Austerlitz (play-by-email game)

Austerlitz
Title image
PublishersSupersonic Games (Originally TBA Games), Quirxel (Germany), Sphinx (Spain), SSV (Austria)
Years active1984 to unknown
Genreswargame, play-by-mail
LanguagesEnglish
Systemsmail
Players12
Playing time18–24 months
Materials requiredInstructions, order sheets, turn results, paper, pencil
Media typePlay-by-mail or email
Websitehttps://www.austerlitzpbem.com/

Austerlitz is a closed-ended, computer moderated, play-by-email (PBM) wargame. It is published by Supersonic Games.

History and development

Austerlitz is a closed-ended, computer moderated play-by-email game originally published by TBA Games.[1] By 2002, TBA had changed their name to Supersonic Games.[2] It was also available in Germany, licensed to Quirxel Games, and Spain, at Sphinx.[3] By 2003, it was also offered in Austria by SSV.[4] As of 2023 the gamemaster is Sam McMillan.[5]

Gameplay

The game's setting was the Napoleonic-era.[1] 16 players chose from the same number of countries centered on Europe for game start in January 1808.[1] Politics, economics, and naval and land warfare were key elements of gameplay.[2]

The game included major battles that players managed in detail while smaller battles were described in turn results.[6] The purpose was to be one of the final three positions, whether singly or part of an alliance.[7]

Reception

Games Without Frontiers conducted a PBM game survey in their March 1997 issue, receiving 425 responses. Austerlitz ranked No. 2, just after En Garde, out of a total of 128 games.[8] The game also won best Historical Wargame in Leeds, England.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hill 1997. p. 12.
  2. ^ a b Blair 2002. p. 13.
  3. ^ Cook 2002. p. 18.
  4. ^ Bates 2003. p. 16.
  5. ^ a b Supersonic Games 2001.
  6. ^ Whittaker 1995. p. 26.
  7. ^ Blair 2002. p. 12.
  8. ^ Editors 1997. p. 5.

Bibliography

  • Bates, Phil (September–October 2003). "Austerlitz: Russia". Flagship. No. 104. p. 16.
  • Blair, David (February–March 2002). "Austerlitz: Fight the Good Fight". Flagship. No. 95. pp. 12–13.
  • Editors (August–September 2002). "Newsdesk: Games in German". Flagship. No. 98. p. 5.
  • Editors (March 1997). "PBM Survey". Games Without Frontiers. No. 1. pp. 5–6.
  • Hill, Adam (March 1997). "Austerlitz". Games Without Frontiers. No. 1. p. 12–13.
  • Supersonic Games (2021). "About Austerlitz". Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  • Whittaker, Mark (Summer 1995). "Austerlitz – The Napoleonic Wargame". PBMZine. No. 1. p. 26.

Further reading

  • Bell, John (April–May 2005). "Austerlitz Nations: Denmark". Flagship. No. 113. pp. 34–35.
  • Cook, Dominic (April–May 2002). "Austerlitz: Down Portugal Way". Flagship. No. 96. pp. 12–13.
  • Cook, Dominic (June–July 2002). "Austerlitz: Down Portugal Way (part 2)". Flagship. No. 97. pp. 22–23.
  • Cook, Dominic (August–September 2002). "Austerlitz: Down Portugal Way (part 3)". Flagship. No. 98. pp. 18–19.
  • Elloitt, Gerry (April–May 2004). "Austerlitz: Spain". Flagship. No. 107. pp. 28–29.
  • Furlong, Norman (February–March 2005). "Austerlitz Nations: Prussia". Flagship. No. 112. p. 33.
  • Hygate, Mark (November–December 2004). "Austerlitz Nations: Great Britain". Flagship. No. 110. pp. 24–25.
  • Jones, Dennis (June–July 2004). "Austerlitz Nations: The Ottoman Empire". Flagship. No. 108. pp. 28–29.
  • Watkins, Mike (December 2003 – January 2004). "Austerlitz: France". Flagship. No. 105. p. 14.
  • Watkins, Mike (February–March 2004). "Austerlitz: Confederation of the Rhine". Flagship. No. 106. p. 14.