Hi All - ran my first Demo today and.......

[fluffy05]

Hi All,

I ran the first Demo today which flopped

The game mechanics are fine & the models are alright details wise etc...

Most peoples complaint is the price and that they are more interested in Sci-Fi or Fantasy games.

There were only a very, very small handful of players interested.

Are you guys finding any other responses?


Allan

 

[BuShips]

Hi All,

I ran the first Demo today which flopped

The game mechanics are fine & the models are alright details wise etc...

Most peoples complaint is the price and that they are more interested in Sci-Fi or Fantasy games.

There were only a very, very small handful of players interested.

Are you guys finding any other responses?


Allan

Tell them that it is science fiction. It's set in the year 2015... :wink:

Well, I'll bet Starship Troopers Evolution isn't too far from doing demos with.

 

[The Old Soldier]

Get use to it. It takes much effort over many demos to build a group for a game. Advertise in advance, and good repore with the store owner goes along way.

Historical and near future games are always a tough sell.

 

[fluffy05]

I am lucky our Store owner at our LGS is a great guy and gives very good support.

I have told people it is set 2015 & beyond.

Some people who do not like to paint have expressed an interest in SST: Evo when it comes out in August but other than that nothing.

I laid down the ground work with a few folders with Preview pictures, Stat Cards from Wave 1 and Basic Rules to help generate interest before the models were released.

I don't mind doing a few more Demos to keep building up interest. I was hoping for a better response. Maybe next weekend

 

[BuShips]

Historical and near future games are always a tough sell.

Unless you are attending a historical gaming con, lol. :wink:

I am lucky our Store owner at our LGS is a great guy and gives very good support.

I have told people it is set 2015 & beyond.

Some people who do not like to paint have expressed an interest in SST: Evo when it comes out in August but other than that nothing.

I laid down the ground work with a few folders with Preview pictures, Stat Cards from Wave 1 and Basic Rules to help generate interest before the models were released.

I don't mind doing a few more Demos to keep building up interest. I was hoping for a better response. Maybe next weekend

A sneaky trick is to first get one or two friends to play a game or two. Then take them with you to the demo. Bodies around a table are infectious. One is a lonely number :wink:. If you try that, with the talking and throwing of dice and discussion over how the rules work, you might find the need to back them off so you can breathe, heh. Have as many sets of the basic rules that come with the minis around so you can have them scan the sheets as the game is run. If they have the rules in their grubby hands, they are less likely to walk away (and get them back or you will run out). As you play out actions and reactions, you can even have your friends ask questions and have the players get involved by asking them to find the relevant rule. Those rules are so short they'll have them put to memory in no time, and you won't need to 'act' a script out as there will most likely be a few real questions that the players will be asking (like about cover for instance). Since the game will not run for a great period of time, you can have your friends (by prearrangement) back off and let the new guys toss the dice. I'll bet that you'll get some converts from the depths of space to come down to earth. And with Starship Troopers, they can do both, lol.

 

[E Nicely]

BuShips gave some good advice,fluffy. People have a tendency to want to try what they see others doing.

My suggestion is just keep trying,bring your friends to each demo. if you can get store employees playing thats a good thing too. The folks that see you there multiple times will eventually try the game. Push the simple but bloody aspect of the rules too.

As far as the science fiction angle goes, 2015 is very much a cyberpunk timeframe (maybe early cyberpunk), run with that if you can.

(Erik, posting from his screaming brand new laptop)

 

[fluffy05]

Thanks BuShips. I will give it a Red Hot Go

 

[cordas]

Thanks BuShips. I will give it a Red Hot Go

Where abouts are you mate, if you say maybe some people from the forums could come and act as innocent marks :twisted:

 

[Mr Evil]

Well demos of any wargame in bristol is a tough cookie to crack, as we have nothing but GW players and card players to contend with who are scared to brnch out.

its realy tough, but if you can get every now and then one guy to say "cool" and pick the game up, he turns into 2-3 players as he gets his buds involved.

its like going out on the pull, its just a numbers game, the more demos you run the more players who get exsposedto it the more interest gathers, evan from those who arnt playing the demo, its often the watchers who buy in more than the player as often the player is a cheap scate in for the thrill and time expendature and not the buy.

 

[Turtle]

Well... there are rules for Starship Troopers out now. Try demoing both games at the same time to really get people interested.

Try converting your local game over to the Evo system too

 

[britneyfan97]

Well demos of any wargame in bristol is a tough cookie to crack, as we have nothing but GW players and card players to contend with who are scared to brnch out.

I now have visions of something out of "Green Street Hooligans" except maybe a GW version.

A space marine firm vs some dirty skaven firm, i'll stop drinking now.

 

[Shadow4ce]

Between the great ideas expressed here and the feedback you received to your same question posted here at EvoCommand.com, you have a collection of some great advice. Basically, don't give up! Keep your enthusiasm up, and keep on keeping on. Your attitude and example will carry you while it's rough, but eventually it will get better. Count on it! :wink: