Responses to Questions about the DI

[jgbrowning]

Joe, you're cool and successful, but I'm not sure that your experiences - as a publisher or otherwise - are necessarily as relevant to this situation as you think.

Thanks for pointing that out to me. For a second there I thought I was making a joke.

joe b.

 

[Aus_Snow]

There are people without computers and/or internet access that play D&D? Color me baffled.

Yep. I even know one (as in, one who doesn't have convenient access, and isn't interested to have it either.)

Sure, one. But still.

 

[DaveMage]

This is what I like.

Q. How much will full access to the DI cost me?

A. We haven’t finalized pricing yet, but there will be some content that is available for free to everyone and other content exclusive for premium members.

Looks like people like me, who have vowed never to subscribe, will be able to "stick a toe in the water" free of charge, and eventually join up with everyone else.

Maybe they'll use an ESPN-like model, where a lot of content is free, but the juicy stuff is not.

 

[Merkuri]

In other topics, is this weird wording (especially considering the question isn't asking "when" but "how much") or did he say that DI is coming right after the magazines stop?

They might not release all of the DI at once. It could be that online magazine content will come as soon as the magazines stop, but some of the more advanced stuff (such as a hypothetical player-DM finding service or a character generator) won't come until a later date.

 

[sjmiller]

There are people without computers and/or internet access that play D&D? Color me baffled.

I know actual Homeless people who have internet access (via public libraries and the like). Homeless. I mean, unless it's some sort of personal choice issue, then by all means do what you feel like and all. Still, people under the age of 80 who don't have internet access? *confused*

You may be baffled, but I am not. I game with people who have little or no internet access. In the past I've gamed with people who are a bit technophobic. They do not have internet access, nor do they have a cell phone. Many people I know who are gamers do not like spending their personal time sitting in front of a computer. Heck, the only reason I am here right now is because I am at work with nothing to do. If I were at home I have much better things to do than sit in front of a computer to get gaming info or to play a game.

In my gaming group of nine, I am the only one who spends any amout of time online getting gaming material. The others prefer to read things offline. I would join them, but as the DM I try and keep up with new things for gaming. If I had my choice, however, I would much rather read a magazine or a book or not have to stare at a computer screen. It is what I do for a living, so my free time should be spent doing other things, like playing games.

 

[amethal]

Actually, they were given a three month extention IIRC. Which would mean that July would have been the last issue. Not exactly several months ago.

The last issues ship in August.

Three months earlier, IYRC, the last issue would have shipped in May. So no, not exactly several months ago.

[As I recall it, it was "a few months" extension, which could mean three.]

So, leaving my faulty maths aside, I find it strange that under the original plan the last ever Dragon magazine would have been sent out to subscribers a couple of weeks ago, but we still have nothing concrete about what the DI will contain, how much it will cost, what DRM will be used, or how often it will be updated.

However, we do now at least know that the free portion will be >0%, and that they are considering using stuff from the Paizo slush pile.

And I, for one, haven't called anybody a moron.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

There are people without computers and/or internet access that play D&D? Color me baffled.

I know actual Homeless people who have internet access (via public libraries and the like). Homeless. I mean, unless it's some sort of personal choice issue, then by all means do what you feel like and all. Still, people under the age of 80 who don't have internet access? *confused*

(ninja edit: Watermarked PDFs wouldn't be so bad, but anything more and it'll definitely hurt sales.)

-TRRW

My D&D group all have computers and email. Only half however actually use thier computers for anything else besides email. Yes computers and the internet are very common but that does not mean that everyone is comfortable using them. With our group even email is iffy. If it is short and to the point about when/where we are meeting the message will be read. If it is even an attachment it may not be read. Don't equate computer accessabilty levels with actual usage levels.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I'll post here what I posted in the comments section about the thread in question:

Lots of digital products you own have DRM. Some DRM solutions are rather onerous (like Windows XP) and others are relatively light like watermarking a "pdf" (for lack of a better term) type file with your name. They are both forms of DRM. DRM does not imply lack of ownership.

You are right that DRM does not discourage piracy. People that want to will hack systems and find the work arounds to any form of digital protection will do so. There are some bad apples out there but we largely work under premise that our customers are honest. DRM does not have to be a pain in the butt to the consumer but can offer the business some protection, even if slight.​

Thanks for dropping by to get this out. DRM tied to a subscription would definately kill the deal for me regardless of content. I'm glad it sounds like you arent going that route.

 

[Mercule]

In my gaming group of nine, I am the only one who spends any amout of time online getting gaming material.

In my group of six, I'm the only person who consistantly keeps up to date on releases, etc. online. The next most "Internet oriented" player uses d20srd.org and does PBEMs.

I've known people who work in the computer industry and who play MMORPGs heavily who would never consider going to a message board or an online subscription for table top info.

 

[hexgrid]

For those who game with non-computer users: are these people subscribers or purchasers of Dragon and Dungeon?

I wouldn't be surprised if "lack of interest in reading about games online" correlates with "lack of interest in buying gaming magazines." If so, the switch to digital won't effect them much.