STEVE JACKSON GAMES
- Steve Jackson Games (SJG) was formed in 1980. Their initial line of boargames consisted of three small format games: Raid on Iran, One-Page Bulge, and Kung Fu 2100.
- The first SJG micros were the same size as the Metagaming MicroGames but were sold in ziplock plastic bags. Later SJG micros were sold in black plastic boxes which is why they came to be called Pocket Box games.
- There were eleven Pocket Box games and five expansion games released in the Pocket Box format.
- Steve Jackson was the designer of the popular Metagaming MicroGames Ogre, G.E.V., Melee and Wizard.
- Kung Fu 2100 was designed in response to a contest in The Space Gamer magaine and was first published in issue 30 of that magazine.
- These are Pocket Box versions of the first three SJG micros.
- Car Wars became the first 'monster microgame' when it spawned a line of micro supplements. It was originally released in the ziplock format.
- Car Wars was one of three Pocket Box games selected for the Games 100 list in Games Magazine.
- Sunday Drivers was a Car Wars supplement. It was rereleased as Crash City.
- Truck Stop was a Car Wars supplement.
- Undead was originally released in the ziplock format.
- Necromancer was first published as a magazine game in Space Gamer issue 55.
It was also selected for the Games 100 list in Games Magazine. The game was also sold with adifferent cover.
- Battlesuit also started as a magazine game in Space Gamer issue 59.
- Steve Jackson was able to retain the rights to two of his Metagaming MicroGame designs: Ogre and G.E.V. He also pursued a purchase of the rights to his micro RPG The Fantasy Trip, but the asking price of Metagaming's founder, Howard Thompson, was too high.
- The two Ogre/G.E.V. expansions were released in ziplock format.
- Illuminati, the first micro card game, was followed up by three expansions. The first two were released in Pocket Boxes and the third was ziplocked.
- Illuminati was also selected for the Games 100 list in Games Magazine.
- The Awful Green Things From Outer Space went through several incarnations. It was first released by TSR as a magazine game in the Dragon and then later in a couple of large boxed editions. After being reincarnated in the Steve Jackson Games Pocket Box edition, it grew back into a bookcase box game.
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Thanks to Danny Holte for the Games 100 information.
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