12-04-2011, 04:34 PM
As a few of you may recall, I published a magazine in the early 1980s about play-by-mail games called PBM Universal. It soon morphed into Gaming Universal, then I sold it to Advent Games (US) and Flagship (UK).
Selling that magazine was a decision I regret.
I've published other magazines, and I still make my living as a writer and editor. But I suppose it's true that you never forget your first one.
So I've decided to relaunch PBM Universal.
Obviously, the audience for PBM games now is far, far smaller than it was three decades ago. I expect the new PBM Universal not to blaze a trail but rather to fill a niche - a growing niche, since my definition of "PBM" is broad enough to encompass turn-based gaming in all its many forms.
In a sense, it's a vanity project, because I truly do miss the "old days". But it's also a serious project, and one for which I've spent substantial time over the past few months accumulating material, locking in contributors, devising a unique delivery system, and thinking hard about what will work and what won't work.
I've set March 1, 2012, as the launch date.
I'll provide further details here, as interest warrants, and soon on pbmuniversal.com, as well. (Don't bother going there now: the site won't be available until January.)
If anyone is interested in sharing their ideas, providing content, or perhaps becoming a regular contributor, please get in touch.
-- Bob McLain
Selling that magazine was a decision I regret.
I've published other magazines, and I still make my living as a writer and editor. But I suppose it's true that you never forget your first one.
So I've decided to relaunch PBM Universal.
Obviously, the audience for PBM games now is far, far smaller than it was three decades ago. I expect the new PBM Universal not to blaze a trail but rather to fill a niche - a growing niche, since my definition of "PBM" is broad enough to encompass turn-based gaming in all its many forms.
In a sense, it's a vanity project, because I truly do miss the "old days". But it's also a serious project, and one for which I've spent substantial time over the past few months accumulating material, locking in contributors, devising a unique delivery system, and thinking hard about what will work and what won't work.
I've set March 1, 2012, as the launch date.
I'll provide further details here, as interest warrants, and soon on pbmuniversal.com, as well. (Don't bother going there now: the site won't be available until January.)
If anyone is interested in sharing their ideas, providing content, or perhaps becoming a regular contributor, please get in touch.
-- Bob McLain
