What do Wargamers Want?
Okay, today I'm going to shut up. I'd really like to hear
from you guys. I read an interesting article this week. It said that a critical
error that many companies make is telling their customers what they want. Let
me be clear, not telling the customers what the company wants, but rather telling
the customers what they want.
For example, I might think you guys want more games on the
Korean War, but I would probably be wrong. Maybe I think dinky, ten dollar
games are the wave of the future, but you guys don't agree. So, talk to me,
what do you want? I'll give you some options, you tell me what you like, or add anything you feel like.
What scale of game is your favorite? Squad, platoon,
operational, or tactical?
What is your favorite era? World War II, Modern? Napoleonic?
In WW2 do you prefer East Front, West Front, or the Pacific?
Do you like science fiction games? If so, what type? ground combat or space combat?
Do you like science fiction games? If so, what type? ground combat or space combat?
Mounted map boards or paper?
What is most important to you with a game company?
What do you prefer, the Kickstarter model, or the P500 model?
What do you prefer, the Kickstarter model, or the P500 model?
Where do you go for news? Consimworld, BGG, Facebook, Wall
Street Journal? Would you utilize forums on a game company website?
When do you want updates, frequently or only when there is
something new?
What else? Please sound off.
Be sure to check out NIGHT OF MAN, a science-fiction, card-driven, board and counter, tactical battle game, designed by Mark H. Walker and published by Flying Pig Games. It is on Kickstarter until December 31st. You can view the Kickstarter page and place a pledge right here.
Mark H. Walker served 23 years in the United States Navy, most of them as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal diver, he is the designer of the Lock 'n Load, World at War, and Nations at War series of games. He has quite a few new titles up his sleeve. Stay tuned. Sign up for his newsletter to get design insights, game updates, and stuff.
What else? Please sound off.
Be sure to check out NIGHT OF MAN, a science-fiction, card-driven, board and counter, tactical battle game, designed by Mark H. Walker and published by Flying Pig Games. It is on Kickstarter until December 31st. You can view the Kickstarter page and place a pledge right here.
Mark H. Walker served 23 years in the United States Navy, most of them as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal diver, he is the designer of the Lock 'n Load, World at War, and Nations at War series of games. He has quite a few new titles up his sleeve. Stay tuned. Sign up for his newsletter to get design insights, game updates, and stuff.
Comments
What scale of game is your favorite? Squad, platoon, operational, or tactical?
Brigade level battles with units primarily at platoon level. 50 to 100 yard hexes if hexes used but with computers who needs hexes?
What is your favorite era? World War II, Modern? Napoleonic?
1st Korean war, Italian Campaign WWII, US Civil War, Napoleonics. Not necessarily in that order. Depends on my mood.
In WW2 do you prefer East Front, West Front, or the Pacific?
Hate East Front. Sick of East Front. West Front or Pacific - about equal - maybe give edge to pacific. What about N. Africa?
Do you like science fiction games? If so, what type? ground combat or space combat? Sci-Fi ground is OKAY but not on the top of my list of wargame to play. If I had my druthers for sci-fi it would be space combat but no one has done it right yet and I don't count the numerous 4X space games as war-games more like economic conflict games than war games.
Mounted map boards or paper?
Since you asked: Mounted unless mega game like war in the west, or east or Terrible Swift Sword (best wargame I ever played - none better since)
What is most important to you with a game company?
Couldn't care less about the company. All I care about is how good the game is and am I getting good value for my money.
What do you prefer, the Kickstarter model, or the P500 model?
What's the P500 model?
Where do you go for news? Consimworld, BGG, Facebook, Wall Street Journal? Would you utilize forums on a game company website?
Forums on the game company's web site preferred.
When do you want updates, frequently or only when there is something new?
For a paper game? Never is fine with me. For a computer game - as soon as a bug is discovered it needs to be squashed and a patch released.
- squad and platoon
- ww2 and modern
- love sci fi ground
- mounted
- honest communication - i understand delays, etc. so managing expectations by not overpromising really helps with that. when companies don't even communicate makes matters worse!
- either, as long as there's communication (see above) since i've been disappointed by both
- bgg and company forums
- when there's something new
- the most important for me is the communication part b/c fulfillment is a big deal for a company's rep to its customers
Scale: tactical, squad & platoon. No operational games for me (I reserve the right to change my mind, though).
SciFi: ground and space both interest me.
Maps: prefer mounted, but will gladly use paper
Favorite Era: I like plenty. From Dark Ages to modern/near future.
WW2: I like West Front and naval
Sci Fi: Love it. I like ground combat, but if space combat were done right I think it would be cool too.
Mounted or paper: Mounted
What is most important to you with a game company? Good quality products, genuine excitement about the products (not just marketing BS), and a customer service attitude that focuses on good communications.
What do you prefer, the Kickstarter model, or the P500 model? I can go with either, but suspect KS type is better since it gives a definitive time period in which to fund a product rather than the P500 'keep it going until it gets enough pre-orders if it ever does'. I think KS enables the company to better plan production and development because they KNOW what to focus on since they got funding for a specific project.
Where do you go for news? BGG and TableTop Gaming News. I abhor Facebook for marketing. I use it for family stuff (wife and I are geographically separated due to military) and not for hobby stuff. I don't generally like manufacturer forums as it becomes a hassle to find time to see what is new on them. Having said that, general wargames forums like DakkaDakka which have some game and game company specific sub-forums are cool, as I can access lots of different info on one site.
When do you want updates, frequently or only when there is something new? Depends. If I am waiting on a game to be released, especially one I already paid for via KS, I would MUCH rather have 'Nothing significant to report this week' than silence. Small updates as to status of various aspects of the development are always appreciated, even 9and sometimes especially) if they are bad news. I HIGHLY value integrity, and have written off several game companies recently due to what I perceive as breaches of integrity. Being wrong is one thing. Lying or being deceptive is another. Admitting when wrong is good. For example, don't promise something is a KS exclusive or that your backers will get items before they are available for retail if you will not stick to those promises. Don't tell me items are shipping to then come back 6 weeks later and tell me 'oops, we really didn't start shipping yet'.
Also thanks for your service. Stay safe.
I most often play tactical with units representing squads to companies. I would play operational if it would fit ina 2 to 4 hour time frame.
What is your favorite era? World War II, Modern? Napoleonic?
Yes. Most often play WW2, but own and play game in all eras from Ancients to Black Powder.
In WW2 do you prefer East Front, West Front, or the Pacific?
East Front Ground. Naval Pacific.
Do you like science fiction games? If so, what type? ground combat or space combat?
Absolutely. They must have a good back story and solid mechanics. Like grav armor based ground combat and fast play ship combat. There is a huge need for a true fast play ship game where ships die quick and battles resolve in 15 minutes to 2 hours.
Mounted map boards or paper?
Mounted
What is most important to you with a game company?
A good range of products with items at all price ranges. Engagement with the community including active demo teams and convention support.
What do you prefer, the Kickstarter model, or the P500 model?
P500
Where do you go for news? Consimworld, BGG, Facebook, Wall Street Journal? Would you utilize forums on a game company website?
I like company email newsletters best. Next, I like Facebook pages and groups. I spend much of my social time there. I am on BGG but I am not in the habit of checking its forums often. I see a place for company forums, but think that they should be integrated with social media for maximum communication. Cross post to all platforms! :)
When do you want updates, frequently or only when there is something new?
Regularly. Weekly is great, but you could go less if needed. I feel most engaged when I hear from you consistently.
What else? Please sound off.
I like the way you comment on and support many elements of the board war game hobby. Keep it up!
I enjoy them all but my sweet spot is squad based. Still two of my favorite games are at the platoon level: Nations at War and Thunder at Cassino. I think I enojy the "grander" scale of those games. Also they offer a good trade-off between tactical play and more operational oriented play. Still, I'll play anything as long as it looks appealing.
What is your favorite era?
For wargames: World War II because of the scale and number of battles, very fascinating era. Vietnam is my second favorite and WWI is also interesting. Now I really love ancient civilisation and fantasy games when it comes to euros.
In WW2 do you prefer East Front, West Front, or the Pacific?
In order of preference: West Front, East Front and Pacific although I enjoy the variety. As a matter of fact I think the Italy and North African theater of operations are underrepresented and quite interesting. East Front is interesting and all but man has it been done to hell.
Do you like science fiction games? If so, what type? ground combat or space combat?
I like sci-fi ground combat but It has to feel very grounded and have a somewhat credible near future aspect to it: video games games like the latest Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Halo: Reach have this sense of "realism" in the presentation (within sci-fi constraints). As of space combat, not my cup of tea.
Mounted map boards or paper?
Mounted, I've grown to love all games with them. Altought paper maps are cheaper to produce, they scream budget and do not attrack crowds. I'd want eurogame quality or at least folded carboard maps.
What is most important to you with a game company?
Big focus on quality assurance for the components and even bigger focus on errata-free rules and play pieces. Nothing irks me more then when I see sloppy layout, typos and erratas. I want games to be very developed and playtested (clear and consitant, no loopholes, solid and intuitive gameplay, not fiddly).
What do you prefer, the Kickstarter model, or the P500 model?
Kickstarter, P500 makes games sit on the bench for a couple of years making little to no progress, I've had games on preorder for more than 3 years now. I've had Fields of Fire on preorder for 2 years and I just canceled my pre-order, if it was a Kickstarter I'd have it by now. Kickstarter generates the "fear of missing out" effect and that's good. I think the best way to procced with Kickstarter is to build up the hype a couple months in advance prior to launch with PnPs sent out to reviewers, images on BGG
Where do you go for news? Consimworld, BGG, Facebook, Wall Street Journal? Would you utilize forums on a game company website?
I use Facebook and BGG a lot. Consimworld is awful, awful, awful. I never venture there.
When do you want updates, frequently or only when there is something new?
I like news every now and then, a digest every month is perfect with me.
What else? Please sound off.
I think another big focus needs to be on the visual presentation of the games, do you think FFG would be where it is now if it didn't have killer illustrations and lushious graphic design in their games? In the same vein, I'm sure there are tons of great games by GMT but their games just look so uninspiring and dull that I don't want to play any of them (exception Combat Commander, cool game and great counters).
It depends. I'm almost exclusively a miniatures gamer at the moment so squad to platoon with some stretch to company for colonial to modern gaming and for SF. Ancients(DBx)/Fantasy around 40 bases a side say a couple of legions + supporting troops.
For board wargames it was about the same 40 counters per side max. So company + for ASL, battalion + for Panzer Blitz
What is your favorite era? World War II, Modern? Napoleonic?
In WW2 do you prefer East Front, West Front, or the Pacific?
Early war western front, Pacific form the Japanese perspective.
Do you like science fiction games? If so, what type? ground combat or space combat?
Mounted map boards or paper?
As others have said - small boards (PB/SL) mounted, larger can be paper (Anything SPI)
What is most important to you with a game company?
What do you prefer, the Kickstarter model, or the P500 model?
Neither
Where do you go for news? Consimworld, BGG, Facebook, Wall Street Journal? Would you utilize forums on a game company website?
Blog posts mostly. Forums are ok but they tend to bog down with rivet counters, nazi fan bois and trolls.
When do you want updates, frequently or only when there is something new?
New stuff and projected new stuff