(0) What is your rough age group and where does the money come from to purchase PC games (parents, family budget, gifts, ...)?
41, money from employment
(1) About how many PC games do you purchase each year?
This is where I lose a lot of you, I think! I must buy 20-30 games a year - although probably only 5 or 6 'full price' games - rest are 'bargain bin' purchases - can't resist the 3 for £10/15/20 offers whenever I walk into a Game store - always see games I think I'll like!
(2) What drives these purchases (Web forums, trade press reviews, feedback from friends, impulsive buying at the mall, ...)?
Previews, reviews, forums, hype on websites!
(3) On the average how long has each game been on the market when you buy it (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and beyond)?
Mainly older games, say 1 yr+, that have reached bargain prices - few eagerly awaited wargames bought as soon as released.
(4) What percentage of the games you buy provide lasting entertainment value versus a short term fling that doesn't last much beyond the initial install?
Not that high - around 20% probably.
(5) Does it matter to you who publishes and develops the game? Does it matter if they are a large corporate entity or a mom's/pop's operation catering to a niche market?
No. The game's what matters!
(6) Is your purchase of whole PCs/hardware the result of your gaming hobby or do simply install PC games on equipment that you would otherwise have available?
I have PCs available for work purposes...purchase of some hardware, especially graphics cards, is game driven.
(7) If you purchases PCs/hardware for gaming, do you typically purchases top of the line, mid-range, or entry level equipment?
Best I can afford - not usually current top of the line.
Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
Moderator: Arjuna
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
Ian
hill107.net - documents and photos relating to the Battle of Arnhem, Battle of Crete, WW2 Airborne
hill107.net - documents and photos relating to the Battle of Arnhem, Battle of Crete, WW2 Airborne
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
1) 36 years old. Like most people on the forum, I earn the money to buy games by working for it.
2) between 5 and 10
3) reviews, forums etc. for recent releases. I sometimes buy older titles on impuls (for $ 10,- or less)
4) about 3 months
5) about 40 %
6) yes, it can matter, depending on previous experiences. I mostly play serious wargames, which automatically means small developers and publishers.
7) no, I need it for work also, but the gaming is more important.
8) a little below the top line (as soon as you walk out of the store it's obsolescent anyway).
2) between 5 and 10
3) reviews, forums etc. for recent releases. I sometimes buy older titles on impuls (for $ 10,- or less)
4) about 3 months
5) about 40 %
6) yes, it can matter, depending on previous experiences. I mostly play serious wargames, which automatically means small developers and publishers.
7) no, I need it for work also, but the gaming is more important.
8) a little below the top line (as soon as you walk out of the store it's obsolescent anyway).
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
(0) 33 I think, who watches birthdays after 30? [;)] Money comes from hard graft.
(1) 20 games a year maybe more.
(2) Forums, magazine and online reviews
(3) 0 months.
(4) 1 in 10 games gives me lasting play.
(5) Not too fussy with developer, but track record is an influence.
(6) Game related but I do alot of work as well, my wordprocessing runs like lightening.
(7) Gotta have a beast of a machine.
Cage.
(1) 20 games a year maybe more.
(2) Forums, magazine and online reviews
(3) 0 months.
(4) 1 in 10 games gives me lasting play.
(5) Not too fussy with developer, but track record is an influence.
(6) Game related but I do alot of work as well, my wordprocessing runs like lightening.
(7) Gotta have a beast of a machine.
Cage.
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
(0) 28, and I work hard to earn my salary 
(1) 2-4 (this year already three, but maybe I will buy another too soon)
(2) Web forums and game reviews are the most importan
(3) Usually 0-6 months, sometimes more
(4) About 1/3 games give pleasure for a few weeks only, others for months or even years
(5) It does not matter, but price do matter. Matrix games are good, but too expensive. Usually I use about 35€ per game and Matrix games cost twice this.
(6) Games need better machine, I don't upgrade it unless needed by new game
(7) Mid-range
(1) 2-4 (this year already three, but maybe I will buy another too soon)
(2) Web forums and game reviews are the most importan
(3) Usually 0-6 months, sometimes more
(4) About 1/3 games give pleasure for a few weeks only, others for months or even years
(5) It does not matter, but price do matter. Matrix games are good, but too expensive. Usually I use about 35€ per game and Matrix games cost twice this.
(6) Games need better machine, I don't upgrade it unless needed by new game
(7) Mid-range
El Savior
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
(0) What is your rough age group and where does the money come from to purchase PC games (parents, family budget, gifts, ...)?
40-50, I work for a living.
(1) About how many PC games do you purchase each year?
Maybe 6. Problem lately has been finding decent games to buy
(2) What drives these purchases (Web forums, trade press reviews, feedback from friends, impulsive buying at the mall, ...)?
-- tend to watch companies that I know make good games. for example I'm very aware that SSG has BIN coming out soon.
-- Web forums, sometimes I'll hear about a game I've missed.
-- almost given up buying off the shelf. The quality of games on store shelves is horrible. I've regretted every impulse buy I've made off the shelf in the last three years.
(3) On the average how long has each game been on the market when you buy it (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and beyond)?
I'd love to buy games when they come out. Its fun to get a game when its hot off the presses. However there are very few companies out there I trust enough to do that. I'll buy BIN when SSG releases that. However I've been so burned by so many junk games that are released that its been beaten into me that I must wait until the game has been out for awhile, and read forums, get a demo etc in an attempt to avoid the absolute turkey games that get out. Reviews are only useful as a rough guide as to whether I might like the game. I don't trust reviewers to be objective.
So, the answer tends to be 6 months, but only becuase that's been beaten into me by crooked game companies. (Not saying that Matrix is in this category, generally you've been pretty good)
(4) What percentage of the games you buy provide lasting entertainment value versus a short term fling that doesn't last much beyond the initial install?
For games where I'm careful buying as described above ... 75%
For games where I'm stupid and make an impulse buy off the shelf ... 0.0000000000001%
(5) Does it matter to you who publishes and develops the game? Does it matter if they are a large corporate entity or a mom's/pop's operation catering to a niche market?
YES!!!! I tend to follow developers who've done games I've liked in the past. On the other hand, some developers and publishers get a very bad rep with me and I'll avoid them like the plague. (was going to avoid mentioning names, but since I see Paradox mentioned above me, I'll say that's exactly one of the companies that's on my list to avoid at almost all costs. There are several others on that list)
Generally, I tend to find the smaller companies are much more honest and likely to give good value for money spent. The big corporate entities are the ones who are likely to dump an incomplete game on the market in time for Christmas even though its still unplayable junk.
(6) Is your purchase of whole PCs/hardware the result of your gaming hobby or do simply install PC games on equipment that you would otherwise have available?
Both. I use my computers for other reasons and would always have them. In the past I have upgraded computers just to play a new game I wanted to play. But with today's computers I'd be unlikely to do that as most computers today should support the games I want to play. I'd be very leary of any game that didn't run on a basic computer made in the last few years.
(7) If you purchases PCs/hardware for gaming, do you typically purchases top of the line, mid-range, or entry level equipment?
Just below top of the line. I try to avoid that huge price penalty you pay for getting the current top of the line. I want a computer good enough that it will have a long useful lifetime. It used to be if you got too far from top-of-the-line that didn't happen. But thankfully that treadmill seems to be slowing down and computers are becoming obsolete slower. I usually tend to build my own systems, and upgrades may be on a component by component basis as needed. But the computers I have today are fine for what I do and for any games I can see myself playing for some time to come.
I will add that for me, Matrix Games are at the upper end of the price range of what I'll pay for a game. You have some good developers for who's games I will pay this much. But for what you charge it had better be good. And I'd need to be certain that its good. If there's any doubt, then Matrix's prices are high enough to drive me away. It took me a long time to buy HTTR. Put that high price tag with the words "real-time" and I get very hesitant. I finally bought it and I'm enjoying it for now, but it took awhile. And I don't see paying that much for a Gary Grigsby UI. Headaches and frustration are usually available for much lower prices.
40-50, I work for a living.
(1) About how many PC games do you purchase each year?
Maybe 6. Problem lately has been finding decent games to buy
(2) What drives these purchases (Web forums, trade press reviews, feedback from friends, impulsive buying at the mall, ...)?
-- tend to watch companies that I know make good games. for example I'm very aware that SSG has BIN coming out soon.
-- Web forums, sometimes I'll hear about a game I've missed.
-- almost given up buying off the shelf. The quality of games on store shelves is horrible. I've regretted every impulse buy I've made off the shelf in the last three years.
(3) On the average how long has each game been on the market when you buy it (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and beyond)?
I'd love to buy games when they come out. Its fun to get a game when its hot off the presses. However there are very few companies out there I trust enough to do that. I'll buy BIN when SSG releases that. However I've been so burned by so many junk games that are released that its been beaten into me that I must wait until the game has been out for awhile, and read forums, get a demo etc in an attempt to avoid the absolute turkey games that get out. Reviews are only useful as a rough guide as to whether I might like the game. I don't trust reviewers to be objective.
So, the answer tends to be 6 months, but only becuase that's been beaten into me by crooked game companies. (Not saying that Matrix is in this category, generally you've been pretty good)
(4) What percentage of the games you buy provide lasting entertainment value versus a short term fling that doesn't last much beyond the initial install?
For games where I'm careful buying as described above ... 75%
For games where I'm stupid and make an impulse buy off the shelf ... 0.0000000000001%
(5) Does it matter to you who publishes and develops the game? Does it matter if they are a large corporate entity or a mom's/pop's operation catering to a niche market?
YES!!!! I tend to follow developers who've done games I've liked in the past. On the other hand, some developers and publishers get a very bad rep with me and I'll avoid them like the plague. (was going to avoid mentioning names, but since I see Paradox mentioned above me, I'll say that's exactly one of the companies that's on my list to avoid at almost all costs. There are several others on that list)
Generally, I tend to find the smaller companies are much more honest and likely to give good value for money spent. The big corporate entities are the ones who are likely to dump an incomplete game on the market in time for Christmas even though its still unplayable junk.
(6) Is your purchase of whole PCs/hardware the result of your gaming hobby or do simply install PC games on equipment that you would otherwise have available?
Both. I use my computers for other reasons and would always have them. In the past I have upgraded computers just to play a new game I wanted to play. But with today's computers I'd be unlikely to do that as most computers today should support the games I want to play. I'd be very leary of any game that didn't run on a basic computer made in the last few years.
(7) If you purchases PCs/hardware for gaming, do you typically purchases top of the line, mid-range, or entry level equipment?
Just below top of the line. I try to avoid that huge price penalty you pay for getting the current top of the line. I want a computer good enough that it will have a long useful lifetime. It used to be if you got too far from top-of-the-line that didn't happen. But thankfully that treadmill seems to be slowing down and computers are becoming obsolete slower. I usually tend to build my own systems, and upgrades may be on a component by component basis as needed. But the computers I have today are fine for what I do and for any games I can see myself playing for some time to come.
I will add that for me, Matrix Games are at the upper end of the price range of what I'll pay for a game. You have some good developers for who's games I will pay this much. But for what you charge it had better be good. And I'd need to be certain that its good. If there's any doubt, then Matrix's prices are high enough to drive me away. It took me a long time to buy HTTR. Put that high price tag with the words "real-time" and I get very hesitant. I finally bought it and I'm enjoying it for now, but it took awhile. And I don't see paying that much for a Gary Grigsby UI. Headaches and frustration are usually available for much lower prices.
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. ~George Washington
-
Cap Mandrake
- Posts: 20737
- Joined: Fri Nov 15, 2002 8:37 am
- Location: Southern California
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
0) 40-50...doesnt cost me anything..I just use a credit card (BTW..only a computer guy or a mathmetician would start a list with the number "zero" ) [:)]
1) 1-2
2) 6 months and beyond
3) Reviews..and area of interest
4) 50%
5) Track record..not size of publisher
6) Purchased for home use...too busy at work to use comp there
7) One processor speed under the top unit..saves about $300-400 usually.
BTW..my chief impediment to buying a wargame is the time it takes me to learn and play it. It better be fun, because I have a lot I should be doing [:'(] 40, 60 even $80 seems like chump change if it is fun.
1) 1-2
2) 6 months and beyond
3) Reviews..and area of interest
4) 50%
5) Track record..not size of publisher
6) Purchased for home use...too busy at work to use comp there
7) One processor speed under the top unit..saves about $300-400 usually.
BTW..my chief impediment to buying a wargame is the time it takes me to learn and play it. It better be fun, because I have a lot I should be doing [:'(] 40, 60 even $80 seems like chump change if it is fun.
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
Yep, a former assembly programmer turned C programmer ...
2021 - Resigned in writing as a 20+ year Matrix Beta and never looked back ...
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
(0) What is your rough age group and where does the money come from to purchase PC games (parents, family budget, gifts, ...)?
- 40's; family budget.
(1) About how many PC games do you purchase each year?
- see question number 3) I tend to purcahse 1 or 2 new games a year, but include bargain bin, used games that have been arround for 6 months or more that number increased to about a dozen.
(2) What drives these purchases (Web forums, trade press reviews, feedback from friends, impulsive buying at the mall, ...)?
- Web forums
(3) On the average how long has each game been on the market when you buy it (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and beyond)?
- see number 1.
(4) What percentage of the games you buy provide lasting entertainment value versus a short term fling that doesn't last much beyond the initial install?
- 50%
(5) Does it matter to you who publishes and develops the game? Does it matter if they are a large corporate entity or a mom's/pop's operation catering to a niche market?
- No
(6) Is your purchase of whole PCs/hardware the result of your gaming hobby or do simply install PC games on equipment that you would otherwise have available?
- Gaming machine.
(7) If you purchases PCs/hardware for gaming, do you typically purchases top of the line, mid-range, or entry level equipment?
- Mid range.
- 40's; family budget.
(1) About how many PC games do you purchase each year?
- see question number 3) I tend to purcahse 1 or 2 new games a year, but include bargain bin, used games that have been arround for 6 months or more that number increased to about a dozen.
(2) What drives these purchases (Web forums, trade press reviews, feedback from friends, impulsive buying at the mall, ...)?
- Web forums
(3) On the average how long has each game been on the market when you buy it (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and beyond)?
- see number 1.
(4) What percentage of the games you buy provide lasting entertainment value versus a short term fling that doesn't last much beyond the initial install?
- 50%
(5) Does it matter to you who publishes and develops the game? Does it matter if they are a large corporate entity or a mom's/pop's operation catering to a niche market?
- No
(6) Is your purchase of whole PCs/hardware the result of your gaming hobby or do simply install PC games on equipment that you would otherwise have available?
- Gaming machine.
(7) If you purchases PCs/hardware for gaming, do you typically purchases top of the line, mid-range, or entry level equipment?
- Mid range.
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
0) What is your rough age group and where does the money come from to purchase PC games (parents, family budget, gifts, ...)?
- good side of 30's; family budget
(1) About how many PC games do you purchase each year?
- 1 to 3 new releases, occasionally from ebay (I know it is bad, but still better than file sharing [8|])
(2) What drives these purchases (Web forums, trade press reviews, feedback from friends, impulsive buying at the mall, ...)?
- mostly feedback from friends and word of mouth, more recently web forums
(3) On the average how long has each game been on the market when you buy it (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and beyond)?
- 3 months
(4) What percentage of the games you buy provide lasting entertainment value versus a short term fling that doesn't last much beyond the initial install?
- 25%
(5) Does it matter to you who publishes and develops the game? Does it matter if they are a large corporate entity or a mom's/pop's operation catering to a niche market?
- Not really
(6) Is your purchase of whole PCs/hardware the result of your gaming hobby or do simply install PC games on equipment that you would otherwise have available?
- If I wasn't to use the PC for playing games I could probably save a fortune on graphic cards.
(7) If you purchases PCs/hardware for gaming, do you typically purchases top of the line, mid-range, or entry level equipment?
- One notch below the top of the range.
- good side of 30's; family budget
(1) About how many PC games do you purchase each year?
- 1 to 3 new releases, occasionally from ebay (I know it is bad, but still better than file sharing [8|])
(2) What drives these purchases (Web forums, trade press reviews, feedback from friends, impulsive buying at the mall, ...)?
- mostly feedback from friends and word of mouth, more recently web forums
(3) On the average how long has each game been on the market when you buy it (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 6 months and beyond)?
- 3 months
(4) What percentage of the games you buy provide lasting entertainment value versus a short term fling that doesn't last much beyond the initial install?
- 25%
(5) Does it matter to you who publishes and develops the game? Does it matter if they are a large corporate entity or a mom's/pop's operation catering to a niche market?
- Not really
(6) Is your purchase of whole PCs/hardware the result of your gaming hobby or do simply install PC games on equipment that you would otherwise have available?
- If I wasn't to use the PC for playing games I could probably save a fortune on graphic cards.
(7) If you purchases PCs/hardware for gaming, do you typically purchases top of the line, mid-range, or entry level equipment?
- One notch below the top of the range.
God fights on the side with the best arty -- Napoleon
RE: Informal Survey - somewhat related to price discussions
[quote]0 - 33 years old and I am a 14 year vet of the US Air Force...so I get a small stipend to quench my thirst for gaming. [:)]
1 - Average about 7 or 8 a year.
2 - Genre and positive reviews from multiple sources.
3 - Depends, certain games (like Combat Leader or Battles in Normandy) I would buy immediately, others like WiTP or Highway to the Reich, I would wait (and am). Depends on Genre.
4 - Probably 10% of long lasting....or one diamond in the rough per year basically.
5 - Doesn't matter one bit....if the reviews are good, I'll buy it from EA or Matrix (well that example isn't very good anymore since you guys aren't little anymore).
6 - I will upgrade my computer if something cool is coming out I have to have. But I was burned on the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro because of DX9 and I don't own a single DX9 game. I bought the hype.
7 - I used to go top of the line, but hardware seems to be far ahead of software right now in which one is pushing the edge of the envelope. So now I don't feel like I need to go top of the line to have a good gaming rig.
1 - Average about 7 or 8 a year.
2 - Genre and positive reviews from multiple sources.
3 - Depends, certain games (like Combat Leader or Battles in Normandy) I would buy immediately, others like WiTP or Highway to the Reich, I would wait (and am). Depends on Genre.
4 - Probably 10% of long lasting....or one diamond in the rough per year basically.
5 - Doesn't matter one bit....if the reviews are good, I'll buy it from EA or Matrix (well that example isn't very good anymore since you guys aren't little anymore).
6 - I will upgrade my computer if something cool is coming out I have to have. But I was burned on the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro because of DX9 and I don't own a single DX9 game. I bought the hype.
7 - I used to go top of the line, but hardware seems to be far ahead of software right now in which one is pushing the edge of the envelope. So now I don't feel like I need to go top of the line to have a good gaming rig.