Pass In Review Second Front

As I mentioned in an earlier column, I want to give a fuller picture of "the" game and the problems and general ups and downs that we experienced in the production of the game.

First, I have to tell you that with one exception, every step of the game was, in some way, screwed up. I am going to tell you about two of the problems; it would take an entire magazine to tell the whole story. I have lived through this "experience" once and don't care to retell all of it again.

Counters.

The trouble we had with the counters was the worst component problem of the game. That went something like this: I received a call and was told by the die cutter that some of the counters were "stained." I went to St. Louis to review the counters to see if they really had problems. They did. I sent samples back to the printer, who spent an amazing four months [4 MONTHS!!!] getting reprinted sheets back to the die cutter. Of course, the other stained counter sheets, 76A & B and 77 A & B, were not discovered or reported by the die cutter. Meanwhile, the die cutter "misplaced" [and has not found to this day] 2,300 of sheet 70.

This was not discovered until the truck delivered the load to the warehouse. Finally, 38% of the sheets were cut improperly and not discovered until the packing began. Well, you can see that the promised delivery of 5,000 games was somewhat compromised when it came to the counters-from 5,000 to 2,100 good games. In addition to the above we were treated to one of the worst color matches I have ever seen. I made four trips to the printer in Chicago to proof the counter sheets as they were produced. I have a good looking set of proofs, too bad they could not take the time or effort to watch the press as the sheets were printed.

The color differences are due, 100%, to the fact that the printer did not watch the ink wells, so you get different shades of Olive Drab or Luftwaffe Blue on the same sheet. Indifference and slop.

The problem was made worse, as some of you know, because we had to find and replace counter sheets for the games sold. Some of that always happens when a new game goes to market, but this was a very unusual situation due to the enormity of the screw up.

We are now reviewing every remaining counter sheet we have to ascertain if we can salvage any additional games. A monumental task, I can assure you.

Delivery.

This part of our story is about the packing and shipping of the game to the war bond holders and rest of the distributor/retail community. It begins with Origins.

We arrived at Origins '94 and waited for our shipment of games to arrive. They did! We had to wait all day, but they did! Oh boy, "the" game was going to be on the table and the campers were going to be happy. So let's open one for display and put it on the table. Hey, wait a minute, this game doesn't have any charts. Open another game. Hey, wait a minute, this game is missing half the counter sheets. Open yet another game. Gadzooks! This game has 31 of the same chart. F#@ K!

I immediately left the convention floor and went to my room. I called the company that was packing the games and told them to S T 0 P ! packing. Shut down the line until I returned and personally took charge of the process. They wanted to argue, deny responsibility, give me the "it's not our fault" routine. I simply stated, "I share your pain, and when I return, you will share mine." So, time for a new plan. I could not open all the games and fix them. I might be able to salvage some complete games, but I had only brought 100 games and the mathematical possibility of getting even 30 complete games seemed remote to me. Need a new plan, right now. Got one.

I produced a parts list for each game. The flyer was called "Second Front , the Final Insult" and stated that some of the games could be missing parts, have duplicate parts, or whatever. I asked that the buyer review the game and bring back the list, or mail it in to the company. There was some debate among the staff about this plan. I made a command decision and it was done.

When the form was received with the game it was taken with the good humor and kindness I had expected. My decision to make the form rather than unpack and repack to get good games was reinforced over and over by the individuals who bought the game. In effect it was "I don't care, I want it now and I will fix it later."

Unfortunately, all the war bond holder's games had been sent prior to Origins. 458 games out there. I could hardly wait to get home.

Well, my brothers that is just a glimpse of what a struggle we have had with this game. I terminated all the vendors and have replaced them with a printer/die cutter that has given me a signed contract. This contract states that if I order 15,000 counter sheets I will receive 15,000 perfect counter sheets. I will not be charged for any defects. This may sound like a normal business deal, but I can tell you, and so can other companies in this field, that the usual case is you pay for what you get, no matter how screwed up it is. Not anymore... Beginning with For Whom The Bell Tolls we have an all-in-one printer and die cutter and box maker. Satisfaction guaranteed. That means your satisfaction level should go up as well, and that is our number one concern.

In my next column I will discuss an unusual idea that could insure a lifetime supply of Europa games, Glory games, and more.