First impressions vs sustainability. Are looks more important than rules?

[wolfie65Participant 1238xp 0]

Chess has been around for thousands of years and while there are legions of different figure sets, I don’t think that that’s what’s keeping the game  alive.

[onlyonepinman 18064xp 1]

So what we have established is that there is no right answer.   Broadly speaking it depends on the game, the genre and the business model behind the game.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the video made the claim about amazing miniatures getting people into the hobby. Zorpazorp is very much in the GW ecosystem and that’s pretty much Games Workshop’s M.O.  However it is by far the only way for a game to grow and thrive.

[limburger 21727xp 0]

Chess (and equivalent wargame like boardgames such as Stratego, checkers and Go) are odd.

I think that if chess were to be invented ‘now’ that the miniatures and ‘extra’ (optional) rules would play a far bigger role.

I do wonder what it would take for any other tabletop wargame to survive like chess has.

Boardgames do tend to have a longer and more consistent shelf live, but otoh … our consumption based society is always looking for the next high. That itself may explain why (war)games have this need to sell ‘more’ things beyond the core game.

I personally get bored with chess. I just can’t focus or care enough after a few turns.

I think that’s why I got into tabletop gaming. There’s always something ‘new’ to challenge me. From trying different army compositions to different terrain and objectives. I love the variety even though sometimes it can be a bit too much.

[grantinvanman 2199xp 0]

I’m just going to say it: THREE DIMENSIONAL CHESS.

 

[onlyonepinman 18064xp 0]

@limburger pretty sure, being friends with a lot of board gamers, that if chess were invented now it would be equally successful.   Board gamers don’t care about miniatures, they really don’t.   They do care about quality and wooden meeples tend to be a preference but they don’t care about miniatures.  So, invent the game and sell it with high quality wooden pieces and a pretty looking board and yes, 100% it would sell.   Chess is only odd if you see it as a wargame, which it isn’t.

[Author]

Posts