From: joe willette Subject: In Flanders Field: Out of the wrapper An out of the wrapper review (components only), I posted on consimworld for this new release from CH/MIH In Flanders Field: YPRES 1915 This one is truly "out of the wrapper". I believe this is the first CH print of a project formerly intended to be published by MIH. I do not have the DTP original to compare to but I'll give a shot at describing the components. First, the game comes in a folio rather than being ziplocked. This is fine and a nice big ziplock bag is included. The folio is done in black and white (mostly gray) with a pretty drab and gloomy cover. The backside contains some marketing info and an inset (also gray) with map and counters. CH obviously had hobby shops in mind with marketing this game for "ages 10 & up or for younger children with grade point averages and a thirst for knowledge...and fun". I give them two thumbs up for effort, but they at least needed to colorize the small map inset if they want people pulling these things off the shelf. In particular, I don't think that any parent in their right mind is gonna pick this up for their kid as grim as the packaging looks. Still, a nice effort and I personally think the packaging is appropriate (who wants their kids playing a battle that heavily features gas attacks anyway ;-)). The other thing mentioned on the back is the 36 page rulebook! Yes the rulebook is 36 pages. Sounds like a lot for a small originally DTP game? Well the rulebook is only 8.5" by 5.5". The printing is along the 8.5" axis, leaving a rulebook that looks like it was cut in half (strangely I was guessing smaller until I actually measured). This is my only real quibble with the game components as the rulebook has no index but a lot more pages to flip. I don't understand why anyone would do this as it seems like this would cost more money and is less convenient for the players (as well as scaring off potential buyers with the description on the back). A second half size book of historical notes is included. This one is printed from left to right on the short axis making it a little easier to read IMO. The counters look very nice. I guess I've been spoiled, as I was taken aback by the fact that they are only single-sided (an artifact of their DTP origin?). There is only a little gloss on them and the colors chosen make it very easy to distinguish whose side they're on (a big plus in my book!). The map is top notch. One half is devoted to the actual terrain, the other to player aids. The background on the clear hexes is a very easy to look at shade of green with some subtle field lines in the background. The woods are fine and don't have that tacky look like some other computer generated woods I've seen. Putting the player aids on the map is a little inconvenient but should be expected at this price. Strangely there is some blurring around the CRT table. It's not bad enough to effect play but should have been caught by QA. I could not find graphics credits anywhere. Kerry Anderson, the designer, is credited along with Uli (MIH) and Ray (CH) as developers. Who did the map? All in All, a nice looking game that I look forward to trying and a positive sign that CH will be able to successfully produce and market MIH products and perhaps even take them to the next level.