Are tabletop RPGs becoming more popular again?

[The Hound]

I was just looking at the Wikipedia entry for Gencon here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen_Con

If you scroll about halfway down there is an interesting graph showing attendance at Gen Con from 1967 to 2013. Attendance rose steadily, almost exponentially, up until 1995. Then it dropped significantly and went up and down a little until 2006, then it began a rapid climb that has continued to 2013.

Does this mean that tabletop RPGs are becoming more popular again?

Or does it mean some other type of game featured at Gencon is rising in popularity, like card games or general tabletop games?

Or does it just mean that the people running Gen Con are getting better at advertising and promotion again?

 

[Morrus]

Or does it just mean that the people running Gen Con are getting better at advertising and promotion again?

A bit of both, maybe, but mainly this. Adkison's team has done wonderful things with Gen Con over the last decade, and his has been reflected in attendance figures.

 

[Umbran]

Does this mean that tabletop RPGs are becoming more popular again?

Or does it mean some other type of game featured at Gencon is rising in popularity, like card games or general tabletop games?

Or does it just mean that the people running Gen Con are getting better at advertising and promotion again?

There are a number of other possible factors that you're leaving out. For example:

Does it just mean that the people running Gen Con are getting better at providing a good convention experience?

Does it mean that the attendants are recovering from economic downturn, so they now have the money to go?

Does it mean that conventions, in general, are seeing a resurgence, and GenCon is merely reaping the benefits?

 

[Morrus]

Does it mean that conventions, in general, are seeing a resurgence, and GenCon is merely reaping the benefits?

This rings anecdotally true to me, in that a keep hearing stories about record-breaking attendance at conventions of all kinds (Comic Con is a good example). But then nobody reports the stories of conventions where attendance was down 4% on last year, because that isn't interesting.

 

[TrippyHippy]

From personal experience, there are more casual or even non-gamers that are looking at tabletop games generally over the last year or so. They offer a social appeal that people are starting to reflect upon more.

 

[pogre]

I think the boom in convention attendance is attributable to a lot people interested in games, but having less time to play them. Stay with me on this for a moment.

A lot of the D&D generation got started in 80's. They are caught up in real life - married, kids, jobs, etc. They just don't have time to engage in weekly or bi-weekly games much anymore. The only time they make time to game is at a convention. I know a lot of my friends who play once or twice a year and only at conventions.

Anecdotal for certain, but that's all you are going to get out of this thread anyway, right?

 

[Dungeoneer]

I think the boom in convention attendance is attributable to a lot people interested in games, but having less time to play them. Stay with me on this for a moment.

A lot of the D&D generation got started in 80's. They are caught up in real life - married, kids, jobs, etc. They just don't have time to engage in weekly or bi-weekly games much anymore. The only time they make time to game is at a convention. I know a lot of my friends who play once or twice a year and only at conventions.

Anecdotal for certain, but that's all you are going to get out of this thread anyway, right?

Yes, but don't forget, those gamers in the 80's that quit playing because of marriage and kids are now twenty years older. The kids have moved out of the house, the job has settled down, and they have free time again! I imagine there are lots of lapsed players coming back to TRPGs.

 

[pogre]

Yes, but don't forget, those gamers in the 80's that quit playing because of marriage and kids are now twenty years older. The kids have moved out of the house, the job has settled down, and they have free time again! I imagine there are lots of lapsed players coming back to TRPGs.

I think that's probably true. I can see it increasing as this occurs to more and more of these folks. There was a min-boom in model railroading a few years ago when baby boomers found more free time on their hands for similar reasons.

 

[Roland55]

A bit of both, maybe, but mainly this. Adkison's team has done wonderful things with Gen Con over the last decade, and his has been reflected in attendance figures.

I'd have to agree. Although I've never been, I have noticed over the past few years that marketing/pr for that event has definitely improved. Now-a-days, nearly impossible to remain unaware of where/when/how for that event.

They're doing an excellent job.

 

[Roland55]

There are a number of other possible factors that you're leaving out. For example:

Does it just mean that the people running Gen Con are getting better at providing a good convention experience?

Does it mean that the attendants are recovering from economic downturn, so they now have the money to go?

Does it mean that conventions, in general, are seeing a resurgence, and GenCon is merely reaping the benefits?

Hmm.

Haven't noticed that last point in the conventions/symposia I attend. But then, I attend the stuffy, technical or scientific events -- which likely skews my observations far from the norm.