PUBLISHER:Victory Games, subset of The Avalon Hill Game
Company (TAHGC)
SCOPE: (World War II) The Struggle Against Japan 1941 -
1945
TAHGC CATALOG VERBAGE: The complete and definitive "monster
game" on the WWII Pacific Theater; includes 21 scenarios and two maps.
GAME BOX VERBAGE: PACIFIC WAR is a strategic wargame that
takes players from the attack on Pear Harbor through the climatic summer of
1945. From Australia to China; from Burma to Hawaii, from the defense of Wake
Island to the Guadalcanal campaign to the massive actions fought in desperate
defense of the Japanese homeland. For the first time in Pacific Theater game,
size, subtlety, and ease of lay have come together in a game of sharp action
and historical accuracy.
YEAR PUBLISHED (EDITIONS): 1985.
CREDITS
Game Design: Mark Herman
Editorial Development: Robert Ryer
Technical Research and Assistance: Tony Curtis, Gary Gonzalez
Research Assistance: Al Nofi, David Isby, Jack Radey
Playtesting: David Herman, Howard herman, Gary Gonzalez,
Tony Curtis, Eric Lee Smith, Joseph Balkowski, Nick Karp, John P. Brisson,
Robert Ryer
Graphic Design: Ted Koller
Pre-Production: Ted Koller, Rosaria Baldari, Jim Talbot,
Colonial Composition
Camera Department Coordinator: Elaine M. Adkins
Printing: Monarch Services
Project Oversight: Lara Herman
W. Bill: As Himself
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: solitaire introductory scenarios; 2
or more players in larger scenarios
WGA COMPLEXITY SCALE (1-10): 9
TYPICAL PLAYING TIME (HOURS): Scenarios vary from 1 to
100 hours
MAP SCALE: 100 miles per hex
UNIT SCALE: Individual capital ships, air groups, divisions/battlegroups
TIME SCALE PER TURN: Monthly turns, daily movement
GAME INVENTORY: 2340 unit counters; 1 rules booklet, 1
scenario booklet, two 22"x32" unmounted mapsheets; two 11"
x 32" displays; One 8" x 22" display eight 8" x 11"
displays; two 8" x 32" Screens; one record sheet pad, one 10 sided
die, 1 counter storage tray.
WBC & AVALONCON HISTORY: Never made it as a Available/WBC
event..
PBEM OPPORTUNITES: Contact Wargame
Academy if interested. Until a VASSAL VPCW module is completed, a massive
effort by a team of volunteers, PBEM is unlikely. In the meantime i would
suggest several windows computer games, such as Gary Grisby's PACIFIC WAR
(SSI) or UNCOMMON VALOR (Matrix Games) which cover similar scope and topics.
WARGAME ACADEMY COMMENTS: Comments are subjective as I
have not attempted to learn this title. Comparisons can be made to WAR IN
THE PACIFIC (SPI/James F. Dunnigan) whose campaign game I did play over a
years worth of saturdays in the pre computer assist days. Both cover the same
scope but PCW does so on a smaller map (WIP was approximately 6'x4')and in
my opinion a more complex fashion. Most SPI monster game rulesets were not
difficult. The credits of PCW list a number of notable names. Other Mark Herman
designs (FOR THE PEOPLE) are effective designs which are well received by
the new breed of gamer grognards so the same is assumed for PCW.
