""New" Miniature Wargames" Topic

Just flicked through the new issue and one thought jumped out at me – shouldn't the "Battlegames Combat Stress Appeal" be renamed?

Looks a bit odd to have a 2 page spread with the wrong magazine name (a bit like finding "Contribute to the Independent's Xmas appeal" in the pages of The Times or The Telegraph).

Good point but wouldn't 'Miniature Wargames with Battlegames Combat Stress Appeal' seem a little too long?

And it was Battlegames that started raising money for Combat Stress – so credit where it's due.

Your newspaper analogy doesn't hold good, because the papers you mention are not amalgamated into one publication.

I think somewhere Henry stated that the name 'Battlegames' was being retained as a brand.

I think somewhere Henry stated that the name 'Battlegames' was being retained as a brand.

Yes, he said it is being kept for 'specials', like another collection of 'tabletop teasers' for example, and for the Combat Stress Appeal.

Regards

Well, ok, if it's an Editorial decision. Looks odd to me, but it's Henry's call though.

Ay, he mentioned it on his blog here: henrys-wargaming.co.uk/?p=1305

Regards

Other than that, what did you think of the "new" MW? Since I haven't seen a copy, I'd like to hear more about that.

I really liked it. It felt a *lot* like Battlegames but longer – as a subscriber from the Battlegames side of the merger, I was delighted! The columns are ported over from Battlegames, such as Mike Siggins, Neil Shuck and Conrad Kinch, plus the staple terrain article from Diane S. There are good articles from Arthur Harman, Harry Pearson and Ross McFarlane too, plus a (very good) tabletop teaser, adding to the sense of familiarity. The review section is exactly as it was in Battlegames as well.

Regards

I thought there were far too many reviews in it.

Alte Fritz – Henry has revamped the look of the magazine, improving it greatly (but as it hadn't moved on much at all from when Iain Dickie took it over years ago that wasn't hard to do). As Whirlwind says – it looks like a reverse takeover by Battlegames, with many of the Battlegames columns included in the new magazine. I hope Henry can transition from a bi-monthly to monthly magazine without too much stress. I'm now contemplating a subscription – which is something I'd never have done previously.

Hi
I'm about half way through the electronic edition. I subscribed to both Battlegames and Miniature Wargames and I enjoyed the Andrew Hubback edited version of it. However, the new Henry Hyde version is better. The layout and design is much better and cleaner, meaning it is an easier read on a tablet. I use an Asus eee pad transformer and the new Miniature Wargames looks very good on it. I still don't like having to read it via the Exact Editions app though. It is frankly appalling and closed on me about five times yesterday. It would be much better if the electronic version of the magazine was supplied as a pdf like WSS or like Battlegames used to be before the takeover by Atlantic.
I liked the retention of the regular columns from Battlegames but I wish at least one of these had been dropped and at least one of the regular Miniature Wargame columns had been retained. Miniature Wargames now seems like a bigger version of Battlegames and has lost some of its distinctive voice.
I also didn't like the extensive reviews. On top of the reviews in the Forward Observer column they were a bit much for me. I've said before that reviews in magazines have very limited value in the internet age. By the time they are published I already know everything about the products reviewed from the internet and often have already bought them. They also have practically zero re-read value. I often read old magazines and a five year old review of a product isn't something I'm likely to read again. Reviews should be put on a web site, something which Wargames Illustrated gets right.
Other than those few criticisms I really liked the new Miniature Wargames and I'll certainly stay a subscriber.
All the best,
George.

bong 67 wrote
"It would be much better if the electronic version of the magazine was supplied as a pdf like WSS or like Battlegames used to be before the takeover by Atlantic. "
I am a subscriber to exact edition, and I already loaded down the pdf Version, thank you Henry!

bong67

Good point about the reviews, since most us probably find out about new stuff, figs and books etc, on the net, far quicker than a magazine can inform us. And less reviews would mean more space for other articles. But then again, does every reader/wargamer go on the net?

But I think if people feel there is a way any magazine can improve or changes they would like to see, then they should try contacting the editors of those magazines. I'm sure every editor is interested in suggestions and feedback, be it positive or negative.

@Gazzola

Don't worry, I'm listening :-)

Henry

@bong67

As has been mentioned, the magazine is indeed now available in PDF too.

Henry

Hi Henry,
Its great to know that I can get MW as a pdf. How do I do this? I use the Exact Editions app on my eee pad and can't see an obvious way to download a pdf from it. Do I need to change my subscription details to get it another way?
All the best,
George.

@bong67

I'll look into this and get back to you as soon as possible.

Henry

Thanks Henry,
The new magazine is a very good e-magazine and if I can read it as a pdf it will be just about perfect.
All the best,
George.

I bought my copy yesterday. I have to say, my first impressions weren't good…after the editorial there was the Forward Observer column which I felt degenerated into a rant against FoW, a game which I play and enjoy, and which trotted out some tired (and not wholly accurate) cliches about it. So the lead article managed to alienate me…not a good start.

However, the wargaming articles were excellent. I found myself really enjoying the one about photography and along with the terrain building one (more practical than the "how to scratchbuild…" ones the old MW used to run) I thought they did justice to an often neglected part of the hobby.

The scenarios and historical articles were all of a high standard and I thought they were better than most of the MW ones of the recent years. I liked the layout, in sections, and it was easy to read but…

Again let down by the columnists. One about how do do wargaming which sounded like the "Do it my way" type of articles you used to get 20+ years ago and a personal choice of someone's favourite rules systems, some of which are out of print. These columns don't really appeal to me. If I'm going to be harsh, then I'd say that I don't want to read magazine articles about a veteran wargamer's personal likes and dislikes when it comes to specific rules systems. This is where The High Ground section of MW (or at a stretch Rick Priestly's and Richard Clarke's columns in WSS) was better: Rather than lauding or trashing a specific rules system, they would look into historical or gaming concepts and give players things to ponder. I'd much rather see articles devoted to conventions than this.

So, based on wargaming articles alone I'd give the new MW 9/10. Add the three columnists and it drops to 7/10.

@bong67

I'm in contact with Exact Editions. The PDF also has seem sto have some inexplicable quality issues too, so they're attempting to fix this as well.

Back to you with more news as I get it.

@ubercommando

Interesting points, thank you.

Henry

Turns out Exact's automated system was over-compressing the files, so I'm sending them a 144dpi version just as I used to have with Battlegames and that will be available shortly as the version you can download. So I'd advise anyone who has downloaded the PDF to have another go later today.

Henry

Hi,
I was able to log in to my Exact Editions account and download the complete pdf of MW so many thanks for your help Henry. Getting MW as a pdf is just what I wanted. As I said before I like the new version and it is now a perfect read on my eee pad.
All the best,
George.

I like the new Miniatures Wargames/Battlegames blend. I think the articles are more Battlegames than M.W in style which is not a bad thing. A shame how it came about though with Andrew inviting Henry over to the publishers, he may be now thinking with friends like that who needs ……….

@Ned Ludd

Let me make it absolutely and categorically clear that the decision about who should edit the magazine was taken by Atlantic, not me. I explained the circumstances at great length on the Meeples & Miniatures podcast in February.

Henry