tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264881409789872629.post7128188407990017781..comments2024-03-28T18:16:41.746-04:00Comments on Data Driven Gamer: Game 245: Computer Bismarck and the roads from early SSIAhabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04131989140638867919noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264881409789872629.post-7649091832293978182021-05-03T10:33:00.032-04:002021-05-03T10:33:00.032-04:00I tested a bit, and I confirm that the number you ...I tested a bit, and I confirm that the number you choose from 1 to 99 at the beginning is the seed. 100% it determines the weather for all the game. I believe it also determines the strategy chosen by the Bismark, possibly it was manually done based on the weather.<br />I had one case where the strategy chosen was hugging the coast of Scotland as far as possible. Found turn 1 by patrol planes from Scapa Flow, sunk turn 4 by some many hits it maxed out and displayed "99 hits"<br /><br />https://imgur.com/9qJxqfn<br />https://imgur.com/MJ0nZGGNarwhal, the Wargaming Scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05808952600298482923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264881409789872629.post-20299092015722812042021-03-21T11:27:43.321-04:002021-03-21T11:27:43.321-04:00The description cites, "A player may choose n...The description cites, "A player may choose not to search with a particular unit, thus keeping its location secret (common tactic for German player, obviously)." At the time however it was a brilliant and accurate recreation of the hunt for the Bismarck. The game was a hit because it retains the realism and accuracy if you willing to accept the bookkeeping involved. <br /><br />That's the thing about wargames: they will put up with a lot if it means a more realistic experience. They're not looking for a "roll your dice and move your mice" kind of game. I have seen wargames with rules about whether or not sirens are attached to your Stukas and if they are, the attacked unit has to undergo a morale check. You say: needless record-keeping which Stukas have what and extra dice rolls that could easily be abstracted away. Wargamers love it because it attempts to simulate what actually happened. <br /><br />The 1962 edition of Bismarck was produced for the PC and Apple as DREADNOUGHTS. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264881409789872629.post-29765083724196615142021-03-21T07:53:56.126-04:002021-03-21T07:53:56.126-04:00I'm not at all surprised that there were board...I'm not at all surprised that there were board games simulating the pursuit and sinking of the Bismarck, but I am a little surprised that Billings copied Avalon Hill's 1978 design so closely, and then had the audacity to try to sell it back to them! Still, Avalon Hill didn't implement a way to search in secret - how could they? And this aspect is crucial to the Computer Bismarck experience.<br /><br />Paragraph concerning board games revised.Ahabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04131989140638867919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264881409789872629.post-31384079696396931152021-03-20T21:29:40.054-04:002021-03-20T21:29:40.054-04:00No boardgame Bismarck? Maybe that was a joke? Th...No boardgame Bismarck? Maybe that was a joke? There were two editions: 1962 and 1978. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/76436/bismarck-second-edition<br /><br />The computer version was developed to optimize the boardgame's hidden information aspect, and add a 1-player variant. Otherwise it was a 2 player game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com