Forked Thread: Is ENWorld an accurate cross section of gamers?

[El Mahdi]

Forked from: Changeover Poll

I was wondering, after reading the Changover Poll thread, whether or not ENWorld was an accurate cross section of the gaming population in general?

It's been stated that ENWorld probably has a higher concentration of the "Serious Gamer" than other places, yet at the same time is an accurate cross section of the gamer community. I find this idea contradictory. It's also been stated that the gamer community in general probably has more "Players" than DM's/GM's. Sounds logical, but I really don't know if this is true or not. I'm sure WoTC has real research data on this, but for obvious reasons, I doubt they'd share.

So, purely unscientific, and just for curiosity sake, what is the percentage of "Players" to DM's/GM's in the ENWorld community?

 

[Phaezen]

If I recall from previous polls, ENWorld representationis skewed towards dm's. I think this could largely be due to dm's needing more resources and ideas than players. I know I pilfer alot of ideas off the forums.

Phaezen

 

[MatthewJHanson]

It's been stated that ENWorld probably has a higher concentration of the "Serious Gamer" than other places, yet at the same time is an accurate cross section of the gamer community. I find this idea contradictory.

I agree that it is contradictory. I'm pretty sure that ENWorld is not an accurate cross section and that it is skewed towards the serious gamer.

 

[Obryn]

ENWorld is a self-selected population who share a number of common traits, including...

(1) Using their discretionary free time to read and post about gaming
(2) Desire to engage in gaming-related conversation with strangers
(3) Desire to keep up with the news in gaming releases

Any self-selected, non-random population is - by definition - not a representative sample.

-O

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

(4) tends to be open to 3d party and house rule additions to the RAW
(5) Tends to be an older group ( per previous Polls where ages 30+ were strongly represented )


Of course, a poll here is also a self-selected subset of the self-selected population of EnWorld readers.. so the poll will be even more skewed.

But i would agree that EnWorld feels like a group of gamers who are more serious about the game and have tipped the scales in favor of discretionary income over free time...

 

[Greg K]

I agree that it is contradictory. I'm pretty sure that ENWorld is not an accurate cross section and that it is skewed towards the serious gamer.

Define serious gamer. I am the only person from several groups that I know posting here . Yet, nearly every one of those players games at least 2-4 times per week (including larps, but not PbP or MMORPGs which would double the number of games ) whereas I only game 3-4 times a month total (no larps, no pbp and no computer games).

 

[Mark]

Here are some more polls to take -

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/165212-rpg-survey-round-up.html

 

[Tuft]

But i would agree that EnWorld feels like a group of gamers who are more serious about the game and have tipped the scales in favor of discretionary income over free time...

Well, the interesting part is that the more active, engaged gamers are probably an magnitude more influential in the hobby than the more casual ones.

It's the engaged gamers that:
* Introduce friends, relatives and even complete strangers to the game. How many of you here got into the game merely through advertising, as opposed to having an engaged friend ask you to come along?
* Spend of disposable income on gaming supplies.
* Starts clubs, associations and other organizations.
* Dedicate a lot of time to arranging campaigns.
* Review, recommend, discuss and try to influence others.

 

[naturaltwenty]

I think the intersection of gamers and gamers who post on enworld.org is actually a pretty small part of the venn diagram.

While this is all just theory it's actually going to be part of an article I'm writing for submission to a gaming magazine regarding websites and gamers. It's not going to be an in-depth scientific study but it will touch on what websites made by gamers are used for and what influence forums, blogs, and other internet media have on said hobby sites.

Later

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Yeah I don't think it is a good representation of the gamer population, and same goes with most other forums. I know both "casual" and "serious" gamers and neither go on any gaming forums. Going on the forums is just another form of entertainment/method of passing the time so other gamers would do other things they enjoy and wouldn't find forum-going that entertaining or have better things to do.

As for the poll given, I DM mostly and play occasionally.