The Complete Book of Wargames: Critical Reception and Legacy
In the early 1980s, the wargaming industry experienced a period of explosive growth. As new titles flooded the market, enthusiasts and critics sought a definitive resource to navigate the hobby. The Complete Book of Wargames emerged as a primary reference work during this era, attempting to catalog and analyze the state of the art. However, the sheer speed of the industry's evolution created a unique challenge for the publication: staying relevant in a mercurial market.
Key Facts
- Purpose: Designed as a comprehensive reference work for the wargaming hobby.
- Content: Includes a history of wargaming and an analysis of why people play.
- Scope: Focuses primarily on board wargames, omitting miniatures and fantasy role-playing games.
- Critical Consensus: Praised for its writing and utility for beginners, but criticized for becoming obsolete quickly.
Critical Perspectives from the Era
Upon its release, the book received mixed but generally positive reviews from prominent gaming publications of the time. Critics focused heavily on the tension between the book's quality as a written work and the volatility of the game industry.
The Space Gamer's Outlook
Writing in the October 1980 edition of The Space Gamer (Issue No. 32), Nick Schuessler highlighted the inherent difficulty of publishing a static book in a rapidly changing field. He noted that the "mercurial aspects of wargaming" meant that any new publication risked becoming obsolete the day it was printed. Despite this, he recommended the book as an excellent and reasonably priced reference work.
Dragon Magazine's Critique
By February 1981, Tony Watson of Dragon (Issue 46) offered a more tempered view. While he acknowledged that the book was well-written, he argued it held little value for experienced gamers. Watson observed that only a few months after publication, the variety and speed of new game releases had already rendered the book's topical evaluations obsolete, though he admitted it still covered several important and available titles.
Analysis from Games Magazine
Jamie Adams, writing for Issue 25 of Games, praised the book's foundational sections, specifically its history of wargaming as both a concept and a hobby, as well as its thoughtful analysis of player motivation. However, Adams raised several significant concerns regarding the book's scope and accuracy.
Adams pointed out that the title was misleading because the text ignored miniatures (games using physical scale models) and fantasy role-playing games. Furthermore, he noted that the rapid growth of the hobby meant that major industry players, such as Yaquinto Publications, were omitted because they were formed after the book was written. He also observed that many reviewed games had changed publishers or disappeared from the market entirely.
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Summary of Critical Reception
| Reviewer | Publication | Primary Strength | Primary Criticism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Schuessler | The Space Gamer | Reasonable price and utility | Industry volatility |
| Tony Watson | Dragon | Quality of writing | Limited value for veterans |
| Jamie Adams | Games | History and psychological analysis | Misleading title and omissions |
Frequently Asked Questions
Was The Complete Book of Wargames considered accurate?
While the writing was praised, critics noted that the information became outdated very quickly due to the rapid growth of the gaming industry, leading to missing companies and unavailable game titles.
What types of games were excluded from the book?
The book focused on board wargames, meaning it ignored the miniatures hobby and fantasy role-playing games.
Who was the intended audience for the book?
Critics suggested it was most useful for new gamers or those considering entering the hobby, rather than experienced wargamers.
What did Jamie Adams find most valuable about the book?
Adams appreciated the book's opening sections, which provided a history of wargaming and a thoughtful analysis of why people are drawn to the hobby.
Did the book cover all major gaming companies of the time?
No; for example, it failed to mention Yaquinto Publications because the company was formed after the book had been written.