Origins of World War II (game)

Lore & Background

Jim Dunnigan, who had previously designed Jutland (1967) and 1914 (1969) for Avalon Hill, created Origins of World War II as a standalone game. Shortly after designing this game, Dunnigan left Avalon Hill to found Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI). The game was play-tested with secondary school students at Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem, New York City, by teacher Albert Nofi. Published in 1971, royalties were paid directly to SPI, and the game was not a bestseller. Avalon Hill's 1980 company history described it as 'A good, simple little game which never really caught on with hard core gamers; it remains in the line primarily for its value in the school supply market where it remains an excellent classroom game.' An article in Boys' Life noted its use in college classrooms, and a set of guidelines for teachers was published in SPI's magazine Moves.

Reader's Guide

Origins of World War II is notable for its attempt to merge wargame mechanics with multi-player diplomacy, a design that received mixed critical reception. Reviewers praised its simplicity and rapid play—John Turner in Games & Puzzles (August 1972) rated its physical quality, playing quality, and value for money as excellent, calling it a must-have for game collectors. However, many critics identified a severe imbalance favoring Germany, which receives the most Political Factors each turn and plays last. Nicholas Palmer in The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming (1977) called it an 'unhappy attempt' and noted no American victory had been recorded. John Jackson and Jon Freeman echoed this criticism, with Freeman suggesting hidden simultaneous moves as a fix. Despite these flaws, the game found a niche in education. Harry Miller, in The Guide to Simulations/Games for Education and Training, praised its historical setting and negotiation requirements as excellent for classroom discussion of nationalism, political geography, and alliances. A copy is held in the collection of the Strong National Museum of Play. The game includes four 'what if' scenarios beyond the historical one, adding replay value for educational settings.

Did You Know?

• Avalon Hill's 1980 company history noted the game remained in print primarily for its value in the school supply market.
• The game includes four 'what if' scenarios: Aggressive French Policy Game, Aggressive French-British Policy Game, British-U.S. Alliance Game, and Anti-Bolshevik Crusade Game.
• A copy of Origins of World War II is held in the collection of the Strong National Museum of Play (object 112.6191).