''Phoenix'' was a magazine primarily focussed on
board wargames. It was published in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s by
Simpubs Ltd., the British subsidiary of American game company
Simulations Publications, Inc.
Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) was an American publisher of board wargames and related magazines, particularly its flagship ''Strategy & Tactics'', in the 1970s and early 1980s. It produced an enormous number of games and introduced innovati ...
(SPI).
History
In 1974, SPI started to ship some of their wargames to J.D. Bardsley in the UK, who acted as a sales representative using the name SP/UK. Bardsley sold the games either via mail order or face to face at games conventions.
Sales increased rapidly, and by March 1976, SP/UK had sold 25,000 units. To handle the increased sales, SPI formed a formal British subsidiary, Simpubs Ltd. in June 1976. In much the same way that SPI published their own house magazine ''
Moves'', Simpubs immediately created the bi-monthly periodical ''Phoenix'' with J.D. Bardsley as managing editor.
In the first issue (June/July 1976), Bardsley editorialized that "''Phoenix'' is not envisaged as a 'house magazine'", and foresaw a publication of "game reviews, play strategy, game reports with historical comparisons of events, rule modifications, additional scenarios and historical articles."
As well as reviews and variants for SPI products, the first issue also included reviews of wargames by rival game companies
Games Designers Workshop
Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) was a wargame and role-playing game publisher from 1973 to 1996. Many of their games are now carried by other publishers.
History
Game Designers' Workshop was originally established June 22, 1973. The founding me ...
and
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill Games Inc. is a game company that publishes wargames and strategic board games. It has also published miniature wargaming rules, role-playing games and sports simulations. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, and operates under the compan ...
.
The magazine was one of a number of hobby magazines in its field popular during that era.
The magazine started as a slim 12-page magazine, then expanded to 16 pages in Issue 4, to 20 pages in Issue 5, and to 24 pages in Issue 10 (November/December 1977). By 1980, ''
The Best of Board Wargaming'' called it a "flourishing" publication.
Notable reviews included Bob Campbell's "authoritative study" of ''
The Campaign for North Africa'' in Issue 24.
In Issue 30 (March/April 1981), ''Phoenix'' reached its maximum size of 36 pages. A year later, parent company SPI ran into financial difficulty and was unexpectedly taken over by
TSR.
Although TSR continued to publish US-based SPI publications ''
Strategy & Tactics'', ''
Ares
Ares (; grc, Ἄρης, ''Árēs'' ) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war ...
'' and ''Moves'', TSR cut off support to UK-based Simpub. In Issue 36 of ''Phoenix'' (March/April 1982), the first issue after the TSR takeover, editor John Spence promised that ''Phoenix'' would continue as Simpub transitioned into a new independent company.
However, no new company was ever formed, and Issue 36 proved to be the last.
Reviews
*''
Dragon'' #22 (February 1979) p16-17
References
External links
A complete issue index on the grognard web site*BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/The_Phoenix#
*Tactical Wargamer: http://tacticalwargamer.com/magazines/magazines.htm
*SPI Games: https://www.spigames.net/SIMPUBS.htm
Game magazines published in the United Kingdom
Magazines established in 1976
Magazines disestablished in 1982
Wargaming magazines
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