SURVIVE was designed by Julian and C. Courtland Smith and it’s been out of print in the US for going on 25 years. It’s been in and out of print as an import thanks to European publishers and there’s even a really nice 3D edition (with a few alterations and re-titled ESCAPE FROM ATLANTIS) that was done by Waddingtons some time in the mid 1980s. It’s really a shame that the game isn’t more widely available today because it’s just a simple, great game that demonstrates how mass-market games don’t have to be crap, but it also shows how Euro-style hobby games don’t have to be so non-competitive, anti-thematic, and without drama.

Every time I bring SURVIVE out someone says “Hey, I used to play that with my sister,” or “I got that for Christmas one year.” I didn’t have the game when I was a kid so I can’t relate; I didn’t get to play it until I was almost thirty years old and after becoming jaded and worn out on the kinds of mechanics and styles of gameplay that most hobby games have to offer these days. It’s ironic that in a 25-year old mass market game I find more of the simple joys of gaming than in most of the niche-market, tiny publisher games that are released to huge accolades today. So get thee to eBay, the thrift store, or dig around in your parents’ basement…there’s plenty of copies out there.

Questions or comments for Michael? Send them along to gameshark.feedback@yahoo.com .

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