Audience
CONCEPT
Audiences are any person or group of people that experiences a fictional world but did not participate directly in its creation. Readers of Tolkien’s works, watchers of Lucas’ Star Wars, or players of Bethesda’s videogames are examples of audiences.
Considering a world’s intended audience is critical for any world that will be presented to the broader public. However, designers can benefit from considering potential audiences even if a world is not intended for public consumption. Designers that place themselves in the role of audience to their own world may be better able to spot internal inconsistencies.