Charles Ryan speaks - 4.6 million Americans claim to play D&D

[Breakdaddy]

Can't we at least get one, just one, single thread about something Charles Ryan said, without getting the "he's the brand manager, and I'll explain it to you really slowly because it seems you are to stupid to figure that out" treatment.

-end rant-

/M

Good luck with that. Many people think the internet exists so that they can empower themselves by stomping around on other people in venues such as this. Most of these people are innefectual until the warm comfy blanket of anonymity envelops them in its bosom. Then they are mighty giants flailing away at the stupidity of others, sharing their dearth of wisdom with the unwashed masses. A shame, but not unexpected. And not something you will ever prevent.

 

[Cowpanzamie]

I find myself wondering if you'd say this if it were Wulf or Chris Pramas making a similar claim. Calling someone a dissembler without any proof to back it up is a pretty unpleasant thing to do.

I didn't call him anything. I simply pointed out the undeniable fact that it is in the interest of every corporation to cause people to think their product is popular. If you are objecting to the term "corporate propaganda," let me give you a clear definition: "The practice of publishing or promoting selective information to advance a particular agenda." One of the first things I learned in tenth grade consumer ed. class is to always *question* the motives of any person speaking about the success of his or her corporation or business. It's just common sense.

 

[Chainsaw Mage]

Most of these people are innefectual until the warm comfy blanket of anonymity envelops them in its bosom.

Yep, there's something nice about anonymity, isn't there, "Breakdaddy"?

 

[diaglo]

Can't we at least get one, just one, single thread about something Charles Ryan said, without getting the "he's the brand manager, and I'll explain it to you really slowly because it seems you are to stupid to figure that out" treatment.

like it or not, Charles can't escape this. he is brand manager. and that means accepting the good and bad of the position.

he has the WOOF threads on the www.tsr.com as his own pedestal to preach from...

they are moderated to prevent personally lashing against Charles. so they are one sided.

as an example visit http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=525546

 

[Jim Hague]

I didn't call him anything. I simply pointed out the undeniable fact that it is in the interest of every corporation to cause people to think their product is popular. If you are objecting to the term "corporate propaganda," let me give you a clear definition: "The practice of publishing or promoting selective information to advance a particular agenda." One of the first things I learned in tenth grade consumer ed. class is to always *question* the motives of any person speaking about the success of his or her corporation or business. It's just common sense.

If I needed a definition, I've got a nice dictionary right here. You're obviously smart enough to know that the word 'propaganda' is a loaded one.

And again I say that if a smaller publisher who doesn't work for a 'big eeeeeevil corporation' made the same claim, it'd get a lot less flak. The snide implications by some folks that Ryan must be lying, or at least inflating his figures simply because he works for WotC isn't reasoned analysis, it's knee jerk reaction.

 

[diaglo]

If I needed a definition, I've got a nice dictionary right here. You're obviously smart enough to know that the word 'propaganda' is a loaded one.

And again I say that if a smaller publisher who doesn't work for a 'big eeeeeevil corporation' made the same claim, it'd get a lot less flak. The snide implications by some folks that Ryan must be lying, or at least inflating his figures simply because he works for WotC isn't reasoned analysis, it's knee jerk reaction.

Psssttt... doesn't Chris work for WotC now???

 

[Maggan]

like it or not, Charles can't escape this. he is brand manager. and that means accepting the good and bad of the position.

he has the WOOF threads on the www.tsr.com as his own pedestal to preach from...

they are moderated to prevent personally lashing against Charles. so they are one sided.

as an example visit http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=525546

And guess what. I know they are one-sided. I know he has his own threads. I don't have my head stuck in a bag.

I know Charles Ryan is the D&D Brand Manager. I figured that out ages ago.

But I know I'm not gonna change anything. I'm just venting a bit.

/M

 

[CharlesRyan]

Hello, all--

Yes, I'm the Brand Manager for RPGs at WotC, and yes, it's my job to ensure D&D's continued success and growth--and yes, that means an emphasis on the positive. But no, it does not mean lies or really anything that most people would call "corporate propaganda"; I respect (and rely on) our core gamers too much to ruin my relationship with you through petty misrepresentations. Plus I'm really just a call-em-as-you-see-em kind of guy.

In regards to the 4.6 million players: Every year we do a large Awareness and Usage study; a market research effort that looks at how D&D is seen by the public at large. This is a random sample of the general public (it's not, as Diaglo suggests, based only on our web visitors or customer response cards). Obviously, it is a statistical projection (we haven't been contacted by 4.6 million people who claimed, to us, that they play D&D). However, it is a statistical projection based on the people sampled in the A&U study who claimed to play the tabletop D&D RPG at least once a month.

For the doom-and-gloomers out there, here's another interesting tidbit: Over the past year, RPGA numbers have risen even more dramatically than the A&U numbers. And not just membership numbers (after all, anyone can become a member for free), but also the number of members reporting participation in events 10 times a year or more--in other words, members who are actually playing, and playing a lot. The RPGA is, of course, just a thin slice of overall D&D players, but it's one of a wide number of indicators that are trending very strongly upward.

So, in response to Turjan, I have no trouble topping "best year ever"--how does "best year ever--again!" sound? I don't think I'll ever get tired of that, so, as long as it's true, I'm happy to use it again and again!

Finally, regarding Merric: no restraining orders in the works. Quite the contrary, I appreciate that when he has a question, he goes to where he knows he can find me (the D&D General message boards at WotC, put a "[WOOF!]:" in the subject line to be sure to get my attention) and asks. Given that I have very limited time to spend on the internet, it keeps things simple!

 

[SweeneyTodd]

Okay, great, it's a statistical analysis. Thank you.

 

[diaglo]

In regards to the 4.6 million players: Every year we do a large Awareness and Usage study; a market research effort that looks at how D&D is seen by the public at large. This is a random sample of the general public (it's not, as Diaglo suggests, based only on our web visitors or customer response cards). Obviously, it is a statistical projection (we haven't been contacted by 4.6 million people who claimed, to us, that they play D&D). However, it is a statistical projection based on the people sampled in the A&U study who claimed to play the tabletop D&D RPG at least once a month.

thanks, Charles. for clearing up the mess.

diaglo