Prof. Sabin's book explains how he uses simple simulations to help teach students in his classes. It would be of great interest to other educators, but be warned, these games are simple, with emphasis on simple. His games are designed to be learned and played in a two-hour class, often with TAs guiding the play of teams of students, rather than having the students learn and play the game themselves. I found Sabin seemed too dismissive of more complex games throughout the book, writing how he had to simplify one game after another for his students, or scoffing at a large rulebook. It was almost as if he thought all simulation games should be complexity level 1 or lower.
A wargamer designer looking for useful design guidance won't find it in here. As an experienced wargamer it was an interesting read. I found the idea of supplementing the usual methods of instruction with simulation games very intriguing. But as an experienced wargamer, I fear that exposing students to simulation games this simple will give them a very biased view of the hobby -- other educators please take notice. Sabin writes about the biased view many have of wargaming -- 'just games' or 'childish play' -- and how he had to work to get wargaming accepted in class, but his simple simulations are not doing much to change that view. From my own experience, once you grasp the basics common to all simulation games, learning complex games comes easier than learning the first simple game.
I was surprised that no alternative approaches were considered to allow students to experience the games fuller, or to expose them to more complex simulations. Since most of the games used have minimal piece count, it would be simple to record the position and split the play across two days (using VASSAL would make this trivial), or play could be homework. I would have been interested to learn if those approaches were workable, or if they had been tried.
All-in-all an interesting book about a minimalist approach to using simulation games to educate students, but a book that leaves you wondering "why doesn't he do more?".
ISBN-13: 978-1472533913
ISBN-10: 1472533917
Why is ISBN important? ISBN 
Scan an ISBN with your phone
Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices.
This bar-code number lets you verify that you're getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. The 13-digit and 10-digit formats both work.
Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Frequently bought together
- +
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Using simple simulations in class is a good idea, but a better idea would be to continue to more complex simulations
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2018Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2014
Top reviews from other countries
Paul Wisken
Interesting dissertation
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2016Mr. J. Curry
Book about developing your own micro board games
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2012Chris
Successfully argues for the utility of war games as tools for the historian
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2013jorge quadros
A very good study in wargames and wargame making
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2013
