A company called Nova Game Design, Inc. introduced Axis & Allies at the
1981 Origins convention.  The pieces were brightly colored  cardboard
shapes like triangle tanks, hexagonal fighters, and round anti-aircraft
units.  In the Nova Games edition, there were many differences from the
current Milton Bradley version that most are familiar with.  For
example, submarines were not hindered by enemy naval units, and could
run a blockade by moving two spaces right through an enemy fleet.  Also,
neutrals were more of a factor, like Spain, although a neutral,
contributed 3 to the German economy.  Most neutrals also had an economic
value.  For weapons development, the current Heavy Bombers was
originally the Atomic Bomb.  And the Nova version also had kamikaze
attacks for the Japanese, moveable Russion factories, US Marines, the
British Home Guard, and German SS Panzerkorps.

Three years later, after slumping sales, Milton Bradley took over, and
Axis & Allies became part of their Gamemaster line of wargames, which
has included Broadsides & Boarding Parties, Fortress America, Conquest
of the Empire, and Shogun.  Axis & Allies is a two to five player
wargame that takes place in the spring of 1942.  Players control
Britain, USA, Russia, Japan and Germany.  It is considered by many to
be a "beer and pretzels" game, due to its over-simplification of
warfare.  But the well-designed plastic units and large, bright box
attract many first-time wargamers, and the ability to run an entire
war in an evening attracts even more hard-core gamers.