How old are you?

[Qlippoth]

"I am disgusted with the way old people are depicted on television. We are not all vibrant, fun-loving sex maniacs. Some of us are bitter, resentful individuals who remember the good old days when entertainment was bland and inoffensive."

Yep, 33.

 

[diaglo]

you don't have one for how old you feel do you?

i'm older than dirt.

 

[Nail]

What I find interesting is the drop-off at 36, it is steep. I am sure there are a lot of reasons for it, mostly the generation that visits the boards just have not reach that age yet but it could also mean people stop playing after 35! Mmmmmmm.

Actually, the curve looks pretty good, wrt "youngins". I'm not sure there's any statistical difference between the 26-30 and the 31-35 groups, and the 20-25 group isn't far behind. That's not that bad.

Also, I've always thought of all o' you lot as the mature-est of the bunch. There are other gamers out there who are not on the boards (more's th' pity).

 

[DDK]

What I find interesting is the drop-off at 36, it is steep. I am sure there are a lot of reasons for it, mostly the generation that visits the boards just have not reach that age yet but it could also mean people stop playing after 35! Mmmmmmm.

Naw, I think what it represents is the introduction of the game into the market saw an initial interest (36 to 40). That interest peaked several years later (31 to 35) and has, over the last twenty years, steadily declined.

That means the market is, for all intents and purposes, stale. There are less and less newcomers to the game which will ultimately spell the end of the hobby. For the last thirty years, the industry around the hobby has basically existed off of a core group that has changed little over the years.

I was kinda excited to hear Dancey proclaiming that he'd expand the market. It's a shame that they failed.

Though, having said that, this is just a net poll and I'm just postulating on possibilities. Still... 'tis looking grim...

 

[diaglo]

Originally posted by Hand of Evil
What I find interesting is the drop-off at 36, it is steep. I am sure there are a lot of reasons for it, mostly the generation that visits the boards just have not reach that age yet but it could also mean people stop playing after 35! Mmmmmmm.

No one else sees the Logan's Run parallel. well add a few years but it still seems relevant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I'm 36, going to be 37 in couple months. I also was startled to see how steep the drop-off is in my age bracket.

 

[kaiscomet]

That means the market is, for all intents and purposes, stale. There are less and less newcomers to the game which will ultimately spell the end of the hobby. For the last thirty years, the industry around the hobby has basically existed off of a core group that has changed little over the years.

I disagree that the market is stale, and I think that it will keep getting stronger. For one, there are a lot more people who are familiar with RPGs, thanks largely to the success of the Baldur's Gate computer game and it's descendants (not to mention Heroes that is coming soon), and also the D&D movie. I fall into the 30-something age group of gamers and have been playing with the same group for almost 20 years. We have introduced girlfriends, wives, and now children into playing over time. My son first got interested by watching us play, then Magic the Gathering with his friends, now I am DM'ing sessions with just him and his friends. (He's in second grade, and no I didn't vote for him.)

 

[2WS-Steve]

I'm 36, going to be 37 in couple months. I also was startled to see how steep the drop-off is in my age bracket.

Do this poll again in 10 years and we'll see the drop-off at 46-47

I'm 37 and started with the blue box; I think that was the first time any RPG made it into mass-market stores (I think I got my box at a toy store). It makes sense that the drop-off is around this age. My guess is that the number of players should continue to grow in the future if for no other reason than that the hobby should continue to attract roughly the same number of young people that it does now and the older players will continue to game. I wouldn't be surprised if a spike occurs about 30-40 years from now when the RPG generation starts retiring and gets a lot more free time.

 

[DDK]

We have introduced girlfriends, wives, and now children into playing over time. My son first got interested by watching us play, then Magic the Gathering with his friends, now I am DM'ing sessions with just him and his friends. (He's in second grade, and no I didn't vote for him.)

Ah yes, but how many of them have gone on to play their own games or have bought products?

Baldur's Gate was responsible for introducing two of my players from my last game to D&D, however only one of them ever bought any books, and both of them don't RP anymore.

I bet you a $1.00 AUD that if you ask someone who you've just recently met (and so doesn't know you're a gamer) what they know of D&D or what they think of D&D, I'll bet you get the response, "Isn't that that computer game?" or, "What, the devil worshiping thing?" Seriously! I mean, this hobby is NOT mainstream, people simply DON'T know about it. At least, that's been my experience anyway.

 

[kaiscomet]

Ah yes, but how many of them have gone on to play their own games or have bought products?

Other than my son (when he buys things with his allowance its technically my money), his friends have pestered their parents enough that I know at least two of them have bought players Handbooks. But the majority of people I introduced to the game have rarely bought many accessories. I think that miniatures, dice, and an occasional magazine has been it for most of them.

Baldur's Gate was responsible for introducing two of my players from my last game to D&D, however only one of them ever bought any books, and both of them don't RP anymore.

I worked in a computer store when Baldur's Gate first came out. We couldn't keep it on the shelves. It seemed though, that many of the buyers were not people who were being introduced to the game, but ones who played D&D when they were kids and were now checking it out again.

I bet you a $1.00 AUD that if you ask someone who you've just recently met (and so doesn't know you're a gamer) what they know of D&D or what they think of D&D, I'll bet you get the response, "Isn't that that computer game?" or, "What, the devil worshiping thing?" Seriously! I mean, this hobby is NOT mainstream, people simply DON'T know about it. At least, that's been my experience anyway.

Five years ago I would have agreed easily, but I keep meeting people at work, church, where ever and more of them are familiar with RPG's in general than I ever would have thought. I agree that RPG's are not mainstream, and there is still a bit of a negative stigma attached to it (All those early years of bad press). However, I am positive about where the industry as a whole is going, because I have seen where it has been. I doubt it will ever move into 'mainstream', but I am convinced that things will continue to get better.