WotC Hasbro Bets Big on D&D

During today's 'Hasbro Fireside Chat', Hasbro's Chris Cocks, chief executive officer, and Cynthia Williams, president of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming mentioned D&D, and about betting big on its name. This was in addition to the Magic: The Gathering discussion they held on the same call.

The following are rough notes on what they said.

D&D Beyond

• Leaning heavily on D&D Beyond
• 13 million registered users
• Give them more ways to express their fandom
• Hired 350 people last year
• Low attrition

What’s next for D&D

• Never been more popular
• Brand under-monetized
• Excited about D&D Beyond possibilities
• Empower accessibility and development of the user base.
• Data driven insight
• Window into how players are playing
• Companion app on their phone
• Start future monetization starting with D&D Beyond
• DMs are 20% of the audience but lions share of purchases
• Digital game recurrent spending for post sale revenue.
• Speed of digital can expand, yearly book model to include current digital style models.
• Reach highly engaged multigenerational fans.
• Dungeons and Dragons has recognition, 10 out of 10
• Cultural phenomenon right now.
• DND strategy is a broad four quadrant strategy
• Like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or Marvel
• New books and accessories, licensed game stuff, and D&D Beyond
• Huge hopes for D&D

What is success for the D&D Movie

• First big light up oppourtunity for 4th quadrant
• Significant marketing
• They think it’ll have significant box office
• It has second most viewed trailer at Paramount, only eclipsed by Transformers
• Will be licensed video games, some on movies
• Then follow up other media, TV, other movies, etc.
• Bullish on D&D.

 

[Zardnaar]

DDB currently allows you to by just certain aspects of books such as specific monsters and spells. You can also buy custom dice and cool character sheet backgrounds. I like that they offer the monsters and spells, I don't ever bother with the custom dice or character sheet backgrounds.

I can't imagine what else they could do that would be significantly different. If they really do start charging significantly more for me to use it I'll just cancel and dig up my old spreadsheet I used to use to record my PCs. On the VTT side of things we don't know what will happen of course but I can't imagine it being anything other than visual assets like all the VTTs do now.

Shrugs it's just the phrase used. Conjures up ideas of bilking the fanbase. Combined with how other companies handle things and MtG last few years that's where it's coming from and why imho.

 

[Oofta]

Shrugs it's just the phrase used. Conjures up ideas of bilking the fanbase. Combined with how other companies handle things and MtG last few years that's where it's coming from and why imho.

It goes back to the same thing though. Unlike MMOs WOTC doesn't actually control the gameplay, the DM and group do. Vague assertions of gouging aside, I just don't see how it could happen. Don't like what they do? Other VTTs will still be out there where you can continue to play the exact same game. It's a whole different ballgame from MMOs.

Besides, we're talking vaporware that will have to compete with existing VTTs for users. If they don't provide a product that's better than the other systems it won't be profitable. D&D may have a semi-monopoly on the game rules, I see no way they can get one for the VTT software other than making the other software slightly less convenient by ending licenses. Even then they can't ban someone from playing D&D on a VTT that doesn't tie directly into DDB or implement the rules for the players.

Unless you can explain anything other than vague gloom and doom I don't see any cause for concern.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

If Hasbro wants to attrack a new generation of players the hobby shouldn't be too expensive. And the strategy shouldn't be too focused into the whales, but how to infiltrate more in the popular culture.

Not all the consumers of D&D brand are roleplayers. Those can be comic-readers, children playing with toys, families watching movies and teleseries... I guess they are going to bet for a strategy of diversity, not all the eggs in one basket.

Of course D&D has got the potential of becoming a cinematographic universe in the same level of Star Wars or Marvel superheroes, but a known franchise is not enough. We know example of franchises what have worked better or worse in the box-office. Playmobil is a know toy, but the movie hasn't made too much money. And what about the action-live movie of Warcraft?

And we can't know if Hasbro is going to be always with Paramoúnt to produce movies or later the partnership will be with other company. And why not a merger with a movie studio? Because Hasbro wishes the licences from the other companies.

And if we are talking about the online videogames the rivalry is really fierce because if the studio doesn't earn enough money to keep the servers then these are going to be closed.

* Animated short videos in youtube may be a good idea. With the right song fabulous AMV could be created.

* Videogames can be a good option to test and experiment with variants of d20 system, for example Gamma World with firearms, or a game about hunting, catching, training and summoning collectable monsters.

Other idea of a D&D videogame would be an asymetric dungeon crawler. A group of players would be the heroes, and other player would be the nemesis+dungeon master, controlling a boss and adding traps or runes to summon more minions.

Or a multiplayer castle siege. Some players would be "warlords" controlling squads as in a RTS (style Warcraft III), and others as champions.

* We want to buy some products, but we aren't unlimited sources. We also have to pay bills and taxes. Even if we wanted we couldn't buy everything because our pockets have got a limit. The marketing strategy has to be realistic.

 

[TheSword]

I think if they went that route (and I do think we'll get something similar to that), you'd lose access to anything added as a result of the subscription if you cancel. That provides much more incentive to keep your subscription going. Using PlayStation Plus as an example, I haven't used my PlayStation Plus subscription in over a year but cancelling would cost me years of free games added to my library. It's probably not worth it for me to keep paying, but figuring out what I might lose is a hassle I can't be bothered to deal with so I just keep the subscription going to avoid dealing with it.

Edit: The current DDB subscription monthly bonuses would not remain on your account if you cancel your subscription per the FAQ.

Yea, but you shouldn’t lose the access. Which would be possible if it was an upgrade to a free service. Paying monthly when there is no lasting value is not a nice feeling and just encourages people to cancel.

 

[Velderan]

Yea, but you shouldn’t lose the access. Which would be possible if it was an upgrade to a free service. Paying monthly when there is no lasting value is not a nice feeling and just encourages people to cancel.

It doesn't, it discourages cancelling so you don't lose the "free" benefits you've accrued while you're a paying subscriber. Does it suck for the customer that cancels? Sure, but companies are looking for that steady reliable subscription income as they flat out said in the fireside chat.

 

[Umbran]

I've dropped out of subscription based games as grindy became worse along with mmore microtransactions, pay to win, and loot boxes get added or worse.

None of which applies to D&D, though, as several have noted.

 

[Zardnaar]

None of which applies to D&D, though, as several have noted.

Not claiming it is just saying that's where the concern comes from. Seeing what's happening with MtG somewhat justified that concern or at least explains it.

Basically they're using the same language as software developers and the MtG side of things has had the Bank if America comment in it.

Some people are dismissing the MtG side of things but idk how much they know.

Subjective on your thoughts of course but it's somewhere between bad and collapse of standard.

 

[Jaeger]

Oh, I actually agree. But it isn't concrete, which makes everyone's ideas about it speculation.

Well, that's the kicker. Like I said; the corporate-speak is strong. They are not going to spell it out for you.

People seem to be hanging their hat on her word choice when she says that the "D&D as a BRAND is under-monetized."

In spite of having the audio linked with a time stamp to go to - many have still maintained that she is not referencing anything to do with the RPG itself.

My whole point has been: Actually yes, she is...

Because she immediately begins talking about their buyout of D&D Beyond and what that will allow them to do digitally with the RPG...

Miss Williams At 33:05 in: Hasbro, Inc. Webinar - For the full response.

 

[Oofta]

Well, that's the kicker. Like I said; the corporate-speak is strong. They are not going to spell it out for you.

People seem to be hanging their hat on her word choice when she says that the "D&D as a BRAND is under-monetized."

In spite of having the audio linked with a time stamp to go to - many have still maintained that she is not referencing anything to do with the RPG itself.

My whole point has been: Actually yes, she is...

Because she immediately begins talking about their buyout of D&D Beyond and what that will allow them to do digitally with the RPG...

Miss Williams At 33:05 in: Hasbro, Inc. Webinar - For the full response.

So they want to make money off of a VTT. They think DDB will make them money in the long term. Why is that a bad thing?

 

[Zardnaar]

So they want to make money off of a VTT. They think DDB will make them money in the long term. Why is that a bad thing?

You can easily flip that around and say why is that a good thing.

Basically it comes down to quality product you're happy paying for vs bilking the playerbase.

As always it's a ymmv situation and there's plenty of examples and counter examples.

And since no one's actually seen what they're talking about who know. Look at what they do vs what they say is my advice.