One Small Step Games: Holy Roman Empire Boardgame Kickstarter Launched!‏

One Small Step Games: One Small Step Games launched its crowd-sourcing campaign today for Holy Roman Empire: A Multi-Player Game of the Thirty Year’s War, a political and military game of the 17th Century struggle for empire that plunged Europe into one ofits longest and most destructive wars.

“This is a remake of an essential classic on the subject,” says OSS Games’ Jon Compton, who worked closely with Holy Roman Empire’s designer, Mark McLaughlin, and graphic artist Antonio Pinar, who recreated the map, counters and cards.

“The game graphics are stunning,” says Compton of Pinar’s work, which is displayed throughout the game’s Kickstarter page. Original art by artist Jos Cabrera is also featured on the game box and the covers of several of the included books.

Holy Roman Empire originally appeared in a 1984 issue of Wargamer Magazine and was a Charles S. Roberts Best Pre-Twentieth Century Game Nominee that same year. In the game, up to six players control the major dynasties of the era, fielding armies, navies, and engaging in diplomatic intrigue and bribery to decide who will control Europe. OSS Games’ version includes two maps, a deck of 72 cards, 260 counters, a rule book, and a scenario book, which come in a box designed by Cabrera.

“Holy Roman Empire is a fantastic game,” says Compton. “If we make it through all of our stretch goals, it will be the largest game we ever produced.” The stretch goals include mounted maps, player mats, terrain tiles, and additional tactical and scenario books—all of which feature graphic art and illustrations by both Pinar and Cabrera. The campaign runs through April 13 so check the campaign now here!

Ares Magazine: GirlsGotGame Contest - Deadline Extended and Grand Prize Doubled‏

One Small Step Games: Mission Viejo, California (November 25, 2014) – One Small Step Games and Ares Magazine extended the deadline and increased the grand prize for the GirlsGotGame Design Contest, a competition that focuses on game designs by women.

“Since we launched the contest last month, we’ve received a lot of support and encouragement from people in the industry,” says OSS Games owner Michael Anderson, who decided to increase the grand prize to $200 and extend the contest through the holidays and to the end of January in order to give more women a chance to enter.

The Ares team hopes to publish a game from the contest in the fourth issue of the magazine. “Our plan is to highlight a number of science fiction and fantasy fiction stories written by women in the fiction line up for that issue,” says Executive Editor Carmen Andres. “Wrapping the magazine around a challenging and exciting game designed by a woman would strengthen the package.” Designers receive $1000 if a game is chosen for publication.

Designers are free to use any format and components they choose, but Anderson notes that the purpose of the contests is to find games to publish in Ares. Extra credit will be given to designs that use the components of games that run in the magazine. The contest runs until midnight January 31, 2015. If more than eight designs are received, a runner up will be selected to receive $25. Entrants are limited to women.

Contest information, component guidelines, and the online entry form are on the website of Ares Magazine. To enter the contest, select Game Design Contest #2: Girls Got Game under the Ares Online menu.

Ares Magazine: New Game Design by Women Contest Announced

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (October 7, 2014) – One Small Step Games and Ares Magazine launched the second in a series of game design contests today—this one focusing on game designs by women. The grand prize is $100—but if a game is chosen for publication in the magazine, designers receive $1000.

The contest runs for two months, ending on December 15. If more than eight designs are received, a runner up will be selected to receive $25. Entrants will be limited to women only for this contest. “While the gaming industry is remarkably inclusive, female game designers still face many challenges,” says OSS Games owner, Michael Anderson. “We want to support and bolster the participation and visibility of women in the industry.”

The magazine is hoping to publish a game from the contest in the fourth issue of the magazine. “Our plan is to include and highlight a number of science fiction and fantasy fiction stories written by women in the fiction line up for that issue,” says Executive Editor Carmen Andres. “Wrapping the magazine around a challenging and exciting game designed by a woman would strengthen the package.”

Designers are free to use any format and components they choose, but Anderson notes that the purpose of the contests is to find games to publish in Ares. Extra credit will be given to designs that use the components of games that run in the magazine. Anderson says more design contests are ready to launch after this one wraps up. “We’re looking at quest oriented games in the spirit of the classic Sinbad movies and then designs running along the lines of Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos,” he says.

Contest information, component guidelines, and the online entry form are on the website of Ares Magazine. To enter the contest, select Game Design Contest #2: Girls Got Game under the Ares Online menu. 

One Small Step Games: Content and Game Revealed for Next Issue of Ares Magazine‏

One Small Step Games: Mission Viejo, California (August 29, 2014) – With the premiere issue of Ares Magazine under their belt, One Small Step Games released more details about the content of the second issue.“The first issue is on the shelf, so it’s time to let our readers know what’s coming up next,” says editor-in-chief Michael Anderson.

The next issue features six original science fiction and fantasy stories and the second installment in the ongoing novelette The Fall. Summaries of each story will be released over the next few weeks on the magazine’s blog at www.aresmagazine.com.

Also included is an interview with voice actor Dino Andrade, best known for his villainous portrayals of Scarecrow in Batman: Arkham Asylumand the characters of Mimiron, Professor Putricide, and High Tinkerer Mekkatorque in World of Warcraft. Rounding out the issue is a science article exploring what it would take to build a space elevator by physicist Dr. Charles Adler, author of Wizards, Aliens, and Starships: Physics and Math in Fantasy and Science Fiction.

The second issue will also include CFS Quicksilver, a two-player game that takes place onboard a frigate-class starship in the not-too-distant future. One player controls the actions of the human crew while the other controls an alien infestation. “The object behind the design is to create a high-tension and scary game to play,” says Anderson.

The editorial team had originally considered including a Greek mythology based multi-player game, Born of Titans, in the second issue, but the development of CFS Quicksilver went faster than anticipated. “We had two great games—that’s one problem I don’t mind having,” Anderson says. “Ultimately, we decided that Quicksilver went better with the content in the second issue, so we’ll be running Born of Titans in a future issue.”

OSS Games aims to get the second issue into subscribers’ hands in November. In the meantime science fiction and gaming fans can buy the first issue at select comic books stores and online for $30. Subscribers can choose from a variety of options at www.ossgamescart.com, including a six-issue subscription for $120 and a new three-issue starter plan for $78. The site also provides options to purchase the game and magazine separately, and a digital version of the magazine is available on GooglePlay for $3.99.

One Small Step Games: First Issue of Ares Magazine Released

One Small Step Games: The 84-page first issue features nine original science fiction and fantasy stories, an interview with game designer and author Bruce Cordell, and an article on singularity written by best-selling science fiction author William H. Keith (who also writes under the pseudonyms Ian Douglas and H.J. Ryker). The flagship game included with the magazine is Bill Banks’ War of the Worlds, a two-player game of conquest and survival that pits the military forces of Queen Victoria against Martian forces under the command of the evil Martian overlord. The game includes a rule book, die-cut playing pieces, and a large map.

Production on this unique product launched after a successful Kickstarter in January earlier this year. Editor-in-chief Mike Anderson, who premiered the magazine and game at San Diego Comic-Con last month, is very happy with the result. “We faced some challenges in the printing process,” says Anderson. “We apologize for the delay, but as we’ve said from the beginning, we are more interested in doing the job right than doing the job now.”

The first issue is available for purchase at select comic books stores and online for $30. Subscribers can choose from a variety of options at www.ossgamescart.com, including a six-issue subscription for $120 and a new three-issue starter plan for $78. The site also provides options to purchase the game and magazine separately, and a digital version of the magazine is available on GooglePlay for $3.99.

Ares Magazine: Ares Magazine Hosts Game Design Contest‏

Ares Publishers: Mission Viejo, California (June 23, 2014) – Ares Magazine launched the first in a series of game design contests today. The grand prize is $100, but if the judges select a design to run in the magazine, the designer will receive an additional $1000.

The contest runs for 30 days, ending on July 23. If more than eight designs are received, a runner-up will be selected to receive $25. The theme of the first contest is horror. “The game should actually be as scary as a board game can manage,” says Ares’ Editor-in-Chief Michael Anderson. “How designers pull that off is up to them.

Designers are free to use any format and components they choose, but Anderson notes that the purpose of the contests is to find games to publish in Ares. Extra credit will be given to designs that use the components of games that run in the magazine. Anderson says the next design contest is ready to launch after this one wraps up. “It will focus on games designed by women,” says Anderson, adding that he hopes to include a game from that contest in an upcoming issue of Ares that will feature female authors. “After that, we’re looking at quest-oriented games in the spirit of the classic Sinbad movies and then design themes running along the lines of Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos.”

Contest information, component guidelines, and the online entry form are on the website of Ares Magazine. To enter the contest, go to here. 

 

Ares Magazine: Ares Magazine Contest Ends Saturday‏

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (May 28, 2014) – May 31 is the last day to enter a contest to win a free copy of SPI’s vintage Ares Magazine signed by bestselling science-fiction author Timothy Zahn, who wrote a short story featured in the 1983 issue.

The contest is sponsored by One Small Step Games and coincides with the premiere of the first issue of OSS Games’ Ares Magazine, which shares the same name as the vintage 1980s publication but is updated and streamlined for today’s reader and tabletop gamer. “Many of those who have shown support for our venture have fond memories of the SPI magazine,” says OSS Games owner and Editor-in-Chief Michael Anderson. “This contest is a way of both honoring the past as well as celebrating our vision for the future.”

The contest features issue #13 of the vintage science fiction and gaming magazine that was published in the early 1980s by SPI, a popular game publisher at the time. Zahn’s short story, “Damocles Mission,” appears in that issue. A drawing for the autographed copy will be held on June 1.

While Anderson appreciates the nostalgia for the vintage magazine, he is looking forward to getting his own magazine into the hands of subscribers. The first issue features nine original science fiction and fantasy stories, an interview with game designer and author Bruce Cordell, and an article on singularity written by best-selling science fiction author William H. Keith (who also writes under the pseudonyms Ian Douglas and H.J. Ryker). 

The issue also includes Bill Banks’ War of the Worlds, a two-player game of conquest and survival that pits the military forces of Queen Victoria against Martian forces under the command of the evil Martian overlord. The game also includes a rule book, die-cut playing pieces, and a large map. “The magazines are ready to go, but we are waiting on a component of the game,” says Anderson. “Once the printer delivers that, the whole package will be in the mail and on the way to our subscribers.” Contest information, rules and the online entry form are on the website of Ares Magazine. To enter the contest, go to the Ares website. 

Ares Magazine: Win a Vintage Magazine Signed by Best-Selling Sci-Fi Author

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (April 17, 2014) – One Small Step Games announced a contest to give away a free copy of SPI’s vintage Ares Magazine signed by bestselling science-fiction author Timothy Zahn, who wrote a short story featured in the 1983 issue.

The contest coincides with the premiere of the first issue of OSS Games’ Ares Magazine, which shares the same name as the vintage 1980s publication but proclaims a new vision—one updated and streamlined for today’s reader and tabletop gamer. The first issue of the science fiction magazine with a standalone tabletop board game in each issue comes out next month.

“Many of those who have shown support for our venture have fond memories of the SPI magazine,” says OSS Games owner and Editor-in-Chief Michael Anderson. “This contest is a way of both honoring the past as well as celebrating our vision for the future.”

The contest features issue #13 of the vintage science fiction and gaming magazine that was published in the early 1980s by SPI, a popular game publisher at the time. Zahn’s short story, “Damocles Mission,” appears in that issue. The six-week contest runs through May 31, culminating in a drawing for the autographed copy on June 1. People can increase their chance of winning through options like posting about the contest on social media and referring others to the contest. Subscribers to Ares Magazine, which launched after its successful Kickstarter in January, get an additional chance to win.

While Anderson appreciates the nostalgia for the vintage magazine, he is looking forward to getting his own magazine into the hands of subscribers. The first issue features nine original science fiction and fantasy stories, an interview with game designer and author Bruce Cordell, and an article on singularity written by best-selling science fiction author William H. Keith (who also writes under the pseudonyms Ian Douglas and H.J. Ryker). The issue also includes Bill Banks’ War of the Worlds, a two-player game of conquest and survival that pits the military forces of Queen Victoria against Martian forces under the command of the evil Martian overlord. The game also includes a rule book, die-cut playing pieces, and a large map. “All of that wrapped up and delivered to subscribers next month,” says Anderson.

Contest information, rules and the online entry form are on the website of Ares Magazine. To enter the contest, go to here. To subscribe to Ares, go to here.

Ares Magazine: Friday is last day to enter OSS Games Tabletop Day Contest‏

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (March 26, 2014) – The last day to enter One Small Step Games Tabletop Day Contest is Friday, March 28. The three week contest, which began March 7, celebrates gaming and International Tabletop Day’s worldwide effort to promote gaming and connect fans and publishers.

When someone enters, they get to choose from a list of seven OSS Games. The first six are sets of Millennium Wars, a strategic-level, two-player simulation of possible current and near-future conflicts including Ukraine, Iraq, Kashmir, Air War, Korea and America. Entrants can also choose the notorious Politics as Usual, a wild, multiplayer card game that lets players run the campaigns of their favorite candidates in a bid for the White House.

Winners will be chosen on Saturday, March 29. One winner of a Millennium Wars title will receive the Millennium Wars: Six-Pack, all six games in one package. Up to 10 winners of a Politics as Usualgame will also receive a Politics as Usual—Unusual Suspect Expansion set. 

For every 50 entrants, OSS Games is giving away one game. People can enter the contest up to four times through options like posting about the contest on social media and referring others to the contest. Subscribers to Ares Magazine, OSS Games’ latest project which launched after its successful Kickstarter in January, get an additional chance to enter.

Contest information, rules and the online entry form are on the website of Ares Magazine. To enter the contest, go to the Ares website.

Ares Magazine: OSS Games announces Strike Teams program‏

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (March 13, 2014) – One Small Step Games announced that they are accepting applications for OSS Games Strike Teams, select groups who will attend conventions and promote OSS games and Ares Magazine.

“We’re looking for people who are planning to attend gaming or science fiction conventions with a 1,000 or more in attendance,” says Michael Anderson, owner of OSS Games and editor-in-chief of Ares. “We can cover registration costs and provide convention kits for team members, who will distribute promotional material, run demonstrations, manage tournaments, and conduct raffles featuring OSS Game giveaways.”

The program developed after Anderson began receiving inquiries from people who wanted to be involved in Ares Magazine, which launched after its successful Kickstarter in January. “The program is way for supporters to be a part of the OSS team,” says Anderson. For more information or to apply, interested individuals can email Anderson at rules@ossgames.com.

Ares Magazine: OSS Games Contest to Give Away Loads of Free Games!‏

Ares Magazine: What games are you giving away? We’re giving one game away for every 50 people who enter. There are two limits. Only the first 10,000 entries will be processed and we will give away no more than 200 of any one title. It’s unlikely that we’ll reach either limit, but we need to let you know, just in case. 

Entrants may select any one of the six different Millennium Wars titles or our notorious Politics as Usual game. Millennium Wars is a series of strategic-level, two-player simulations of possible current and near-future conflicts. Interestingly, both the Iraq and Ukraine sets pre-modeled scenarios that played out in Iraq and are now playing out in the Ukraine.

Millennium Wars: Ukraine Millennium Wars: Air War 

Millennium Wars: Iraq Millennium Wars: Korea 

Millennium Wars: Kashmir Millennium Wars: America 

One lucky winner of a Millennium Wars title will receive, instead: 

Millennium Wars: Six-Pack -- All six Millennium Wars games in one cool package. 

Politics as Usual is a wild, multiplayer card game that lets players run the campaigns of their favorite candidates in a bid for the White House. Up to ten lucky winners of a Politics as Usual game will also receive a Politics as Usual — Unusual Suspect Expansion Set 

How does the contest work? 

We are giving away one game for every 50 entrants. When you enter, you get to choose which game you want if you win. If you choose a Millennium Wars game, you will be automatically entered to win the Six-Pack, which includes all six sets! If you choose Politics as Usual, you will be automatically entered to win one of ten expansion sets. You can earn up to four chances to win! Tell your friends, because increasing the number of entrants increases the number of games we give away! I can have more than one chance to win?! How?! 

You can get up to four entries in this contest: 

1. Enter yourself. 

2. If you tweet about our contest, post it on Facebook or post it on your blog, we will give you another 

entry. Just provide the URL to your tweet or Facebook or blog post when you enter. 

3. If you refer someone to the contest and they enter your email address on the form, you will get another entry!

4. Also, if you are an Ares Magazine subscriber, we will give you yet one more entry! 

How will I know if I win? And how do I get my game? 

Our contest runs March 7 through March 28 and winners will be selected on March 29. You will be sent a promo code by email along with instructions on how to retrieve your game at the One Small Step Games website. 

Will I have to pay for shipping? How much? 

Yes. Shipping charges are $4.00 for Domestic US and $8.00 for anywhere else. However if you are an Ares Magazine subscriber, we will ship your game for free. Subscribers have it so easy.  Shipping is free for subscribers to Ares Magazine? What’s that? Ares Magazine is the latest project of One Small Step Games, which was funded through a successful Kickstarter in January. Ares is a full-size science-fiction magazine that includes a ready-to-play board game in each issue. 

Readers can expect about 60 pages of new fiction with 20 additional pages of interviews, articles, and advertising. The magazine will come with a complete board game composed of a rule book, a few hundred die-cut playing pieces, and a large map. All that will be wrapped up and delivered to subscribers’ doors. An e-Reader subscription is available for customers who are interested only in the fiction. 

Will I get my game in time for Tabletop Day? 

That depends on the U.S. Postal Service. Most packages tend to take four or five days to go from one side of the coast to the other. We can’t guarantee you’ll get your game in time to play it for Tabletop Day—but we hope so! 

How do I enter? 

Visit the Ares Magazine website. Just complete the short Contest Form on the Store menu. 

Ares Magazine: Backers fund Ares Magazine Kickstarter!‏

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (February 3, 2014) – Backers pledged $26,185 to the Kickstarter campaign for Ares Magazine, sending the One Small Step Games project $1,185 over the goal in its final hours on Sunday. “Last night was amazing,” says OSS Games owner Michael Anderson, who is also editor-in-chief. “We learned a lot this month—not the least of which is that there are a lot of people out there who share our enthusiasm for this project. Our backers are our heroes.”

Anderson says the project team has already begun production for the full-size, science fiction magazine combined with a ready-to-play board game. The magazine has more than enough short fiction stories to fill the first issue, ranging from horror and fantasy to hard science fiction. Design details are being finalized for Bill Banks’ War of the Worlds, the flagship game. “We send the files to the printer in April,” says Anderson, “and it should ship to subscribers by May 1.”

Anderson says the project team has also begun work on the future issues, selecting stories and games. Submissions for games are being accepted on the magazine’s website. For those who missed getting in on the Kickstarter, OSS Games is offering pre-orders for subscriptions at reduced rates on its website.

Ares Magazine: Feb 2 is Last Day to Back Ares Kickstarter!‏

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (January 29, 2014) – February 2 is the last day for the Kickstarter campaign for Ares Magazine, a full-size magazine that will include 80 pages of fiction and other content that wraps around a pull-out and ready-to-play board game.

“It has been an exciting and stressful month,” says Michael Anderson of One Small Step Games, who is behind the unique magazine project. “We are encouraged by the response we have gotten so far and look forward to getting started with production.”

The magazine has received a large number of story submissions, more than enough to fill several issues. On Facebook and its Kickstarter comment page, OSS Games released examples of the stories it is considering, ranging from horror and fantasy to hard science fiction. They also provided a list of future game ideas, with settings on past and future Earth as well as worlds beyond the solar system.

The Kickstarter offers a variety of pledge levels, many of which are subscription-based, extending substantial savings over cover price. The campaign also provides fiction-only subscriptions plus many Canadian-only pledge levels, in which the price of shipping is less than that required for other international backers.

The Kickstarter campaign also offers various pledge levels featuring add-ons, some of which will only be available for Kickstarter backers. For example, a limited number of pledges of $750 or more will get a pledger’s caricature on a playing piece in War of the Worlds, the game included in the first issue.

Ares Magazine: Science Fiction Magazine Kickstarter Update

Ares Magazine: In the last couple of weeks, we’ve added several new reward levels--and we’re most excited about the addition of two subscription-based levels. The Ithacan gives pledgers six issues chock-full of quality science fiction wrapped around a unique board game for $120—that’s $60 off the cover price. The Athenian is for collectors: two copies of the first six issues for $235, which is $125 off the cover price.

We want to provide customers with a range of products to best suit their tastes, so we also offer pledge levels to allow separate purchases of the fiction magazine or the game. We pay all of our fiction contributors a fixed price per word. We have a small editorial staff that reads each story and assesses it on the bases of preferred genre, quality of writing, and originality. Two of our staff members have worked as staff on magazines, and one has worked on the staff of a newspaper. All of our editors are mad science fiction fans.

Game designs are paid for at a flat rate depending upon completeness and pedigree of the design. Ares Magazine is a project of OSS Games, which has almost two decades of experience in designing and marketing games.

Ares Magazine: Ares Magazine Kickstarter is live!‏

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (01 January 2014) – One Small Step Games launched its Kickstarter campaign today for Ares Magazine, a full-size magazine that will include 80 pages of fiction and other content that wraps around a pull-out and ready-to-play board game.

The Kickstarter campaign offers various pledge levels featuring subscription options and add-ons—some of which will only be available for Kickstarter backers. For example, a limited number of pledges of $750 or more will get a pledger’s caricature on a playing piece in War of the Worlds, which will be included in the first issue. OSS also released details about the flagship game by game designer Bill Banks: A two-player game of conquest and survival that takes about 60 minutes to play, War of the Worlds pits the military forces of Queen Victoria against diabolical Martian forces under the command of the evil Martian overlord.

The Martians have huge tripod walkers, flying saucers, death rays, missile bases, and giant monsters at their disposal. They can also elicit help from gullible human proxies. The humans rely on conventional infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and perhaps a hero for their defense. Fortunately, the human player may get assistance from a mad scientist who can field an Infernal Machine that the Martians won’t find amusing. The Martians have a choice of five different victory conditions. Part of the challenge for the human player is to determine the Martian overlord’s true objectives to thwart them.

As the project has developed, many recalled SPI’s science fiction and fantasy oriented game magazine published in the early 1980s. “We think it’s great that so many people remember SPI’s magazine, Ares,” says OSS Games’ Michael Anderson. “But we’re not SPI and it’s not 1983. We aren’t trying to recapture our teenage years and we’re not trying to clone a T-Rex. We have not come down with the nostalgia bug. We’re driven by something different. We have a vision. The vision is of a new product — one that makes sense in 2014.”

Anderson notes that readers now get much of the content of SPI’s magazine online. “Our magazine will focus on the fiction and the game at the expense of some of the other material that was fashionable during the Reagan administration,” says Anderson. Readers can expect about 60 pages of new fiction with 20 additional pages of interviews, articles, and advertising. The magazine will wrap around a complete board game, composed of a rule book, a few hundred die-cut playing pieces, and a large map. All of that will be wrapped up and delivered to subscribers’ doors. OSS will provide an e-reader version of the non-game content. “We hope you share our vision,” says Anderson.

The success of the Kickstarter campaign will put the magazine’s production into gear with a target mailing date of 01 May 2014 for the first issue.

Ares Magazine: Kickstarter Launch Within Four days

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California (28 December 2013) – One Small Step Games released a new trailer today in advance of its crowd-sourced funding campaign for Ares Magazine at Kickstarter, which launches next week.

The full-size magazine will publish bi-monthly and each issue will include 80 pages of fiction and other content that will wrap around a pull-out, complete, and ready-to-play board game. The two-minute trailer not only gives glimpses of what the magazine will look like but also reveals images from the game to be included in the first issue, War of the Worlds by independent game designer Bill Banks (Ancients, Imperator). 

The Kickstarter launches on 01 January 2014. The success of the Kickstarter campaign will put the magazine’s production into gear with a target delivery date of 01 May 2014 for the first issue. More information is available on the Ares Magazine website. 

Ares Magazine: Upcoming Magazine Launch Kickstarter

Ares Magazine: Mission Viejo, California – One Small Step Games announces a crowd-sourced funding campaign for Ares Magazine will launch on 01 January 2014. Ares is the latest project by Michael Anderson and his company, One Small Step Games.

“The big idea is to fill a void,” says Anderson, “a new magazine that combines a standalone, unique, playable board game in every issue with a collection of spectacular, new fiction.” The full-size magazine will publish bi-monthly and each issue will include 80 pages of fiction and other content which will wrap around a pull-out, fully stocked and ready-to-play board game.

Ares issued a call for short stories and secured enough material for the first six issues so far. The development of the first game—War of the Worlds by independent game designer Bill Banks (Ancients, Imperator)—is almost complete. Leading up to the campaign, Anderson assembled a team of professionals and personally funded the magazine’s development. The success of the Kickstarter campaign will put the magazine’s production into gear with a target delivery date of 01 May 2014 for the first issue.

Ares Magazine is offering advertising space at an 80% discount for the first issue. The prevailing discount will decrease 20 basis points with each subsequent issue. Early adopters will realize significant savings. More information is available on the Ares Magazine website. A Kickstarter promotional trailer is available under the Media menu.