What kind of hit did DDI take a year after subscriptions started? Was it huge?

[wedgeski]

How does that figure of ~25,000 compare to the subscription numbers for the printed Dragon and Dungeon magazines (during any era) as well as the price for DDI versus the price for subscribing to either magazine.

I'd be interested in that data (actually who wouldn't!). Periodicals traditionally printed their circulation on the inside facing page somewhere... I'll have to check my shelf when I get home.

In the short term, circulation is probably less important than revenue. But in the long term, the question of whether the DDI (which I happen to be a big fan of) nurtures the roleplaying marketplace to a greater or lesser extent that the printed mags is probably of much more interest. We can only speculate at this point.

 

[Scribble]

Maybe you misunderstand my point. I don't think DDI has anything to do with the miniature's success or failure.

My point is, that if DDI was such a huge revenue stream, it would prop up the other parts of the franchise that were having troubles. That doesn't seem to be happening.

Not necessarily.

I don't know how Wizards structures their business, but if it's like my company, the various departments are sort of integrated when it comes to sharing information, clients, etc, but separate when it comes to the bottom line.

If your department isn't making money, despite the fact that another department is, there's going to be a shakeup.

Overall, yeah the company will be ok, because it balances out, but your department is in for some change real quick.


Also it looks like Wizards is experimenting a lot right now with the best ways to do things, the original change to the DDM line might have been always planned as a temp thing unless it seemed to work out really well. (We don't know one way or the other.)

As for the books... I'm wondering if they're seeing a shift? Maybe the crunch heavy books are seeing a decline as people use the DDI for that info, while the fluff heavy books (Underdark, MoTP, et al) are seeing an increase?

 

[Mouseferatu]

My point is, that if DDI was such a huge revenue stream, it would prop up the other parts of the franchise that were having troubles. That doesn't seem to be happening.

Um... Why? Propping up a failing line with money from a successful line is bad business. It's also precisely what killed TSR. (It's not all that killed TSR, certainly, but it's one of the primary factors.)

 

[Drkfathr1]

Um... Why? Propping up a failing line with money from a successful line is bad business. It's also precisely what killed TSR. (It's not all that killed TSR, certainly, but it's one of the primary factors.)

You overestimate what I said.

I didn't say a failing line, I said a line with troubles. The extra revenue can easily help smooth things in a troubled line until it can get straightened out.

Likewise, I did note that this was all speculation.

 

[Roman]

What happens if you decide to unsubscribe from the DDI? Do you get to keep access to the compedium, character builder and other features (say, after you had subscribed for a while, so that you cannot just get it for one month), but without the updates, or do you lose all access with the end of your subscription?

This is also relevant if WotC in the future decides to transition to 5E and discontinue electronic support for 4E, but you prefer your legacy edition...

Loss of access to data is one reason why I don't subscribe to any internet-based programs (no MMOs, no DDI...) - want to "purchase" a program and not "rent" it so to speak.

 

[darjr]

The compendium is online, so you will lose access to it.

The character builder and monster builder are not. You do lose updates.

The magazines are released as PDF's at the end of their issues run.

 

[Roman]

The compendium is online, so you will lose access to it.

The character builder and monster builder are not. You do lose updates.

The magazines are released as PDF's at the end of their issues run.

OK, I don't know exactly what the character builder and the monster builder entail, but from the general sound of it that seems pretty fair and reasonable value for those who play the supported version of the game.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

You keep your current install of the Character Creator, but will not get updates

You lose access to Dragon and Dungeon (but not issues that you downloaded in the past) and accesss to the Compendium.

 

[Jack99]

I'd be interested in that data (actually who wouldn't!). Periodicals traditionally printed their circulation on the inside facing page somewhere... I'll have to check my shelf when I get home.

In the short term, circulation is probably less important than revenue. But in the long term, the question of whether the DDI (which I happen to be a big fan of) nurtures the roleplaying marketplace to a greater or lesser extent that the printed mags is probably of much more interest. We can only speculate at this point.

One thing worth noting, although it is purely anecdotal of course. The 25k DDI subscribers mentioned are those who have a subscription AND have logged on to the WotC website. In my group (thats the anecdote), 6 out of 7 people have a subscription, and only 1 of 6 has ever been to WotC's forums.

OK, I don't know exactly what the character builder and the monster builder entail, but from the general sound of it that seems pretty fair and reasonable value for those who play the supported version of the game.

In the monster builder you have the stats of every single monster released, so basically you lose nothing but the monsters released after you cancel your sub. No functionality goes away.

The same with the CB. It has every class (and thus every feat, paragon path, epic destiny, magic item, ritual and power) ever released, and you get to keep all that info and the ability to make characters, even when you stop paying.

 

[Squizzle]

If you use Masterplan (or, if any exist, a similar program) you can even grab in local form a copy of (most of?) the Compendium, that you can back-up, move to a new computer, etc., just like you could with the Character Builder or Adventure Tools.