You can view the page at http://www.boardgameinfo.com/content...ameexperiences
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Article: Games and Game Experiences
You can view the page at http://www.boardgameinfo.com/content...ameexperiences
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I'd never really thought about it this way, but some of my favorite experiences (looking back) were actually with what I would (usually) call terrible games. The individual players, where we were, what we were doing at the time made for a fun experience that I can look back at and consider one of the more memorable wargame experiences I've had.
On the flip side, I can actually remember leaving a game that is normally one of my favorites unfinished because of other things going on, and simply not caring about the outcome.
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I own stores in the Milwaukee area and I'm asked something like this all the time from the less initiated game buyers. They'll ask "What's the best selling game" or "What is your favorite game?" -- both questions are the wrong question and I just can't answer them. I have to then ask them what style of games they like, who they usually play with, etc... then I can point them to games that I think will make for a "Good Game Experience" for them all. Sometimes this is games I just can't personally stand.
Certainly there are good and bad games out there. But I think the point is getting the right people in the right place to play the right kind of game - then you all have a blast and wish to do it again!
James
http://www.Game-Universe.com
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I think a good example of "providing an experience to customers" is the soundtrack CD included in Last Night on Earth - The Zombie Game.
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There is no doubt that tastes vary from gamer to gamer but I have been surprised a lot of times at the reactions I get from different games from different people. In my game group, I am the only person that people on this forum would consider a "gamer" , people in my group are just friends that I have introduced to hundreds of games over the years, these are people from many different backgrounds and nationalities. I have on occassion thought I was smart by selecting the "appropriate" game for the group only to have it bomb badly. I can tell you from experience that it is nothing but "elitism" to think that your average non-geek gamer can't handle a "gamers" game.
I have never played a game with Scott Nicholson but I can almost guarantee that if he were to select a game for he and I to play together it would be somthing along the Ameritrash line which might indeed provide a good experience but playing "Tulipmania" might even be better. This is a game he designed and although not a game you would probably find in my library, the game experience would probably be hilarious fun!
My point is we shouldn't be so quick to judge the tastes of others. My best game experiences are so varied it would make your head spin, from great games, of "Liars Dice , "Can't Stop" and "Family Business", to "RA", "Tigris and Euphrates", and even "Caylus", although I will admit that last was one a fluke. HA!
There is one component to game experience in my group that does seem to have an impact in almost all styles of games and that is game length. I find about 3 hours is the max my group will tolerate. I myself will on occasion enjoy a long game of "Titan" but no one else does is my group. There are simply too many other entertainment options competing for our time these days that in my opinion makes games like "Twilight Imperium" obsolete and a supreme dust gatherer.
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I will always err on the side of too simple instead of too complex. Too complex, and you can lose someone to being open to trying new games (and I have). I've yet to lose someone by starting with a game that was too simple for them.
I always start with a conversation and see what kinds of games they've enjoyed in the past.
I will then will start with something simple that won't take too long to play, but still has some meat to it (like a For Sale, for example), and then use that as a point to discuss games and then gauge where to go from there. Sometimes, Ticket to Ride is the next step, and other times, we jump into Prophecy, or as what happened last week with some new folks, we went right into the new Civilization.
It's a lot like what a librarian does in reader's advisory - trying to match a reader to a book. I plan to do a piece on this down the road.
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If you have a group of friends, and you feel that 1 won't like a given game, the other will love it. but another game you're sure everyone will "like" ... Do you go with least common denominator or just... play and see what happens?Originally Posted by Scott Nicholson
I've been a civ fan pretty much forever... Just throwing this in.we went right into the new Civilization.
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I would be very curious to know if this is typical, as I feel the same way - some of my favorite game experiences stem from games that I would never put on a top 50 games list, and my worst game experience came while playing one of my top games!
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My favorite game experience by far was a game of Sid Sackson's I'm the Boss with my nephews and nieces. It was an absolute riot. Lots of screaming, laughing, backstabbing, and delight! And it's not in my Top 20.
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This implies expectations can greatly affect the experience, which makes sense. When you sit down with a favorite game, you expect to have a lot of fun; if anything goes awry, you're more likely to be disappointed or aggravated.
Conversely, a game you're not particularly into might prepare you for a perfunctory experience. When it turns out well, it could be a great and joyful surprise.
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