A recent discussion on the Wizards boards was about advertising for D&D; how it seemed to be aimed primarily at children, teenagers and geeks, and about how D&D couldn't be regarded as an "adult's" game. (I'm including teenagers in the term "children" for the most part - call it the ages 10-17).
That led me to the following thought: What games are adult games? Are games primarily considered as being for children and weirdos?
Now, about 10-20 years ago the answer may well have been "very few". These days, with the upsurge in popularity of the European-style boardgames, I think games are getting out of the "only for kids" drawer.
Certainly, Chess and gambling card games have been out of there for a long time. Board games? Not so much. Things seem to be shifting, though. Note how Avalon Hill is producing a lot more board games this year because the market is growing... why is it? Surely there must be adult participation. (These games aren't cheap).
I feel this is *also* true of D&D. And it's not just because of changes in the game.
What D&D needs most of all to shed the ageist lable is for the people who were playing it as kids to grow up and become adults that play D&D. That is happening... and as it does, it becomes less and less of a kid's game.
Consider this: the Rolling Stones. Weren't they just a band for teenagers? Why are they still performing? Because the people they first played to have grown up and still go to their concerts- along with new people.
I'm almost 33. I'm fairly typical of a D&D gamer introduced during the big surge in the early 80s. I think most of those introduced to it as a "kid's game" back then are in the age range 30-40. There are some that are older, as well.
Children come into games like D&D easier because they're adaptable. They don't have lifetime hobbies yet. D&D becomes their hobby, and a lifetime pursuit for some of them.
If you saw the articles on D&D's 30th anniversary, and the articles published this year, D&D is becoming more and more accepted. The tag of "only for children" disappears as the age range of players expands.
Wizards primarily tries to sell the game to young people because they haven't got the existing hobbies to interfere with the game. D&D does require you to set aside a certain amount of time for it; more if you're the DM. Existing hobbies interfere. But get them early...
So. What happens once we get to D&D's 40th anniversary? The game will have been around as long as the Rolling Stones has been now. And, unlike the Rolling Stones, it'll probably still be around. Not only that, but the elder generation of D&D players will be in the range of 40-70. (err... how old *is* diaglo?)
With the ongoing generations, we also get D&D as a family game - a game all the family can play. How interesting!
Cheers!
That led me to the following thought: What games are adult games? Are games primarily considered as being for children and weirdos?
Now, about 10-20 years ago the answer may well have been "very few". These days, with the upsurge in popularity of the European-style boardgames, I think games are getting out of the "only for kids" drawer.
Certainly, Chess and gambling card games have been out of there for a long time. Board games? Not so much. Things seem to be shifting, though. Note how Avalon Hill is producing a lot more board games this year because the market is growing... why is it? Surely there must be adult participation. (These games aren't cheap).
I feel this is *also* true of D&D. And it's not just because of changes in the game.
What D&D needs most of all to shed the ageist lable is for the people who were playing it as kids to grow up and become adults that play D&D. That is happening... and as it does, it becomes less and less of a kid's game.
Consider this: the Rolling Stones. Weren't they just a band for teenagers? Why are they still performing? Because the people they first played to have grown up and still go to their concerts- along with new people.
I'm almost 33. I'm fairly typical of a D&D gamer introduced during the big surge in the early 80s. I think most of those introduced to it as a "kid's game" back then are in the age range 30-40. There are some that are older, as well.
Children come into games like D&D easier because they're adaptable. They don't have lifetime hobbies yet. D&D becomes their hobby, and a lifetime pursuit for some of them.
If you saw the articles on D&D's 30th anniversary, and the articles published this year, D&D is becoming more and more accepted. The tag of "only for children" disappears as the age range of players expands.
Wizards primarily tries to sell the game to young people because they haven't got the existing hobbies to interfere with the game. D&D does require you to set aside a certain amount of time for it; more if you're the DM. Existing hobbies interfere. But get them early...
So. What happens once we get to D&D's 40th anniversary? The game will have been around as long as the Rolling Stones has been now. And, unlike the Rolling Stones, it'll probably still be around. Not only that, but the elder generation of D&D players will be in the range of 40-70. (err... how old *is* diaglo?)
With the ongoing generations, we also get D&D as a family game - a game all the family can play. How interesting!
Cheers!
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