Dragon and Dungeon: The Ripple Effect

[Maldin]

I haven't seen this brought up yet, but then it is very difficult to scan over 1,000 posts efficiently, so forgive me if this has already been said somewhere already. Its something that is certainly worth discussing, and was brought up by Rob Kuntz over on his PPP boards...

Rob, as a small RPG company owner himself, makes a very important observation... "The companies who depend on Drg & Dng magazines for advertising their wares are also scrambling with this announcement. I really don't see much "good" generating from WotC's decision to pull the licenses."

Dragon and Dungeon magazines weren't just an institution as far as content for DMs and Players (and the root of most of the public outcry). They were a very important element in the functioning of the entire RPG industry. I'll leave the obvious paranoid conspiracy theories to others (brilliant First Strike, or accidental industry genocide), but the ripple effect from this decision will spread much further then WotC and Paizo. Whatever WotC's future plans are with all this, it is not likely to include advertising from their competitors.

Denis, aka "Maldin"
============================
Maldin's Greyhawk http://melkot.com

 

[Nightfall]

Maldin,

There was some discussion of this...but it got lost in the hatred shuffle. So I guess we can call this the "lost revenue" for d20 dance.

 

[Agamon]

Not to mention (and this has been mentioned, I think) the loss to FLGSs, who won't be stocking WotC electronic content on their shelves.

Feel the love!

 

[Nightfall]

Yep feel the love for the guys that get hurt and the love for us that lose it.

 

[Maldin]

Yes, the effect on FLGSs has certainly been discussed quite a bit. Not just direct lost of product (and profit) , but the fact that once or twice monthly visits will become much less frequent, greatly affecting "impulse buying". After far too many mail-munched covers as a multi-decade subscriber (and after the financial transition from student to real job), I started supporting the FLGS despite the higher cost, so I am one of those twice-monthly visitors that will lose my excuse for dropping by on a regular basis.

I hadn't seen discussion on the advertising issue, but it doesn't surprise me that it has already been brought up. At least we have a clean thread for it now. For the moment.

Denis, aka "Maldin"
============================
Maldin's Greyhawk http://melkot.com

 

[Nightfall]

Maldin,

Or at least until I start screaming about money angels, new coke and oh yeah Orcus and the Scarred Lands.

 

[MojoGM]

Not to mention (and this has been mentioned, I think) the loss to FLGSs, who won't be stocking WotC electronic content on their shelves.

Feel the love!

Someone here (I forget who) mentioned that the profit margin on magazines was very small for the game store. Though I suppose if you bought it there every month it got you through the door and you ended up picking up a book now and again. I know it did for me.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Yes, the effect on FLGSs has certainly been discussed quite a bit. Not just direct lost of product (and profit) , but the fact that once or twice monthly visits will become much less frequent, greatly affecting "impulse buying". After far too many mail-munched covers as a multi-decade subscriber (and after the financial transition from student to real job), I started supporting the FLGS despite the higher cost, so I am one of those twice-monthly visitors that will lose my excuse for dropping by on a regular basis.

I hadn't seen discussion on the advertising issue, but it doesn't surprise me that it has already been brought up. At least we have a clean thread for it now. For the moment.

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I brought it up on page 4 in the initial thread. (In my first post on this whole debacle).

Believe me - the lack of Dungeon and Dragon as an adverstising venue gave me a HOLY CRAP feel the whole day long - and it didn't end today, either. I've been quite concerned about it.

Joshua Frost at Paizo replied and said they are going to include a package of fliers and bundled ad material to purchasers of Pathfinder.

Not the same - but much cheaper, he promised.

So there is some way of getting the word out - albeit - not as good a one.

In time, I believe that the non-compete will expire and Paizo will be coming out with a magazine - not a monthly "book" without ads.

Given that the first run AP in Pathfinder appears to be aiming at a conclusion after the first 6 issues - I'd say that's a reasonable flag that month 7 may bring us a whole new ball game.

We'll see.

Whatever the case, I am certain that Paizo will try to fill that void with a new magazine that carries ads as soon as it can. How successful that product will prove to be is anybody's guess.

 

[Nightfall]

Mojo,

I think that's what has some (d20 publishers and other games) in a twist is their loss of advertising because it helped promote their stuff.

Steel,

Your optimism is comforting but I feel...unrealistic. WotC will probably keep trying to keep Paizo under thumb. I just hope that Paizo finds a way to work around it.

 

[MojoGM]

Dragon and Dungeon magazines weren't just an institution as far as content for DMs and Players (and the root of most of the public outcry). They were a very important element in the functioning of the entire RPG industry. I'll leave the obvious paranoid conspiracy theories to others (brilliant First Strike, or accidental industry genocide), but the ripple effect from this decision will spread much further then WotC and Paizo. Whatever WotC's future plans are with all this, it is not likely to include advertising from their competitors.

Maybe they will sell advertising space on the pay site. I forget, are there adverts of any type on the current site? *ok, Nightfall answered this...I guess not *