Generational cycles in RPGs?

[Mouseferatu]

So, a thought...

If the age of the average gamer is in the early 30s, as most polls (and comments from WotC) seem to indicate, does that suggest that a good chunk of the gaming market currently has children who are just about reaching the age where they can be effectively introduced to RPGs?

And if so, does that suggest that, at some point within the next few years, we're going to see an upsurge in the sales of gaming materials? Or are gaming parents more likely to teach the young 'uns with stuff they already have?

 

[Saeviomagy]

Of course it's entirely possible that the young 'uns will be rebellious, and refuse to pick it up on the grounds that anything their parents do must be terminally uncool.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Of course it's entirely possible that the young 'uns will be rebellious, and refuse to pick it up on the grounds that anything their parents do must be terminally uncool.

It's possible--and I'm sure it'll happen in some cases--but it would surprise me if it's the norm. For all the talk of kids rebelling, I've found (IME, which is admittedly limited and anecdotal) that children of parents who like sci-fi/fantasy/similar genre material tend to like it themselves. It's just a matter of when and how they're exposed to it, I think.

 

[Desdichado]

That reminds me; I've been planning on putting together that Star Wars one-shot for my 6 and 8 year olds to see if they like it...

Good point, Mouse...

 

[Rokonin]

As a younger gamer (14), I was introduced to fantasy by my parents, and when I found the D&D Adventure Box on the internet, my parents (who used to play) urged me to play. That was 4 years ago, and I've been hooked since.

I've moved twice since then, and have been happy to help the gaming community by spreading the addic-- er, joy, to all my friends. I certainly think that there is a large player base of younger people (at least where I've lived), so I have good faith that the gaming industry will be raging strong for a long time.

 

[tetsujin28]

All the gaming parents I know have gaming children, ranging from 9-20.

 

[JDJarvis]

I'm in my mid thirties, my son who is in second grade plays a homebrew D20 lite with couple other dads their kids and myself. The first D&D session I ever played (which I DM'd) was with my mom and dad. My Uncle and Grandfather played for a while as well. My Father is a regular in my weekly D&D group and has been for sometime now. Maybe D&D is a generational thing, if folks try to make it so.

 

[Rahkan]

My 'rents introduced me to sci-fi back when I was making my first trips to the library. My mom was like, "Hey read this" (It was the first Foundation book by Asimov). And Sci-Fi led me down the inevitable road to D&D and fantasy. But they didn't like consciously go, "Read SCI-FI and FANTASY!". It's more of an unconscious thing you pick up from your parents. If your parents like to read, you probably will too. And you'll probably lean a bit towards what they read.

 

[diaglo]

All the gaming parents I know have gaming children.

but all the gaming parents i know are definitely in the minority of the gamers i know.

1 guy in my current group has kids.

3 guys (the guy from my current group in this count) and 1 gal (she was married to one of the guys) in the last 8 groups i was in have kids.

whereas the vast majority don't have kids. and many of them aren't married or in relationships.


i think the hope for a next generation of gamers should not be placed on gamers.

not to mention the avg age for having your first kid is rising.

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

All of my current gaming group(s) (7 guys, including me) are married and have a total of 14 children (two are mine). The eldest child (girl, 16) regards her Dad as ‘weird’ for his hobby. The eldest boy (also 16) is too busy chasing girls and skateboarding. The others, (7 boys and 5 girls aged from 4 to 14) I’d describe as, mildly curious about the games, but they do NOT want to play with their parents.

(BTW the average age of this group is 46, and I’m above average!)

GOM