Does Loss of Dragon/Dungeon Hurt Future Game Designers?

[broghammerj]

Not to add yet another Dragon/Dungeon thread, but after reading many of them I came to an interesting conclusion that I don't believe anyone commented upon. The loss of these two magizines may actually hurt the future availability of game designers. Look at WOTC public statement and see how many people cut their teeth by working for Dragon/Dungeon. How will people get recognized as someone to hire within the RPG industry? Where will they send their intitial work? Dragon/Dungeon always seemed to be a good format to get some RPG industry exposure.

I initially had and emotional response to their loss, but this has worn off after a few days. My overall personal opinion was that shutting them down was a bad idea. I may reverse this thinking if the digital initiative is the next best thing to sliced bread, but I am skeptical of WOTC previous web content.

I wonder if the digital initiative will take fan submitted works. If it doesn't, I fear there is really no forum for people to become exposed to RPG writing and the pipeline of quality game designers may dry up. I realize that sentence sounds like "the sky is falling". It's not intended, but it may have some real effects on the future availability of game designers

 

[delericho]

Not to add yet another Dragon/Dungeon thread,

Which begs the question: why did you?

The loss of these two magizines may actually hurt the future availability of game designers. Look at WOTC public statement and see how many people cut their teeth by working for Dragon/Dungeon. How will people get recognized as someone to hire within the RPG industry? Where will they send their intitial work? Dragon/Dungeon always seemed to be a good format to get some RPG industry exposure.

Agreed.

I wonder if the digital initiative will take fan submitted works.

I believe it will (one of the WotC designers comments, I forget from whom, seemed to indicate it would). Also, IIRC, Paizo are planning on taking submissions for Pathfinder and also Gamesmastery modules. And I'm sure there are some other places.

But, sadly, I do think it just became a lot harder to break into the industry for those who are inclined to do so. If nothing else, I don't think being published in an e-zine, especially for a niche industry, has anything like the same credibility as being published in the 'real world'.

 

[broghammerj]

Which begs the question: why did you?

I dare say the idea was novel in reguards to the above topic. Of course I only read 35 pages of the 150+ free online Enworld content so I may have missed something

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I was first published in Dragon.

I see no reason I won't be published again in DragOnline, no reason new writers won't be published there (like, you know, the new writers who cut their teeth on Magic's web site every year, many of whom end up getting jobs with WotC), no reason it won't be an easier and faster submissions process, and no reason there won't be more room (on the infinite digital canvas, y'know) for new submissions.

It's already been stated that Wizards is inheriting Paizo's submissions. Getting through the inevitable backlog from the transfer may delay new writers getting a shot for a few months, as may the desire to put up premium content from proven authors, but once that's through, why WOULDN'T they be accepting submissions.

In any case, the wide, wide world of RPG publishing (not all of which is D&D related) offers countless opportunities for new writers and game designers. Even if, for reasons unknown, Wizards weren't accepting submissions, plenty of others still would be.

 

[Crothian]

I think it won't be that bad. The PDF market is still increasing and many potential writers can get their start their.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I'm sure that whatever their online model is that they'll still be needing writers and artists for their content. I really doubt that will change, nor the guidelines. With any luck, with reduced overhead, maybe they'll even be able to slightly up their per word rate.

From what I know of the publishing world, online jobs aren't looked at quite as highly as actual print work, though, but that's going to be the case whether you're writing for Dragon Online or wherever. And that stigma certainly wouldn't be applicable to future consideration for work within WotC (and, likely, the rest of the RPG industry).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

From what I know of the publishing world, online jobs aren't looked at quite as highly as actual print work, though, but that's going to be the case whether you're writing for Dragon Online or wherever. And that stigma certainly wouldn't be applicable to future consideration for work within WotC (and, likely, the rest of the RPG industry).

That is at least partially true.

A friend of mine worked for both Kerrang (freelance reporter) and Playboy (editor). Eventually, she moved into Playboy's online presence...and then left them. Her experiences with her online duty were not as fufilling nor as respected as her print work.

That may not be the case with the gaming community, but only time will tell.

 

[Nifft]

No.

Loss of the OGL would hurt future game designers.

Dragon et al. are a poor substitute for communities like this one right here -- but they are what existed before a better communication media came along, and they did help aid communication in their day. So long as future game designers are allowed to work (via the OGL or whatever), and are able to get feedback, they will be just fine.

Cheers, -- N

 

[broghammerj]

I guess Ryan Dancey agrees with me:

http://web.mac.com/rsdancey/iWeb/RSDanceyBlog/Blog/8B285E15-19B7-45F1-8B5A-DE48E4EFD782.html

"Furthermore, those magazines play a very important role in the hobby game ecology. They represent a place where new authors can find out if writing for the gaming industry is something they can do and are good at. Dungeon in particular has been a fantastic training ground for new talent. And a very large percentage of the game industry professionals likely have at least one Dragon credit. It is unknown how open Wizards of the Coast will be to having new talent submit materials for their on-line content system. My guess is that the door will be mostly shut, barring the occasional friend of an insider who can make a special exception." -Ryan Dancey from his own blog.

 

[BOZ]

that would certainly be lame, but if it does go that way i can only wish that i could say i'd be surprised.