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Future of WotC PDFs: Unofficial Sneak Preview?
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<blockquote data-quote="Ainamacar" data-source="post: 5327498" data-attributes="member: 70709"><p>Maybe not, but the cost to "make" the next PDF is likely much closer to 0 than the cost of printing another book. It is also efficiently greedy, as you can "make" exactly as many PDFs as you need when you need them with no waste. (Admittedly, I assume the costs of supporting that electronic distribution infrastructure are close to negligible. At some point, though, they become a cost of doing business rather than something associated with a particular product.)</p><p></p><p>Both of those things reduce the risk that lowering prices to gain more sales ends leads to a net loss (directly, or from previously unsold physical products sitting in warehouses). From my point of view that isn't necessarily entitlement or daydreaming, it's an opportunity for the business and for gamers. Obviously this approach is less helpful for products selling near saturation or that will definitely get multiple printings (e.g. the PHB), but could be great for splat books that people don't need, but will buy for the right price.</p><p></p><p>It's also another reason why electronic distribution is perfect for catalog titles that currently generate no revenue whatsoever. Each book has an upfront cost, of course, and I can't guess whether or not it makes sense to pay it for very old titles (at least with quality searchable text), but at least everything WotC produced in the last 10 years is easily exportable to PDF or already exists.</p><p></p><p>Personally, I use a mix of books and PDFs, and they both have their advantages. I was really looking forward to the idea of buying a book and unlocking a PDF for $5-10, as was on the table before 4e's release. Of course, I think one of the big dangers of having separate prices on PDFs and physical copies is that enough people see the product as a single entity with a single worth (more or less) that lowering the PDF cost drives an expectation that the book should cost less as well because "they're really the same thing." In terms of how some people might use them that is probably true, which is why playing up the added-value part of an electronic copy could be important. Otherwise, there could be a vicious circle regarding the price the average consumer is expecting and willing to pay. I think we'll see that risk diminish as electronic readers become ubiquitous, if not quite well-loved.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ainamacar, post: 5327498, member: 70709"] Maybe not, but the cost to "make" the next PDF is likely much closer to 0 than the cost of printing another book. It is also efficiently greedy, as you can "make" exactly as many PDFs as you need when you need them with no waste. (Admittedly, I assume the costs of supporting that electronic distribution infrastructure are close to negligible. At some point, though, they become a cost of doing business rather than something associated with a particular product.) Both of those things reduce the risk that lowering prices to gain more sales ends leads to a net loss (directly, or from previously unsold physical products sitting in warehouses). From my point of view that isn't necessarily entitlement or daydreaming, it's an opportunity for the business and for gamers. Obviously this approach is less helpful for products selling near saturation or that will definitely get multiple printings (e.g. the PHB), but could be great for splat books that people don't need, but will buy for the right price. It's also another reason why electronic distribution is perfect for catalog titles that currently generate no revenue whatsoever. Each book has an upfront cost, of course, and I can't guess whether or not it makes sense to pay it for very old titles (at least with quality searchable text), but at least everything WotC produced in the last 10 years is easily exportable to PDF or already exists. Personally, I use a mix of books and PDFs, and they both have their advantages. I was really looking forward to the idea of buying a book and unlocking a PDF for $5-10, as was on the table before 4e's release. Of course, I think one of the big dangers of having separate prices on PDFs and physical copies is that enough people see the product as a single entity with a single worth (more or less) that lowering the PDF cost drives an expectation that the book should cost less as well because "they're really the same thing." In terms of how some people might use them that is probably true, which is why playing up the added-value part of an electronic copy could be important. Otherwise, there could be a vicious circle regarding the price the average consumer is expecting and willing to pay. I think we'll see that risk diminish as electronic readers become ubiquitous, if not quite well-loved. [/QUOTE]
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