DEVN 2014 - Demographics of the EVN Community

[PyTom]

I'd like to conduct a quick demographic survey of the EVN community, which I define as everyone who uses English to discuss the creation or play of visual novels. I'd like to do this so that I can comment on the similarities and differences between the EVN community and other related communities. For example, are there a higher percentage of girls and women in the EVN community compared to game development as a whole? I think there's is good reason to think that is the case, but I haven't actually seen any numbers yet. And while a survey is not a huge amount of information, I think it's a little bit better than nothing.

Here are the questions that I'm proposing. If people could give me suggestions on missing options or better ways of phrasing the questions and options, I'd appreciate it. If you think the questions would be offensive to someone, I'd like to know that now, before we go live.



My current thinking is that I'd like to publish this survey on Wednesday, and then have it live for about a week or so. I'm thinking of positing it to:

* LSF, as a global announcement.
* renpy.org, next to the download page.
* #renpy, in the channel topic.
* /r/vndev and /r/visualnovels on Reddit.

I'd like to get data from the EVN general thread on 4chan (which I suspect is very demographically different than LSF), but I'm not sure what their rules are for this sort of thing, so I think I'll let someone else post it there if people care organically.

[Samu-kun]

Some newer games have a few more developer roles.

-Voice talent
-Voice director
-Sound editor
-Story Editor

[Tempus]

Maybe it'd be worth splitting up director and producer. A director performs a quite different role from a producer, even if they sometimes overlap. Also, I've known people who didn't know what a producer was and referred to themselves as a manager. Perhaps that'd be more clear? Seems like editor is another role that'd be common enough to deserve its own option.

It could be interesting to further break down artist (into character artist and BG artist, maybe even graphic designer to), but that could be excessive as well as problematic for people performing all / multiple art duties. The reason I mention this at all is because it seems like there's so many female character artists, whereas BG artists seem more evenly divided. (Seem seem seem!) Though I guess at some point you have to say enough is enough when partitioning roles if you want a finite survey.

Another interesting question may be whether the person has participated in a commercial project. Oh, and maybe asking when they starting participating in VN development. I better stop typing before I come up with more suggestions.

ETA: SamaKun's post reminded me that I've also been on projects with dedicated sound effects artists and, of course, there's voice actors.

[Lishy]

Producer is someone who funds; a backer. Director is the one who must ensure the vision is told.

Yeah, I'd split them.

[SundownKid]

Or you could just have 3 choices, "Director", "Producer", "Producer/Director (self-funded)".

[Lishy]

Or you could just have 3 choices, "Director", "Producer", "Producer/Director (self-funded)".

They use boxes, so I assume one could check both.

[SundownKid]

Or you could just have 3 choices, "Director", "Producer", "Producer/Director (self-funded)".

They use boxes, so I assume one could check both.

But that wouldn't really show they were the Producer/Director of their own game, only that they are producing and directing "A" game (which could be 2 separate games).

[mugenjohncel]

Just felt it's missing something important...



"POOF" (Disappears)

[PyTom]

Taking the above into account, I now have the list of roles:

• Writer
• Artist
• Musician
• Programmer
• Voice, Music, or Sound Editor/Director
• Story Editor/Proofreader
• Director
• Voice Talent
• Translator
• Project Lead

Mugenjohncel's convincing argument aside, I'm not planning on resurrecting the OELVN term in this survey.

[MapleWizen]

For clarification--does the question "How many visual novels have you played this year?" apply to all VNs, or just EVNs?

[PyTom]

I'm thinking all VNs, and I will clarify that on the survey.

[Samu-kun]

What's the difference between musician and music editor/director?

[fioricca]

Why not use a range for age instead so the data is easier to release? Also, there are lots of doujin/fangame creators on Tumblr so maybe FYR could promote the survey there as well. I'll pimp it out on my own Tumblr and maybe highlight it to the otome gaming blogs too.

[sendo]

@Samu-kun - I think Music Editors/Directors have similar roles to Art Directors. They make sure the music that the musician/s produce fit the game. They are most likely musicians themselves.

[Reikun]

Might need a "None/I don't develop VNs" option for people who only play?

For the list of roles, you might want to change Project Lead to Producer, since the Project Lead is usually the Director. Producer is usually the person who funds development, which may or may not mean they actually participate in asset creation.