The guys at Days of Wonder have made online playable versions of some of their board games, including club favourites Memoir 44 and Ticket to Ride.

For all you fans of Memoir 44, Days of Wonder has launched a great new on-line version of the game at their site, located at: http://www.daysofwonder.com/memoir44-online/en/

Jeremy Norton has been playing on the site and mentioned it to me at the July meeting, so I gave it a whirl this week and was very impressed. All the familiar Memoir 44 scenarios from all Fronts are included as well as a large number of scenarios not available in the published products.

The on-line version is very user friendly and the mechanics and look are just like the game, with the bonus of animated graphics of explosions as units take damage and great combat sound effects (the sound of tanks on the move, hustling soldiers, strafing airplanes etc – keyed to the cards played).

You start with 50 gold for free and each scenario costs an amount of gold. Of course, once you run out you need to get out the credit card and top up your gold, but at $12 for 200 gold, its affordable and great value. You can play all scenarios against the computer or other players around the world (I’ve played against people in the USA, France, Canada, Denmark and Russia so far). The game uses a system where you can view avatars of players waiting for a game and invite them to play a scenario (or wait to be invited). Every time I was on-line it only took less than a minute before someone wanted to play against me. The initiator of the game gets to choose which side they will play but at the end of the game there is an option for a rematch straight away, with the sides swapped. Most people seem to want to play the rematch option.

One of the attractions of the game is acquiring ranks – I rose from cadet to second lieutenant over the three days I have played so far. Also, I love the badges! You get achievement badges for completing specific tasks. For example, I have been awarded badges for:

– destroying 2 complete units using Airpower

– invading Normandy

– destroying a fully intact unit with a single figure

– destroying two units with artillery

Statistics on all games are recorded and your performance in each game (regardless of a win or loss) is displayed, rating you as having overachieved or underachieved.

Thoroughly recommend having a go at Memoir 44 on-line, even if you just use the freebie starting gold. If you do, let me know your ID so I can look at for you and give you a game. Mine’s easy – it’s keithdone.

Also, if you are interested in other DOW games, like Ticket to Ride and Pirate’s Cove, they are also available in an on-line format.