Note from Mike

Unlike our previous online publications, the new Black Type Bugler represents a tight-knit coupling of the SimulatedSports.com Horse Racing Game with the players that enjoy writing creatively about it. Although previous efforts produced quality and entertaining reading, the separation of the publication and the game was notable. After reading an article, there was no way to easily follow up on “what happened.” Did the questionable favorite prove susceptible and lose? Did the second time starter make a successful jump into stakes company? Although the outcomes were researchable, the effort to do so often proved too time consuming to be enjoyable. In turn, the value of the articles themselves was often times cheapened, which was unfair to both the writer as well as the end user. Despite the fact that other online publications (real and simulated) operate happily within these same limitations, we decided it was time to become more ambitious and tackle the problem head on.

One primary initiative unique to the Black Type Bugler when compared to many online publications is the incorporation of the stories directly into the operation of the game and vice versa. All articles written about races now have direct links to the race they are covering. The same goes for articles written about a specific horse (or group of horses). Furthermore, race results and horse pages will soon link to all articles written about them in the Black Type Bugler. These improvements should not only lead to easier navigation between the Black Type Bugler and the game itself, but should also go a long way to raising interest levels as well as personalizing all horses (and not just the major graded level horses) in the game.

In concluding, I would like to thank every writer for the Black Type Bugler. It is their creations that have helped breathe additional life into our simulation for many years now and, with the new improvements, will continue doing so at a higher degree than ever before. I would especially like to thank Roys and Sharon. They have been the heart and soul of every simulated publication created for this game, and the Black Type Bugler would not exist without their tireless efforts. I look forward to seeing where their initiative and creativity will lead the Black Type Bugler in the future, and am both proud and honored that I will be able to help them accomplish their goals and that our game as a whole will reap the benefits their diligence.

Mike Wallace
SimulatedSports.com Horse Racing Game