X-Men Board Game

[EBRulz]

Hi, my name is Ewan and I'm currently doing a Games Software Development course at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. As part of the course, me and two other people have been asked to design a board game based on the X-Men, which is to be a war game. Having decided that we are going to narrow that down to Messiah CompleX, now we need to know what the people would want from this game. I've created a survey with just a few questions relating to the readers, the X-Men, and what you would like from the war game. If anyone could take some time to answer the questions i would be really grateful.
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Job(if applicable):
1) Do you read X-Men Comics? If so, which comics, how many and how regularly? What about the comics appeal to you?
2) Are you a fan of the greater franchise? (e.g. Movies, Toys etc) If so, what in particular do you like? If it applies, why do you choose not to buy the comics too?
3) Have you had any experience with X-Men Board Games before? If so, which games and why were they good?
4) Are you a fan of board games, specifically war games? If so, which ones pop to mind?
5) What would be the minimum to maximum play time you would want from this game?
6) Do you feel the game should be more luck based or skill based? What are your reasons for this?
7) How complex would you want the rules to be?
8 ) Should the tone of Messiah CompleX resonate highly in the game?
9) Should the game be more player vs player, or player and player vs player and player? Why do you believe this?
10) Is there anything else you feel is important to this game?
Thank you very much for taking the time. Everything and anything you say will be greatly appreciated. If you wish, you can also e-mail with your answers instead. Any of these e-mail addresses is


fine:
feel_his_wrath@hotmail.co.uk
ewanbryant@googlemail.com
Once again, thanks.
-Ewan

[digitaldragoon]

As a graduate of a Game Art and Design program I'd love to fill out your survey.

Name: Digitial Dragoon, PM me for real name if necessary
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Job(if applicable): Virtual World Project Coordinator
1) X-Men Legacy, X-Factor, X-Force, read spoilers for Uncanny
2) I'm partial to the X-Men Superhero Squad figures so I can play with my daughter
3) Just the video games
4) I'm a huge fan of Monopoly, Risk, and Cosmic Encounters. The latter is the one that jumps to mind
5) If the game allows for 4 players, I could see an hour and a half max play time
6) Too much luck and "skilled" players will be put off. To much skill and new players will be discouraged from playing. There needs to be some kind of balance. I like how in Cosmic Encounters, many battles are decided by alliances made with other players.
7) If you need to include "turn order" cards, then the you are probably on the mark
8 ) As a game, I believe that Messiah Complex makes a great capture the flag kind of game. Story flavor could be added through card draws (Chance Cards)
9) I like the idea that it is everyone out for themselves, but they can ally any time they want to. Definitely goes with the theme of Messiah Complex.
10) Messiah Complex has built in factions, which is perfect for allowing players certain abilities. Perhaps Risman's Purifiers get some kind of "future sense" ability. Sinister's Marauders may be able to regenerate fallen team members. In addition, you can control the number of turns that the game lasts by setting event turns. Perhaps the goal of turn 2 is to Infiltrate the Purifiers. While every player who is not Purifiers would be attacking them, the Purifiers get a bonus by Lady Deathstrike's strike team entering the field. Finally, there are so many good chance elements through Cable and Bishop taking the baby, Predator X, and even the X-Factor time travel stuff.

There are really a lot of ways that you can go with this, but I think you have solid source material to make a board game.

[jlmoor]

What the hell...
Age:32
Gender: F
Job(if applicable):
1) Do you read X-Men Comics? Yes
If so, which comics, how many and how regularly? All of them, every month.
What about the comics appeal to you? Story telling, use of metaphor, characters
2) Are you a fan of the greater franchise? Yes
If so, what in particular do you like? Films, cartoons
3) Have you had any experience with X-Men Board Games before? No.
4) Are you a fan of board games, specifically war games? If so, which ones pop to mind? Yes, Risk
5) What would be the minimum to maximum play time you would want from this game? 1-3 hours
6) Do you feel the game should be more luck based or skill based? What are your reasons for this? Sill, otherwire it is like playing Candyland. Which I also play.
7) How complex would you want the rules to be? Simple enough that my kids would be able to figure it out without taking a class on it.
8 ) Should the tone of Messiah CompleX resonate highly in the game? Only if you understand what it was. Most of you market is only going to have basic knowledge of X-Men. Messiah CompleX was the head of several things that had been building across multiple titles. If you want to use it at all, throw in comic that at least covers the basics you are addressing in you game.
9) Should the game be more player vs player, or player and player vs player and player? Why do you believe this? I have no opinion on this. Maybe make it either?
10) Is there anything else you feel is important to this game? My kids will buy the hell out of things if the pieces look cool. Just a suggestion. Nail down your market. If you are looking at hardcore fans not mess with the characters or story. I don't care how popular a character is, if he had nothing to do with MC, don't put them in. If you are looking for a general audience, throw in a few treats for the hardcore fans. Inside jokes are always for more

Good Luck!!

[countryfan2004]

Name:
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Job(if applicable): English teacher
1) Do you read X-Men Comics? If so, which comics, how many and how regularly? What about the comics appeal to you? Yes, all regularly; X-Factor, X-Men Legacy, Uncanny X-Men, Force, New Mutants
2) Are you a fan of the greater franchise? (e.g. Movies, Toys etc) If so, what in particular do you like? If it applies, why do you choose not to buy the comics too? I love the X-Men movies (even the third!) and some of the cartoons (90s X-Men and Wolverine and the X-Men). I'm not a continuity freak from one medium to another. Books and movies are supposed to be different to me.
3) Have you had any experience with X-Men Board Games before? If so, which games and why were they good? Nope. I wish.
4) Are you a fan of board games, specifically war games? If so, which ones pop to mind? Definitely a fan of board games! I love Stratego and sometimes Risk and Age of Gods.
5) What would be the minimum to maximum play time you would want from this game? 30 minutes to 2 hours (quick play and slow play)
6) Do you feel the game should be more luck based or skill based? What are your reasons for this? Both if need be. I hate when I have no control over a game. I like to assert strategy. Isn't that was war is about? Strategy (and domination and ignorance....haha).
7) How complex would you want the rules to be? Doesn't matter if the game is fun.
8 ) Should the tone of Messiah CompleX resonate highly in the game? Definitely. I think the tones of panic and nervousness and aggression would be great.
9) Should the game be more player vs player, or player and player vs player and player? Why do you believe this? If there's a way to do both, that would be awesome. I like the idea of having a teammate, as X-Men are about teamwork. But for limited players, it's nice to have just player vs. player. I like that I could play a game with 2 or more people. I'm not limited.
10) Is there anything else you feel is important to this game? Include characters that aren't the top guns too! Like Husk :)

[EBRulz]

Thanks very much for the help guys, got some really good information from you all.

-Ewan