Marketing criticisms miss the point

[DaveMage]

These are the guys and gals who participate in Living campaigns, go to tournaments and probably buy considerably more product than most of us.

No one bought more WotC 3.x RPG titles than I did.

 

[noretoc]

To talk a bit about the original post, on what else could wizards have done, why couldn't Wizards have done both. I know this may sound crazy, but why not keep 3.5 and make a new line. D&D Extreme?

 

[Mythtify]

I just think that JD's statment that WoTC marketing of 4th edition was a failure is absurd. The point of marketing is to sell your product. WoTC was sold out of 4th edition before it was even for sale in most stores. That, in business, is marketing success.

 

[Imaro]

I just think that JD's statment that WoTC marketing of 4th edition was a failure is absurd. The point of marketing is to sell your product. WoTC was sold out of 4th edition before it was even for sale in most stores. That, in business, is marketing success.

Huh? I don't understand this. Are you saying WotC sold their entire print run to distributors and that shows how effective their marketing was? Or that said print run has actually sold out so that customers can no longer buy them (which IMHO would be the only example that shows marketing was a success), or something else.

 

[Mythtify]

Huh? I don't understand this. Are you saying WotC sold their entire print run to distributors and that shows how effective their marketing was? Or that said print run has actually sold out so that customers can no longer buy them (which IMHO would be the only example that shows marketing was a success), or something else.

They sold out of there first printing. Since WoTC dosn't have any retail stores, I would have to assume that it was to ditributers. Either way, WoTC has already made their money.

 

[Relique du Madde]

I just think that JD's statment that WoTC marketing of 4th edition was a failure is absurd.

It was a failure in terms of there still being 3.x loyalists who will not convert over until several years pass (at best). A complete success would be if WoTC recieved 100% brand loyalty from 3.x loyalists + WoW players + every OGL gamer.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

The poll here on EN World shows 39% of responders are not buying 4E. This poll is being taken from the core audience of D&D. The 4E marketing team failed to convince 39% of its core demographic to buy their new product. That is failure on a grand scale. Almost on a New Coke scale.

Mhmmm, so you are telling me that, according to a poll in a forum, 4th edition has failed "Almost on a New Coke scale".

On the other hand, Amazon.com reports that the product is one of the top 20 bestsellers for at least a month and has had problems having enough product in stock for its buyers.

So tell me, who should I believe? Some unverifiable poll on a website, or one of the largest booksellers in the United States?

 

[Charwoman Gene]

You know who the first person to point out the flaws in 3.0/3.5 was?

Monte Cook.

I am paraphrasing, but he basically slammed the basic design tenets of system mastery and ivory-tower design.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

In that regard, the 4E marketing team failed miserably. The poll here on EN World shows 39% of responders are not buying 4E. This poll is being taken from the core audience of D&D. The 4E marketing team failed to convince 39% of its core demographic to buy their new product.

Of course, as this post demonstrates, people on the internet aren't always going to represent a demographic of people that can even be reached by marketing. There are many reasons to think that the people responding to message board polls are not a group to court.

 

[Hussar]

No one bought more WotC 3.x RPG titles than I did.

Sigh. YOU DON'T MATTER. I'm sorry, but you don't. There just aren't enough of you to matter.

What's more likely? That the average En Worlder, who comes on here, reads some threads, posts some posts, buys more WOTC products than the average RPGA member who actually travels to tournaments, plays semi-competitively and is rewarded for playing?

I think you're dreaming.

There's a reason the RPGA was tapped to do the play testing. That wasn't an accident. 4e is the RPGA's game. This is how WOTC is going to sustain the subscription model. They have a ready made audience who they know plays regularly, plays MODULES regularly, and play D&D without 3rd party support. Also these are people who have no problems playing with strangers, who are familiar with tournament style play, who actually LIKE WOTC D&D.

Add to this the DDI and the ability to play RPGA games without leaving your house. And Dungeon adventures that will give RPGA rewards.

This is what will drive 4e. Not you or me playing at home with your buddies. THIS will drive the business of D&D.