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S&T Supplement Newsletter | SPI Game
Design Newsletter |
Later SPI Newsletters
|
!
Launched in January of 1971, the Game Design
newsletter was SPI's answer to a growing demand of 'how do I create a
wargame?' questions that filled their mailbox in 1970. Here is Dunnigan's
explanation:
"In Designer's Notes we try to teach the
techniques of designing games. That will take
a while. But if you hang in there you might just make it."
The opening paragraphs stated "a consistent
50% of S&T's readership register an active interest in designing games."
Fearing the info on designing would detract from the history side of
Strategy &Tactics magazine, they followed the lead of the original
S&T Supplement newsletter,
which the Game Design newsletter replaced. It was published on
the off-month cycle of S&T.
The difference this time is the articles were NOT the product of the 'slush pile' - articles that were submitted or already produced which did not fit into the S&T wheel house. This time the articles were to be about designing - though that seems a bit loose in their interpretation.
When I said S&T Supplement was anything
but professional in its look, the first issue layout of Game Design
makes S&T Supplement layout look good.
Some people today will look at these in horror. The back side is worse than
the front. In the 1971 era 'Rub On' lettering, the sections titles were
there - but nothing is straight.
We did not care. In the pre-Internet era, we were ALL living in an
information desert. It was the info we thirsted for - not the
cosmetics of the moment. Again, the emphasis was on the information. It does
not help that the first two issues were in the gawd-awful bedsheet format -
tough to make that look good!
But they did get the information to you, which was SPI's real reason for existence.
While RAS focused on making the games, and the magazines look good - the Newsletters were just 'get the info out there.' And we loved them for it. [And obviously, as you look around this website, I am still in that mindset!] )
Within a half year, they pull together a 'standard'
for most issues: Beyond Dunnigan's Designer Notes column, mentioned
above, other features of interest are Design Notes. Here the designer
of
a specific game goes into detail on how a particular game was put together.
In the Data Modules features, a particular area is studied in great
detail.
Perhaps not riveting reading. But for those trying to
grok the nature of game design in 1971, it was like JFD was tossing you the
keys to the Gates of Mordor! There were risks to your sanity awaiting but
hell yes, we answered!
All the info in this newsletter is solid gold. In issue one, Dunnigan gives
never before seen insights in the creation of the Test Series Games -
with the idea of explaining game designing is not rocket science. But it is
an art, as Al Nofi's article explains. Nofi's sudden thrust into game design
is valuable reading. His ending eight or nine bullet points on game
design necessities are likely still as accurate today as they were 50 years
ago.
SPI would collect the good stuff from these
newsletters and use them for their second (and final?) published book. But
to me, that book had all the fun stripped out of it. These newsletters
are a view from the trenches.
Enjoy your journey.
---Russ Gifford
I have tried to pull them together as best I can, but anyone who has tried to scan the bedsheet formats knows it is simply a trial by fire experience.
Special thanks to David Barkey for providing these newsletters. It is a gift to the SPI community, as printed copies of these are very rare. Like the original spirit of SPI, providing these scans is a contribution to the history of SPI, and to the community that still follows this spirit. Many thanks, David!
Below are the links to these newsletters.
INDEX TO GAME DESIGN NEWSLETTER
Pieces that appeared in all or most issues:
 | Editorial -- because of course, that is what JFD does best. |
| “Designer Notes” - a look at the design process of a specific game. |
| “TSG Review” looking at the recent and new designs from SPI. |
| “AH Review" looking at items off interest in design terms from AH. |
| "Data Module" shows research that becomes a part of a game. Usually Stephen Patrick. |
| Title | About | ||||||||||
| Game Design
issue 1
Jan / Feb 1971 |
|
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Game Design issue 2 March / April 1971 |
"These two articles probably say more about what [this newsletter] is about than the mix of articles in the last issue." 16 pages |
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Game Design issue 3 1971 |
18 pages |
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Game Design issue 4 1971 |
16 pages |
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Game Design issue 5 1971 |
18 pages |