Do RPGs attract an older demographic?

[Bloodstalker]

Originally Posted by dragon wench

I have also noticed, of late, that there are many younger members now at GB, as well as at SYM. I'm wondering if this is a reflection of the shifts that have occurred in the RPG genre in that it has, in many cases, become more action-oriented.
Not to say that all teens only like action games btw

I attribute it to the fact that with each passing year, the ages I consider to be younger grow while the ages I consider to be older shrink

[Gwalchmai]

Echoing Ned, I also started back in High School with Wizardry (I, II, III) and Bard's Tale...

[Robnark]

the average RPG player is probably older, yes, but the average is pretty skewed by fable...

to be honest, I don't think there's all that much difference. it's just that, as games go, some of the most involving and intelligent stories are in RPGs, although you may have to search a bit. so it would follow that the long-time gamer would probably have a fondness for some RPG or other, because there are some bloody good ones out there.

however older players in my experience, prefer puzzle games - tetris, bust a move, and so forth. probably less taxing for the poor dears.

[Paranitis]

Here's a pretty good comparison..

Me (22/m/Sacramento CA USA)
Baldur's Gate Series
Icewind Dale Series
Pool of Radiance: RoMD (2000?)
Fallout Series (and FOT)
Dungeon Siege
Empire Earth
Age of Empires Series
Age of Mythology
Diablo Series
Deus Ex Series
Max Payne Series
Black & White
Morrowind

Friend (22/m/Sacramento CA USA)
Doom Series
Quake Series
Diablo Series
Unreal Series
Sacred
Star Wars (XWing/TIEFighter)
Descent Series
Age of Empires Series
Far Cry

Anyway..hope you understand. We are in the same exact demographic and he likes games that you basically just run around and kill stuff..whereas I like to take my time to run around and kill stuff.
Oh, and he NEVER looks at a manual and he NEVER goes through tutorials. And then when he can't figure out the controls he starts bashing his keyboard and screaming that "the stupid game doesn't work!".

I also tend to play the games I play because I have little to no hand-eye coordination or reflexes to speak of

I said this once either on here or on the wizards.com boards and I will say it again.

"In the great war that is life, there are Meat Shields and there are Strategists.
I am a Strategist." -All me baby! :P

[C Elegans]

Originally Posted by moltovir

RPG's and TBS games need one thing that not many teenagers possess these days: patience.

Question is, is patience in computer games age-related? Lacking statistics, I can just use my personal reference frame, but I am 34 years old and most of my friends are between 20-50. I also have some friends with teenage kids. Among my younger friends, role playing games and strategy games are most popular. One of my friends has two daughters of 14 and 16, and she is amazed how they can spend hours on micromanaging in strategy games. Among my older friends (my own age and upwards) few have the time and patience for RPG:s. I played the BG-series while I was on sick-leave for ulcer and my lab was closed for technical equipment change - since then I have only played games like Warcraft III and my personal favorite Diablo II. I described D2 to my room mate who is 46 years, and she said: "That sounds like the perfect game for me!"

Both my husband and I tried Morrowind and Neverwinter nights, but I didn't even make it out of the first village and he just barely made it and gave up when all he found outside the village was a dagger in a barrel. He is 36, and his favorite game is Quake and the likes. None of us had the patience for neither Fallout nor Neverwinter nights. I am just like Paranitis' friend, I never read manuals and wouldn't even think of going through a tutorial.

All my friends in my age have demanding full time jobs and focus a lot on their career. Many also have children. Time is scarce, and when you relax, the least you want is slow, patience-demanding RPG:s that requires you spend hours and hours reading manuals and dialogues!

Originally Posted by Asriel

I think that "older" games like bg and pst are mostly played by older people, simply because young people doesn't know they exist!

I think this is a very valid point.

[Tower_Master]

To answer the initial question, I would say that, while it may be true that "older gamers" (a relative term, naturally) are attracted to RPGs, the "younger" audience is not un-involved in such games. While teens of today may be, as a collective, drawn to the "flashier" of games, I, for one, believe that a trend still remains where games with solid storylines (aka real RPGs) are still successful, and the youth who play them are not in any way a minority.

[tom the terribl]

I'm 57 and I've been playing games on PC and before that in arcades and bars. Pacman was one of the first but I don't count Pong and I was disappointed in the early standalone pre-PCs. But when I got my first PC in early 80's I tried some games settled on the old Lands of Lore series. Lands of Lore is a RPG game with good graphics and some of the toughest fighting compared to todays games. If you don't believe me try Lands of Lore Guardians of Destiny. In this game the main and only character morphs between three characters, man, rat, and giant beast. Each have capabilities and weaknesses. You can't control the morphing untill later in this game because you have to overcome an evil curse.

Today I only play Dungeon Siege and Arcanum. I have on CD NOX, Harry Potter and the SS, Jewel, Riven, and others I haven't played in a long time.

NOX is a lot of fun to play because each type of worrior (fighter, archer, mage) has a different start, the middle is almost the same with some change but the end is unique for each type of worrior. The fighters and mages are enimies.

[Xandax]

Originally Posted by Moonbiter

Of course, Xan, but that's not the point, is it? This thread isn't about that. How do you feel about the issue at hand?

In my first post in this thread I stated that

[BhaalsMistake]

In general I think older gamers enjoy longer games more. If you look at my dad (48) he only ever plays civ style games, which have to be the slowest modern games. My 2 best friends, both 14, are the opposite. One is addicted to shoot-em-ups, when I tried to get him to play BG he immediately screwed the game by killing all of candlekeep. The other gave up on BG2 in Irenicus dungeon because he couldn't work out what to do with the weapons he found.
However, this isn't always true, as me (14), and my sister (12), both enjoy hte BG and IWD series and Morrowind, which seem to be considered 'older audience games'.
In short, the theory really doesn't seem to work too well.

[giles337]

es, but the average is pretty skewed by fable...

Oh Mia-OW!!!!

I do agree though.... the kids of today (okay most of them.... me being one and all) do prefer quick games in which action is immediate and effective.