Are you a fan of rooting for the underdog? Do you enjoy classic and retro gaming? If so, this book is perfect for you! It delves into the world of play-by-mail (PBM) games, much like the young student from decades ago who had to stop using his lunch money to fund his passion for them. This obsession still exists today, and you’ll discover why.
You might think that unusual events are exclusive to PBM games, but think again! The PBM genre has witnessed pub fights, murders, bribery, blackmail, and even mail fraud—all outside of the games. It has also inspired dedicated players and sparked moral dilemmas during the 1980s. And the in-game scenarios are even wilder, featuring RPG dungeon crawls, space operas, wargames, gladiatorial combat, fantasy battles, and even “adult only” settings. It’s all covered in this book.
This exploration of the PBM genre reveals the limits of gaming—including the most prolonged, costly, and peculiar games, as well as the largest number of participants allowed in a single game. You’ll also learn about the games that are still played today and gain insights into the genre’s past and future.
Imagine this: every two weeks, you would jot down your orders on paper, send it to a gamemaster for evaluation—whether human or computer—and then wait eagerly by your mailbox for the results. Two weeks. For tens of thousands of people, it was the only multi-player gaming option available.
So keep championing the underdogs! If you’re a lover of classic and retro gaming, there’s plenty for you to enjoy here.
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Original article by www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com
