Interview with Scott Rouse, Chris Perkins & Bill Slavicsek

[Joël of the FoS]

I haven't seen anyone actually compare this action to rape. Maybe I missed it. However, I do keep reading posts claiming that people have been comparing this to rape.

No there was one guy who said it felt like a rape. I'm too lazy to check, it's in the first thread about this news, the one that got a zillion page in an hour.

His words offended many, Ari and me included and others too, and he said later the wording was poor and his idea should have been said otherwise.

Joël

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Someone earlier griped "many words, little content", and reading the interview I just don't understand how that opinion could have been formed. Given the realities of a publicly traded company (it's ILLEGAL to reveal certain information prematurely) they're astoundingly open.

I worked for a game company that everyone on this thread knows the name of, and which is arguably the most closed company in the videogame industry.

This was by no stretch of the imagination "astoundingly open" and nothing people are asking about is subject to scrutiny from regulators.

I've done exactly this sort of interview before and I would have included what I said in my first post: A logo, a bullet point list of some intended (but not promised) features and a piece of art relating to one that's essentially a lock.

If they don't have those three items, they're in a lot of trouble. I am confident they have all those available and could -- and should -- have shown them.

"Trust us, it'll be cool" is not a way to respond to the problems their lack of communication over the last week and change has created.

 

[Mouseferatu]

There's always one idiot - until they get banned. Good riddance. I'd like to think that we might move past what that one person said, and talk on a more reasoned level.

Sure, if it was just the "one idiot." But while the rape comparison only happened once (that I saw), several people agreed, and the "assault" comparison was more common. Even moving beyond that, the tone across every RPG forum I've seen in the last week, hasn't just been angry, which is perfectly understandable, but raving and hostile.

Anyone who knows me in person, and many who know me online, know full well that I don't have much of a temper, and that I try to be reasonable. But frankly, the whole thing has gotten to be way too much. I'm not reacting to one or two posters, but to the entire gestalt of the past week. As I said, I want answers as much as anyone, but I have to wonder if we'd have gotten more of them, or gotten them sooner, if the forums hadn't become such a zoo.

 

[Joël of the FoS]

Will it have ads? Which company's?

Even if the page count is irrelevant given the online format, will it have a similar / smaller / larger content size than Dragon / Dungeon?

Will it support new WotC releases? Will it be only there to support / promote WotC's new releases? Some cross marketing between books / DI is fine, but too much and you feel betrayed.

Joël

 

[Zaukrie]

One thing I forgot: I limit my childrens' computer time. What is your suggestion for getting them access to this content. I used to just let them read our Dragon magazines.

 

[Christoph the Magus]

After my first read through, the phrase that comes to mind is "much ado about nothing," in the sense that I've been eagerly awaiting the interview responses and now that they're here I don't feel that I know anymore than I did before. I mean, I don't know what they're going to offer online, what the fees will be, how it's supposed to replace Dragon/Dungeon, etc. There just didn't seem to be much meat in the answers. Color me disappointed.

 

[Joël of the FoS]

I want answers as much as anyone, but I have to wonder if we'd have gotten more of them, or gotten them sooner, if the forums hadn't become such a zoo.

Agreed, and guilty of some angriness too.

It was pretty obvious as to why we didn't see anybody from WotC debark here or on the WotC boards, and discuss on the threads: he/she would have been quickly ripped to shreads (metaforically, of course ). It was best for them to let some time passes.

Joël

 

[Christoph the Magus]

A lot of good information to ponder.

Chuck

Not to be snarky, but could you clarify just what new information they have provided?

 

[JeffB]

RE: Th DI

Will it be available on paper and purchasable in said format at my local bookstore/newstand?





On a serious note: I forgot to thank Morrus for going to the trouble. Thank You Russ.

 

[Qualidar]

I Want...

1) I'm a Mac guy: I want it to work on my computer.

2) I want a character generater to start out NPCs quick and easy.

3) If I'm paying a subscription, I want that generator to have every option available in every curent book: I want to greate a 10th level Wu-Jen, an 5th level warlock, and a Bo9S Crusader without buying additional content "modules".

4) Likewise, I want the equivilant of d20srd.org with all the stuff from all the books. I don't expect to have access to it once the subscription runs out, but while I'm forking over my money I want the whole shabang.

5) Finally, don't be expecting me to be paying more than $13 or so a month.

~Qualidar~