Board #309  *  Message #32: (Read 0 times)
To:   All
From: Mark Johnson
On:   26 Apr 94  20:57:45
Subj: Microgame FAQ & INDEX v0.1

From: woodowl!samsdad!mark@lll-winken.llnl.gov (Mark Johnson)
Path:
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Subject: Microgame FAQ & INDEX v0.1
Organization: LMSC, UT-Austin '90, and USC '88
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 19:57:45 GMT

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= MICROGAME FAQ v0.1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[This FAQ and accompanying Index aren't even close to being
complete--notice the version number. But I'm already a week past when I
said I'd post this skeletal offering, so here it is. With a little luck
some of you will email some contributions back to me.

Lately I've taken the time to notice several different formats used for
FAQs. Usually I prefer well-organized ones, with numbered entries,
different sections, and so forth. However, the conversational tone used
in the Magic: The Gathering FAQ is very readable, and this style was
easy to write, too. I may change it in the future--I'd appreciate
feedback on that, too. -MJ]

Author/Maintainer: Mark Johnson
Email address: woodowl!samsdad!mark@lll-winken.llnl.gov
  (alternate)  mark.e.johnson@lmsc.lockheed.com


"What is a microgame?"

Well, different things to different people. Most people agree microgames
exhibit most of the following characteristics: low cost, simple to play
and/or learn, physically small in format, playable in an hour or two,
etc. If a working definition is necessary, let's use low cost (less than
$15 today) and simple to play.

There are also Microgames, with a capital letter. These refer to the
product line of the now-defunct Metagaming company.

Minigame is a synonymous term, but will not be used to avoid confusion with
miniatures games.


"Do magazine games count?"

I think so, but since they are not traditionally called microgames, I'll at
least distinguish them in the FAQ and Index.


"What companies make microgames?"

Currently, Fat Messiah Games, Crunchy Frog Enterprises, Chaosium, and
numerous smaller companies produce a few. In the Golden Age of
microgames, there were considerably more.


"Like what?"

Well, we already mentioned Metagaming, which produced over thirty
microgames in the late 70s/early 80s. Task Force Games had a line of
micros, as did SPI, and even TSR a line. Steve Jackson Games produced
their microgames as recently as a few years ago?


"Why did they die off?"

The prevailing theory is that a small asteroid collided with the earth,
producing thick layers of energy-blocking dust, leading to an Ice Age
that the evolutionarily inferior microgames could not
survive...Seriously, please remember that they're not all dead. The
better game stores should carry a few of today's microgames. Ask them to
order some if they don't.

But why are there today less than a tenth of the choices there once
were? I'm not sure. I suspect there are economic reasons, that's it's
simply more profitable for game companies to release more elaborate,
expensive games. Some former microgames have been greatly expanded,
growing, transcending, or bloating into larger games.


"So what can I buy and play today?"

The new microgames, of course. The older ones will take a little more
work. Check game stores that carry used games, or the flea markets at
game conventions. The components from microgames often don't withstand
the test of time as well as other games, but they're still playable. And
there are still mint, unpunched copies out there, if you can find them.


"What do you mean about the components?"

To price these games low enough (we said less than $15 today, and
Microgames were $2.95 in 1979), the publisher has to cut some corners.
Most often, that shows up in the box, map, and counters. The microgames
published TSR and SJG were packaged in small, hinged, rigid plastic
boxes. But most other microgames (including SJG's earlier games and
editions) are in ziplock baggies. Metagaming's first games were just in
fold-over baggies, and their later ones were in small carboard boxes.
Over the years, the cardboard boxes have fared worse than the baggies,
while the plastic boxes are unscathed.

Maps are usually folded heavy-bond paper, often on the small side, as
typified by Metagaming, Task Force Games, and SPI. The Dwarfstar Games
published by Heritage were cardboard (sturdy once you get it to lay flat).
TSR's microgames featured colorful maps on thin, glossy paper.

Counters also tend to be thin, only two or three colors, and not always
backprinted. Some game companies opted for traditional die-cut counters,
while others saved some money by letting you cut them out yourself.
That's easy enough with a sharp knife or even scissors on this thin
stock, plus you won't have the "fuzzy" corners of die-cut counters. For
some reason Metagaming decided to go halfway, slicing the coutners
lengthwise but leaving you to finish the job.


"In the fifteen years sincethe Golden Age of microgames, desktop publishing
has really taken off. Shouldn't that reduce the price of games and/or
increase the quality?"

Yes and no. Neal Sofge (sp?) of FMG says that most of the cost of
publishing a microgame is still due to printing expenses, which DTP
cannot help. Similarly, having a super duper computer for layup and even
graphic design doesn't allow thick, luxurious counters or other
components. On the other hand, DTP in the hands of somethone who knows
how to use it can result in better looking typography throughout the
entire game.

Amateur games have definitely improved thanks to the advances of DTP and
personal computing. Now the aspiring wannabe can put together a game with a
crisp and regular hexmap, laid out and easy-to-read rules, some
appropriate clipart or simple illustrations, and an iconized paper
counter sheet. Distributed by paper printouts or electronically with
postscript files, these games are a far cry from those produced by an
Underwood typerwriter, freehand counters, and a mimeograph machine. How
the game actually *plays* is another matter entirely...


"What different genres are available?"

Science fiction boardgames dominate, with fantasy boardgames right
behind. There are only a few roleplaying games. There is a moderate
number of historical games--for some reason, those never took hold. That
is, until you include magazine games, where historicals have dominated
for twenty years, with only occasional games published in the Dragon,
Space Gamer, or the short-lived Ares game-in-every-issue magazine. See
the accompanying Index for more information.


"What about 'beer & pretzels' games?"

Many of them fit the quick & easy play aspect of being a microgame,
though they're often in a larger format, with better components, and at
a necessarily higher price tag.


"Necessarily?..."

Maybe not. The FAQ maintainer is accepting suggestions for games that
could or should have been microgames, and that's not limited to beer &
pretzels games.


"Does Magic: The Gathering qualify as a microgame?"

In some ways. It's a small format game that plays quickly with simple
rules. In theory it's a low cost game, too--you can buy a starter deck
and a couple of boosters within our arbitrary $15 limit for a microgame
(if you can find them!). However, the average player spends more than
that over time. But there's no denying that part of the success of what
must be the most popular wargame in memory is due to the "low entry
requirements," a hallmark feature of microgames.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= MICROGAME INDEX v0.1 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Does it make more sense to list the games alphabetically,
chronologically, by publisher, by genre, or something else? The basic
form for each entry will be title, publisher, designer(s), year, a brief
description of components, number of players, and a sentence or two of
description. The latter may be just ad copy, though of course a comment
from someone who'd actually played the game is preferable. In fact,
reviews a la the old Space Gamer's five-paragraph capsule review format
would be a welcome addition. That basically (1) bibliographic
information as I've already described, (2) a description of the game,
(3) strengths and strong points of the game, (4) the game's
disappointments, and finally (5) a who would enjoy/should buy this game,
if anyone. Another item I'd like to see are references to
variants/expansions/designer's notes articles in magazines, as well as
via the Internet (for example, I've recently seen a bunch of material
for WarpWar. -MJ]

DWARFSTAR
~~~~~~~~~
STAR VIKINGS
BARBARIAN PRINCE
OUTPOST GAMMA
STAR SMUGGLER
GRAV ARMOR
DARL LORD
DRAGON RAGE
GOBLINS


FAT MESSIAH GAMES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PO Box 341136
Los Angeles, CA 90034
neals@aol.com

Title: LAST FRONTIER, THE VESUVIUS INCIDENT
Publisher: Fat Messiah Games
Designers: Neal Sofge and Michael Wasson
Year: 1993
Components: ziplock bag; 24-page rulebook; 17" x 22" mapsheet; 160 full
            color, backprinted cardstock counters
Players: 1 (solitaire)
Description: A shameless knockoff of a popular movie where a team of
futuristic Marines goes on a bughunt against alien nasties.

Title: SHAPESHIFTERS
Publisher: Fat Messiah Games
Designers:
Year:
Components:
Players:
Description:

METAGAMING
~~~~~~~~~~
Title: OGRE
Publisher: Metagaming
Designers: Steve Jackson
Year:
Components: plastic baggie
Players: 2
Description: A single supertank bears down against a more conventional
             force of futuristic tanks, artillery, infantry, and their
             command post. This is the grandaddy of all microgames, the
             one that put Steve Jackson on the map.

CHITIN
MELEE
WARP WAR
RIVETS
WIZARD
OLYMPICA
G.E.V
ICE WAR
BLACK HOLE
STICKS AND STONES
INVASION OF THE AIR EATERS
HOLY WAR
ANNIHILATOR/ONE WORLD
HOT SPOT
ARTIFACT
STARLEADER ASSAULT
HELLTANK
HELLTANK DESTROYER
DEATH TEST
DEATH TEST 2
GRAIL QUEST
ORB QUEST
TREASURE OF UNICORN GOLD
TREASURE OF THE SILVER DRAGON
ROMMEL'S PANZERS
STALIN'S TANKS


STEVE JACKSON GAMES, INC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OGRE
G.E.V.
CAR WARS
ONE PAGE BULGE
UNDEAD
RAID ON IRAN
KUNG FU 2100
ILLUMINATI


TASK FORCE GAMES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STARFIRE
STARFIRE II
STARFIRE III
BATTLEWAGON
CEREBRUS


TSR, INC.
~~~~~~~~~
THEY'VE INVADED PLEASANTVILLE
SAGA
THE ALAMO

--
Mark Johnson               preferred:
woodowl!samsdad!mark@lll-winken.llnl.gov
Gamer & Astro Engineer     alternate: mark.e.johnson@lmsc.lockheed.com

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