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Decline of RPG sales
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<blockquote data-quote="SBMC" data-source="post: 2728363" data-attributes="member: 30040"><p>In simple terms – </p><p></p><p>With the advent of Open Gaming – the gaming industry changed completely. D20 is still a relatively new market; and like all new markets those that get in it first gain the market share; then bizzilions of others join in (as long as they can get the capital to start up – which does not take much in this case), then those that cannot survive fall off (these hundreds of tiny companies) and what is left are the core competitors that have the products that people want. </p><p></p><p>Anyone with a business or economics major (or perhaps others) will recall how to create the more complex accounts of the above. </p><p></p><p>While I don’t follow this market it seems in this case WoTC is the biggest and best; mongoose (with Monte Cook) seems like it might be the #2 (a distant one, but there still).</p><p></p><p>Think about this – with all the choices and such – would not one go with the tried and proven? WoTC is the original; the proven - if you play D&D you need the WoTC PHB, DMG and MM (at least) and of course WoTC books go best with other WoTC books (with rare exceptions).</p><p> </p><p>Perhaps this is what is driving those record sales referred to above - I myself (and almost all of my fellow gamers I know personally) looked at various non WoTC books here and there and either are unimpressed with the quality or unsure about it; so why spend the money when right next to it I have a similar book with something I know will fit in with what I already have – and been proven to work. </p><p></p><p>There are a rare few specific books that are the exception to the rule; such as “Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe.” (I forget the publisher – out of print anyways) which is outstanding and pretty much buries its WoTC competitor (for that type of book). And sure WoTC produces some disappointments (I own a couple) but if you actually look at all the stuff out there; MANY of these companies (not all!) produce 90%-100% garbage. WoTC and mongoose are the two that CLEARLY have quality products on the market that people buy regularly.</p><p></p><p>As far as DnD spreading; actually it is I think (I can’t prove that of course - I am sure someplace the market growth is measured by someone) – people young and old are looking for a way to get out from behind their game cube and socialize. Original TSR gamers kids are getting older; requiring less attention; and they are wanting back into the game (look at the Bboards advertising games and players; lots and lots) – with money – and kids that may very well follow in their parents footsteps (my young kids are showing interest).</p><p></p><p>Of course the theft of copyrights (i.e. shareware) cuts into sales – but then again nothing beats that actual book in your hands; reading online and reading at the gaming table before the session are two very different experiences.</p><p></p><p>And for JohnNephew:</p><p></p><p>I see what your talking about however how long as D&D v3.0 been out? Then v3.5? You are looking at raw numbers and not the entire business scenario.</p><p></p><p>The decline in sales is actually expected – or should be. </p><p></p><p>With the v3.0/3.5 - Everyone had to buy the three core books (DM’s more); now they don’t, there was something new in the air: people get excited and buy impulsively, places like Amazon.com have the products at 30% off – so the decline in sales; since the previous numbers were skewed – however you are also not noting that once those “core products” were sold now you have guaranteed some repeat purchases over time as well as lowered the possibility of brand switching. Companies such as WoTC have the staying power to sustain those sales and still turn a profit.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SBMC, post: 2728363, member: 30040"] In simple terms – With the advent of Open Gaming – the gaming industry changed completely. D20 is still a relatively new market; and like all new markets those that get in it first gain the market share; then bizzilions of others join in (as long as they can get the capital to start up – which does not take much in this case), then those that cannot survive fall off (these hundreds of tiny companies) and what is left are the core competitors that have the products that people want. Anyone with a business or economics major (or perhaps others) will recall how to create the more complex accounts of the above. While I don’t follow this market it seems in this case WoTC is the biggest and best; mongoose (with Monte Cook) seems like it might be the #2 (a distant one, but there still). Think about this – with all the choices and such – would not one go with the tried and proven? WoTC is the original; the proven - if you play D&D you need the WoTC PHB, DMG and MM (at least) and of course WoTC books go best with other WoTC books (with rare exceptions). Perhaps this is what is driving those record sales referred to above - I myself (and almost all of my fellow gamers I know personally) looked at various non WoTC books here and there and either are unimpressed with the quality or unsure about it; so why spend the money when right next to it I have a similar book with something I know will fit in with what I already have – and been proven to work. There are a rare few specific books that are the exception to the rule; such as “Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe.” (I forget the publisher – out of print anyways) which is outstanding and pretty much buries its WoTC competitor (for that type of book). And sure WoTC produces some disappointments (I own a couple) but if you actually look at all the stuff out there; MANY of these companies (not all!) produce 90%-100% garbage. WoTC and mongoose are the two that CLEARLY have quality products on the market that people buy regularly. As far as DnD spreading; actually it is I think (I can’t prove that of course - I am sure someplace the market growth is measured by someone) – people young and old are looking for a way to get out from behind their game cube and socialize. Original TSR gamers kids are getting older; requiring less attention; and they are wanting back into the game (look at the Bboards advertising games and players; lots and lots) – with money – and kids that may very well follow in their parents footsteps (my young kids are showing interest). Of course the theft of copyrights (i.e. shareware) cuts into sales – but then again nothing beats that actual book in your hands; reading online and reading at the gaming table before the session are two very different experiences. And for JohnNephew: I see what your talking about however how long as D&D v3.0 been out? Then v3.5? You are looking at raw numbers and not the entire business scenario. The decline in sales is actually expected – or should be. With the v3.0/3.5 - Everyone had to buy the three core books (DM’s more); now they don’t, there was something new in the air: people get excited and buy impulsively, places like Amazon.com have the products at 30% off – so the decline in sales; since the previous numbers were skewed – however you are also not noting that once those “core products” were sold now you have guaranteed some repeat purchases over time as well as lowered the possibility of brand switching. Companies such as WoTC have the staying power to sustain those sales and still turn a profit. [/QUOTE]
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