Insomniac: Ratchet Audience Is Older Than You Think

Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time

When Morgan Webb said adults "wouldn't be insulted" by Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time, maybe she was simply echoing the belief of the designers at Insomniac.

During an Edge Online interview with Insomniac writer TJ Fixman and community relations manager James Stevenson, we learn that their target audience for a game like A Crack in Time is actually the "20-somethings." When asked, "What's the actual audience for a Ratchet & Clank game?", Fixman replied:

"We have really two audiences. We have the male 18-34 audience, which is probably our primary market. It would probably be our secondary market were it not for the PS3 user base - it kind of depends on whom we talk to. We kind of view them and males under 18 as the interchangeable primary-secondary market. Then we have the third market: all PS3 owners. What's helped us a lot is that we have a lot of kids who were 13 in 2002 and are 21 or 22 now, and are still big fans of the series. So there's a lot of crossover and fortunately we have a hardcore audience on PS3 that knows Ratchet & Clank and discusses it."

Well, considering the average age of a gamer is around 34 years of age now and the majority of PS3 exclusives typically do cater to an older market, it's no surprise that the acclaimed R&C franchise isn't designed for teenagers and kids. Granted, it's a family-friendly series that certainly doesn't exclude the younger audiences, but it's also true that those who sort of grew up with Ratchet back in the early days of the PS2 are a little older now. And just 'cuz you're older doesn't mean you're going to abandon what's fun, right? ...wait, isn't that the Wii slogan, or something?

Related Game(s): Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time

11/5/2009 10:50:19 AM Ben Dutka

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Naztycuts
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:11:00 AM
Reply

Sorry this is way off topic but is the comments section in an indefinite beta? Again sorry for being off topic I just really wanted to know.

1 up, 0 down

frylock25
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:50:40 AM

its like HOME, probably forever in beta

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 3:11:02 PM

Still, it's the best comments system I've encountered.

Best group of commenters, too.

5 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Friday, November 06, 2009 @ 12:16:24 PM

When I wrote the preceeding post, I was trying to remember the one (constructive) criticism I have of the comment system, but couldn't. I finally did.

When you click on your name and it displays your recent activity, you can't actually see what those comments were or link to them. Not a big deal, but it would be a quicker and easier way to check if people had responded to something you posted.

1 up, 0 down

BTNwarrior
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:17:21 AM
Reply

well I never played the game on ps2, but so far the ps3 R&C games are some of my favorite games of all time.

6 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 2:00:40 PM

Same here.

0 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 2:12:53 PM

I remember watching my nephew play an R&C (probably Up Your Arsenal) a few years back, and I was thinking why would he be playing this game, and how could he play it for more than 5 minutes without getting a headache, with all those nuts and bolts flying and explosions everywhere. Little did I expect I, too, would be playing R&C in the future, and be totally nuts about it.

2 up, 0 down

Axe99
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 3:00:35 PM

I've played all the R&C games except Gladiator and Secret agent Clank - they rock :). I deffo recommend giving the PS2 games a run if you haven't, they're cheap as chips, and some of the best action-platformers of the last gen.

1 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 5:20:55 PM

I agree too, and I think it is partially because R&C oozes quality down to the last pizel. The flow of everything, the animations, visual effects, the soundeffects are so chunky and juicy it waters your mouth, the sheer joy of smashing the boxes and see nuts'n'bolts burst like firework... It's kind of like the Pixar of the gaming world. It's got the same undebatable quality throughout.

2 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 7:03:37 PM

Well said. Smashing a box o'bolts never gets boring.

1 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:21:53 AM
Reply

It is a platform shooter, some think it's a kiddy game because of Ratchet looking like a fairy tale character.
But I don't blame them, I also thought R&C is for kids until I actually played it.

1 up, 0 down

johnld
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 1:26:31 PM

i know what you mean, its no mario gameplaywise.

2 up, 1 down

Qwarktast1c
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:38:48 AM
Reply

i've been playing ratchet since it started and now i'm almost 19

so i guess this whole thing makes sense

side note:
the only things that i didn't like in ACiT

1- the pause menu design, i thought that ToD had a better setup

2- this is more of a technical issue, whenever u want to re-equip your current weapon after using the wrench by pressing either R1 or circle (if not pressing the tringle button), for a the dynamo and the chimp-o-matic it fires them automatically.

3- the screen will automatically lock-strafe when firing, which sucks cause i might have to fire behind myself, and rotating the camera takes longer than turning around

POTENTIAL SPOILER!! warning!!

4- how you have to go back before you beat the game(1st time) to fight vorselon. it would be better to fight him before nefarious so you can go straight into challenge mode

END SPOILER

these are my only complaints, and they're not very big ones mind you

i still thought this was a FREAKIN SWEET ratchet game

thumbs up to insomniac ;)

Last edited by Qwarktast1c on 11/5/2009 11:40:14 AM

2 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 2:25:48 PM

Spoiler alert:

After getting all Zoni, I was wandering forever to find Vorselon, because it tells you in the mission log to track down Vorselon on his own turf, especially since it says that even before the bulletin about fighting Nefarious. After a while, I just gave up, until I saw after the credits you get to go back and fight him. But then there was the confusion of starting Challenge mode, or going back and having to fight the bosses all over, again. The reward for beating him totally made up for the confusion, though.

0 up, 0 down

BTNwarrior
Friday, November 06, 2009 @ 2:36:50 AM

final vorselon is so damn hard to beat on hard difficulty.

but it is worth it, or so I think

1 up, 0 down

Aftab
Friday, November 06, 2009 @ 5:42:52 AM

Basically you have to throw everything you have at him, and you should be maxed out at this point. I would run in with Mr. Zurkon armed before the fight begins, throw in a groovitron, drop in 6 teslaspikes around him, introduce him to Fred with the void-ripper, throw in another groovitron, rinse and repeat, until I'm fresh out. Dodge his shots, and his eletric field with the jumping dodge whilst shooting the rocket launcher, and then the splicers or whatever you call them (I think that's the R2 term for them). Strafe closely around him and empty the Ryno5 in to him when he teleports and mellets me (which takes a lot of hp from him if your close up), then empty whatever I have left in him, (the bombs maxed out work well, too) and pray that my remaining hp outlasts his. The electro web weapon is also good for stopping his attacks when he's shooting everything at you and your down to your last points. There's really nothing you can do to avoid damage completely. You can only minimize by dodging, having your armor, and weapons maxed out, and stopping him as much as possible with the groovitron, electro-web, and cryomines. But yes, the reward that gets unlocked afterwards is really worth it.

0 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:43:50 AM
Reply

The fact that this is a family friendly game is music to the ears of many 30-something gamers who've played R&C games for years now. It means this game is safe to play in front of the wife and kid(s). Never underestimate the value of a game you can play with the family.

6 up, 0 down

frylock25
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:56:22 AM

i could not agree more with that. ratchet and clank have been a favorite of mine since the first game and now my daughter loves the game.

0 up, 0 down

johnld
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 1:30:08 PM

its the same for me with my games along with my dvd collection. Luckily my game collection can be played anytime anywhere. However, my movie collection isnt. As hilarious my collection it, it gets uncomfortable when i start watching a movie like american pie beta house and a family member walks in and sits to watch.....akward.

0 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 2:06:02 PM

Agreed. I would never play certain games like GTA4 without headphones.

1 up, 0 down

mastiffchild
Saturday, November 07, 2009 @ 6:18:59 PM

Yes, all of my brood love R&C-that's little(very) old me, the missus(just into her thirties) and our kids(daughter 14,boys 11 and 8)and we always have done.

I've gamed almost since I was a toddler(started with Spave Invader and Galaxian coin ops in mym and dad's pub)and that's continued with my kids and Ratchet's one of the greatest series there is to play as a family, passing the pad round and laughing when someone messes or cheering them on if they manage something that's hard(or hard for them!). The acting and scropts are very much like The Simpsons in that they work on an adult and infantile level at the same time and that's a rare trick to pull off and asomething Insomniac NEVER get enough credit for as, like Bart and Homer's bunch, they've kept up the quality for an awful long time now!

Our copy of aCiT has been lost in the post so we haven't started it yet but we're all looking forward to it and have been speed running TOD and Q4B as practise this week-my 8 year old lad is getting scarily good at it(the wifey and 11 year old have ALWAYS been amazing gamers!)and also started his online FIFA career last night beating three out of four blokes who looked pretty good to me-kids togay eh?!

Anyway, yeah, R&C has always been a broader chusch than non bel;ievers would tell you-mostly they haven't played it I find. It would be among my faves if I was sans family too, mind, as it's just such great quailty and so enjoyable and worry free. While it will never get the kudo that Mario enjoys I'd go as far as to say it's a better series to play as a family as som,etimes even the likes of SMG can feel a bit too sugaryif you aren't in the right mood.

Anyway there's been some great games to play with your kids this gen with R&C, Mario, LBP(like virtual Lego for my lot at times-amazing), a host of PSN titles, Singstar(as always the girls love it as do kids and drunken dads)and all manner of classics on PSN and XBLA and even VC introducing my kids to classic Nintendo games.

Thing is, though, very little has the direct appeal for al ages and in different ways that Ratchet manages. There's never been a duff main series game(and only SAC lags of the PSP titles)and it winds me up that it doesn't get similar praise to older platformers-same as J&D which is another great Sony series that does this kind of thing very well.

Really looking forward to aCiT arriving!

0 up, 0 down

EddPm6
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:47:47 AM
Reply

LOL i think its funny cause i was one of those kids back in '02! and now im 19 and ive played every single R&C. Infact the first was the very first game i ever bought myself. Man, being 12 and seeing $55.54 ring up, nothing like it!!

1 up, 0 down

godsman
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:50:52 AM
Reply

Cause mommy and daddy won't spend the money on the ultimate gaming system. It's the people that have their own jobs that really appreciate it.

0 up, 0 down

SvenMD
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:56:13 AM
Reply

I think this just mirrors the entire gaming industries evolution over time. Alot of us were 5-15 when the NES and SNES were in their prime. Then we grew up, and so did the people creating the games. And those kids sitting at home playing the NES and SNES are now the developers and the target audience. I mean the average gamer is 34 because we got hooked 20 years ago and we're still around buying games today.

Now I think there are obviously different systems for different demographics. The PS3 will never make a "Boom Blocks" because it's a waste of the PS3's potential. So the devs for the PS3 will continue to push the limits - which typically means more mature,more realism, and more gritty games that touch on all of your senses and immerse you in the game. And I'll be there to buy every one of them because that's kind of what I expect out of the future of gaming.

2 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 1:09:17 PM

Speaking for myself, and my old and dearly departed Atari 2600, I've been hooked for 30 years now.

No one should do the math on that, it's not good.

1 up, 0 down

frylock25
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 1:23:24 PM

isnt that the crappy part of remembering the good old days... it makes us remember just how old we actually are :( lol

0 up, 0 down

Renck
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 12:15:56 PM
Reply

Off-topic!!!

Netflix just send me an e-mail to let me know my instant streaming disc has been shipped. So, check your e-mails (if you asked for one).

0 up, 0 down

frylock25
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 1:26:55 PM

well you must let us know how it works for you, i am a little bored with gamefly since i have most of the games i want to play. was kind of wanting to try out the netflix thing again.

0 up, 0 down

frylock25
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 12:16:19 PM
Reply

i own the first 2 on ps2, size matters for psp, and qfb and acit on ps3. i have missed a couple here and there buying them but i have played and beat every one of them. i was probably like 19 or so when the first one came out but they were always entertaining.

it always felt like it was ratchet and clank vs jak and daxter. then jak 2 got super hard and i could never finish it. i think i actually gave up due to other games i wanted to play. i really wanted to play jak 3 but not finishing 2 i never got to it. ratchet and clank i could not put down though.

i think i will go look for ratchet and clank 3 to finish up my collection. deadlock didnt have a story so not sure if i would pick that up but just maybe. def gonna get ToD.

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Fane1024
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 3:19:11 PM

Deadlocked is fun; excellent shooting mechanic and good local multiplayer (doubt there's any online players still). I love the vehicle bits, myself.

The story isn't terrific, but there's bits of the trademark humor.

It's definitely worth whatever it would cost you to buy it, if you have the time to play it.

Get Up Your Arsenal and Tools for sure, though.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 11/5/2009 3:20:06 PM

0 up, 0 down

frylock25
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 4:27:35 PM

i plan on it, i have already played and beat them both along with deadlocked. might not be right away but at some point i will be.

0 up, 0 down

Zorigo
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 12:19:11 PM
Reply

well put it this way, my mates argue over R&C and Jax and Daxter, so no, no one is to ooold to play.

0 up, 0 down

Cpt_Geez
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 12:28:37 PM
Reply

Sorta off the topic but goodlooking out leather face, I ordered R&C crack in time from amazon for $44.95 with that discount code you gave us. I even got free shipping for anyone else who wants to take advantage of this great deal the promotion code is ratchet3.

I'm in my late twenties and I'm enjoy the R&C series, I just started playing the series on the ps3 with R&C T.O.D.

Last edited by Cpt_Geez on 11/5/2009 12:30:35 PM

1 up, 0 down

brighat1971
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 12:52:38 PM
Reply

I'm even older than 34 and I enjoy the R&C series. Not every game I want to play is geared to adults. Sometimes, I need a more family-friendly type game on occasion. However, this a very good game for kids, though they would have to be around 8-13 years of age. It's a little tougher for somebody younger with all the weapons and radial controlling.

Last edited by brighat1971 on 11/5/2009 12:54:14 PM

0 up, 0 down

Darwin1967
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 2:02:09 PM
Reply

Am 42, and finished R&C in a couple of days. Loved it! Albeit it was a little more awkward than the last one (menu wise), but still an excellent play, and what was REALLY nice, is that my 7 year old could watch/play and I didn't have to worry about langugage or extreme gore!

2 up, 0 down

TI_2589
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 2:21:38 PM
Reply

F this game. I wanna see a Jak come for the Ps3 and not have to wait until after U3 supposivley comes out. And no I am no buying THE LOST FRONTIER, because that games sucks.

0 up, 12 down

isaya85
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 3:12:58 PM
Reply

I played R&C on ps2, haven't picked it up for ps3 yet

0 up, 2 down

www
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 3:23:10 PM
Reply

I wish I could get this game but I can't, too bad.

0 up, 0 down

bearbobby
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 3:24:04 PM
Reply

Played both demos for A Crack in Time, and I had more fun with the Clank demo. Thought it was the more imaginative of the two. Much more interested in the puzzles and time bending aspects of his combat versus Ratchet's straight-forward gameplay.

Haven't taken the leap into this series yet, but looks humorous. I may just pick these up if they hit the $20 range.

2 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 4:40:22 PM

I definitely recommend playing at least FTOD since it's pretty cheap now. But, ACIT is definitely worth the price of entry. And if you liked the Clank puzzles, which I did, there's no shortage of those. Exploring the moons for weapon upgrades (constructo mods), Zoni, golden bolts, and holoplans is also a ton o'fun, due to the inginious level design.

1 up, 0 down

bearbobby
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 5:58:11 PM

Yeah, I would have liked the demo to contain a bit of the space-faring elements that the full game has, looks interesting :)

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 4:25:07 PM
Reply

Erm, Forums are down.. poop

0 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 4:41:07 PM

Speaking of "poop", I gotta go to the bathroom.

0 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Friday, November 06, 2009 @ 4:00:31 PM

TMI AFTAB TMI.

3 up, 0 down

Aftab
Monday, November 09, 2009 @ 12:54:18 AM

Sorry, I just thought you should know.

0 up, 0 down

Jian2069
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 4:49:34 PM
Reply

That's because the audience that fell in love with the first R&C are now adults,
maybe they're not getting many new fans

1 up, 0 down

frylock25
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 5:33:48 PM
Reply

"and fortunately we have a hardcore audience on PS3 that knows Ratchet & Clank and discusses it."

hey thats us ;)

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 8:47:51 PM
Reply

This is why I love Imsoniac and Naughty Dog

They realize that platformers can sell if they actually make it for everyone, specially for hardcore gamers.

Jak 2 and Jak 3 are a testament to the mindset that everyone can play and do play those games. Same with Ratchet and Clank

2 up, 0 down

___________
Thursday, November 05, 2009 @ 11:52:31 PM
Reply

its also because some of the jokes in there kids would not understand.
i mean my parents hate watching the simpsons or family guy or american dad, but they love watching looney tunes.
i miss that show, i wish they would create some new epps.
picked up R&C ACIT yesterday, and every review i have read states the graphics look the same as TOD.
well i think they need a new TV,this looks much much smoother than TOD, the colors are more vibrant.
on the visual front the only thing they could improve on is the resolution, everything else looks smooth as silk.

Last edited by ___________ on 11/5/2009 11:55:57 PM

0 up, 0 down

Thinker
Friday, November 06, 2009 @ 1:20:29 AM
Reply

I'm 35 years old, and I love Ratchet and Clank :).

5 up, 0 down

MrGenocide
Sunday, November 08, 2009 @ 12:33:31 AM

Haha wow it's awesome to see the older guys playing videogames like that.

My dad turned 50 last August and he still loves his R&C. On top of that he doesn't even look 50 >.>...He looks 30

I'l def be one of those older gamers once i'm older myself... Hopefully that's a good sign. When people say they're "too old" for things, it just sounds depressing.

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Friday, November 13, 2009 @ 1:32:12 AM
Reply

Like Highlander,
I grew up in those Atari, Commodore, & Tandy computer days too.
And now at 57, I still enjoy play with all R&C, Jax & Daxter, and Sly Cooper type games.

Only "Trix" are for kids!!!!

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Friday, November 13, 2009 @ 2:05:36 AM
Reply

Oh, and let's not forget all the Crash Bandicoot games too!

Not to mention that their running series of commercials for Crash were some of the funniest ads ever made!

0 up, 0 down

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