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SPI - Post-TSR Buyout
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SPI - Post-TSR Buyout

Jake Jaquet, Dragon Magazine editor, describes how SPI was acquired by TSR in issue 64 (August 1982):

"In issue #61 of DRAGON™ Magazine, we quoted from a press release issued by Simulations Publications, Inc. (which we will call Simulations for brevity), that stated that TSR Hobbies, Inc., had "initiated a legal and economic chain of events to purchase SPI." In actuality, no purchase occurred. Hopefully the following information will set the record straight and dispel the many rumors currently circulating.

For the past several years, Simulations had been in increasing financial difficulties. The crisis came this past Christmas season, which for a variety of reasons was particularly bad for Simulations. It borrowed large sums of money from a group of three investors. By the end of January, however, most of the work on new products had come to a halt at Simulations and by March the company sought financial relief in the form of someone who might again lend money to, buy, or acquire, Simulations.

TSR was one of the companies approached by Simulations. TSR loaned Simulations about one-half million dollars to continue operations, and Simulations offered as collateral for the loan its copyrights to games, magazines and its trademarks. In April, Simulations totally collapsed. TSR, in an attempt to recover some value for its secured loan upon which Simulations defaulted, acquired Simulations' titles through asecured debt foreclosure. TSR did not acquire any of Simulations' liabilities, including unfulfilled magazine subscriptions. More on this topic in a moment.

TSR, which essentially substituted itself for other secured creditors of Simulations who were unwilling to keep their money at risk with Simulations, originally intended to work with Simulations, broadening its distribution network and revitalizing the company. Unfortunately, as final preparations forTSR's involvement were being made, the design staff at Simulations left to form a new game company. Thus, by the time TSR had the right to continue producing SPI-brand games and magazines, the staff had departed.

Despite the major setback of the loss of the design staff, TSR intends to continue to produce SPI-brand games and magazines. New games that were in various stages of completion, such as BATTLE OVER BRITAIN and ANTIETAM, will be published as soon as they are complete. TSR will continue to publish the most popular of the SPI-brand line of games. In the near future TSR hopes to renovate some of the older, out-of-print games by adding more color to the maps and counters and perhaps reworking the rules.

TSR Hobbies, Inc., through its Dragon Publishing division, will continue to publish STRATEGY & TACTICS and ARES magazines. MOVES magazine will be discontinued as a separate publication, but its most popular features will be incorporated into S&T to make the magazine the most comprehensive historical gaming magazine on the market. Former subscribers to these three publications will be receiving letters from TSR in the next few weeks detailing their status and TSR's plans. The rights to the FOR YOUR EYES ONLY newsletter have been sold to Tiger Publications, P.O. Box 3012, Amarillo, Texas. (Former subscribers and/or interested parties may wish to contact the new publisher, Steve Cole, directly.)

Hope this clears the air."

Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat Game [BOX SET]
CONTENTS:
• one 48-page rules booklet
• two 16-page supplements
• one 56-page chart booklet
• eight 8 1/2"x11" maps
• one plastic counter tray
• four player aid cards
• 700 die-cut counters

"Air War is a unique, ultra-complex simulation of almost every facet of modern aerial combat. Included are thirty of the most important aircraft types to emerge since 1952 from the Soviet Union, United States, Great Britain, France, Israel, and other nations.

Players do battle in historical scenarios from the Middle East to Vietnam, from Korea to India-Pakistan, and in various hypothetical scenarios that include World War Three..."

1983 ... TSR 2670 ... ISBN 0394548191

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Spies: Multi-Player Game of 1930's Espionage [BOX SET]
CONTENTS:
• 1 22x34" map
• rules booklet (4 pages)
• 1 11x17" display
• 1 counter tray
• 200 counters

"In this intriguing game of espionage, two to five players represent five major European nations in the 1930's as they compete amongst themselves to discover highly-guarded government secrets. Players mover their spies on a colorful map of Europe while deploying their police to prevent opponents from succeeding. Assorted full color counters represent not only the spies and state security police, but the secrets, recruits, double crosses, assassinations, covers, and more. In addition, colored event cards, drawn by players indicate historical events that may influence player's success. Rules of play are short and allow play in no time at all. Ages 12 through adult."

1984 ... TSR 3014 ... ISBN 0394548256

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Firefight: Game of US/Soviet Tactical Combat [BOX SET]
COMPONENTS:
(2) 22"x34" maps
(1) 20 pg rules booklet
(1) 20 pg data booklet
(1) counter tray
400 die cut counters

"Gl Joe versus Ivan. What if the U.S. and U.S.S.R. met in a conventional war? FIREFIGHT uses the arsenals of the two countries to test the players' skill in tactical deployment and the use of combined arms systems. The game highlights the dynamics of today's battlefields and includes an intensive survey of battlefield tactics and doctrine.
In this tactical-level game, players maneuver color ful cardboard counters on two beautifully illustrated maps of Western Europe. These colorful counters represent the infantry fireteams, armored personnel carriers, and tanks both sides would use in combat during the 1980s. Additional counters represent the smoke, wrecks, mines, and improved positions likely to be found on a modern battlefield. A hexagonal grid superimposed upon the map regulates deployment, movement, and battle engagement of the playing pieces. The roll of a die on simple probability charts determines each combat's outcome. With a minimum of effort, the well-organized rules booklet (with illustrated examples) prepares the player for action."

1984 ... TSR 01370 ... ISBN 0880381426

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The Twilight War: Game of French Resistance, 1944 [BOX SET]
COMPONENTS:
• (1) 22" x 34" map
• (1) 12 pg. rules booklet
• (2) six-sided dice
• (1) counter tray
• 100 event tiles
• 200 die-cut counters

"In TSR's new game of the French Resistance, players represent German occupation forces, French partisans and Allied invasion forces. The full-color map of Northern France illustrates the cities, towns, rail lines and invasion areas. Colorful counters representing partisan teams and commandos elude German army and armor divisions, sabotaging rail and communication lines. Gestapo units can interrogate suspects for more information. Randomly drawn cards represent the agents' characteristics, different Allied Invasion plans and decisions of the German High Command. Simple probability charts determine outcomes such as combat and interrogation, to name a few. Vive la France! For ages 12 through adult."

1984 ... Mark Acres ... TSR 3005 ... ISBN 0880383593

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Cobra: Game of the Normandy Breakout [BOX SET]
COMPONENTS
(2) 22"x33" maps
(1) 16 p rules booklet
(2) six-sided dice
(1) counter tray
400 die-cut counters

"Hitler had said of the Atlantic Wall, "No power on earth can drive us out of this region against our will." But Hitler hadn't counted on a power made up of 176,475 men, 20,111 vehicles, 1,500 tanks, and 12,000 planes.
From D-Day to the break-out, the COBRA™ game allows you to play out the Allied invasion of Normandy and the break-out from the peninsula in one complete, expanded game. This second edition of the COBRA game features new versions of the original COBRA map and playing pieces, a 16-page rules booklet, and the EXPANSION SET, which features a second full-color map and 200 new playing pieces. From June 6 to August 23, the COBRA game recreates one of the most daring and dramatic battles of World War II. The beaches are waiting."

1984 ... TSR/SPI 3010 ... ISBN 0880381159

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World War II: European Theater of Operations Game [BOX SET]
COMPONENTS:
• two 22"x34" maps
• rule booklet (32 pages)
• two Player Aid Cards
• counter tray
• 800 counters (2 bifold sheets)

"The WORLD WAR II grand strategic game covers the European Theater of Operations and the Middle East from 1939 to 1945, with special scenarios for the blitzkrieg in Poland, France, and Russia. The game provides special rules for armored attack, air and naval operations, strategic warfare, production, and army group command. The WORLD WAR II game captures the epic sweep of national fortunes on a month-by-month basis. Sharp reversals of fortune are possible at any point as the operational initiative shifts from player to player. A multi-player option creates tension between the partners on each side. Optional rules recreate political situations faced by the major powers. Comes complete with 2 full-color maps and 800 die-cut counters. Ages 12 through adult."

1985 ... TSR 3013 ... ISBN 0394548248

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Moscow 1941: The Enemy at the Gates [BOX SET]
"In this operational level recreation of the battle for Moscow, the players maneuver colorful cardboard playing pieces on a four-color map of the Smolensk-Moscow area. These playing pieces represent the actual panzer regiments, tank corps, infantry divisions, and other units involved in the historical operation.
Additional counters represent headquarters and cavalry units, ski troops, fortifications, and partisan organizations. A hexagonal grid superimposed on the map regulates deployment, movement, and battle engagement of the pieces at a scale of 10 km per hex. The roll of two dice on a probability chart determines each combat's outcome. Unit type, supply situation and the current weather also affect the outcome of combat. Each game turn represents 4 days of combat, covering German and Soviet operations from October 1941 to the end of January 1942. In the MOSCOW '41 game, the players recreate the most decisive battle of the early war years."

1987 ... TSR 3023 ... ISBN 0880385103

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Sniper!: Game of Man-To-Man Combat, 1941-90 (2nd edition) [BOX SET]
COMPONENTS:
• (2) 22" x 34" maps
• (1) 32 p. Rules booklet
• (1) sheet of vehicles
• (1) counter tray
• 600 counters (1 bi-fold sheet, 1 half sheet)

1986 ... TSR 3019 ... ISBN 0880383321

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Hetzer Sniper [BOX SET]
Sniper! Companion Game #1

COMPONENTS
• (2) 22" x 34" maps
• (1) 24 p. Rules book
• (1) 16 p. Rules book
• (1) 8 p. Scenarios book
• (3) sheets of vehicles
• (2) six-sided dice
• (1) counter tray
• 400 die-cut counters

"HETZER expands the popular SNIPER! game system with an in-depth examination of man-to-man combat on the Western Front in World War II. Scenarios cover the German blitz of 1940, the Allied crawl up the Italian peninsula, and the furious fighting in the dense hedgerow country in northern France. Fighting vehicles are covered in great detail, with game statistics on over 40 tanks, trucks, halftracks, and armored cars. Players can select squads from seven nations, plus paratroopers, S.S., and volksgrenadiers. Campaign rules allow individual squads to fight their way through an endless series of battles, losing casualties and gaining experience along the way.

HETZER is a complete game; the SNIPER! game is not required to play HETZER."

1987 ... Steve Winter ... TSR 3022 ... ISBN 088038509X

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Sniper! Special Forces

Sniper! Companion Game #2

1988 ... TSR 3024 ... ISBN 0880385464

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Bug Hunter
Sniper! Companion Game #3
See also: Aliens

COMPONENTS:
• 11" x 17" maps (Double-sided (A-H)
• Sniper rule booklet (24 pages)
• Bughunter rules (16 pages)
• Scenarios book (8 pages)
• 400 die-cut counters (1 folding sheet)
• 2 cardstock sheets of cards, tables, displays and vehicles

"Bug Hunter. It's a dirty job. After the big one, when the Predators were broken for the last time, the survivors scattered to every stinking hellhole in the sector. They won't talk, they won't surrender; they just kill mean and die hard. And once in a while they take a ship.

BUG HUNTER takes the SNIPER! game of man-toman combat into the far future. On the fringes of galactic civilization lurk the unfathomable alien predators, the Preds, which kill without logic or warning.
Against them stand the marines of the Frontier Tactical Service, FRONTAC. Armed with an impressive array of the latest military hardware—pulse rifles, lasers, screechers, and plasma guns—the marines take the fight to the Preds wherever they are found.
Special rule sections cover hard vacuum and hostile atmospheres, space suits, air locks, Predator swarms, unknown weapon effects, variable Predator powers, crawlers and IVHE vehicles, ship self-destruct sequence and more.
FRONTAC is looking for a few good bug hunters. What about you?

This game stands alone; the original SNIPER! game is not required to play the BUG HUNTER actions herein."

1988 ... TSR 3026 ... ISBN 0880386029

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