Tuff Stuff's Gamer Fall 1997 - 2 - X-Files CCG: Mention
Since the first issue of Gamer ap-
peared in the summer of 1995, part
of our mission has been to empha-
size the diversity of the collectible
card game genre. We've done all we can -
in our editorial coverage as well as our
price guide - to avoid looking like another
"Magic: The Gathering" magazine.
If you've taken note of our efforts in the
past, you'll soon realize that this particu-
lar issue appears to devote an
inordinate amount of space
to Wizards of the Coast. The
reason is simple: That com-
pany has been the biggest
newsmaker of the summer.
Between the company's ac-
quisitions of TSR and Five
Rings Publishing, the launch
of its Game Center in Seattle,
and the new "Magic" Van-
guard cards that will add a
new twist to the world's most
popular trading card game,
Wizards has emerged as the company to
watch in 1997.
peared in the summer of 1995, part
of our mission has been to empha-
size the diversity of the collectible
card game genre. We've done all we can -
in our editorial coverage as well as our
price guide - to avoid looking like another
"Magic: The Gathering" magazine.
If you've taken note of our efforts in the
past, you'll soon realize that this particu-
lar issue appears to devote an
inordinate amount of space
to Wizards of the Coast. The
reason is simple: That com-
pany has been the biggest
newsmaker of the summer.
Between the company's ac-
quisitions of TSR and Five
Rings Publishing, the launch
of its Game Center in Seattle,
and the new "Magic" Van-
guard cards that will add a
new twist to the world's most
popular trading card game,
Wizards has emerged as the company to
watch in 1997.
Still, we hoped to offer some minimal
balance in this issue with game reviews of
"The X-Files CCG" and "Dark Eden" and a
Strategy guide for Five Rings' new release,
"Dune: Eye of the Storm." Then Wizards
turned around and announced it was buy-
ing Five Rings - so much for diversity.
Rest assured, in the next issue you'll
see a return to the broad focus you've
come to expect from Gamer. That is, unless
Wizards suddenly decides to buy us, too.
OUR COVER
This issue marks a milestone for Gamer:
For the first time, our cover features an
image vou won't find on a game card. We
so enjoyed Doug Beekman's work on the
new "Dune: Eye of the Storm" CCG that we
commissioned him to paint a piece espe-
cially for our use.
I had the opportunity to chat with the
artist at the Origins gaming convention
in July. He was there to meet with indus-
try folks and to offer for sale some of his
paintings - including the one on our cover.
Beekman is a tall, beefy, bearded gent.
He's also very friendly and pleasant to
talk to.
balance in this issue with game reviews of
"The X-Files CCG" and "Dark Eden" and a
Strategy guide for Five Rings' new release,
"Dune: Eye of the Storm." Then Wizards
turned around and announced it was buy-
ing Five Rings - so much for diversity.
Rest assured, in the next issue you'll
see a return to the broad focus you've
come to expect from Gamer. That is, unless
Wizards suddenly decides to buy us, too.
OUR COVER
This issue marks a milestone for Gamer:
For the first time, our cover features an
image vou won't find on a game card. We
so enjoyed Doug Beekman's work on the
new "Dune: Eye of the Storm" CCG that we
commissioned him to paint a piece espe-
cially for our use.
I had the opportunity to chat with the
artist at the Origins gaming convention
in July. He was there to meet with indus-
try folks and to offer for sale some of his
paintings - including the one on our cover.
Beekman is a tall, beefy, bearded gent.
He's also very friendly and pleasant to
talk to.
If you're not familiar with Beekman's
work, shame on you. His paintings have
appeared in everything from,
Fangoria to Artists Maga-
zine to U.S. News and World
Report. He's done countless
book covers and Conan
paintings in addition to the
Lord of the Rings calendar,
as well as work for TSR, Iron
Crown, and DC Comics.
Some of his best works have
just been collected in a trad-
ing card series from Comic
Images. He has also con-
tributed material to Chaos-
ium's upcoming Elric projects.
Beekman's work for "Dune" stands out
in his mind, however, as it culminates a
20-year interest in the subject. "I can't
tell you how exciting it is to be working
on imagery that I've visualized for that
long," he says. "When [game designers]
Last Unicorn called about this project, my
thought was, 'At last.'"
We hope you find Beekman's work as
appealing as we do. And if you haven't
done so already, check out the new "Dune"
game for more.
work, shame on you. His paintings have
appeared in everything from,
Fangoria to Artists Maga-
zine to U.S. News and World
Report. He's done countless
book covers and Conan
paintings in addition to the
Lord of the Rings calendar,
as well as work for TSR, Iron
Crown, and DC Comics.
Some of his best works have
just been collected in a trad-
ing card series from Comic
Images. He has also con-
tributed material to Chaos-
ium's upcoming Elric projects.
Beekman's work for "Dune" stands out
in his mind, however, as it culminates a
20-year interest in the subject. "I can't
tell you how exciting it is to be working
on imagery that I've visualized for that
long," he says. "When [game designers]
Last Unicorn called about this project, my
thought was, 'At last.'"
We hope you find Beekman's work as
appealing as we do. And if you haven't
done so already, check out the new "Dune"
game for more.
Till next time,
Doug Scoville
Managing Editor
