Dungeon on CD?

[TheBadElf]

It really is a shame that we'll probably never be able to get legal electronic copies of the old Dungeon issues. I'd certainly buy it.

 

[Li Shenron]

If they have legal issues, why not making the CD with only the recent years of the magazine? Instead of a single CD with all Dungeon ever published for 100$, why not a few CDs for a single year each for 5$-10$? Or a single CD with all 3.x Dungeons for 20$?

In the case of Dungeon it may be different because being it DM's material it may be useful even to have those of previous editions, but for the Dragon CD those old numbers aren't useful for most current D&D players, and maybe that was the case why it didn't sell well (except to collectors).

 

[Dog Moon]

A lot of the stuff I see in the Dragon Disc I got and think about using is the fluff. I don't want to think about converting tons of stuff into 3.x, though some things are cool enough that I've thought about it.

Dungeon is useful because it has maps and even if it has creature names and nothing else, many of those can be looked up for their 3.x versions. Leveled characters are a little more difficult though...also, the adventure ideas themselves are useful no matter what edition you use.

Unfortunately, yeah, Dungeon is more useful than Dragon, but I enjoy having those old issues, for a collectors sake even I don't use anything from them.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I think Dungeon would be a lot easier to re-release than Dragon. Dungeon's adventures mostly come from amateur writers so it would be much easier for Paizo to simply include a release form for future developments. I don't see why Dungeon couldn't simply say "If you want us to publish your adventures, it becomes ours to do with as we see fit in the future."

 

[Shawn_Kehoe]

I think Dungeon would be a lot easier to re-release than Dragon. Dungeon's adventures mostly come from amateur writers so it would be much easier for Paizo to simply include a release form for future developments. I don't see why Dungeon couldn't simply say "If you want us to publish your adventures, it becomes ours to do with as we see fit in the future."

That actually is how adventure submissions work. Wizards purchases any article they publish that contains game rule content or D&D IP. The problems lies in comic strips and short fiction ... which comprise a much smaller portion of Dungeon than Dragon, at any rate.

Shawn

 

[DonTadow]

I finally got a letter published in Dragon Magazine if we will ever be treated to the magazine in electronic format. Eric responded that it is not something they are looking into now but its not completely ruled out. I think their big concern is obviously security.

I'd be satisfied if they just provided maps, statblocks and pics electronically.

 

[philreed]

As I've said before I'd happily pay for a Dungeon Archive. My Dragon CD set has been one of the best purchases I've made in the past five years.

 

[trancejeremy]

There were legal problems with Dragon (which apparently ended up giving us Hackmaster, somewhat indirectly), but I'm not sure Dungeon suffers from those same problems. Because as mentioned, Dungeon #1 actually has appeared on cd-rom. As part of a special issue of Dragon, IIRC (I have the cd-rom someplace). Presumably if the first issue of Dungeon had no legal snares, later issues won't either (though you never know).

I had the Dragon archive on cd-rom, but sold it. While I liked the idea, I really just never used it. I wish I could have just kept Disc 1, that's where most of the interesting stuff was. But even then, a lot of Dragon was just filler - book & video game reviews, unremarkable fiction. And much of the rest was variant rules. Which are now pretty much obsolete.

Dungeon, OTOH, would be a lot more useful. While it's not easy converting adventures from previous editions, it's still quite possible.

 

[frankthedm]

the Tasini Vs The New York Times case dealt a huge blow to a lot of online and electronic resources for magazines with freelamce work. Dungeon magazine was +80% freelance.

finding stuff on this on the dragon CDrom , veeeeryyyy iiiiinteresting. kinda old though

http://www.sfwa.org/News/news3.htm
January, 1999

Call for authors involved in the WoTC/Dragon Magazine reprint CD



http://www.sfwa.org/News/classact.htm
***************************************************
Call to authors involved in Dragon Magazine CD
***************************************************
Science fiction and romance writer Rosemary Edghill (AKA eluki bes shahar) has called for authors whose works may be published in the upcoming Wizards of the Coast/Dragon Magazine CD to contact her regarding joining a class action suit against the publisher. Ms Edghill may be contacted at ELUKI@AOL.COM.

Wizards of the Coast intends to sell a CD Rom reprinting issues #1-#250 of Dragon magazine, without obtaining permission from the authors of the works. More information may be found in articles:

New CD from Wizards will not pay for rights
**************************************
New CD from Wizards will not pay for rights
**************************************
Wizards of the Coast intends to issue a CD Rom reprinting issues #1-#250 of Dragon magazine, without paying for the rights.

SFWA president Rob Sawyer has spoken to the CEO of Wizards, Peter Adkinson, who has said he will investigate the matter.

However, if you had a story or an article in the first 250 issues of Dragon, it is worth your while -- and a prudent step in the care of your career -- to write to WoTC and express your concern.

The gentleman in charge of the CD project is Anthony Valterra, Wizards of the Coast, P.O. Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707.

Sharon Lee execdir@sfwa.org
SFWA Executive Director



Copyright must be filed on upcoming WotC CD release Important Information for authors with stories in Dragon Magazine
***********************************************************
Copyright must be filed on upcoming WotC CD release
***********************************************************
Anyone contemplating legal action regarding the Wizards of the Coast CD (see previous article Wizards of the Coast to issue CD without paying for reprint rights) should be aware that Federal Registration of copyright may give certain benefits. You are recomended to file a FORM TX with the US Copyright Office. This copyrights your work - do not assume that WotC/TSR has done this through publication of the Work.

The form can be downloaded from the Library of Congress site: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/. You will need to have Adobe Reader, available as a free download from www.adobe.com in order to do this.

When you send off the forms, include an stamped and self addressed envelope with the material. The Copyright Office will date-stamp it and mail it back. This will serve as your interim proof of registration, as there is currently a 4-6 month delay in processing applications.

It is important that these papers be filed before the CD-ROM is released. Having filed these papers could result in a stronger claim in any legal action.

From what i an seeing, Wotc announced and released the original dragon cd-rom AFTER the original state cases OKed the use of electronic reproductions without compensation and before the overturnings of that decision.

http://www.darkwood.org/sj/misc/sjml/archives/1999a/v1999.n009.txt some discusion
see my post on the subject http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=77120

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Regardless of the legal issues, the Dragon compilation just didn't sell well. Period. So why you would bother potentially repeating that mistake is the real question that needs answering. If you can put forward an argument why large numbers of people will buy Dungeon when they wouldn't buy Dragon, then maybe it's a possibility at some point. But solving each and every legal issue is meaningless if the end product is just going to end up in the bargain bin...