computer games vs board games

hey guys, Im in college now studying an A level and would appreciate your comments to help me with my primary research. My question is do you think computer games have decreased the sales of board games more today than ever before ?

You need to define your question more

are you saying video games don't have skill or tactics involved?

most board games are largely based on luck.I can only think of a few board games that have lots of skill and tactics involved. Chess is almost pure skill, the only luck is if your opponent makes a mistake. lots of other board games have dice and cards which involve complete luck.

I guess video games could be taking down sales of board games. I think that whatever effect video games has on board games has already taken effect. If board games are suffering more today then i think it has more to do with the board games them selves. Monopoly is still the same as it has always been.

If someone goes to play a video game and you take away the video game would they go and play a board game? I don't think so. well these are my thoughts.

higgo wrote:

hey guys, Im in college now studying an A level and would appreciate your comments to help me with my primary research. My question is do you think computer games have decreased the sales of board games more today than ever before ?

more then ever before? I dont think so.

I'd say that it's very likely computers games are replacing other forms of entertainment. It's prety logicall... since there where no video games some years ago, or at least the offer wasn't as big and diverse as it is nowadays. Taking that into account and also that freetime in our modern life is probably shorter... yes. New and popular ways of entertainment will surely replace older ones and not simply "add up".

In the other hand... you can also think about it in a different way. Videogames taking over the market doesn't necesary mean that traditional board games will become extint.. since those naturally adapt to the interactive world. People nowadays play as much or maybe more chess than they used to before the internet.. even thou maybe they don't sell as many chess-sets as they used to.

By the way.. I didn't quite get that last question involving tactics and skills; but I believe many computer games have both. And of course table games adapted to fit the screen haven't changed at all for that matter.

none of this is a fact, just my thought. I hope it helps.

fuze22 wrote:

are you saying video games don't have skill or tactics involved?

most board games are largely based on luck.I can only think of a few board games that have lots of skill and tactics involved. Chess is almost pure skill, the only luck is if your opponent makes a mistake. lots of other board games have dice and cards which involve complete luck.

I guess video games could be taking down sales of board games. I think that whatever effect video games has on board games has already taken effect. If board games are suffering more today then i think it has more to do with the board games them selves. Monopoly is still the same as it has always been.

If someone goes to play a video game and you take away the video game would they go and play a board game? I don't think so. well these are my thoughts.

higgo wrote:

hey guys, Im in college now studying an A level and would appreciate your comments to help me with my primary research. My question is do you think computer games have decreased the sales of board games more today than ever before ?

more then every before? I dont think so.

 I agree with you and our views are much appreciated

I play board games and video games.  My father was a big fan of board games, and he also now likes video games.  One of the things that I think makes video games more appealing to today's new generation is that they are able to be played solo, whereas most board games are for at least two players.  Many board games that I play involve hidden information which makes it harder to play both sides.  I enjoy playing board games when I can and usually find them more interesting then video games.  Also, I would not say that video games have decreased the appeal of board games, and definitly not chess. 

Depends a lot on the type of board games.  In my earlier years I loved playing wargames, Avalon Hill, SPI etc.  More skill than luck involved but unless you belonged to a club or lived in a fairly large populated area finding opponents was a problem.  Most of this type of game are 2 player.

The newer games such as Crcassone, Settler and the like are 4 to 6 player games, can be played in under 2 hours and are great for small social gatherings and have more general appeal than wargames.  Every Sunday 4 to 6 of us gather together for an evening of gameing and chit chat.  Much easier than all trying to gather around a computer screen to play a game.

Other games such as Warhammer are also big sellers because they involve other aspects such as model building and painting.

Are boardgame sales declining?  Depends on the genre but, overall I would say no.

higgo wrote:

hey guys, Im in college now studying an A level and would appreciate your comments to help me with my primary research. My question is do you think computer games have decreased the sales of board games more today than ever before ?

Initially, computer games did have a deleterious effect upon board gaming.  But as the internet opened up opportunities to self-publish board games, the world of board gaming has rebounded back better than ever before.  Many board gamers consider the last few years to be a second "golden era" for board gaming as indie companies are appearing every day and publishing an assortment of new and innovative titles.

Not to say that mainstream publishers aren't prospering as well.  The collectible craze, be it cards or miniatures, has been a boon to board gaming as well.  That is why even Axis & Allies now has collectible miniatures for the game! 

Board gaming has also become something of a social phenomenon in Europe.  "Party games", that is, games that focus upon interaction rather than competition, have been selling in large numbers for a few years now.

Finally, there has been something of a backlash against computerized gaming.  There are some people who just don't care to game on a console or a PC.  For the most part, these people are of an older demographic and don't care to rub shoulders with trash-talking teens or don't care for all the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on with your typical computer game.  Whatever the reason, these people have been getting better organzined and are becoming a force to be reckoned with in the gaming industry (they are sort of an off-shoot of the social gaming crowd in Europe).

In short, board gaming is actually doing better than it has in a long time!