Has GW REALLY brought new blood into the hobby?

Started by Nosher, 08 June 2011, 08:41:57 AM

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There seems to be a suggestion that GW is no bad thing as it brings new blood into the hobby, but does it really? Is GW the catalyst that brings wargaming to the masses and is the future of the hobby in terms of the Grognards of club life going forward or

Most definately Yes, GW sparked my interest in the hobby
Probably. I know quite a few GW gamers who play historical stuff/other systems
Probably not, cant see any evidence in the arguement
Definately not, Airfix/Britains etc did just as much to generate interest in the hobby
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Leon

12 June 2011, 08:03:26 PM #15
You mean I can't get them to hang Pendraken posters in the shop for their older gamers!?   :D  Although there is one in Boro with a similar type of shop next door.  How I'd love to get some Pendraken Fantasy in there!

It's the way they keep you hooked while you're young, impressionable and have access to the parent's wallet, without any provision for when you reach adulthood.  But then that's the ideal market.  Unfortunately, when people reach adulthood they generally become more savvy purchasers, and would soon realise they can get just as good a product from elsewhere at a fraction of the price.
www.pendraken.co.uk - Now home to over 10,000 products, including nearly 5000 items for 10mm wargaming, plus MDF bases, Battlescale buildings, I-94 decals, Litko Gaming Aids, Militia Miniatures, Raiden Miniatures 1/285th aircraft, Red Vectors MDF products, Vallejo paints, Tiny Tin Troops flags and much, much more!

DanJ

16 June 2011, 12:31:00 PM #16
I'd have to go for probably.

There are a number of Lancaster club members who started playing GW stuff and have largely moved into historical.

Personally I'm no great fan and stopped buying White Dwarf round about issue 100 when it became a pure house organ rather than a gaming magazine, having said that they are very good at what they do and they do produce some very good games.

NTM

16 June 2011, 01:08:55 PM #17
Quote from: DanJ on 16 June 2011, 12:31:00 PM
I'd have to go for probably.

There are a number of Lancaster club members who started playing GW stuff and have largely moved into historical.


But would they have found a way into historical gaming anyway?
Why did they start of with GW in the first place?

These sort of questions need to be addressed and you may well find that GW could be keeping people away from historical gaming.

DanJ

20 June 2011, 02:34:52 PM #18
QuoteBut would they have found a way into historical gaming anyway?

Impossible to say but they both say they started with GW and moved into historical gaming afterwards.  GW is certainly a route into gaming, as are computer games.

sunjester

24 June 2011, 06:59:50 AM #19
Personally I'd say NO.

All the younger GW players I know who have gone on to historical wargaming did so because they had a parent/relative already playing historicals.
My nephew and a bunch of his mates got into GW when they were about 9/10 and even set up a club at school. For a few years he was delighted that uncle could pick up bargain bits for him a B&Bs, but a few years later I was back at the B&Bs selling off his stuff for him. None of his group moved on to historicals.
I have met a few guys in the forces who moved from WFB to WAB, but that was more because they'd ended up posted somewhere with no fantasy opponents, but had found one ot two ancient players.

I think GW does introduce new blood to the concept of figure gaming, but unless there is an addition influence they lose them all again.

Graham
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