I am responding as a consumer of RPG products.
I think a lot of commenters on this thread are dead on.
I do think it is hypocritical that someone will spend 30$ on a dinner and then $15 bucks for some movie tickets, and then complain that RPG books are too expensive. The amount of enjoyment form these products in reading value alone is worht it IMHO. They stir the passions, ignite the fires of our dreams. They get us so excited to play somethign we get giddy. Not many things in life do.
I agree that Mr. Aylott. There is enough to sell a variety of products at a variety of price range.
I also agree with many posters that the problem is people WANT ot pay less for that $50 product and get it for less, because that shiny thick hardcover just outshines the others. That doesn't mean that it is any better, just that it is a very impressive package.
I have watched the D20 movement with surprising interest, and love these discussions. I have watched how compainies like Atlas began making more and more Hardcovers, and saw the trend forming. I think that the D20 RPG industry is still figuring out what to do, and unlike others, I think it will. Id on't think a ton of companies are going to fold over night. It will take time, ane we will lose some unfortuantely, but maybe many smaller ones will combine? who knows. I definitely feel optimistic overall and a bookcase of RP and D20 products prove my support for the industry. I don't at all think that companies are going to move away from D20. I do think that we will start getting less products and higher quality for maybe more price. But I am just an amatuer D20 armchair quarterback. In the end, I think that a multitiered approach is best for the industry as a whole. And this is why:
My buying habits: I pre order the stuff I am very excited about. I purchase at my FLGS because it supports the industry. I don't buy ebay, because it doesn't support the industry, unless I can't get the title anywhere else. I purchase online PDFs and occasionally from Talon Comics and would from EN World, as I support those companies and they support the industry. I try to spread my purchases across the industry so that all recieve benefit. I know that makes me abnormal, but it is likely because so many publishers chime up on these boards, and they are now REAL people to me, and I want them to suceed and would rather have the industry suceed at the proce of me paying more. It is something I care about. Especially since it is in my best self interest.
Secondly, when I walk in a game shop. Any price range is an impulse buy. Many times have I gone in for one thing and left with a different product or an additional hardcover. I like my products big and think, and would pay more if I deemed it worth it. I agree that if a person wants something bad enough, then they will pay for it. If they are not willing to pay that much - they don't want it as bad as the person that will. They should stick to the lower priced items and BE happy. That is what they are there for. I generally spend 70 - 100 bucks a month on gaming. That allows me one big purchase and one to two smaller purchases. Or a couple of big ones. I will honestly admit, a shiny beautiful hardcover gets looked at first. But it is the perusal that counts the most. Several times I have purchased smaller GR (the vamp book) or MEG (Guilds) products, that I had never considered because they passed the perusal. And finally, I rate the items I want. When that Beautiful B5 book came out, I bought it. It meant I couldn't get Wilds by AEG that month. I didn't forget about Wilds, and as soon as there was a "gap" I picked it up.
I bought B5. I bought The Fantasy Bestiary by Atlas. I bought Dragonlance. I regret none of them.
But in the end I buy what I like and can afford. If what I want is more expensive, so be it. I will be happier spending on the thing I want than the couple of things I am less enthused about.
I am not sure if all of this makes me abnormal or normal. Probably some of both!
Either way, I care about the industry, and plan to support the best I can since I can afford it by NOT buying at WALMART, and instead my FLGS or EnWorld or RPGnow, and occasionlly direct from Companies.
I wish all game designers success and profit, because we consumers are thriving and loving the dreams you spark in us.
Razuur
I think a lot of commenters on this thread are dead on.
I do think it is hypocritical that someone will spend 30$ on a dinner and then $15 bucks for some movie tickets, and then complain that RPG books are too expensive. The amount of enjoyment form these products in reading value alone is worht it IMHO. They stir the passions, ignite the fires of our dreams. They get us so excited to play somethign we get giddy. Not many things in life do.
I agree that Mr. Aylott. There is enough to sell a variety of products at a variety of price range.
I also agree with many posters that the problem is people WANT ot pay less for that $50 product and get it for less, because that shiny thick hardcover just outshines the others. That doesn't mean that it is any better, just that it is a very impressive package.
I have watched the D20 movement with surprising interest, and love these discussions. I have watched how compainies like Atlas began making more and more Hardcovers, and saw the trend forming. I think that the D20 RPG industry is still figuring out what to do, and unlike others, I think it will. Id on't think a ton of companies are going to fold over night. It will take time, ane we will lose some unfortuantely, but maybe many smaller ones will combine? who knows. I definitely feel optimistic overall and a bookcase of RP and D20 products prove my support for the industry. I don't at all think that companies are going to move away from D20. I do think that we will start getting less products and higher quality for maybe more price. But I am just an amatuer D20 armchair quarterback. In the end, I think that a multitiered approach is best for the industry as a whole. And this is why:
My buying habits: I pre order the stuff I am very excited about. I purchase at my FLGS because it supports the industry. I don't buy ebay, because it doesn't support the industry, unless I can't get the title anywhere else. I purchase online PDFs and occasionally from Talon Comics and would from EN World, as I support those companies and they support the industry. I try to spread my purchases across the industry so that all recieve benefit. I know that makes me abnormal, but it is likely because so many publishers chime up on these boards, and they are now REAL people to me, and I want them to suceed and would rather have the industry suceed at the proce of me paying more. It is something I care about. Especially since it is in my best self interest.
Secondly, when I walk in a game shop. Any price range is an impulse buy. Many times have I gone in for one thing and left with a different product or an additional hardcover. I like my products big and think, and would pay more if I deemed it worth it. I agree that if a person wants something bad enough, then they will pay for it. If they are not willing to pay that much - they don't want it as bad as the person that will. They should stick to the lower priced items and BE happy. That is what they are there for. I generally spend 70 - 100 bucks a month on gaming. That allows me one big purchase and one to two smaller purchases. Or a couple of big ones. I will honestly admit, a shiny beautiful hardcover gets looked at first. But it is the perusal that counts the most. Several times I have purchased smaller GR (the vamp book) or MEG (Guilds) products, that I had never considered because they passed the perusal. And finally, I rate the items I want. When that Beautiful B5 book came out, I bought it. It meant I couldn't get Wilds by AEG that month. I didn't forget about Wilds, and as soon as there was a "gap" I picked it up.
I bought B5. I bought The Fantasy Bestiary by Atlas. I bought Dragonlance. I regret none of them.
But in the end I buy what I like and can afford. If what I want is more expensive, so be it. I will be happier spending on the thing I want than the couple of things I am less enthused about.
I am not sure if all of this makes me abnormal or normal. Probably some of both!
Either way, I care about the industry, and plan to support the best I can since I can afford it by NOT buying at WALMART, and instead my FLGS or EnWorld or RPGnow, and occasionlly direct from Companies.
I wish all game designers success and profit, because we consumers are thriving and loving the dreams you spark in us.
Razuur
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