WotC Expect "seven or eight" Dungeons & Dragons games in the near future

[theapoapostolov]

Smells like Warhammer game development to me. Meaning, license to the brand to anyone who will take it, so that 90% of the games are complete garbage.

I really hope so. Warhammer licensing model has thrown the franchise in so many hands, we were given games that became truly highly acclaimed and selling. The Dawn of War series, Vermintide, Blood Bowl, Total War: Warhammer, etc. They even give the license for old-school niche games like Apocalypse.

You seem to only focus on the many mobile CCG cash grabs but there have been incredible choice of good games using their rules.

 

[Umbran]

That is far too cynical.

If you don't get your hopes up, you cannot be disappointed and you can smugly say, "I told you so!" if you turn out correct. If you turn out to be wrong, everyone wil be happily engaging with the games, and not remembering you were incorrect.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Urriak Uruk]

I really hope so. Warhammer licensing model has thrown the franchise in so many hands, we were given games that became truly highly acclaimed and selling. The Dawn of War series, Vermintide, Blood Bowl, Total War: Warhammer, etc. They even give the license for old-school niche games like Apocalypse.

You seem to only focus on the many mobile CCG cash grabs but there have been incredible choice of good games using their rules.

True. For every five failures for Warhammer, there's one that's actually pretty good.

 

[Zardnaar]

If you don't get your hopes up, you cannot be disappointed and you can smugly say, "I told you so!" if you turn out correct. If you turn out to be wrong, everyone wil be happily engaging with the games, and not remembering you were incorrect.

More the modern game industry. Dev cost plus exclusive license agreements.

Golden age for games in terms of variety was around 96-2006. Shifting to HD drives up game cost so you get less high profile releases. Not talking about Indy games

Most good D&D games date from the 90s and early 2000s.

Any company that can make a good D&D game has their own IP instead which leaves the special developers.

D&D not the only franchise/IP/genre with this problem. The big developers have bought out a lot if smaller ones as well.

 

[Dausuul]

There are two ways to make a good D&D game: Either license the IP to a few companies (or just one) with proven track records of doing good work; or license it to anybody who wants it and let the best game win. The first option is preferable, but requires a top-quality studio willing to work on someone else's IP, and there aren't many of those. The ones who previously had relationships with WotC parted ways with them a while ago.

So they're left with the second option. The likely result will be a deluge of crap and a handful of gems. If WotC is smart, they will build relationships with the studios responsible for the gems, and thus transition to option #1.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

They could have a game that's done by Telltale studios, and therefore have very little in the way of any tactical combat...

 

[Garthanos]

Well, and a killer Grognard Business Card.

I tried to get engraved shuriken and they said the cool kids club had a patent on doing that

 

[Parmandur]

There are two ways to make a good D&D game: Either license the IP to a few companies (or just one) with proven track records of doing good work; or license it to anybody who wants it and let the best game win. The first option is preferable, but requires a top-quality studio willing to work on someone else's IP, and there aren't many of those. The ones who previously had relationships with WotC parted ways with them a while ago.

So they're left with the second option. The likely result will be a deluge of crap and a handful of gems. If WotC is smart, they will build relationships with the studios responsible for the gems, and thus transition to option #1.

They've opted for a mix of #2 with option #3: they bought a studio and are investing in it. Not to mention the studio they are building in Texas.

 

[Jd Smith1]

True. For every five failures for Warhammer, there's one that's actually pretty good.

That's a bit optimistic on the ratio, but you have a point.

What makes me think we should not expect much is the 'in the near future' bit. Short lead time + license generally equals a game that sucks so hard it can clean your carpet (and drapes if you have the DLC).