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<blockquote data-quote="DracoSuave" data-source="post: 5623926" data-attributes="member: 71571">The problem with digital distribution is thinking of gaming books as... well... just books.&nbsp; It's not.&nbsp; They aren't.They're components in a game that involves social interaction.Think if brick-and-mortars as more than just places to buy games.&nbsp; They're places to socialize about the hobby.&nbsp; They are centers at which you can not only get games and gaming supplies, but also discuss those games, find out new things in the hobby.&nbsp; As a social hobby, tabletop gaming is best served by having physical stores.&nbsp; If you move the main sales thrust away from the brick and mortar, you have to also move the social aspect as well.&nbsp; Which means online.Which means the social aspect of gaming has to move online.&nbsp; Which means the game has to move to an online video game experience.&nbsp; Which means that tabletop rpgs have to compete with actual video game rpgs in order to get market share.&nbsp; Which means tabletop rpgs have to become facebook games, or become video games themselves.Which means... they cease to exist as tabletop games.The hobby -absolutely- requires brick-and-mortars.&nbsp; This future you describe is one where tabletop gaming becomes unsustainable and means the death of the hobby.Thank god Wizards is actually owned by a toy and game company, who understands the necessity of brick-and-mortar stores for the big picture.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="DracoSuave, post: 5623926, member: 71571"] The problem with digital distribution is thinking of gaming books as... well... just books. It's not. They aren't. They're components in a game that involves social interaction. Think if brick-and-mortars as more than just places to buy games. They're places to socialize about the hobby. They are centers at which you can not only get games and gaming supplies, but also discuss those games, find out new things in the hobby. As a social hobby, tabletop gaming is best served by having physical stores. If you move the main sales thrust away from the brick and mortar, you have to also move the social aspect as well. Which means online. Which means the social aspect of gaming has to move online. Which means the game has to move to an online video game experience. Which means that tabletop rpgs have to compete with actual video game rpgs in order to get market share. Which means tabletop rpgs have to become facebook games, or become video games themselves. Which means... they cease to exist as tabletop games. The hobby -absolutely- requires brick-and-mortars. This future you describe is one where tabletop gaming becomes unsustainable and means the death of the hobby. Thank god Wizards is actually owned by a toy and game company, who understands the necessity of brick-and-mortar stores for the big picture. [/QUOTE]

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