Pathfinder 1E Is PAIZO becoming the next Wizards?

[Aus_Snow]

I wonder if they could end up as "hated" in some circles as WotC, or Games Workshop or similar companies. This usually seems to come with the territory of being succesful and market leaders, but maybe Paizo's marketing and business decision can avoid that? Or they can't get there because they won't become market leaders in the first place?

The problems with WotC's image, let alone Games Workshop's. . . are *nothing* to do with success, profits, visibility, etc.

Well OK, maybe visibility, to the extent that you'd have to hear about them to (potentially) know some of what has gone on. . .

But no, success does not (and therefore would not) automatically attract contempt, or what have you.

 

[jdrakeh]

The problems with WotC's image, let alone Games Workshop's. . . are *nothing* to do with success, profits, visibility, etc.

True. I think it has more to do with disgruntled fans. IME, hardly anybody outside of the hardcore fan community holds either company in contempt. Indeed, IME, most people outside of that community fall into two groups:

1. Those that laud said businesses as successes.
2. Those who have never heard of WotC or Games Workshop.

 

[wedgeski]

But no, success does not (and therefore would not) automatically attract contempt, or what have you.

Oh I think it does, but perhaps a discussion for another time.

 

[Nikosandros]

Wizards of the Coast basically made (and makes) most of his money with its collectible card games. They didn't start out as a roleplaying game company, and they aren't only that now, either.

Well, actually they did, before producing Magic...

But, yeah, your point stands, they jumped from small publisher to huge player who could afford to bail out TSR thanks to card games.

 

[Windjammer]

Oh, come on. That's not remotely as interesting as the question...

Is WotC becoming the next Paizo?

For one, they've lost the Star Wars license. Which is exactly what happened Paizo, and when they started to blossom into the type of company they are today.



...
;D

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I personally would prefer if they just stayed what they are - a good gaming company. This "let´s constantly compare my company with your company" thing is getting on my nerves. Really, can´t they just produce good stuff? Is that not enough?

I'm in complete agreement with what Keefe says here. I like Paizo just the way that they are. There's no need to compare the two and eventually it will just lead to edition / company war/bickering.

WOTC does what they do.
Paizo does what they do.

Lets just leave it at that.

 

[jdrakeh]

For one, they've lost the Star Wars license. Which is exactly what happened Paizo, and when they started to blossom into the type of company they are today.

I'm not sure that WotC losing the Star Wars license is the same as Paizo losing the d20 STL (Paizo still has access to and uses the OGL). In fact, as far as I can tell, the two situations are entirely different. I'm not sure how you arrived at the conclusion that they're at all similar.

 

[Steel_Wind]

No. But Paizo is in the midst of perhaps becoming the next White Wolf ca. 2000 a.d., which is to say, the second biggest kid on the block.

I prefer to think of Paizo as TSR, really. And I don't mean that in a bad way; I mean it in a good one. It's a hobby game company. It's owned by gamers - run by gamers and they make games and accessories for gamers.

 

[DaveMage]

Yeah, I think the comparisons to early White Wolf and early TSR are better than the comparison to WotC.

It doesn't really matter though. I like Paizo for what they are and not what I want or expect them to become.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

creating their own roleplaying game (Pathfinder)

I wouldn't go that far. They added to a base that others created.

One day we might perhaps even see them releasing a magazine of their own - who knows?

I doubt it. I think they've found a better business model than a magazine could provide. Maybe an ezine.

The problems with WotC's image, let alone Games Workshop's. . . are *nothing* to do with success, profits, visibility, etc.

But no, success does not (and therefore would not) automatically attract contempt, or what have you.

True. I think it has more to do with disgruntled fans.

I like Paizo just the way that they are.

I think Mustrum has a point. If Paizo shot for greater business success and changed from what they are now, like becoming a publicly traded company that has to answer to stockholders, would the fans become disgruntled that Paizo "sold out" and lump the same hate on them that they do WotC? I believe history tells us "Yes." Look to Metallica (even before the band started hating on pirates) for an example of disgruntled fans who got mad because "their band" went mainstream.