RPG Now and Drive Through RPG merge

[Umbran]

From reading the posts in the publisher's forum it appears that the new conglomerate will be taking a bigger cut of the sales compared to when they were 3 separate companies. This means that in order for the publisher to make the same amount that they were previously they will have to increase their prices.

Only if you assume the total number of sales remains the same, which may not, in the long run, be accurate.

Time will tell. Current predictions either way are just speculation.

 

[Aus_Snow]

quoted for truth...dtrpg is nothing more than a necessary evil for me...

Quote that quote for truth, for truth.

 

[Morrus]

I don't know what the new site will look like, but I get the impression that James of RPGnow will be the major input into design.

 

[GMSkarka]

I hope DTRPG don't make major business decisions when they're merged with RPGNow.

DTRPG isn't going to be making any decisions. Neither will RPGNow.

The sites are now owned by a new business, which is a 50/50 partnership between the former owners of both sites. It is a true merger.

The reason that nobody is losing their job over this (to answer the question of an earlier poster) is because the new company will now be dealing with roughly double the volume of the single companies, so the additional staff will be needed.

The sites will continue to run separately (but with all product listed at both sites) for about the next six months or so, while the new unified site, with the best features of both sites and a bunch of new features as well, is programmed from the ground up.

Disclosure: I handle customer service for RPGNow. So, I'm sure that there are some out there who will dismiss me as a shill -- but I really do think this is a huge positive for the PDF market.

 

[trancejeremy]

Only if you assume the total number of sales remains the same, which may not, in the long run, be accurate.

Time will tell. Current predictions either way are just speculation.

Well yeah, all predictions are speculation.

But generally speaking, 2 competing companies that are roughly equal generates more total sales than one large company. Because the companies that compete have to work for sales, both in general, and from each other.

Plus, you have disgruntled customers from both companies. I've had problems with RPGNow's customer service. Lots of people don't like DTRPG because they are basically White Wolf and because of their DRM. Used to be, people would be able to purchase from their competitor. Now they probably won't buy PDFs.

Usually the advantage of a merger is that companies can streamline their operations and thus reduce overhead and end up offering low prices/rates . But that doesn't seem to be the case here, indeed, they are charger higher rates.

 

[Glyfair]

Used to be, people would be able to purchase from their competitor. Now they probably won't buy PDFs.

I think it will be more common that they will begrudgingly buy it from the merged company.

Of course, I was holding off on a purchase of Fiery Dragon's counter collection for a few days after they announced their ENWorld sale for Halloween. I hope it crosses over to one of the other sites now.

 

[Ripzerai]

Used to be, people would be able to purchase from their competitor. Now they probably won't buy PDFs.

Is everyone here completely unaware that Paizo has a PDF store?

 

[Jdvn1]

So, what do you think this means for consumers?

Well, it sounds like higher prices. I keep wondering whether or not this is a legal merger--politics aside, the government usually has to approve mergers like this. Is the market just small enough that no one cares?

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Wait. Is DTRPG the one with the DRM that only lets you print like x number of times from your paid for PDF or something like that? I have avoided them so long that I forgot the specifics of why I started in the first place.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Is the market just small enough that no one cares?

I think that is pretty much it.