Evolution (Project Cancelled)

[Anurien]

Out of interest, where were the 3400 copies of NPC Designer sold? ENWorld? Gaming convention?

 

[Anurien]

Have you given PCGen a try? *ducks to hide for hijacking Vas' thread*

Shameless, such behaviour is reprehensible

(try RPGXplorer too!)

 

[Vascant]

OK, that I can understand. Certainly, this is no way to get rich! Or really do much more than keep you in beer money, for that matter.

Thats kind of funny, there is a story about this between my wife and I. When this started it was to be free (I am retired already and not looking for a job) but getting testers was turning out to be challanging. So some users and publishers all suggested the samething, put a price tag on it and you will see a big difference.. At the time,I thought they were joking. After talking more with my wife and others the end price they all came up with was 20 dollars, I thought was a bit high so to make my wife happy thats why the price is always 20 dollars and to make me feel users are getting their value, always on sale at $15.00. With that move comes goals (I love goals), the idea if I could sell 40 in the first month and 200 in the first year I would be happy and I agreed with my wife the money would be donated to our local homeless shelter. If I recall 40 was broken on the second day and 200 in the first week, things have been very constistant since then at a few sales a day.

I also don't drink, hard to code while drunk so I don't drink.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Have you given PCGen a try? *ducks to hide for hijacking Vas' thread*

If only PCGen wasn't as slow as frozen molasses...and could randomly generate NPCs.

 

[Vascant]

Have you given PCGen a try? *ducks to hide for hijacking Vas' thread*

*laughs*

Yes I sure did, after all I needed to understand it before the Code Generators could properly convert the data for something useful I have said it before and will say it again, PCGen has perhaps the most worked form of digital data in d20.

 

[Vascant]

Out of interest, where were the 3400 copies of NPC Designer sold? ENWorld? Gaming convention?

While most sales are from my sight thats also not entirely true, I know quite a few people who run hobby shops and involved in the RPGA who have really helped get the word out and develop interest. You add that with some kind words from Mr Cook and a bunch of WotC's current R&D staff, numbers pick up fast.

I think on retail outlets products get lost, a good example of Item Designer which I coded to just experiment with the market. I released it exclusively on ENGS for the first 4 months and it had 20 sales total and of those 4 were during the only sale I have ran at half off during GM's Day. (Note: I did not sell it on my site even during this time). Since selling it on my site it has sold an addition 108 copies in the last month. I do not think ENGS is at fault here, I think it is the problem of all Retail Outlets, products get lost. I also run a very aggressive release schedule for the software, which in turn keeps things moving in a forward motion. I also am in a very different market then character generators because there people have a choice, there are quite a few and depending on the flavor you like.. you can find something that works for you. I deal with NPC Generation, so for a DM it isn't a matter of if you need it but instead.. when you will need it. I promise you, you can make 5 dollars an hour at your job and it will still save you the 15 dollars each week in prep time. Thats why you will always see me thank the users of NPC Designer because I run 3 sessions a week and NPC Designer is critical for me during prep time. As complexed as you want to get, it is ready for you.

 

[Vascant]

Shameless, such behaviour is reprehensible

Used it, not a big fan of Explorer so the Explorer feel of it doesn't do anything for me. I am like a bad user though because I want faster releases of software, so the idea of waiting for months for an update just is very unappealing. I do think RPGXplorer could and may be a force to deal with in the future though, after all what I like or don't like means little in the scope of an industry. Thats why on my time schedule for Evolution is to be where you are at come the end of the year, Epic and Psionics finished. Personally I really, really hope you guys try to tackle NPC Generation soon, I am sure you will be creative and come up with things I didn't think of or build upon things I did do.

 

[Steel_Wind]

FWIW, we would never remove copy protection for any judge - for any reason.

I do think that the sheer number of products inundanting the judges makes evaluation of software difficult for them.

I expect that an easy to view product - 10 to 15 minute browse the pages - is pretty much where they are at for nominations. Actual awards - I expect it's a little more involved - but still. Can't tell me they are reading every single product like a copy editor.

The solution is to expand the judges pool with a separate group for software judging. It just takes a lot more time to review these sorts of products.

The ENnies are not only about external validation of one's work - they are well on their way to becoming what amounts to a significant commercial advantage. It's an Editor's Choice / People's Choice and Oscar for gaming all rolled into one. There really isn't anything else like it, so to just shrug it off is not required Vascant.

We have a commercial RPG accessory in development and I shudder to think what a ten minute view would do for it.

 

[Vascant]

FWIW, we would never remove copy protection for any judge - for any reason.

I do think that the sheer number of products inundanting the judges makes evaluation of software difficult for them.

I expect that an easy to view product - 10 to 15 minute browse the pages - is pretty much where they are at for nominations. Actual awards - I expect it's a little more involved - but still. Can't tell me they are reading every single product like a copy editor.

The solution is to expand the judges pool with a separate group for software judging. It just takes a lot more time to review these sorts of products.

The ENnies are not only about external validation of one's work - they are well on their way to becoming what amounts to a significant commercial advantage. It's an Editor's Choice / People's Choice and Oscar for gaming all rolled into one. There really isn't anything else like it, so to just shrug it off is not required Vascant.

We have a commercial RPG accessory in development and I shudder to think what a ten minute view would do for it.

We agree about the copy protection, that was why I emailed the submission cordinator before hand about that very question to ensure it would not be a problem (I figure if it was going to be then no need to even enter)

We agree on what the ENnies are though, a rather large commercial advantage though this industry still manages to stun me. Since noon yesterday has been the largest amount of sales ever in the last year. NPC Designer and Item Designer have combined total of over 150 sales.

Funny you brought up the 10 minute review, I kind of kick myself for thinking the ENnies would be different. I refuse to give out review copies for 1 reason, I do not think someone can properly review NPC Designer without really dedicated some time to learning about it. Heck I learn new things about NPC Designer every week and I created it.. *chuckles*

Just time to face the music, ENWorld really doesn't get the whole software side of this industry. I didn't lose anything when I wasn't on here before and won't lose anything that I have left, because the people in this industry have a very interesting habit. They are more willing to purchase something directly from a RPG Company then from a retailer. So nothing really changes for me, just a regroup and back to basics so to speak

I do wish you guys luck

 

[Mercule]

Just time to face the music, ENWorld really doesn't get the whole software side of this industry.

Which is a sad, sad statement, given that the whole core of ENWorld's existance is as a digital community.