Matrix Games Forums

I noticed that some on this website have an equal interest in racing sims (or flying) and wargames. This struck me as quite funny as that is exactly where I am currently. And with me, it's seasonal for some crazy reason.

From about Jan to June I love racing. Can't get enough of it. Same goes for the sims. Grand Prix Legends. F1Challenge (and all the mods). I read books on it, watch movies. Really can't get enough.

And then, mysteriously, but surely, I move on to wargames. Movies, books and of course, wargames. Lots of em. And now I must add Httr to the list. Very nice addition I might add.

I believe they have many things in common. History is obvious. But there are also the technical aspects, coefficient of friction, velocity, formation, etc..

But more than anything else, they have a HNF! What is that? It is a High Nut Factor! Everyone here will immediately know what I mean. It means that you can go deep with the topic and never exhaust it. You can focus. I mean really focus on one aspect of the genre and never run out of information. Equally, you get excited about topics which might drive others crazy. For instance, in racing, you might spend days reading about slip angles and the physics of corners. In wargames, you might spend days reading about the pentetration values of tanks made in the first quarter of 1944 vs 1943. You get the idea.

And finally, both require brains, and probably more than we have unfortunately. They are great hobbies, great interests and the forums are filled with the best of the best. Bet your one of em.

Yep, I was once upon a time a well known/published online flying ace aka a "has been" who trained a lot of "want to be's".

That's behind me now, but not so much by choice; more by arthritis.

I did some F1 racing too, but was only a novice. Compared to everything else, there were few things that kept your attention wired like whizing around a track where a momentary lapse of concentration could spell disaster.

I tried some more slow paced stuff like Sub Command. I found it tremendously educational, but don't have the patience to spend hours watching sonar tracks.

War gaming is a great mental exercising of one's planning and analytical skills, but I have to confess I miss scissoring online on the edge of a stall just a few feet above the wave crests of the English Channel.

ORIGINAL: PzKpfw III

But more than anything else, they have a HNF! What is that? It is a High Nut Factor! Everyone here will immediately know what I mean. It means that you can go deep with the topic and never exhaust it. You can focus. I mean really focus on one aspect of the genre and never run out of information. Equally, you get excited about topics which might drive others crazy. For instance, in racing, you might spend days reading about slip angles and the physics of corners. In wargames, you might spend days reading about the pentetration values of tanks made in the first quarter of 1944 vs 1943. You get the idea.

'High Nut Factor'! Plenty of that around here[:D] Wargamers are sticklers for detail and 'realism' which is why many 'grogs' treat RTS games with derision. I'm not too keen on racing or flight sims and I do enjoy a good FPS or RTS but then I treat those as 'fun' games when I need something lighter or more immediate. I do expect my wargames to mirror history as much as is feasible and HTTR gets closer than most imho.

My wife and child have Aspergers Syndrome. Sounds like many of us wargamers may have it to:)

ORIGINAL: wodin

My wife and child have Aspergers Syndrome. Sounds like many of us wargamers may have it to:)

I have a niece with Aspergers, mild enough not to require treatment and it doesn't seem to bother her too much.