News from SPUK Back in July 1976 we printed Normandy, Sinai and Seelowe as an experiment to see whether or not the UK market would absorb a larger number of games than had hitherto been the case. These games were initially offered at a very low cost and sold famously for the duration of that offer. After the termination of the offer, all three titles continued to outsell imported games and, suitably encouraged, we went on to print 'Outreach' in January. As regular readers will know, we had a bad time with this production. The verdict on physical quality was 'below' SPI standards on the counters but acceptable. Despite the slight drop in counter quality, you have bought more 'Outreach' in a four month period than you did 'Sorcerer' (the best selling imported game) in a twelve month period. The main bitch with 'Outreach' was the counters. This problem has been overcome with the help of SPI who have agreed to supply us with counter sheets for those games that we do produce over here. All other components will be manufactured in the UK and in time we will overcome the production problems with the counters and have them manufactured here also. As you will see from the various special offers dotted throughout this issue, our production has now got into full swing with 'Mech War'77'/'Star soldier'/'Sniper'/'Dreadnought' now available and 'Sorcerer'/'Fulda Gap' available mid June. 'Star soldier' and 'Fulda Gap', being new titles, are not being put on offer. We have set ourselves a target of two titles per month up to September this year, after which a decision on further printing will be taken. However, if the response from you out there is good, there is no reason why we should not continue to produce games and bring prices back down on most of the range. With the arrival of Moves 30, our subscription postings got back onto schedule. S&T 60 went out March 19th and Moves 31 went out April 18th. S&T 61 has been delayed in the States but I am hopeful that they will still arrive in time to go out on schedule. New SPI games now in stock are 'Highway to the Reich', 'Wacht Am Rhine', 'Assassinate Hitler' (boxed with mounted map). Re released SPI games in stock--'Destruction of Army Group Centre' and 'Franco Prussian War'. New SPI games expected in by mid June are 'Battlefleet Mars', 'Conquerors'. 'War Between the States', 'Air War 78' and WWI Module are due mid July. 'War Between the States' is priced £13.00 boxed and £11.00 Z pack 'WWI Module' is £7.75 boxed and £6.75 Z pack. All other games as per our price list (see centre spread). Other new games expected in are 'La Bataille De La Moskowa' (Borodino: September, 1812) by GDW - eta mid June, price £13.70, 'Citadel' (The Battle of Dien Bien Phu) by GDW - eta mid June price £6.65 (please note that these prices may vary 10% either way - please phone for correct price before ordering. Fire & Movement Issue 5, price 90p - is now in stock. Non SPI games now in stock include 'African Campaign', 'War at Sea', 'Field Marshall' by Jedko. The arrival of 'Highway to the Reich' was delayed by problems with counter sheets. Apparently there was a hang up with the printing and cutting and the initial run had to be ditched. When the new batch was produced it was found that one or two of the unit counters had minor flaws in the die cutting and this on the full production run. SPI apologise for this unfortunate situation, however no information is lost on the counters and there is just nothing that can be done about this flaw now. Because of the counter re run, 'Highway' missed its scheduled shipment by two days. In the last issue of Phoenix I stated that Battleline Publications were to close down their operation. Stephen Peek, the President of Battleline, had intended to go to New York and work for SPI. This has now fallen through and Battleline will remain with us, a good piece of news I'm sure you will agree. In the wake of this resurrection comes an obituary. I understand that JagdPanther Publications have gone to the wall. Could it be that the paying cust omers agreed with the opinion expressed in Phoenix on the quality of JP games? I guess we'll never know. Despite the difference of opinion that I had with JP, I am truly sorry to see yet another gaming company disappear from the wargaming scene. Who knows, perhaps they will make a dramatic comeback in the near future. The Autumn Games Orgy is to be held on 7th, 8th and 9th October 1977 at the usual venue, the Ashley Hotel in Hale. Full details can be found in the centre spread. I realise that October may seem a long way off. However, bearing in mind the disruptive effect that Summer holidays have on most folks' planning, I felt that a good deal of forward notice would be in order on this occasion. In issue 6 I mentioned the possibility of putting a game into a future issue of Phoenix, this possibility has now become a probability. Game testing has been started, albeit in a low key on the game in question, and first impressions are favourable despite numerous rules omissions found in the prototype. If, as we hope, the designer comes up with an article on the development of the game, it could make for very interesting reading and help give UK gamers an insight into the workings of game development. On reading of the possibility that Phoenix may carry games, another local gamer has come up with a simulation to be tested at the Spring Games Orgy. At this point, I know absolutely nothing about this creation. I do know, however, that this gentle man is taking the possibility seriously as he has asked me to feedback two titles in this issue for your reaction, See feedback questions. I have been asked several times to publish a UK games rating chart in the Phoenix. Whilst I am not yet in a position to do this, I can give a list of the best selling games for the period 1st April 1976 to 31st March 1977. See below: SPUK Top Twenty Sellers 1. Sinai* 2. Seelowe* 3. Normandy* 4. Outreach* 5. Sorcerer 6. Starforce 7. West WalI Quads 8. Firefight 9. WWIII 10. Invasion America 11. North Africa Quads 12. Global War 13. Napoleon's Last Battles Quads 14. Fast Carriers 15. Mech War '77 16. Dreadnought 17. Kingmaker (Philmar) 18. War in the West 19. Panzer '44 20. Frigate * printed in the UK In that same period we moved 40,913 units, of which 2,338 (5.71% of the total) were non SPI games, and 17,592 were S&T subscription magazines physically despatched. The total of units moved in the previous year was in the region of 22,500.