What's With Paying for Previews???

[GeorgeFields]

You were a playtester for 3e I gather? Care to dig up your comments, and post them, so that we know what was ignored?

They could be pure gold, and if you're withholding them from us ... well, that'd be a shame.

The comments were long lost when a hard drive crashed. All I'm willing to add is that the comments were ignored enough that I , and a few others, were left off the play test credits of that particular book and one other.

After that (and some personal issues at the time), I quit play testing.

I did manage to get my name in two books. Looking back, I don't recall making any negative comments on those two. Hmmm...

 

[DaveMage]

What's with the sudden shift by WotC to paying for previews? What's up with that?

First it was the Dungeon Survival Guide (which is anything but) and now the two new preview books for 4E.

Let me get this straight, you want us to pay to preview 4E??? How about WotC showcases 4E to win over its fanbase.

Every comment I've heard about the Dungeon Survival Guide was that it's a ripoff. So with that in mind, am I going to spend money on preview products? I don't think so!

This is the type of "marketing" behaviour that ends up encouraging people to rip off your product on the internet.

Bizarre strategy, IMO.

Think of it as a test. If enough people buy it, they will know to do it again with 5E.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

What's with the sudden shift by WotC to paying for previews? What's up with that?

I think P.T. Barnum said it best ...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

What's with the sudden shift by WotC to paying for previews? What's up with that?

First it was the Dungeon Survival Guide (which is anything but) and now the two new preview books for 4E.

Let me get this straight, you want us to pay to preview 4E??? How about WotC showcases 4E to win over its fanbase.

Every comment I've heard about the Dungeon Survival Guide was that it's a ripoff. So with that in mind, am I going to spend money on preview products? I don't think so!

This is the type of "marketing" behaviour that ends up encouraging people to rip off your product on the internet.

Bizarre strategy, IMO.

I will probably buy them, but I admit I have a bit of issue with the concept, myself.

My defenses for buying a preview book:
1) When Dragon was still a paper magazine, people probably also bought it for previews, reviews, excerpts or any other kind of stuff about a product that was yet to come. We also buy TV and Movie magazines to see what we want to see. (And note: TV movies usually don't cost you anything, yet people pay for the previews and the program guide.)

2) I am a big fan of design diaries and insight from the designers. Having a book with this kind of information is of worth something to me.
What I read so far about D&D 4 made me interested, and I want to know more about the philosophy and theories behind it.

3) As I already said in 2, I liked what I have seen so far. Getting the books means awarding WotC and their designers and developers for it and showing my support.

4) People also pay for fan articles for their favourite sports team or their favourite band - these can also be seen as commercials for them, but it also helps them "pay their bills" (well, or at least the next overpriced sports star for their team or their 2nd Porsche...)


I doubt I'd buy a "WotC Presents: Complete Martial- a preview to extended rules for martial cahracters", but a design book describing the philosophy behind a new edition sounds okay with me...

Obviously, points 1-4 don't apply to everyone, or might at least not be enough for some. (I don't buy any TV magazines any more, and I'd never spent money for fan articles for sport teams or bands...)

 

[JoeGKushner]

If only they had some type of exclusive online place to showcase these previews.

 

[The Little Raven]

If only they had some type of exclusive online place to showcase these previews.

That doesn't generate revenue yet.

 

[Mistwell]

The preview books will have lasting value to me throughout 4e. They will offer insight into designer intent for various rules. With 3e and 3.5e, we've often been left to guess at intent of various rules, and usually ends in ignoring intent even when we didn't want to. With these previews, we will have at least some sources to point to for designer intent for some rules. Because of that, I am really looking forward to these previews.

 

[JoeGKushner]

That doesn't generate revenue yet.

If only that site could be used for advertising of products that have come out last month, this month, and next month... oh wait...

 

[Rechan]

I would personally buy the books just to see the designer's perspective, their notes in the early days, etc etc, because that intrigues me.

Also, not every gamer is on Enworld, checking the latest updates. For those lazy gamers, the preview books serve the same purpose as DDI, in one fell swoop.

In other words: you're not the target audience of the preview books.

 

[The Little Raven]

If only that site could be used for advertising of products that have come out last month, this month, and next month... oh wait...

How is Wizards having ads for their own products going to spur revenue growth in a way that will compare to two products?