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I hear a lot about how the gamers are sidelined with rules that are somewhat less than perfectly worked through because the rules are an after thought for GW. The gamers are not, i keep hearing, the demographic that is the linch pin to GW profits. So who is? Where are they, and where do they shop? I know a lot of people who come into my local to shop and buy, none of them are these mystery "closet painters" I keep hearing about who buys the gobs of material necc. to make them the head dedomgraphic, paint the stuff and then display them in their homes or just box it up.

Who are they? Where are they? Why do I not appear to be reading or seeing or hearing from these mystery hobbyists?

They are the in-between people without a doubt.

Perhaps people that are new, but most likely people who are undecided. The amount of pressure GW applies from different angles onto their customers, puts these people at the forefront of the pack.

If I don't know that means I can be convinced, and I am fresh so I can become loyal. The fact remains that GW is so pushy sometimes I am surprised that they are still in business at all. The main reason I think they manage to do well is because they focus on gamers ONLY.

Now that they are getting seriously into video games we shall see.

Anyway...

Demographic theory:

15-24, single, creative to some degree, and generally out of ideas what to do.

(You could say that this represents most "gamers" but it actually ends up being pretty specific. Most gamers have something they do whether or not they are bored with it. GW and their tactics seem to pick on the gamers who DON'T have anything to do with their spare time, and they latch on like leeches. Perhaps you need to have a considerable amount of "hobby money" because GW seems to see your wallet as their personal stomping grounds. "TAKE THAT, consumers wallet balls!!!")

Kind of generalized but that is what I would call it.

Well...

I'd say that their three main ranges appeal to different demographics. 40k definitely attracts more kids, as sci-fi seems to be more prevalent in film and television these days. Now, I'm not saying it's designed for kids specifically, but it does attract them with things like Space Marines. After all, there are a lot of young boys who like the idea of eight-foot-tall superhuman killing machines. I think there's some connection between this and toy guns, but I'm probably being silly.

Fantasy, which is on a larger scale than 40k and has more complex rules (manuvering, marching, etc.), generally attracts older gamers (from what I've seen), and kids like myself who love the big names in Fantasy; Dungeons and Dragons, Harry Potter, Eragon, etc.

LotR/WotR... I'm not sure about this. You'd think it would attract kids who love the movies and have never read the books, but it doesn't seem that way from what I've seen. Most WotR gamers I know are also Fantasy players because the systems are quite similar in setting.

I'm not generalising or anything, this is what I've seen.

Originally (RT & 2nd ed) I think the age bracket for the average player was around 16-25.
As the fluff was more gritty and adult orientated, and they were pulling players from the other tabletop game systems (Ex. AD&D)
Recently GW seems to have pushed the focus to younger players, around 10-16 year olds.

Probably because they get more results from selling to younger players who buy models as collectables.
So instead of building a large support base for repeat players, they want to market to "one time" impulse buyers.

Make the game accessable and attractive to players who will only play for a short period, and trying to get as much out of them as possible before they lose interest.

So the selling model has changed from using the game to sell the models, to using the models to sell the game.

I've played 40k with people from 14 to 60. Can't really make any generalizations, since I don't see any one age group more prevalently than any other. Well, I don't see too many people over the age of 50 playing it, but I don't see many kids playing either. Then again, I used to be 14 and playing, so it could just be growing up.

Nerdy 14 year old boys and assburgers with skin problems. If you think it's anyone different you're fooling yourself.

grizgrin wrote:What demographic is the cornerstone of GW's sales?

If they'd sell hookers and blow, they'd have my business. Most of my friends' too.



Ghidorah

dumbuket wrote:Nerdy 14 year old boys and assburgers with skin problems. If you think it's anyone different you're fooling yourself.

Yup. Little Timmy has a mom with cash in her purse. This is who GW looks to get hooked


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Yup. Little Timmy has a mom with cash in her purse. This is who GW looks to get hooked

Ahem.

Does everyone on this forum seem like a nerdy 14-year-old or an assburger with skin problems?

Was that a rhetorical question, Cheese?

I'm sure that a large part of their target demographic these days are the 14-24 year olds who don't have much going on with their lives, have a relatively moderate amount of disposable income, poor impulse control, and are probably video game addicts to boot. So your average American male kid without proper motivation and direction.

You do get the occasional people with lives who really are just treating this as a side hobby they indulge in once in a while, but they've got to be 1 in 20, from my experience.

H.B.M.C. wrote:Was that a rhetorical question, Cheese?

I sure as hell hope not.

You can't even tell anymore these days. Poor social skills/lack of respect/add are at epidemic levels these days.

Ghidorah wrote:

grizgrin wrote:What demographic is the cornerstone of GW's sales?

If they'd sell hookers and blow, they'd have my business. Most of my friends' too.



Ghidorah

At the price points GW has on their other products? Neither you nor I make enough to enter into those hobbies under a GW logo, methinks.

grizgrin wrote:At the price points GW has on their other products? Neither you nor I make enough to enter into those hobbies under a GW logo, methinks.

You make a very valid point. However, G-Dubbs offer some of the BEST models on the market, right? Keeping in that tradition, it might be actually worth the money...



Ghidorah

If I thought they could actually deliver Scarlett Johanssen and a kilo of Peruvian Marching Powder for the cost of a Battalion Box... you damn right I would do it and the wife could watch.

No doubt GW cocaine would be advertised as something, but come cut with rat poison or something else. Then they'd tell their staff it was still a great product.


What?

GW does not need to sell crack. Their stuff already costs more.

Anyways, demograpics. At my FLGS, it is mostly Mid to late teens that turn up.