Four new games for armchair generals

CNN Tech ^ | August 15, 2011 | Scott Steinberg

[1rudeboy]

For gamers, the urge to conquer and pillage dates back to time immemorial. Tabletop amusements like chess and its numerous variants have enthralled players for centuries.

Given their often-complex rules and cluttered pieces, military simulations were among home computing's earliest killer apps, giving rise to popular publishers such as SSI and MicroProse.

But despite a rapid retail decline in the late '90s that forced many titles out of stores and into the hands of niche online publishers like Matrix Games and HPS Simulations, "wargames" are still going strong today.

Now disguised under catchall categories like "strategy" and "simulation," you can find them on every platform -- from PC to iPad to Xbox 360 -- clothed in an equally diverse array of styles, from contemporary to futuristic.

Here are four virtual spins on classic combat that armchair generals of all ages will appreciate, whether they're looking to build an empire after a trying workday or crush Constantinople under their iron heel during a quick coffee break.

[1rudeboy]

How’s EVE doing, btw? I’m still subscribed, but I haven’t played in weeks.

[Braak]

Couldn't agree more!

[1rudeboy]

I thought it might be the AH version, but wasn’t sure.

[ebshumidors]

Sounds0 like a good read. My fav was Red Storm Rising. The Russian Front game from AH was one of my favs.

[prof.h.mandingo]

Thanks, played that one alot. Great game system.

[doublecansiter]

Terrible Swift Sword?

Mike

[GonzoGOP]

In any case, you are not a hardcore "board"gamer unless you magnetize your counters, mount your map on sheetmetal, and hang the game on your wall. :)

Had a buddy do that with Avalon Hill's Stalingrad. Awesome. I would like to see you try that with my favorite AH game Jutland. We did have the big search hexes laid out on my basement floor with masking tape.

I was a big fan of the Civilization games. But I agree that after Civ II the series went down hill. Civ II added the ability to tweak the rules and add new units. That made a big difference changing some of the PC elements of the game (For example Civilization game gave communism low corruption).

The other great waste of time games were the command and conquer series. Those actually made you think, rush in for the quick kill, or try to build a fortress and run you opponent out of resources. Again the ability to tweak the rules was a big advantage. The Russian naval units could not attack land targets and hence were nearly useless. But changing the SSN to and SSBN by swapping out one of the two torpedo tubes with a Scud launcher allowed the guy playing the Russian to hit NATO shore emplacements. It also gave a reason for the NATO player to build destroyers. Also when playing the computer you could make infantry real cheap to give the unimaginative AI a chance of actually winning. It turns out a human wave was about as sophisticated a tactic as the AI could come up with.

[KarlInOhio]

Rather than look at the name of the file, I had my nose to the monitor to see The Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, Devil's Den and Emmitsburg Road. Oooo that's Gettysburg with Big Round Top in the upper right corner.

From there it only took a little digging to find it is the first edition of Terrible Swift Sword.

[Little Ray]

Terrible Swift Sword?

I miss SPI and Avalon Hill, not to mention “brick and mortar” game stores. I have fond, fond memories of Sword of the Phoenix, Hangar 7 and Historical Hobbies here in the Atlanta area.

[RepRivFarm]

you are not a hardcore "board"gamer unless you magnetize your counters, mount your map on sheetmetal, and hang the game on your wall. :)

Do I qualify as 'hardcore?'

[doublecansiter]

TSR had a battle game on this scale using the same rules
for the battle of Antietam called “A Gleam of Bayonets”.
I have it in my collection along with “Terrible Swift Sword”

I even have the old and new Avalon Hill versions of “Gettysburg”. The new Gettysburg had some of the best art
work I have ever seen in a board game. The unit counters
were fantastic, but the advanced version of the game was almost
unplayable.

Mike

[Jeff Head]

Harpoon has amongst the most loyal fan group. For years, after the original and then Haproon II, it was not produced, then a group of fans got together to update Harpoon II and came up with Harpoon III which basically looks the same but has updated scenarios, data base, etc.

Then, several years later, another group spent a lot of time and money trying to upgrade it into a realy slick, modern computer game with a lot more naval war media (videos, etc.)...but it never got complete and they went out of business.

The community never gave up and now Matrix Games has the upgraded Harpoon III and the new Commander's Edition of the original game available in this Ultimate Edition. I got it...and love it.

[RJS1950]

I still have several of those board strategy games tucked away somewhere, Operation Olympic was one of my favorites.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


"Thanks" for the memories ...


"Sixth Fleet" ... and other GREAT Avalon Hill games ...

Plus ... the one that I can't remember ... "Germans vs. Soviets on the Eastern Front" ...

That's where I discovered the awesome power of massed artillery ...



.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


"Strength and Honor", Gladiator ...

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

bump 4 later reading

[tarotsailor]

In the 70’s Avalon Hill’s “Jutland” got me started on strategy games. I actually prefer older PC games than the latest thing, Alpha Centauri and Age of Empires are still a lot of fun.

[FreedomPoster]

I should probably get it. I spent *way* too many hours with the original Harpoon computer game.

Does the new version have updated weapons / platforms?

[GreenLanternCorps]

Indeed...

[GreenLanternCorps]

No, you're not a true Grognard (hardcore) boardgamer unless you play both Advanced Squad Leader AND the Europa series...

Hey, how about a quick game of "Fire in the East"? ;)