Berg's Review of Games
Berg's Review of Games was a self-published American gaming magazine focused on video and board wargames.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Berg's Review of Games, commonly abbreviated as BROG, was an American specialist publication devoted primarily to reviews and commentary on video wargames and board wargames. It was created and edited by game designer Richard Berg, whose earlier reviewing work provided the foundation for the later magazine. The publication belonged to the small but influential amateur and enthusiast press surrounding adventure gaming and historical wargaming in the late twentieth century. The magazine's direct predecessor began in 1980, when Berg was working as a game designer for Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI). He started writing and editing reviews under the title Richard Berg's Review of Games. That first version was initially a two-page mimeographed newsletter issued twice each month. It ran for 25 issues before its material was incorporated into SPI's magazine Strategy & Tactics, where Berg's reviewing work continued until late 1985. In autumn 1991, Berg revived the concept as a self-published fanzine titled Berg's Review of Games. To distinguish the new publication from the earlier SPI-era newsletter, he labeled it as a second volume in its issue numbering. BROG appeared six times a year and ultimately ended after issue 28. Its editorial focus covered both digital and tabletop wargaming, reflecting Berg's background in historical game design and the close relationship between board, computer, and adventure gaming communities at the time. A notable recurring feature was the Little Mac Awards, a satirical annual set of awards for what Berg regarded as questionable achievements, mistakes, or injustices in gaming. The feature originated in the earlier Richard Berg's Review of Games and was revived in the second issue of BROG. The awards took their name from Union Civil War general George McClellan, remembered by Berg as an example of underwhelming performance. Companies and individuals in the gaming industry could receive the tongue-in-cheek awards for perceived failures or poor decisions. Although BROG was a niche and amateur publication rather than a mass-market magazine, it received significant recognition within the adventure-gaming community. It won the Origins Award for Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine in 1992, 1993, and 1995. After publication ended, the magazine was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame in 1997. Its legacy rests on the combination of specialist criticism, wargaming expertise, satire, and independent publishing rather than on a large commercial operation. No current publisher, parent company, website, or continuing publication status is identified in the available reference material.
History
The history of Berg's Review of Games is rooted in Richard Berg's work as a game designer and critic at Simulations Publications Inc. In 1980, Berg began producing a small reviewing newsletter titled Richard Berg's Review of Games. The publication was initially mimeographed, only two pages long, and issued twice monthly. After 25 issues, it moved into the pages of SPI's Strategy & Tactics, where the reviewing feature continued until the end of 1985. Berg revived the idea in the fall of 1991 as an independently produced fanzine. The new publication adopted the similar title Berg's Review of Games and was commonly known as BROG. Berg distinguished the revived series from the earlier newsletter by treating it as a second volume and adding Vol. 2 to its issue numbering. Unlike the original newsletter's twice-monthly schedule, the new magazine was published six times per year. It concluded with issue 28. The publication reviewed both video and board wargames. Its subject matter reflected the overlap between historical simulation, adventure gaming, and computer gaming communities. Berg's professional experience as a game designer gave the magazine a perspective grounded in game systems, historical themes, and the practical standards of specialist players. The independent format also allowed it to maintain a distinctive editorial voice. One of its best-known features was the Little Mac Awards, a satirical annual tradition originally created for the first Richard Berg's Review of Games. The awards were named after American Civil War general George McClellan and were presented for perceived errors, poor judgment, or injustices in the gaming industry. Berg brought the feature back in the second issue of BROG, using it to comment humorously on companies and industry personalities. BROG achieved recognition beyond its circulation. It won the Origins Award for Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine in 1992, 1993, and 1995. After the magazine ceased publication, the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design inducted it into its Hall of Fame in 1997. These honors established the publication as a notable example of specialist amateur gaming journalism, despite its limited scale and eventual discontinuation.
- 1997
Hall of Fame induction
[1]The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design inducts Berg's Review of Games into its Hall of Fame after the publication has ended.
- 1995
Third Origins Award
[1]BROG wins the same Origins category for the third documented time.
- 1993
Second Origins Award
[1]The magazine receives the Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine Origins Award for a second consecutive documented year.
- 1992
First Origins Award
[1]BROG wins Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine at the Origins Awards.
- 1991
Berg's Review of Games is relaunched
[1]Richard Berg begins publishing the self-produced fanzine Berg's Review of Games, also known as BROG, in the fall.
- 1985
The original review series ends its SPI-era run
[1]After appearing in Strategy & Tactics, Berg's original review publication is no longer published through that arrangement by late 1985.
- 1980
Richard Berg begins the original review publication
[1]While working for Simulations Publications Inc., Richard Berg launches a small mimeographed newsletter titled Richard Berg's Review of Games.
Products and positioning
An independent specialist review publication for wargaming and adventure-gaming enthusiasts, combining critical coverage with satirical commentary.
Gaming magazine · 1991
Berg's Review of Games
The principal self-published BROG magazine, issued six times a year from 1991 until it ended with issue 28. It covered video wargames and board wargames and was written for specialist adventure-gaming and wargaming audiences.
Gaming newsletter · 1980
Richard Berg's Review of Games
The predecessor publication launched in 1980 as a two-page mimeographed newsletter. It was published twice monthly for 25 issues before its reviewing content appeared in Strategy & Tactics through late 1985.
Satirical editorial feature
Little Mac Awards
An annual satirical feature recognizing perceived mistakes, poor decisions, or injustices in gaming. The feature originated in Berg's earlier review publication and was revived in the second issue of BROG.
Brand decisions
1991
Relaunch as a self-published second volumeStrategyBackground
Richard Berg revived his earlier review concept several years after its SPI-associated publication had ended.
Action taken
He created a self-published fanzine under the similar Berg's Review of Games name and differentiated it through second-volume issue numbering.
Aftermath
The relaunched magazine appeared six times a year and continued through issue 28 before publication ended.
1991
Adopt a combined video-game and board-game review scopeOtherBackground
The publication operated within an enthusiast market where tabletop wargaming, computer wargaming, and adventure gaming had overlapping audiences.
Action taken
BROG featured reviews of both video wargames and board wargames.
Aftermath
The cross-format editorial focus helped define the magazine's specialist identity.
Recent events
- 1997
Berg's Review of Games enters the Adventure Gaming Hall of Fame[1]
Other
Following the end of publication, BROG was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame.
- 1995
Berg's Review of Games wins a third Origins Award[1]
Other
BROG received its third documented Origins Award in the amateur adventure-gaming magazine category.
- 1993
Berg's Review of Games wins a second Origins Award[1]
Other
The publication was again recognized with the Origins Award for Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine.
- 1992
Berg's Review of Games wins Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine[1]
Other
Berg's Review of Games received the Origins Award for Best Amateur Adventure Gaming Magazine.
Sources1 sources
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