I am also a software developer and an avid board gamer with a special interest in strategy games. From what I've seen, there is no connection between being a developer and enjoying strategy games. Like you, most of the people we game with are in completely unrelated fields, and amongst developers I know, the number who are really into board games is probably 1 in 50. Whatever the actual number is, I'd bet that a poll of the general public would result in the same numbers.
The key to good gaming is finding the right game, the right group, and the right location. Everyone will play for their own reasons and are unlikely to be the same as others.
Besides the casual game of Chess at lunch though, I wouldn't call it a break -- it's just something we love to do! Possibly another way to look at it is that the skills in logic and planning gained in a software development career translate easily to boardgames where there's a lot of if/then/else situations as well as cases where making decisions where more than one are good come in handy.
I really hoped for a better reason than (paraphrased) 'I really like both of this, so they go well together for other developers.'
I happen to like both, also, but I don't see them as a good break from programming. When I step back from programming, I need some non-thinking time instead. I actually find that if I play too many thought-provoking games in my free time, it can impact my development time negatively. (That doesn't usually stop me, though... And it's usually got to be for weeks, not days. Certain video game releases are murder on my productivity and I actually take vacations to enjoy them better.)
Thanks, the article was intended to be more of a "I don't understand why developers don't appear to be as interested as me". I was really just explaining my reasons why I like boardgames, not trying to say that it would work for everyone.
You have helped have answered my question though - since I'm not a full-time developer I usually have the brainspace ready to tackle a boardgame. I could see how you guys would rack your brains all day and prefer to take your mind off things - such as watching a movie etc.
The key to good gaming is finding the right game, the right group, and the right location. Everyone will play for their own reasons and are unlikely to be the same as others.
Besides the casual game of Chess at lunch though, I wouldn't call it a break -- it's just something we love to do! Possibly another way to look at it is that the skills in logic and planning gained in a software development career translate easily to boardgames where there's a lot of if/then/else situations as well as cases where making decisions where more than one are good come in handy.