This page orients you to the 140⁺ catalogs Fine Games maintains online, and explains how the catalogs are organized. It also guides you in selecting the best way to approach searching for the item(s) you're looking for.

 

Our catalogs are updated frequently, several times each week. You can rely on what you read here to accurately reflect our current inventory. Unlike other internet dealers, we run our business professionally and put real information in your hands. So, info on our web site is your first stop.

 

See also our Explanation of Codes for a full explanation of the terms & codes used in our catalogs.

 

Your Orientation to Fine Games' Catalogs

If this is your first visit to the Fine Games web site, or even your second or third, you will make your search efforts much more productive if you invest but a few minutes to orient yourself to how our 140⁺ catalogs are organized. Doing so will help you understand the many details provided for each of the thousands of games listed, especially those provided thru the use of various codes. It will also help you learn to use the simple search techniques to find what you're looking for quickly and painlessly.

 

Scope of Our Catalogs

Our entire available inventory is always represented within our catalogs, as are items we are aware of that are available from any of our distributors' stock that we do not stock ourselves. The only thing hidden from your view are redundant listings of identical items.

 

Further, our catalogs are updated several times a week, or whenever there is any significant change or addition to our inventory. Thus, while an occasional one-of-a-kind game may not be available when you order, you'll find that 99.9% of what is listed as In-Stock in our current catalog is still available. (Note that our web pages change much less frequently.)

 

Catalog Organization

Collectively, our catalogs represent six different ways to look at every item that Fine Games has in stock or can likely obtain on your behalf via special order. Depending on whether you are looking for a specific, well defined title, or browsing for games on specific subjects, one of these methods may be preferred over others.

 

You can choose to view our inventory by (1) alphabetical game title, (2)  by publisher and title, (3) by historical era and title, (4) by historical era, topic and title, (5) by historical era, game scale, and title, or (6) by any of a dozen specialty listings of things such as ASL/SL games, Recommended games, Gift Suggestions, etc.

 

In-Print v In-Stock

Out of the universe of games  ever published, Fine Games focuses on strategy games and wargames in particular. We have a limited selection of miniature, role playing and, worst of all, collectable card games.

 

The gaming items found in our catalog fall into either of two categories:

• First, we carefully track every item in our own inventory. They are thus "In-Stock" and available for immediate sale & shipment. All In-Stock items bear a numeric, 5-digit part-# in each of our catalogs.
  

• Second, we try to keep up with the ever changing universe of adult strategy games available to us through our network of publishers and distributors. Games that we can special order from such sources are not in-stock here but are obtained on your behalf as needed. These are called In-Print items as they are available but not in-stock. They are shown without a numeric part-# (and with a "s/o" indicator) in our catalogs.
  
  Obtaining In-Print items may involve varying degrees of difficulty and success. In most cases, it takes between 3 - 7 days to obtain an item. Our catalogs try to provide some cues as to whether a game is endangered or we anticipate difficulty obtaining it. In any case, we will advise you of any special circumstances both when you place an order for such items or if we do run into problems.
  

Understanding a Catalog Listing

Our catalogs are rich with information about the physical condition, editorial content & quality of each item listed. Yet there is still much more information provided to you about the publisher, publication status, In-Stock status, box type, errata inclusion, and weight. You may also wish to consult our Explanation of Codes for a full explanation of the terms & codes used in our catalogs, and our Publisher Contact Info for publisher info.

 

Here is how to read typical game listings to glean this information.

In-Stock & In-Print

Publication                               MagGm Cash/Ck Box Wgt General
Status       Part# Title & Ed (PublsCode) Only?  Price  Typ  #  Conditn
============ ===== ====================== ===== ======= === === =======

ok           33298 WORLD IN FLAMES 94 ANNL(ADG) $14.00   n  0.8   NEW
                  Probably the value of the year. 72pg booklet of
                    strategy & analysis...

 

This listing represents the most common situation. The item shows a numeric part-# (33298), so you know the item is in-stock. It also says "ok", which indicates that it can be quickly ordered or restocked as needed. The game is published by Australian Design Group ("ADG"), is $14, is not boxed ("n"), weighs about 0.8 pounds, is New without any flaws.

 

In-Print & Momentarily Out-of-Stock

Publication                               MagGm Cash/Ck Box Wgt General
Status       Part# Title & Ed (PublsCode) Only?  Price  Typ  #  Conditn
============ ===== ====================== ===== ======= === === =======

ok            stk  WORLD IN FLAMES, 6TH (ADG)    $40.00  BC 2.8    NEW
                   Revision updates the Africa & Scandinavian maps...

 

This listing represents a situation in which a normally stocked item ("stk") is has been sold out. Because it can be readily restock ("ok"), replacement copies are probably already en route to us and the game will be back in-stock in a few days.

 

This game is also published by Australian Design Group (ADG), is $40, is bookcase boxed ("BC"), weights about 2.8 pounds, and is new without flaws.

 

In-Stock & Out-of-Print

Publication                               MagGm Cash/Ck Box Wgt General
Status       Part# Title & Ed (PublsCode) Only?  Price  Typ  #  Conditn
============ ===== ====================== ===== ======= === === =======

Out-of-Print 31737 WORLD IN FLAMES 92 ANN (CWJ)  $18.00  n  0.8   NEW
                     Lengthy mag style booklet w/ articles on tactics,
                       strategy of play, force pool & CRT analysis, etc.

 

This listing is typical of items that are now out-of-print but are in-stock. The term "out-of-print" means that the item cannot be readily ordered or replaced; supplies are limited to whatever we have on hand. The numeric part-# (31737) tells you we have a copy on hand, however.

 

This game was published by Canadian Wargamers Journal (CWJ), is $18, is not boxed ("n"), weighs about 0.8 pounds, and is new without flaws.

 

Out-of-Print & Not Available

Publication                               MagGm Cash/Ck Box Wgt General
Status       Part# Title & Ed (PublsCode) Only?  Price  Typ  #  Conditn
============ ===== ====================== ===== ======= === === =======

Out-of-Print  n/a  ADVANCED 3rd REICH (AH)       -n/a-   BC 2.4   NEW
                   5th Third Reich incarnation, highly polished...

 

This is an FYI listing only, intended only to tell you explicitly that the item is not available ("n/a" and "-n/a-"). We cannot obtain it as it is Out-of-Print.

 

In-Print Item Going Out-of-Print Available by Special Order

Publication                               MagGm Cash/Ck Box Wgt General
Status       Part# Title & Ed (PublsCode) Only?  Price  Typ  #  Conditn
============ ===== ====================== ===== ======= === === =======

Going OoP     s/o  WORLD AT WAR  3RD (Xeno)      $32.20  FB  2.   NEW
                   Complete game similar to Axis & Allies in nature &
                     scope. ...

 

This is an example of an item that is known to be going out-of-print; at some time, it will cease to be available. It is a special order ("s/o") item, so we'll know whether it is currently available only when we go shopping for it. And we'll do that only after receiving a confirmed, paid order.

 

Temporarily Out-of-Print & Not Available Item

Publication                               MagGm Cash/Ck Box Wgt General
Status       Part# Title & Ed (PublsCode) Only?  Price  Typ  #  Conditn
============ ===== ====================== ===== ======= === === =======

Temp OoP/OoS  s/o  DAYS OF DECISION II (ADG)     $35.00  BC 2.2   NEW
                   Stand-alone game of pre-WW2 political maneuvering &
                     preparation for war....

 

Occasionally, games will go out-of-print only temporarily ("Temp OoP/OoS"). For instance, the game proves quite popular and its first printing sells out. Its publisher may elect to reprint the game, or any of the necessary components the are needed. While we will accept pre-orders for such games, just when a game reappears is rather unpredictable in most cases. You may wish to contact the publisher to assess the situation.

 

Item Release Pending (i.e. Not Yet Published)

                                       Box  Est  Cash    Expected
Game Title & Edition                   Typ Wght PriceEA Rels Date
-------------------------------------- --- ---- ------- ------------

AQUILAE ROMANI (EAGLES OF ROME)         HC       $30.00 due 00/ 7 ?
  Grand tactical system game covering warfare in the Roman era. Covers

 

Games not yet published are listed only in our Pending Release catalog. This example is anticipated to come in a Half Bookcase Box (HC), to be offered at $30, and to be released in July 2000 (00/ 7). Note that only the publisher knows when they'll publish a game; questions of that nature should be directed to the publisher.

 

Our price for any game is firm only after the game is released and the list price is certain. Prices for preordered games are therefore subject to change to maintain the general 30%-off list price rule.

How To Search for a Game

You can use the logical organization of our game catalogs the speed & simplify your search for specific items. In addition, there are several specific techniques you can use in to more quickly locate just what you're looking for. See our Search web page for more info on doing so.

 

Completing an Order

See our How to Order web page for step-by-step procedures on how to place an order with us. This includes how to calculate shipping, provide payment, and send us your completed order.