The Wargame Developments Handbook defines a number of wargaming terms. I wasn’t familiar with the “black game” — but I was intrigued:
Sometimes referred to as ‘bad taste’ wargaming. A game specifically designed to explore the unpleasant or uncomfortable aspects of conflict. Most of these deal with areas not usually considered ‘suitable’ for games, such as terrorist attacks, bombing of population centres, or the moral dilemmas arising from conflict. Most wargames, however, contain ‘black’ elements; after all, playing a game about war can be considered in poor taste in itself. A controversial area of WD activities, surrounded by much hypocrisy. Two very successful examples of ‘Black Games’ were ‘Home Front 86′ where the players believed they were running a ‘refugee centre in Wales in WW3′ but ended up running a Concentration Camp similar in operation to Bergen-Belsen (See Disguised Scenario) and an experimental ‘Northern Ireland Workshop’ (See Workshop) where every aspect of the ‘troubles’ were examined using improvised theatre, role-play, and traditional gaming techniques.