Wargame Design Studio was founded in 2016 as a group of enthusiasts to both develop and enhance the games from John Tiller.  John was an independent developer who had been producing war games since the mid-1990s, with a publishing history through Talonsoft, HPS Simulations, and later self-publishing as John Tiller Software. John developed a wide array of wargames and, in addition, did extensive contract work for the US Air Force and Navy from 2003-2021. John Tiller passed away in April after a short illness.

Subsequently, David Freer and Rich Hamilton purchased the intellectual property rights to the John Tiller Software catalog and rebranded the company as Wargame Design Studio. Work began on the massive overhaul of the various game series that had been published, introducing new graphics and numerous engine enhancements. Additionally, new game projects were underway to add titles to the various series that had been in development for several years. Currently, our games range from the Middle Ages (Medieval period), beginning with the Crusades, through to hypothetical modern engagements from the Cold War in the mid-1980s. Of this catalog all are available directly through our website https://wargameds.com.

We are launching two titles through Steam, both from our Sword & Siege series – Crusades: Book I and Book II.

Our business model is to provide complete stand-alone games that do not require additional add-on modules to cover the breadth of the topic. A game for a specific campaign will include all related battles and forces that were historically involved. A hallmark of our work is historical accuracy. We spend an extraordinary amount of time researching the topic we are covering and include all the specific units that were involved, have them clothed in the proper uniforms and armed with the correct weapons. Furthermore, we utilize accurate and detailed maps to represent the actual battlefields where the engagements took place, rather than using random maps that lack real-world basis.

Further, we approach development with incremental change in mind, so when a new game is introduced, we roll out new features with it and then roll them back to the other titles in the series. This is usually provided through a free update to all existing titles in the series.

Our intent here on Steam is to publish games that will be supported for the long run. When we release a new game here, we are committing that it will be supported, that it will run on modern operating systems, and that it will receive quality-of-life updates on a periodic basis. We have a long history of delivering stable and playable software. We can guarantee that any game you purchase from us will run on your system. And if any minor problems are discovered, a resolution will be forthcoming. 

At the core, we are wargamers making wargames for our fellow enthusiasts. We play the games we develop, and we are committed to delivering a quality product that we stand behind.

Look to our Steam debut with the upcoming release of our two Crusades games, and we plan to follow with further titles soon after.