I have just joined the group, and looked at some of the recent messages discussing changes in the hobby. In the early 1980s, about the time I became a computer...
3177
pulsiphl_2000
Jul 14, 2004 2:08 pm
I designed Dragon Rage. I don't know how Dragon Rage compares with the other Dwarfstar games (which I never played), but of course the game that was published...
3178
thomashockman
tom895us
Jul 14, 2004 3:16 pm
Nice article. Although the yardsticks show our intellect in decline, please resist the urge to dumb down the games. The masses didn't play in the 80's, and...
3179
Dave Boyd
boydda1
Jul 14, 2004 3:27 pm
... Boy, we microgamers sure are smart! Let's congratulate ourselves! We're not like those dummies we see around us! ... The irony is potent. -- Dave Boyd ...
3180
Eddy Richards
eddy_richards
Jul 15, 2004 11:15 pm
Lew wrote (large interesting chunks removed to shorten this - hopefully ... I would agree that the rules to modern "German" games are much less complex than...
3181
Rob
rwstruble2001
Jul 16, 2004 3:04 am
Speaking generally, in comparing games from twenty years ago and from today the most dramatic change is the shift from simulations to abstracts. The majority...
3182
Steven Woodcock
theferretman
Jul 16, 2004 3:18 am
Very good points, Rob. I think you're on to something there. Most games today are far too abstract and "trivial" to really keep my interest very long, I'm...
3183
Lewis Pulsipher
pulsiphl_2000
Jul 16, 2004 1:01 pm
I don't equate simple rules with a simple game; however, simple rules tend more toward the abstract, and from what I know of Euro games, many are quite...
3184
Greg Aleknevicus
aleknevicus
Jul 16, 2004 1:10 pm
... I find it interesting that this topic has come up at this time. German-style games are my first love but I find their "lack of connection" to their theme...
3185
Neal Sofge
csofge2
Jul 16, 2004 3:52 pm
I think you left out the most important factor - spare time. Americans no longer have four hour blocks of time (or at least don't think they do). Old-style...
3186
David Bate
david_bate
Jul 16, 2004 7:35 pm
Saw this while lurking on ebay. Dwarfstar Games Barbarian Prince RPG w/ free DemonLord Item number: 5910028309 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ...
3187
sethkimmel@...
sethkimmel
Jul 16, 2004 8:10 pm
In a message dated 7/16/04 6:25:38 PM !!!First Boot!!!, ... And the realism Vs gamability debate has gone on since the hobby started... [Non-text portions of...
3188
rwstruble@...
rwstruble2001
Jul 16, 2004 8:25 pm
While you and I may have much less free time, I'm sure the average teenager is as foot loose and fancy free as ever. Some part of the change in games may just...
3189
Greg Aleknevicus
aleknevicus
Jul 16, 2004 10:12 pm
... I wonder if this is really the case. It seems to me that people have *always* complained that they don't have as much free time as people did 10 (or 20, or...
3190
Lewis Pulsipher
pulsiphl_2000
Jul 17, 2004 12:01 am
Good points from Rob and Neal. I left the following out of the article (forgot it and hadn't written it yet): Fifth, attention spans are much shorter in many...
3191
The Maverick
the_maverick0
Jul 17, 2004 11:13 pm
... An oddball way to list the games... you are bidding on both, not getting one free. ;-) Up to $15 with 5 days left... the Mav -- "Never give up -- never...
3192
thomashockman
tom895us
Jul 18, 2004 2:49 am
Although I have seen hundreds of articles and statements that the average attention span has decreased, I have not seen an actual study that replicated an...
3193
Wormy Trollkin
wtrollkin2000
Jul 19, 2004 2:55 am
I agree alot with what Rob says. I'd also like to expand on it and comment on Lewis's comment about math: "Fourth, people are less competent mathematically." ...
3194
Steven Woodcock
theferretman
Jul 19, 2004 4:37 am
Nah...I *really* don't have as much time as I used to any more. Setting aside several hours for a game is pretty tough...heck, my bigtime gaming friends and I...
3195
Greg Aleknevicus
aleknevicus
Jul 19, 2004 5:31 am
... Anecdotal evidence counts for but a single data point and as such is almost worthless as "proof" of anything. When you were back in college there was some...
3196
thomashockman
tom895us
Jul 19, 2004 2:19 pm
I was able to get time for board gaming. I got rid of cable TV....
3197
The Maverick
the_maverick0
Jul 19, 2004 3:04 pm
... I think Greg may be on to something here - I don't have as much free time as I used to have back in high school and college, but I would think that the...
3198
dwtulloh@...
Jul 19, 2004 4:25 pm
... But this morphs back into the question of "Why don't today's college students pick up the hobby?" And, "Is the majority of the boardgame audience supposed...
3199
Dave Boyd
boydda1
Jul 19, 2004 5:00 pm
... I have some ideas too. ... I think there's always going to be "nerds" and "jocks". By which I only mean that some people will always enjoy thinking more...
3200
Steven Woodcock
theferretman
Jul 20, 2004 12:39 am
With ALL respect due to such a dismissive retort, it was a single anecdotal story which started this. A series of anecdotal stories makes for a trend, sooner...
3201
The Maverick
the_maverick0
Jul 20, 2004 6:48 am
... Wow - I couldn't disagree more. First of all, for me, an online "head-to-head" game will never replace a relaxed, social evening of gaming face-to-face....
3202
Edward Lipsett
elipsett
Jul 20, 2004 6:52 am
To me this seems somewhat analogous to the situation I frequently encounter in RPGing. Some people feel that the rules are the ultimate good, and believe that...
3203
Steven Woodcock
theferretman
Jul 21, 2004 12:27 am
... From: "The Maverick" <themaverick@...> To: <microgame@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 12:45 AM Subject: Re: [microgame] Re: Changes...
3204
David Good
dng42
Jul 21, 2004 3:58 am
Howdy, I was wondering if someone could point me to some articles considering probability and wargaming. It piqued my interest when someone brought this up. ...
3205
David Good
dng42
Jul 21, 2004 3:59 am
Awhile back in 2000 Steve Jackson Games re-released Ogre and GEV as a boxed set with both games in it. I'd really be interested in purchasing or trading...
