Licensees not going to 4e because of poor sales?

[Mark]

I think the OP is trying to say that Wizards had denied granting the GSL to third party publishers. You guys are getting backwards I think...

Yup, something is odd. That's why I want the OP to find out where the article ran (not trying to accuse anyone of making things up).

 

[2WS-Steve]

GM Skarka of Adamant Entertainment said a while back that he wasn't overly impressed with the sales of his Venture4th module, Scourge of the Ratmen -- and I've read it. It's a solid module.

So maybe 4e's good for WotC, but not such a big deal for 3PPs.

Though it might instead be that PDFs won't see a big boost but print publishers will still do well.

My guess is that, regardless, it won't be as good for 3PPs as the early days of 3e.

 

[hailstop]

Agreed, you don't get to quote an article unless the article itself is provided. Even then the article is likely to be discredited if it doesn't detail what industry professional/insider provided the data...

Well, I _can_ quote it. But then you can ask me for a reference.

I've asked him where he saw that article. He did say that the publishers who did Freeport were specifically quoted. I'm not sure who that is, since I'm not that familiar with the 3pp products.

 

[evilref]

Well, I _can_ quote it. But then you can ask me for a reference.

I've asked him where he saw that article. He did say that the publishers who did Freeport were specifically quoted. I'm not sure who that is, since I'm not that familiar with the 3pp products.

That's Green Ronin, and afaik sales figures for 4e have nothing at all to do with why Green Ronin aren't supporting 4e.

I'm sure that system issues aside, most of those publishers who have expressed a negative would love to have the freedom of the OGL to support 4e in the hope that lighting will strike twice and they'll shift a lot of books on the back of a new release.

4e is and, short of some unforseen major event, will continue to be the biggest selling game in the industry, so I doubt sales figures has anything to do with a take up in the industry.

If the OP's source meant external to the industry, that's harder to quantify as we don't know what prices might have been quoted to (for example) a computer game company to do a 4e crpg. However, sales for 4e are unlikely at this stage to be massively below 3.x at a similar stage in its publishing cycle (hard to quantify so that's just a judgement call).

 

[teitan]

My guess is that, regardless, it won't be as good for 3PPs as the early days of 3e.

I thought this was already considered a given. The launch of 3e is kind of like Image Comics, a once in a lifetime kind of thing that will be almost impossible to recreate.

 

[Vanuslux]

GM Skarka of Adamant Entertainment said a while back that he wasn't overly impressed with the sales of his Venture4th module, Scourge of the Ratmen -- and I've read it. It's a solid module.

Hmm...I had no idea this was out yet...nobody has been talking about it as far as I can tell, which is odd since it's one of the first 4e 3pp adventures. However, I did some quick looking around and discovered that it costs $20 for a 36 page printed module or $10 for a 36 page PDF. Comparatively, you can get a PDF of the 116 page Thunderspire Labyrinth for $18. No wonder sales are a bit lackluster...not much exposure and at a rather steep price point. Nevermind that the best review score for it is a 3/5.

 

[2WS-Steve]

Hmm...I had no idea this was out yet...nobody has been talking about it as far as I can tell, which is odd since it's one of the first 4e 3pp adventures. However, I did some quick looking around and discovered that it costs $20 for a 36 page printed module or $10 for a 36 page PDF. Comparatively, you can get a PDF of the 116 page Thunderspire Labyrinth for $18. No wonder sales are a bit lackluster...not much exposure and at a rather steep price point. Nevermind that the best review score for it is a 3/5.

You're right -- I forgot about that. Yah, a typical $10 PDF is a 96 page or so book (or maybe 64 page book that's a new release).

Maybe the extra charge is to cover potential legal fees!

 

[Duvall]

I checked Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Core-Rulebook-Gift/dp/0786950633/ref=pd_ts_b_1?ie=UTF8&s=books

the Core Rules Book Gift Set is currently the #1 seller for puzzles and games and #18 for "entertainment" books - this does not seem like a weak showing.

Having looked at the other products in that listing, I'm not sure beating out "Kaplan GRE in a Box" in the Puzzles and Games category is all that impressive a showing.

 

[Filcher]

GM Skarka of Adamant Entertainment said a while back that he wasn't overly impressed with the sales of his Venture4th module, Scourge of the Ratmen -- and I've read it. It's a solid module.

I'm sorry, but apart from seeing their posts on ENworld, I wouldn't know who/what Adamant Entertainment is. I don't recall having seen their work in the FLGS, etc. I think "lackluster" sales are due to our unfamiliarity with their product, rather than customer response to 4E.

Just my opinion. Could be totally wrong.

I went to the Green Ronin site and read all the Pramas posts on 4E. Couldn't find anything indicating their decision was due to 4E financials.

 

[JeffB]

Hmm...I had no idea this was out yet...nobody has been talking about it as far as I can tell, which is odd since it's one of the first 4e 3pp adventures. However, I did some quick looking around and discovered that it costs $20 for a 36 page printed module or $10 for a 36 page PDF. Comparatively, you can get a PDF of the 116 page Thunderspire Labyrinth for $18. No wonder sales are a bit lackluster...not much exposure and at a rather steep price point. Nevermind that the best review score for it is a 3/5.

This.

I had not heard of the adventure either until a day or two ago. I checked the website and saw 30-something pages for $20 plus shipping and frankly, lol'ed. I won't begrudge anyone charging what they feel they need to charge for their product, but the print version price is def the reason I won't be buying it (I don't buy PDFs).