I have to agree on this, most gaming and/or comic book stores appear
to be dens of inequity. However there are two notable exceptions, Wizards of
the Coast Stores, and The Game Keeper (both owned by Hasbro). Now my
question is: Why doesn't Hasbro use it's not inconsiderable strength to get
DnD and Star Wars into K-Mart, Walmart, Target, etc? Once in sales should
keep us there and we could be seen by, and appeal to, a larger portion of
the market. Granted some of the "gaming" products out there probably
wouldn't appeal to many "straits" but a lot will.
Food for thought.
Bob
B-)
-----Original Message-----
From: Margaret C Vining [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 8:29 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Open_Gaming] Unorthodox D20 modules
On Wed, 21 Feb 2001 02:10:36 EST [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Here's the thing. You can do focus groups, panels, and testing aimed
> at
> making RPG products more likely to appeal to women. However, the
> non-gaming
> women you want to attract are extremely unlikely to go the one place
> your
> products are going to end up: the local hobby store.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Comic stores are usually
disgusting. I know there is no way I am going to be able to sell my
products in conventional gaming stores because I know my target audience
will never set foot into them. And even if they did I doubt they would
ever go back Dirty store fronts, cluttered counter tops, noisy groups
of rough-looking people gathered to paint miniatures, lack of customer
service, and lack of some type of store directory are all common reasons
why gaming doesn't reach out to a variable customer base. Stores like
Barnes and Noble sell gaming materials, but IMO you have to be looking
for them and know what you are looking for. I doubt that many newbies
are drawn to D&D through book stores.
In time, RPGs will spread to a wider variety of people as young gamers
grow up and as more gamers invite new gamers to play. But for now the
look and customer base of most gaming stores will make reaching new
customers difficult. Personally, I know that most gamers are harmless
and I feel comfortable in the gaming environment, but it wasn't always
like that for me. People who looked like the average gamer truly
frightened me. I was taught that people who wear suits and ties and
designer casual clothes could be trusted. I was also taught that people
who look dirty, smell dirty, talk dirty, and played games about evil
things _were_ evil and wanted nothing more than to hurt me. I got that
assumption from movies, books, my private school, my sorority, my
college, my family, TV....
My point is that many women grow up like I did. We are taught to
avoid men who look like most gamers and avoid places that look like most
comic stores because if we don't we are going to get raped and pregnant
and uneducated and jobless and it will be all our fault.
At some point everyone grows up and sees the world for that it is
(that everyone is evil, some just look nicer than others ; ) ), but
different people reach that stage at different ages. So, if you want
your products to reach the people who are not comfortable with the look
of most comic stores then you need to get your products to them through
another route. I don't know what that route is, but believe me I am
looking for it. Right now the Web and popular bookstores are the best
option.
Maggie
-------------
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