Just thinking out loud here but many industry insiders seem to think (and build strategies on) targeting CRPGers for their TTRPG (or card game). I think this is wrong but am open to begin convinced otherwise.

My reasoning:
1. CRPGers are looking for direct visual representation, do not value face to face interaction, and prefer a faster pace/higher combat ratio than in TTRPGs. Now, do not get me wrong, you can simulate a CRPG in TTRPG but I think TTRPGs do not do this well. It is more complex than just this but it is a beginning for framing the argument.

2. The structure of the TTRPG market is different from CRPGs. The cycles are faster for CRPGs and spacing of products is tighter for TTRPG. What I mean is that a CRPG can be sold and in 12-18 months (maybe longer) a new version or even new game based on the old one, is released. However, if a game is successful (and I am talking large scale) you need to be releasing supplements and sourcebooks almost in synch with the core rules release.

3. There is cetainly overlap in the market but to the point, there is not a one to one relation. Some TTRPGers play CRPGs and vice versa, but my point is they do not play CRPGs for the same reasons as they play TTRPGs.

Conclusion:
We should not spend so much effort on targeting CRPG players as targeting people who are interested in TTRPGs. Slippery concept here. I am not saying that CRPGers should not be targeted by marketing efforts as much as broadening the effort to include all people who might be interested.

Assumptions:
I am not saying CRPGers do not TTRPG.

I am functioning off of what other publishers have discussed with me. So all of the above is anecdotal. Don't get in a huff or think I have some grand research I am referencing.

This is all in the spirit of "Hmm, I suppose but..."

I am not denying the CRPG market is target rich for TTRPG players, only that a CRPG player does not automatically have interest in TTRPG. In fact, I would put forward that CRPGers are disinclined to TTRPG.

So, thoughts? Boring as all hell? Totally off base? I need to check into the local mental hospital? (o.k, the last one is a given.)

Bill

Quote from: HinterWeltI am not denying the CRPG market is target rich for TTRPG players, only that a CRPG player does not automatically have interest in TTRPG. In fact, I would put forward that CRPGers are disinclined to TTRPG.

I think the first sentence is probably true but not the second.  I think many (but probably not most) CRPG players are either TTRPG players playing at different times or are former TTRPG players not currently in a group.

Based on people I know who do both, I think #1 is off.  CRPGs can actually have a lower rate of real action due to time moving around, doing stupid stuff to level up to do what you want to do, things like that.  Old school rpgs can skip over that and jump from fun point to fun point.

Quote from: NicephorusI think the first sentence is probably true but not the second.  I think many (but probably not most) CRPG players are either TTRPG players playing at different times or are former TTRPG players not currently in a group.

hmm, this is not my experiece and does nto seem to be supported by numbers. The TTRPG market players are fewer than the CRPG players for WOW alone. I am going from memory so correct me please.

Quote from: NicephorusBased on people I know who do both, I think #1 is off.  CRPGs can actually have a lower rate of real action due to time moving around, doing stupid stuff to level up to do what you want to do, things like that.  Old school rpgs can skip over that and jump from fun point to fun point.

Hard to say but still valid for the point I was trying to make. I will try to be clearer. CRPG have different elements that draw people to them. I was trying to say that a TTRPGer would play a CRPG for different reasons;i.e. more/less action, less prep, more visual components.

Bill

I know several CRPG players in the area that used to be TTRPG players.  I wonder how many of these types there are in the CRPG audience.  The ones I know play on the computer more for the ease of access to play.  There is no planning ahead (unless you are doing raids), no juggling people's schedules to game, no prep time and a lot less real life drama that can pop up.  

So I don't know if targetting them would pull them back into the table top arena or not.  It would take one hell of a game for some of the people I know to jump back to the dice as a regular habit.  Maybe a pickup game or somesuch, but back into the hobby full time isn't going to happen.

I think that was the demographic they were shooting for with Super Console.

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12691.phtml

Don't know how close they came, though.  

The ones I know play on the computer more for the ease of access to play. There is no planning ahead (unless you are doing raids), no juggling people's schedules to game, no prep time and a lot less real life drama that can pop up.

That would seem to support #1.  I agree with it, too (much as I don't like it--grumble).  For the same reason, I think CRPGs tend to attract more CCG players than TT gamers and vice versa.  Usually, if a TT gamer makes a complete switch (stops playing TTRPGs altogether) it's because of the reasons listed above.  Most TT gamers that I know play both.  

Pete