Here are some early thoughts from my short time, to this point, at the event…
On Monday, I swung in for the pre-registration day and spent a bit of time peeking around. Keep in mind the Expo hadn’t really kicked into gear yet but there were still plenty of folks already battling away in the main ballroom. I spied such well known classics as that old standby, long out of print The Civil War from Victory Games, the various stripes of GMT’s Commands and Colors series, Down in Flames (which we should see those dogfights in the European Theater reappearing as Wild Blue Yonder from GMT) as well as loads of other titles old and new. The registration desk wasn’t open at the time so I spent about an hour or so nosing around as, I suppose, a so called “member” of the press should. I knew the festivities wouldn’t be in full swing until later in the week so I didn’t stay very long.
Yesterday, I had an opportunity to get back to the Expo as I bailed out of work early (thankfully, I don’t think my boss ever visits TGG) to arrive while the Publisher’s Area was open. This is where I had my first opportunity to meet the men behind the great games we enjoy from VPG. I first had the pleasure of talking with Hermann Luttmann who has two games making their first appearance right here at CSW Expo – Gettyburg: The Wheatfield, the first in the Tattered Flags series and an all new States of Siege title, Dawn of the Zeds. Hermann also is in the midst of playtesting what will be the second sports game coming from VPG, High and Tight. I’m hoping to get a chance to try the design out since, as those of you who listen to the TGG podcast may remember, I’m a huge baseball fan and I’ve played loads of different titles over the years.
As I was chatting with Hermann, Terry Coleman – the man behind TC Tennis – recognized my voice and introduced himself. Soon Chris Taylor, one the most prolific of the VPG designers, and company business manager, Joshua Gottesman, joined the discussion. It was nice to finally put some faces with the names but, seeing I understood the gents were there to talk about Victory Point releases to the uninitiated and I didn’t want to monopolize their time, I swung around the room to introduce myself to the other publishers there.
I do find it pretty amazing that VPG has five, yes, five titles making their premieres here at the Expo: Dawn of the Zeds, The Alamo Remembered, Gettysburg: The Wheatfield, Keep Up the Fire, and I’m afraid that as I write this I can’t for the life of me remember the last.
Doh! I never claimed to be a real journalist here people…
Everyone in the Publishers Area was very nice although I have to admit, I was disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to talk with the representative of Legion Games. I’m not sure why he or she wasn’t manning the booth but I really wanted to ask about B-29 Superfortress. Since Elliott and I have a habit of making some sort of reference to the Avalon Hill classic, B-17 Queen of the Skies nearly every time the topic of solitaire gaming comes up, I’m interested in learning more about B-29. We’ve been told it is a fantastic ode to the AH game and we’d really dig it. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to talk with Legion Games a bit later in the expo.
I did make my way over to the registration desk and said hello to the extremely kind and helpful John Krantz just to make sure it was alright that I was here at the expo since I hadn’t obtained a registration. He was extremely generous in telling me that I was very welcome here at CSW Expo and to make myself at home. I’ll look to get in an interview with him if possible but, since he’s a one man army, it might not come to pass until after the show.
I did actually have a chance to get a game in and it was the GMT edition of Down in Flames. I hadn’t played before and there is an expo long tournament running in which players can jump in at any time and get a game in. So I watched about an hour of a “flight school” game that was taking place and then when a spot opened up in the tourney I jumped in. Flying as the Japanese, and ably assisted by Josh from VPG, my two pilots were able to kill an American bomber and a P-48 Lightning. Or maybe it was a Thunderbolt, I don’t remember. But later, as I passed by the event table, I spotted my name and two kills up on the board. Hooray!
After I had a chance to say hello to such other gaming luminaries as GMT’s Gene Billingsley and legendary designer Frank Chadwick, I enjoyed chatting with the always entertaining Alan Emrich, the driving force behind Victory Point Games, and spending a good hour having a blast talking with John Welsh, who oversees VPG’s States of Siege line. Of course I met or was introduced to quite a lot of other folks involved in the hobby but their names escape me at the moment and for that I do apologize.
I’ll be spending much more time at the expo so look for more updates throughout the weekend!
Jeff, it was REALLY COOL meeting you at CSW Expo. You’ve done more work there as “the hobby press” then I think I’ve seen in all the previous years combined. Excellent “field reporter” work, and I look forward to all the rest of the news you’ve gathered.
Alan Emrich
It was great meeting you as well Alan! I think you’ll get a kick out of the latest show that will be posted later tonight!
There will be more coverage coming shortly and the Victory Point Games special full of interviews and fun should be up online by Friday at the latest.
I honestly wish I had the chance to get more “dope” on what was cooking at ConSimWorld, but I’ve got plenty for a few more posts, and I look forward to seeing even more folks in attendance next year.
It was an absolute pleasure getting the chance to talk to you about games and life in general. I have yet to meet such a wonderful champion of the hobby and the fun that can be associated with it. You were one of the highlights of the Expo for me and I hope we get the chance to chat again real soon.
I look forward to reading and hearing more of your great work,
John Welch
Thanks for the kind words John! I certainly had a blast talking with you throughout the expo and, I have to say, you are definitely a credit to the hobby; VPG is truly lucky to have you in the ranks and representing the company.
I’m sure we’ll chat soon!
Hey Jeff,
Met you are the CSW dealers area, got your card, and decided to check out this site. If you like B17QotS, a couple of years ago I did a computer version of it in my spare time, including all known variants through 2006 (or so). I still play it regularly, including in some web bomber groups. I can’t post the link because it is 13 megs (38 megs for the GPL’d source code), and it would kill my bandwidth if people started randomly hitting it. Not sure what your email is — can’t find a “send message” link above, so if you go to http://www.prestonm.com/military/B17QotS/B17QotS.shtml , then click “Radio Check McMurry” it will send me an email and I can send you the link in return.
– Preston
Jeff, thanks for sharing your experiences at CSW Expo 2011 and it was a pleasure meeting you. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to sit down and talk with you!