Mike's Page

Your introduction to consim gaming:

Tactics II. My parents and aunts were good about buying me the games I wanted when I was a kid, for Christmas and birthdays. Mainly Avalon Hill titles. Was sent remote to Korea with the AF and we were all inveterate gamers. We had a metal locker in the dayroom with about every game imaginable--played the entire pro baseball and football seasons with each of us having a team, plus lots of Avalon Hill titles. I kept in-and-out of the hobby, esp. in the '80's with SPI/S&T. Am returning to the hobby after being away from it.

Your favorite game(s):

Wooden Ships and Iron Men was a game we played a lot. I still have lots of fond memories of playing the Trafalgar scenario.

What game(s) are you currently playing (solitaire, FTF, PBEM, etc.) or wish to play next?

Crusader Rex. I've made a Chinese New Year's resolution (some of us will find ANY reason to justify our procrastination...) to play more games non-solitaire. I've participated in a few GMT seminars on their games, and have realized that with VASSAL, email, and Skype, there is no longer any reason to complain about not having opponents. So I'm starting to reach out to the community more and see if I can get some online gaming going.

What game(s) have you played recently?

John Butterfield's RAF was the last game I played to any great extent.

In general, how much time do you spend gaming?

I think I spend more time reading about the games (and reading their rules) than I do actually playing. Must stop this and just PLAY more.

How big is your game collection?

25+. This has become an "issue" in the house since my wife and I are trying to downsize our "stuff," though all and all, she has been a pretty good egg about this hobby. I have to tell you, though, that when I've shared with her some of your wonderful gaming pictures where there are shelves upon shelves of games in the background, she has run screaming the other way.

Your local game club(s) and/or where you reside (let's network!)

I live in Iowa City, IA.

About Me

Have gone into halftime retirement from my second career; first career was military (AF) where my career was split between duty as an operational fighter aircraft controller (thus the F-106 avatar) and duty at the Air Force Academy.

Personal Interests (favorite activities, movies, shows, books, music, etc.)

Military history, Chinese studies, especially Chinese language learning issues. Enjoy the photos. I went to France Memorial Day week of 2008 to walk the battlefields where my father fought with the 32nd Infantry Division during the First World War.