Boy do I wish Comic Con was a bunch of comic collectors!
Here here. As a comic collector I was going to add that less then 50% of SDCC is now comic books and some would argue less than that.
It has become a huge move, video game, toy and kitsch event. While it is still fun, I always come away shell shocked.
While some of the comments about a lack of time to prepare may very well be true, I was still saddened/surprised with no WOTC/D&D.
Joe read the situation as I did, and he has a much more impressive pedigree.
However, I don't see this as the death of D&D but very possibly ANOTHER change in ownership.
In regards to the solution to the problem, I think (and again I'm a graphic designer not a lawyer or business man) the solution is not to be owned by a large company. D&D was a labor of love and predictions about online revenue and miniature sales seem to have very little to do with creating something "of quality".
I think this is why we see the cycle of great books at the start of a D&D cycle and then pure drek by the end of one. The business model says "where is my new revenue" and the creatives who were so excited at the beginning know they have to push product in order to keep the job they love. So they make what they can (sometimes it's bad) and in the end, end up hating their job and moving on.
I am dying to know what Ryan Dancey said 8 years ago, my hunch is it has something to do with the OGL and giving D&D to the people. Maybe we need to take it away from WOTC.
Oh and just for some geekcred gamer since 1985.