My day did not start well. My wife announced that she wanted us to go shopping at Bluewater, our nearest large shopping centre. My reaction was – to say the least – less than enthusiastic, but the promise of a proper cooked breakfast was enough to change my mind.
And then things got worse.
My car started ... and almost immediately the engine warning light came on. A hurried look through the manual indicated that the best course of action was not to drive the car and to get it seen by a mechanic as soon as possible. We therefore switched over to my wife's car ... and it would not start! The battery was dead.
Some ten minutes later – and a few choice Anglo-Saxon words having been uttered – I had jump-started my wife's car using the battery from my otherwise inert car and we were on our way.
Things began to look up once I had eaten my Full English breakfast at the Bluewater branch of Loch Fyne Restaurants, and the upward swing improved once I had reached WHSmith's. I wanted something to read during the inevitable lulls that occur over the Christmas holiday (in other words, the bits of the day when I wasn't eating, sleeping, opening presents, or watching TV) and a copy of the January 2013 issue of MINIATURE WARGAMES seemed ideal ... so I bought a copy.
As a bonus, the publishers – Atlantic Publishers – were giving away a free copy of BATTLEGAMES with every copy of MINIATURE WARGAMES, and as the saying goes 'Its free ... so it must be good!'.
In actual fact I have thought about buying BATTLEGAMES on several occasions in the past, but never, ever quite got around to it. Having now had a quick flick through the 'free' copy of Issue 32 that I have been given, I am struck by the fact that this might have been a bit of a mistake on my part because I really liked the look of it. Seeing that Conrad Kinch is one of the contributors in no way influenced my opinion ... except that I love his blog and I suspect that I am going to equally love what he has written for the magazine.
I am, however, left with a bit of a quandary. Atlantic Publishers were giving away a copy of BATTLEGAMES as part of their launch strategy for the magazine, which will be appearing on the shelves of WHSmith in its own right in early 2013. Having had the opportunity to compare the two magazines I have a feeling that in the future I am more likely to buy BATTLEGAMES than I am to purchase MINIATURE WARGAMES. Somehow it seems to have a bit more 'meat' on the 'bones', and I find its 'style' somewhat more appealing.
And then things got worse.
My car started ... and almost immediately the engine warning light came on. A hurried look through the manual indicated that the best course of action was not to drive the car and to get it seen by a mechanic as soon as possible. We therefore switched over to my wife's car ... and it would not start! The battery was dead.
Some ten minutes later – and a few choice Anglo-Saxon words having been uttered – I had jump-started my wife's car using the battery from my otherwise inert car and we were on our way.
Things began to look up once I had eaten my Full English breakfast at the Bluewater branch of Loch Fyne Restaurants, and the upward swing improved once I had reached WHSmith's. I wanted something to read during the inevitable lulls that occur over the Christmas holiday (in other words, the bits of the day when I wasn't eating, sleeping, opening presents, or watching TV) and a copy of the January 2013 issue of MINIATURE WARGAMES seemed ideal ... so I bought a copy.
As a bonus, the publishers – Atlantic Publishers – were giving away a free copy of BATTLEGAMES with every copy of MINIATURE WARGAMES, and as the saying goes 'Its free ... so it must be good!'.
In actual fact I have thought about buying BATTLEGAMES on several occasions in the past, but never, ever quite got around to it. Having now had a quick flick through the 'free' copy of Issue 32 that I have been given, I am struck by the fact that this might have been a bit of a mistake on my part because I really liked the look of it. Seeing that Conrad Kinch is one of the contributors in no way influenced my opinion ... except that I love his blog and I suspect that I am going to equally love what he has written for the magazine.
I am, however, left with a bit of a quandary. Atlantic Publishers were giving away a copy of BATTLEGAMES as part of their launch strategy for the magazine, which will be appearing on the shelves of WHSmith in its own right in early 2013. Having had the opportunity to compare the two magazines I have a feeling that in the future I am more likely to buy BATTLEGAMES than I am to purchase MINIATURE WARGAMES. Somehow it seems to have a bit more 'meat' on the 'bones', and I find its 'style' somewhat more appealing.
I will take a look to battlegames, I have read a lot of good reviews. Have a nice holiday and Christmas with your family
ReplyDeleteAnibal Invictus,
ReplyDeleteBATTLEGAMES seems to be a somewhat more text-heavy magazine than its rivals, and having now had the opportunity to read a couple of articles I think that I will be buying it regularly in future.
I hope that you and you family also enjoy a great Chistmas and a prosperous New Year.
All the best,
Bob
FWIW i got these two mags and Wargames Illustrated during last week and I have an online sub to Wargames Soldiers & Strategy. I have to say that Battlegames was the pick of the bunch on this comparison. The only drawback was the Forward Observer column by Neil Shuck, which was a virtual synopsis of his podcast and he always seems to me to be too keen to please.
ReplyDeleteSo, all in all, I'll opt for Battlegames off the shelf in future and skip WI and MW. WSS I'll keep on online sub for now anyway.
Have a good Christmas and a much better than average 2013!
Crazy Joe,
ReplyDeleteI used to subscribe to all the major UK wargames magazines (I include the original English-language edition of WSS in that category) but over time I have let my subscriptions lapse. Since then I had not considered subscribing to a wargames magazine ... but now I am sorely tempted to subscribe to BATTLEGAMES.
Have a great Christmas and New Year.
All the best,
Bob
BG is a good pick, they do have a superior class of author. All though come to think of it, I'm not in that issue :(.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your lovely wife.
Ross Mac,
ReplyDeleteYour endorsement - and the possibility of reading your output - is enough to persuade me to go for BATTLEGAMES!
A Merry Christmas to you and your family.
All the best,
Bob
Unless this sounds like some kind of concerted BG "fan-fest" I'll only say that I thought that this months edition was a little poor, to be honest... but still streets ahead of the others! :o) I've subscribed since issue 1 and it's the only magazine I take.....
ReplyDeleteSteve-the-Wargamer,
ReplyDeleteIf this edition was not one of the best issues, then the normal ones would be streets ahead of it rivals ... and your endorsement is further evidence that I should subscribe to BATTLEGAMES.
All the best,
Bob
You are absolutely right, there is much more meat to the bone with Battlegames than with Miniature Wargames.
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeleteAnother ringing endorsement for BATTLEGAMES.
It would appear that I should have begun buying this magazine a long time ago.
All the best.
Bob