Pramas on 4E and New Gamers

[xechnao]

Kids still play "let's pretend". Also, they play "Devil May Cry".

So? Let's just be realistic of what we are talking about. Do you honestly believe that a kid not knowing tabletop RPGs will choose to buy the core set instead of a mainstream console game or even say a pack of game cards or a box of minis? I believe not.

 

[xechnao]

The average age of the MMO gamer is 25 years old. I have no idea where this meme that 4E is targeted at 12-year-olds came from.

It was you who said kids in the first place. So when you say kids you refer to 25 years olds?

 

[Fenes]

We are talking about people that do not know what RPGs are about. Without underestimating I think it is really impossible for one such as this to be the selling target of the core set as it is.
I personally got introduced to the nerd space through much simpler board games such as GW Heroquest and Space Crusade and still friends had to teach me D&D some years later. How did they knew D&D? Taught from older people I guess.

Any kid that plays console games knows what a RPG is about. You simply cannot miss the RPGs for just about every system.

 

[Fenes]

So? Let's just be realistic of what we are talking about. Do you honestly believe that a kid not knowing tabletop RPGs will choose to buy the core set instead of a mainstream console game or even say a pack of game cards or a box of minis? I believe not.

Also, you underestimate console and computer games. More and more, it's all about playing together, in the same room (wii) or online. And communication goes with it, voice chat, or chat/forums. It only takes one member of a circle of such players to know about tabletop RPGs to introduce the rest to it.

 

[xechnao]

Any kid that plays console games knows what a RPG is about. You simply cannot miss the RPGs for just about every system.

Whatever. Again, repeating myself, I stress that the core set is still a failure for an introduction to newbies to the genre: tabletop rpgs and this is the point of this thread.

 

[Fenes]

It was you who said kids in the first place. So when you say kids you refer to 25 years olds?

I consider kids as under 18, but that's an effect of getting older. I would not consider 10 year olds as D&D's target audience though, 13+ is more like it.

 

[xechnao]

Also, you underestimate console and computer games. More and more, it's all about playing together, in the same room (wii) or online. And communication goes with it, voice chat, or chat/forums. It only takes one member of a circle of such players to know about tabletop RPGs to introduce the rest to it.

It has always been like that. Kids always showed their toys to other kids.

 

[Fenes]

Whatever. Again, repeating myself, I stress that the core set is still a failure for an introduction to newbies to the genre: tabletop rpgs and this is the point of this thread.

And I disagree. Although speaking from personal experience, I do not think that kids (13+, as in what D&D probably goes after) are really after "Kiddie versions" of a game. Those kids generally want the full, real deal The core books offer them that. And as was pointed out, relative to the average background in games those kids have, D&D delivers.

 

[Fenes]

It has always been like that. Kids always showed their toys to other kids.

Which means the dreaded "no clue about RPG newbie player without help" is actually unlikely to occur - and its even more unlikely that said kid won't simply browse the internet for more information.

I think my generation has to accept that it's not the 80's anymore. Kids these days have a lot more options to learn about games.

 

[hong]

It was you who said kids in the first place. So when you say kids you refer to 25 years olds?

Psst. You might want to check upthread.