What reputation? It ain't WotC or Hasbro that has taken a hit by SCL not being good... it was the company that developed the game. The D&D brand is flying higher than it ever has since perhaps the early 80s.
If any other company uses SCL as a barometer to judge success of a potential new game, the takeaway isn't going to be "Well, they used the D&D brand and that's why it failed"... it's going to be "n-Space and Digital Extremes didn't design and develop a very good game."
Probably not. D&D games almost have a reputation now of being crap, doesn't matter who develops them. I knew SCL was going to be bad just because is a D&D game.
Its like the Nintendo Wii got a reputation for shovelware but at least it had some good Nintendo 1st party. Neverwinter Nights 2 was the last good D&D game I think Torment or Baldurs Gate II was the last great one.
I played D&D on a computer before pen and paper 25 years ago that was Eye of the Beholder I and II. Also bought the HD remake of Baldurs Gate.
In effect WoTC is damaging their own brand, I more or less automatically assume any new D&D game or movie is going to be rubbish. This means I will; never preorder a game for example. Shining Force II is a better D&D game than this new rubbish coming out and its 24 years old and is a JRPG and its more D&D than the actual D&D games.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/71160/Shining_Force_II/
Grid based tactical combat with advanced classes if you can find the power components.
The wotc yes men here will rave if D&D gets a new game or movies, been there done that 90% chance its rubbish
Its so bad HD remakes of AD&D games are still better than the new ones.
Hell make a HD remake of Shining Force II, tweak the classes slightly and slap a D&D label on it. It would be better than anything new they can make.
Oh steam also as the original.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/71120/Shining_Force/
These games generally make the top 100 lists of best RPG games ever. If you want a good D&D game get 16 bit to Pillars of Eternity graphics and make a good game.
http://store.steampowered.com/sub/102625/
Shining Force I, II, Phantasy Star II,III, IV, Sword of Vermillion and Landstalker. All better than the current rubbish even with 25 year old graphics.