Making History: The Calm & The Storm
Turn-based WWII grand strategy with educational use in over 150 schools.
Making History: The Calm & The Storm is a turn-based grand strategy game set during World War II, released in March 2007 by Muzzy Lane. Its gameplay shares similarities with board games like Axis & Allies and Risk, incorporating management of industry, economics, resources, research, and diplomacy. In Germany, the game was sold under the title Strategic War Command.
With patch 2.03, players can control any internationally recognized nation from 1936 to 1945, though the game suggests starting as a major power: Nationalist China, France, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Imperial Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, or the Soviet Union. The developer successfully marketed it as an educational tool; a December 2007 Newsweek article noted it was already part of the World War II curriculum in over 150 schools.
On July 30, 2008, Muzzy Lane released a Gold edition. This version added a "Rise of the Reich" scenario beginning in 1933, introduced separate combat forces for attacking and defending units, allowed partisans to launch insurrections and liberate unannexed conquered territories, and improved the economic system—for instance, raising oil supply and price while lowering food costs. The game includes a scenario editor, enabling players to create and share custom scenarios online. The Gold Edition was translated into Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, French, and Japanese.
**Gameplay** Players control a chosen nation during World War II and the pre-war years, depending on the scenario. The base game includes scenarios starting in 1936, 1939, 1941, or 1944, each reflecting the historical situation at that time. Players can also design their own scenarios using the built-in editor or SQL programming.
**Main Countries** The default scenarios list specific major countries, but players may select other nations.
**Combat** Combat uses a random number generator, with arbitrary chances to hit, inflict damage, and absorb damage varying by unit type. Hit chances are modified by supply level, technology, and terrain. Each unit attacks an enemy unit once per combat turn. Units are classified as land, air, or sea, with different hit probabilities against each type. A fourth "city" classification allows medium and heavy bombers to target industrial infrastructure without being overly effective against military units.
- Release date
- March 2007
- Developer
- Muzzy Lane
- Patch 2.03 playable nations
- any nation with international recognition from 1936 to 1945
- Gold edition release date
- July 30, 2008
- Gold edition languages
- Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, French, Japanese
- Multiplayer max players
- 8
- Default scenario start years
- 1936, 1939, 1941, 1944
Lore & Background
Making History: The Calm & The Storm was released in March 2007 by Muzzy Lane, with a Gold edition following on July 30, 2008. The Gold edition introduced a 'Rise of the Reich' scenario starting in 1933, new combat concepts such as separate attack and defense forces, partisan insurrections, and economic improvements including increased oil supply and price and reduced food cost. The game was released as Strategic War Command in Germany.
Gameplay involves controlling a nation through World War II scenarios starting in 1936, 1939, 1941, or 1944, each reflecting historical situations. Combat uses a random number generator with modifiers from supply, technology, and terrain. Diplomacy with non-player controlled nations is largely arbitrary, with war plans programmed per scenario. The economic system includes penalties for controlling regions of different culture and the ability to liberate annexed countries. A scenario editor and SQL programming allow player-created scenarios distributed over the Internet.
Reader's Guide
Making History: The Calm & The Storm is notable for its successful marketing as an educational tool, with a December 2007 Newsweek article reporting its use in over 150 schools' World War II curricula. The game's Gold edition expanded its scope with a 1933 scenario and refined combat and economic systems. Its turn-based gameplay, resource management including goods, food, metals, coal, and oil, and a technology tree progressing from post-World War I to jet fighters and nuclear weapons, provide a structured grand strategy experience. The game's scenario editor and SQL programming enabled community-created content, extending replayability. Multiplayer supports up to eight players over TCP/IP without formal matchmaking. The game drew criticism for its territory allocation system, which assigns conquered land to the first arriving force, potentially allowing minor allies to control large areas. Its translation into six languages on the Gold edition broadened its international reach.
Did You Know?
- As of patch 2.03, players can play as any nation with international recognition from 1936 to 1945.
- The game was described in a December 2007 Newsweek article as already part of the World War II curriculum in more than 150 schools.
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