BattleTech
User Survey

September, 1991

Carrie Heeter, Ph.D.

Michigan State University


About

The BattleTech Center in Chicago transports visitors to the year 3025, placing them in control of BattleMech robots at war in a computer-generated terrain amidst computer-generated weather conditions. BattleTech mixes physical and virtual reality.

The Center itself is consistent with the theme of the virtual BattleTech experience. For $7.00 per person, uniformed crewmembers guide six players through a training and strategy session and then escort them to individual cockpits with multiple viewscreens and feedback mechanisms and more than 100 controls to navigate the terrain and fight each other's Mechs for 10 minutes. Somebody wins, others lose, and detailed statistics on the battle are provided after (and during) the game.

The BattleTech Center in Chicago is located in North Pier Mall on Illinois Avenue. To contact the BattleTech Center, call 312-243-5660. Virtual World Entertainment headquarters (which operates the BattleTech Centers) is located at 4444 Lakeside Drive, Suite 320, Burbank, CA 91505.

 

Survey Results

223 respondents

How many people came with you to BattleTech today?
30% ALONE 36% WITH ONE OTHER 44% WITH 2 OR MORE

How much do you enjoy blowing people up?
x=1.5 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

Which is more fun to blow up, people you know or strangers?
35% GOOD FRIENDS 3% ACQUAINTANCES 5% STRANGERS
57% NO DIFFERENCE

How much do you feel like you are the Mech when you play?
x = 3.4 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How real does the BattleTech world feel?
x=3.0 (VERY REAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT REAL AT ALL)

To what extent does the BattleTech world respond like the physical world?
x=3.6 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How well do these words describe what BattleTech is like for you, if 10 is VERY WELL and 0 is NOT AT ALL?
Challenging 9.3
Fun 9.2
Relaxing 3.6
Exciting 9.0
Confusing 5.1
Intimidating 3.5
Expensive 7.0
Absorbing 8.1
Unique 9.2
Creative 8.8
Silly 1.6
Social 4.8
Competitive 9.0
Realistic 7.2
Overwhelming 5.3
Addictive 7.9
Intense 8.6
Embarrassing 2.3

How satisfied were you with the way you played this time?
x=3.4 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How much does it matter to you whether or not you win the game?
x=4.2 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How much does it matter to you whether you play with people you know?
x=5.3 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How much further do you think your skill will improve as you keep playing?
x=1.7 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How much does it matter to you whether you play with people you know?
x=5.3 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How much further do you think your skill will improve as you keep playing?
x=1.7 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

How much is BattleTech like a video game?
x=3.8 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

Would you say there are more buttons and controls than necessary?
27%-MORE THAN ENOUGH 16%-JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT
56%-NOT ENOUGH

Thinking back to when you started playing, about how many games did it take before you felt like you had mastered these BattleTech functions:
using terrain strategically 15 games
driving the Mech 6 games
using secondary screens 6 games
cooperating with others 16 games
using advanced controls 6 games
being aware of others 6 games
tracking your own damage 9 games
firing weapons 6 games
controlling heat 13 games

Would you rather play:
29%-EVERYONE AGAINST EVERYONE 71%-AS A TEAM

Would you rather have as your opponents in BattleTech:
58%-HUMANS ONLY 2%-COMPUTER ONLY 40%-COMPUTERS & HUMANS

How many DAYS PER WEEK do you read a newspaper?
4.0

How many HOURS PER DAY do you watch TV?
2.9

How many MINUTES PER DAY do you watch MTV?
26.7

When you watch TV, about how many TIMES PER HOUR do you change channels?
23.1

How many HOURS PER DAY do you listen to radio?
4.5

How many movies do you see in theaters IN A MONTH?
2.8

How many movies do you rent to watch at home IN A MONTH?
6.3

How many books do you read IN A MONTH?
4.5

How many magazines do you read IN A MONTH?
7.1

How many HOURS PER MONTH do you log on to an online service?
4.3

How many TIMES PER MONTH do you play arcade video games?
8.1

How many TIMES PER MONTH do you play a video game at home?
16.4

How many BattleTech GAMES do you play PER MONTH?
12.4

How many TIMES IN 1991 have you played fantasy games?
26.6

Would you want to go to a whole weekend of BattleTech?
94% YES 6% NO

How many new friends have you met through BattleTech?
8.0

How much do the regulars at BattleTech feel like family to you?
x=4.5 (VERY MUCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NOT AT ALL)

If 10 is VERY MUCH and 0 is NOT AT ALL , how much do you think these things would enhance BattleTech:
3-D Images 6.8
Motion Simulator 6.6
More variety 8.6
Totally different games 6.5
Longer play time 8.5
Less cost 9.0
More players at once 7.3
Less complex cockpits 2.2
Play from home 4.5
Wear 3-D goggles 3.0
Wear a data glove 3.2

How old are you?
x=23

Are you:
7%- FEMALE 93%-MALE

How many children (if any) do you have?
90% childless

Do you live:
26% -IN CHICAGO 32%-IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS
42%-ELSEWHERE

Are you:
15%-MARRIED 26%-IN A RELATIONSHIP
60%-SINGLE & UNINVOLVED

How much education have you completed?
29%-COLLEGE 31%-SOME COLLEGE
14%-HIGH SCHOOL 13%-SOME HIGH SCHOOL
12%-LESS

What is your approximate annual personal income?
41%-LESS THAN $5000 17%-$5000 to $14,999
19%-$15,000 to $29,999 18%-$30,000 to $59,999
4%-$60,000 to $99,999 1%-MORE THAN $100,000