Article:
Collectible Card Games – Barriers To Entry (Part 3)

So in the last part of the article, I’ll deal with the last two common barriers to entry – and arguably the toughest ones to possibly work around.

11) …But the game doesn’t seem fun

Unfortunately, this perception may simply be beyond your ken to try to change. However, a person can be influenced by those around – if all of your friends are playing a game and appear to be having fun (and encouraging you to try the game), it’s quite likely you’ll at least humor them by trying the game out a few times.

Try, however, to be aware of what a person’s definition of “fun” is. I’ve heard many definitions over the years, and here are some of the ones I’ve heard more than once:

A) Fun is about me winning.

It’s surprising how often this comes up. People may not openly admit it, but part of the joy of a game is the ability to win – the thrill of victory. In many cases, new players don’t want to try a new game for fear of loss. This seems strange, as logically you know that you have to play a game and learn the ropes before you can start winning – but many illogically believe that they should start winning immediately. To perhaps encourage new players, consider manipulating early teaching games such that you always lose. Winning can help new players gain a sense of confidence and a willingness to try again later; even if they are beaten later they will remember that they can win. And that’s usually the important thing.

B) Fun is about doing something “cool” in the game.

This usually means pulling off some bizarre combo or playing a themed deck. This isn’t hard to achieve – simply build a deck that works around the element that the person enjoys, and let them have fun with it.

C) Fun is about the thrill of difficult competition.

Some people simply thrive off of competition, and without a lack of good opponents, they shy away from the game. For instance, Pokemon is often misconceived to be a “children’s card game” – many adults do not play it as they believe that kids aren’t good opponents. This shouldn’t be a problem. After all, they’re new, and everyone should be a challenge, at least at first. Afterwards, well, you’re up to the challenge of challenging your friends, right?