Yow, it's my second issue and I'm still here ... first time that's happened in a while. I'm starting to feel a little bit more secure in this job. Some days I even unzip my flakjacket when I'm at the desk. In all the excitement of my first issue I forgot to mention that last issue was ADQ's 30th. So, happy belated birthday to us.
Now, at last, there's some good news.
First of all, some of the equipment was returned on June 21. Though the Secret Service claimed, in a letter to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, that all the material was returned, they retained one set of papers, and assorted pieces of hardware are missing. Also, SJG data and files seized from the home of Managing Editor Loyd Blankenship have not been returned. Of the three systems taken, two were damaged, and one is probably irreparable. But at least most of the equipment and data made it home.
The really good news is that SJG has gained the support of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an organization formed by computer pioneers Mitch Kapor (who developed Lotus 1-2-3, the country's best-selling software) and Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple Computers). The Foundation's goals are to increase public awareness of the opportunities and challenges presented by computer technology, and to raise public awareness about civil liberties issues raised by new computer communications media.
The foundation has retained one of the country's leading civil-liberties law firms -- Silverglate and Good -- to represent Steve Jackson Games. According to attorneys Harvey Silverglate and Sharon Beckman, the SJ Games case represents important Constitutional questions involving the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
Our attorneys plan to continue to press for the return of all missing property and a full explanation of the raid. A suit for damages is not out of the question.
Since ADQ always has more good fiction submissions than we can possibly publish, I welcome Christopher's effort and wish him the best of luck. And I strongly urge all you duellists out there to support this effort. If you're interested in contributing or subscribing to Driving Tigers, or just want more information, write:
Christopher Burke,
127 Bay 23 St.,
Brooklyn, NY 11214.
Once the first issue is out. I'll review it in this space.
That's a tough act to top, but we've managed it. September will see the dramatic return of... (wait for it) ... Car Wars! No, nor Deluxe Car Wars, and certainly not another edition of the Car Wars Compendium. Instead we're repackaging the classic Car Wars game in a smaller, more convenient box. But the really exciting news is the price. The new Car Wars will carry a price tag of less than $10.00! Car Wars is a complete, stand-alone game. Fully compatible with all existing Car Wars products, it's the perfect introduction to the exciting world of Autoduelling, making this fall the best time in years to get your friends and relations turned on to Car Wars.
In October you'll get something really different ... Car Wars: The Card Game. Designed by Creede Lambard (writer of Muskogee Mayhem) and Sharleen Lambard (President of Steve Jackson Games), "Card Wars" (as it's affectionately known around the office) packs all the excitement of autoduelling into a game so easy that even your kid sister can figure it out, and so much fun that everyone will enjoy it. Look for more on Car Wars: The Card Game later on in this issue.
The big news for November, of course, is Car Wars Tanks, by the Aeroduel team of Craig Sheeley and editor Mike Hurst, with literally tons of armored excitement in a boxed supplement.