Analyzing WotC's 4E Product publications

[Shemeska]

This analysis left out DDI.

Considering that DDI is producing millions of dollars of gross profit for WotC (estimate based on current subscribers that also use WotC forums, so in fact might be much higher), I think this analysis falls short of seeing the whole picture.

We don't however know how much profit the DDI is producing since we don't know its current expenditures for development, nor do we know if they're in any way having to work against the expenses incurred during previous iterations of the DDI (which even at the best estimates of DDI subscribers, will be a long time).

 

[cdrcjsn]

Agreed.

But the original poster was making a chart comparing product releases, and yet leaves out a major aspect of content distribution.

The fact that WotC is currently looking for additional computer developers kinda shows where their priorities are...and physical books are probably not on the top of that list.

 

[Mercurius]

Maybe you misunderstand my intention, cdrcjsn - actually, I didn't really have any intention except to look at the number of 4E D&D products have published over time, see the trends. I wanted to focus on paper product not digital; this is not to negate the value of digital content but it just wasn't what I was looking at. If anything, what I found supports what you say - that WotC is focusing more on digital offerings than paper. And woe is me!

 

[TerraDave]

Good stuff.

In terms of DDI--they are also having problems there. The high point of DDI seemed to be 2009? Certainly no increase in quantity of articles, maybe a small uptick in quality after it falling for a while. And its clear they have some serious piracy issues, as has been discussed in many of these threads.

At this point, they could have several issues with print products. All these have been discussed elsewhere in this forum:

-released all the obvious splats
-released a lot for dms, especially lately, and not seeing huge sales there
-competion from DDI and "non-subscriber" CB
-4Es limited market share (see pathfinder, retro-clones, large #s of people at ENWorld still into 3.5..)

This could be bad news for those that like print product. OR it could pressure the WotCies into being a little more innovative. In just a few days at XP, I am sure they will announce something.