While I'm at it, I'd like to have your assistance with an important marketing tool we are trying to develop ... Please take the time to answer the following questions. THANK YOU! Despite the limited market, our grognards have both sophisticated and diverse needs. Below is a short list of important qualities a game could have. I want to publish a rating for all four OSG games, ranking each quality from 1 to 10. We may help some who have overlooked us to identify exactly what they are looking for. To give this project added credibility, I want to hand the rating over to you: an independent review panel. You will "call it as you see it." The rating does not rate the product overall, but points the player to the qualities he is looking for. These qualities are: Historical accuracy - educational value Collector's appeal - graphic design, physical quality Strategic challenge - does it present an interesting challenge Rigidity - the enforcement of historical outcome Balance - is it a level playing field, within the confines of accuracy Playability - are you willing to learn new rules (or strategies) Flow - moves comfortably and smoothly with anticipated consequences Completion - can the game be played to completion in a reasonable time Solitaire Value - for play and/or study Vividness - does it "take you there" Though we try to deliver all of these features, we must do a better job of letting the gamers know which features they will get when they buy each product. If we can gain acceptance of the rating system, people will look at our products when they are ready to buy because they can make a more informed buying decision. Panelists: Please Rate the following (if you have not played, leave blank). Scale: 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent). Please reply as soon as possible. Many Thanks for your help! 1. NAPOLEON AT BAY Historical accuracy Collector's appeal Strategic challenge Rigidity Balance Playability Flow Completion Solitaire Value Vividness 2. 1806 Historical accuracy Collector's appeal Strategic challenge Rigidity Balance Playability Flow Completion Solitaire Value Vividness 3. LA GUERRE DE L'EMPEREUR (2nd Edition Rules) Historical accuracy Collector's appeal Strategic challenge Rigidity Balance Playability Flow Completion Solitaire Value Vividness 4. LAST DAYS OF THE GRANDE ARMEE Historical accuracy Collector's appeal Strategic challenge Rigidity Balance Playability Flow Completion Solitaire Value Vividness Back to OSG News October 1999 Table of Contents Back to OSG News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Operational Studies Group. 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