Several gamers have raised questions about the "independence" of BROG's opinions. It is no secret that I design and sell games. I have working relationships with virtually every company that publishes games. However, as much as I value these relationships, I also value whatever reputation I have for honest opinion, scathing or otherwise. After all, in this newsletter I am selling that "honesty". I may jerk some company around . . . but, here, nobody's pulling my strings. And while we're in the midst of laying heavily about the face and arms of FGA, we note, with immense displeasure, their recent advertisement in "Boardgame Journal" magazine for a "forthcoming" game on Leipzig. We have nothing against this, per se. Other than letting you know whether or not to save or spend, we care little whether their games are good, bad, or indifferent. They have an absolute right to sell trash and make cash. That what they are essentially engineering is, in the words of social critic Paul Fussell, " . . . the victory of presentation over substance . . ." just further illuminates Mencken's Maxim, that Nobody Ever Went Broke Underestimating the Tastes of Americans. What we cannot abide is dishonesty in creativity, which now seems to be FGA's stock in trade. In a move so blatant and stupid it virtually defies comprehension, they have used, as their advertising copy, words lifted directly from the back of the Clash of Arms game box on the same subject . . . almost word for word. In industries where creativity is at a premium, plagiarism - which is what this is - is looked on with nothing short of revulsion. If you're going to steal, at least try not to be so obvious. Our second issue features two guest reviewers, gamers who have participated in both ends of the hobby: development and testing, as well as extensive playing. We'll be seeing about 50% guest reviews. Incoming Rounds Products slated for burial at sea in the next issue will come from the following items recently acquired: Clash of Arms' CHANCELLORSVILLE, FGA's BROTHER vs BROTHER, Victory's PELOPONNESIAN WAR, a comparison of Mark Herman's FLASHPOINT: GOLAN (Victory) with Frank Chadwick's SANDS OF WAR (GDW), and 3W's two latest, ROYALISTS AND ROUNDHEADS and RAID ON RICHMOND. As usual, the list is always subject to the laws of fluidity and availability. We have held up reviewing John Schettler's Sicily (S&T) because of word that the upcoming, sister Salerno game game game will implement many system changes. The Gamers' OMAHA has proven too big a subject to tackle so quickly (it was promised for this issue, but WWII and modern buffs will have to wait for #4, I guess). We're still looking for some brave, foolish soul to do a comparison review of TSR's PTO and the soon-to-be-released FGA EAGLE AND THE SUN, vis a vis previous, similar efforts (to wit, SPI's WAR IN THE PACIFIC and Victory's PACIFIC WAR. Someone doing 5-10 would probably be best. Hopefully, his wives, Bubba and Bobby Joe, play, too. Back to Berg's Review of Games Vol. II #2 Table of Contents Back to Berg's Review of Games List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Richard Berg This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com