Another RPG company with financial difficulties

[WayneLigon]

No, I actually agree with most of what Belen is saying. The Buy-in for D&D IS too high, the rules ARE too tactical for beginners ...

I have a good friend who is the mother of two kids who are gamers. Her youngest son is 14ish and getting into RPGing with his social set more and more. These are the two biggest complaints she gets from the 14-15-year-old-set, straight from the horses mouth in the demographic that - I think - WotC wants to capture.

There are five 14-15 yo boys they are teaching this and other games. Right now, they're doing HERO since everyone could afford the Sidekick book that has all the rules in a stripped-down form, much like GoO's 'Stingy Gamer' editions. The kids love being able to customize their characters, so they're trying this system, but they've simplified the combat somewhat. Everyone likes playing D&D as well but the buy-in is a problem for them.

Buying the Player's Handbook alone is a strain for them when there is so much else competing for their cash. And this is before any of them are really dating. None of them are comics buyers or book buyers but they do buy console and PC games.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

I might be totally off track here, but what I have been hearing from WotC and many other publishers is "hardback plus full color equals more sales". Which would put a damper on the theory that a cheapo version of the PH would be a huge success.

Don't misunderstand me, there'd be a market, but probably to the already converted, who needs a cheap extra PH. Like the Mongoose Pocket Handbooks, I suspect.

No, I remember reading that, too, and I just can't help but think that maybe they're looking at their market in the wrong way — hardcover plus full color might equal more sales, but is it more new sales (from folks that don't play already)? It could be, as I know jack about their marketing research (and Wizards seems to do quite a bit), but the buy-in is extremely high, especially as it's not going to do much for folks that might not already want to play (if I'm thinking about possibly playing Dungeons & Dragons am I going to shell out $90 for a game I might not play after the first go or spend the money somewhere else where it might give me more bang for my buck?). It's too expensive to encourage the impulse buy. Of course, this is just my opinion, backed up by no real data, so...I encourage folks to prove me wrong.

Nick

 

[Arnwyn]

No, I remember reading that, too, and I just can't help but think that maybe they're looking at their market in the wrong way — hardcover plus full color might equal more sales, but is it more new sales (from folks that don't play already)?

Indeed.

In the end, that's a question WotC has to ask themselves. Are they willing to take a risk and try to expand the market with certain products that will appeal to "new gamers", or will they play it safe and cater to their pre-existing market (which is shrinking as that market ages) - or do they have the resources to cater to both (and a possible short-term hit on their bottom line).

Because these two markets may be considered mutually exclusive (they sure are for me, D&D/d20 Consumer #547). It would very likely avoid any product designed for the "new gamer".

Based on their current/recent actions, it looks like they've made their decision.