Review: The PBM Report Preview From: srt@aero.org (Scott Turner) Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 00:00:00 +0000 The PBM Report is a new paper publication covering PBM gaming. Unlike Paper Mayhem and the apparently-defunct American Flagship, which feature in-depth reviews and long strategy articles, PBM Report's format features mini-reviews and short news articles. This issue was a shortened "preview"; regular issues should be 8-10 pages, with (it appears) about 3-4 articles per page. Ken Mitchell (who posts here as KMGraphiks@aol.com) is the motivating force behind the new publication. It's hard to judge a publication based on a couple of pages, but I liked the look and content of what I saw. Unlike many "niche" publications, the PBM Report has excellent graphics, typography and layout (although a gratuitous "Stop the Presses" drop-in obscured a portion of one article). Ken's a graphic designer and it shows. With the advent of cheap PCs and laser printers, amateur publications have flourished, but usually lacking in style or graphic layout, so it's nice to see a small publication that looks professional. I also like the short article format. Fanatic devotees of one game or another probably enjoy lengthy articles about their favorite games, but as for me, I can get most of what I want to know about a game out of the first 4-5 paragraphs. I'm more interested in hearing that level of detail about 30 games than I am three lengthy articles about three games. So PBM Report works well for me in that respect. However, it would be nice to have 1 long article to "anchor" each issue. I imagine a magazine which had one long article on, say, "The Challenge of Fantasy Wargame PBMs" which discussed fantasy wargames in general, followed by 20 short reports on actual games in that genre. That would be quite interesting, and maybe we'll see PBM Report move that way eventually. PBM Report costs $15 for six issues, payable by check or money order to Ken Mitchell Graphics, 3508 Ashwood Dr., Urbandale, IA 50322-3028. The first full issue is scheduled for August 15th. -- Scott T. Referenced By Up