RPG Now and Drive Through RPG merge
- Thread starter Meloncov
- Start date
I am a bit concerned about the merger for a couple of reasons. First, I have had some trouble getting DTRPG to update a pdf I ordered. The pdf was such low resolution that printing it out was useless. That, coupled with the watermarking interferring with the maps, and I was not a happy camper. Now, I give them a little credit for giving me a generous refund, but the file has still not been fixed (I should ask them about this again).
I ordered my Skeleton Key Games stuff from RPGNow because I did not want watermarking on it. I did not want anything potentially messing up my map tiles. If non-watermarked/non-DRM files are not available at the new site, I guess I will have to stop buying my SKG stuff and resort to making my own or buying from someone else.
I have not had good experience with watermarked or DRM locked PDFs. I am not hopeful that this will be a positive end result for someone like me.
I ordered my Skeleton Key Games stuff from RPGNow because I did not want watermarking on it. I did not want anything potentially messing up my map tiles. If non-watermarked/non-DRM files are not available at the new site, I guess I will have to stop buying my SKG stuff and resort to making my own or buying from someone else.
I have not had good experience with watermarked or DRM locked PDFs. I am not hopeful that this will be a positive end result for someone like me.
Bardsandsages
First Post
If I might point out a few things:
1. For those that are so worried that "lack of competition" will increase the prices. Firstly, I sell on all three sites, and I have NEVER seen any indication of cross-over competition. People have their favorite shops for various reasons, and that is where they shop. If you want to support ENWorld, you will shop through the ENworld affiliate shop. If you like RPGNow, you'll continue to shop there. Second, since the publishers are the ones who set the pricing, not the stores, most of us sell our products at the same price at all storefronts.
2. Second, the owners have been indicating that they have plans to actually help the PDF market grow, not just try to milk the existing one. Anyone who knows these guys knows they are in the business of increasing sales, not trying to squeeze an extra nickel out of every sale. I think James said that right now PDFs account for only 11% of the total RPG market. Does it really make sense to just continue with the status quo and higher prices for 11% of the market? Or do you try to grab a bigger share of the total market?
3. This is going to help publishers in a variety of ways. First, instead of having to upload and maintain inventories on multiple sites, we can upload once and the effort will be mirrored on all sites. This is an enormous time saver. Second, it will allow us to focus marketing efforts on a single outlet instead of trying to spread ourselves out over five or six. From an accounting standpoint, I know only have to worry about one sales venue instead of 5 or 6. For us, that means a huge savings in time and money. Time and money that is now freed up to invest in actual product production! Smart publishers will take this savings and produce better products, which in turn will benefit consumers.
1. For those that are so worried that "lack of competition" will increase the prices. Firstly, I sell on all three sites, and I have NEVER seen any indication of cross-over competition. People have their favorite shops for various reasons, and that is where they shop. If you want to support ENWorld, you will shop through the ENworld affiliate shop. If you like RPGNow, you'll continue to shop there. Second, since the publishers are the ones who set the pricing, not the stores, most of us sell our products at the same price at all storefronts.
2. Second, the owners have been indicating that they have plans to actually help the PDF market grow, not just try to milk the existing one. Anyone who knows these guys knows they are in the business of increasing sales, not trying to squeeze an extra nickel out of every sale. I think James said that right now PDFs account for only 11% of the total RPG market. Does it really make sense to just continue with the status quo and higher prices for 11% of the market? Or do you try to grab a bigger share of the total market?
3. This is going to help publishers in a variety of ways. First, instead of having to upload and maintain inventories on multiple sites, we can upload once and the effort will be mirrored on all sites. This is an enormous time saver. Second, it will allow us to focus marketing efforts on a single outlet instead of trying to spread ourselves out over five or six. From an accounting standpoint, I know only have to worry about one sales venue instead of 5 or 6. For us, that means a huge savings in time and money. Time and money that is now freed up to invest in actual product production! Smart publishers will take this savings and produce better products, which in turn will benefit consumers.
Alzrius
The EN World kitten
What is more interesting is the fact that e23.sjgames.com does not mention anything about that. I have not read through the SJGames forums yet today, but I am sure comments are forthcoming.Alzrius said:
As a followup, this thread on the Steve Jackson Games forum states that e23 has not merged with RPGnow. They will have more details soon.
Cheiromancer
Adventurer
Anyone know of a way to use one's ENGS credit for purchases at the new RPG Now front? I don't really want to buy banner ads, but that's about all that's for sale.
I know I can withdraw the money, but that will just involve two more sets of paypal transaction fees; one to come out, the other to put in at the new store.
There's no particular urgency; if these balances can be transferred at some time in the reasonably near future it'll be fine. But I'd just like to know.
I know I can withdraw the money, but that will just involve two more sets of paypal transaction fees; one to come out, the other to put in at the new store.
There's no particular urgency; if these balances can be transferred at some time in the reasonably near future it'll be fine. But I'd just like to know.
Jdvn1
Hanging in there. Better than the alternative.
Firstly, I'm referring to the PDF retail market, not the RPG market as a whole. They're so different that I think, in this scenario, combining the two would be a mistake.Glyfair said:
Secondly, competition is measured by market size, not number of firms. Regardless, you're confusing the PDF publishing market with the PDF retail market. When PDF publishers have little to no choice of where to sell their PDFs, the monopoly firm (in this case, OBS), has a much higher degree of price control, so they can set their fees to be pretty high.
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