Hockey, be it table, ice, grass, roller, floor, tonsil, etc. are
all REAL and all DIFFERENT.

If the best th game is the 1 most resembling ice hockey, then
that logic may suggest video games are better still (I think Not
). Munro, Eagle, Coleco, Bockplast and Stiga all produced slot
rod soccer games. In some ways, th is more like soccer than hock
ey. TH is called th for $s (marketing association). Another exam
ple, Air hockey is more like airless ping pong than hockey. Some
air hockey games were sold under the name th.
I love ice/th. I prefer th.

The slot pattern on the BOS was taken from Munro's final Bobby
Orr/Hull model, but has less square inches; thus, more overlapp-
ing opposing player figures. Which reminds me of my favorite
sales slogan-Orr 75- "1,000 square inches of super fast action".
Stationary Wood games are reproduced by 3? companies. Stationary
players say there better than slot games (I think Not) 'cause
there's no hogging the "puck". All slot games have safe zones.
More overlap doesn't always result in much checking, nor does it
always make for a better game. With more overlap, players will
often play slower, safer style combined with little control -
speed. Whether there's more or less overlap, some skills are
decreased, others increased.
Opponents styles decide play as much or more then game design.

What th game has more or less checking and which more closely
resembles ice hockey (subjective and complex) is laregly irr-
elevant imHo. It is an interesting, thoughtful study though.
I could debate either the positives or the negatives of ANY
high profile game, including my favorite. Most players fav-
orite game is either or both , the game they grew up on and
or the 1 that best suits their style (game availability, en-
dorsement/association are also factors).
Mr. DuBois and I can play different styles, resulting in an en-
tertaining series. TH and ice hockey are just that,entertainment
I'm much more impressed with the level of play and dedication
then of any game or game (business) producer.
Knocking a game , especially on message boards primarily promo-
ting that game, is counter productive for th. Events which in-
clude set feature matchups on different models, would best pro-
mote th and is best suited for tix sales, serious sponsership,
paid TV coverage and th growth imHo. Andrew