Audience Analysis
I researched about the 3 different audiences I could reach, what I should do to adapt to them, general information, and how to get their attention.
Primary Audience:
My primary audience will be teenagers and young adults that enjoy playing RPGs (Role-Playing Games). In this stage of their lives, they are going through many changes whether that be mentally, socially, or physically. Some tend to use video games as an outlet to escape or distract themselves from stress. As my game will be following a story of a young witch trying to find out her ancestry and who she is made into a game with features strongly focused on exploration, story, and puzzles, this will be the main audience I am trying to reach.
Secondary Audience:
For my secondary audience, they will be video game players who seek out new, unique aspects of exploration and story. This audience is still broad, but I need to focus on making my environment and style different from other games to try and capture their attention. Players who look for new things also frequently either view or post their own reviews of video games, which will expand my recognition and audience even further.
Niche Audience:
Anyone with an interest in witchcraft and spirits will be my niche audience. This community is quite small, but is the backbone for what my video game is based off of, so it will attract people from this group. Making sure they can learn from the game but also have fun is important, it can also develop their interest in video games.
Primary Audience
Analysis
These are teenagers and young adults, particularly those who take a liking to RPGs. This group has an extremely large variety and amount of people; however as they are in such transitory stages of their life. They're more likely to explore their options, take opinions from the public, and be on the look out for content they can relate to and/or escape in, especially fantasy games as they don't think of reality. They are also staring to integrate into the real world and beginning to find themselves which is the theme of my game. I want the audience to be able to connect with the character and environment, inspiring them to explore their true selves too. Because it is a scary part of their lives, putting it into an interactive format and being able to play as much or as little as you want makes it more realistic to how you would explore yourself, and makes it more digestible.
Demographics
Language: English, Japanese, and Chinese.
East Asia has the highest number of video game players compared to other continents, being 1.5 Billion per year.
Gender: Any
Social Media: TikTok, Instagram, Youtube, X
This is very important for players to talk amongst each other, build communities and spread the word about new and upcoming games.
TikTok - Largest Age Group: 18-24 (36.2%)
Instagram - Largest Age Group: 18-24 (30.8%)
Youtube - Most Popular Amongst Gamers
General - 79% of online users engage with video games
Location: North America, Continental Europe, Asia
Any location where internet access is available, strong connection not required as it is single player. Targeting major cities as they have the most students.
Age: 13-34
These ages make up 58% of the gaming community, which is the majority.
Interest
As mentioned before, their main interest is RPGs. This genre has a very broad spectrum of games ranging from massively multiplayer online to casual single player, there is a lot to work with and isn't very restrictive. However, they will want to lookout for different themes, mechanics, storylines, etc. Since they are also in a state of constant change being young people, a large chunk of them use video games to escape the stressful world, RPGs specifically as they can be really immersive. I want my game to encourage them to find their true selves, and explore who they can be by following the characters story, looking for clues along the way.
Environment
Video games thrive with communities for their corresponding genre, content or games. Because of this, social media is a large aspect of interacting with fans, getting the latest information, as well as getting exposure. The industry is large and competitive so visuals must stand out.
Short form content applications like TikTok and Instagram are useful for this, especially since they are mainly used by my primary audience and have a higher chance of being seen. User Generated Content (or UGC for short) is also shared on these platforms more frequently when the community has started to build up, so developing a connection with the audience is extremely important.
The game will be fairly cheap, this could help boost sales comparing to more expensive games out there. It should also be cheap since my audience may not have a lot of disposable income but still want to enjoy the process of playing a video game, my name is also not known so overcharging will lead to negative opinions from the public.
Needs
This audience needs a game with a unique style, engaging environment, and a good storyline. There are not many games on the market that are strictly based off of witchcraft, much less those with real world practices drawn in. Following a storyline that fits their current situation dealing with a new stage in life and feeling confused can help players with their own struggles with identity.
Secondary Audience
Analysis
My work will most probably reach people interested in exploration, puzzle, and story. Since these are the major components of my game, I want to make sure they're as refined and fun as I can possibly make them. I'll make sure they are unique and appeal to my secondary audience. It is quite a large group of people, but this community is constantly searching for uniqueness in these aspects of video games, so it will be easier to attract them.
Demographics
Language: The same as my primary audience to reach the most
number of video game players.
Gender: Any
Percentage of gamers between genders:
Male: 55%
Female: 45%
Social Media: YouTube, Instagram, X, and Discord
These applications are mainly used by video game players to communicate with each other and spread their opinions.
Location: Same as primary audience
Age: Same as primary audience
Interest
Similar to my primary, this audience is interested in exploration and story. They are constantly looking for something new and different. The theme that I am doing (fantasy based) is quite frequently used used in the RPG genre, so I need to make sure that my deigns stand out and differ from the rest. I want this audience to take interest in my game even at first glance, or after watching a review. Because of the age group, many of these people have busy schedules, making distinct sections in the environment and story can make it more digestible for players.
Environment
They tend to look at separate details/aspects on their own rather than the game as a whole. Engaging with this audience by posting updates and development, as well as taking in player input would interest them into seeing what the game has to offer that is different from the others. This can be done on social media platform such as Discord for more personal interaction, or Instagram/X which both can be used to update on any particular point of the game you want to be recognised by the audience.
Needs
To appeal to this groups needs, I need to make my game unique and new to the genre. Exploring the environment that links back to the story and background will make it immersive for the player and more enjoyable as they constantly search for clues to do with the characters origin and identity.
Niche Audience
Analysis
As the core inspiration behind my game, people interested in witchcraft and spirits will be my niche audience. Although this audience is fairly small, I will need to make sure my inspiration is applied correctly as this will draw them towards my game. "Witchy" games are also getting quite popular between female gamers in this community, so they will be in demand.
Demographics
Language: English.
Witchcraft originated in Britain, then spread to North America and parts
of Europe.
Gender: Mainly women
Witches are represented as such, and also have higher interest
from women.
Social Media: TikTok
Largest modern witch community, generated over 31 billion views.
Location: North America, Continental Europe
Age: 22-45
These ages were the most that identified as Wiccan, or have a high
interest/participation in witchcraft.
Interest
This audience is quite small, but at the same time very dedicated. They are interested in magic, spells, spirits, and other magical aspects. I want to make sure to represent these as accurately as possible, knowing that aspects of the game are based off of real practices will make them more willing to play. This might interest them in the world of video games as a whole too.
Environment
Short-form content on TikTok would be the most engaging for this audience, specifically gameplay posted by people part of the community itself for more influence. Though this is not very reliable, it would gain the most attention if successful. Since it is based on real practices, I have to make sure it is well represented, suitable, and that the ideologies match with the real world.
Needs
Representing this group through real customs and beliefs from witchcraft can help them learn information as they play, also making their community larger as it is represented to such a broad group of people, intertwining two very different communities together.