Space Gamer began life as a paper magazine published by Metagaming Concepts in 1975. Steve Jackson Games took over publication with issue #27 (dated March/April 1980), and ultimately published 50 issues (plus six issues of spin-off magazine Fantasy Gamer). Issue #76, September/October 1985, became Steve Jackson Games' last issue before the rights to the name went elsewhere. Space Gamer covered all aspects of hobby gaming: RPGs, wargames, card and strategy games, and more. It also featured industry news and reviews. Although Space Gamer is still a great read in its own right, today it's also a fascinating look at an earlier era of hobby gaming.

All the issues of Space Gamer that were published by Steve Jackson Games are available digitally at Warehouse 23, including a bundle of all 50 issues.

Today's featured issue from the vault:

Space Gamer #45

Space Gamer #45 (November 1981)

Reading Space Gamer #45 (cover date November 1981) is like opening a perfectly preserved time capsule of the hobby's past – and the articles are fun to read, too.

In addition to the regular game reviews, news, and letters, this issue offers insight into the creation of Car Wars by Chad Irby (including useful hints); designer's notes for Grimtooth's Traps; a description and overview of GameMaster, an early play-by-modem computer-gaming company; a guide for how to write a good game review; and strategy tips for the classic play-by-mail game Starweb (much of which can apply to many different strategy games). It also includes more tongue-in-cheek gaming industry "definitions" – for example, a "classic" is "a game remembered a year after it was written"!

Whether you're a fan of old-school gaming or a historian of our hobby, each issue of Space Gamer is the perfect passport to the past!

See the sample!

The Vault
Space Gamer #27 - #36
#27 - #36 		Space Gamer #37 - #46
#37 - #46 		Space Gamer #47 - #56
#47 - #56 		Space Gamer #57 - #66
#57 - #66 		Space Gamer #67 - #76
#67 - #76