Gary Grigsby’s World at War: A World Divided
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 3 JUN 2007 by Al Berke
The name is longer, but is the game any better? There are a lot of additional features in the new edition of World at War, to include an upgraded combat system, intelligence operations, more diplomacy and scenarios ranging from a 1939 start to the Soviet invasion of Europe in 1946. Al Berke takes a look to see what a difference 17 months makes.
That Body of Brave Men: The U.S. Regular Infantry and the Civil War in the West
BOOK REVIEW posted on 11 JAN 2007 by Al Berke
An active duty US Army officer provides an in-depth look at some oft-neglected areas of the American Civil War. How does Mark Johnson’s chronicle of the experiences of the United States Regular Infantry Regiments that fought in the Western Theater during the American Civil War measure up to other accounts of campaigns, battles and camp life?
CDV Press Event 2006
COMPANY SITE VISIT posted on 31 AUG 2006 by Al Berke
What's up with CDV these days? Heroes of Annihilated Empires and War Front will soon arrive, and Al Berke filed this report discussing both games.
Dreadnought Rising! & Battleships Zenith!
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 1 AUG 2006 by Al Berke
Al Berke takes a look at these tactical surface naval simulations from Naval Warfare Simulations that can either be played as board games or table top miniatures.
Warfighter 101: Movement to Contact
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 28 OCT 2005 by Al Berke
As shareware is to retail computer games so desktop publishing is to retail board game companies; relatively inexpensive products that often lack graphical and production polish, but can still deliver an excellent gaming experience. Does Warfigher 101: Movement to Contact meet the challenge?
Empire of the Sun
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 1 SEP 2005 by Al Berke
Mark Herman's latest card-driven game covering the Pacific War has sparked a lot of controversy among gamers. Some see it as an innovative masterpiece, while others a poorly presented rules nightmare. Al Berke weighs in with his opinion.
Nelson – The New Letters
BOOK REVIEW posted on 10 JUL 2005 by Al Berke
Al Berke takes a look at the latest edition to the Royal Naval Museum's Nelson Letters Project with some 507 new letters from Nelsons writings edited and prepared in Colin White's Nelson - The New Letters. This title serves as a preview to the additional hundreds of documents that are still being edited, and as a commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar, which took place just over 200 years ago.
Tillercon 2005
CONVENTION COVERAGE posted on 8 JUL 2005 by Al Berke
The inaugural Tillercon was all about this man. Al Berke returns from the convention with this detailed report on the people, places, and things which make John Tiller's wargames possible.
Soldier Raj
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 22 JUN 2005 by Al Berke
The 18th and 19th centuries saw the steady subjugation of the Indian subcontinent by the British Empire through a combination of war and diplomacy. Can Avalanche Press take its popular Soldier series and adopt it to present this often-bloody arc of history? Al Berke reports.
Supremacy: Four Paths to Power
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 13 JUN 2005 by Al Berke
Is the world ready for an uncomplicated 3X (Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) science fiction game that provides both space and ground combat at the tactical level? Al Berke grabs some beer and pretzels and sits down with Supremacy: Four Paths to Power.
Grand Illusion
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 23 MAR 2005 by Al Berke
Some things are immutable - the leaves fall, taxes come due, the cat ruins the furniture. And oh, yes, another game on the first days of World War I on the western front is published. Can Grand Illusion set itself apart from the legion of simulations depicting the "Guns of August?" Al Berke investigates.
Suleiman the Magnificent
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 18 FEB 2005 by Al Berke
In 1526 Suleiman, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, crushed the Hungarian Army and killed young King Louis II at the Battle of Mohacs, effectively ending the Kingdom of Hungary. Fascinating history, but does it make a game? Al Berke takes a look at Suleiman the Magnificent to find out.
War in the Pacific
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 12 JAN 2005 by Al Berke
War in the Pacific is a huge game covering the entire Pacific Theater during the Second World War. Just how deep are its depths? The Wargamer’s Al Berke sounds it out.
El Alamein '42
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 30 SEP 2004 by Al Berke
"El Alamein is no exception and the designers have done an excellent job of portraying war in the North African desert during six crucial months in 1942. This is a solid, workmanlike system that doesn’t pretend to be flashy, but can deliver a fun gaming experience."
The D-Day Companion
BOOK REVIEW posted on 21 JUL 2004 by Al Berke
"...contains thirteen essays concerning the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944 written by twelve well known British and American historians."
Great White Fleet
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 10 JUN 2004 by Al Berke
"Great White Fleet is a companion scenario book to the Great War at Sea operational and tactical naval board game series."
Wellington’s Peninsula Regiments (2) The Light Infantry
BOOK REVIEW posted on 4 MAY 2004 by Al Berke
"...is one of Osprey Publishing’s Men-at-Arms series and the second volume describing the history, organization, uniforms, and equipment of British forces that fought in Portugal, Spain, and southern France from 1808-1814, known as the Peninsular War."
War! Age of Imperialism
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 18 MAR 2004 by Al Berke
The Wargamer's Al Berke takes a look at how successfully Donohoe Digital was at porting Eagle Games' excellent board game, War! Age of Imperialism, to the computer.
Space Empires: Starfury
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 19 FEB 2004 by Al Berke
After the critically-acclaimed Space Empires: IV, Malfador Machinations has returned with Space Empires: Starfury, a 3D graphics version of the space combat sim. Al Berke reports in with his review.
The Famous Fourth: The 4th Infantry in Normandy
HISTORICAL ARTICLE posted on 27 JAN 2004 by Al Berke
Al Berke explores the military actions of the U.S. 4th Infantry during World War II in the first weeks following D-Day.
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