Ares Magazine numero uno. SPI (Strategic Publications, Inc.) launched the magazine in March of 1980. It was a companion to its older magazine, Strategy & Tactics. That magazine focused on standard wargames, Ares’ attention was on science fiction and fantasy (and, at least the issues I own, include quite a bit of fiction). Every issue of both included a cut-and-play wargame. I think that is cool, even if none of my issues still have the wargames. Which is just as well, honestly, most of this sort of cut-and-play game I’ve encountered in Space Gamer and Dragon aren’t really to my taste.

Not that SPI’s regular games are to my taste either. However! Art director Redmond Simonsen was an absolute monster when it came to graphic design. LOOK AT THAT COVER. It is fairly representational of SPI’s overall aesthetic – powerful visual featuring unusual composition, bold font choice, warm palette. SPI often had excellent artists on tap, too. This one is by legendary comic artist Howard Chaykin. So, yea, I can’t speak for the game, but I am definitely here for the art. (Fun fact: Simonsen coined the term “game designer.”