pasternakski
Posts: 6565
Joined: 6/29/2002 Status: offline
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What does "faster" have to do with it? A month or so ago, somebody took issue with my ability to play UV turns at what seemed to him to be a rapid rate and stated that he liked to savor the experience more. Board wargames are not dying out, nor are they likely to do so. The designers have taken two directions: one, they are producing serious, sophisticated games that only devotees of the hobby can enjoy; and two, they are producing easy-to-medium difficulty games that engage a wider playing public. The companies that survived the shakeout of the nineties are staying alive and even increasing their sales (although the current state of the world economy is having an effect, as it is on all sectors of economic life). This is not at all different from the approach taken by many of the early leaders in the hobby, such as Avalon Hill. AH met its Waterloo (sorry, couldn't resist) by sacrificing the serious for what it perceived to be the saleable. "Dr. Ruth's Game of Good Sex" may have been the final stake through the heart. Multi-Man Publishing is trying to keep the flame burning, but seems to be having trouble moving significantly beyond the ASL series (which is remarkable in itself). Those who collect board wargames (and I am one of them) are contributing to a healthy commercial exchange of fun, interesting games that can be enjoyed anytime, by anyone. My collection consists of many duplicate copies: one that is punched and used for play and another that is in "mint" condition and safely stored away to appreciate in value. I have a nice group of wargaming friends, both locally and with whom I play postally and PBEM, who range in age from 24 to (this is just an estimate, 'cause Barry don't like to tell) 70. We love our board games. We love our computer games. We love to play them both solitaire and with each other. Scr*w this "better on a computer" nonsense. Some subjects are better treated as board wargames. Some subjects are better treated as computer wargames. Some subjects can be done successfully both ways (and unsuccessfully both ways). The idea here is FUN, not characterizing those of us who buy and play board wargames as dinosaurs, computer illiterates, or people who just don't get it. Maybe YOU ought to try getting it and stop being so closed-minded and chauvinistic. My baby asked me last night if I wanted to have some fun. I said, "Yeah, baby." She asked me how I wanted it. I said, "I takes my fun any way I can get it, long as it's fun."
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Put my faith in the people And the people let me down. So, I turned the other way, And I carry on anyhow.
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