Let me ask you this: why is the game supposed to be aimed at a mature audience?
It is indeed true that the traditional D&D audience is probably well into their 30s or 40s...
If PWE/Cryptic doesnt aim the bulk of their marketing to those that gave Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 its success, nor the pen and paper crowd, nor the DDO crowd, most of whom fall into the 25-50+ crowd, then they are stupid. If you are developing a D&D game, you need to promote heavily to a D&D crowd, or the game publisher misses out on potentially their most loyal portion of their playerbase. PnP, Nevewinter Nights, and DDO communities/playerbases are three of the most loyal communities in the gaming world. To just redline them by creating a website (and potentially a game) that's of interest to mainly preschool (even as a 12 year old I'd think this site was pathetic.) to at best, what, 12 year olds?? - then that needs to be discussed well before game launch (like now).
The ones that MMOs generally aim at are people between 12-25 years old. Why? Because those are the people whose schedules allow to frequently log on to the servers.
That's just not true. A D&D online game, if it is designed properly, will cater to 25-50+ year olds. Period. Sure there will be teenagers, those in the low/mid 20s, and thats great. But they will come because they wish to play a D&D online game, we shouldnt bring the entire show down to a Nickelodeon level for everyone.
F2P game companies seek 2 types of players: those that play a lot of hours each day, so that their game worlds are always filled with people and don't end up looking like wastelands. And those who will spend loads of cash for in-game services and items.
And you believe the 12-25 year old " will spend loads of cash" more than 25-50+ year olds???? Thats just not the case.
They do not want casual players that will only log on whenever their job and family allow so, and who will only maybe buy a couple fashion items just for the heck of it, if even that, because any more would be a waste considering how few and far between their playing sessions are - those players are little more than a waste of server bandwidth for the company.
Excuse me, but they absolutely DO want as many casual players as they can get their hands on. Just because I play 1-2 jhours a night instead of all day has no baring on what I'll spend money wise. I may not have the time to farm quests like you do, using your example, so I may prefer to partially BUY MY WAY to save time. You simple do not understand what you are talking about.
Also, if PWE misunderstood the WESTERN (Americans seem to forget this quite often, there are things called "countries outside the USA" that also belong in the western civilisation, and in which PWE does bussiness as well) market, then it would have shown years now. But on the contrary, it is among the most succesful f2p companies in the west so, no, it's doing things quite right.
You are correct. But when I said American I was specifically referring to the United States of America. I in no way meant to exclude Canada or South America. However I'd market to South America and possibly Canada slightly different, so I didn't include them in my example. I play in a guild that's multinational, so I happen to have a great deal of respect for and fun with those who play from other nations besides mine.
Finally, your point about this site looking like it's aimed at youngsters is completely irrelevant.
Thats your opinion.
What do you base it on? Aesthetics? Aesthetics are completely subjective, and even with that in mind, in 1 year in FW's site (which looks EXACTLY like this one, except more brown-ish collor patterns) never once did anyone complain about the site or forum designs...
Also, the arguement that the bear smilies are childish is just wrong... Yes, they are cutsy and do not match with the rest of the site, but childish? Since when cute=childish?
No. Its about functions, then image, and finally marketing savvy. You are a PWE fanboi so naturally you see nothing wrong.
BTW, the Chinese PW site and forums look like this for anyone wanting to compaire western and chinese site design... I'll just say that I'll take PWE's minimalistic design over Wanmei's flashy mess..
If PWE/Cryptic doesnt aim the bulk of their marketing to those that gave Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 its success, nor the pen and paper crowd, nor the DDO crowd, most of whom fall into the 25-50+ crowd, then they are stupid. If you are developing a D&D game, you need to promote heavily to a D&D crowd, or the game publisher misses out on potentially their most loyal portion of their playerbase. PnP, Nevewinter Nights, and DDO communities/playerbases are three of the most loyal communities in the gaming world. To just redline them by creating a website (and potentially a game) that's of interest to mainly preschool (even as a 12 year old I'd think this site was pathetic.) to at best, what, 12 year olds?? - then that needs to be discussed well before game launch (like now).
I can't help but notice you still haven't presented any proper reason why this site caters to 12 year olds, or why it's bad for that matter... You're just saying "I don't like it, therefore it's bad" which puts you to the same reasoning level as the average 8 year old...
That's just not true. A D&D online game, if it is designed properly, will cater to 25-50+ year olds. Period. Sure there will be teenagers, those in the low/mid 20s, and thats great. But they will come because they wish to play a D&D online game, we shouldnt bring the entire show down to a Nickelodeon level for everyone.
Catering to a particular group and aiming to a particular group are 2 different things. They can make a game that caters to hardcore D&D fans but if they aim at those instead of the masses then they will go broke. Because there simply aren't enough hardcore D&D players that can support an MMORPG by themselves. Most of them are too preocupied with other, more important things like families and jobs. And anyone saying otherwise is simply ignorant...
And you believe the 12-25 year old " will spend loads of cash" more than 25-50+ year olds???? Thats just not the case.
How many 25-50 year olds are gonna be playing the game?
How many 12-25 year olds are gonna be playing the game?
What is more, 10 players x 100$ or 1000 players x 10$?
Excuse me, but they absolutely DO want as many casual players as they can get their hands on. Just because I play 1-2 jhours a night instead of all day has no baring on what I'll spend money wise. I may not have the time to farm quests like you do, using your example, so I may prefer to partially BUY MY WAY to save time. You simple do not understand what you are talking about.
1-2 hours a day is not a casual player. 1-2 hours every 2-3 days is, and that is what most adults having jobs and families are gonna be able to play... And at that pace there simply is no reaon to pay for anything, because you are not playing enough to make it worth it.
Also, the ones paying big loads of cash are usually the most hardcore of players. Those spending almost 1000$ a month are playing hours upon hours each days, doing dungeon after dungeon and arena after arena. Though there probably won't be any of those people in NW if they do make the CS have cosmetics only, like they say they'll do...
You are correct. But when I said American I was specifically referring specifically to ther United States of America. I in no way meant to exclude Canada or South America. However I'd market to South America and possibly Canada slightly different, so I didnt include them in my example. I play in aa guild thats multinational, so I happen to have a great deal of respect for and fun with those who play from other nations besides mine.
The problem is that their market is not the USA market. They may be USA based, but their service is global. They cover all of America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Africa as well as a big part of Asia. Their primary target is the Western audience, meaning America +Europe, were they also have their servers, but they gotta cater to everybody.
No. Its about functions, then image, and finally marketing savvy. You are a PWE fanboi so naturally you see nothing wrong.
What functions? Which of these functions were necessary and were lost? Thread subscription? You may need that in a forum like Bethesda's but certainly not in a small forum like this... Report button? Why do we have the mods and the PM buttons for? What else could there be that this forum really needs?
And thanks for quickly dismissing people with different opinions than you as fanbois, very, very mature of you to believe in freedom of opinions... very mature indeed...
Image is completely subjective, so I won't even bother argueing about something like that.
And marketing savvy... what exactly do you expect them to do?
I can't help but notice you still haven't presented any proper reason why this site caters to 12 year olds
Then I really don't have the time to explain it any further to you. I'm not here to debate with you. You have your beliefs and I have mine. I simply gave my opinion, which I based on my 30 years of gaming experience.
Comments
There ya go smiley...
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I can't help but notice you still haven't presented any proper reason why this site caters to 12 year olds, or why it's bad for that matter... You're just saying "I don't like it, therefore it's bad" which puts you to the same reasoning level as the average 8 year old...
Catering to a particular group and aiming to a particular group are 2 different things. They can make a game that caters to hardcore D&D fans but if they aim at those instead of the masses then they will go broke. Because there simply aren't enough hardcore D&D players that can support an MMORPG by themselves. Most of them are too preocupied with other, more important things like families and jobs. And anyone saying otherwise is simply ignorant...
How many 25-50 year olds are gonna be playing the game?
How many 12-25 year olds are gonna be playing the game?
What is more, 10 players x 100$ or 1000 players x 10$?
1-2 hours a day is not a casual player. 1-2 hours every 2-3 days is, and that is what most adults having jobs and families are gonna be able to play... And at that pace there simply is no reaon to pay for anything, because you are not playing enough to make it worth it.
Also, the ones paying big loads of cash are usually the most hardcore of players. Those spending almost 1000$ a month are playing hours upon hours each days, doing dungeon after dungeon and arena after arena. Though there probably won't be any of those people in NW if they do make the CS have cosmetics only, like they say they'll do...
The problem is that their market is not the USA market. They may be USA based, but their service is global. They cover all of America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Africa as well as a big part of Asia. Their primary target is the Western audience, meaning America +Europe, were they also have their servers, but they gotta cater to everybody.
Well, I thought that the whole time we were actually discussing how your opinion is not necessarily correct either...
What functions? Which of these functions were necessary and were lost? Thread subscription? You may need that in a forum like Bethesda's but certainly not in a small forum like this... Report button? Why do we have the mods and the PM buttons for? What else could there be that this forum really needs?
And thanks for quickly dismissing people with different opinions than you as fanbois, very, very mature of you to believe in freedom of opinions... very mature indeed...
Image is completely subjective, so I won't even bother argueing about something like that.
And marketing savvy... what exactly do you expect them to do?
Then I really don't have the time to explain it any further to you. I'm not here to debate with you. You have your beliefs and I have mine. I simply gave my opinion, which I based on my 30 years of gaming experience.
Good luck, hope you enjoy Neverwinter.
TYRS PALADIUM - A Premier Neverwinter Online Guild
No Drama. Camaraderie. TEAM Focus. That's the TYRS way. If that's your style, come join us!
Research our Guild here: Read our official Recruitment thread | Sign up here: Tyrs Guild Website! | NEVERWINTER GUILD LEADERS: Join the Fellowship!