TOKYO--The paradox of massively-multiplayer online games is that you really never know the true identity of the people you're interacting with. However, a recent market research independent research in Japan study has unmasked the demographics of the country's MMORPG community. According to research conducted by the firm Internet.com Info-plant, the majority of MMORPG gamers in Japan are above 30: 39 percent are in their 30s, 17 percent are in their 40s, and two percent or 50 or older. By contrast, 34 percent of MMORPG players are twentysomethings and eight percent for teens.

　　The Info-plant research says 96 percent of the Japanese users play MMORPGs at home, while Internet cafes and other miscellaneous locations account for 2 percent each.

　　The three most popular subscription-based MMORPGs in Japan are: Final Fantasy XI (45 percent of respondents), Nobunaga's Ambition Online (19 percent), and Ragnarok Online (11 percent), although a majority of gamers (59 percent) choose to play only those titles which charge no fee. Of the group that pays for its online gaming thrills, 16 percent pay under 1,000 yen a month ($9.45), while 19 percent pay between 1,000 and 1,999 yen ($9.46-$18.91), 4 percent pay between 2,000 and 2,999 yen ($18.92-$28.37), and 2 percent pay up to 4,000 yen ($37.84).

　　The number of satisfied versus dissatisfied customers who pay for their gaming was almost even with 28 percent totally happy with their game's provider and 24 percent stating they were completely unsatisfied. The majority of respondents, 48 percent, expressed having some complaints about their game provider.

　　While the research shows some interesting figures, its accuracy is open to debate, as the total pool of respondents numbered only 300.