Not having written an editorial in the last two editions of LW {bet nobody even noticed} [I did! Ed] I thought I would find my old soapbox and give you my personal opinions on the current scene.
What is concerning me more and more is what the publishers are now pushing out under the term ‘Strategy’. Once upon a time this was where you would expect to find what I call Strategy Wargames, the type of games I am looking for. I looked at the top twenty games chart for January 2001 to pick out ‘Strategy games’ and found the following:
- The Sims by Electronic Arts/Maxis (3)
The Sims Livin’ It up by Electronic Arts/Maxis (4)
C&C Red Alert 2 Electronic Arts (5)
Sudden Strike CDV Software (8)
Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Microsoft (11)
Age of Empires 2: The Conquerers Microsoft (12)
Call to Power 2 Activision (14)
Shogun: Total War Electronic Arts (18)
(game position is in brackets)
Now this is purely my opinion but as far as I am concerned there are only three games in this list: ‘Shogun: Total War’, ‘Sudden Strike’ and ‘C&C Red Alert 2’ that fit my criteria. Though the others are strategy games they are all following down the simulation / resource management path of Civilisation really, just more detail, better graphics and a variation on the story line.
The other thing that will not have escaped your notice is that these are all real-time or real-time turn combination games. The turn based only games are conspicuous by their absence. I still want to be able to buy excellent turn based games such as the battleground series from Talonsoft. Yes I do play real-time and Sid Meier’s Gettysburg is still my ‘best of the best’ but I want to have a choice not be shepherded down a single road.
Now you may not agree with me of course, which is your privilege, and if you don’t then please let me have your views. As I have said many times before I do not have a monopoly on opinion and if you take the trouble to write, I will endeavour to put it in this column.
Right, having got that off my chest lets move on to the important bit of the corner which is the reviews. The first review is written by my daughter who is a fan of Civilisation but who, along with her friends, is currently playing ‘Pharaoh’ and decided to offer her opinions.
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