Matrix Games Forums

We are in contact with several distributors in Europe, but I don't have solid details yet

The board games company that I find the best in the UK is www.gameslore.co.uk I have always found them knowledgeable and helpful, plus their service is second to none. Shipping from the USA is over $20 dollars but as soon as it becomes available here I will certainly buy it. I'll even spread the word....no charge. Good real solitaire games are hard to find and an ancients game is fantastic. More please.

ORIGINAL: Dan Verssen

Even Alexander's journey started with a single footstep. 

Yeah but you've been saying that OLD line after every boardgame you create.

ORIGINAL: Dan Verssen

One of the ideas I'm considering is focusing DVG's tabletop design efforts on solitaire games, because Pasternakski is correct, most are played solitaire anyway. Finding a tabletop gaming opponent is tricky at best.

If DVG can become known as "The solitaire games company" I think it would help to set us apart.

Great idea.

The Rommel game alone is worth a purchase for me.

Will you be making your games available to a distributer in Canada?

Punk Reaper,
 
"Gameslore" looks like a great store!
 
If you would please, ask them who their distributors are, and possible emails and/or websites. I would then be happy to contact them to try and get our games distributed.
 
Thank you for the help,
-Dan

Warfare1,
 
I've looked, but I can'y find the names of any Canadian game distributors. If you have a local store, can you ask them who their distributors are and for contact info? I can then contact them to look into distribution.
 
Thank you,
-Dan

ORIGINAL: Dan Verssen

One of the ideas I'm considering is focusing DVG's tabletop design efforts on solitaire games, because Pasternakski is correct, most are played solitaire anyway. Finding a tabletop gaming opponent is tricky at best.

If DVG can become known as "The solitaire games company" I think it would help to set us apart.

Interesting, Dan.

One of the weird things about us dyed-in-the-wool wargamers is that we didn't buy games specifically designed for solitaire play in large numbers, but we solitaired the heck out of two-player games.

Even more bizarre, I would bet dollars to donuts that games intended for multiple players (Diplomacy, War & Peace, and Empires in Arms, to name a few) have been played solitaire even more frequently than the two-player games.

Go figure.

A solitaire design for which I have a great deal of respect is the old VG title, "Peloponnesian War." The designers recognized the shortcomings inherent in solitaire designs and concocted a system whereby you had to change sides from time to time (particularly if you were doing too well). Brilliant!

Here's a pic of a solitaire gamer gone bad (or good, depending on how you look at it from the aspect of your own grassy knoll).

ORIGINAL: Dan Verssen

Warfare1,

I've looked, but I can'y find the names of any Canadian game distributors. If you have a local store, can you ask them who their distributors are and for contact info? I can then contact them to look into distribution.

Thank you,
-Dan

Dan:

Thanks for your reply.

Below are the links to Canadian stores that carry board games AND board wargames that ship anywhere in Canada. I have visited/purchased games from several of these companies and can vouch for their excellent content and service.

I am sure they would be pleased to hear from you.

http://www.drexollgames.com/

http://www.cravingforagame.ca/

http://www.militaryhobbies.ca/

http://www.starlitcitadel.com/games/




DISTRIBUTORS FOR CANADIAN MARKET:

http://www.lionrampantimports.com/index.php

http://tinyurl.com/2glqug

It might also be interesting to develop a solitaire CARRIER board game, using either counters OR miniatures.

Example:

CARRIER (a solo board game):
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/1679

Carrier is a solitaire simulation of both historical and hypothetical carrier battles in the Southwest Pacific Theater during the hotly-contested naval campaigns of 1942 and 1943. As the U.S. commander, you maneuver your task forces and conduct air searches in a tension-packed contest to find the Japanese carriers before they locate and attack yours. Simple game mechanics control Japanese movement and determine the timing and strength of their attacks. You will not know that a Japanese air strike is headed your way until it actually appears in the skies above your task force. Once the enemy has been located, you face the very same, real-life, tactical dilemmas as your historical counterparts.

Carrier!

This game rocked!

Somehow complicated (lots of rules), but a great experience! Thanks for bringing it back here.

I'd say the same thing about Raid on St-Nazaire. My first "real" wargame ever. That was 20 years ago. (I went to St-Nazaire two years ago. I could walk around the old town and the port without a map! Great feeling!)

Now, I don't own any DVG games, but they sure look interesting...

MB

I didn't realize the Nimitz was around in 1942.  How did it ever take us so long to win!  [:D] 
 
Anyway, DV, it looks great.  I like solitaire games a lot as it's difficult to find the time for opponents.  Will check it out.

"Gameslore" looks like a great store!

If you would please, ask them who their distributors are, and possible emails and/or websites. I would then be happy to contact them to try and get our games distributed.

Thank you for the help,
-Dan

Paul at Gameslore has just got back to me, he has sent you details of UK distributers and is interested in stocking the game.

Good luck...hope to see it over here soon.

Warfare1,
 
Thank you for the store and distributor links!
 
I will start contacting them.

Punk Reaper,
 
Thank you for the help!
 
I just received Paul's email and I will contact him.

ORIGINAL: Dan Verssen

Warfare1,

Thank you for the store and distributor links!

I will start contacting them.

You're very welcome Dan.

I wish you all the best. The first opportunity I have, I will buy Commander Rommel.

I think there is a good market in producing quality solitaire wargames. The subject matter is unlimited.

Not only are there commanders to simulate, but there are also Great Land Battles (with variants); Naval Battles; Carrier Game; Modern; Ancient; Fantasy; etc, etc...

You could even put out a game similar to Memoir 44 (a wargame easy to learn and play) that allows for playing many different battles (from both sides) solitaire...

The great thing about this is there are NO computer upgrades; No OS problems; NO motherboard burnout; etc...

[:)]

I agree with all Warfare1 wrote. Everyone i've told about this game is really interested in the solitaire play aspect. The lack of opponents is always a problem and that's the main reason why they play computer games, but as other members on this site will tell you most games have poor AI leaving you with a deflated feeling even when you win. From now on I'll put your site on my favourates and watch out for any future publications. Hopefully there will be a medieval game. [;)]

Thank you for all the kind words. Some design days go smoothly, others are a grind when mechanics refuse to come together. Reading encouraging messages makes all the difference.
 
Medieval could be fun. Do you have any reccomendations for a leader?
 
The requirements are...
 
- It must be a leader that is so well-known that even non-gamers will know of the person
- The person must have particpated in enough action to build 3 or more campaigns around
- The person's life must have been exciting enough to make for a good movie

ORIGINAL: Dan Verssen

Thank you for all the kind words. Some design days go smoothly, others are a grind when mechanics refuse to come together. Reading encouraging messages makes all the difference.

Medieval could be fun. Do you have any reccomendations for a leader?

The requirements are...

- It must be a leader that is so well-known that even non-gamers will know of the person
- The person must have particpated in enough action to build 3 or more campaigns around
- The person's life must have been exciting enough to make for a good movie

Suggestion:

For medieval you could always opt for Crusades: pitting King Richard against Saladin. Here you have easily identifiable goals, protagonists, subject matter, etc around which to build campaigns.

Have solitaire campaigns playable by King Richard and Saladin.

And if you need playtesters I don't think you'll have any problem getting them from this site.

How about Warwick the Kingmaker set in the Wars of the Roses. Plenty of fighting and political intrigue, supporting both the Lancastrians and the Yorkists. Loads of characters from Richard III, Edward IV, Margaret of Anjou etc...Also lets not forget the knights and castles....mmm heaven