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40 Million People Have Played D&D [UPDATED!]
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<blockquote data-quote="GreyLord" data-source="post: 7784352" data-attributes="member: 4348"><p>Well, it seems they clarified it (responding without having read the rest of the thread yet). </p><p></p><p>The number is a hype number (no other hard numbers to back it up, such as PHB's sold total...etc.). If I said that 1 Billion people play Monopoly...that seems really impressive? Right.</p><p></p><p>Of course, I could have gotten that number from anywhere, or extrapolated it from anywhere.</p><p></p><p>NOW...if I had sold 300K copies of Monopoly in the last year...you might start wondering how I got 1 billion off of the 300K sold? If you take my extrapolation numbers, which averages the number of players as people per household that play (2-3 members per household, we go high to 3) which means we multiply the numbers sold by the number of people per household that probably play the family game, that still leaves us 999 million short.</p><p></p><p>Then you learn that this is pertaining to the numbers TOTAL for the entire lifetime that Monopoly has been around...it makes more sense.</p><p></p><p>In a likewise manner, this is a lifetime number. 40 million is the total that ever played the game...which makes the numbers of an impressive BG release lower most likely.</p><p></p><p>If we use standard measures, and say the 5e PHB has sold 2 million copies...and then say a minimum group needs 5 players (planned 4 players and DM) we could get a 10 million players or some such thing. That would be using traceable hard numbers (numbers of PHBs sold) and other factors to come to a reasonable number. We could say 3 was the estimated group playing, or even 10...but at least it's a traceable number.</p><p></p><p>Saying something like 40 million without other numbers to back it up can scare investors and others when it's just said out of the blue.</p><p></p><p>So...why say it?</p><p></p><p>The same reason that Nintendo constantly pushes how many consoles it's sold (normally, with some of the numbers they push when a console has been first released, I HIGHLY doubt it's the numbers sold through, which is different than sold). They want the impression that it is selling well and everyone is buying into it. This is good for marketing in some instances.</p><p></p><p>Microsoft and Xbox One tried to do a similar thing (saying Xbox ones sold...last figure I had is old where it was between 40-45 Million Xboxes) but Sony (which was typically reporting those sold through) was not helping things in some ways for those comparing sales. Xbox one is HIGHLY successful...but Sony PR is pretty darn good.</p><p></p><p>People want to be part of a successful thing (as this thread shows) and that includes D&D. Many times people don't look for hard numbers or even question the number (as you just did), or even look for something that could back a thing like that up (For example, when CoD says they have so many players online, they have a number to fall back on via their servers and how many were actually logged on and playing in a certain time period...but you cannot do that for TableTop games....so other things are needed to extrapolate those numbers).</p><p></p><p>The main reason to state reasons (such as 40 million D&D players, OR, 10-15 million active D&D players or those that have tried 5e, or other numbers) is to build hype and marketing. It is to make people feel that they are part of something...sometimes something BIG...and to encourage others who want to be part of the crowd to also jump in.</p><p></p><p>This thread is FULL of people that feel this way. They think it is absolutely awesome that it was reported that many people have played D&D. It makes them feel that their hobby is successful and they are part of something big. They don't want to question the hard numbers that it is derived from, but instead take the number to build further hype.</p><p></p><p>The problem, as I would point out, is that it can get out of hand to make certain expectations from those you want to sell related products, others involved with the company (stockholders if they aren't seeing the supposed money such should be bringing in with their calculations and such), investors and other things.</p><p></p><p>However, from a hype and brand viewpoint...just as this thread demonstrates...it can work wonderfully or great. The next step is that people then tell their friends...showing how successful this is and how many others are doing it and others ALSO want to try it out. Afterall...how can 40 million people be wrong?</p><p></p><p>If 40 million have done it or tried it...obviously there must be something to it...</p><p></p><p>And that is how it can help build momentum, even while momentum is already going...it can build it up even more.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="GreyLord, post: 7784352, member: 4348"] Well, it seems they clarified it (responding without having read the rest of the thread yet). The number is a hype number (no other hard numbers to back it up, such as PHB's sold total...etc.). If I said that 1 Billion people play Monopoly...that seems really impressive? Right. Of course, I could have gotten that number from anywhere, or extrapolated it from anywhere. NOW...if I had sold 300K copies of Monopoly in the last year...you might start wondering how I got 1 billion off of the 300K sold? If you take my extrapolation numbers, which averages the number of players as people per household that play (2-3 members per household, we go high to 3) which means we multiply the numbers sold by the number of people per household that probably play the family game, that still leaves us 999 million short. Then you learn that this is pertaining to the numbers TOTAL for the entire lifetime that Monopoly has been around...it makes more sense. In a likewise manner, this is a lifetime number. 40 million is the total that ever played the game...which makes the numbers of an impressive BG release lower most likely. If we use standard measures, and say the 5e PHB has sold 2 million copies...and then say a minimum group needs 5 players (planned 4 players and DM) we could get a 10 million players or some such thing. That would be using traceable hard numbers (numbers of PHBs sold) and other factors to come to a reasonable number. We could say 3 was the estimated group playing, or even 10...but at least it's a traceable number. Saying something like 40 million without other numbers to back it up can scare investors and others when it's just said out of the blue. So...why say it? The same reason that Nintendo constantly pushes how many consoles it's sold (normally, with some of the numbers they push when a console has been first released, I HIGHLY doubt it's the numbers sold through, which is different than sold). They want the impression that it is selling well and everyone is buying into it. This is good for marketing in some instances. Microsoft and Xbox One tried to do a similar thing (saying Xbox ones sold...last figure I had is old where it was between 40-45 Million Xboxes) but Sony (which was typically reporting those sold through) was not helping things in some ways for those comparing sales. Xbox one is HIGHLY successful...but Sony PR is pretty darn good. People want to be part of a successful thing (as this thread shows) and that includes D&D. Many times people don't look for hard numbers or even question the number (as you just did), or even look for something that could back a thing like that up (For example, when CoD says they have so many players online, they have a number to fall back on via their servers and how many were actually logged on and playing in a certain time period...but you cannot do that for TableTop games....so other things are needed to extrapolate those numbers). The main reason to state reasons (such as 40 million D&D players, OR, 10-15 million active D&D players or those that have tried 5e, or other numbers) is to build hype and marketing. It is to make people feel that they are part of something...sometimes something BIG...and to encourage others who want to be part of the crowd to also jump in. This thread is FULL of people that feel this way. They think it is absolutely awesome that it was reported that many people have played D&D. It makes them feel that their hobby is successful and they are part of something big. They don't want to question the hard numbers that it is derived from, but instead take the number to build further hype. The problem, as I would point out, is that it can get out of hand to make certain expectations from those you want to sell related products, others involved with the company (stockholders if they aren't seeing the supposed money such should be bringing in with their calculations and such), investors and other things. However, from a hype and brand viewpoint...just as this thread demonstrates...it can work wonderfully or great. The next step is that people then tell their friends...showing how successful this is and how many others are doing it and others ALSO want to try it out. Afterall...how can 40 million people be wrong? If 40 million have done it or tried it...obviously there must be something to it... And that is how it can help build momentum, even while momentum is already going...it can build it up even more. [/QUOTE]
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