It is still data that can be mapped if it is collected and sorted properly. I assume they are coming at this from a variety of angles, including hiring third party researchers. It may be people are just posturing and will buckle when the edition is released, but you are still getting what matters: peoples opinions about what shoukd be incuded and excluded from the edition.
Better than relying soley on their own forum, their website polls and the rpga.
Since there have been several mentions of 'what WotC should do or you won't buy there product'; I'll start here.
Survey's of public opinion on products is a funny animal. For example, there were plenty of survey's for the introduction of 'Green' cleaner products and laundry choices.
A sure fire win-win to money and success.
The survey's even tested and found people saying they were willing to pay more for such products.
The products were made and put on the shelves and they failed because people, when it came to decisions like laundry soap, would often choose cheaper.
A proper survey with proper product research and a total failure.
Perception is an interesting creature. I've had people before doing 4e say they were going to stick with 3e and end up switching because they loved the new version. I have other people that were not going to switch from 2e but later embraced 3e (though they never went to 4e though they had fun when they tried it).
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More importantly then wanting X or Y and why don't they just keep producing 1st ed player's handbooks; is thinking from the WotC (or any financial company's situation).
Rather than talk on games, let's talk on cars. If you bought a car ten years ago and it is running fine then what is going to make you want to buy a new car when it will likely take 4 to 5 years to pay off that debt?
Are you going to want to buy a car that hasn't changed in 10 years? Same engine which costs the same in fuel to operate but you had to spend twice the same amount in money to purchase as your last car? If you wanted the same car as you have then there are hundreds of people that have similar cars up for sale as used cars. You can likely pull together parts from a half dozen wrecks and build a car with decent parts or fix up your existing vehicle.
Does any of that get fresh money to Ford, Toyoto, or GM?
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The game industry is unfortunately much like the car industry.
You choose a model and an engine and you run with it.
The difference is that the model and engine never stop functioning with a game book (though I've seen some books get pretty beat up and dog earred after a decade or two of usage ~ oh my poor 1ed books).
The only sales on the original game books occur when new players buy the books or when a person suffers some sort of 'accident' (like fire or gf separation that goes poorly).
Now, WotC does work actively to get new players (Conventions, encounters program, fiction books, and online play). The new is just a small percentage of the whole and it takes sponsoring GMs to make new players.
There is also a plethora of options that are free or nearly free that WotC competes against. There are dozens of DnD clones made by people with sites like Dragonsfoot that offer free support.
If you like the car that you have then there are dozens of people that will provide oil and service to keep it running at no charge or minimum charge.
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So, your problems are you need to generate revenue (you need to eat and have a place to live) and people are willing to make competing products of reasonable value for little or no price (though some have more expensive products that are good value there are plenty that are made not with profit as part of the creation goal).
So what market advantage are you going to use to convince people to buy a new Lexxus instead of a KIA or a Yugo (though really, WotC is aiming for more of Toyota Camry or a vehicle that everyone can compromise on has all the bells and whistles they need at a price that feels like a good deal because it is sold by the tens of thousands)?
WotC has to do something as the latest market survey shows that Pathfinder is out selling DnD 4e at a rate of 2 to 1 (though I think much of that is do to the evolution of thought they show in their Advanced Player's guide, Ultimate books, and the monthly adventure path lines).
WotC has chosen to go with a vehicle that people understand how to drive but has features that many people want (or expect to find in their vehicle even if they don't use them).
Many European manufactures think it is odd that North Americians want cup holders and mini-fridges in our cars. Still if they want to sell cars in the North Americian market, they know that they have to produce some vehicles with this feature.
Brand name will take you only so far. I trust WotC to produce a finished product that is gorgeous to look at (though many smaller game companies are now producing books with similar art ~ still a gap but it is closing). That finished value comes at a price like I looked at the latest 'Confessions of a Full-Time Wizard' and noted there are 1 author, 2 editors, 3 producers, 2 art directors, 1 illustrator, and 1 graphic productions. Compare to any other indie or small press game release (or kickstarter project).
What will 5e be?
It can't be what has come before because there is no money for the company in what has already been done (or limited revenue). Marvel and DC can sell compilations of older comics but they don't have the worth or the market penetration that a new title line has. That is why Marvel and DC keep 're-launching' titles. Yet, if the story was exactly the same then people would simply say 'you should have kept the story going rather than re-launch'.
5e needs to feel like the previous stories. It has to have the comfort feel of previous DnD games (I hate getting in a car which doesn't have a place to rest my left elbow as I've gotten used to that on my current car).
5e has to show innovation. I want a better model vehicle to show my friends and to show off the new bells and whistles. A brand new car wthout GPS is not worth purchasing when others for the same price or less have that feature. The game needs to run better for less effort (better milage). It has to entertain my whole group or enough entertainment that they'll let me GM the game (it is like putting in tv's for the children to watch and providing a radio for the passenger to fiddle with).
5e has to look pretty. I want to be able to put the books out on a desk and attract attention instead of driving people away with looks of sympathy (if you bough a Yugo then don't expect to get many player's volunteering to help you fix the engine every time it breaks and don't park it where the neighbours can see it). Many cars could have a very terrible engine but would still sell becuase of appearance and the reverse is true (a good engine with a poor car body will kill sales).
I think WotC has the ability to do all these things and make a decent Toyota Camry vehicle. Something that won't drive off the neighbours when I show up with it and yet will function for the whole group keeping them entertained enough that I can tell a story with their participation.