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<blockquote data-quote="JohnRTroy" data-source="post: 4139327" data-attributes="member: 2732">I think you're making a few assumptions about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum" target="_blank">Game Theory</a>.&nbsp; Entertainment in the large sphere might not be considered a &quot;zero-sum&quot; game, but like I said elsewhere, it can be postive, zero, or negative.&nbsp; Your experience regarding entertainment is not indicative of others.&nbsp; People do have budgets and have to make sacrifices.&nbsp; We have to make a few economic assumptions, and this is based on public statements by TSR, Wizards, and people who were there like Harold Johnson, Gary Gygax, other TSR and wizards staffers.1)&nbsp; There is a limited market for RPGs.&nbsp; New customers join and old customers retire.2)&nbsp; The more choice there is in the market, the more competition there is.3)&nbsp; Assuming competition is equal, less money gets to each player (the company selling products) the more items are out there there is.4)&nbsp; Competition is not always equal since we are dealing with a subject product (entertainment), so people will gravitate to the best product that fits their needs and desires.But, assuming there is a limited market, players can't get everything.&nbsp; Even if they like say the output of the top 8 publishers, they may be able to afford only the top 4.&nbsp; Thus, choices are made.&nbsp; This is where the game theory comes into play.&nbsp; You can only get so much.&nbsp; And you factor in the following facts.1)&nbsp; TSR introduced self-competition with campaign worlds in the 1990s, so they (and Wizards) have experience with what happens when you introduce too much choice to a very limited market.2)&nbsp; The d20 glut is similar to the above situation, too much product, not enough consumers, with the added negative that the extra money doesn't go to Wizards.3)&nbsp; The OGL ads an interesting twist as it allows &quot;free&quot; competition, such as SRDs on-line.&nbsp; The core books are the bulk of Wizards sales.&nbsp; Anything that threatens sales of the core books is something that could hurt their bottom line.Mr. Pramas isn't saying one way or another, he's saying Wizards has to take all of this into account.&nbsp; And lets remember that what might be ideal for us may not be ideal for a company to make a profit.&nbsp; What good is &quot;good will&quot; if your bottom line isn't being met.&nbsp; The OGL certainly benefits the consumer and the third-parties a lot more than it may benefit WoTC.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="JohnRTroy, post: 4139327, member: 2732"] I think you're making a few assumptions about [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum]Game Theory[/URL]. Entertainment in the large sphere might not be considered a "zero-sum" game, but like I said elsewhere, it can be postive, zero, or negative. Your experience regarding entertainment is not indicative of others. People do have budgets and have to make sacrifices. We have to make a few economic assumptions, and this is based on public statements by TSR, Wizards, and people who were there like Harold Johnson, Gary Gygax, other TSR and wizards staffers. 1) There is a limited market for RPGs. New customers join and old customers retire. 2) The more choice there is in the market, the more competition there is. 3) Assuming competition is equal, less money gets to each player (the company selling products) the more items are out there there is. 4) Competition is not always equal since we are dealing with a subject product (entertainment), so people will gravitate to the best product that fits their needs and desires. But, assuming there is a limited market, players can't get everything. Even if they like say the output of the top 8 publishers, they may be able to afford only the top 4. Thus, choices are made. This is where the game theory comes into play. You can only get so much. And you factor in the following facts. 1) TSR introduced self-competition with campaign worlds in the 1990s, so they (and Wizards) have experience with what happens when you introduce too much choice to a very limited market. 2) The d20 glut is similar to the above situation, too much product, not enough consumers, with the added negative that the extra money doesn't go to Wizards. 3) The OGL ads an interesting twist as it allows "free" competition, such as SRDs on-line. The core books are the bulk of Wizards sales. Anything that threatens sales of the core books is something that could hurt their bottom line. Mr. Pramas isn't saying one way or another, he's saying Wizards has to take all of this into account. And lets remember that what might be ideal for us may not be ideal for a company to make a profit. What good is "good will" if your bottom line isn't being met. The OGL certainly benefits the consumer and the third-parties a lot more than it may benefit WoTC. [/QUOTE]

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