SPI War games Infomercial

[jeffreyab]

[Error: unknown template video]
Thirty years ago this was the hobby I was getting into. I still dabble with it but finding the time and table space is not as easy as it was then. I enjoyed exploring history or potential history with them and seeing the reasons why things happened the way they did.

The table top war game has been replaced somewhat with the computer wargame but the former is still the only way to see the full scope of a battlefield not a 17" (for me) chunk of it.

SPI stood for Simulations Publications Inc. the formost wargame company of the 1970's that died in the early 80's as an independent unit. Most of the companies referred to are gone now.

Comments

SPI Infomercial

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Definitely Friday night playtesting at the SPI headquarters on 23rd St, but it's been far too long -- I didn't recognize anyone. (And I wasn't filmed.) Maybe that was Dennis Ritchie near the end, but I can't be sure.

I sent it to Al Nofi; he recognized more people.

B

Re: SPI Infomercial

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

I had not realized that you were there.

What games were your favourite?

Re: SPI Infomercial

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I actually can't remember most of what I playtested. I know I playtested Campaign for North Africa -- everything else is forgotten.

B

Campaign for North Africa

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

I can see why you remember that one. Were you involved in the war crimes trial?

I have never played it myself but I did like to look through a friend's copy before he ebayed it.

Re: Campaign for North Africa

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

What war crimes trial?

B

Re: Campaign for North Africa

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

There was a comment in the rule book about it.

I think it referred to one of the Allied players not treating their POW's very well. I think they shorted them on water.

Wikipedia states that the game was not playtested so I changed that.

The cited Board Game Geek entry mentions playtesting so someone did not do much research.

Re: Campaign for North Africa

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I remember the rule that the Italians used more water because they cooked pasta.

B

Re: Campaign for North Africa

[jeffreyab.livejournal.com]

There was no explanation however once captured the Italians might still follow the pasta rule and if someone forgot you get mistreatment of POW's.