Simulations Publications, Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Board wargames, role-playing games, magazines |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | James F. Dunnigan, Redmond A. Simonsen |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Fate | Assets acquired by TSR in 1982; trademarks and copyrights acquired by TSR in 1983; operations ceased by 1987 |
| Successor | TSR (for assets and trademarks) |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | International (including UK via subsidiary) |
Key people | James F. Dunnigan (founder and executive leader), Redmond A. Simonsen (art director) |
| Products | Board wargames, magazines (Strategy & Tactics, Moves, Ares), role-playing games (DragonQuest, Universe) |
Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) stood as a prominent American publisher specializing in board wargames and associated magazines throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, with its most renowned publication being Strategy & Tactics. Established in 1969 by James F. Dunnigan alongside Redmond A. Simonsen, SPI transformed the wargaming sector by releasing numerous groundbreaking titles and directly competing with the then-leading Avalon Hill. Financial strain culminated in a loan default to TSR in 1982, resulting in TSR's seizure of SPI's assets. The following year, TSR acquired SPI’s trademarks and copyrights, continuing some of its operations until 1987.
Foundation and initial phase
James F. Dunnigan, who played a pivotal role as SPI’s founder and executive leader, entered the wargaming field following his military background and contributions to Avalon Hill’s The General magazine. After designing titles such as Jutland (1967) and 1914 for Avalon Hill, Dunnigan sought to implement a novel publishing approach aimed at improving game production efficiency. He recruited collaborators including Al Nofi and art director Redmond A. Simonsen and procured the struggling Strategy & Tactics magazine to serve as the cornerstone of SPI’s offerings.
SPI set itself apart by including fully developed wargames—complete with maps, rulebooks, and counters—with every issue of Strategy & Tactics, thereby increasing subscriber value. Early on, aggressive marketing strategies like full-page advertisements in Scientific American significantly boosted subscriber numbers. The accessible game Napoleon At Waterloo was employed strategically as a promotional vehicle to expand market presence.
To complement the evolving Strategy & Tactics, which transitioned into a military history publication featuring an integrated game, SPI introduced Moves in 1972 as an internal newsletter that provided updates on current and forthcoming SPI products alongside design commentary.
International growth commenced in 1974 with UK distribution managed by J.D. Bardsley through SP/UK, achieving sales of 25,000 units by 1976. This success prompted the creation of Simpubs Ltd., SPI’s British subsidiary, which published the bi-monthly magazine Phoenix, thereby enhancing SPI’s international footprint and market position.
Expansion and commercial achievements
During the early 1970s, SPI’s initial game releases were modest in presentation, commonly packaged in envelopes containing single-color maps and basic rule sheets. Under Art Director Redmond A. Simonsen, component quality was elevated in 1973 through the introduction of flat plastic boxes equipped with molded trays for counters and transparent covers. This packaging innovation enabled mass production using interchangeable printed cover sheets, becoming a hallmark of SPI products and later adopted by competitors such as Simulations Canada.
SPI utilized a distinctive market research strategy by surveying subscribers of Strategy & Tactics to inform game development decisions, thereby enhancing commercial viability. Beginning with small to medium-scale wargames, the company expanded into intricate historical simulations including titles like War in the East, War in the Pacific, The Next War, Terrible Swift Sword, and Campaign for North Africa. The latter was particularly notable for its extreme detail and extensive components, though it was criticized for limited playability.
To broaden its catalog, SPI released 'folio' games—compact titles often sold individually or grouped as "Quadrigames" consisting of four related battles sharing common rules alongside individual supplements—catering to varying player interests. Their product line covered strategic, operational, and tactical levels of warfare, featuring popular tactical games such as Sniper!, FireFight, and Air War, which were later reissued by TSR.
Moving beyond strictly historical subject matter, SPI developed hypothetical conflict scenarios like World War III and Invasion: America, while also exploring fantasy and science fiction genres with games such as Starforce: Alpha Centauri and the Tolkien-inspired War of the Ring. This genre diversification coincided with the launch of the magazine Ares, which showcased new sci-fi or fantasy games in each edition. Additionally, SPI entered the role-playing game arena with titles like DragonQuest and Universe, positioning itself against established franchises such as Dungeons & Dragons and Traveller. Reflecting this wider scope, SPI rebranded from focusing solely on "Wargaming" to embracing "Adventure Gaming."
Decline and Acquisition of Assets by TSR
In 1980, SPI sought to expand its reach by collaborating with Lorimar Productions to develop the Dallas RPG, inspired by the popular television soap opera. Unfortunately, the game did not perform well commercially; founder Redmond Simonsen later revealed that almost all of the 80,000 printed copies remained unsold.
In an effort to leverage the gaming market boom of the late 1970s, SPI attracted venture capital investment but encountered disappointing financial outcomes—while sales increased, profits declined. Initial merger discussions with Avalon Hill collapsed due to SPI’s growing financial losses caused by inflation and shrinking revenues. Although Avalon Hill purchased five SPI titles, providing some operational relief, additional capital was still required.
SPI obtained a promissory note loan from TSR, known for publishing Dungeons & Dragons, secured against SPI’s assets. This loan was used to repay venture capital investors, leaving SPI with limited liquidity. Within a fortnight, TSR demanded repayment; unable to meet this demand, SPI relinquished its inventory to TSR in early 1982 and subsequently halted operations. TSR announced it had acquired SPI but later clarified that only SPI’s assets were obtained—not its liabilities—thus sidestepping responsibility for SPI’s debts. This maneuver negatively impacted TSR’s reputation among consumers.
Consequences
TSR capitalized on SPI’s intellectual property by publishing completed but previously unreleased games such as Battle Over Britain and Richard Berg’s A Gleam of Bayonets: The Battle of Antietam. They also reintroduced several popular mid-1970s SPI titles like Air War, Blue & Gray: Four American Civil War Battles, and Napoleon's Last Battles under the TSR label. However, TSR discontinued all new game development originating from SPI; many prominent designers departed to join Avalon Hill’s newly established subsidiary, Victory Games.
TSR soon identified the collapse of the early 1980s wargame market as a fundamental factor behind SPI's downfall and progressively reduced its own wargame production. By 1987, TSR divested the rights to Strategy & Tactics magazine to 3W.
From 1988 onward, Decision Games, based in California, has held the rights to most of SPI’s back catalog, continuing the tradition of offering these products and services within the gaming industry.
Awards
- Charles S. Roberts Award, Best Professional Magazine: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 – Strategy & Tactics
- Charles S. Roberts Award, All Time Best Fantasy Board Game (1977): War of the Ring
- Charles S. Roberts Award, Best 20th Century Game: 1978 – To the Green Fields Beyond; 1979 – City-Fight
- Charles S. Roberts Award, Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Game (1979): The Creature That Ate Sheboygan
- H. G. Wells Award, Best Roleplaying Rules: 1979 – Commando; 1980 – DragonQuest
- Charles S. Roberts Award, Best Pre-20th Century Boardgame (1980): Empires of the Middle Ages
See also
Bibliography
- 1977: Wargame Design: The Evolution, Production, and Application of Conflict Simulation Games ()
- 1977: War in the East: The Russo-German Conflict 1941–45 ()
External links
- SPI Compendium by Greg Costikyan (a comprehensive catalog of games and magazine issues)
- A Farewell to Hexes authored by Greg Costikyan
- 1969 establishments in New York City
- 1982 disestablishments in New York (state)
- American companies established in 1969
- American companies disestablished in 1982
- Publishing companies established in 1969
- Publishing companies disestablished in 1982
- Board game publishing companies
- Defunct companies based in New York City
- Role-playing game publishing companies
- Wargame companies
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment