Sins of a Solar Empire Review

Recently Sins of a Solar Empire (known as 'Sins' where I have read it before) was on sale in Steam. It contained all sequels for a reduced price, and was in the top three sales when MW3 and Skyrim were still selling. Like all excellent strategy games, it rewards concerted time and effort. Despite the immense number of bodies present in the game, there is a sense of control and long-term strategy. However, like all excellent strategy games, it required a hefty amount of time dedicated to get anything out of it. I looked recently at my Steam Stats; that is, the amount of time I had spent on my games. These ranged from 7 hours a week to 17-18 hours. That is a few hours on most evenings, and a good 6-7 hours over a weekend. Seeing as all the games...

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War Gaming

Since the start of the year I have been playing through the total war games. They're the kind of games that while a man might think he can give them thirty minutes or so, they really demand a few hours at a stretch. I have always been a fan of the epic stretch of wargames. The strategy of manoeuvring, of bluffing and second-guessing your opponent, of whom you know their strategies and their preferences and their bluffs: I think it's brilliant. The ludic aspect of gaming is, for me, at its strongest in the bluff and double-bluff of wargaming. Tabletop wargaming is less so. While a worthwhile (if expensive) hobby, such an experience is more the mutual discover of a narrative than a gaming experience. By that I mean that tabletop wargaming is...

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