Mearls' Latest Thought on the Industry

[Belen]

So you're saying that RPGs have no chance of growing online?

Not traditional P&P RPGs. Computer games are another story. They have wider access.

Oh...you could grow an RPG online from nothing to cater to a small net audience like ENWorld, but there is no chance of seriously attracting shiny new gamers.

The PDF industry relies on WOTC/WW to keep attracting new gamers. It does nothing to create them.

 

[philreed]

No. It has further sidelined publishers by making one segment of the market far too important to their success.

The only reason that several print publishers even started selling PDFs was because the traditional distribution system failed them. Without PDFs there would be fewer print publishers in operation today.

Please call some retailers and distributors and ask them about average sales numbers over the last ten years. I think you'll be quite surprised by what you hear.

 

[Belen]

But it sure beats going out of business.

And since PDF income keeps many small publishers in business (and some not-so small ones honestly), it therefore has not "screwed" small publishers, its given them an option to the archaic dinosaur of a distribution system.

Sure it has. Or has it kept them from complaining loud enough to either fix that system or find an alternative. PDF publishing is the path of least resistance.

As for going out of business, why does moving to a tiny, graying market beat going out of business? It may do them good individually, but I am not talking about what it could for the few.

 

[Henry]

Belen, if it's only a "tool for grognards", how is it screwing small publishers, or the industry in general? At worst, one could argue it has no effect, but if the industry is nothing but grognards to begin with, then it's in a lot worst trouble than anyone realizes. I see a good many signs that it's more than just 30-year olds, but that it's not growing to the phenomenon-like stages of 25 years ago.

What worries me is that Mike Mearls, whose opinions and works I've liked for a long time, is making statements that are becoming more yes-man-like as time goes on. This, the OGC wiki, it's almost like he's hinting, "anything NOT WotC is hurting RPG's."

Say it ain't so, Mike!

 

[philreed]

As for going out of business, why does moving to a tiny, graying market beat going out of business? It may do them good individually, but I am not talking about what it could for the few.

I think you are out of touch on the size of the PDF industry. It continues to grow, each and every year since I started publishing PDFs, and shows signs of continued growth. And PDFs have completely replaced print products for many players.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Whoa.

You're saying capitalism fosters hard work and innovation?

That's crazy talk.

Get out of my head, Chuck.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I think you are out of touch on the size of the PDF industry. It continues to grow, each and every year since I started publishing PDFs, and shows signs of continued growth. And PDFs have completely replaced print products for many players.

In many ways, it makes sense that the PDF industry would continue to grow.

More people are using computers.

High speed connection's have become more popular.

Gamers are taking their games online. We have many play be posts here and other part of the internet.

Many companies are putting out of stock items that havent' been available for years into PDF format and profiting from it.

Many companies that only did print are finding that PDF is helping the bottom line without a ton more expenditure.

I still think that PDF has a ways to go before it's at it's point of maximum utility, but it's come a long way in a short time.

 

[philreed]

I still think that PDF has a ways to go before it's at it's point of maximum utility, but it's come a long way in a short time.

Again, I agree. I'm trying to do my part to improve my own procedures and products but I think the real changes to the PDF industry will happen each time a larger print publisher gets seriously involved.

 

[Belen]

I think you are out of touch on the size of the PDF industry. It continues to grow, each and every year since I started publishing PDFs, and shows signs of continued growth. And PDFs have completely replaced print products for many players.

No. I am sure that it is growing all the time. However, I think you are giving the net savvy folks too much credit. The only people I know who actually use PDFs are people who love KaZaa and people on ENWorld.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Again, I agree. I'm trying to do my part to improve my own procedures and products but I think the real changes to the PDF industry will happen each time a larger print publisher gets seriously involved.

I agree.

Too many "big" or "print" publishers just take their products and make them into PDF books. Some don't even bother to bookmark their material. Others don't bother to make the material printer friendly. Such material is better than nothing for the person who wants it on the go, but it's overall utility, and actual useage, is diminished.