Pocket Plane Group

Miscellany, Inc. => Ensign First Class Blather => Topic started by: Drew on May 12, 2006, 09:17:01 PM

Title: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Drew on May 12, 2006, 09:17:01 PM
Demographical research has indicated that 65% of women ages 25-34 play PC games.  35% of men (duh) from the same age bracket play PC games.  Research also indicates that only 11% of Everquest players are women......so obviously most women aren't playing MMORPG's.  Is there a credible source of information available regarding how many women are playing PC RPG's? 

For anyone interested, here's a link to the study: http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=12424
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: jcompton on May 13, 2006, 12:27:16 AM
I don't think terribly reliable numbers are going to exist.

Some are exaggerated upwards. "If you've been known to play FreeCell when you're not super-busy, then you are an avid female gamer!" (see "65%.")

Then there's the "but if the women's market is so important, why BloodRayne and Dead or Alive Volleyball and and and?" reality.

Then there's the fact that the relatively small number of companies who have figured out how to consistently appeal to the avid female gamer market... doesn't want to tell you that they're doing it, so you don't come eat their lunch.

"Women playing RPGs", I firmly believe, falls into that last category. As I was doing the interview for the Escapist, I was recounting the interview I myself conducted with Bioware a couple of years ago, and repeating what they'd said about how they didn't think that the romance content in BG2 onwards was attracting a larger female audience. As I repeated this, it dawned on me that they may simply be withholding that information because, yes, it is working, and they don't want to let on lest others come in and do it, too.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Drew on May 13, 2006, 12:44:29 AM
The studies my wife has been looking at still gives men a strong lead in the "Avid Gamer" category.  It indicated, however, that men tend to gravitate more to console systems.  They didn't exactly use Free Cell as a criteria.  The results came from things like MSN and Reflexive arcade, so I don't know if that's really all that different than Free Cell......
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Veloxyll on May 13, 2006, 03:32:41 AM
They're pretty much freecell style games
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: NiGHTMARE on May 13, 2006, 03:39:18 AM
I'd say an extremely significant proportion of that 65% involves either the Sims or the Sims 2.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Drew on May 13, 2006, 04:00:18 AM
Tell me about it.  You left out the rollercoaster tycoon series, though.  That's what my wife is always playing. :)
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Alarielle on May 13, 2006, 06:41:49 AM
The Sims (2) and Rollercoaster Tycoon?  Two of the most boring games known to (wo)mankind.  I think you can do better than that.  :)

I know plenty of girls who are heavily into their consoles, particularly games that have (at least vaguely) a fantasy setting such as KotOR, the Zelda series etc etc.  However, I also know plenty others who wouldn't touch a computer/console if you paid them.  I don't think it's really possible to make sweeping statements about women's interest in gaming.  :)

Oh, and I hate freecell.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: jcompton on May 13, 2006, 08:50:42 AM
We've always known you were different than the other piratical disco blobs, Alarielle.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Tempest on May 13, 2006, 09:52:10 AM
Not sure about those demographics... my wife destroys me at Half-Life Counterstrike...
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: the bigg on May 13, 2006, 09:54:24 AM
A couple of years ago, scientific research showed that 75% of statistics are wrong.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: NiGHTMARE on May 13, 2006, 10:08:40 AM
99.99% of people who claim that a certain percentage of statistics are wrong never present any proof to back it up.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: the bigg on May 13, 2006, 10:33:09 AM
99.999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of people who don't catch geek jokes are, uh, not geeks  ;D
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Andyr on May 13, 2006, 11:18:50 AM
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary...
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Veloxyll on May 13, 2006, 11:54:11 AM
So a man walks into a bar...
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Drew on May 13, 2006, 12:58:23 PM
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary...
and Andyr.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Andyr on May 13, 2006, 01:32:21 PM
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary...
and Andyr.

 :D
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: LizDiggory on May 13, 2006, 11:40:35 PM
So a man walks into a bar...

and says ouch.  ;D
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Lord Doomhammer on May 16, 2006, 02:41:08 AM
Quote
and says ouch.

What an odd thing to say. I would have asked for a beer.

Oh yes, RPG's, well, all the women I know play RPG's

(I know three women)
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Shadow n 787 on May 16, 2006, 07:36:14 AM
women play video games?
( I don't know any who do)
But seriously, video games are mostly seen to be a "guy" thing. I have no idea why.
If you walked into a bar I would say nothing. ( Im short, it would have to be a short bar. ) :P
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Aurora on May 16, 2006, 10:30:08 AM
Here's (http://forums.team-gizka.org/viewtopic.php?t=1147) a poll over at Team Gizka (KOTOR2 boards, don't read the rest of the thread for SPOILZ). Most KOTOR gender-breakdown polls I've seen run from about 25%-35% female, which is higher than in most RPG polls, graciously excluding VtM which is way high.  I'm sure it subtly contributes to the AWESOME of KOTOR, despite all this being pretty unofficial.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: jcompton on May 16, 2006, 01:10:39 PM
Among users specifying a gender in their forum profile, the ratio of male to female PPG forum registrants is 1.8:1. It has, briefly, been as far down as 1.5:1.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Macready on May 16, 2006, 01:30:12 PM
Hello -

Among users specifying a gender in their forum profile, the ratio of male to female PPG forum registrants is 1.8:1. It has, briefly, been as far down as 1.5:1.

I've always felt that this is one of the characteristics which makes this place a true "pocket plane," especially among gaming oriented sites -- both genders are satisfactorily represented.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Bex on May 16, 2006, 01:54:31 PM
I suspect it's Kelsey's fault.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: jcompton on May 16, 2006, 02:19:35 PM
There's some chicken-and-egg at work there as well, though. There wouldn't have been a Kelsey if there weren't so many female players (and some male players, yes) up in arms over the dreaded Anomen Gap, so BG2 sold to a significantly (vocal) contingent of female players in the first place.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Bex on May 16, 2006, 03:05:35 PM
True, true. I was thinking specifically of the demographics of PPG, which I would say are disproportionately female (not that it's a bad thing), because Kelsey initially drew a response from what I'd guess was a substantial segment of BG2's female players. I'd also say this is less significant now.

If I had to take a guess at PBG's female membership, I'd put it at around 15%, and that would be a fairly consistent average over the years. Mind, that's only the regulars, but if anything, the one-time posters who are obviously female are even more in the minority.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Shadow n 787 on May 18, 2006, 07:35:22 AM
Most of PPG are female?
A new day, a new thing to learn.  :P
(not that thats a bad thing)
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Alarielle on May 18, 2006, 07:49:48 AM
No... most of PPG members are male.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Drew on May 18, 2006, 08:21:41 AM
No... most of PPG members are male.
But they are all such pathetic momma's boys that the difference between a PPG male and an actual female is largely an intellectual distinction.
Title: Re: A question about the demographics of RPG gamers
Post by: Shadow n 787 on May 18, 2006, 11:26:11 AM
Yup, im confused. ;D