Regarding any recommendations or final rankings within this trilogy, the highpoints illustrated above seem to indicate that they are about equal overall. Each game is good in its own right, with different advantages and disadvantages. They are ALL very worthwhile, interesting, and relatively easy to play game/simulations.

Besides the physical description and comparisons of each game, conclusions about their value and future can be drawn. A statement comparing the value of these games to ANZIO can be made. What is the future of these games are heirs to this period of historical playback? Also, these games embody some current trends in the hobby that are appearing in this decade.

ANZIO, of course, was a very high quality game with an excellent mouted board, highest quality die-cut counters, well researched; probably the diffinitive and classic portrayal of the Italian campaign, not to mention being the highpoint of classic Avalon Hill late-sixties gaming. But it does take a long time to learn and play. More or less a game for the hard core minority, ANZIO has the depth to endear itself to a veteran but is over the heads of most casual players. The Italian theater has not been very popular in recent wargaming, and probably led to ANZIO'S phasing out as much as did its complexity.

At a retail price of $6.98 and that much or more now as a collectors item, ANZIO is a fair investment; not excessive but in the higher price range. The cost of this entire trilogy, when added up at their magazine subscription rates, which is how they were originally available, is under $3.00. For just a step down in quality and packaging, and a leap forward in play value, games like these demonstrate the worth of conflict game magazines.

The myth of the only good game being an expensive, high quality, once or twice a year issue so as not to flood the market is what has really been laid to rest. These three games are just a part of the game explosion that has occurred in the early seventies. For the price of subscriptions to S & T, PANZERFAUST, and BATTLE FLAG magazines, at most $23.00, one can acquire around a dozen games outright, discounts on others, and twenty-four issues of conflict game periodicals in a year's time. Which is just about the same price as two new releases from Avalon Hill and six copies of the GENERAL.

It is evident that there is no longer a monopoly on design talent or publishing ability. The gamer is now offered two, three, or maybe even more, choices in a single subject area. Recent examples include FRANCE 1940, in both Avalon Hill and S & T versions, DUNKIRQUE 1940, and DUNKIRK, THE BATTLE OF FRANCE. World War I air combat is getting coverage from FIGHT IN THE SKIES, FLYING CIRCUS, RICHTOFFEN'S WAR, and the proposed SPADS AND FOKKERS. BATTLE OF THE BULGE, BASTOGNE, and OPERATION GRIEF will soon be joined by the ARDENNES OFFENSIVE. One only has to read through the past few issues of PANZERFAUST to find other pairs being evaluated. This trio of Italian invasions reflects a similarity, if not in actual events, at least in systems used and time covered.

Game complexity, another factor in ANZIO'S demise, is changing in this era. Few could learn to play very many games the size of ANZIO in a years time. Players are now, or could be, going through anywhere from ten to thirty or more games per year. Games have had to become easier to learn, quicker to set up and shorter to play for this kind of acceleration to occur. The heirs to ANZIO will probably get more play than games requiring larger amounts of time and space.

There will, of course, continue to be a demand for high quality games, even with such a large number of new titles available. While few can afford many expensive games per year, even avid gamezine subscribers have room on their shelves and in their pocketbooks for a few big quality games now and then. All that the presence of so many games, both large and small, will mean is more enjoyment for all concerned. Great gaming.

Anzio's Heirs Three New WarGames

Introduction
Anzio Beachhead
The Invasion of Sicily
Salerno
Unique Features
Conclusions
Unit Organizations and CRTs