RPGNow Expanding...

[Keith Robinson]

Actually, you're correct... The default quick search scans only one site.

Shame. It would have been a good way to link the two sites, IMO, while avoiding the present "clutter" problem (for those who percieve this to be a problem).

 

[Fester]

Actually, you're correct... The default quick search scans only one site.

Face it, the point of this was to seperate the products, not just some fancy interface that can be gotten around easy enough. If you're into Indie games or the new guy on the block. You go to edge.rpgnow.com or set your default home page to that. If you're more of a regular shopper of some of the top names on our site, you stick with the Featured site most of the time knowing you're not going to get a "gotcha" product.

For what it's worth, many of the features were rolled forward to our current site. So test them there and let us know.

James

I kinda figured.

I don't get it though. I understand why you want to filter your products on rpgnow - there's a lot of stuff there and some of it isn't of the best quality. So, if I go to rpgnow, then fine, just show me the good stuff. That makes sense, especially from your PoV. But if I want to search for a product (and I'm talking about the quick search here, since only a small % of people use advanced features), then it should include both sites, since I might be searching on a genre, or author, or whatever - something that crosses the boundry of the two sites.

Or are you really saying that there isn't anything worthwhile on the other site, so there's no real point in searching it anyway?

 

[Sledge]

And unfortunately if we're looking for actual usable product we get to work double hard in order to pay rpgnow.
I'm still hoping that there will be a true reorganization, but given the whole attitude that the point of this isn't to help us find types of books but to simply have less books visible I'm doubting there will be much of an attempt. Hopefully there is a tiny chance that at the time this comes to pass they will actually at the least have an advanced search that actually works. (right now it doesn't. Advanced search with any "category" automatically blocks all results.)
It does seem that the intention of splitting the buyers up is to make the two sites compete....

 

[Vigilance]

Or are you really saying that there isn't anything worthwhile on the other site, so there's no real point in searching it anyway?

I think everyone knows he's not saying that, give the man a break.

The simple fact is, and its an inescapable fact, is that the PDF industry is growing up. This is one of the growing pains.

This isn't about making the sites compete, its about NOT making them compete.

That's the whole idea.

If you go to RPG edge, the simple search will only reveal edge products, on RPG now the simple search will reveal RPG now products.

An advanced search on either site will give you the whole shebang, but that isnt the point. The point is that a small vendor won't have to worry about competing with Green Ronin for front page space.

Again, this really is an advantage for small press guys. James is looking to GROW the bottom tier of his business, not kill it.

If he wanted to kill it, he would have killed it.

So everyone take a deep breath and give the man some credit, and the site split a chance.

Chuck

 

[Vascant]

Actually, you're correct... The default quick search scans only one site.

Face it, the point of this was to seperate the products, not just some fancy interface that can be gotten around easy enough. If you're into Indie games or the new guy on the block. You go to edge.rpgnow.com or set your default home page to that. If you're more of a regular shopper of some of the top names on our site, you stick with the Featured site most of the time knowing you're not going to get a "gotcha" product.

I think my main issue is a simple one, I am into finding my products easily so I can buy them. The claim has been made the changes were made with me as a customer in mind but I fail to see this because now finding something has just became a series of screens I must go thru in order to search and then find. Or I can always go to two different sites.

Right now there is 1 site and 1 place to shop...

If you really had me in mind as a customer, give me something like MyRPGNow.. allow me to set what comes up on my initial page when I enter the site. If the idea is to get me as a customer to purchase, then make it easy for me to purchase rather then drive me away because it has became a hassle.

 

[Sledge]

lest it be said I am a bitter anti-rpgnow person allow me to express the following.
Good stuff on sorting the adventures into 3 categories and having explicit levels for each. I will assume that the sorting is a work in progress and that things like "Elven Isle (v3.5) for lvl 7-9" (yes that is the title of the adventure) will be moved into medium (7-13) and not stay in high (14-20)
This is indeed a step in the right direction and will be even better if the advanced search is fixed and adventures have mandatory keywords describing their levels. This way I can pop up search, type in my levels, and have only the appropriate levelled adventures show up.
Good luck with the continued sorting efforts. Please don't disappoint us.

 

[rpghost]

I kinda figured.

I don't get it though. I understand why you want to filter your products on rpgnow - there's a lot of stuff there and some of it isn't of the best quality. So, if I go to rpgnow, then fine, just show me the good stuff. That makes sense, especially from your PoV. But if I want to search for a product (and I'm talking about the quick search here, since only a small % of people use advanced features), then it should include both sites, since I might be searching on a genre, or author, or whatever - something that crosses the boundry of the two sites.

Or are you really saying that there isn't anything worthwhile on the other site, so there's no real point in searching it anyway?

That's how I felt too, but I was talked out of if by some vendors. So maybe it'll change yet. Let me think about it. I need a way to make it clear which sight something is one. But yeah, a search should do it's best to find you something by an author regardless of site.

What I'll do is make it a configurable option. So you can turn it on or off in your customization screen.
James

 

[rpghost]

If you really had me in mind as a customer, give me something like MyRPGNow.. allow me to set what comes up on my initial page when I enter the site. If the idea is to get me as a customer to purchase, then make it easy for me to purchase rather then drive me away because it has became a hassle.

That is EXACTLY what it does... you can setup your home page. Choose whether you only want to see printed books or not, wether the search should do both sites or not, etc. With the autologin you simply go to the site and you start at whatever startup page you want.

James

 

[Fester]

That's how I felt too, but I was talked out of if by some vendors. So maybe it'll change yet. Let me think about it. I need a way to make it clear which sight something is one. But yeah, a search should do it's best to find you something by an author regardless of site.

What I'll do is make it a configurable option. So you can turn it on or off in your customization screen.
James

Well, I don't want to bang on about, so I'll just finish by saying that I think you should reconsider on this one. To me, its about user choice (and having the quick search scan only one site restricts that choice) and its about what you're saying (to your customers) about the second site. To me, you're saying its not actually that worthwhile searching. Is that the impression you want to give your cutomers?

Anyway, best of luck with it. I've made a lot of purchases on rpgnow and regard it as a good online shop, so I'll be back for more. Just hope you change your mind on the search issue.

So everyone take a deep breath and give the man some credit, and the site split a chance.

I don't think I need to take a deep breath. I was just pointing out the perception that I had. Since that perception was proved correct, I can only assume that it is a perception that others have too.

As for the changes, as I've already noted, I understand fully. I am a customer at rpgnow. I am also a cutomer at dtrpg. Most of what I buy comes from the rpgnow. What do my shopping habbits tell me? They tell me that rpgnow has competition and that they must evolve in order to compete. If my shopping habits are anything to go by, then rpgnow are still the dominant force in the market, but that their share is being slowly chipped away. So, I think change in this instance is a good thing. I'm just questioning some of the detail. As a customer, I think I have a right to do so and I don't think my comments have been unwarrented or misplaced.

 

[Vascant]

James: Thanks and glad at hear there is an effort from RPGHost to atleast make it easy on the customer..

It is sad the top verders are forcing this issue with very little concern for the end user, while I respect they are in business to be in business, when they start creating hassles for me I draw the line. This entire mess will cause me to think twice before purchasing something from a top vender for the simple fact, they have shown a lack of concern for the end user. Samething happened when some venders jumped over to DriveThruRPG, they created a hassle and though I love Mr Cook's material, I just do not buy it anymore.

Am I wrong to have this frame of mind, no. It is my money and I get to decide where and how I spend it.