Death to the Cult of the New: Top 100 wargames without grade inflation

David Dockter Herr Dr) United States

Minnesota Recommend 330 9.75



Took all wargames that had at least 100 ratings (in mid 2008), were published 2008 or before and put them thru a magic ratings inflation muffler. Started with 2008 and subtracted .9 for that year and backed it down to .845 for 2007 and .045 every subsequent year until I hit 0 (1987).



Why did I start with a 0.9 hit to a rating for a game in 2008? Seemed consistent with other stuff I've done regarding the inflation factor these days on BGG vs the days of yore (prior to 1990). I've felt that the cult of the new/grade inflation pushes up BBG ratings by at least a point (vs the times of yore), but thought I would taper it a bit.



Also, I just utilized the simple BGG rating for the game; not the BGG Bayesian average formula, with its other bells and whistles.



Anyways, the top 100 wargames is listed in descending order. A number of BIG differences from the current BGG top 100 wargame list; you can compare that list:



http://www.boardgamegeek.com/wargames/browse/boardgame/page/...



...with this list. Again, the reason that some of the current top BGG ranked wargames didn't make this list is because they didn't yet have a 100 ratings when I first put this list together in mid 2008. I think about 1/3 of the current BGG top 100 wargames were published in just the last three years; talk about a cult of the new.



Some summary stats regarding the games here:



Games are heavier than the current BGG top 100: this group checks in at 3.4 game weight....21 4.00 or heavier.



Games are MUCH older than the current BGG list (of course, due to the grade inflation penalty): average publish date 1991. Only 10 published in the last 5 years....33 in the last 10 years....49 over 20 years old.



By game co: AH Classic 25, Columbia 5, GMT 21, MMP 7, SPI 8 (hooray) and VG at 10 (surprised?).



Only a 1% decline across the whole 100 games in BGG rating in the last three years....and a 1.8 lust ratio for the entire group (those wanting the game divided by those trading the game).



I think this list will end my lastest plunge into the BGG wargame rankings. This list follows four inter-related that I recently posted:



http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/67923/lust-revisited-a...



http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/67908/the-morning-afte...



http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/67809/what-cdws-are-ag...



http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/67513/wargames-on-our-...



You can also check out a newer list regarding wargame rankings in 1980 vs 2011:



http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/74949/wargame-ratings-...



