5/03 edition
Frankly, so much happened so long ago that it's impossible for me to remember
everything I did. As I unearth stuff, or people remind me of things, I'll revise all the
"ancient history."
In particular, there's a big chunk missing from the late 70's through the mid-80s (my college years). I wrote for Campaign, Spartan, Bushwacker, and the original BattlePlan back then, plus tons of stuff I didn't keep back issues of.
If you dig anything up, please, shoot me an email with the information at:
Alan Emrich
Here's a quick table with some of my articles listed. Note that I've written a lot more, but this selection is from a wargaming magazine database:
| Ancients | Profile: Ancients | ||
| Axis & Allies | Axis & Allies: A Brief History of the Game | ||
| Axis & Allies | New Gimmicks for Axis & Allies | ||
| Axis & Allies | My Two Cents For Axis & Allies | With Variant Cards | |
| Battlefront | Computer | Operation Sealion | |
| Convention | Gen Con XIX: A Wargamer's Eye View | ||
| Convention | L.A. Origins '86 - A Closing Statistical Look | ||
| Cosmic Encounter | Game Review: Cosmic Encounter | ||
| EastFront | Wooden Tanks & Iron Markers | ||
| Field Marshall | Field Marshal Variants | Jedko Games, Includes Variant cards (insert) | |
| Great Patriotic War, The | Playtester's Notes | ||
| History | WWII | Reflections of WWII | How has WWII affected me? |
| House Divided, A | A House Restored, Part I of III - Strategic Balance | Realism variants | |
| House Divided, A | A House Restored, Part II of III - Battlefield Variants | ||
| House Divided, A | A House Restored, Part III of III - Great Generals and Political Events | ||
| King of Kings | Profile: King of Kings | ||
| Krieg! | Krieg! The Evolution of a Game | ||
| Krieg! | Krieg! Official Clarifications & Corrections | ||
| Krieg! | Krieg Questions and Answers (as of 3 September, 1996) | ||
| Krieg! | Fuhrer Directives - Playing the Germans in Krieg | ||
| Krieg! | Arsenal of Democracy - Playing the Western Allies in Krieg | ||
| Krieg! | Fighting the Great Patriotic War - Playing the Soviets in Krieg | ||
| Mid-East Peace | Player's Notes | ||
| Miscellaneous | Firing Line | Alan Emrich takes over as publisher of F&M | |
| Modern Naval Battles | Developer's Response | ||
| Modern Naval Battles | Additional Optional Rules for Modern Naval Battles Card Game | ||
| Modern Naval Battles Series | Modern Naval Battles Series - Designer's Notes | ||
| Napoleon at Waterloo | Computer | Player's Notes | Krentek Software |
| Play | Perspective: The Fall and Rise of Wargaming | ||
| Play | Time Capsule: 1972 | ||
| Play | Wargame Bonding | ||
| Rise and Decline of the Third Reich, The | Quick and Dirty Variants | Limited Offensive Options | |
| Russia: The Great War in the East | Computer | Russia: A Breakthrough or Just Another Steppe Closer? | |
| Russian Campaign, The | 2nd edition | Strategies and Tactics in Russian Campaign | |
| Russian Campaign, The | 2nd edition | The Russian Campaign: Strategic Political Variants | |
| Russian Campaign II, The | Me and my R.C. | ||
| Shogun | Shogun Replay | DeNardo, Emrich, Flahive, Matsumoto, Robberson | |
| Shogun | Player's Notes | ||
| Third Reich, The Rise and Decline of the | Additional Third Reich Variants | ||
| Viceroys! | Player's Notes | ||
| World in Flames | 4th edition | 4th Edition Preview | |
| World in Flames | As The World Burns | ||
| World in Flames | Player's Notes | ||
| World in Flames | Quick and Dirty Variants | ||
| Bloody Kasserine | A Replay of Race for Tunis and Bloody Kasserine | ||
| Cold War | Player's Notes | ||
| Napoleon's First Battles | It Takes Two to Marengo | ||
| Race for Tunis | Battles for N.A. | A Replay of Race for Tunis and Bloody Kasserine | |
| Four Battles of the Ancient World | Four Battles of the Ancient World | ||
| World in Flames | Errata, Changes, Explanations, Clarifications... | ...& Experimental and Optional Rules | |
| Convention | Los Angeles Origins '89 | ||
| D-Day | D-Day '92 | 1992 Smithsonian edition | |
| D-Day | 1992 edition | D-Day '92 | |
| EastFront | Knocking The Other Guy's Block(s) Off | ||
| Fight on the Beaches | Player's Notes | The Wargamer #40 | |
| Third Reich, The Rise and Decline of the | Diplomacy in Third Reich | Another Facet of the Strategic Game | |
| Rommel in the Desert | 2nd edition | After Action Report | |
| Miscellaneous | Editorial | K. Poulter, Rodger MacGowan, Alan Emrich discuss 3W and S&T |
Discovered "real" wargaming; subscribed to Strategy & Tactics magazine.
Received first issue of Strategy & Tactics magazine: The American Civil War.
Played first wargame: Napoleon at Waterloo.
Attends first game convention, GLASC (Greater Los Angeles Simulations Convention) at Cal State Northridge.
At second GLASC convention, auctioneer fails to appear; performs first game auction out of exasperation.
With James John Myers, co-founds the Strategicon game conventions.
At thrid GLASC , the auctioneer is ill; performs second auction, drafted to perform future regional game auctions for the next 20 years or so.
Attends Origins II in Baltimore.
Obtains first "real job:" working as "the wargames guy" at Brookhurst Hobbies.
First Strategicon game convention, Orccon, at Cal State Fullerton.
Graduated High School; yearbook caption: "I owe it all to wine, women, and wargames."
Attends Origins '77 in New York; acquires two lifetime favorite games: Cosmic Encounter and Junta.
Campaign #82 article: Strategies and Tactics in Russian Campaign, from Avalon
Hill. This article changed my entire life. To the editor, perhaps, it was only a
Magnum Dopus submission from some High School kid with his typewriter, but this article
went on to win two awards and began my whole career as a "writer." Showing it to
my teacher who, for some reason, was impressed at having a published author among the
drones, also earned me enough Extra Credit to pass the English class that I was failing at
the time!
Attends Origins '78 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Attends Origins '80 in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Attends "Pacific Origins" in San Mateo, California.
Attends Origins '82 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Attends Origins '83 in a very depressed Detroit, Michigan.
Founds Diverse Talents, Inc. to publish game magazines and run Strategicon game conventions in Los Angeles.
Attends Origins X in Dallas, Texas and makes a successful bid to host this convention in Los Angeles in 1986.
First Strategicon game convention outside of Orange County, California. Moves Gateway 1984 to the LAX Hyatt (now Wyndham) hotel. The site works out well and becomes the L.A. game conventions' permanent home.
Fire & Movement #44 article: Cold War Player's Notes with Gary E. Smith, from Victory Games.
The General Volume 21, #3 article: Total War: Club Rules for Third Reich from Avalon Hill.This article, although considered "heresy" at the time by the vast army of Third Reich'ers, laid down the foundations for what later became Advanced Third Reich.
Fire & Movement #44 article: Fight on the Beaches with Gary E. Smith, from 3W.
Attends Origins '85 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Fire & Movement #46 article: Napoleon at Waterloo Player's Notes, from Krentek Software.
Fire & Movement #46 article: World in Flames Player's Notes, from Australian Design Group.
V.I.P. of Gaming article: The Moral Justification Chart.
Fire & Movement #47 Cover Story: World in Flames Errata and As The World Burns, with Tom E. Hughes, Jr. and F&M staff from Australian Design Group.
Fire & Movement #48 article: Expanding Front: The Russian Campaign II, from Jedko Games.
Fire & Movement #50 article: Rommel in the Desert After Action Report with Vince DeNardo, from Columbia Games.
Host L.A. Origins '86 as Convention Manager; generally regarded as the best Origins convention ever.
Elected Vice President of GAMA, The Game Manufacturers Association; serves a three-year term.
The General v21-#3 article: Total War: Club Rules for Third Reich from Avalon Hill.
Attends Gen-Con XIX in Milwaukee, Wisconson.
Fire & Movement #51 articles: L.A. Origins '86 After Action Report and Gen-Con XIX After Action Report.
BattlePlan #1-3 article series: A House Restored: A House Divided Variants, from Game Designers Workshop.
BattlePlan #1 article: Political Variants for The Russian Campaign, from Avalon Hill.
BattlePlan #1 article: Field Marshal Variants, from Jedko Games.
Fire & Movement #53 cover story: Russia, from Strategic Studies Group.
Attends Origins '87 in Baltimore, Maryland. Makes successful bid to have Origins return to L.A. for 1989.
BattlePlan #2 article: Operation Sealion, a new scenario for SSG's Battlefront.
Fire & Movement #53 article: Viceroy! Player's Notes, from Task Force Games.
BattlePlan #4 article: Shogun: The Complete Replay, from Milton Bradley.
Wargamer #2 article: The Production Spiral: A House Divided 2nd Edition.
Fire & Movement #56 articles: Shogun Player's Notes, from Milton Bradley and Time Capsule: 1972.
BattlePlan #7 article: 4th Edition World in Flames Preview, from Australian Design Group.
BattlePlan #7 game developer for Zulu War, designed by Erich Faust.
Fire & Movement #57 article: Playtester's Notes for The Great Patriotic War, by GDW.
Attends Gen-Con/Origins in Milwaukee, Wisconson.
The General Volume 25, Number 1 article: Wargame Bonding, part of their 25th Anniversary round-up.
Developed Modern Naval Battles for 3W with Dan Verssen. Most successful 3W game ever.
Finish developing Modern Naval Battles and design/develop Modern Naval Battles II and III for 3W with Dan Verssen.
Hosts L.A. Origins '89.
Modern Naval Battles debuts at LA Origins '89.
The General v25-#1 article: An Anniversary Smorgasbord: 25th Year Anniversary memoirs.
Fire & Movement #61 articles: L.A. Origins '89 After Action Report, and 3W's Tomorrow the World Playtester's Notes.
Fire & Movement #62 articles: Additional Rules & Errata for Modern Naval Battles, and MNB Developer's Response by 3W.
Wins Academy of Game Critics award for industry service.
Wargamer #18 articles: On the Production Spiral--A House Restored: Designer's Noted for GDW's A House Divided, Modern Naval Battles Developer's Notes, from 3W.
'Book' published: How to Run a Game Convention, by GAMA: The Game Manufacturers Association.
Computer Gaming World #65 article: Run for Your Fife, a review of Britannica Software's Revolution '76.
Fire & Movement #67 article: Perspective: The Fall and Rise of Wargaming.
Fire & Movement #70 article: Ancients Profile, by Bill Banks' Good Industries.
Fire & Movement #72 articles: Modern Naval Battles Designer's Notes from 3W and King of Kings Review, Errata, and Clarifications from Bill Banks' Good Industries.
Attends Origins XVI in Atlanta. After repeated warnings about the organizers' flakiness, the show proves to be a disaster for GAMA.
Modern Naval Battles wins two Charles S. Roberts Awards: Best Post-WWII Game and Playability and Design Elegance.
A House Divided, 2nd Edition wins Origins Award for Best Pre-20th Century Boardgame.
Computer Gaming World #73 articles: A Second Look at Second Front with Tom E. Hughes, Jr., by SSI; and "Conflict" for Interest, by Virgin Games.
Computer Gaming World #76 article: A Feast for Some, a review of New World Computing's King's Bounty.
Computer Gaming World #76 article: Wanna Bet?, a survey of computer poker games.
Computer Gaming World #78 article: Only the Oracle Knows... with Caitlin Ackelson, a review of Accolade's Ishido.
Computer Gaming World #78 article: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (Thus Passes the Glory of the World, a review of Accolade's Stratego.
Fire & Movement #72 article: Designer's Notes for Modern Naval Battles III with Dan Verssen, by 3W.
Fire & Movement #72: Civilization for Wargamers, a review of King of Kings by Bill Banks' Good Industries. Also, Errata for King of Kings.
Computer Gaming World #79 and #80 articles: Parts 1 and 2 of Good Nukes, Tonight!, a replay of MicroProse's Command HQ.
Attends Origins XVII in Baltimore, Maryland.
Moves #65 article: Variants for King of Kings.
Computer Gaming World #86 article: Let's Reich and Roll, a sneak preview of Avalon Hill's Computer Third Reich.
Computer Gaming World #86 article: "I Am For Peace: But When I Speak, They Are For War. --Psalms 120:7, a review of QQP's The Perfect General.
Fire & Movement # 75 article: Mid-East Peace Player's Notes, from Columbia Games.
Computer Gaming World #91 article: Fat Odds From Slim, a review of Amarillo Slim's Dealer's Choice from Villa Crespo Software.
Moves #67 article: Wooden Tanks & Iron Markers, a review of Columbia Games' EastFront.
Moves #67 article: Knocking the Other Guy's Block(s) Off, a replay of EastFront with Gary E. Smith and commentary by Craig Besinque.
Book published: Sid Meier's Civilization or Rome on 640K a Day by Prima with Johnny L. Wilson.
Computer Gaming World cover story: Keeping Luke Warm with Intense Simulator Heat, a sneak preview of LucasArts's X-Wing.
Moves #71 article: D-Day '92, a game replay with Gary E. Smith of Avalon Hill's re-release of D-Day.
Computer Gaming World #102 article: Islands in a Screen: The Misadventures of Johnny Castaway with Johnny L. Wilson, a review of Screen Antics: Johnny Castaway from Dynamix.
Computer Gaming World #102 article: Unfurl the Banners, There's a New King in Town, a sneak preview of Conquered Kingdoms from QQP.
Moves #74 article: GDW's Race for Tunis and Bloody Kasserine, a game replay with Gary E. Smith.
Computer Gaming World #103 article: Conquering Kingdoms: Tactics 101, strategy for Conquered Kingdoms from QQP.
Computer Gaming World #103 article: Athens Wasn't Built in a Day, Either (But in Caesar, Players Can Column as They See 'Em), a sneak preview of Caesar from Impressions.
Moves #75 article: Arbela: Conquest of Persia with Gary E. Smith, a game replay of Decision Games' Four Batles of the Ancient World.
Computer Gaming World #105 article: Sid Meier Interview.
Computer Gaming World #107 article: Playing the Process: Behind the Screens with Jim Dunnigan's Victory at Sea, from Three-Sixty.
Computer Gaming World #108 article: Friends, Romans, Taxpayers, strategies for Impression's Caesar.
Computer Gaming World #108 article: Mapping the Future: Board and Computer Wargaming Link Through Aide de Camp, from HPS Simulations.
Moves #76 article: It Takes Two to Marengo with Gary E. Smith, a game replay of Decision Games' Napoleon's First Battles Quad.
Book published: Global Conquest -- The Official Strategy Guide by Prima.
Computer Gaming World #110 article: MicroProse' Strategic Space Opera is Rated XXXX, sneak preview of Master of Orion.
Computer Gaming World #110 article: You've Got to be Keating Me!, sneak preview of Warlords II from SSG.
Computer Gaming World #109 article: A Clash of Cymbals, sneak preview of Clash of Steel from SSI.
Book published: Empire Deluxe -- The Official Strategy Guide, with Mark "skulker" Carroll by Prima.
Computer Gaming World #111 and #112 articles: Class of Steel: Reich & Roll Techniques for SSI's Clash of Steel, published in two parts.
Computer Gaming World #114 article: Master of Orion Technolgoy Game Aid with Tom E. Hughes, Jr.
Computer Gaming World #114 article: Florins in Arabia, sneak preview of Merchant Prince from QQP.
Computer Gaming World #115 article: Air-to-Air Combat for the Reflex Impaired, review of Flight Commander from Big Time Software.
Computer Gaming World #117 article: The Red Crystal Shattered with Petra Schlunk, review of Red Crystal from QQP.
Computer Gaming World #117 article: In Order to Form a More Perfect General, sneak preview of The Perfect General 2 from QQP.
Computer Gaming World #117 article: More Lords, Too, sneak preview of the Warlords II Construction Kit from SSG.
Computer Gaming World #119 article: Dunkin' Donitz, review of U-boat from Deadly Games.
Book published: Master of Orion: The Official Strategy Guide, with Tom E. Hughes, Jr. by Prima.
Computer Gaming World #120 article: Not That's Poker Action!, review of PowerPOKER from Electronic Arts.
Computer Gaming World #121 article: What's Good for GM is Good for America with Petra Schlunk, review of Detroit from Impressions.
Computer Gaming World #122 cover story: Your MOM Wears Magic Boots!, sneak preview of Master of Magic from MicroProse.
Computer Gaming World #122 article: Rock 'n Roll Panzer Pushing, sneak preview of Panzer General from SSI.
Computer Gaming World #122 article: Defend the Alamo!, review of Defend the Alamo from Incredible Simulations.
GameFix #4: game developer for Mike Anderson's Bombs Away!.
Begins serious development of Krieg! with Steve Kosakowski for Decision Games.
Book published: Panzer General: The Official Strategy Guide, with Ed Dille, by Prima.
GameFix #7: game developer for Bill Banks/Paul Cooper's The Big One.
Computer Gaming World #128 article: This is Not Your Meier's Civilization, sneak preview of Advanced Civilization from Avalon Hill.
The General Vol 30, No 3 photo: Myself and new daughter Avalon Candice Emrich on page 33.
GameFix #8 articles: G-2 (Industry News).
Computer Gaming World #129 article: Spies, Damn Spies, and Sadistics with Johnny L. Wilson, preview of MechLords from MicroProse.
GameFix #9 articles: A Jaundiced View of the Games People (and Nations) Play; A Fork in the Road; G-2 (Industry News); and Optional Rules for Ancients.
GameFix #9 game: Among Nations with Dan Verssen.
Book published: Master of Magic: The Official Strategy Guide, with Petra Schlunk and Tom E. Hughes, Jr. by Prima.
Computer Gaming World #134 article: Give the Actors a Hand, review of Multimedia Celebrity Poker from New World Computing.
Computer Gaming World #135 article: So Sioux Me!, review of Custer's Last Command from Incredible Simulations.
Computer Gaming World #134 article: Total Eclipse of the MOO with Petra Schlunk and Tim Jordan, sneak preview of Master of Orion II from MicroProse.
GameFix #10 article: G-2 (Industry News).
Begins working for Interplay Productions; immediately thrown into the late development stages of Conquest of the New World.
Empire II Napoleonic Scenario Disks published by Nova with Bob Murphy.
Computer Gaming World #141 article: Legions of Advice with Otmar Schlunk, strategies for Caesar II from Impressions Software.
C3i #6 article: On the Drawing Board -- How Has WWII Affected Me?
Krieg! is published; work on Totaler Kreig! begins almost immediately.
Begin working on new board and computer game version SPI's classic Spies! game with Steve Kosakowski.
The Alan Emrich Web Page is launched.
Launched a large web side dedicated to Krieg! and, later, Totaler Krieg!
Produced the computer games Beat the House 2 and Caesar's Palace published by Interplay Productions.
Completed negotiations with both Paramount Studios and Amarillo Design Bureau to combine the Star Trek (Classic) license with Task Force Game's Starfleet Battles boardgame. The result is Star Trek: Starfleet Command, developed by Quicksilver Software and published by Interplay Productions. Several sequel and spin-off products evolve from this over the years.
Totaler Krieg! is published by Decision Games and is a huge hit at the Origins convention in Columbus, Ohio, that year.
Totaler Krieg! is nominated for a both a Charles S. Roberts Award for Best WW2 Game and the Gamer's Choice Awards.
Edited (and wrote a good deal of) the Totaler Krieg! player's guide.
Began work on Totaler Krieg! 2nd edition (dubbed TK2) with Sal Vasta and Thomas Prowell.
Commenced design work for Master of Orion III for Quicksilver Productions with Tom Hughes (my long time gaming buddy and co-author on many books and articles).
Created and launched the official Master of Orion III web site.
Awarded the Hanilton/Blomgren Award for Lifetime Achievement in gaming. (Presented by John Kranz of ConsimWorld.Com.)
Featured columnist for UK's Computer Player magazine (until the magazine was sold and folded a year later).
Completed initial design work on Pacific Theater WW2 game using the Totaler Krieg! game engine. The game is called Ikusa!
A House Divided 3rd edition is published by Phalanx Games. This is, essentially, my 2nd edition redesign in a very handsome "Euro" package. I immediately clear out my old notes for the game and publish them on my web site as additional material and product support.
Redrafted and reedited the Modern Naval Battles card games into a free download version dubbed Cold War Naval Battles. Copyright holders Dan Verssen and Rodger B. MacGowan graciously waive their rights to money for this game; we're all doing this one for good gaming karma.
Completed design work for Master of Orion III and then promptly laid off before being able to assist in the development of the game.
Finished a complete redesign of Ikusa! to update the Campaign Game to a 1937 starting date. The title is changed to Dai Senso.
Created and taught Strategies of Game Design extension course at the University of California at Irvine.
Game Design
Strategies in Game Design
Art X459.7 (3)
Instructor: Alan Emrich, B.A.
When: Tue, Jan 14-Mar 18, 7-10pm;
10 mtgs
Where: Room 220A,
Social Science Tower,
UCI Campus
Fee: $475
Reg #: 00308
Began dealing casino poker at Ocean's Eleven in Oceanside, California.
Master of Orion III is published by Infogrames. Preorders for the game are huge and it immediately moves to #1 on the PC Games bestseller list.
Taught Game Design at Stanford University and The Art Institute of California (Orange County chapter. Also taught Game Project Management at The Art Institute of California (Orange Country chapter)
