If you’d like to see all the survey responses as raw data, download this .csv file. It’ll open in OpenOffice or Excel.

Let’s start talking about these highlights though. How are we going to move forward from here?

Starting An Outreach Site For New Gamers

A massive 90% of people think we need an outreach site for new gamers. According to the comments we had, this would include:

• Introductory information on modern board-gaming
• A “Top games” section with good introductory games
• Links and contact details for local board gaming groups

By its very nature, the site would have to be quite simple, maybe a dozen pages or so, and have great, easy to enjoy information. It’s basically a sales pitch for board gaming in general and some solid connection points to the New Zealand board gaming community.

We’re happy to build the site, but would love to have content and ideas from you. How should this look? What content would it need? What games should be recommended? Anyone good at copywriting?

A Kiwi Board Gaming Forum Or Community

The question over creating a specific online New Zealand board game community was much more difficult to answer. People seemed to like the idea, but wouldn’t have much time to give to it. That said, 30-40 people spending an hour or more each week would definitely give us some life!

Many people thought BoardGameGeek was enough for everyone; others wanted a recreation of most of BGG’s features (forums, rankings, etc) on a NZ-specific website.

It seems to us that there isn’t enough interest in this right now to give it its own domain and site structure.

We’ve been planning on setting up some forums here on SeriouslyBoard since shortly after the site’s inception, which will allow us to get started. As the community grows, we’d like to expand the features available and consider moving it to its own domain. The forums will be live by the end of 2010…but hopefully sooner!

So, let’s talk: how are we going to move forward from here?

If you’re looking for a chance to play some board games without having to commit to buying them, or if you’re looking for a regular challenge, we have a comprehensive listing of New Zealand board game groups for you to explore.

Board game clubs seem to be congregated around the city centres right now, but we’re seeing small groups crop up in smaller places such as the Matamata group we’ve blogged about previously.

If you run a board game group in New Zealand, please let us know so we can add your details and to see if we can help you out with some bulk order discounts for your members.

Wellycon 2010 is shaping up to be the best Wellycon yet, with an increase in numbers as the anticipation juggernaut gains momentum.

On the weekend of August 14th and 15th, the city of Wellington will experience an influx of board gamers, and you could be one of them.

SeriouslyBoard are proud to be involved again.  We’ll be sponsoring the Saturday, and, just as we did in 2009, we’ll have prizes on offer and a discount for all Wellycon attendees.

So if you’re in the Wellington area and you’re keen to meet other gamers, make sure you register here and make it to Wellycon.  And if you’re located somewhere else…make sure you get into the Wellington area in one month’s time!

The What: Wellycon 2010
The Where: St Patrick’s College, 581 Evans Bay Road, Kilbirnie, Wellington (Map)
The When: Saturday 14th August (10 AM to 10 PM) and Sunday 15th August (10 AM to 6 PM)
The Who: Andrew Rae, wellycon@gmail.com
The Wallet: $5 per person per day.

But do you reckon you could do better?

SeriouslyBoard is the only New Zealand retailer to import The World Cup Card Game 2010.

This is your ideal opportunity to show your footballing skills on the world stage…or on the table, anyway.  And at just $12, you’ll be hard pressed to find an award winning game at a cheaper price.

And if you’re more of an Agricola fan, consider playing this card in order to prevent your opponents from conspiring against you!

As mentioned in an earlier blog, you now have the opportunity to pay tribute to the All Whites in game format with The World Cup Card Game 2010!

SeriouslyBoard are the only New Zealand retailer to stock this award winning title!

The game is incredibly popular, and at only $12, it’s easy to see why.

Make sure you don’t miss out on your chance for World Cup glory!

And with an upcoming game release just around the corner, you won’t need a fraction of fitness to replicate our footballing heroes, either.

And so ensues a quick recap…

First, we did this to Slovakia to snatch a draw from them in the dying moments:

Then we held the world champion Italians to a draw which was started by Shane Smeltz…

…and which was finished with an investment banker on the field…

…and now you have the opportunity to take New Zealand or any other team to the title with The World Cup Card Game 2010.

This card game will enable you to take any of the 32 teams from the group stage to the World Cup final, and SeriouslyBoard is currently the only New Zealand retailer planning to sell this game!

That’s right – this game is currently exclusive to SeriouslyBoard among Kiwi stores!

We’ll be sure to let you know as soon as it’s in stock, but be warned: demand is high!

You can now score goals and commit fouls to your heart’s content in what was recently awarded the Best Card Game at the UK Games Expo 2010.  And at just $12, this could be the most affordable world championship trophy you’ve ever bought!

As such, we’d like to take a moment to thank those who returned – and to those who remain in foreign lands – with a famous poem.

For The Fallen (Laurence Binyon, 1869-1943)

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Lest we forget.

The What: Matamata Board Games
The When: Sunday 18 April 2010, 1.00pm – 5.00 pm
The Where: All Saints Anglican Church Hall, corner Broadway and Hohaia Street, Matamata
The Who: All welcome, but helpful if you let Simon know so he can track numbers.
The Wallet: Please bring a small donation to thank the church for being so obliging. The hall has a kitchen and toilets, so you’ll only need edibles and games, of course! There are cafes and supermarkets nearby.
The Contact: Simon Woodward is the main contact, but you can touch base with us here, if you prefer.

So whether you’re based in Tauranga, Hamilton, or Matamata itself, we encourage you to join Gollum in Hobbiton as we help the local gaming community to prosper!

The What: Matamata Board Games
The When: Sunday 21 March 2010, 1.00pm – 5.00 pm
The Where: All Saints Anglican Church Hall, corner Broadway and Hohaia Street, Matamata
The Who: All welcome, but helpful if you let Simon know so I can track numbers.
The Wallet: Please bring a small donation to thank the church for being so obliging. The hall has a kitchen and toilets, so you’ll only need edibles and games, of course! There are cafes and supermarkets nearby.
The Contact: Simon Woodward is the main contact, but you can touch base with us here, if you prefer.

If you’re unable to make it to Matamata, and you’re in the Auckland area, head on over to KingsWay School and enjoy their gala day.  We’ve sent something to help them raise money, and you could even find yourself with a healthy discount off our product range if you go!

But that isn’t all that’s going on, especially if you live in the North Island.

If you find yourself in the windy city this weekend, or in the central North Island, there’s a board gaming event going on nearby, and chances are that SeriouslyBoard is somehow involved.

Wellington folk are especially spoiled with two events happening over the weekend. There’s the Wellycon Warmdown, a follow up to the main Wellycon event back in August. And, just like last time, SeriouslyBoard is lending a helping hand by offering games as spot prizes and a special discount to all attendees.

Likewise around the corner at Kapcon, a predominantly roleplaying event that has its fair share of board gaming thrown in. SeriouslyBoard has donated games and a special rate there, too.

And in Matamata this Sunday, we’re having another get together.  It’ll be at the same time and place as our last gathering, and we will again have a special price for everyone who comes along.

So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, and you’re in the bottom half of the North Island, make sure you get to one of these fantastic events!