The Orion Nebula (game)

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This article is about the play-by-mail game. For other uses, see Orion nebula.
The Orion Nebula
PublishersOrpheus Publishing Corporation
Years activeJanuary 1990 to April 1991
GenresRole-playing, science fiction, space opera
LanguagesEnglish
Playersunlimited
Playing timeunlimited
Materials requiredInstructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media typePlay-by-mail

The Orion Nebula is an open-end, mixed-moderated, play-by-mail (PBM) space opera. It was published by the Orpheus Publishing Corporation in January 1990 after playtesting. The game was playable by postal mail, email, and CompuServe. The game was a space opera on a massive intergalactic scale. Exploration, economics and combat were elements of gameplay. Players could roleplay various positions including: Starships, Cities, Starbases, Ground Parties, and Black Markets. The game tied for 8th place in Paper Mayhem's Best PBM Game of 1989.

History and development[edit]

The Orion Nebula was an open-ended, mixed moderated PBM game published by Orpheus Publishing Corporation.[1] The publisher launched the game in January 1990 after playtesting in 1989.[2] Email and postal mail were orders options.[3] Players could also use CompuServe for orders.[2] In its September–October 1991 issue, the editor of Paper Mayhem announced that Orion's Nebula and its publisher were no longer running.[4] The company's president stated in a letter to the editor that the game stopped in April 1991 due to financial issues and offered the game for sale.[5]

Gameplay[edit]

The Orion Nebula was a space opera with a massive intergalactic setting.[1] Exploration, economics and combat were elements of gameplay.[6] Although open-ended, the game had due dates for turn orders to enable simultaneous turn processing.[3] Each turn comprised 150 time points of 2.25 hours each.[3]

Players could roleplay various positions including: Starships, Cities, Starbases, Ground Parties, and Black Markets.[3] Additional options of government types affected availability of spaceships and other factors.[3] Groups of ten or more players could also custom-design a government type prior to game start.[7]

Reception[edit]

In its January–February 1990 issue of Paper Mayhem, the game tied for 8th place in the Best PBM Game of 1989 listing along with Continental Rails, Duelmaster, and Fleet Maneuvers.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Marte 1990. p. 4.
  2. ^ a b Marte 1990. p. 7.
  3. ^ a b c d e Steel 1990. p. 4.
  4. ^ Webber 1991. p. 3.
  5. ^ McGee 1991. p. 4.
  6. ^ Marte 1990. pp. 4–6.
  7. ^ Grubb 1990. p. 17.
  8. ^ Editors 1990. p. 1.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Grubb, Larry (May 1990). "Forming a Government in the 'Neb'". Flagship. No. 25 (U.S. ed.). pp. 17–18.
  • Steel, Donal (April 1990). "First Looks: The Orion Nebula". The D2 Report. No. 3. pp. 4–6.
  • Editors (January–February 1990). "Best PBM Game of 1989". Paper Mayhem. No. 40. p. 2.
  • Webber, David (September–October 1991). "Where We're Heading". Paper Mayhem. No. 50. p. 3.
  • McGee, John F. (September–October 1991). "Letters". Paper Mayhem. No. 50. p. 4.

Further reading[edit]

  • Cottelesse, Steve (November–December 1989). "Orion Nebula: The Game of the 90's". Paper Mayhem. No. 39. pp. 37–39.
  • Cottelesse, Steve (January–February 1990). "Orion Nebula – The Game of the 90 's Part II". Paper Mayhem. No. 40. pp. 32–35.
  • Cottelesse, Steve (May–June 1991). "Orion Nebula – The Game of the 90 's Part II". Paper Mayhem. No. 48. pp. 32–35.
  • Marte, Stephen (March 1990). "The Orion Nebula". Flagship. No. 25 (U.S. ed.). pp. 4–7.
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