games maintain a web presence using its final title Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer.  
  
 
The Space Gamer started out as a quarterly publication of the brand new [[wikipedia:Metagaming Concepts|Metagaming Concepts]] company in 1975. Initial issues were in a plain-paper digest format. By issue 17, it had grown to a full size bimonthly magazine, printed on slick paper.
 
The Space Gamer started out as a quarterly publication of the brand new [[wikipedia:Metagaming Concepts|Metagaming Concepts]] company in 1975. Initial issues were in a plain-paper digest format. By issue 17, it had grown to a full size bimonthly magazine, printed on slick paper.

Latest revision as of 21:11, 12 June 2020

Space Gamer N.32.png

The Space Gamer was a generic sci-fi gaming periodical, that published several Traveller-related articles.

Description (Specifications)[edit]

The Space Gamer supported a number of other games and authors, but it included nearly the whole gamut of early Classic Traveller authors and artists as well.

Selected Traveller Articles[edit]

The Space Gamer Traveller Articles
Name Author Date Issue Remarks
Robotics for Traveller Tony Watson 3 Jan 78 The Space Gamer 15 None
Addendum Equipment and Weapons Robert P. Barger 3 July/Aug 78 The Space Gamer 18 Laser Pistol
Psionics in Traveller Kenneth W. Burke 2 Nov/Dec 78 The Space Gamer 20 None
Mercenary: a Review Tony Wilson March-April 79 The Space Gamer 22 None
Snapshot: a Review Tony Wilson January-February 80 The Space Gamer 26 None
Alternate Characters for Traveller Forrest Johnson 2 Oct 80 The Space Gamer 32 This was the first "Special Traveller Issue."
Ithilien Class Mark Chittenden 1 Oct 80 The Space Gamer 32 Page 11. 150 ton scout ship from the Conundrum State Shipyards.
More Psionics for Traveller Kenneth W. Burke 1 Jan 81 The Space Gamer 35 None
Pawn of the Fire Web K.L. Jones 6 Feb 81 The Space Gamer 36 None
Alien for sadic GMs: The Alien for D&D and Traveller K.L. Jones 6 Feb 81 The Space Gamer 36 None
Ya Wanna Buy A Used Ship? Tim Brown, William A. Barton 2 Apr 81 The Space Gamer 38 None
Rumor Reliability Steve Winter 1 May 81 The Space Gamer 39 None
Aboard the Leviathan Marc W. Miller 2 Jun 81 The Space Gamer 40 None
Adventures on Tschai Steve Winter 8 Jun 81 The Space Gamer 40 Planet of Adventure is a series of four science fiction novels by Jack Vance. Tschai is a planet and a center of action.
New Space Combat System Steve Winter 3 Jun 81 The Space Gamer 40 None
SF Character Contest Results Unknown 2 Sep 81 The Space Gamer 43 None
Expanded Combat William A. Barton 4 Sep 81 The Space Gamer 43 None
AFV's in Traveller Donald Gallagher, William A. Barton 10 Oct 81 The Space Gamer 44 None
Terrorists in Traveller Kenneth W. Burke 3 Dec 81 The Space Gamer 46 None
Flare Star (part 1) J. Andrew Keith 1 Jun 81 The Space Gamer 46 None
I'm a Doctor, Not a... J. Andrew Keith 2 Jan 82 The Space Gamer 47 None
Flare Star (part 2) J. Andrew Keith 1 Feb 82 The Space Gamer 48 None
Tools for Terrorists William A. Barton 3 Mar 82 The Space Gamer 49 None
Flare Star (part 3) J. Andrew Keith 1 Apr 82 The Space Gamer 50 None
Review of Imperial Data Recovery System John M. Morrison 1 Apr 82 The Space Gamer 50 None
Omni Car, The William A. Barton 1 Jun 82 The Space Gamer 52 None
Flare Star (part 4) J. Andrew Keith 1 Jul 82 The Space Gamer 53 None
Splat Gun, The William A. Barton 3 Oct 82 The Space Gamer 56 None
Chainsaw Combat Christopher Kupczyk 1 Apr 83 The Space Gamer 62 None
Interdiction Station Marcus L. Rowland 10 Feb 84 Space Gamer 67 None
Competitive Citizens Dan Perez 2 Aug 84 Space Gamer 70 None
Pre-Enlistment Skills Warren Okuma 1 Apr 85 Space Gamer 73 None
Stiletto Class Yacht Gary Reilly 1 Apr/May 87 Space Gamer 78 None
Manhunt Bill Cassell 1 Sep 89 Space Gamer 81 None
Ranger Class Courier James B. King 1 Sep 89 Space Gamer 81 None
Tarragon's Heir Michael O'Brien 1 Dec 89 Space Gamer 84 None
Starjammer Class Yacht Gary Reilly 1 Jan/Feb 89 Space Gamer 85 None
Corsair Contention James B. King 1 Jan/Feb 89 Space Gamer 85 None

External Links[edit]

History & Background (Dossier)[edit]

The Space Gamer was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the late 70s through the mid-80s. The magazine is no longer published, but the Better Games maintain a web presence using its final title Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer.

The Space Gamer started out as a quarterly publication of the brand new Metagaming Concepts company in 1975. Initial issues were in a plain-paper digest format. By issue 17, it had grown to a full size bimonthly magazine, printed on slick paper.

When Steve Jackson departed Metagaming to found his own company, he also secured the right to publish The Space Gamer from number 27 on. The magazine stayed with Steve Jackson Games for the next five years, during which, it was at its most popular and influential. In 1983, the magazine was split into two separate bimonthly magazines: Space Gamer (losing the 'The' with the split in Number 64), and Fantasy Gamer; the former concentrating entirely on science fiction, and the latter on fantasy. This arrangement lasted about a year. Fantasy Gamer ran six issues before being folded back into Space Gamer. Steve Jackson Games published through issue 76 (Sept/Oct 1985).

In 1986, the magazine was sold to Diverse Talents, Incorporated (DTI) who continued the magazine with the same numbering and format (after a gap of nearly a year and a half), but with the name Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer. The trademarks to Space Gamer and Fantasy Gamer was then sold to World Wide War (3W), a company which for a brief time tried to ascend to the top of the adventure gaming hill. They also purchased Strategy and Tactics. Alas, WWW also went down like Metagaming, and Space Gamer ended up in the hands of Future Combat Simulations (FCS). After publishing just one issue, FCS could not continue and a year later FCS declared bankruptcy. After passing through several hands, the Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer trademark got passed to Better Games.

Better Games now publishes Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer as part of their online gaming system. They have published eight issues.

References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]

Smallwikipedialogo.png This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at The_Space_Gamer. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. The text of Wikipedia is available under the Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
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