I see Dominions and similar games as hobby gaming.

[BigJMoney]

Well, I was just in contact with my resident gaming store owner, and I have discovered that labels kill. The idea of selling a "video game" in a gaming shop is unbearable to some owners. I'm sure there are very good reasons for 95% of the cases they get, but trying to describe to someone how Dominions is in the 5% can be nearly impossible.

I think I'm going to start calling Dominions an "electronic (fantasy) wargame" rather than a PC or video game. It's a wargame you play on the computer. I even like the way it's packaged. It doesn't come in the typical uselessly stylish box, but you are instead presented with a 300 page spiral bound manual. If I were to see it sitting on the shelf, I'd have no idea it was even a PC game. So, that's it. I am from now on referring to Dominions as an electronic wargame. Some PC gamers will enjoy it, some won't. Some tabletop gamers will enjoy it, some won't. It sort of falls right there in the balanced middle somewhere. I wish Shrapnel the best of luck on locating their proper market for these kinds of games in the future, because the accepted labels make it very hard.

=$=

[Morkilus]

Nice article. However, I was hoping that it would be about how you were a miniatures developer and were interested in producing a minis line for the Dominions characters. If only I could have a nice set of Horrors and Ice Devils to bring to D&D and Magic tournaments, and I could spam Cainehill's mailbox with Age-Crippled Philosophers.

[Gandalf Parker]

Very nice writeup. And I agree. A hobby game is a good label for it.