Charles Roberts, founder of Avalon Hill, passed away over the weekend. He didn’t invent the tabletop wargame, but without AH, wargame and role-playing games as we know them might not exist. Shame the obit above barely touches on the seminal role of both Charles Roberts and Avalon Hill in the gaming industry.
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Sad to see but I would argue the role of Avalon Hill. They helped mainstream it with the first games in the 60s but I think SPI had a much greater influence in its adoption within the public during the golden age of wargaming. Jim Dunnigan had much greater influence, I’d say. So much so that Avalon Hill formed their Victory Games unit to specifically compete with SPI until the game industry collapsed in the 1980s.
Aw, maaaaaaan. Avalon Hill and Charles Roberts’ designs were the gateway to gaming for me in my youth. Yeah, Dunnigan may have had greater influence, but he stood on Roberrts’ shoulders. I’m gonna have t pour a drink and pull out some of the old games.
Ever-reliable Wikipedia sez: “Avalon Hill published Panzerblitz in 1970, designed for the company by a young Jim Dunnigan. The game was a departure from wargames to that point in time by being a tactical-level game with a multiple-scenario format and isomorphic mapboards. Dunnigan went on to run what was to become their biggest competitor: Simulations Publications, Inc. “. Plus, Mr. Roberts invented the cardboard chit wargame as well as several other innovations. SPI may have built the house and started the party, but Charles Roberts and Avalon Hill laid the foundation.
Downed many a bag of Fritos and bottles of soda while rolling dice and moving counters across the Eastern Front. Time to bring Pazerblitz off the shelf for a scenario or three in Mr. Roberts’ memory.