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Issue #14 of Suspense & Decision magazine, a publication focusing on play-by-mail and turn-based gaming.


Active PBM Games

NOTE: This section is under active construction. More active PBM games are listed on the PBM Hivemind section on the front page of the PlayByMail.Net website. This section on the PBM Wiki site began construction on March 5th, 2014, and will take a while to flesh out with relevant information. When completed, it should be a useful resource for gamers looking for PBM games to play. In the mean time, don't make the mistake of thinking that all that is listed here is all that there is. Nothing could be further form the truth!

Play By Mail
(PBM via Postal Service)
Ancestral Descendants
(Electronic/Digital PBM)
Paper Mayhem issue 22.

PBM Hivemind - Where PBM Players Gather

NOTE: This section is under construction. Links will be transferred from the front page of the PlayByMail.Net website to this section, in due time.

PBM Forums PBM on Yahoo! Discussion Groups PBM on Google+ Discussion Groups PBM on Facebook PBM on Facebook Discussion Groups

Definition of PBM

Galactic Prisoners was a computer-moderated, open-ended, futuristic game that featured an alien race, the Nibor, destroyed all humans, except for a very few who were placed on a planet to be studied by Nibor observers. The player played the role of a human captain of an All Terrain vehicle (ATV), who was given a crew of 100 human prisoners by the Nibor. As the captain, it was the responsibility of the player to provide his or her crew with survival.

So, what - exactly - is PBM?

PBM is an acronym, one that stands for Play By Mail. It is a reference to a genre of gaming that was - and still is - played through the postal system, which, in the United States of America, is the United States Postal Service.

Whether one says PBM, PBM games, PBM gaming, play by mail, play-by-mail, postal games, postal gaming, play by post, correspondence games, or correspondence gaming, they are all variations on the exact, same thing.

Later (as in newer or more recent) variations on the core genre that is postal gaming have manifested themselves as PBeM (play by e-mail), PBM (play by web - as in the World Wide Web), PBI (play by Internet), TBG (turn based gaming), and even BBG (browser based games).

During its course of existence, play by mail gaming has been covered by a wide variety of sources, and this genre of gaming (which many view to be classic gaming at its very finest, providing a form of quality gaming entertainment still unrivaled in terms of the overall gaming experience that the player has), is still alive and popular with many gaming enthusiasts and gaming adherents, whose interests in gaming entertainment run the gamut from RPGs (role playing games) to wargaming.

Included within this broad range of coverage of the PBM hobby and of the commercial PBM industry were numerous magazines dedicated specifically or largely to coverage of play by mail gaming. Published titles such Nuts & Bolts, Paper Mayhem, PBM Universal, Gaming Universal, Flagship, American Flagship, Campaigner's Newsletter, American Gamer, The PBM Report, Simulacrum, PBM Worm, and 1st Class covered every aspect of PBM gaming, delivering a cornucopia of PBM news to a gaming public thirsting for details of an ever-changing PBM scene.

Within the genre, postal games covered an exceptionally broad portion of the entire gaming spectrum. Space conquest games, fantasy role playing games, and hardcore wargames that would make any grognard proud are but a few of the many popular categories of games that fell under - and to this day are still encompassed by - PBM gaming.

Play by mail gaming shares many similarities with board gaming, as well, the turn based aspect a signature feature of many PBM games. Unlike many modern-day massively multiplayer online games of various types, postal games tended - and still tend - to deliver a more personalized gaming experience, one that did not leave the player lost in a tsunami of player pools that number in the millions, for some of the more heavily populated massively multiplayer online games, particularly where MMORPGs of note are concerned.

Hyborian War wall map showing land provinces, coastal provinces, and sea zones.

Combining a beer & pretzels sort of appeal with a community of both commercial and non-commercial game moderators, PBM left an indelible mark upon the history of gaming. Rich gaming experiences that were unique to postal gaming helped elevate the hobby and the industry to such a place in the public eye that good old correspondence gaming soon carved out a place for itself in the pantheon of gaming genres.

As with many different sectors of the gaming industry at large, PBM has endured its share of periods where the industry would consolidate. Rumors to the contrary notwithstanding, though, play by mail gaming continues to thrive heading into the second decade of the Twenty-First Century. Numerous groups of hardcore PBM gamers can be easily located on the Internet, today, with new industry champions joining PBM's venerated Old Guard in celebrating play by mail gaming in the modern era.

Both nostalgia and a desire to return to the roots of what a true, honest-to-God multi-player gaming experience should be like, are helping to create a Renaissance of the core postal gaming experience for new generations of gaming enthusiasts, even as more and more PBM old timers find themselves returning to the play by mail fold. The resulting diversity can only benefit PBM gaming, as the PBM hobby and the PBM industry chart a new path into the future.

Whether a player's turn results are delivered to him or to her in a paper envelope, or in one of a variety of different electronic equivalents, the PBM experience continues to act as a catalyst for positive change within the gaming industry at large. In this way, PBM continues to push the gaming envelope, after all these many years.

Other definitions of PBM

PBM Magazines

Flagship issue 1.
  1. 1st Class
  2. American Flagship
  3. American Gamer
  4. Campaigner's Newsletter
  5. Flagship
  6. Gaming Universal
  7. Nuts & Bolts
  8. Paper Mayhem
  9. PBM Magazine
  10. PBM Monthly
  11. PBM Scroll
  12. PBM Universal
  13. PBM Worm
  14. Simulacrum
  15. Suspense & Decision
  16. The PBM Report

PBM Associations

PBM companies

This is a list of Play-By-Mail companies and individuals that have run PBM games, over the years. Some of these companies and their games are still up and running, today. Many of them, unfortunately, have fallen defunct with the passage of time.

Starweb is a play by mail game run by Flying Buffalo, Inc..
  1. 4 Sight
  2. 7th Dimension Gaming
  3. A.J. Matthews
  4. Acheron Simulations
  5. Advanced Gaming Enterprises
  6. Advent Games
  7. Adventure Simulation Games
  8. Adventures By Mail
  9. Adventures Design Group, Inc.
  10. AGEgames
  11. Agema
  12. Agents of Gaming
  13. Aggressive Addiction Games
  14. Aleator Games
  15. Allen Kimball
  16. Allsorts PBM Games
  17. Alternate Realms
  18. AMM Enterprises
  19. Anarchy By Mail
  20. Andon Games
  21. Anvil Games
  22. Apocalypse
  23. Archmage Games
  24. Arden Enterprises
  25. Ares Games
  26. Argus Adventure Simulations
  27. Ark Royal Games
  28. Armageddon Games
  29. Athena's Avatar
  30. Australian Wizard PBM
  31. Balrog Adventures
  32. Bard Interactive Games, Inc.
  33. Baron's Regime
  34. Battle-Magic Gaming
  35. Bill Paspaliaris
  36. Bill Wood
  37. Bizarre Play By Mail
  38. Blackpool Games
  39. Blitzkrieg Games
  40. Blue Panther Enterprises
  41. Bob Stribula
  42. Bronze Star Games
  43. C2 Simulations
  44. C-T Simulations
  45. Camelot Games
  46. Capitol Consulting/VRL, Inc.
  47. Central Texas Computing
  48. Centurion Game Company
  49. Chain Mail Games
  50. Chameleon Games
  51. Charles Bennett
  52. Charles Mosteller
  53. Circle Games
  54. ChoZen FroZen Games
  55. Classified Information
  56. Clemens & Associates
  57. Cobra Games
  58. Coconut Council, Inc.
  59. Colleen Matteson
  60. Compu-Caper Gaming
  61. Computer Campaigns
  62. Combat Enterprises
  63. Conflict Interaction Assoc.
  64. Conquest Games
  65. Constantine Xanthos
  66. Cosmos Creations
  67. Crasiworld
  68. Create A World, Inc.
  69. Creative Games
  70. Creative Management Services
  71. Creative Simulations
  72. Cutting Edge Games
  73. Cyborg Games
  74. Cyclops Gaming
  75. Damien Games
  76. DareDevil Games
  77. Dark Magus Productions
  78. Daurada Games
  79. Delta Games PBM
  80. Deltax Gaming
  81. Desert P.B.M.
  82. DFS Productions
  83. DMC Games
  84. DPI
  85. Dragon Games
  86. Dragon Byte
  87. Dracs Games
  88. DVS Productions
  89. Dymar Enterprises
  90. Dynamic Games
  91. E-Mail Games
  92. Earnshaw Enterprises
  93. Ebonrock Enterprises
  94. Eckert Gaming Group
  95. Eclipse Consulting, Inc.
  96. Eclipse Entertainment, Inc.
  97. Ed Bailey
  98. Empire Games, Inc.
  99. Emprise Game Systems
  100. Enchanted Horizons
  101. Entertainment Concepts, Inc.
  102. Entertainment Plus More, Inc.
  103. Eros Games
  104. Essentially Racing
  105. Ethereal Edge Enterprises
  106. Fantastic Simulations
  107. Fantasy & Futuristic Simulations
  108. Fantasy Workshop
  109. Fenris Games
  110. Fields of Nephlim
  111. Final Frontiers
  112. Flying Buffalo, Inc.
  113. Flying Dutchman Games
  114. Fractal Dimensions
  115. Frank Pompillio
  116. Frazier Games
  117. Freelance Games
  118. Friendly Fire Games
  119. Frontier Games
  120. Full Moon Gaming
  121. Furypost Games
  122. GAD Games
  123. Galactic Empires
  124. Galactic Simulations
  125. Galactic Society Four
  126. Game Anvil
  127. Game Systems, Inc.
  128. Game Systems International
  129. Gamemasters Publishers Assoc.
  130. Gamer's Den
  131. Gamers Guild
  132. Games By Mail
  133. Games Heaven
  134. Games Without Frontiers
  135. Gator Concepts
  136. Gem Games
  137. Gemini Games
  138. Gemini Systems, Inc.
  139. Genesis Games Design
  140. Global Simulations
  141. Graaf Simulations
  142. Grandel, Inc.
  143. Grenade Games
  144. Gryphon Systems
  145. Half Time PBM Football
  146. Harlequin Games
  147. Harold Kercher
  148. Harrow Postal Games
  149. HCS Games
  150. Head Games
  151. Hemsoft Computer Consultants
  152. Henry Roepke
  153. HFR Games
  154. High Point Games
  155. Horizon Games
  156. Hunky Monkey Games
  157. Huscarl Hobbies
  158. ICBM
  159. Imagery
  160. ImagiCom, Inc.
  161. Imaginary Sports Competition
  162. Imagination Unlimited
  163. Imperial Games
  164. Incubus Designs
  165. Inferno Games
  166. Infinite Odysseys
  167. Inner Dimension Games
  168. Interesting Times
  169. Intergalactic Games
  170. International Research Associates
  171. International Software
  172. Irondragon Enterprises
  173. Jason Oates Games
  174. Jeff Perkins
  175. JFH Games
  176. John Justin
  177. John Morris
  178. Jolly Goblin Games
  179. Kage Interactive
  180. Kalei Enterprises
  181. Karl Zeimetz
  182. Keith Langley
  183. Kelem Games
  184. Kelstar Enterprises
  185. Keys of Bled
  186. Kimball Simulations
  187. Kingdoms of Telgard
  188. Kings
  189. Kings Guild, Inc.
  190. KJC Games
  191. KSK Concepts
  192. L & L Activities
  193. L A N Company
  194. LAMA
  195. Lanke
  196. Legend Incorporated LTD
  197. Leisure Time Unlimited
  198. Lightning Games
  199. Lombot Publishing
  200. Lucky Llama Games
  201. Madhouse UK
  202. Madhouse USA
  203. Madhouse Australia
  204. Maelstrom Games
  205. Manifestation Games
  206. Mailed Gauntlets
  207. Marguerite Dias
  208. Marguerite Hoang
  209. Mark Pinder
  210. Mark Walbank
  211. Mark Wightman
  212. Matteson
  213. Megalith Games
  214. Mercury Games
  215. Mialdian Press
  216. Micro Software Design
  217. Middle-earth Games
  218. Midgard USA, Inc.
  219. Midnight Games
  220. Midnight Sun Games
  221. Mindgate
  222. Mindless Games
  223. MindShift Design LLC
  224. Mitregames
  225. Monastic Software
  226. Nebula Star Productions
  227. New Dawn
  228. Nevanis Games, Inc.
  229. Nevaris Games, Inc.
  230. NLT Enterprises
  231. NoGate Consulting
  232. Norman Conquest Games
  233. Northwest Simulations
  234. Nostromo Games
  235. Nova Games
  236. Octagon
  237. On-Paper Baseball
  238. Opcon Games
  239. Oplon Games
  240. Orion Games
  241. Orpheus Publishing Corp.
  242. Outerquest Simulations
  243. Outlander Software
  244. Outremer Games
  245. Pace PBM Simulations
  246. Pagoda Games
  247. Palace Simulations
  248. Paper Tigers
  249. Paspa Games
  250. Patrick Price
  251. PBM Adventures
  252. PBM Enterprises
  253. PBM Express
  254. PBM Games
  255. Pegasus Productions
  256. Pent Alpha
  257. Perseus Arm Enterprises
  258. Peter Mackay
  259. Pfodd Enterprises
  260. Piranha Games
  261. Phildee Enterprises
  262. Play By Electron Games
  263. Play By Mail Sports
  264. Post-It Games
  265. Post Age Games
  266. Prime Time Programming
  267. Prime Time Simulations
  268. Psi-Decay Games
  269. Quail Canyon Systems
  270. Quest Games, Inc.
  271. R3 Games
  272. Rampage Games
  273. Randy Gillette
  274. Reality Simulations, Inc.
  275. Rebel Enterprises
  276. Rebel Games
  277. Red Talon Gaming
  278. Rolling Thunder Games
  279. Roma Games
  280. Round Table
  281. Roy C. Rae
  282. Sandgroper PBM
  283. Sandlot Sports
  284. Sar-A-Kan Games
  285. Sardarthion Press
  286. Saul Betesh
  287. Sceptre Roleplaying
  288. Schubel & Son, Inc.
  289. Scoresheet Sports
  290. Scott Bowyer
  291. SE Technologies
  292. Sevenstar Games
  293. Shadow Island Games
  294. Sherwood Games
  295. Shrewd Expanse
  296. Silvius & Berchtold
  297. Simcoarum Systems
  298. Sinbad's Games
  299. Sloth Enterprises
  300. Slow Motion Games, Inc.
  301. Smokey Mountain Strategies
  302. Soccer By Mail
  303. Soccer Star
  304. South Bay Games
  305. Spellbinder Games
  306. Spyder Games
  307. Starlord
  308. Starry Knight
  309. Stat-Sports
  310. State of Mind Games
  311. Stephen Phillips
  312. Steve M. White
  313. Strategic Fantasy Games of Australia
  314. Sudden Asylum
  315. Summit PBM
  316. Superior Simulations
  317. Supernova Games
  318. Synchronicity, Inc.
  319. Talisman Games
  320. Tempus Fugit PBM Productions
  321. Tertium Games
  322. Terry Crook
  323. The Barons Australian Midgard
  324. The Baron's Regime
  325. The Dukes of Hell
  326. The Game Anvil
  327. The PBM Locomotive Srl
  328. Third Foundation
  329. Throne Enterprises LLC
  330. TimePatterns PBM Games
  331. Time Space Simulations
  332. Timewyrm
  333. Titan PBM
  334. Total Simulations, Inc.
  335. Treesahran Industries
  336. Triad Simulations
  337. TribeNet
  338. Tudor Games
  339. Twin Engine Gaming
  340. Undying King Games
  341. Union West
  342. Vengeance Games
  343. Vigard Simulations
  344. Village Computer Games
  345. Viking Games
  346. Vorpal Games
  347. Vortex Simulations
  348. Wanderer Games
  349. War College Simulations PBM, Inc.
  350. Warlord Strategic Gaming
  351. Warrior Games
  352. Waveney Games
  353. Whitegold Games
  354. White Lion Enterprises
  355. World Games
  356. WoW Games
  357. Wraith PBM
  358. Yellowseed Games of Canada
  359. Zan Erskine
  360. Zen Games
  361. Zephyr Enterprises, Inc.
  362. Zorph Enterprises

Other Wikis

Alamaze Wiki

External links

Suspense & Decision issue 1.

PlayByMail.Net
PlayByMail.Net Facebook page
Galactic Prisoners fan site
OlyWiki (Wiki for Olympia)
The Hyborian Tome