DDI and The Power of Information...

[Scribble]

So I was reading Wired magazine the other day on the way to work and I read an article about the Nike/Apple collaborative project where they linked a pedometer basically into the ipod, and let people track their stats online.

Not only was it helpful to the end user (they can see how they progress, how well they're doing, where they need work, etc...) but it was also an unexpected (expected?) boon to Nike/apple as well.

Suddenly they had a wealth of information about their clients that would have cost a boatload to obtain otherwise.

For instance Nike suddenly had scores of info on clients exercise habits. Like when where how often they ran, as well as even what season they liked to run in, or how the seasons, time of day etc effected their running...

Apple even had access to what types of music was playing when say someone started running harder/longer/faster etc. A marketing goldmine.

So it occurs to me the DDI should function in a similar fashion right?

I think this is a great thing, not only for Wizards, but for ourselves (the end users) as well. Without much effort on our parts, we can suddenly tell wizards exactly what parts of the game seem to be working well.

IE if as DMs we tend to utilize certain monsters more often they know we like that style, and can start designing more that fit that style.

Same thing for other parts of the system as well.

I wonder, can they see what types of classes we've been using the CB to build most often? I personally hope so.

I know some will argue it would be an invasion of privacy, but I don't so much care. They can watch my gaming habits all they want provided they can use that info to generate a better product that matches my tastes/needs better.

Thoughts?

 

[thecasualoblivion]

Works for me. I'm not the paranoid type.

 

[Ktulu]

An interesting concept. It would be neat to see the most commonly used monsters in actuality, rather than poll...However, the Compendium could only show searches and, maybe, link clicks. It can't show what monsters I pull out or what level I use them for.

The monster tool might be able to use that. Unfortunately, again, it would only show what I pull out, not neccessarily what I used during the session.

Still, something like that could give insight into a DM's preferences.

 

[Scribble]

An interesting concept. It would be neat to see the most commonly used monsters in actuality, rather than poll...However, the Compendium could only show searches and, maybe, link clicks. It can't show what monsters I pull out or what level I use them for.

The monster tool might be able to use that. Unfortunately, again, it would only show what I pull out, not neccessarily what I used during the session.

Still, something like that could give insight into a DM's preferences.

Sure right now it shows mainly links/clicks, but already that's quite a bit of information that they didn't already have.

I mean if a lot of people are connsistently searching for/clicking on a type of monster it's a pretty safe bet something about that monster works well.

True once they get the monster builder up and running the power of information will be even greater.

Especially with the select the power you want from other monsters to your new monster. Suddenly they can potentially even narrow it down to what type of specific powers do DMs tend to like more then others.

If say we tend to use one type of power a lot, and another almost never then they know we probably won't care for a monster released with the later power, but will be interested in a monster with the former.

It's a great opportunity that I REALLY hope wizards is leveraging.

 

[tmatk]

...

I wonder, can they see what types of classes we've been using the CB to build most often? I personally hope so.

I know some will argue it would be an invasion of privacy, but I don't so much care. They can watch my gaming habits all they want provided they can use that info to generate a better product that matches my tastes/needs better.

Thoughts?

I don't think they are tracking characters. After you download the update, there's no network activity between the builder and wizard's servers.

I think it's a fine idea, as long as they were upfront about what info is being collected and let people opt out.

 

[Scribble]

I don't think they are tracking characters. After you download the update, there's no network activity between the builder and wizard's servers.

I think it's a fine idea, as long as they were upfront about what info is being collected and let people opt out.

I suppose it could collect the info and send with each update- But you're probably correct, they're probably not doing this. I hope they start though.

 

[malraux]

Suddenly they can potentially even narrow it down to what type of specific powers do DMs tend to like more then others.

My money is on the BugBear Strangler's immediate interrupt power. Sure i copy lots of other powers, but that's one I'll consistently go back to.

One other thing the searching tells WotC is what people are looking for, ie level 8-12 lurkers. That's pretty easy to reference vs what has been produced to see what niches should be filled in MM3.

 

[jedo]

Well they could set up a section of the site where people can post encounters they have created. They just past in the XML from the encounter tool, and add some notes. Then other DDI subscribers can come in, grab a warband, vote on which ones they like the most, and write back comments on how they worked in their game.

It is pretty similar to the role played by the forums now, but WotC would then be able to see which ones are viewed the most, which ones have the highest votes, which monsters are used most frequently, and also the user comments on how well they work.

 

[catsclaw227]

The new Monster Builder they are talking about will be good for this too. They can track what data is changed in a monster and what monster powers are being copy-pasted into other monsters.

It will give them some interesting ideas about what kinds of powers people prefer and how they make changes for their homebrew.

 

[mach1.9pants]

[dons tinfoil hat] No way that would be a terrible breach of my rights, WotC would then SHUT DOWN my houserules and send the feds (even to NZ!) to stop me playing how I want. I cannot believe you are suggesting this. etc. etc.

Yeah good idea, I do not care, I have nothing to hide with my gaming habits (my personal habits, however, are best left un-monitored). They would definitely have to provide an opt out for the tinfoil had brigade but there would be so much good info. It would be a lot of extra work and money to implement though so I doubt it will happen in the near term, or at all.