Announced before Christmas?

[Driddle]

Do you think it was a good idea, or even avoidable, for WotC to reveal plans for the release of a new edition before the Christmas retail rush passed? Or, if you'd prefer a related question: What effect has this had on sales of current-edition D&D materials as we're moving into the heaviest retail sales period of the year?

I spent my lunch break today at one of the big chain book stores, perusing some D&D hardcovers as I munched on an overpriced sandwich. I couldn't help but notice that my usual urge to buy game stuff was deadened with the knowledge that something even bigger is fast approaching. Gotta wonder about the rest of the market as well.

 

[WayneLigon]

Do you think it was a good idea, or even avoidable, for WotC to reveal plans for the release of a new edition before the Christmas retail rush passed? Or, if you'd prefer a related question: What effect has this had on sales of current-edition D&D materials as we're moving into the heaviest retail sales period of the year?

I think it was a good move on their part. I usually get and give gaming books at least 2-3 times during the season apart from what I treat myself to. I'd have been pretty ticked if after I spent a couple hundred bucks that those books would basically be useless in six months.

 

[RangerWickett]

Well, I know only my work, but not many folks have been buying War of the Burning Sky since August. To those folks out there who say you want to send a signal that 3e needs to be supported, it sure might help to support a big series of adventures for 3e.

Now, as to when they should have announced it, the difference between the 3e and 4e roll-outs was that there weren't -any- 2e products coming out when 3e was announced (or if my memory is misleading me, at least there weren't many). With the 3 to 4 changeover, people already suspected something was up when they saw the Winter 08 catalog and realized that WotC sure wasn't releasing many new D&D products.

They pretty much had to announce it when they did. If they hadn't, we would've known anyway. Of course, they could've kicked the release date back to late-Autumn 08, and saved the announcement for New Years, but there's no big con around then they can announce at, is there? Or at least none Morrus was going to, and we all know that Russ is a key part of WotC's marketing plan.

 

[Darkwolf71]

For the consumer: Good. One of the (very) few right things they did between Feb and Aug '07 was to let us know that we could save a bit of money this fall/winter.

For the FLGS: Not so good. I was talking to one of the local store owners last week and he's looking forward to a very low profit Christmas season.

 

[Voss]

Given that they essentially decided to not produce much in the way of new product for this last quarter, I'd say the edition announcement isn't that big of a deal.

A backlash over trying to push obsolete product in the retail rush would have been worse than just writing this quarter off.

 

[Darkwolf71]

Well, I know only my work, but not many folks have been buying War of the Burning Sky since August. To those folks out there who say you want to send a signal that 3e needs to be supported, it sure might help to support a big series of adventures for 3e.

Well, I am subscribed to Pathfinder. I know that's little help to you, but I'm showing support where I can.

 

[TerraDave]

They didn't really have a choice, they had to let their distributors know (there are posts on their 2008 summer catalog in the general thread).

But, this is why they are doing things like the minis, the preview books, and inn-fighting. Don't know how this will work out for them, or the FLGS and 3rd parties.

I am guessing Xmass 2008 will be better.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

It's a trap!

WotC (and of course the FLGS) will have reduced sales of 3.5e material leading up to the launch of 4e. There isn't any way to avoid it. From the reduced release schedule, people were already guessing back in June/July that 4e was on its way. Holding out on an announcement longer would have been pointless and would have brought even more screaming of disingenuous behavior from WotC.

 

[Imaro]

I do think they had to go ahead and make the announcement...where I think the ball was dropped was that instead of trying to make money off the DSG and preview books, they really should have had at least 2 major releases for Star Wars saga ready for christmas. I still don't understand why they didn't do this. This game was on fire when it came out...in June.

 

[Pygon]

If they had waited to announce it, we would have had an extreme dry spot of releases, leaving all of us with wondering what the deal was. Of course, speculation would abound, so I think it was best that they told us. Now, if they could just improve HOW they tell us. ("We know the wizard. Schools are now dead.")