The State of Our Hobby

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sincerely,
Intelligence Penalty

LOL!

That is some fine self-depricating comedy! Congrats on having a sense of humor!

It really is a possible way of doing things- after all, yet another example is the soft-drink industry.

Of course, there could be a couple of hitches. For instance, Hackmaster's continued existence is both an example of how it could work quite well, but also a potential competitor for an older (erattad) D&D packaged with a campaign setting.

 

[Phlebas]

OTOH, if they repackaged the various editions to support a unique campaign world or 2, there would be enough product differentiation to just possibly make it work.

Imagine, one of the older editions supporting Blackmoor or Greyhawk, another supporting FR, etc.

Despite my misgivings about 4Ed, I could easily see it supporting some of the more outre settings, like Dark Sun, Eberron or Spelljammer.

Now to me this makes financial sense - you get the opportunity to release source material (which is always welcome even to ancient gamers like me) plus rule-based material to clear market segments and you can continue to try and grow the market with your flagship 'new' setting / rule edition. and lets face it - GM's will be happy to convert if they want a different system to the setting. its no more competing against your self then than releasing sci-fi, superhero or horror rpg's

(me i'd go for Greyhawk 1E, FR for 2E, Eberron 3,xE, and a 'new' world for 4E - but ymmv)

just think, if they'd announced that they were releasing a new world & 4e, but would continue to support (probably less frequently and with mainly source material rather than splats) Eberron and 3,xE I dont think you'd have had half the complaints....

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The JD/MBA in me must, in all fairness, put a more naked capitalist spin to the whole thing as kind of a cautionary tale.

One could look at this as a risky thing, but note that the 2 major comic book companies do something like this. Whenever the smaller comic book companies started eating into Marvel or DC's market share, those 2 companies would flood the market with additional titles. Like the car manufacturers, soft drink companies and others who do this, its about controlling the market by limiting the growth potential of future competitors. After all, the single biggest factor in succeeding in a particular business is being first to market. (Yes, there are other important factors, but being #1 is a HUGE advantage.)

If WotC/Hasbro were to start digging into its RPG vaults, they could not only find the various D&D editions, they'd find titles like Everway, Amazing Engine, Boot Hill, Gamma World, Primal Order, etc., not to mention the possibility they could do RPGs of some of their wargames or even M:tG and other CCGs. Each could be released with some kind of unique campaign world or 2, leaving fewer niches in which the smaller companies could find safe havens.

THAT is the potential downside of Hasbro throwing its considerable weight around in this particular playground

 

[Silver Moon]

If you believe everything that's said in an eulogy.

By people that may or may not be gamers.

Supported by facts that may or may not be anything other than one writer's opinion.

One writer's opinion? I think I heard or read at least two dozen pieces - you can remain a glass-half-empty guy if you want, I'll stay optimistic.

 

[Wisdom Penalty]

Ok. Change the "one" to "a dozen".

There ya go.

Doesn't seem to invalidate the comparison.

But then I'm...

A Glass Half-Empty Guy

 

[Simon Atavax]

Let us all dust the cheetos crumbs from our bellies.
Let us all march up the stairs out of the basement.
Let us all stop by the bathroom for necessary hygenics.

Dude, you're asking a lot of us here, you know.

 

[scourger]

Here's my prediction in a nutshell, WP: 4e will do just fine without me.

I've been at this since about 1980. There have always been lots of thing competing for my time and money. I was very into 2e and then 3.0 (despite initial reservations). I really embraced a couple of d20 games. Not so much for 3.5. It was then that I predicted that 4e would probably be my ticket off the merry-go-round. SWSE really reinforced that belief. DDM has the potential to get me into 4e, but then I remember that the ton of DDM out there for 3.x is so great and useful for my 3.0 game. So, I doubt I'll make the switch. But I predict the game will do just fine without me. D&D will always be the lowest common denominator.

And the hobby will continue to do well despite my declining interest generally. I'll pick up a few new things. I may even run one or two. But the very smart & creative people who like publishing RPGs will contiue to meet the demand in new & exciting ways. That's what will continue to keep me at least a little interested.

 

[Dave G]

Dude, you're asking a lot of us here, you know.

I am only a servant of the greater good.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Can't see the OP's point.

But then again, back in the day, I mixed Palladium Fantasy with Role Aids with Judges Guild with AD&D and basic D&D to do my own thing.

Times changed and games like Runequest, GURPS, Hero, Warhammer (good old Hogshead...), and others have come and gone in the mix.

As the barrier to publishing shrinks, we'll see more and more publishers getting into the game.

For me as long as I've got a few budies to play with, I'm not as concerned with the 'fracturing market' because I'm willing to try almost any game once and I've found that the strenght of the GM is far more important than the strength of the game system.

 

[Mark]

Dude, you're asking a lot of us here, you know.

That bathroom is never going to be the same.