IS THERE ROOM FOR ONE MORE? A Review of Fresno Gaming Association's Boardgame Journal ========================================================= By Robbie Robberson ================ The wargaming hobby, not unlike other 'on-the-fringe' industries, has seen its share of explosions of growth, followed by inevitable stomach -churning crashes. If I am not very much mistaken, we have been experiencing another such growth, with several new companies appearing within the last year or so, all offering their interpretations of what is quality and excellence. FGA is the most recent of these new arrivals, garnering a great deal of attention with splashy ads featuring games with computer art and eye-catching colors. With pre -publication games selling at a clip (at least according to FGA's postings on GEnie's bulletin board for wargamers) it was only a matter of time before a 'house organ' appeared on the assembly line with other products coming from the raisin capital of the world... OVERVIEW AND PHYSICAL COMPOSITION The magazine, 'Boardgame Journal', comes in a 64-page, stapled format. The paper is non-glossy, with black print on white background. Paper quality is good, and should last up to moderate handling. Color is present, with front and back outside covers done exclusively in color. The color appearing inside the magazine is almost all dedicated to FGA ads for their game line, with only one article receiving the color treatment ('The Road to Tokyo' column dealing with their game 'The Eagle And The Sun' on the Pacific War). The typeface, while nice and dark, is inconsistent. Some articles use a smaller type (due to the length or nature of the article, one would imagine) that would inflict on some of the older set of readers a case of eye strain. Artwork for the articles is on the sparse side; almost all are black and white photos that are grainy in appearance. If I didn't know better, I would have guessed that the art team clipped these photos out of newspapers from the 1940's (the dot resolution is that noticeable). What is probably closer to the truth is that these pictures were scanned into a computer with a hand-held scanner (at a resolution less than 400 DPI before being printed). Hopefully, the publishers will come up with a better way of transferring pictures to the printed page. All photographs came with captions, so there is no question in the reader's mind as to why that particular picture is appearing with the article. Layout is basically a two column format, with only a couple of related 'sidebars' or 'capsules' interrupting the flow of the layout. Borders are used to delineate or attract attention as desired without making the page look like a geometric exercise. The page has a good clean appearance, without the type appearing cramped or sparse. Advertising, while throughout the magazine, does not interfere with the flow of the articles, allowing the reader to finish his reading without having to skip pages to the back to avoid advertising, or for that matter, another article. Cover price is $5.00, with a one-year subscription at $24.00 and a two-year subscription at $42.00. Foreign subscriptions are higher ($56.00 and $70.00, surface and airmail, respectively). The magazine is looking for contributors and prospective authors should contact Fresno Gaming Association, 228 South Lind Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727 (209) 252-3867 for the particulars. CONTENT Boardgame Journal's table of contents lists several feature articles and two departments (I look forward to seeing the number of departments expanding). Before looking at these with a critical eye, let us examine the editor/publisher's philosophy and goals for the magazine, as put forth in the "Inside The Tower" department. As usual, there is a lengthy discourse on the people who make up the staff of FGA/Boardgame Journal and their backgrounds and qualifications. Getting beyond this, we finally read that Boardgame Journal will not attempt to cover the entire wargaming industry. I doubt that any magazine could cover the entire spectrum of any hobby, let alone one as diverse as ours. Still, it appears that BJ is going to try to cover almost everything. Other than the prohibition against publishing a game in the magazine and articles on miniatures, BJ has left the door open for 'anything' else as opposed to 'everything.' The staff has plans for historical articles, articles on game play (all companies' games, not just FGA products), hobby news, progress reports, military fiction and other related literary works, and to fill the gaps, reader's forum, letters to the editor and opponents- wanted ads. Whew!! Keeping in mind that this is a very small company that is churning out several games, one has to wonder where time is going to be found to turn out a quality product. Looking at the rest of the magazine, the reader is going to find a sincere effort at trying to make this work. The main article, "Peace With Honor," focuses on the effectiveness of the Allied blockade against Germany in World War I. Obviously the article is presented as a scholarly work, complete with hypothesis, evidence, and bibliography. Since the emphasis on these articles is to link with the wargamer's interest and viewpoint, I would hesitate to announce that this article really hit the bull's eye. I have no reason to doubt the author's credibility; I do wonder how interesting an article that deals with logistics can be in a period that has never had more than marginal interest in the hobby. Following the World War I article, we get to take a sneak peek at the FGA production line. The descriptions are brief, although there are some new titles that haven't appeared in previous ads (German invasion of Holland during WWII, 'Desperate Battles Quad', to name a couple). The column leaves much to be desired since we aren't given any idea of when to expect the games to be published, their current status, designer and/or developer, anticipated cost. A capsule at the bottom shows this column was actually a reprint from Lines Of Communication (August, 1991), so I have to wonder seriously whether this was thrown in at the last second to make that 64th page, or will BJ make a more serious attempt to develop this into a real periscope for the consumer interested in FGA products. The 'Road To Tokyo' department does give a better look at one of FGA's popular announcements, The Eagle And The Sun. As a lead-in, a sample full-color counter sheet is provided of Japanese carriers and naval aircraft. This is very eye-catching and should go a long way to encouraging those who are hesitant at putting down money for a game not published yet (And, FGA, from one who has bought two of those games, please use the sample aircraft in the magazine - they are great!). An interesting article follows on the complete list of Japanese carriers, including those that were converted from other types of ships, those that got only as far as having their keel laid, and those that only made it as far as the drawing board. Finally, a status report on The Eagle And The Sun appears with a look at the sequence of play, supply, search and combat. Unfortunately, this is altogether too brief for a monster game, but we are promised a continuation in the next issue. The other major article is an interview with a Viet Nam veteran, who patrolled the Mekong Delta in the 'brown-water' fleet, made infamous by the film 'Apocalypse Now'. The interview is informal and conversational, which unfortunately detracts from the theme of the interview as the conversation tends to drift off into other subjects and 'inside' jokes. A little judicious editing here could have kept the interest focused. The rest of the magazine is devoted to a potpourri of articles only distantly related to the wargaming industry. A short fiction article appears on two individuals involved in airborne operations in WWII, a view from both sides of the fence, if you will (We're promised a continuation in the next issue, but I think I'll wait for the movie). A reprint of comments posted to GEnie's Games RoundTable about FGA and their products shows up. More or less, this is akin to blowing their own trumpet, and while those who took the time and effort to post a comment about FGA are rewarded with seeing their names/handles in print, I doubt that those not privy to the world of computers, modems, and electronic bulletin boards are going to be reading the postings with any gusto. The magazine takes a bizarre turn (and for the worst, for those who do not define 'bizarre' as a negative term in their dictionary) with another compilation from the electronic medium. This time the subject matter is Jane Fonda and her trip to North Viet Nam. Apparently downloaded from Compuserve's Military Veterans forum, we are forced to read a long litany of charges against Hanoi Jane and her treasonous behavior against the United States and the POW's. While I am in perfect agreement with the articles' opinions, I am not sure of the connection between Fonda and wargaming. Or Fonda, and FGA, for that matter, unless the editor/publisher is finally getting his in licks. While the information provided would be a big hit at the local American Legion Hall, I regret to say that this article really left a sour taste in my mouth. The last place I wanted to see Jane Fonda mentioned was in a wargame journal. The author of the article (not the compilation) seems to be operating under the stream of consciousness effect, (or maybe that should be the stream of unconsciousness) that leaves one trying to figure out the real point that he is trying to make, other than that Jane Fonda is a hypocrite. The insult to the reader, and his pocketbook, is that this is the LONGEST article in the magazine, fifteen pages worth. I am sorry, but I can't justify almost 25% of a magazine dedicated to a topic that has nothing to do with wargaming or game publication, and only a tenuous link to military history. Thankfully, though the staff at FGA does have a keen sense of humor and willing to call them as they see them. While it was mentioned earlier that there is no intention of publishing a game in the magazine, a 'game' did slip into the pages, somehow. Titled 'A Shaky Line In The Sand', this is the most accurate game of Operation Desert Storm that I have seen to date. Of course, the point is the foolishness of trying to make a playable game out of the conflict (anybody volunteering to play the Iraqi side?), a point that would be very hard to argue against, given the result of the war. I can only hope that pointed humor will be an integral part of the magazine's future. One glaring error was the absence of player notes, commentary, errata, variants, scenarios, or reviews of the most recently released FGA title, Operation Crusader. I am sure that a great many buyers were looking forward to seeing more of this game within these pages, as well as those who were still undecided. CONCLUDING REMARKS... As you can gather from the proceeding, there is a lot of roughness to Boardgame Journal, not only at the edges, but at the core as well. That is not to say that BJ is a magazine to avoid. FGA has a need for a house organ and its customers certainly need an avenue of communication from and to the company. While FGA's attempts at providing almost everything to the hobbyist are laudable, it does not bode well when the attempt bogs down due to the enormous load it created for itself. I would advise the staff at Boardgame Journal to set a more realistic goal of what they are trying to accomplish: printing a successful magazine. If they are going to make mistakes, the first issue is understandable, even forgivable. And it is quite easy to fall into the trap of being perfect. It is far easier to produce what you are comfortable with, and have command of than overreaching and missing. The next issue should be devoted strictly to what is going on at FGA and what the consumer should expect. There are a great deal of historical magazines on the marketplace dealing with war and conflict; unless BJ somehow can nab the market share of other periodicals by being better, the exercise will be one of futility. By offering what other magazines cannot offer, Boardgame Journal will come into its own. *********************** CAPSULE COMMENTS ************************ Physical Quality: Adequate, considering the price. Art/Graphics: Good. Color on non-glossy paper never looked so good. Photograph resolution needs to be improved. Layout: Average. Not a lot of flash or glamour, but sensible arrangement here. Content: Below average. If you can get beyond 'Hanoi Jane', this magazine has a lot of promise - if they stick to what they know. Editing: Good. Typos and other errors at a minimum, although some may be put off at the down-to-earth prose. *****************************************************************