Topic

Glitch's target audience

I've been playing Glitch for a few weeks now and I still haven't figured this out. Who is Glitch's target audience? At first glance, I thought it was for a younger* crowd what with the cartoonish visuals and sometimes straight up goofiness encountered in the game. But that in itself doesn't really define an audience (I mean, my Glitch's last name is Starfish...) and the Rock makes so many suggestive comments that I'm not so sure about that anymore. Global Chat is also often on some topic that I don't think kids would understand. At the same time, I feel like most of the people I've run into are really young, like not-in-high school-yet young (but to be fair, I've also encountered people who I'm sure are a lot older than me =p)

So I'm a bit curious, what do other people think and feel?

*I stick with my definition of young = before college/university age!

Posted 8 months ago by Spirit of Xanadhi Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • www.glitch.com/forum/offtop...
    Posted 8 months ago by Fly Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The game has an age limit at minimum of 14 years old. Part of the signing up terms. I think this is mainly to allow for TS to keep within the law, in most countries to allow people to play freely and cover their backs if a player is inappropriate. There have been discussions about this before, I was caught up in one when my neice signed up after I said I liked it on facebook. I did not encourage her directly, and she stopped playing because she was just under the age requirement. There are others that are playing under age, but most who are tend to keep it quiet or have parental consent, but are breaking the terms TS have requested.
    Posted 8 months ago by jiva Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @fly Interesting! Well that kind of debunks my theory then. I guess I'll have to rethink my definition for adults...
    thanks for the link :)
    Posted 8 months ago by Spirit of Xanadhi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I rarely run into kids on this game. That is one reason I like it so much. They're mostly old folks like me. :)
    Posted 8 months ago by Eye Wonder Subscriber! | Permalink
  • lol, well I have to say I'm kind of relieved. At some moments I really did think I was surrounded by 9- and 10-year olds (despite what's written in the ToS) Guess it was just in my head... :)
    Posted 8 months ago by Spirit of Xanadhi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A lot of us ACT pretty silly and juvenile, but I'd say most of us are pretty long since grownups :D
    Posted 8 months ago by Moehr Ossum Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, for the most part folk I've come across who I have good conversations with are around a similar age to me too (I'm 37).  Some in their 20's too though and of course some older.  The last run in I had of a 'eek' nature stressed me out until I looked at the guys profile page where he advertised that he was 12 years old and I was like..ahh okay.  The stress dropped right off after I realised it was a kid.  It explained a lot!

    Edit! This is my alt :D - I am Arabesque ;)
    Posted 8 months ago by Roxypop Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm 41 and love this game!  :D
    Posted 8 months ago by Uncle Bob Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am older than dirt!
    Posted 8 months ago by OL. Der Dan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Xanadi, maybe it's just that all the kids hang out near you because they love starfish?
    ;-)
    Posted 8 months ago by Vic Fontaine Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This thread of mine ran for quiet some time. There is also a link to the results. You will be surprised just what the average of a glitcher was at the time this survey was done :)

    http://www.glitch.com/forum/offtopic/2736/ 
    Posted 8 months ago by Misha Subscriber! | Permalink
  • “There’s not a better way to say [who we're targeting] than people with above average intelligence and sophisticated tastes, in their 20s or early 30s…The intersection of NPR listeners and game players." - stoot
    Posted 8 months ago by Lord Bacon-o Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Im 8395 days old
    Posted 8 months ago by EarthtoGrace Subscriber! | Permalink
  • LOL you'll change your definition of young once you get out of college/university.
    Posted 8 months ago by Stormy Weather Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Lord Bacon-O

    I think the closing of Faunasphere and the mass migration to Glitch may have slightly redefined their target audience.  That quote is from long before that happened.  

    That being said, it has always been and continues to be a game for adults with a slightly  risque sense of humor.  Staff have been very clear that anyone under the age of `14 are not allowed here and that if you are under 18 you must have your parents' permission.  They do a good job of policing this when such issues are brought to their attention. 
    Posted 8 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @WB, audience targeted and actual audience achieved are two different things.
    Posted 8 months ago by MaryLiLamb Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm guessing TS doesn't really have or hasn't yet decided on the target audience, which they'll want to do sooner or later.

    Also, TS needs to deal with the fact the 1000's of players have gone inactive - and it's possible they really aren't waiting for the game to go live again.

    Just saying....
    Posted 8 months ago by MeherMan Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm twenty and have met very few that are younger than me, I usually feel like the baby in global when the subject of age comes up!
    Posted 8 months ago by La Mariposa Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It's not intended for kids, and anyone under 14 isn't allowed. I think it's pretty clear from the level of humor who the target audience is! I'm right in their largest demographic, from what I've seen... (female, 31 years old)
    Posted 8 months ago by Laerwen Subscriber! | Permalink
  • MaryLiLamb, of course your actual audience is never simply your target audience. 

    However, that statement was made more than two years ago, more than a year before the game went into its first Beta and even longer before it went live.  It is a foolish company indeed that does not adapt its marketing strategy after several years of noticing who is actually buying their product.  

    Given that some Faunasphere players are now on Glitch staff, it would be difficult to separate the influences.  
    Posted 8 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It would be cool to find out what TS currently thinks their target audience is, obviously for age, it's above 14 and less than 200yo...

    Also it's interesting to see what the forum demographics are from the previously posted links...these are wonderful collections of information, but remember not all players frequent the forums to take those tests - it's probably pretty close to right with the sampling.  It is nice to see the forums are typically a relatively mature bunch, when we all feel like being civil to each other.

    From a website called alexa.com, that seems to track site visits and demographics from the IPs, they say that the majority of the players are male, 25-34yo, no kids, playing from school or work. So, that would indicate that TS is spot on with that original target audience statement. However, since Alexa is using IP data (easily spoofed), that site may not be completely accurate either.

    Even still, would be good to see if that is still the target audience, or if any of that has changed given mass migrations from other games, longer term development projects, etc. 

    And as someone else said, if a player is blatantly flaunting they are under the 14yo age limit, if you do report them to TS, they are very good about investigating and taking care of the situation. A few months ago, I was rather freaked out by a group that was formed by a very young girl (I want to say 8 or so - she said her age in her profile, and the description of the group was for girls 7-12yo), and it was reported, and her account was removed quickly (I think the group was removed as well).  To me, that was just too big of a temptation for attracting any number of adult pervs that might be playing...this is, in general, a good game with nice people, but there can always be a few bad apples lurking about...so it's worth calling it to TS's attention when you have relatively definitive information, not only for the kid's protection, but for TS's.  And if the player was lying about their age, then they should have chosen something above the 14yo limit.  Of course, leave all that in TS's hands to figure out, but err on the side of caution to at least bring it to their attention since they can't be everywhere, all the time.
    Posted 8 months ago by b3achy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't think you could fit half of the glitchens into one age range.  Perhaps we could check our relationship in personality type or IQ?

    I'll go first, Myer-Briggs personality type is INTP and Wechsler adult intelligence scale score is 134.
    Posted 8 months ago by Dartha Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Haha, I took that test a while ago, cannot remember what I got (something about being friendly and getting along with people?)

    I really like the discussion in this thread, and am glad I asked because I'm looking forward to the game even more now (I'm the sort who generally gets along with people wiser and more experienced than me =p) I do think that Glitch is aimed at a more 'involved' audience, as opposed to people who loiter in say, LoL. I spent a year there... they would benefit from removing the /all chat feature completely...

    Also hurrah for friends coming to play Glitch, and not thinking I should describe it to them as a kid's game!
    Posted 8 months ago by Spirit of Xanadhi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The target audience is anyone breathing and with acess to a computer that runs flash.
    Posted 8 months ago by Tibbi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I second Tibbi's thought.
    Posted 8 months ago by AwesomeCardinal2000 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've run into a number of kids in the 10-14 range, but they really shouldn't be here.  Well, I guess I don't hugely care if they're here, but I don't want them inviting me over to their houses - it's weird, and they're too young to talk to about anything!
    Posted 8 months ago by oscarette Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @ Tibbi--yes, and especially so if you add disposable income into that mix.
    Posted 8 months ago by M<3tra, obviously Subscriber! | Permalink
  • With all the sexual innuendo on this game I would think the target audience is 20 or over.
    Posted 8 months ago by Polly Nomial Subscriber! | Permalink
  • They are targeting people whose ages are prime numbers.
    Posted 8 months ago by Khetnen Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Soccer moms and mid thirties deadbeats mooching of the neighbors Wi-Fi and for the record - I don't own a minivan.
    Posted 8 months ago by Miss Punny Many Subscriber! | Permalink
  • b3achy, I do not/can not believe the majority of glitch players are men. Infact, I would bet the majority is women. (Just my opinion from the people I have encountered in game)
    Posted 8 months ago by Innie✿, Obviously Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd say the target audience was people with a quirky sense of humor. :)
    Posted 8 months ago by Mal'akh Subscriber! | Permalink
  • +1 Mal. :)
    Posted 8 months ago by Tibbi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd sat the target audience is awesome people. 
    Posted 8 months ago by Piratice Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As the person with overall responsibility for the business, I can say unequivocally that the target audience is "people who like Glitch".
    Posted 8 months ago by stoot barfield Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ah, that first quote had me worried. :)
    Posted 8 months ago by Rook Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Man, times like this a Like button would come in handy! I'm liking this place more and more!
    Posted 8 months ago by Spirit of Xanadhi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Gotta luv that qualification Stoot. Age definitely isn't a barrier to liking Glitch. XD
    Posted 8 months ago by Leithwyn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Glitch targets THE BEST PEOPLE ON EARTH!!!!!
    Posted 8 months ago by Misty Power Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I honestly think 'age limits' on games are really kind of up to the parent. I really think the Fox Media watching crowd has blown up this kind of thing and that ANY adult who jut lets a kid play on a computer without checking is the problem, not the game content. Outright obscene behavior and foul language is already against the TOS, so really its not like anything all that 'unsafe' is being portrayed here. Much like TV, movies, video games, cartoons etc, if parents weren't always using one form of electronic babysitter or another, the kid will not be exposed to anything explicit. And how amusing that people should freak out over this and still will think NOTHING of letting their kids use any Disney media or play with guns, weapons and so forth. *geez*
    Posted 7 months ago by Laureth Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Laureth, I agree parents should have ultimate control over what they think their children can be exposed to (and hopefully will be controlling it by supervising what they do on the internet, especially). Tiny Speck has a specific age limit to protect themselves legally, so they aren't liable if anything bad happens.
    Posted 7 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ALL AGES show :)

    True fun needs no age label :)

    United in kindness we stand ,we break down the walls of separation.
    "Morality" comes from the heart not from some creeps that use it to divide and conquer. 

     
    Posted 7 months ago by Great Brain Robbery Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks for clearing that up stoot... @__@
    Posted 7 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've been playing for several months and I never run into anyone who seems as young as I am.  I made some comments a while back about Michael Jackson being an old guy and I practically got lynched. That's OK. I have an old soul. lol
    Posted 7 months ago by Smashin Grab Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Children younger than the official age limit have been vocal about their ages in their profiles and/or in the forums in the past, and have always had their accounts deleted. There most certainly probably are some that aren't so vocal about it that are around, but there's no way to tell if they don't advertise their age. There was some forum thread awhile ago that polled the ages of Glitches... I remember the results being extremely varied--we Glitchen are made up of all sorts!
    Posted 7 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm 15 years old, and my 16th is in 3 weeks yet I seem to fit in perfectly...
    Posted 7 months ago by Maxy Cat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Maxy Cat, you're over the age limit, and you do fit in perfectly :)
    Posted 7 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't understand the mentality that "whimsy" = "for children". Kung Fu Cooking Girls has a whimsical art style and premise but that jiggle physics isn't for the audience of Barbie Horse Adventures. On the other side, Batman: The Animated Series was enjoyed by children despite it being made for adult consumption.

    There is such a thing as entertainment that strives to attract people of all ages. The problem with too many marketers and designers these days is that they compartmentalise everybody and don't bother learning what makes a shared human experience that can be enjoyed by all--and their products are lesser because of that mentality.
    Posted 7 months ago by Liridona Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm over 40 and really enjoy glitch, especially the odd and off color comments abounding in the game. I feel weird when I"m asked to change my game play to account for someones 7 year old, though, when it's pretty obvious to me that the game is aimed at a somewhat older bunch. And yes, I saw a comment today asking us to please be extra nice to someone's 7 year old. Why bring your kid into the game if you have to ask for special treatment?
    Posted 7 months ago by glassy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • When I was in my teens on the internet, it seemed most people around were older than me and I loved it. Generally, I like a bit of diversity in my world, both online and off. The majority of my online friends come from a specific game that not many of us play anymore, after all going through a sort of 'graduation' out of it as the community changed. I've specifically encouraged a number of them to come and try out Glitch, because the community here reminds me of what we used to have (a decade ago!).

    One of the first things that impressed me with Glitch was dipping my toes into global chat and seeing someone spamming the sale of some item, only to be politely and gently nudged in the direction of a trading group. How civilised! How polite! No 'STFU, noob!' here, thank the Giants!
    Posted 7 months ago by Payday Subscriber! | Permalink