Recently Ty Bomba, publisher of Command, and designer/artist Joe Youst got into a heated discussion on the magazine's America Online bulletin board service (BBS) topic. Mr. Youst gave his opinion of the latest issue game, and he was verbally trounced by Mr. Bomba.

Boards like this were set up by the various companies to exchange information about the games, errata, and coming events, plus allow general discourse on wargaming as a whole and the company's niche in particular. Although each of the boards is run in a different manner and style, most try to answer gamers questions quickly and efficiently. Ty Bomba has been very responsive, usually answering questions within hours of their posting.

However, there is a growing trend among a select few to use the boards as their personal forum to prove their "expertise" on a particular facet of the hobby. This "nit picking" led to the heated exchange between Bomba and Youst. Mr. Youst expressed dissatisfaction with a particular game based on its appearance and was surprised when Mr. Bomba "Unloaded" on him.

Command, like the other companies, is in business to sell games. Reviews based on substance will lead to errata and corrections, but "cheap shots" that demean a game based on some minor error will reduce sales and hurt the company.

Mr. Bomba was quite correct in calling Mr. Youst to task for his remarks, and the trend will no doubt continue on other boards as other company reps lash out at the small group of selfappointed "gaming experts." Gaming companics have reps on both Genie and AOL. On AOL, use keyword "GCS" to get to gaming support. On GEnie go to Category 24 in the Games RoundTable BBS section.

Industry News 1995

Zone of Control: The Voice of American Wargaming
Battles on the BBS: Bomba vs. Youst
3W Gone
Moves is Back