Is there a future in wargaming with games like Pokemon Go?

[MrsWargamer]

Nope, conditions are so massively different that examples of dynamics from 30 years ago lack any relevance at all now.

Computers changed everything.
The internet changed everything.
The portability of hand held devices have changed everything.

Today the only people likely to be interested by a large screen dependent, complex interface requiring digital clone of a game from the 70s is someone that worships that manner of experience. It's easier to find female war gamers than it is to find someone that thinks War in the East is fun.

I miss the days of pushing card board, but in the last year I actually got rid of my treasured never sell it ASL and I only routinely play Hearthstone as it is quick easy free and against a human. Hard to beat quick easy free and against a human. Graphics are great, sound effects are great, I can play it on anything but prefer at home on my desktop (no battery issues).

I want to play my board games, but the truth is I think those days are already gone. SC3 may be a good game. I'm wanting Tigers on the Hunt.
But every day sees me wanting to do many things. War games never seems to reach the top of the list like it used to. It's not always my age, but it's often my back (not fond of leaning over big maps), or just unable to endure hours of sitting pushing cardboard virtual or digital.

Time if coming for this hobby of ours, or us, which is the same thing.

I couldn't pay my 22 year old son to play a war game.

[Mobeer]

I'm thinking:

Augmented VR + Battlezone (1980) + Segway off-road = awesome

[stuart3]

I think that your definition of wargames is much narrower than mine MrsW.

The games I started with in the 60s involved painting model soldiers, mounting them on card bases, and moving them around table tops in accordance with the rule books.

Wargames, as such were effectively launched by H G Wells when he published his rules in the rule book "Little Wars" in 1913.

Avalon Hill type boardgames were a development that supplemented, but didn't displace the model soldiers. Likewise with games for computers, the internet and hand held devices.

Like the developments of the future will.

I have been out of touch with table top wargaming for a long time, but over the last 3 or 4 years have rediscovered the annual "Salute" wargames meet in London. The trade stalls typically comprise one company (Matrix) selling computer wargames, perhaps a handfull selling boardgames, and the vast majority still selling figures and terrain accessories for table top wargames. The visitors range from those my age to teenagers and younger.

Wargaming continues to thrive in it's various aspects and will continue to do so.

[MrsWargamer]

Oh I agree, the young seem to be ok with table top (which is generally a term I reserve for non card counter type war gaming).

So to some extent it might really be card board counter type war gaming that has un certain future.

I began my war gaming with green army men vs dolls and stuffed animals with my father on the floor

[JWW]

I heard a good description of Pokemon Go on the radio today. I did not catch the name of the person describing it. He said what is important is that it is the first wildly popular augmented reality game (overlaying the real world with virtual images), and it is probably just the start. It is not the first such game, but it is a game changer. Iain used that phrase augmented reality earlier. I didn't notice it at the time. I'm not sure games like this will have any appeal to me, but I am interested in how this game will affect the future of gaming.

Again, think of such games as Scourge of War or Battle Academy set in an augmented reality or virtual reality universe. Games like that might attract the adult gaming community.

[IainMcNeil]

After having played it, the AR part of Pokemon is really quite dull. Its the collecting part linked to real world locations which I think made it a hit (linked with a huge brand that got people interested enough to go to said location to collect the virtual item). If you took out the AR I doubt it would have affected the sales.

I definitely dont see the death of wargames but I expect they'll have to transition with the times and those that cant or wont will suffer degrading sales. PC is actually in a period of boom right now.

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: Iain McNeil
I definitely dont see the death of wargames but I expect they'll have to transition with the times and those that cant or wont will suffer degrading sales. PC is actually in a period of boom right now.

Yes indeed! I just ordered my dream rig from Puget Systems! PC gaming (and wargaming) will be around for a long time...[:)]
http://www.pcgamer.com/pc-shipments-dec ... -the-rise/

[Crossroads]

Imagine going out and all you'd see are hexes [8D]

[MunGuel]

ORIGINAL: JW

ORIGINAL: bairdlander

So, for the first time ever, adults, follow their phones around and walk off of cliffs, and die, looking for a Pokemon.

Well, to me that seems nobler than dying for a selfie. [:D]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/taj ... 10edf7998e

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mor ... hu-picchu/

http://nypost.com/2014/11/05/tourist-pl ... ng-selfie/

Yes!

[JWW]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

Imagine going out and all you'd see are hexes [8D]

Only if it is an option......

[Rosseau]

When I consider that we put the first man on the moon in July of 1969 with the archaic technology at hand, I feel our current technological "progress" is quite pathetic. The world is in worse shape today, particularly in societal terms.

Playing ASL (board), World in Flames, WitE, requires brain-work to play well. At least with Pokemon the players are getting some exercise [;)]

True VR sitting in an easy-chair will be right up our alley in coming years. I'm afraid that virtual violence and pornography will be frighteningly popular alternatives to the historical VR wargames we are hoping to see.

[stuart3]

I don't know about the violence, but VR porn is already here. [X(]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016- ... porn-at-e3

(Yes, it is safe to watch.) [:)]

[Zap]

It was bound to happen.http://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shoo ... vegas-park
So the guy becomes part of the group with intentions to rob at gunpoint. Way to go Las Vegas youth.
COM/CRIME/SHOOTINGS/2-WOUNDED-SHOOTING-INVOLVING-POKEMON-GO-PLAYERS-LAS-VEGAS-P

[LarryP]

I guess we better initiate legislation to take away cell phones now.

[redcoat]

The UK Ministry of Defence has realized that there are Pokemon characters on British military bases. They've issued a briefing to the guards protecting them to keep an eye out for Pokemon hunters ...

[JWW]

I finally saw some of my students playing Pokemon Go today. I am a high school teacher. I teach English (Standard American English, to be precise) and journalism/publications (the school yearbook and newspaper). We have been in session for a week. Finally today some of my journalism students started talking about Pokemon. I get to handpick those students, and they are bright, artistic kids. They informed me that the school is positively infested with Pokemon. The problem is that they are not allowed to use their phones in the school building. Obviously that doesn't hold true in all classrooms. For my journalism class (We call it "yearbook."), our motto is, "What happens in yearbook stays in yearbook." So I found that half of them play regularly. There was a rare Pokemon in the building, and they wanted to go track it down, but I couldn't let them because an administrator might see them with their phones.

In case you are wondering, I don't allow phones in my English classes. If I do, those students will do nothing but stay on their phones. My yearbook kids will use their phones and still get their work done, and they will do it very well. Unfair, perhaps, but realistic.

[wings7]

ORIGINAL: JW

I finally saw some of my students playing Pokemon Go today. I am a high school teacher. I teach English (Standard American English, to be precise) and journalism/publications (the school yearbook and newspaper). We have been in session for a week. Finally today some of my journalism students started talking about Pokemon. I get to handpick those students, and they are bright, artistic kids. They informed me that the school is positively infested with Pokemon. The problem is that they are not allowed to use their phones in the school building. Obviously that doesn't hold true in all classrooms. For my journalism class (We call it "yearbook."), our motto is, "What happens in yearbook stays in yearbook." So I found that half of them play regularly. There was a rare Pokemon in the building, and they wanted to go track it down, but I couldn't let them because an administrator might see them with their phones.

In case you are wondering, I don't allow phones in my English classes. If I do, those students will do nothing but stay on their phones. My yearbook kids will use their phones and still get their work done, and they will do it very well. Unfair, perhaps, but realistic.

Some good and interesting insight, thanks for sharing! [:)]