The Red Dragon's Interview is up!

[justanobody]

The problem though is that while some may think any publicity is good publicity, given the choice good publicity is better than bad publicity. In the short term bad publicity does draw the attention but in the long term it hurts more than it helps.

This is not a perfect analogy but look at Britney Spears. For awhile there she was acting out and doing all kinds of things as she was melting down and was getting huge amounts of publicity (I know because I was at the point that I wanted to get rid of my TV due to the saturation coverage). Just because everyone at that point knew her and what she was doing didn't mean that that was the right kind of publicity, rather instead of paying attention to her as an artist, we were all watching her as a sideshow and a target of ridicule and the respect of her as an artist went down instead of up.

Back to WotC. Sure this cartoon drew attention to 4th edition, but at what cost. In the short term people are paying attention, but in the long term there are now more people who think WotC doesn't respect their customers. Sure some people find this funny but others find it offensive. It may be only a small number that are offended but if WotC keeps doing small things that get attention and may only offend a small number of people eventually those small numbers add up and instead of increasing sales because of all the attention, they instead find that their potential consumers are no longer consumers because are no longer feeling respected.

Exactly.

Did anyone who actually plays 4e feel insulted? If not, then WotC has not insulted it's customers. People who play other editions, or other games like Pathfinder, are not customers per say. They might have been, once upon in a time, and might or might not be again in the future. But atm, they aren't.

There are other products for D&D other than 4th edition the RPG that WotC produces. I like the minis games and am offended by this, so I am a wotC customer and former D&D player. Of course M:TG player could care less about the D&D players and probably vice versa unless they play both, so the comment made they is a bit telling. Also the fact that the miniatures game has not had such attitude towards it is odd.

Speaking of Wormy and the miniatures game, D&D has had a miniatures game of sorts for its whole life. While not always in production as a game, there were always minis games, and it was more satyrical on the evolution/birth of D&D from a group of miniature players.

At least that is how I saw it.

Also does it matter if WotC makes fun of others that don't specifically play 4E? What if they start attacking other companies games? They can get away from a legal standpoint at making fun of their own games, but to do so to other companies could be a different story. The problem is that it doesn't matter what edition you play, a company that is the leader of the industry should not be making fun of its customers. That is just bad form. As I said earlier it is childishness if the only thing that can be done for humor is potty jokes or insulting/humiliating people of any race/class/opinion.

Again, WotC and Hasbro sent off a letter to Mr Goldfarb regarding his comments about D&D players, and then turn around a week or so later and insult the D&D players themselves.

Maybe it is just mudslinging season with elections coming up or something, but WotC should have taken the high road. I have always expected better from them.

Yes. I don't want to share a hobby with self-important crybabies who get all huffy and offended by the most gentle of jibes - they're the kind of gamers that give us a bad name. Anything that drives that sort off is fine by me.

How about instead driving all the childish people who think the only thing fun it potty humor, fart jokes, and laughing at the expense of others. Those people that has so little self-esteem that they were bullies in schools, and that derive pleasure form hurting others without remorse. I would prefer to see those kinds of people gotten rid of from more than just gaming.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

How about instead driving all the childish people who think the only thing fun it potty humor, fart jokes, and laughing at the expense of others. Those people that has so little self-esteem that they were bullies in schools, and that derive pleasure form hurting others without remorse. I would prefer to see those kinds of people gotten rid of from more than just gaming.

Again with the name calling? I have to disagree with you once again. A bully is someone who likes to inflict torment on others who is unable to take it in return. WoTC is not making a joke at the expense of others. They are joking about the nature of all of us involved in this hobby, themsleves included.

I like potty humor, fart jokes and trading jibes with my peers. I have high self-esteem because I can see the humor in the hobby I engage in and can take a joke from the best ribbers out there without feeling bad about myself. I have never bullied anyone, more often I was the target of said bullies.

I think it shows more of a lack of self-esteem when someone is unwilling to have tolerance for others with differing viewpoints and would "prefer to see those kinds of people gotten rid of."

 

[justanobody]

prefer to see those kinds of people gotten rid of

Then talk to Tewligan about it.

 

[Obryn]

Are you calling me silly?

I thought that was clear?

Technically, I am a part of a statistic. I think you mean "statistically significant." And frankly, I don't care if most people think like I do or not.

The fact that people have complained means that there is a divisive element to the cartoon. You can condenscend all you want to those who are upset, but personally, I think its silly for a company not to care that their marketing strategy is needlessly alienating potential customers.

If your humor is anywhere above the "America's Funniest Home Videos" level, some oversensitive clod is going to find some part of it offensive.

And be honest - you're not WotC's customer right now. You won't be WotC's customer for the forseeable future. When the future eventually comes, this flash cartoon will be utterly meaningless in your purchasing decisions.

The problem is that it doesn't matter what edition you play, a company that is the leader of the industry should not be making fun of its customers. That is just bad form. As I said earlier it is childishness if the only thing that can be done for humor is potty jokes or insulting/humiliating people of any race/class/opinion.

Again, WotC and Hasbro sent off a letter to Mr Goldfarb regarding his comments about D&D players, and then turn around a week or so later and insult the D&D players themselves.

I can't honestly believe you don't see the difference here.

How about instead driving all the childish people who think the only thing fun it potty humor, fart jokes, and laughing at the expense of others. Those people that has so little self-esteem that they were bullies in schools, and that derive pleasure form hurting others without remorse. I would prefer to see those kinds of people gotten rid of from more than just gaming.

Huh.

-O

 

[Umbran]

You know what's really childish? The way folks have been behaving in this thread.

Enough. Thread closed.