Now Is This A Promise?

[JoeGKushner]

And here’s what you get if you are a subscriber:

Access to the pages where PDFs of Dragon and Dungeon can be downloaded (including new articles three times per week and monthly full issue compilations).
Access to the pages where Bonus Tools are launched (currently the Ability Generator and the Encounter Builder, soon to include a Monster Builder as well).
Access to the D&D Compendium detail pages.
Non-subscribers will be able to launch the Compendium, search for things, and see what results are returned. However, non-subscribers will not be able to click on the name of the rules element in order to see what it actually does. In other words, non-subscribers can see what things exist and what book they should go buy if they want to read more but don’t want a D&DI subscription.
By the time we launch our subscription service, the Compendium will include content from all 4E books and magazines published through the end of September (including Adventurer’s Vault and FR Player’s Guide).

So my question is, if we subscribe and it's not there day one, what happens? Do they nod their heads in apology and make up another reason why it's not done and people leap to their defense and go, "well, it's not a promise. It's not a pinky swear!"

This is a statement of product for sale. This is part of the service. To me, this is pretty much a "promise." They're saying it'll be there.

I'll probably be subscribing and I'll be very curious to see if it's got all the goods.

 

[Glyfair]

So my question is, if we subscribe and it's not there day one, what happens? Do they nod their heads in apology and make up another reason why it's not done...

"Make up" is too strong. They will probably tell us why it is not done. "Make up" implies they will be lying and that's making too many assumptions (that are likely to be erroneous).

...people leap to their defense and go, "well, it's not a promise. It's not a pinky swear!"

I can see a discussion about whether it was a "promise" or not. I also expect both sides to see the sort of tone you have here as well (to the detriment of the discussion).

This is a statement of product for sale. This is part of the service. To me, this is pretty much a "promise." They're saying it'll be there.

I agree. I would call is a promise, but not a promise with a capital "P." I fully expect that there are things that can happen that will mean it isn't there at launch. I expect the most likely situation, if it does happen, is that it will be up in a few days.

Then again, they have stated they didn't know when in October it will launch. They can hold off if the promised content isn't there. Whether they launch it without it or not will give an idea of where their priorities lie.

I'll probably be subscribing and I'll be very curious to see if it's got all the goods.

I will also likely be subscribing. However, I will first decide which parts are important to me and make sure they are there before I subscribe. Fortunately, I feel Online Dragon & Online Dragon are worth the subscription price to me. Anything else is gravy (promised or not).

 

[Umbran]

I am not sure that whether a particular word can be used to describe the statement is relevant.

You are a customer. You have some wants, and some expectations . You make up your mind how important each of them is to you. You decide whether or not they've been met to your satisfaction. You decide how much you are willing to pay for what they do offer.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I am not sure that whether a particular word can be used to describe the statement is relevant.

You are a customer. You have some wants, and some expectations . You make up your mind how important each of them is to you. You decide whether or not they've been met to your satisfaction. You decide how much you are willing to pay for what they do offer.

Ah, but a subscription doesn't quite work that way eh?

They're saying, "Hey, here's what we'll have."

And you go, "that sounds good" and subscribe.

And hey, just like a lot of things on the DDI, it turns out that part you were looking for just isn't quite available.

So do you go into a time machine or ?

 

[fba827]

It's fair to have expectations for a product. If you are unsure whether or not something that you are expecting in the product will be there on day one, then, well wait until day 2 of release to get your subscription. By then I'm sure you'll be able to tell (from people who did subscribe or per announcement) what was there and what wasn't -- That way you have the ability to make an informed decision as to whether or not it is complete to your satisfaction, and there isn't going to be something there on day 1 that you will miss out on by waiting until day 2, so no real loss for not being a first-day buyer.

 

[Zaukrie]

Not sure, but here's a different question.

If it is a week late, does it really matter? How about two? I'm not sure it matters that much at those points. Frankly, I'm annoyed that sometimes we don't get content on a MWF, or that content is useless, but if it is a day late or even a week, did I really lose any value?

 

[mac1504]

I'd like to know what the schedule will be for getting material updated in the compendium after October. Are we going to see one month's products available online the following month, two months later?

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

It'll be a promise if they're still saying it when you sign on the dotted line. Right now it's more a statement of intent.

 

[Henry]

And hey, just like a lot of things on the DDI, it turns out that part you were looking for just isn't quite available.

So do you go into a time machine or ?

That's why you sign up for one month only (like I plan to), and see where they take it. If it starts looking dicey, then I'm only out about 8 bucks; frankly, I've eaten bad Carl Jr's/Hardee's meals for 8 bucks, so I'm comfortable with being out that amount if it doesn't pan out. However, I'm planning on signing up for the long haul anyway come Christmastime, solely for the magazines alone, because they've had a really good track record to date with the 4e content provided. to me, 5 bucks is already worth the content they're putting out monthly right now, so anything else is simply bonus material!

 

[Fifth Element]

It'll be a promise if they're still saying it when you sign on the dotted line. Right now it's more a statement of intent.

This. In legal terms it's called consideration. You haven't given them anything yet so there's no way to hold them to what they say. Once there's a contract (subscription), then yes it's a "promise". Not that you'll really have any recourse, other than cancelling your subscription, if they fail to deliver.