From: Don Mikulec Subject: S U R V E Y R E S U L T S ! ! Ta Daaahhhh .......... What you have all been waiting a month for; the Consim survey results. There were a total of 48 responses to the survey, which I think is about one-sixth of the people on the list. I was hoping that I would receive at least a 33% turnout, but seeing that I didn't automate the tabulation of the survey, I'm glad the response was only what it was. ;) If I do this again, I will have the responses sent back in a format parseable by a program or some UNIX utility. I didn't include much analysis because it took me so long to organize the data, sorry :(. But hey, it's better than a thread about U.S. sponsored genocide!!!! I hope it has some useful information. Age : The range in ages was from 24 to 49. Two people declined to put their age on the survey, but one of them said he had been playing wargames for 40 years. Age Ranges: 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 2 7 12 15 8 2 Average Age: 35.3 Median Age: 36 A nice bell curve around 35 to 36 years. Years of Education: Years: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 # 2 2 4 0 10 6 11 1 5 3 2 2 Respondents : 48 Range of Data: 12 to 23 years Average: 17.46 years Median : 17 years *A nice bell curve around college plus a year of additional studies. Sex : 100% of the respondents were male. Occupation : *I was happy to find out that there was not one "marketing weasel" or struggling actor in the sample. All of the occupations require heavy analytical and problem solving skills (even if you don't think so.). The sample does have a heavy bias toward computer jobs, but then again the survey was conducted on the 'net. What else was I to expect.? ;) Occupations Computer Related : 20 Economist : 2 Defense Analyst : 2 Education Related: 5 Translator : 1 Pilot : 1 Lab Research : 2 Student : 2 Engineering : 2 Civil Servant : 1 Customer Support : 1 Financial : 2 Management : 1 Psychology : 1 Unemployed : 1 No Answer : 4 Household Income : The range of Household Income was from the low 20s to the low seven figures (I was told it was not a typo). There were 45 responses to this question. All amounts are in US Dollars. Average: 79,200 Median: 50,000 Do you own or rent: (O or R) Responses: 47 Own: 28 (60%) Rent: 19 (40%) Marital Status : (M, S, D) How Long?: (years) (*I will consider a long term relationship a marriage) Responses: 48 Single: 8 (17%) Married: 39 (81%) Currently Divorced: 1 ( 2%) *I was looking for your current status. Country : Responses: 48 US : 37 (78%) I included a US citizen living in SE.Asia CA : 2 ( 4%) UK : 4 ( 8%) AU : 2 ( 4%) SW : 2 ( 4%) DE : 1 ( 2%) Do you vote? : (Y or N) Responses: 48 Yes : 45 (94%) No : 3 ( 6%) *I wish it was this way in the rest of the world. Maybe then we would see some decent candidates. Where are you politically?: (0 - 5) Responses: 47 0) Anarchist 0 ( 0%) 1) Libertarian 7 (15%) 2) Conservative 14 (30%) 3) Middle of the Road 16 (34%) 4) Liberal 9 (19%) 5) Radical 1 ( 2%) *I should have had this be a series of questions based on what the role of government should be in society. Several of the non-US respondents complained that Liberal and Conservative meant different things in their country. Who would you like to see in the WhiteHouse next January?: *This question was an attempt to determine the sincerity of political beliefs. If you claimed liberal but wanted Buchanan for president, I adjusted accordingly. Responses: 36 Al Haig : 1 Alan Keyes : 2 Alexander : 1 Colin Powell : 4 Clinton : 14 Dogbert : 1 Dole : 2 Dick Armey : 1 Forbes : 3 George Phillies : 2 Abe Lincoln : 1 Lugar : 1 Noam Chromsky : 1 Queen Elizabeth : 1 Respondent's Wife : 1 The survey respondent : 1 Are you religious?: (Y or N) Responses: 48 Yes : 25 (52%) No : 23 (48%) Do you attend religious services regularly?: (Y or N) Responses: 48 Yes : 17 (35%) No : 31 (65%) *One person said he was not religious, but did attend religious services. (?) Do you own a PC/Mac? : If Yes, what kind: Responses: 48 Yes : 45 (94%) No : 3 ( 6%) Mac : 14 *A few people owned both Mac and Intel based Intel : 33 machines. Amiga : 1 Do you consim-l at work or home?: (W or H) Responses: 48 Home : 8 (17%) Work : 30 (62%) Both : 10 (21%) *83% of the sample do this at work. If our bosses only knew ;) It does provide a nice break during the day. Wargaming Questions: -------------------- How long have you been wargaming? : (years) Respondents: 47 Range : 6 - 40 years Average : 21.59 years Median : 21 How many hours a month do you boardgame? : Respondents: 48 Range : 0 - 100 hours Average : 18.4 Median : 13.5 How many boardgames do you own? : Respondents: 48 Range : 10 - 1500 Average : 185.54 Median : 120 What is the most you have paid for a boardgame?: Respondents: 47 Range : 25 - 130 Average : 61.45 Median : 50.00 Who/What got you interested in Wargaming?: Respondents: 48 0) I'm not, how did I get on this survey? : 0 ( 0%) 1) Parent or Grandparent : 7 (15%) 2) Sibling : 4 ( 8%) 3) Friend : 13 (27%) 4) Saw a box and bought it. : 24 (50%) Favorite HISTORICAL period for gaming LAND warfare?: Respondents: 48 0) Not interested in land warfare : 1 ( 2%) 1) Ancient : 4 ( 8%) 2) MiddleAges : 0 ( 0%) 3) 16th - 19thCenturies : 8 (17%) 4) 20th Century : 35 (73%) Favorite HISTORICAL period for gaming NAVAL warfare?: Respondents: 48 0) Not Interested in sea warfare : 7 (15%) 1) Ancient : 1 ( 2%) 2) MiddleAges : 0 ( 0%) 3) 16th - 19thCenturies : 14 (30%) 4) 20th Century : 26 (54%) Favorite 19TH CENTURY period for gaming LAND warfare?: Responses: 48 0) Not interested in 19th Century LAND warfare : 7 1) Napoleonics : 11 (23%) 2) American Civil War : 19 (40%) 3) Franco-Prussian : 3 ( 6%) 4) Other __________ : 2 ( 4%) American Rev. 5) The whole century : 6 (12%) Favorite 19TH CENTURY period for gaming NAVAL warfare?: Responses: 48 0) Not interested in 19th Century NAVAL warfare : 17(36%) 1) Napoleonics : 20(42%) 2) American Civil War : 5 (10%) 3) Franco-Prussian : 0 ( 0%) 4) Other __________ : 3 ( 6%) Spanish American 5) The whole century : 3 ( 6%) Favorite 20TH CENTURY period for gaming LAND warfare?: Responses: 48 0) Not interested in 20th Century LAND warfare 0 ( 0%) 1) WWI 3 ( 6%) 2) WWII 33 (69%) 3) Cold War 2 ( 4%) 4) Post Cold War 1 ( 2%) 5) The whole century 9 (19%) Favorite 20TH CENTURY period for gaming NAVAL warfare?: Responses: 48 0) Not interested in 20th Century NAVAL warfare 6 (12%) 1) WWI 5 (10%) 2) WWII 23(48%) 3) Cold War 3 ( 6%) 4) Post Cold War 2 ( 4%) 5) The whole century 9 (19%) Favorite 20TH CENTURY period for gaming AIR warfare?: Responses: 48 0) Not interested in AIR warfare 9 (19%) 1) WWI 6 (12%) 2) WWII 17 (35%) 3) Cold War 4 ( 8%) 4) Post Cold War 2 ( 4%) 5) The whole century 10 (21%) Game Technology --------------- How many hours a month do you computergame? : Respondents: 48 Range : 0 - 60 hours Average : 14.15 hours Median : 10 hours What is the most you have paid for a computergame?: Respondents: 47 Range : 0 - 90 US Dollars Average : 46.15 Median : 49 How many computer strategy games do you own? : Respondents: 48 Range : 0 - 100 Average : 11.54 Median : 6 *Here I was looking for computer games that could be played as board games, ie. Stalingrad, V4V, FlightCommander2, etc ... How many computer simulation games do you own? : (Do not include Doom or similar games.) Respondents: 48 Range : 0 - 50 Average : 5.71 Median : 3 *Here I was looking for flight and tank sims. Have you ..... ( answer Y or N) -Used a computer to do bookeeping for a boardgame: Responses = 47 Yes = 26 No = 21 -Played comp wargames against a computer : Responses = 47 Yes = 46 No = 1 -Played comp wargames ftf using a computer: Responses = 47 Yes = 21 No = 25 -Played comp wargames via modem : Responses = 47 Yes = 14 No = 33 -Played comp wargames via email : Responses = 47 Yes = 16 No = 31 What Do You Think? ------------------ Rate the following topics from 0 (Never/dislike/disagree) to 5 (always/like/agree). Only place an answer if you have participated in the topic. Respondents Average Land miniatures gaming : 36 3.19 Naval miniatures gaming : 30 2.93 Game scale - mano a mano (39m or less to the hex) : 39 2.59 Squad size (40m to 100m to the hex) : 39 3.26 platoon (101m to 300m to the hex) : 38 3.29 company-btln (301 - 1000m to the hex) : 38 3.74 divisional (1001m or more to the hex) : 38 4.00 I like 20D ( Real 20 sided dice) : 37 3.30 Boardgames - Role Playing : 43 2.07 Science Fiction : 46 2.46 Twilight 2000/ Merc 2000 : 29 0.83 CarWars : 36 1.08 MonsterGames : 45 2.89 Solitare Gaming : 46 3.33 Games that can be played in <4 hours : 47 4.28 Games that can be played in >4 hours : 47 3.60 Post Nuclear Holocost Games : 32 1.38 Submarine games : 41 2.37 Air Combat Games : 45 2.84 I place rules and accuracy over asthetics: 47 3.45 I place asthetics over rules and accuracy: 46 2.23 I prefer playability to complexity : 47 3.21 I prefer complexity to playability : 47 2.26 You and Gaming -------------- Have you played paintball? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 15 (31%) No = 33 (69%) *We accuse our politicians of being "out of touch", what about us? What connection do we have with the "man in the field"? Paintball is the best way I know of to simulate what soldiers go through without having to sign up for a two year hitch. If you used the MILES system I marked you as a yes. I think I should have added a question regarding military service. :/ Do you still own your first wargame? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 33 (69%) No = 15 (31%) Do you think you game too much? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 2 (4%) No = 46 (96%) Do you do gaming stricly to relax? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 17 (35%) No = 31 (65%) Does your gaming help you at work? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 19 (40%) No = 27 (60%) Reasons for "Yes" ranged from "keeps me sane" to people who actually worked for the defense department. Do you think you don't game enough? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 36 (75%) No = 12 (25%) When you game, do you spend more time socializing or playing? : (S or P) 47 Responses. Socializing = 8 (17%) Playing = 39 (83%) Has gaming strained any personal relationships? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 16 (33%) No = 32 (67%) Has gaming ever cost you anything you considered close to you? (relationships, etc ...) : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 7 (15%) No = 41 (85%) Have you ever played with anyone who was a "poor loser"? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 36 (75%) No = 12 (25%) *One respondent said he played against a poor winner. :o Have physical altercations ever occured during a gaming session you were involved in due to a CRT result? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 7 (15%) No = 41 (85%) Have you ever played against anyone who made you nervous? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 16 (33%) No = 32 (67%) Do you or others usually drink alcohol while you game? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 15 (31%) No = 33 (69%) *I found _almost_ no correlation between answering Yes to this question and Yes on the "physical altercation" question. Have you ever gamed more than 12 hours straight? : (Y or N) 48 Responses. Yes = 35 (73%) No = 13 (27%) *Are you a "HardCore" grognard? If Yes to the previous, was it in the last 24 months? : (Y or N) 35 Responses. Yes = 8 (23%) No = 27 (77%) *We use to be "HardCore" grognard. ;) Fantasy ------- If you were stuck on a deserted island, and Kathy Ireland wasn't available, what board wargame would you most like to have with you: Game: Votes ASL : 9 RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN : 3 TGWIE : 3 SQUADLEADER : 2 EUROPA SERIES : 2 CNA : 2 *One person wanted to use the time to fix it. TSS : 2 WAR IN EUROPE : 2 ASSAULT SERIES : 1 STRATEGYI : 1 FLATTOP : 1 KING'S WAR : 1 WE THE PEOPLE : 1 THEGAMERS NBS : 1 AH LONGEST DAY : 1 ADV 3RD REICH : 1 AXIS AND ALLIES : 1 EMPIRES OF MIDDLE AGES : 1 "Kathy Ireland: When Swimsuits Fight" : 1 <- Best Answer! AMBUSH : 1 EAST WIND RAIN : 1 CORAL SEA : 1 SPI WAR IN EUROPE : 1 BLUE AND GRAY QUAD : 1 PROUD MONSTER : 1 GREAT BATTLES OF ALEXANDER : 1 WAR IN THE EAST : 1 WANTS TO DESIGN HIS OWN : 1 WIF : 1 WACHT AM RHINE : 1 PANZERBLITZ :1 Why we game: ( A Few Responses:) ------------ FOR THE FUN OF IT Blowing things up is cool. But really, I like the history and the trivia involved with the fighting machines. One can only admire 90% of the military strategies and advancements on all sides. Challenge, strategy, historical flavor I enjoy the challenge and the "what-Ifs" of History ... I enjoy it. It fulfills an interest in history. Currently it gives my son and I something to do together. Intellectual Challange, love History, excitement fix. 1) games put mil hist books in better perspective, and mil hist books make games more enjoyable. 2) map freak Why do you game? Interesting challenge - I enjoy pitting my intelligence, experience, and luck against another person. I enjoy the satisfaction of winning, but also the drama of watching epic history unfold. I think some of the most dramatic events in history have been the military battles, and I like the feeling of being there, and having an influence on the outcome. I *need* the recreation. The more stressful my "real" job becomes, the more I need to hang out with other crazy people and do something completely different. Gaming is a relaxing hobby that makes me exercize my brain in ways I don't otherwise use, while providing a sort of "fantasy getaway" for a few hours a week. Plus, the guys in my game group are all friends, and I enjoy spending time with them. The history aspect is a common bond between us that provides a great excuse for goofing off every Friday night. I've always been interested in military history, tactics, strategy, etc., and I like to see how well I can do when placed in the position of the commander. My primary motivation is as an intellectual exercise, to see if I can better the historical result. But it's good to have a "social" game every now and again, with a few beers and the like... It's fun. I like watching the situation unfold. I like seeing how the parts interact. I get a positive enjoyment out of reading the rules and setting up the game. I like the intellectual stimulation of figuring out how to get what want done. I game because I am competitive and boardgames provide the complexity level to provide a "real" test of my mental abilities, while encompassing historically rich situations or events. > I wargame for a variety of reasons. Primarily I am an amateur historian, or so I like to think. I use the gaming to further understand the why of the mnay conflicts of history. Furthermore, I often need to answer the question of why so-and-so was defeated in some conflict, and can I do better. "Can I do better" is really a big part. I started because I found no one who could give me a good game of chess when I was 10 or so. Since then I have become attached to the historical imperative. > I keep asking myself that. ;-} Probably because of the friends I game with. No gaming = fewer friends. > I game to socialise, which means that most of my gaming is not in fact wargaming, as my gaming contacts are mostly into family/business/railway/strategy/"German" games. On the other hand my dining room table is more likely to have a wargame set up on it than place settings, for solitaire investigations of TGWIE or whatever. For the escape ..... Anything you wish to add? (Under 200 words, please.) ------------------------- I haven't been able to game nearly as much as I'd like ever since I left school, partly because I haven't had as much free time as before (aside from my work, I also now have Territorial Army commitments, and I'm a Scout Leader), and partly because all my old opponents have gone their spearate ways. As a result, I'm now considering taking up PBeM gaming -but if you know of anyone in the Belfast area keen on a ftf encounter, I'd love to hear from them! 1. Do you find yourself unable to leave a game unfinished. 2. Do you play boardgames by e-mail. 3. Do you frequently use house rules. I consider myself a grognard, and a blessed one at that. While I have been divorced twice, neither time was related to wargaming. I often have pondered that both ex-wives stated that 'at least the sex was good'. So, it seems that I was not ignoring at least one aspect of my familial duties. I really can give you a blow by blow rational for each divorce, but unless you insist, I will refrain. However, my current wife does enjoy gaming. She will play Civilization, EMpire Builder, and other such 'fringe' wargames. I think gaming displays a level of imagination that my previous two wives did not have. This weekend, my wife and I hired a baby sitter, and went to a nice movie, followed by a superb, (overpriced, but hey) dinner. At one point in the evening she asked me if I was concerned about them, and I replied "who?". In any event, I skipped a wargaming session, since the family comes first, always. On a tangential topic, I have often wondered what related hobbies the grognards share. I currently enjoy wargaming, military model building, miniatures painting, and model railroading. These are related in the obvious ways, but showing an opponent the size/design differences between a Jagdpanzer VI and an M-5 Stuart goes a long way in explaining what is happening on the board. It will also explain why a Kongo Class battleship is gonna whip up on that puny destroyer if it ever catches it. *********************************************************************** * * * Don Mikulec Boston Stock Exchange * * MFI Coordinator 1 Boston Place (32nd Floor) * * Boston, Ma., USA, 02108 * * Phone: (617) 723-9500 x7477 * * email: dfm@bosx.com * * * ***********************************************************************