Matrix Games Forums

Reading the thread : Suggestions for New games. I got to wondering why more boardgames aren't converted to computer games. Instead of the endless stream of FPS and sport sims why don't developers dlve into the realm of board games. As a non programmer I would have thought that much of the work had already been done, (board graphics, rules) leaving more time for the creation of a good AI. A look at Boardgamegeek shows a number of very popular games that could be converted. For example, Twilight Struggle, Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage, Napoleon at War, War of the Ring to name a few. It seems to me that developers try to develop the more complex monster games such as World in Flames or dare I say Empire in Arms leaving the simpler games which I would of thought would have a shorter development time and therefore more profitability.
Ok now you can all gently put me right......note the word gently.....I know people.

+1 PR!

Good question and I've often wondered the same. I'm sure that copyright and licensing is part of it but otherwise we know that Avalon Hill tried this back in the 90's with moderate success. I can't, offhand, think of many others.

There's been some PC game to boardgame conversions (interestingly enough). Doom the boardgame, Civilization the boardgame come to mind right away.

I'm tinkering around with Visual Basic and always thought that a great project would be to convert something like Patton's Best to the PC. All the AI is there (in the charts), it just needs to be coded up to be presented to the player. I wonder, however, if it would still be as enjoyable? Something about actually rolling the dice and looking up the results and applying them on the board.

Well, I don't use them but Aide de Camp, Vassal and Cyberboard at least partially fill that void. I wish some board games were converted as well. In fact, like GJK, I'm planning on actaully trying to do one to see what's involved. I'll try to wiggle my way around the whole copywrite thing, which I have a plan for how I will go about it.
 
Not for $$$ but just to see if I can do it and if so, maybe for enough money to pay for the hobby.
 

I think it all boils down to one thing $$$$$ and £££££,theres too small a market for these games however desirable it is to have them ported over to the PC.There are loads of game si would love to see become electrified.

Actually, Civilization is board game converted to PC and then re-converted to boardgame : there are two very different Civilization boardgames, without mentioning at least two separate editions of the original (vanilla and Advanced)

ORIGINAL: Punk Reaper

Ok now you can all gently put me right......note the word gently.....I know people.

I know few boardgames that have been converted to computers. I'm pretty sure there are plenty more I don't know about. But the ones I know and come to mind right now:
Classic BattleTech -> MechForce (Amiga), MegaMek (Java)
Ticket to ride
(Advanced) Squad Leader
Chess & other classic games

Anything else?

Car Wars and GEV /OGRE.

Pacific War was converted, of course, and then morphed into War in the Pacific. Also, there is an electronic version of Third Reich, although DOS-based and now not legally available (it's on one of the abandonware sites, but technically those are illegal downloads).

Boardame Conversions

Why ?

I like the tangible aspect of board games, anyone that is an veteran of both PC n’ board will testify something is lost in the transition .

Instituting such aspects as FOW and AI would take major rule changes which in most titles especially the tactical ones would end up add nothing except a broken rule set .

PS: ASL board and the PC version only share the name

ORIGINAL: Sarge

Boardame Conversions

Why ?

I like the tangible aspect of board games, anyone that is an veteran of both PC n’ board will testify something is lost in the transition .

Instituting such aspects as FOW and AI would take major rule changes which in most titles especially the tactical ones would end up add nothing except a broken rule set .

PS: ASL board and the PC version only share the name

It's true, the tangible and social elements of boardgaming cannot really be ported, although a decent arguement can be made for the social elements being roughly equivalent.

But, how many times in your boardgaming days/nights when you are muddling through rules and charts to you say to yourself "this would be perfect for a computer to do" ? For me that's a very frequent occurance.

Plus, sad to say, it's almost impossible to find opponents for certain games that were part of our past, that were a lot of fun in their time. I guess I'd like to have that fun again even though I I'll almost never find an opponent. That's motivation enough for me personally.

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.
Plus, sad to say, it's almost impossible to find opponents for certain games that were part of our past, that were a lot of fun in their time. I guess I'd like to have that fun again even though I I'll almost never find an opponent. That's motivation enough for me personally.

I gave up about 12yrs ago trying to find opponents and started cloning my own [:D]

Decision games has Computer War In Europe. Has no AI at all. A new Window version is due out first of the month. Used to be a free download then they realized people would pay for it.

ORIGINAL: Sarge

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.
Plus, sad to say, it's almost impossible to find opponents for certain games that were part of our past, that were a lot of fun in their time. I guess I'd like to have that fun again even though I I'll almost never find an opponent. That's motivation enough for me personally.

I gave up about 12yrs ago trying to find opponents and started cloning my own [:D]

Heh, that's a path many a gamer has taken.

Hi andy,

When were Car Wars and OGRE/GEV done? I seemed to have a faint memory of a single player CarWars game that SJG approved, but nothing like GEV or OGRE...

Regards,

Rob

Hello Mr. Kuokkanen,

I know of at least one: It was not licensed, but Star Fleet Battles was converted into StarFleet Command and StarFleet Command II. I was fortunate enough to be on an alpha test team for ADG for SFB and a beta tester for SFC.

StarFleet Command, SFC II and SFCII: Orion Pirates were both DAMM good games. But I'm sure that licensing issues with ADG (Steven V. Cole) cut it's life too short.

Regards,

Rob

I gave up about 12yrs ago trying to find opponents and started cloning my own

Sadly clones grow up and leave home as I am findig today. My last clone has moved away to university today leaving me with a book shelf full of games. Wife wont agree to have more just to satisfy my gaming needs.

ORIGINAL: sysrkm

Hi andy,

When were Car Wars and OGRE/GEV done? I seemed to have a faint memory of a single player CarWars game that SJG approved, but nothing like GEV or OGRE...

Regards,

Rob

They werent done i was just saying that they should be done.They are 3 of the most underrated games made in my opinion.

ORIGINAL: Sarge

Boardame Conversions

Why ?

I like the tangible aspect of board games, anyone that is an veteran of both PC n’ board will testify something is lost in the transition .

Ever had trouble finding opponent for board game? Ever tried to play one over Internet? [:'(]

Instituting such aspects as FOW and AI would take major rule changes which in most titles especially the tactical ones would end up add nothing except a broken rule set .

Oh come on! MegaMek works just fine by BattleTech Master Rules (old version) and Total Warfare!
...
So command detonate mines and point blank fire don't work yet, but I haven't used those outside computers either...

PS: ASL board and the PC version only share the name

And someone on these forums said that ASL rulebook is required to play the computer version...

StarFleet Command, SFC II and SFCII: Orion Pirates were both DAMM good games.

Amen! But there are some SFB veterans (which I'm not), who want more faithful version of it.

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen

ORIGINAL: Sarge
I like the tangible aspect of board games, anyone that is an veteran of both PC n’ board will testify something is lost in the transition .

Ever had trouble finding opponent for board game? Ever tried to play one over Internet? [:'(]

Yes and Yes

Played ASL and GMT’s CCE over the internet do they count ?

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen

PS: ASL board and the PC version only share the name

And someone on these forums said that ASL rulebook is required to play the computer version…

[8|]

I was commenting on :

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen

I know few boardgames that have been converted to computers. I'm pretty sure there are plenty more I don't know about. But the ones I know and come to mind right now:
Classic BattleTech -> MechForce (Amiga), MegaMek (Java)
Ticket to ride
(Advanced) Squad Leader
Chess & other classic games

Anything else?

(Advanced) Squad Leader was hardly the PC version of ASL