Supreme Ruler: Cold War
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 21 SEP 2011 by Chris Mohon
Duck under your school desks and cover your heads with Chris Steelgrave Mohon as he reviews Supreme Ruler: Cold War.
Strategic Command World War 2 Global Conflict Part 2
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 19 MAY 2010 by Scott Parrino
Today's Part 2 article examines the balance between playablility and historical accuracy.
Strategic Command World War 2 Global Confict Part 1
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 18 MAY 2010 by Scott Parrino
Eight years after the first Strategic Command game was released, the latest version encompasses the entire globe. The Wargamer's Doug McLean takes a look at the overall game's presentation, e-license, graphics, and documentation.
Making History II - Super Heavy Tanks
DEVELOPER FEATURE posted on 20 OCT 2009 by Scott Parrino
With a much expanded selection of units in Making History II, this developer feature takes a look at super heavy tanks.
Making History II
INTERVIEW posted on 13 AUG 2009 by Scott Parrino
The Wargamer gets some inside scoop on the upcoming sequel to this World War II strategy game of alternative history.
Tropico 3 Interface Sneak Peek
SCREENSHOTS FEATURE posted on 14 JUL 2009 by Scott Parrino
We've just scored a sneak peek at the interface that will be used in the upcoming banana republic remake, Tropico 3.
New Tropico 3 Screenshots
SCREENSHOTS FEATURE posted on 10 JUN 2009 by Scott Parrino
Fire up the BBQ, break out the mojitos, and let the steel drums roll. We just got some new screenshots from our favorite Banana Republic sim, and we can already smell the island air.
Tropico 3 Interview
INTERVIEW posted on 4 JUN 2009 by Scott Parrino
In an interview with its publisher, the developers of Tropico 3 share some insight into what they're working on for this remake of a classic, and some of the new features players will get to enjoy.
Tropico 3 Screenshots
SCREENSHOTS FEATURE posted on 9 MAR 2009 by Scott Parrino
Banana Republic wanna-be dictators are on notice: work on Tropico 3 is well underway and we have the screenshots to prove it.
The New World of Martin Cortes
BOOK REVIEW posted on 29 AUG 2004 by Scott Parrino
"The author Anna Lanyon is an Australian academic who specialises in Latin America history. In this book she takes us on her journey of discovery as she travels through Spain and Mexico uncovering the history of Cortes and his family."
Empire Earth
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 25 MAR 2002 by Scott Parrino
While it may overwhelm casual RTS players, those who are willing to deal with the extra complexity will probably find a rewarding experience.
Risk 2210 A.D.
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 8 SEP 2001 by Scott Parrino
Risk 2210 A.D. is not a rehash of an old classic. It is an innovative breakthrough in simple, multi-player family-style wargaming that enhances a proven system by adding a whole layer of choices and opportunities for player interaction, and then brings it all together in a science fiction universe.
History of the World
BOARD GAME REVIEW posted on 8 JUL 2001 by Scott Parrino
Six hundred toy soldiers. That is what the buyer will find in Hasbro-Avalon Hill's newest version of the classic History of the World boardgame. For those who have never played any previous versions of the game before, this will be a wonderful treat. People who have older versions of the game will find the Hasbro-Avalon Hill product to be a cleaner, smoother, more fluid game that, while not necessarily better than the previous version, is definitely an enjoyable and valuable variant that breathes new life and new strategies into a much-played favorite.
Semper Fi
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 3 JUL 2001 by Scott Parrino
Semper Fi does reflect a tremendous amount of good work by a lot of people which is a real shame to go to waste. The game does have its bright spots with initiative determination and player programmable AI, but the sum of the parts just comes up short.
Tropico
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 13 MAY 2001 by Scott Parrino
Tropico is a rare game that succeeds on many levels. The game is successful no matter whether viewed as a pure building game with a splash of local color and economy, an empire builder with a liberal dose of character development, or a game featuring a balance of politics, building and economy. It does need to be pointed out that Tropico succeeds as a "game," not a simulation, and any who enter the dictator's office expecting an exact representation of reality are bound to be disappointed.
Interview with Tropico's Phil Steinmeyer
INTERVIEW posted on 18 MAR 2001 by Scott Parrino
Phil Steinmeyer is the designer of the upcoming strategy game Tropico. Gamers will assume the post of ruling a small island nation. As the leader you will have both character advantages and flaws. The game itself will be similar to SimCity in regards to the level of control you can be exercise. It should feature many avenues to success and many differing elements to juggle in attaining that success.
Tropico
PC GAME PREVIEW posted on 1 JAN 2001 by Scott Parrino
In simple terms, Tropico is a nearly perfect blend of all the great elements of every city and empire building simulation I've played. Fans of Caesar, Pharaoh, Zeus, Sim City, Railroad Tycoon, The Sims, and many others, will feel immediately at home. Although, as with most of the games above, the player is cast in the role of supreme ruler, one does not have direct control over the population. Instead, your wishes are restricted to construction and land development decisions, salary and hiring decisions, and the general setting of policies and execution of edicts (arresting troublemakers or political opponents, assassinations, declaring political orientation and policies, enacting martial law, allowing the Pope to visit, and so forth).
Call to Power II
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 13 DEC 2000 by Scott Parrino
The right to call a game by the title Civilization sparked rivalries and lawsuits that eventually led to the collapse and acquisition of game companies, the firing, resignation and hiring of new designers and public duels (mostly but not always just in print) between many interested and afflicted parties. Activision was a major player in all of these donnybrooks. Regardless of all that, and no matter what the title printed on the box, Call to Power II IS Civilization - and except for the multi-player bugs and a time-consuming scenario editor - it is Civilization done right.
Montezuma Gets His Revenge or PC History on the PC
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 30 OCT 2000 by Scott Parrino
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion is not a new game. It builds on and improves the Age of Empires II system, but not dramatically. The expansion pack is just that: it expands on what has come before. Veteran Age of Empires II gamers will appreciate the new units, technologies, civilizations, maps and other changes, all of which fine-tune and upgrade an already well-honed system.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six - Rogue Spear: Urban Operations
PC GAME REVIEW posted on 11 JUN 2000 by Scott Parrino
While the basic gameplay has not changed much from Rogue Spear (as to be expected in a mission pack), Urban Operations nonetheless offers an exceptionally well-balanced game. Where Eagle Watch fell flat on its face, Urban Operations kept going. The new expansion pack for Rogue Spear offers players the ability to play any of the Rogue Spear or Urban Operations missions or maps directly from the Urban Operations menu, whereas the Eagle Watch menu system forced you to switch from Eagle Watch to standard Rainbow Six. Plus, Urban Operations adds a total of fifteen maps to play, on top of the standard twenty-two maps that Rogue Spear originally offered. All this adds up to a game that will stay on a player's computer for many months to come, or in my case, many years.
