Hi Eleanor, I actually agree with you, which is why I was using Swamp and Shades of Doom specifically as examples. My point was that the demographics for various types of games are going to vary, and the sheer numbers of users on any given platform is not a good way to determine market size for a game.
I think perhaps I should have been a bit more explicit. I know plenty of older folks who are quite capable with technology as well. Both groups exist. Saying that all computer users of any age are equally capable would also be incorrect. Sorry for any offense. None was intended. :) For what it is worth…I actually enjoy all sorts of games, but shoot 'em ups are not typically my cup of tea either…so I wasn't using those titles because they were ones I liked. Neither appeal to me much, though they were well designed products. On Jun 6, 2013, at 4:33 PM, Eleanor Robinson <elea...@7128.com> wrote: > Draconis said: > > "It is far more complex than simply looking at numbers and trying to use the > size of the user base as a reference point. A huge percentage of visually > impaired Windows users are, for example, are elderly persons who have > recently lost their vision and primarily use their computers for only the > most basic of tasks. They are not going to be a segment of the market who are > likely to purchase Shades of Doom or play Swamp.*grin*" > > I just want to say that elderly people are big gamers - just not of the same > type of games that you want. If the game is a card game, word game, puzzle > game or non-violent story game, they are interested and will play if they > find out how to access them. The main problem is getting the information out > to them that there are accessible games they will enjoy. > > That is one of the challenges we at 7-128 Software have tried to address over > the past several years. Here is a group of people with time on their hands > and usually a little disposable income who don't know that they can play > games using audio rather than visual clues. > > The idea that older people are not computer literate needs to die a quick > death. Almost everyone who is reaching retirement age at this time have used > computers extensively in their employment for at least the last 15 years. > They are almost all using Email, many are on Facebook and Twitter. Some have > played games on game portals such as Pogo. They have recently had vision > problems and don't know how to access the computer as they used to because of > that, not because they aren't computer literate. > > OOPS - you pushed a button of mine - sorry. Didn't want to go off on a rant!! > > Eleanor Robinson > 7-128 Software > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
