Ares (magazine)
Simulations Publications, Inc. had spent the 1970s building a reputation on military history wargames. That strategy shifted dramatically in 1977 when Metagaming Concepts released OGRE. This science fiction MicroGame became an enormous commercial success for its publisher. Other companies like Task Force Games and Chaosium quickly followed suit with their own microgames. SPI decided to develop its own line of science fiction microgames but took a bolder step. They launched Ares magazine in 1980 as a bi-monthly publication dedicated to science fiction and fantasy. The goal was to complement their existing Strategy & Tactics magazine which focused strictly on historical conflicts.
SPI published eleven issues of Ares before the company changed hands unexpectedly in 1982. TSR acquired Simulations Publications, Inc. during that year and released Issue 12 which had already been prepared by the previous owners. New ownership reduced the frequency from bi-monthly to quarterly production schedules. After Issue 17 appeared, TSR stopped printing the magazine as a standalone entity entirely. Starting with Issue 84 of Dragon magazine in April 1984, a section titled Ares began appearing within the larger publication. This section provided support for role-playing games such as Gamma World and Star Frontiers until July 1986. Game historian Shannon Appelcline noted that TSR turned away from SPI's original roleplaying game systems during this transition period.
Every issue of Ares contained a small science-fiction-themed board wargame alongside standard articles. Each package included a foldout stiff paper map designed for gameplay use. Players received a set of die-cut counters to represent units on the map. Rules accompanied these physical components to facilitate immediate play without additional purchases. The first issue featured a game called WorldKiller which utilized these materials. Later issues continued this pattern of including free games with every single release. The physical format remained consistent throughout the original run under both SPI and TSR management.
Jerry Epperson reviewed the first issue of Ares in The Space Gamer No. 28. He described the included game WorldKiller as a disappointment due to uneven quality. Epperson stated that readers should expect nothing but the best serious science fiction writing yet found only the worst from the games themselves. Hamish Wilson wrote about the magazine in Issue 26 of Phoenix where he praised the professional look of the first issue. Wilson felt the publication lacked form, shape, and direction despite its polished appearance. Greg Costikyan appeared in Fantastic magazine to criticize the same first issue. He called WorldKiller a dog and claimed it was simple and uninteresting with no complications to hold interest.
Michael Anderson launched a Kickstarter campaign in February 2014 to remake the old magazine as a new Ares. The funding goal proved successful within weeks of the launch date. The second issue of the revived series arrived in December 2015 for subscribers. A third issue followed in September 2016 while the fourth issue reached backers in January 2017. This revival effort brought the publication back after a thirty-year absence from print shelves. The project demonstrated continued demand for the format established by SPI decades earlier.
Common questions
When was Ares magazine first published by Simulations Publications Inc?
Simulations Publications Inc launched Ares magazine in 1980 as a bi-monthly publication dedicated to science fiction and fantasy. The company published eleven issues before changing hands unexpectedly in 1982.
What happened to Ares magazine after TSR acquired Simulations Publications Inc in 1982?
TSR acquired Simulations Publications Inc during 1982 and released Issue 12 which had already been prepared by the previous owners. New ownership reduced the frequency from bi-monthly to quarterly production schedules until TSR stopped printing the magazine as a standalone entity entirely after Issue 17 appeared.
How did Ares magazine differ from Strategy Tactics magazine in terms of content focus?
Ares magazine served as a bi-monthly publication dedicated to science fiction and fantasy while Strategy Tactics focused strictly on historical conflicts. Every issue of Ares contained a small science-fiction-themed board wargame alongside standard articles with foldout stiff paper maps and die-cut counters for immediate play.
Who reviewed the first issue of Ares magazine and what were their opinions on WorldKiller game?
Jerry Epperson reviewed the first issue of Ares in The Space Gamer No. 28 and described the included game WorldKiller as a disappointment due to uneven quality. Hamish Wilson wrote about the magazine in Issue 26 of Phoenix where he praised the professional look but felt the publication lacked form shape and direction despite its polished appearance.
When was the revived version of Ares magazine launched through Kickstarter funding?
Michael Anderson launched a Kickstarter campaign in February 2014 to remake the old magazine as a new Ares and the funding goal proved successful within weeks of the launch date. The second issue of the revived series arrived in December 2015 for subscribers while a third issue followed in September 2016 and the fourth issue reached backers in January 2017.