The Rebirth of Turn-Based Strategy Games

Pointing to the forthcoming XCOM: Enemy Unknown as a prime example that turn-based systems are here to stay, CNN spotlights “the rebirth of turn-based strategy games” in this new editorial that one might argue could have done with a tie-in to the systems used in tabletop role-playing games. But hey, Firaxis’ Sid Meier, Jake Solomon, and Ed Beach all offer commentary about the topic at hand, so who can complain?

“I think it is unique to strategy games,” he said. “I know people have said, ‘I’ve looked at Civ and it looked complicated so I didn’t play it.’ Where a strategy gamer will look at it and say, ‘Oooh. It looks complicated. I’m going to play that.'”

Strategy board games back in the 1970s and ’80s, like “Blitzkrieg” and “War in Europe,” were simulation-type games requiring players to spend a lot of time rolling dice to resolve combat or find out different game stats — weather conditions, civil unrest, troop rally points. Bringing turn-based strategy games to computers allowed all that number crunching to be done quickly and increased the pace of the game.

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Meier, Solomon and Beach all said they have a passion for the genre and try to create games they would want to play themselves. Despite all the system creations, which they feel are unique to the turn-based genre because of the intricate details demanded by fans, the core goal of any game has to be fun.

Meier said there is no checklist they work from to make their games. He said they have also been fortunate to have an involved and vocal fan base for their strategy games, which helps them fine tune their creations to meet the demands of their fans.