Pathfinder 1E Is PAIZO becoming the next Wizards?

[Mistwell]

Except that they have already stated in various public forums that the PRPG is succeeding beyond their wildest imaginings and they have already hired more staff to expand this year....

I'm not saying they will have a corporate compound or anything, but they are growing.

The numbers I just mentioned ARE the post PRPG numbers I believe.

This is what they grew TO. They seem to have stabilized at this level. Perhaps they will grow more, but I am not seeing how at this point. The purchases of the core books will drop off now, as most sales are made in the first few months for a new product. Expansions historically never reach the levels of the core books on a per-book basis. So I can see them maintaining with quantity of expansions, but how do you seem them expanding again, beyond the level they just reached?

Mind you, I want them to grow again. I like many Paizo products, and would like to see them reach a wider audience and get a bigger marketing budget and such. I am just not seeing how they will reach another growth level right now. I think they stick to this (new) size for a while.

 

[Monkey King]

Well, they've also just announced their second book line.

While Planet Stories has been doing great work printing Anthony, Brackett, Gygax, Howard, Kuttner, and other greats of the past, the new fiction line ties in with their Golarion setting and features authors like Elaine Cunningham and Dave Gross.

Maybe fiction is an opportunity to expand in a big way. Certainly Weis and Hickman or Salvatore would agree there's room to do fantasy fiction in a big way, though capturing that level of lightning in a bottle is impossible to predict.

But Paizo is certainly trying some new things, from their ventures into board games and running a regional convention to their amazingly good PDF layouts/linkage.

I'm not saying it's any more or less innovative than Wizards (personally, I think Gamma World could be quite original in its design, even if the mutant apocalypse setting isn't everyone's style). But I think Paizo is giving customers new and interesting games and stories.

Hard to complain about that, really. Having two biggish companies fighting for our gamer dollars is a good place to be, as a customer.

 

[Turtlejay]

In regards to the OP:

No, not at all. Nor should they. If we are comparing *Wizards of the Coast* to *Paizo*, not 4e to Pathfinder, there is a big difference. Wizards has a lot under it's umbrella that I have no interest in whatsoever, they have CCG's and young adult properties. . .D&D is just one feather in their cap.

Pathfinder also has a lot under their umbrella, but most of it is geared towards you and I, posters on ENworld and other gamers. I don't think that kind of niche market will ever rise to overcome someone with the resources that Wizards has. And it really, really doesn't matter.

What matters is the clever minds behind the product. I may not play Pathfinder, but I can appreciate the cool world it is set in, and the minds behind it. Their APs are almost universally praised, and that is awesome for all gamers. Folks that are that talented should be able to continue with their craft. With 4e, the system I play (and the segment of Wizard's business I would be interested in) again they have clever folks with fun mechanics and cool playgrounds for my to romp in. So . . .win win for us gamers, really. And who gives a rip what company has market dominance or where their quarterly projections lie or other business BS.

Also, if folks want to discuss Pathfinder vs 4e, there are like, two threads just hot off the front page to do so in. It'd be nice to keep the discussion a little more focused for those of us with a short attention span...

Jay

 

[The Little Raven]

Oh for pete's sake... what DIFFERENCE does it make which company is a supposed "market leader" or "industry leader" or any of that nonsense?

Because this stuff is just a thinly veiled flag waving contest between fans of different companies.

What do the developers/designers/executives of the companies care about? Putting out a product they are proud of while keeping food on their table and clothes on their kids' backs.

What do the fans of the companies care about?
Being able to claim the RPG equivalent of "My dad can beat up your dead."

These threads bring out the exact same people quoting the exact same information and drawing the exact same conclusions, ad nauseum. They never go anywhere or achieve anything useful.

 

[BryonD]

Because this stuff is just a thinly veiled flag waving contest between fans of different companies.

Cool, an intrinsically recursive post.

 

[Erik Mona]

Being able to claim the RPG equivalent of "My dad can beat up your dead."

Well, I would expect so.

--Erik

 

[Hairfoot]

A family-friendly zombie apocalypse game, perhaps?

 

[Aus_Snow]

 

[Minicol]

They already are.

 

[Truth Seeker]

How in the blue blazes, that Pazio can be compared to Wotc?

Hello??!!! It's like Night and Day. Carrots and Relish.

But there is one difference...even more grand.

Wotc does not have...












[sblock]Eric Mona...[/sblock]