''The Generals,'' or ''The Generals Electronic Strategy Game,'' is an

electronic Electronic may refer to: *Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductors * ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal *Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device *Electronic c ...

abstract strategy game An abstract strategy game is a type of strategy game that has minimal or no narrative theme, an outcome determined only by player choice (with minimal or no randomness), and in which each player has perfect information about the game. For example ...

published in 1980 by

Ideal Toy Company Ideal Toy Company was an American toy company founded by Morris Michtom and his wife, Rose. During the post–World War II baby boom era, Ideal became the largest doll-making company in the United States. Their most popular dolls included Betsy ...

. It implements the gameplay of the 1970 game ''

Game of the Generals The ''Game of the Generals'', also called ''GG'' or ''GOG'' or simply ''The Generals'', is an educational War gaming, war game invented in the Philippines by Sofronio H. Pasola Jr. in 1970 in games, 1970. Its Filipino name is "Salpakan." It ...

'', in which two players contest control of spaces on a game board by moving game pieces with ranks hidden to their opponent and challenging opposing pieces; the results of challenges are determined by the hierarchy of ranks of those pieces, in a manner similar to ''

Stratego ''Stratego'' ( ) is a Strategy game, strategy board game for two players on a board of 10×10 squares. Each player controls 40 pieces representing individual Army officer ranks, officer and soldier ranks in an army. The pieces have Napoleonic W ...

,'' and decided by an electronic arbiter.

Gameplay

''The Generals'' is played on a 9 by 8 board of squares between a red army and a blue army each consisting of 12 Officers of different ranks, six Privates, two Agents (called "Spies" in ''Game of the Generals)'', and a Flag. To start, both players arrange their pieces in any order on the first three rows of the board with the blank sides facing their opponent; this simulates the "

fog of war The fog of war is the uncertainty in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. The term seeks to capture the uncertainty regarding one's own capability, adversary capability, and adversary Intent (Military), inten ...

" by hiding the identities of opposing pieces from each player. Players take turn alternatively, with each moving one piece per turn. All pieces can move one square forward, backwards, or sideways at a time, but cannot move diagonally or into a square already occupied by another piece. A piece moved adjacent to an opposing piece can choose to challenge it, the winner of which is determined by placing both pieces into the electronic arbiter. The weaker piece in the challenge is removed and both are eliminated if both pieces are of equal strength. Higher ranked pieces are stronger than lower ranked pieces, and all pieces except the Private can be eliminated by an Agent. If challenged, the Flag can be eliminated by any opposing piece. The winner is the player who can either eliminate their opponent's Flag or maneuver their own Flag to the other side of the board without it being eliminated.

Electronic arbiter

Unlike ''Game of Generals, The Generals'' implements an electronic arbiter so that two players do not need a third, neutral observer to determine the result of challenges. The pieces are encoded mechanically with a series of raised dots on the bottom to communicate their rank to the electronic arbiter. Lights on the side of the stronger piece will light up to indicate the winner of the conflict and if flag is placed in the arbiter at the end of the game, it plays Taps.

Reception

Writing for Issue 22 of ''

Games A game is a Structure, structured type of play (activity), play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an Educational game, educational tool. Many games are also considered to be Work (human activity), work (such as p ...

'',

Sid Sackson Sid Sackson (February 4, 1920 in Chicago – November 6, 2002) was an American board game designer and collector, best known as the creator of the business game ''Acquire''. Career Sackson's most popular creation is probably the business game '' ...

described ''The Generals'' as a "simple, intriguing battle game," comparing the gameplay to ''Stratego''. ''Games'' also featured the game in its 1981 Games 100. The game was praised by '' Jeux & Stratégie #6'' for its presentation and rules clarity.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Generals Abstract strategy games Board games introduced in 1980 Electronic games Games like Stratego Ideal Toy Company