Looking back to 2022, the survey allowed, at most, three choices in ranking period preferences but the rank order was not captured. Respondents simply picked their Top 3 periods. To investigate the overall popularity of a wargaming period, up to three choices per respondent are aggregated across all responses. The results from the 2022 GWS are shown in Figure 1.
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| Figure 1 |
In 2022, the Top 5 periods in rank order when aggregating the Top 3 choices were,
- World War 2
- Science Fiction (excl WH40k)
- Fantasy (excl. WH40k/Age of Sigmar)
- Warhammer 40k
- Napoleonics
For the 2024 GWS, the question accepts rank order of choices. Again, only the Top 3 choices are captured. When these Top 3 choices are aggregated across all survey responses, do the results change from the results seen in 2022? See Figure 2.
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| Figure 2 |
In the 2024 GWS, we find that the Top 5 periods are,
- World War 2
- Science Fiction (exc WH40k)
- Fantasy (exc WH Fantasy)
- Warhammer 40k
- Napoleonic Wars
What if only the Top Period is examined and not an aggregation of the Top 3 choices? Do results change materially? Figure 3 shows that the Top 5 periods remain the same but Fantasy (exc WH Fantasy) falls to fifth place.
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| Figure 3 |
Can any useful inferences be made by examining period preference by a few select attributes?
Primary Interest
Primary gaming interest separates responses into three distinct categories. These categories are Historical, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, and Mixed. As we might expect, there is a clear demarcation in period preferences between historical and non-historical wargamers. Also as expected, the gamers in the Mixed category are open to gaming most periods. See Figure 4.
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| Figure 4 |
As has been reported in other analyses repeatedly, period preference seems to be driven, in large part, by age. Here again (see Figure 5), there is a clear bifurcation between historical and non-historical wargamers. Historical periods tend to see heavier interest by older wargamers (51+) while non-historical periods are more likely to see a concentration of wargamers in younger age cohorts. Notice that wargamers age 51+ comprise about 70% of the interest in 18th Century and Colonial Wars periods. WW2, Ancients, Medievals, and Dark Ages, on the other hand, tend to see interest from all age groups.
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| Figure 5 |
When the results are summarized respondent location, do any tendencies emerge? Yes! From Figure 6, location does seem to influence what wargamers play. Just looking at the relationship between North American and UK/Ireland wargamers, North Americans favor ACW by better than a two-to-one ratio over UK/ Ireland while UK/Ireland favors Pike & Shotte by nearly a two-to-one advantage over their North American comrades. North Americans tend to prefer non-historicals more than their UK/Ireland counterparts.
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| Figure 6 |
WW2 continues to hold its place at the top of the charts with broad appeal among all survey respondents. Even with a reduction in number of responses in 2024, the results remain stable. For a number of periods, there remains a clear line between primarily historical and non-historical wargamers. The lack of cross-over between these two preferences seems constant.
Next time the GWS analysis returns, I examine a follow-up question to wargaming period preference using cluster analysis.
It's always interesting to read your analysis Jon. One thing I just thought of, which I at least think is a bit odd. The survey is run by the magazine Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy, which I would assume is primarily of interest to historical gamers.....so perhaps the relative ratios of period popularity are skewed in favour if historical, and in actual fact, the fantasy gamers are far more numerous than WWII aficionados? Big Lee had a statement on his blog recently about historical wargaming being more affordable than the likes of GW. It was something I had never considered really, but I guess true, looking at the relative costs of 40k etc to something like Bolt Action. So maybe people move over to historical gaming for reasons other than a "maturing" attitude to their choice of period?
ReplyDeleteWhile WSS is predominantly historical, the survey reaches a much wider, non-historical audience. notice that three of the Top 5 periods are non-historical. If there was a big skew towards historicals, I would expect more historical periods making the Top 5. Every year, the proportion of primarily historical gamers vs primarily non-historical gamers is roughly the same. you are quite right that non-historicals probably take a much larger slice of the wargaming pie than do historicals.
DeleteIf cost was the driving issue, wouldn't younger gamers me more predisposed to historicals if the figures are cheaper than GW? Quantity needed is another potential cost driver. Non-historicals tend toward more skirmish gaming rather than fielding HUGE historical armies. Fielding armies for Bolt Action sure seems less expensive than fielding 40K armies.
Hi Jon...my point was, if the survey reaches say 50% of historical gamers but only 20% of fantasy gamers, then in reality, the top 5 periods may all actually be non historical....not that we can ever know, and it doesn't matter really, we all like what we like and others are free to play what they like too!
DeleteThe Top 5 may all be non-historicals or leaning in that direction (say, Medievals or Dark Ages), indeed. Still, I reckon WWII might still maintain a grip somewhere.
DeleteI wonder if the young non-historical gamers will drift toward more historical gaming as they age, or if the will continue with their original interests. I have always been an historical gamer, but then we didn't have Warhammer when I was young.
ReplyDeleteWe were taught a fair bit of history in school, particularly the four or five years I spent in primary school in the UK. That definitely helped awaken, or at least reinforce, my interest in historical gaming. I suspect that a lot of what we were taught then wouldn't be included in a modern curriculum.
Lawrence, this drift from non-historicals to historicals is a movement the historical wargaming community is hoping materializes. I do not remember a time when I was not interested in military history and wargaming. Are we created and not made?
DeleteWhat I can't work out is why all the fantasy/Sci -fi games were given as options in a historical magazine in the first place? They should have been given a separate category? But that's me.
ReplyDeletePerhaps marketers want a snapshot of the entire hobby and not only a small slice? Next time, I may consider rolling all of the non-historicals up into one "non-historical" category.
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