Hotline... / Malcom Watson Comment: Please give advance notice of which games will appear in S&T. MW: Details on all projected SPI games, be they S&T games or otherwise, are given in each current issue of S&T under Outgoing Mail. It seems pointless repeating these in Phoenix. Comment: I have now seen places where I can get SPI games at lower prices than those of SPUK. MW: It is possible that some of our outlets will cut price to move old stock. However, I am not in a position to say more on this subject unless I have specific information. In other words what outlets? What games? What prices? Perhaps you would care to answer those questions so that I can look into your statement. Comment: Re remarks in 'Comments, Questions & Answers' about "fellow Scotsmen" etc., the money I saved on Mech War '77 and Panzer '44 and Sniper has induced me to get StarForce and Dreadnought which I would not normally have got as they are outside my main area of interest. MW: I am very happy indeed to see that our special offers are popular. That is exactly what they are intended to be. As you point out, our UK production is allowing gamers over here to get more for their money. If my flippant answer gave cause for offence, then I apologise. Comment: I miss the "Now Available from SPUK" advert. MW: Such an advert can only appear if we have something new to tell you about. When Issue 9 went to press there was a dearth of new goodies, hence no ad. Comment: Just how many orders do you get from Greenland, Albania, Iceland, Corsica Finland, Albania,Rumania, Albania, Bulgaria and Albania? MW: I guess this comment is aimed at the chapter and verse on the reverse side of our order form. Needless to say, we don't get so many from those areas but if you just happened to be a gamer living in Greenland, Albania, Iceland, Corsica, Albania, Bulgaria and Albania you'd be unhappy if we didn't give you details of the postal rates. Comment: Just a minor grumble re your adverts in Military Modelling for SPUK stockists. I have recently made journeys of 110 miles and 30 miles (220 and 66 miles round trip) to two separate shops on your list for the specific purpose of buying a game. One of these shops kept only one game in stock and the other three only. Naturally, I was a bit peeved! Why advertise if the shops aren't going to carry stock? MW: Why indeed? Since our stockists contribute towards these adverts one would expect them to carry goods to back up their claims.Without knowing which shops stand accused, I cannot give a firm answer. I would surmise that the offending shops took a trial order, publicised themselves, then decided not to follow through with further orders. Unless they instructed us to the contrary we would allow their advert to run to its conclusion. Perhaps you would care to advise me which shops vou visited so that I can look into the matter. In the meantime, if you decide to make any more pilgrimages, perhaps it would be as well to 'phone the shop first to ensure they have the game that you want to buy. Question: Will Strike Force One be made available to everyone and not just new S&T subscribers? MW: We started giving Napoleon at Waterloo as an introductory game and have now switched to Strike Force One. For reasons of economy we do not propose to send Strike Force One to established S&Tsubscribers. Economy apart, Strike Force One would almost certainly be wasted on an experienced wargamer and any such gift would probably end up in the bin. Comment: I would have appreciated receiving pp. 7, 8,13 and 14 (of Phoenix) instead of a double helping of 3,4,17 and 18. MW: That's what our Customer Service is for. If you get a faulty game or magazine from us then write for a replace ment. If you don't, then we cannot put matters right for you. Question: Is the (feedback) card compatible with events? (Panzer '44 and WWIII hopefully to be published in October, yet card must be in in October). MW: Usually the card is compatible with events but as you will recall our game production schedule went haywire for various reasons. By the time we had found out to what extent these games would be delayed the feedback section had been formulated, set and laid out. It just would not have been possible to amend the questions at that stage, hence the unanswerable question. Comment: Why not add a card or cardboard stiffener to Z-pack and Folio games..I wouldn't mind paying extra just to foil karate-mad postmen! MW: In response to this we have started sending Z-Packs and Folios out in the same packaging as boxed games. This may result in a delay on delivery (perhaps a day) as I believe the boxes are delivered by the parcel van instead of the ordinary postman. Question: How does one rate a news item? On the style, presentation or content? MW: Content Comment: I am a beginning to have doubts that SPI give SPUK the back-up and support in information that they deserve. SPI is good but is getting casual. It needs more competition. MW: We probably get better back-up than any other UK importer of wargames. Having said that, I agree that there is a communications gap, one which is not easily overcome when you are dealing over a distance of 3,000 miles. I speak to SPI about once per week and am usually kept up to date with most developments at that time but it is inevitable that something gets missed out. I believe this problem exists in all businesses with internal dealing as well as external. Question: Will you be stocking "Wargame Design" by S&T staff and how much will it cost? MW: Yes we will. Details are given in this issue's News From SPUK.