Target audiences and YOU

[Marek]

Let's say your developping your game. Have you thought about this: who is your target audience?

The pimp and mafia style games seem to be pretty popular. I'm guessing it's because they appeal to the young (urban?) mostly-male internet demographic. The game is simple, and has a "cool" factor.

A site like Neopets probably attracts younger players, and probably a lot more female ones too.

On the other hand, sci-fi and fantasy genres like Legend of the Green Dragon will probably appeal to D&D (and MUD) fans, which are a different group altogether.

So, I want to ask you guys: if you want to maximize your exposure, do you think there are some target audiences that are better to attract than others? Are D&D fans, who may be more patient and stay with your game longer, a better group to target than the early-teens who play pimp and mafia games because they want to feel cool?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[codestryke]

Women!!!! If you want to make your game profitable make sure it appeals to women!!!

How do you do this, pfft beats the hell out of me.. But in my games women account for 95+% of the turn and point purchases! BordelloBattles is a game about running a bordello, did I ever think I would get women players? Hell no but they came and I actually have a very high amount of them which still amazes me. A lot of the women it was there husband or boyfriend that showed them the game, they ended up quiting and the women keep playing LOL. StateOfCrime, the top point buyers AND the first to make it to the top rank in that game were both women...

LoTGD also has a lot of women players

I don't think it is as much as what genera the game is because with the above you have a Bordello game (NOT A PIMP GAME), a mafia game and a AD&D game.. I think it's more how *YOU* the admin run and interact with the players.. Yes a majority of the "types" of players that you mentioned may sign up but how you run the game will decide how many of those will stay and keep playing

[cpvr]

Why women? You need to try to attract every audience. If your website is for kids, but parents like it too, then attract things that'll attract parents. There's no need to just cater to one audience, try to cater to them all.

[Sinzygy]

Well apparently women seem to concentrate on only a few games they really enjoy. Male players tend to start a game, become bored and switch to the next one. Kinda like zapping through the tv programm actually.

So if you wan't to get a bunch of cash coming in, you need not women in particular, but a dedicated player base that really enjoys your game.

And about trying to reach all audiences: it depends on what you're trying to do. Personally, I try to offer more depht that width in the player selection, meaning that I take one target audience and try to satisfy them and disregard the others. You can't make everyone happy and still offer a very deep game experience.
Think Volkswagen and Rolls Royce. One is trying to address all the possible customers on the car market, the other one specified in just one price-segment and is trying to be the best in this particular category.

[codestryke]

Why women? You need to try to attract every audience. If your website is for kids, but parents like it too, then attract things that'll attract parents. There's no need to just cater to one audience, try to cater to them all.

You can't cater to everyone because everyone has different tastes.

If you want to make money in the online game biz then women are more often then not willing to pony up the cash to play the game or buy in game items. I don't go out trying to make money as the primary objective but I do want the game to make money and be at least profitable to the point where they can pay for there own hosting and a lil beer money to myself at the end of the month