D&D with "alt film" stars: the WotC interview

[Celebrim]

Heh, color me utterly, and I mean utterly shocked by the reactions of people here.

Snort.

Would it really kill people to pull of the WOTC is teh bad glasses for five minutes and actually make an honest criticism?

???

I went back through the thread and I didn't read one 'WoTC is teh bad' post. The majority of posts are overwhelmingly positive, and none are overtly critical. I think mine might be only one of two that isn't expressedly cheering WoTC for doing this, and mine only expresses surprise and worry, not criticism particularly.

If it would make you feel better though, I'll make as many positive comments on this as I can think of.

 

[crash_beedo]

This is absolutely scandalous.

I'm shocked WOTC put up a blogger interviewer with a guy that does... all that unspeakable stuff. You know what I mean - the rolling of the dice, the smacking of the monsters, the exploring of the dark dungeons... "I hit it with my axe", nice euphemism. I guess that's what they call it these days.

And then to link to a non-4E adventure (Death Frost Doom) - it's like the WOTC designers and staff want us to think they actually appreciate *any* work not published by them. I don't buy it for a second. It's pretty clear once you become an employee over there, you stop caring about other designer's work and lose the ability to appreciate anything not published by WOTC. All this highlighting of non-4E blogs, DM's and products is pandering and shameless marketing.


Alright, alright, on a serious note - love the blog, glad to see it getting some high visibility. Pretty surprised to see it featured (it's a must read for DMing ideas and gaming theory). Rogues in the Sandbox involved some good analysis. "I hit it with my axe" should be pretty entertaining. And regardless what some folks seem to think, it's pretty clear (to me, at least) the designers appreciate well-done D&D regardless of edition.

 

[Hussar]

Yeah, I can't believe that they acknowledged this.

I guess they figure the whole occult scare has run its course, and now they want to see if alot of negative publicity is in fact good for jump starting sales.

Next up, Return to the Occult Scare: Porn Edition.

Any press is good press I suppose.

But honestly it falls more in line with some of the recent attempts by WotC to appeal to their audience with stuff with Penny Arcade, Robot Chicken, and now this. Grand marketing tradition of older people telling a younger target audience what's cool and hip and embracing things they feel appeal to them to market the product, in this case 4e.

You and Shemeska didn't write this?

 

[Celebrim]

You and Shemeska didn't write this?

If it would make you feel better, I could write a critical post so that you'd be able to tell the difference.

 

[DaveMage]

WotC is just getting everyone prepared for when they release the 4E Book of Erotic Fantasy.

Maybe they'll tell us how porn can be more fun....

 

[Shemeska]

WotC is just getting everyone prepared for when they release the 4E Book of Erotic Fantasy.

Maybe they'll tell us how porn can be more fun....

Please, somebody give DaveMage some XP for me. The board won't let me give him any more yet.

 

[The Greene Knight]

Heh, color me utterly, and I mean utterly shocked by the reactions of people here.

Snort.

Would it really kill people to pull of the WOTC is teh bad glasses for five minutes and actually make an honest criticism? Jeez.

For the first time in the game's history, we have the game designers actually publicly talking about gamers who aren't living in their parent's basement. But, hey, that's BAD. I recently started a thread about how D&D has always been marketed to the 15-25 crowd. And much more the 15 year old crowd.

At least now they're actually starting to admit that gamers are over the age of 25.

100% Agreed. It's a fascinating choice, in my opinion, for a spotlight, and a very good one at that. Not because of its supposed "shock value" or whatever else the prude would come up with, but because it acknowledges that yes, D&D players may come in all shapes and, well, sizes, so to speak.

 

[darjr]

Celebrim, I dunno, your post came off as kneejerk WotC hate to me.

 

[Alzrius]

I'm pleasantly surprised by that WotC interview. It's great to see them give props to Zak's blog like that; he deserves it.

I initially went to Zak's blog, after seeing it discussed here a while back, because D&D and porn stars may just be the only combination that eclipses getting chocolate in the peanut butter. I keep reading it now because he's a very talented writer who makes quite a few insightful, amusing, and interesting points about the game I enjoy.

 

[Piratecat]

Celebrim, I dunno, your post came off as kneejerk WotC hate to me.

Me too, to a lesser extent. But no big deal. Carry on, folks.