pyle@ut-ngp.UUCP (05/05/84)
My thanks to those 40 Rogueist who sent responses to my survey questions.
Please note that my comments are based on this sample of the Rogue playing
population only. I DO NOT assume that this is a true random sample.
With that disclaimer, here are the results and my observations:
1. Age of the respondents ranged from 17 to 36 with a mean of 24.7 +/- 5.0.
The breakdown was:
15-19 = 10%
20-24 = 45%
25-29 = 28%
30-34 = 13%
35-39 = 5% (Total does not equal 100 due to rounding)
2. Sex: 92.5% Male, 7.5% Female
3. How long have you played Rogue: answers ranged from 3 to 54 months
with an average of 22 months. Five (12.5%) had started at least 48 months
ago and 19 (47.5%) first played Rogue 24 or more months ago.
4. Version currently played: 18% play 3.6, 18% play 5.2, 41% play 5.3,
15% play SuperRogue 9.0; other responses included 3.7, PC, and
Advanced Rogue 1.3.
5. How many sessions (i.e., logins) are there in which you play Rogue:
answers ranged from 1 every 3 months to 60 per month; the average
was 17 per month; 40% play during at least 5 sessions per week.
6. How many games do you play per month: answers ranged from 3 to 200
with a mean of 58 games per month; 62.5% play at 7 games per week.
7. How many games have you won: 60% have never won; the highest number
won by version: 25 games in 3.6, 13 in 5.2, more than 10 (respondent's
estimate) in 5.3, 7 in 9.0, and 15 in PC version.
Of the 24 who have never won, they began playing Rogue 18 months ago
on the average. Two had begun 4 years ago and 2 began 3 years ago
(An unofficial award for determination goes to these four!).
8. Highest scores by version: something over a million in 3.6 (using the
arrow bug), 16,400 in 5.2, 13,000 in 5.3, and 125,000 in 9.0
9. Living arrangement: 30% live alone, 23% live with roommates, 43% with
spouse, lover, etc., and 5% with parents.
10. Of those not living alone, 65% of their living companions never
object to their playing, 31% sometimes or mildly object, and
4% frequently or strongly object.
11. Twenty-five percent currently participate in FRP games, 75% do not.chuqui@nsc.UUCP (05/05/84)
I just wanted to make an addendum to the Rogue Survey. Since I sent in my
results, I have finally won 5.3, with a total Gold Value of 1700+GP, so
at least for now that seems to be the highest score for that version (instead
of the posted 13000).
chuq *finally!*
--
>From high above Benden weyr, Ch'qui, rider of the plaid dragon Plugh!
Chuq Von Rospach {amd70,fortune,hplabs,ihnp4}!nsc!chuqui (408) 733-2600 x242
ninety nine dead baboons, sitting in my living room...gs@mit-eddie.UUCP (Gordon Strong) (05/08/84)
Since you mentioned high scores.... I won my first 5.3 game this week (I had won 5.2 a couple of times under 4.1bsd). My score was 14425 (beating the other total win on our system, 13K). For those of you have never seen a win, let me describe the items I required. I still maintain that a very large amount of the game is luck. You can know all the right methods and still die all the time. Anyway, this is what I had: +1/+2 two-handed sword (+0,+0 when found), +1 plate mail [protected] (+0 when found), rings of stealth, slow digestion and see invisible, wands of fire, teleport away, and slow monster, 2 scrolls of scare monster and one scroll of magic mapping. My strength was 21, and I had 81hp (13th level). I finished with about 8300 gold pieces. Notes on the game: I found the plate mail on the 7th level, the sword on the 11th. I had been wielding a cursed long sword. My hit points were never particularly good. I protected the armor on the 12th level (just in time to beat the trolls). The ring of slow digestion was found on the 14th level, the ring of stealth on the 20th level. I fought my way through every level through 17 (I had to use one scare monster on 17th level to beat a Black Unicorn). To avoid Medusas, I began dropping on the 18th level. I hit a party room on the 20th level (needless to say, I dropped my second scroll of scare monster). I had to kill a J, 3 M's, 2 U's, 4 G's, 2 V's, a W and a T. This seemed to be the turning point. With new loot in hand, I dropped continuously (luckily, not having to fight it out with anything too nasty). When I hit level 26, I read my magic mapping scroll (find those traps). I searched 3 rooms (wearing the ring of stealth) until I was attacked by 2 Griffins. Believe all you hear about these creatures -- they are nasty. I killed one (leaving me with ~18hp). I teleported the other one away and rested on the stairs. It finally found its way back to me and I was ready for it. I killed it and it dropped the amulet. After that, it was just a race back up the levels (hoping the machine didn't crash or the game die). I was lucky that I didn't have to face any dragons. It was a lot of fun. I hope that others can enjoy the thrill of victory as I did. Gordon Strong decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!gs GS@MIT-XX