Exclusive interview WotC President Greg Leeds

[Redbeardin84]

6. If you had the last few years to live over again and could completely revamp Wizards’ PDF and electronic media strategy from the ground up, what would you do differently?

I don’t know that I would try to re-do anything. The truth is that the world is changing quickly, and as a business we need to be flexible enough to adapt to that changing environment. We have and always will continue to find the best ways to be responsive to our community of fans and gamers.

Wanting to protect the profits and the brand, I can understand. This answer confuses me and upsets me more than any pother part of the whole situation.

In 3rd edition, we were teased with E-Tools from day 1. By the time the gaming community made what was released workable, it became time to reset editions.

Now I'm a big fan of the new edtion. Old editions have taken a backseat in my circle.

Again however, at launch we were teased with never before available online utilities in the new edition. I grant that with a WORKING Character generator that needn't be user modified to include crunch, they have on an academic level made the hurdle in comparison to previous company history. But they also pitched E-books. And they delivered on so little of what was pitched so far.

For this leader to publicly say he could not think of anything he would change, and there can't fairly be any faults assigned given that the world is expanding and becoming more sophisticated than WotC anticipated is either alarming or disingenuous.

For 3E, 3.5, and 4th ed WotC has been over-promising e-solutions for its customers, and under-delivering. If that is not something one would at least acknowledge when asked d to be retrospective on the matter, I cannot think I would take much solace in anything else he has to say. Especially concerning Promisies of finding other e-distribution methods.

And to flat out state that a universally available format is not a e-distribution method that they will consider (PDF), one begins to wonder about the ease of use and compatibility of any future E-distribution formats. Cars use tires because they have worked for decades. Re-inventing the wheel? Don't they advise against that in "CEO 101"?

 

[Nagol]

Although the ratio of 10:1 sounds high, 10:0 is much worse.

I still think pullinf the extant files is unfortunate and not in WoTC's interest. Refusing to support the format with product going forward would have provided just as much protection to new bookjs (i.e. almost none) whilst allowing some revenue generation from the compromised set.

Now, the compromise continues, but the revenue is stopped. How is that better?

 

[JoeGKushner]

I think it would be rather great of them to include a code in the hardcover books, like to register them, and that code would also allow you access to a PDF file of the book you purchased. And that PDF would only work on the computer that it was downloaded too.

THis has to be a troll as that's almost exactly what was told to reader (not promised mind you, no hand on heart thing) but then that communication was blacked out and next think you know instead of a few dollars more on the DDI it was more expensive to buy the PDF than to buy from Amazon.com

 

[Roman]

The interview was mostly uninformative, but I want to give the man some kudos for at least finally say something/anything.

There is, however, despite mostly giving us what we new already one really new piece of information. The interview contains a stunning admission in that piracy was not the only thing responsible for pulling the PDFs - it was also a strategic business decision. This could mean many things, from bringing electronic sales in-house or switching to a service/DDI model or a warning shot to GSL companies that WotC will have no qualms about terminating their contracts directly removing OOP product competition with 4E and so on.

Here is the relevant quote:

1. Please tell us the reasons for the new policy on PDF sales. Is this a strategic business decision, a response to piracy, or a combination of the two?

The decision was made for both reasons.

This shows to me that the piracy argument for pulling PDFs was bogus to begin with. Taking what Mr. Leeds is saying at face value, I am willing to interpret it thusly: The part of the policy of not offering new products as PDFs could indeed be part of their anti-piracy fight. The part of their policy that pulled existing PDFs - that has nothing to do with fighting piracy and is motivated by other aims - I have provided a sampling of possible reasons above.

Anyway, as far as I am concerned, this is a clear admission that the initial 'piracy-is-the-reason' statements were misleading (through omission - piracy could be responsible for not offering new PDF products, but not for pulling old ones) and there are clearly other reasons behind the decision. This is what most of us have long pretty much known anyway.

 

[ExploderWizard]

The interview was about as helpful as I thought it would be. I would like to thank PCat and everyone else that put forth effort to make this happen at all.

I'm still wondering how screwing people out of legally downloading Keep on the Borderlands impacts the sales of thier current products in the slightest?

Whatever. I don't need electronic access to 4E material anyway and the old stuff I can get at my leisure. Enjoy the lost sales WOTC.

 

[Odhanan]

*shrug* Lots of words. No substance.

 

[mangamuscle]

I mean, 10:1 illegal PDF downloading to legitmate copies?!?!?! I'm assuming by "legitmate copies" he means legally downloaded rather than physical copies. But still, 10:1!!!! Holy Schnikes!!!

Colour me amused. Back in the days of the commodore 64 the number of illegal copies of top chart games was easily 1000:1 and nowadays music piracy makes even that figure seem small. Yet SSI nor sony music retired themselves from the "digital" market because that would be retarded, there is good money to be made in it, unless you are doing poorly and are in the look for an scapegoat.

 

[conanb]

I think it would be rather great of them to include a code in the hardcover books, like to register them, and that code would also allow you access to a PDF file of the book you purchased. And that PDF would only work on the computer that it was downloaded too.

This would need to be tied to a DDI account. I can already see the kids walking in, opening the book taking the code and going home. Then the poor schmo who comes in and actually buys the book gets nothing. If you tie it to a registered and PAID DDI account then your all good. These codes would only be redeemed by paid DDI members. They get a double bonus, you buy the book and your on the hook for 7.95 a month to get a digital copy. And if you steal a code, well then they can ban that credit card. So now someone can't just steal a code from the book, they have to steal a credit card to redeem it. That's a whole different level theft as it delves into identity theft.

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

Ever get the feeling that the original plans for the DDI was actually a meta-RPG?

Whenever I look at the DDI advertisement in the back of my hardcopy books, I just have to laugh.

Great Moradin's beard, what a cluster5%*c!

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

And yes, we can track it.

Colour me skeptical.