WotC D&D Historian Ben Riggs says the OGL fiasco was Chris Cocks idea.

[Retreater]

I also missed the previous thread, so thanks for bringing this to my attention.
As I am trying to be a more positive person these days, I will keep my opinions to myself.

 

[Scribe]

To err is human, to really muck things up you need to be in a position of power. I see no reason to believe anyone else couldn't make just as bad a decision if not worse.

OK.

 

[dave2008]

Ben posted his GenCon panel schedule and as a hook dropped this bit of info. I bet he has receipts.

As to his panels there is one that is a who’s who of RPG historians and I’d kill to go to it.

Do you know whose idea it was to try to cancel the OGL?

It was Chris Cocks, who was at the time the CEO of Wizards, and is now the CEO of Hasbro.

If you think that's interesting, you should come hear me speak at Gen Con! I'm doing some history events, and doing the Gen Con Writer's Symposium.

Take a look!

History:

Friday, 6 PM: 50 Years of D&D

This is the Seal Team Six D&D historians. For the first time ever, myself, Mike Witwer, Dave Ewalt, and the Thucydides of D&D history himself, Jon Peterson take to the stage together. I myself do not know what mysteries we will explore, and what secrets we will unfurl! Come and harken!

Saturday, 10 AM: The Secret History of D&D

A sort of D&D history 101 for those who don't know. I cover everything from Gygax and Arneson to the success of 5E in 50 minutes!

Saturday, 11 AM: The Battle for the Soul of D&D

Secrets revealed! Dirt exposed! Tea spilled!

The past few years have seen some shocking and appalling behavior from the company that is the steward of D&D. I've been talking to every former employee I can find to discover what the hell has been going on these past few years at Wizards of the Coast.

Saturday, noon: The Golden Age of TTRPGs is Dead

A contrarian and data-driven look at the future of TTRPGs.

After the OGL crisis, a number of companies decided to break away from D&D and the OGL and make their own games, and the internet cooed in excitement.

My take is that this move is/has splintered the TTRPG community, and will lead to stagnation or decline.

Saturday, 5 PM: 50 Years of D&D Comics

I'm moderating a panel on D&D comic books featuring luminaries such as Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, and Jim Zub, along with editor James Lowder.

Writing Symposium

If you want to be a writer, you need to check out the Gen Con Writer's Symposium. It is like an entire college course on writing packed into a long weekend. My events are below!

Thursday, 10 AM:
Here's How That Went: Writers Postmortem Their Own Processes

Thursday, 4 PM
Industry Survival Guide: Layoffs, Dry Spells, and Flops

Friday, 2 PM
Writing Geeky Non-Fiction

Sunday, 11 AM
Relationships Between Writers and Editors

Link

Despite the headline being old news, the list of panels makes me want to attend!

 

[bedir than]

Riggs is sticking with his "Golden Age of RPGs is over" thesis even after the people who make and sell games have put out the opposite position

 

[FitzTheRuke]

This revelation surprises me not at all.

 

[billd91]

Riggs is sticking with his "Golden Age of RPGs is over" thesis even after the people who make and sell games have put out the opposite position

I think it's not unreasonable to have multiple perspectives on the issue that come away with different conclusions based on what they observe.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Riggs is sticking with his "Golden Age of RPGs is over" thesis even after the people who make and sell games have put out the opposite position

That one was quite a dampener on my opinion of him and his ability to judge this industry.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I think it's not unreasonable to have multiple perspectives on the issue that come away with different conclusions based on what they observe.

I think it's a matter of how it's put forth. Small parts of his argument are fine, but the overall thrust of the original article is... overblown.

 

[billd91]

This kind of thing just qualifies for “don’t let em forget” kind of thing. IMHO

As well as the "assign credit (or opprobrium) where credit is due" thing.

 

[Oofta]

OK.

So I hear Amazon has a sale on pitchforks, I can order some if you bring the torches. Or do you favor an old fashioned tar and feathering?

It was a stupid idea, but corporations will do what corporations will do. Since then, they've taken positive steps like opening up DDB to 3PP as an example. If you want to talk poor market practices let's start up a thread on TSR and how they tried to maintain a stranglehold.

I don't trust WotC to do what's in the best interest for me or any other corporation and I think it's a bit naive to think anyone else would do much better. Either they produce product I find worth purchasing or they don't.