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Interface (magazine)

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Cover of the first issue

Interface is a game magazine published by Prometheus Press between 1990 and 1992 that was licensed to publish articles about R. Talsorian Games's dystopian near-future role-playing game Cyberpunk.

Publication history

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In 1990, three dedicated fans of Cyberpunk who lived in Alameda, California — Kevin DeAntonio, Chris Hockabout, and Thaddeus Howze — approached R. Talsorian Games about producing an independent magazine about the game. R. Talsorian agreed to license them,[1] and the three formed Prometheus Press to publish their fanzine Interface. Each issue featured a full-color cover and black & white interior.

Six issues of the magazine were published between 1990 and 1992.[2]

Index of articles

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Volume 1, #1: Keeping the Peace

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(44 pages.)

  • NuCyber, NuTech, NuMed: New cybernetic implants, new gear, new medicine.
  • Walking the Beat in Night City
  • LawTech Unlimited: New law enforcement armor, weapons, and gear.
  • Design and augmentation rules for Robohounds (mechatronic K9 units).
  • Police Profile: The Givers of Pain
  • Inmate Penal Corps
  • Corporate Review: Ocean Technology & Energy Corp (OTEC)
  • Altered States 1: New Drugs
  • Cyber-Reviews: Street Lethal by Steven Barnes; Vacuum Flowers by Michael Swanwick.

Volume 1, #2 (1991)

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(48 pages. Cover art by Chris Hockabout.)

    • NuCyber, NuTech: New cybernetic hand and leg implants; new gear
    • New Skills: Skating / Skateboarding, Electronic Counter-Measures, Cadre Tactics
    • "Getting Along": Roleplaying COOL and EMPATHY attributes in Cyberpunk (Peter Christian)
    • "Your Money or Your Life": Wages in Cyberpunk (Justin Schmid)
    • Police Profiles: Ripperdocs
    • Hardware Closeup: The OTEC SEV-1 stealth hovercraft.
    • Subordinate/Alternate Character Classes 1
    • Cyber-Reviews: Batman: Digital Justice by Pepe Moreno; Hardware, RoboCop 2, Total Recall (1990).

Volume 1, #3 (1991)

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(56 pages. Cover art by Mike Ebert.)

  • NuCyber, NuWare: New cybernetics; New Cyberdeck programs
  • Government Profile: New Antarctican Collective
  • Corporate Review: Revolution Genetics Inc
  • New Service Organization: Troubleshooter Cabs.
  • Artificial Intelligence 1: AIs in Cyberpunk RPGs
  • Altered States: New drugs
  • NuScience: Skinmask pollution filter, Vend-a-Mod chip vending machine
  • Fashion: NewLook faux cybernetics.
  • "Interview With a Predator": Q&A with Colonel "Butch" Schaffer IPC, commander of the "Predators" Centron
  • "What's that up ahead?": Random driving encounters in Cyberpunk 2020.
  • Subordinate/Alternate Character Classes 2:
    • Solo subtypes (Military Op, Corporate Op, Cyber-Soldier, Bodyguard, Bounty Hunter, Street Samurai).
    • Netrunner subtype (Rogue AI Hunter).
  • Cyber-Reviews: ME: A Novel of Self-Discovery by Thomas T. Thomas; Akira, Trancers.

Volume 1, #4 (1991)

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(56 pages.)

Volume 2, #1 (1992)

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(56 pages, cover art by Tom Shaw)

  • OmniEye Interviewer's Camera
  • Tenaka Sanyo Portable Editing Lab
  • Exotech Remote Surveillance
  • Live-Feed Cyberoptic Option
  • Medusa 2000
  • Just the Fax, Ma'am
  • Electric Nightmares
  • Reporter Profiles: Clarise DeWinter
  • Reporter Profiles: Edward "Flash" Leudowski
  • Reporter Profiles: Zaphial "Argus" Keyes
  • Facing the Consequences
  • Talk Hard!
  • A job with ATTITUDE
  • Aline3
  • Mann and Machine
  • The Lawnmower Man
  • Night's Edge

Volume 2, #2 (1992)

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(68 pages. Cover art by Tom Shaw)

  • NuCyberware and Ectotechnology
  • Cults - Hope and Horrors
  • Call of CthulhuCyberpunk Conversion Rules
  • Cult Profiles
  • Scenarios: "Transference" and "A Policy of Pain"
  • Data Sampling

Reception

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In the September 1992 edition of Dragon (#185), Allen Varney reviewed the third issue of the magazine, and while he called one article "meaty", he noted that most of the magazine "falls distinctly below the median [...] Even the good articles could stand more pizazz, and the editorial style needs a lot more polish." Despite this, he concluded "this fan magazine offers remarkable value for the dedicated Cyberpunk referee."[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Varney, Allen (September 1992). "Roleplaying Reviews". Dragon. No. 185. TSR, Inc. p. 86.
  2. ^ "Interface | Periodical | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com.