Board games: what do you like about playing them?

A 2-minute survey of the experience and opinions of older adults who play board games.

I'm Rachel McAlpine from WriteIntoLife.com. I'm asking 5 questions about board games for adults over 50. Please share your opinions and experience! This is a genuine survey created on SurveyMonkey.com—not one of those phony pretend-polls. You understand, I hope, that I'll share the combined results on WriteIntoLife.com. But your information is secure and stays private.

Question Title

* 1. What are the essential features of a good board game? Check any answers that you agree with or strongly agree with. And please comment freely.

It's original

The box, board, cards etc look good and feel good

The rules are clear

Tactics and strategy are needed but there’s an element of luck

You can play it again and again and it’s always different

The game is easy to learn but hard to master

It moves along at a reasonable pace

Something else?

Question Title

* 2. What do you enjoy when playing board games? Please check any answers that you agree with or strongly agree with. And please comment freely.

I like getting intensely involved in one activity

I like handling the cards, dice, board and other pieces

I like the social interaction, the mood, and the laughter

I like solving imaginary problems

I like the competition

I like the challenge of making meaningful decisions

I like imagining myself in a different world or situation or persona

I like coping with disasters that are not real

I like to forget about real life for a while

I love winning

Other reasons?

Question Title

* 3. How old are you? (The survey is anonymous: your age won't be revealed.)

49 or younger

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90+

Question Title

* 4. How do you feel when playing board games? Check any feelings that apply.

intense

happy

excited

relaxed

competitive

frivolous

anxious

shy

annoyed

cautious

Any other feelings? Anything else you'd like to add?

Question Title

* 5. What annoys you about some board games or makes it difficult for you to play? Please check all the answers that you agree with. And comment freely.

When the text on cards or rules or board is hard to read

When things like dice or figurines or tiles are hard to handle

When the game goes too fast for me

When people are shouting at the same time

When colours are hard to distinguish

When winning depends on remembering stuff

When art work is too subtle so I don't pick up clues

When a game goes on longer than half an hour

When a game involves hurting or cheating other players

Please comment. Does something else about board games bother you?