Editing Play-by-mail game (section)

==Information sources==
[[File:Paper_Mayhem_Magazine_cover_logo.jpg|thumb|right|Logo of play-by-mail magazine ''[[Paper Mayhem]]'']]
Rick Loomis of Flying Buffalo Games stated in 1985 that the ''[[The Nuts & Bolts of PBM|Nuts & Bolts of PBM]]'' (first called ''Nuts & Bolts of Starweb'') was the first PBM magazine not published by a PBM company.<ref name=Loomis36>[[#Loo85|Loomis 1985]]. p. 36.</ref> The name changed to ''Nuts & Bolts of Gaming'' and it eventually went out of print.<ref name=Loomis36/> In 1983, the U.S. PBM magazines ''Paper Mayhem'' and ''Gaming Universal'' began publication as well as ''Flagship'' in the UK. Also in 1983, PBM games were featured in magazines like [[GAMES Magazine|''Games'']] and [[Analog Science Fiction and Fact|''Analog'']] in 1984<ref name=McLain85>[[#Mcc85|McClain 1985]]. p. 38.</ref> as well as Australia's gaming magazine [[Breakout (magazine)|''Breakout'']] in 1992.<ref>[[#Tho92|Thomas 1992]]. p. 21.</ref>

By 1985, ''Nuts & Bolts of Gaming'' and ''Gaming Universal'' in the U.S. were out of print. John Kevin Loth identified that, in 1986, the "three major information sources in PBM" were ''Paper Mayhem'', ''Flagship'', and the [[Play By Mail Association]].<ref name=Loth43/> These sources were solely focused on play-by-mail gaming. Additional PBM information sources included company-specific publications, although Rick Loomis stated that interest was limited to individual companies".<ref name=Loomis36/> Finally, play-by-mail gamers could also draw from "alliances, associations, and senior players" for information.<ref name=Loth43/>

In the mid-1980s, other gaming magazines also began venturing into PBM.<ref name=Loomis35>[[#Loo85|Loomis 1985]]. p. 35.</ref> For example, ''White Wolf Magazine'' began a regular PBM column beginning in issue #11 as well as publishing an annual PBM issue beginning with issue #16.<ref>[[#Whi88|White Wolf 1988]]. p. 2.</ref><ref>[[#Whi89|White Wolf 1989]]. p. 1.</ref> ''[[The Space Gamer]]'' also carried PBM articles and reviews.<ref name=Loomis35/> Additional minor information sources included gaming magazines such as "''[[Different Worlds]]'' ... ''Game New'', [[Imagine (game magazine)|''Imagine'']], and [[White Dwarf (magazine)|''White Dwarf'']]".<ref name=Loth43/> Dragon Publishing's [[Ares (magazine)|''Ares'']], [[Dragon (magazine)|''Dragon'']],  and [[Strategy & Tactics|''Strategy and Tactics'']] magazines provided PBM coverage along with Flying Buffalo's ''Sorcerer's Apprentice''.<ref>[[#Gra83|Gray 1983]]. p. 30.</ref> Gaming magazine ''Micro Adventurer'', which closed in 1985, also featured PBM games.<ref>[[#Edi85|Flagship Editors 1985]]. p. 44.</ref> Other PBM magazines in the late 1980s in the UK included ''Thrust'', and ''Warped Sense of Humour''.<ref>[[#Woo89|Woods 1989]]. p. 63.</ref>

In the early 1990s, Martin Popp also began publishing a quarterly PBM magazine in [[Sulzberg (Lower Bavaria)|Sulzberg]], Germany called ''Postspielbote''.<ref>[[#Fla92g|Flagship Editors 1992]]. p. 14.</ref>{{efn|The magazine was published in [[German language|German]].}} In 1995, ''Post & Play Unlimited'' stated that it was the only German-language PBM magazine.<ref>[[#Pos95|Post & Play Unlimited 1995]]. p. 29.</ref> In its March 1992 issue, ''Flagship'' stated that it checked ''Simcoarum Bimonthly'' for PBM news.<ref>[[#Bos92|Bost 1992]]. p. 9.</ref>{{efn|The editor, Bob Bost, noted that this magazine had mainly Simcoarum Games-related content, but also some broader PBM news.<ref>[[#Bos92|Bost 1992]]. p. 10.</ref>}} ''[[Shadis]]'' magazine stated in 1994 that it had begun carrying a 16-page PBM section.<ref>[[#Sha94|Shadis 1994]]. p. 47.</ref> This section, called "Post Marque", was discontinued after the March/April 1995 issue (#18), after which PBM coverage was integrated into other magazine sections.<ref>[[#Rod95|Rodgers 1995]]. p. 93.</ref>{{efn|''Flagship'' also stated in its January–February 1995 issue that Shadis's "Post Marque" section was about to be closed.<ref name="Browning95_7"/>}} In its January–February 1995 issue, ''Flagship's'' editor noted that their "main European competitor" ''PBM Scroll'' had gone out of print.<ref name="Browning95_7">[[#Bro95|Browning 1995]]. p. 7.</ref>

''Flagship'' ran into the 21st century, but ceased publication in 2010. In November 2013, online PBM journal ''Suspense & Decision'', began publication.<ref>[[#Sus13|Suspense & Decision 2013]].</ref>