News from S.P.U.K No sooner do we overcome one problem than another steps right up and hits us where it really hurts. This time it is a dock strike in the States. As of October 1st, all container traffic from the U.S. ground to a halt, and at the time of writing (1st November) this situation has not altered. I understand that the only seafreight coming out at present must use non-containerised ships and space on these is at a premium. I spoke to SPI yesterday and was advised that they hoped to get our S&T 64 shipment to us by the end of November, possibly through Canada. However, they do not yet have firm information and we at SPUK must just sit back and hope for the best. Normally, I would not attempt to write this column under these conditions since dates and circumstances are highly speculative. At this time of the year, however, Ray Bowden has a particularly heavy workload and it would be grossly unfair of me to add to his problems by sending him extra late copy. So I must soldier on and give you what little information I have. SPI have now obtained permission to go ahead with the production of their Lord of the Rings game. Regettably, their agreement with the copy right holders enables them to market the game only within the U.S. and Canada. We are unable to obtain supplies for distribution within the U.K. at present. SPI can accommodate direct sales to any mail order customer since, strictly speaking, an order received at their office is a sale concluded in New York. Should you wish to obtain a copy please write direct to the following address: Sales Department Simulations Publications Inc. 44 East 23rd Street New York, U.S.A. The games are available as follows: Middle Earth $20.00 + $2.00 p&p (approx. £14.0( inc. Bank Fees) War of the Ring $15.00 + $2.00 p&p (approx. £11.25 inc. Bank Fees) Gondor, the Siege of Minas Tirith $5.00 + $1.00 p&p (approx. £5.00 inc. Bank Fees) Sauron, The End of the Second Age $5.00 + $1.00 p&p (approx. £5.00 inc. Bank Fees). All four titles are scheduled for shipping Novembe 15th 1977. The estimated Bank Fees included are £1.50 in each of the above quotes. To send payment by international money order will cost you £3.00 per transaction, twice the estimated Bank Fees. As mentioned in 'Hotline', SPI have discontinued the supply of spare parts to us because of the considerable work and wastage involved. This in effect means that we also must discontinue our spares service forthwith on all imported games. We will continue to operate a spares service for all U.K.-printed games. On the subject of U.K.-printed games, our 1977 plans took a final (hopefully!) blow when the counters for NATO and WWII were caught up in the U.S. dock strike. These should have come to us the previous shipment but due to their workload, SPI’s printers were unable to meet the deadline for shipping. These two titles have therefore fallen behind schedule but should be in the post by the time you read this. To continue this chronicle of misfortune on receipt of our S&T 63 we discovered that the whole consignment had come without the separate feedback question sheet, a fact which did not escape those of you who normally return the feedback cards. It is standard practice for SPl's printers to supply a quantity of S&T, minus loose inserts, for U.K. distribution. This is done for reasons of economy. In most cases these loose inserts are of no interest to U.K. subscribers. Unfortunately, this time round we did miss out. By the time the error was discovered it was too late to do anything so once again we had to sit back and accept our fate. Now to enter into the realms of speculation. The following is a list of the latest E.T.A.'s on new games:- 'Air War '78' should be in the same shipment as S&T 64 as should 'Canadian Civil War' and 'Up Scope'. 'Road to Ruin' should be here late January. 'War in the Pacific' and 'City Fight' are expected late February 1978. Before ordering any of these I suggest you telephone us for up to date news on availability. On reading through the above I feel quite sad that the last 'News from SPUK' of the year should contain so much that is of a negative nature. Hopefully in 1978 lady luck will feel better disposed towards us. May I take this opportunity on behalf of all at SPUK and SPI to wish you all you wish yourselves in 1978.