Australian Design Group

Australian Design Group is an Australian game company known primarily for publishing complex historical wargames and strategic board games. It was formed in Canberra in 1982 by a group of gaming enthusiasts to publish Empires in Arms, a large-scale Napoleonic-era strategy game designed by Harry Rowland, who was thirteen when he created it. The game appeared in 1983 and quickly established the company within the international hobby-gaming community. Its recognition included a nomination for Game of the Year at the Origins awards in 1984, and the title was licensed to Avalon Hill Game Company in 1985. Empires in Arms continued to sell strongly after that licensing arrangement. The company’s most prominent subsequent release was World in Flames, an extensive strategic simulation of the Second World War. The title became an international success and received several honors, including Game of the Year, State of the Art, Best 20th Century Game, and Game of the Decade awards. World in Flames helped define Australian Design Group’s identity as a publisher of ambitious, long-form conflict simulations with detailed historical, economic, and military systems. Australian Design Group’s catalog has also included Days of Decision, Rub Out, World Cup Football, America in Flames, Patton in Flames, and 7 Ages. The company has additionally produced numerous kits and expansions for World in Flames. Across these releases, its publishing approach has emphasized strategic depth, historical themes, and extensive replayability rather than mass-market simplicity. The available reference material does not provide current ownership, leadership, headquarters, financial information, or a confirmed official website, and it does not establish the company’s present operating status beyond describing its catalog and continuing sales history.

Australian Design Group was established in 1982 by Canberra gaming enthusiasts who sought to publish Empires in Arms, a large-scale strategic game concerning the Napoleonic Wars. The game was designed by Harry Rowland, who was thirteen years old at the time. Its publication in 1983 brought the new company rapid attention within the board-wargaming community. Empires in Arms was nominated for Game of the Year at the Origins awards in 1984, giving Australian Design Group early recognition outside Australia. In 1985, Empires in Arms was licensed to the Avalon Hill Game Company. The licensing arrangement gave the game access to a major international publisher, while the title retained a strong sales history. This early success provided a foundation for Australian Design Group’s later work in historical simulation and strategic gaming. The company’s most significant later release was World in Flames, a strategic simulation based on the Second World War. The game became an international hit and earned several awards, including Game of the Year, State of the Art, Best 20th Century Game, and Game of the Decade. Its success established Australian Design Group as a notable specialist publisher of complex conflict simulations. World in Flames also became the basis for numerous kits and related releases. The company subsequently broadened its catalog with titles including Days of Decision, Rub Out, World Cup Football, America in Flames, Patton in Flames, and 7 Ages. These games covered political decision-making, military history, sport, and broad historical development, but shared the company’s general emphasis on strategic planning and substantial gameplay systems. The supplied reference material does not identify a corporate parent, current executives, ownership structure, financial results, headquarters beyond the company’s Canberra origins, or a confirmed official web address. It also does not provide a detailed chronology of later operations. Accordingly, the company’s current status and present business scale remain unconfirmed in this dossier.

• 1985

  Empires in Arms licensed to Avalon Hill

  [1]Australian Design Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The company licensed Empires in Arms to Avalon Hill Game Company, expanding the game’s reach through an established international publisher.

• 1984

  Origins Game of the Year nomination

  [1]Australian Design Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Empires in Arms received a nomination for Game of the Year at the Origins awards.

• 1983

  Empires in Arms published

  [1]Australian Design Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Australian Design Group released Empires in Arms, a Napoleonic-era strategic wargame designed by Harry Rowland.

• 1982

  Company formed in Canberra

  [1]Australian Design Groupen.wikipedia.org

  A group of Canberra gaming enthusiasts formed Australian Design Group to publish Empires in Arms.

A specialist publisher of historically themed, rules-intensive wargames and strategic board games for dedicated hobby gamers.

• Historical wargame · 1983

  Empires in Arms

  A large-scale strategic game about the Napoleonic Wars. Designed by Harry Rowland when he was thirteen, it was the game for which Australian Design Group was formed. Published in 1983, it gained rapid recognition, received an Origins Game of the Year nomination in 1984, and was licensed to Avalon Hill in 1985.

• World War II strategic wargame

  World in Flames

  An extensive strategic simulation of the Second World War and the company’s best-known international success. The game received multiple honors, including Game of the Year, State of the Art, Best 20th Century Game, and Game of the Decade. Australian Design Group also produced numerous kits and related materials for the title.

• Political and historical strategy game

  Days of Decision

  A strategic title included in Australian Design Group’s catalog. The available reference material identifies the game but does not provide detailed information about its mechanics, publication date, or editions.

• Board game

  Rub Out

  A title listed among Australian Design Group’s published games. The supplied source does not describe its theme, rules, release date, or later status.

• Sports strategy game

  World Cup Football

  A football-themed strategic board game in the company’s catalog. The available source does not specify its launch date, detailed gameplay, or distribution history.

• Historical wargame

  America in Flames

  A historical conflict game published by Australian Design Group. The source identifies it as part of the company’s catalog but does not provide further information about its setting, rules, or release chronology.

• Historical wargame

  Patton in Flames

  A military history title published by Australian Design Group. Specific information about its design, publication date, editions, and current availability is not provided in the reference material.

• Historical strategy game

  7 Ages

  A broad historical strategy game listed among the company’s publications. The available source confirms the title but does not detail its gameplay systems, release year, or current commercial status.

• 1985

  Licensing of Empires in Arms to Avalon HillOther

  Background

  After Empires in Arms achieved early recognition and strong interest, Australian Design Group made the game available through a licensing arrangement with Avalon Hill Game Company.

  Action taken

  The company licensed Empires in Arms to Avalon Hill for publication.

  Aftermath

  The game continued to sell strongly, and the arrangement increased its exposure through an established international game publisher.

  Source

1. 1Australian Design Groupen.wikipedia.org