D&D Insider - Pay tomorrow for what you get today for free?
- Thread starter Whizbang Dustyboots
- Start date
Zogmo
First Post
Hey, I just ran across this. Is this related at all?
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=legendology/wizardsinsider/welcome
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=legendology/wizardsinsider/welcome
I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
This reminds me of something....recently.
Oh, yeah, the whole Xbox live debacle.
For those unfamiliar, recently stuff hit the fan when games that were out on multiple platforms (games out on, say, the Playstation 2 and the Xbox 360). One version of those games had things like, say, a certain multiplayer mode. The Xbox version, however, didn't. Instead, you could buy the Xbox version for the same price as the other version in the store, take it home, and pay another $5 to get multiplayer mode.
The fans went wild because they suddenly realized that a company can intentionally withhold information or features, deciding to charge you more for what they once included for free.
This is similar -- if WotC withholds information that was once free so that they can charge for it, I'm going to be irked. Beyond irked -- outright angry that they'd do something so cheap. Free support is a boon to community and individual alike. You put out web enhancements, people read them, talk about them. You put out web previews, analysis of your products, etc., this keeps the buzz going for them, even after the product has been released. This added value isn't just for the product, though, it's also for the community. This will effectively splinter the community into the "haves" (the webbies who pay for this info) and the "have-nots" (those who don't).
I wonder if WotC learned from the Xbox Live scenario. They certainly seem to be trying to add value to it with the new stuff and especially the internet tabletop.
But I'd pay $5/mo for the new stuff alone. There's no reason to take away the goodies we already get for free. That's just going to kill your goodwill.
Oh, yeah, the whole Xbox live debacle.
For those unfamiliar, recently stuff hit the fan when games that were out on multiple platforms (games out on, say, the Playstation 2 and the Xbox 360). One version of those games had things like, say, a certain multiplayer mode. The Xbox version, however, didn't. Instead, you could buy the Xbox version for the same price as the other version in the store, take it home, and pay another $5 to get multiplayer mode.
The fans went wild because they suddenly realized that a company can intentionally withhold information or features, deciding to charge you more for what they once included for free.
This is similar -- if WotC withholds information that was once free so that they can charge for it, I'm going to be irked. Beyond irked -- outright angry that they'd do something so cheap. Free support is a boon to community and individual alike. You put out web enhancements, people read them, talk about them. You put out web previews, analysis of your products, etc., this keeps the buzz going for them, even after the product has been released. This added value isn't just for the product, though, it's also for the community. This will effectively splinter the community into the "haves" (the webbies who pay for this info) and the "have-nots" (those who don't).
I wonder if WotC learned from the Xbox Live scenario. They certainly seem to be trying to add value to it with the new stuff and especially the internet tabletop.
But I'd pay $5/mo for the new stuff alone. There's no reason to take away the goodies we already get for free. That's just going to kill your goodwill.
FreeTheSlaves
Adventurer
Yep, it looks like market forces are dictating the direction of the WotC site. They must feel that their free content is valuable enough for gamers to pay and the benefits of free support are being markedly outweighed.
The web team probably needs to justify all those hours so this seems pretty appropriate to me at least.
The web team probably needs to justify all those hours so this seems pretty appropriate to me at least.
Yair
Community Supporter
The thing is, the free stuff is often not worth the price. How can the new content possibly be worth any price?FCWesel said:
It costs money and time to browse and read the stuff wizards put on their website. I frequently do, but more often than not I skim past non-interesting articles and features and close the window having gained nothing. Once in a blue moon I get something really useful from them, and more commonly I'm entertained enough to read on and have fun with it. But I won't spend much at all for gaining the 'product package' since so little of it is actually of use and interest to me. (And since I can get sufficient good content from others for free, so I don't need to pay to get their content.)
Of the offered content, the only thing I'd be interested in are the articles. The university is of no interest for me (I got all the gaming advice I need, and if I'll feel the need for more beyond what free resources like ENWorld can provide I prefer to buy a recommended book), I prefer other character generators (in a non-proprietry format, private on each computer, available to all players in my group i.e. free to download, unlimited by trhe number of characters or official rules, and customizable - PCGen fits most well IMX), and I am not interested in virtual tabletop gaming (but I admit that if done right this could be a tangible and very worthwhile benefit of membership). While the articles on WotC's site are sometimes interesting, the fun I derive from them is not in excess to that derived from free sources like ENWorld, so there is simply no need to pay for them.
I don't expect WotC to abandon providing free content on their site. Promoting new releases and extending the usability of old purchases isn't something they would want to stop. I do expect the amount and quality thereof to dwindle. That would be a bit unfortunate for me, but certainly not to the extent that it would be worth even the slight discomfort of becoming a registered, subscribing customer to Hasbaro's organization. I don't see any pricepoint that will make the difference between the free and payed-for content worthwhile, not without a massive increase in the quality and quantity of the payed-for content which I don't think will occur.
I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
The problem, for me, isn't that it's not worth it.
It's that they're rescinding their goodwill for profit.
Whatever they gain in dollars, they loose in community trust.
Remember how excited everyone here is when a designer stops by and explains things?
Now what if EN World started charging for "designer scoops"? Wouldn't the community suffer for it?
Heck, take a look at EN World. It charges bupkiss to come here, see the newest news, and chat on the message boards. It charges a bit extra to do some fancy things, but the basics are free. This has lead to some great community success here, which has fueled more than a handful of purchases, I'm sure.
They'd be much smarter, much savvier, if they left the web content in place, and just added more stuff with this plan. They're adding more stuff, but they're also taking away something that makes people happy, which is only good for one person -- them.
It's that they're rescinding their goodwill for profit.
Whatever they gain in dollars, they loose in community trust.
Remember how excited everyone here is when a designer stops by and explains things?
Now what if EN World started charging for "designer scoops"? Wouldn't the community suffer for it?
Heck, take a look at EN World. It charges bupkiss to come here, see the newest news, and chat on the message boards. It charges a bit extra to do some fancy things, but the basics are free. This has lead to some great community success here, which has fueled more than a handful of purchases, I'm sure.
They'd be much smarter, much savvier, if they left the web content in place, and just added more stuff with this plan. They're adding more stuff, but they're also taking away something that makes people happy, which is only good for one person -- them.
Zogmo
First Post
They may end up splitting the site in two. The free side will have noob materials, articles and product previews to get people into the game and the pay side will be everything that's there now.
Who knows, an option also is for them to have advertising on their site and not do the subscription route.
You know the buggers are reading this thread too.
Who knows, an option also is for them to have advertising on their site and not do the subscription route.
You know the buggers are reading this thread too.
Sounds like a new wonderbra.Doesn't Mention Greyhawk
It's interesting that they will provide content for our favorite gaming worlds, Forgotten Realms and Eberron. They don't mention Greyhawk.
Now, I know WOTC doesn't much LIKE Greyhawk, but I wonder if this is a good thing, because they won't actually try to strangle Paizo, but will let Dragon, Dungeon, and Greyhawk adventures in Dungeon live.
I'd personally be fine if WOTC never made a 4th edition or another new class . . .
Perhaps paying a subscription can keep them from constantly churning the rules, in which case it's well worth the money.
It's interesting that they will provide content for our favorite gaming worlds, Forgotten Realms and Eberron. They don't mention Greyhawk.
Now, I know WOTC doesn't much LIKE Greyhawk, but I wonder if this is a good thing, because they won't actually try to strangle Paizo, but will let Dragon, Dungeon, and Greyhawk adventures in Dungeon live.
I'd personally be fine if WOTC never made a 4th edition or another new class . . .
Perhaps paying a subscription can keep them from constantly churning the rules, in which case it's well worth the money.
