I guess I'm a complete outlier then.
QR codes in books?
- Thread starter Morrus
- Start date
I guess I'm a complete outlier then.
Not having a smartphone? It's certainly unusual these days, and especially amongst the geekier demographics. I don't think that's a controversial thing.
Then again, this thread seems to have exclusively summoned only a series of people who don't have smartphones. So maybe I'm the outlier and never realised it!
True. Maybe the interface is the wrong question. It's whether it's worth commissioning or generating very specific multimedia content directly related to specific book sections.
Sure, every game will have a homepage where folks can find stuff - that's what we all do - but it's whether linking directly to specific items from the page is worth doing.
In a "this specific video goes with this specific sidebar in the book" kind of way as opposed to a "visit site.com for a bunch of resources" kind of way.
It may not be worth doing, but QR codes provide an example of an easy way to 'click' on a physical book page.
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Tom Strickland
First Post
I tend to use a desktop or laptop computer for gaming preparation and/or execution. And it was only recently I familiarized myself with QR codes because my annual insurance bill could not be paid online due to ongoing web site technical difficulties. I decided to try scanning the code on my physical paper statement in lieu of using the phone or postal mail. [This company has not yet gone paperless.] I grabbed a free iPhone app and it worked fine for scanning the code and reaching the site. It is still not my preference to type, expand and scroll around in a smartphone-sized computing UI.
Also, I personally am intrigued when books--and I have scads upon scads of them in all genres--contain references to online resources. For favorite resources, I will carefully check every interesting link and bookmark it according to relevance. Complex URL's are annoying to type from physical books. I also understand that sometimes sites are discontinued after a period of time especially if they are tied specifically to a single book title.
Some of my favorite D&D WotC and 3rd party books had electronic content available on their sites: errata, modules and other special content. I would usually check the vendor's site regardless of whether there was a reference to such content in the physical book.
Having said all of that: I think it would be useful to have a QR code in addition to a spelled-out URL. This would indicate a type of techie forward-thinking and could be especially appealing when a portion of the content is sci-fi themed.
I do not have the figures on the cost-benefit analysis, so beyond a certain cost the utility to the majority of users may not make sense. But within certain ranges, this product would join the ranks of those on the forward edge of scannable code adoption.
Practically speaking, I could see users at the gaming table with the physical book who scan the code to get to some online randomizer or dice-rolling util, a wiki or other searchable resource, forums, etc. They might bookmark those links for later/repeated use, but the initial scan to reach them would be a positive experience and memory for this vendor and product.
Linking specific topics via codes is something that sophisticated textbooks do using URL's at least. For some customers/users, being able to scan to reach a specific section on a site on demand and according to need would be a competitive advantage for a highly-referenced and re-usable print product with electronic (updatable!) support.
My friends that game with multiple structured-play groups state that "most" people use mobile phones or tablets at the sessions for dice rollers, character managers, supplemental PDF resources, and so on. It would seem that adding an electronically usable code to a physical book is not a far-fetched proposition at all!
Also, I personally am intrigued when books--and I have scads upon scads of them in all genres--contain references to online resources. For favorite resources, I will carefully check every interesting link and bookmark it according to relevance. Complex URL's are annoying to type from physical books. I also understand that sometimes sites are discontinued after a period of time especially if they are tied specifically to a single book title.
Some of my favorite D&D WotC and 3rd party books had electronic content available on their sites: errata, modules and other special content. I would usually check the vendor's site regardless of whether there was a reference to such content in the physical book.
Having said all of that: I think it would be useful to have a QR code in addition to a spelled-out URL. This would indicate a type of techie forward-thinking and could be especially appealing when a portion of the content is sci-fi themed.
I do not have the figures on the cost-benefit analysis, so beyond a certain cost the utility to the majority of users may not make sense. But within certain ranges, this product would join the ranks of those on the forward edge of scannable code adoption.
Practically speaking, I could see users at the gaming table with the physical book who scan the code to get to some online randomizer or dice-rolling util, a wiki or other searchable resource, forums, etc. They might bookmark those links for later/repeated use, but the initial scan to reach them would be a positive experience and memory for this vendor and product.
Linking specific topics via codes is something that sophisticated textbooks do using URL's at least. For some customers/users, being able to scan to reach a specific section on a site on demand and according to need would be a competitive advantage for a highly-referenced and re-usable print product with electronic (updatable!) support.
My friends that game with multiple structured-play groups state that "most" people use mobile phones or tablets at the sessions for dice rollers, character managers, supplemental PDF resources, and so on. It would seem that adding an electronically usable code to a physical book is not a far-fetched proposition at all!
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Mishihari Lord
First Post
I can see using a QR code for media or for a quicklink to character builder software. I'd want it somewhere I wouldn't have to look at it while I'm using the rules for other things though, like in it's own chapter or inside a cover. I wouldn't want links for a print resource - if it's printable put in in the book.
I also wouldn't see QR linked resources as a adding a lot of value to the book - I use my RPG books for decades and online resources are ephemeral. Chances are that most of the times I'd want to use the link the resource wouldn't be there anymore. Maybe if it actually loaded the content onto your phone it would be different, but people change phones so frequently that might not help either.
Oh, and I don't have a smartphone either - wouldn't even have my dumbphone if my wife hadn't insisted.
I also wouldn't see QR linked resources as a adding a lot of value to the book - I use my RPG books for decades and online resources are ephemeral. Chances are that most of the times I'd want to use the link the resource wouldn't be there anymore. Maybe if it actually loaded the content onto your phone it would be different, but people change phones so frequently that might not help either.
Oh, and I don't have a smartphone either - wouldn't even have my dumbphone if my wife hadn't insisted.
Lwaxy
Cute but dangerous
Not having a smartphone? It's certainly unusual these days, and especially amongst the geekier demographics.
I do not even own a phone, let alone a mobile, let alone a smartphone.
herrozerro
First Post
I think it needs to be done correctly if it's done at all. For example I could see some qr codes in the margins like how numenera has a lot of information in its margins. Another idea might be to have perhaps a glossary page in the back of the book with qr codes listed.
This topic sort of goes along with the ar one brought up a while ago. With our hobby being relatively geeky in general I could see the use of these two technologies really take off in the rpg market.
This topic sort of goes along with the ar one brought up a while ago. With our hobby being relatively geeky in general I could see the use of these two technologies really take off in the rpg market.
