What's With Paying for Previews???

[HeavenShallBurn]

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

I think he was implying that the material in the previews is not revenue worthy material. They are the teasers you put out and eat the cost to convince your customer base that your products are actually worth buying. And that these should be the sort of things appearing on the Wizards site in order to entice people to buy the core rules rather than attempting to sell them as if they were more than a promo.

 

[The Little Raven]

I think he was implying that the material in the previews is not revenue worthy material. They are the teasers you put out and eat the cost to convince your customer base that your products are actually worth buying. And that these should be the sort of things appearing on the Wizards site in order to entice people to buy the core rules rather than attempting to sell them as if they were more than a promo.

So, it's more a case of "I want this for free, so this business should suffer through reduced revenue because I think it'll be just fine, not knowing anything about their business model?"

 

[Hussar]

Of course, last time around, we got all the previews free in Dragon... that we had to pay for... so, it wasn't free at all... :\

And, it's been pretty much stated that the playtesters are NDA'd to the point where they cannot even state that they are playtesters.

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

So, it's more a case of "I want this for free, so this business should suffer through reduced revenue because I think it'll be just fine, not knowing anything about their business model?"

No it's a case of if you want me to buy things from you it's YOUR job to convince me WHY I should do so. And these aren't worth money, they're the tidbits you use to convince potential customers that other things ARE. In the opinion of those on our side this would be like paying (specifically) to view an individual commercial about a product you are considering purchasing. Somewhere back up the thread mention was made about the Madden video feature, which was a commercial marketed in such a way to convince people to pay to view advertising material.

Personally I find this the beginning of a trend I consider ethically disgusting and would prefer to stamp out before it could spread to cover more of their marketing strategy. Because once they get a few people to pay for some advertising material they will likely see it as an entirely new line of revenue and begin putting more and more such material under a pay scheme. IMO it's no different than be required to pay to view an internet pop-up

EDIT:

Of course, last time around, we got all the previews free in Dragon... that we had to pay for... so, it wasn't free at all...

Except there was more in Dragon than the advertisements. You payed for the overall package and received advertising within the larger package. In this case the entire preview book is the advertisement and you are specifically paying to get that individual advertisement.

 

[JoeGKushner]

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

So you're saying that internet ads are worthless? That the internet is not the wave of the future?

And now it's comparing internet ads to two books as opposed to you're initial response?

That doesn't generate revenue yet.

 

[Rechan]

No it's a case of if you want me to buy things from you it's YOUR job to convince me WHY I should do so.

Not really.

I mean, WotC could just not bother giving us any previews or updates and make us wait for 4e to hit the shelves. I can't think of many companies that give extensive previews of their products before they hit the market.

 

[Imaro]

Not really.

I mean, WotC could just not bother giving us any previews or updates and make us wait for 4e to hit the shelves. I can't think of many companies that give extensive previews of their products before they hit the market.

Uhm...okay, I've just got to ask, what companies don't do this. IME most companies that sell luxury/entertainment items do some type of preview/hype befpre releasing their product. Another point is...what exactly is extensive about this when it's...
A.) No mechanical info
B.) Not necessarly even what will appear in 4e

 

[JoeGKushner]

Not really.

I mean, WotC could just not bother giving us any previews or updates and make us wait for 4e to hit the shelves. I can't think of many companies that give extensive previews of their products before they hit the market.

He's right.

I mean, I didn't even know they were working on a Halo 3. It was just there one day when I went into the store.

 

[Rechan]

Uhm...okay, I've just got to ask, what companies don't do this. IME most companies that sell luxury/entertainment items do some type of preview/hype befpre releasing their product.

Um, few if none?

Video games give screen shots and a blurb, and maybe a demo. Movies just provide a trailer which is 30 seconds (or a minute if it's at the movies) and a blurb about the plot.

What companies do provide a lot of information?

Usually it's just hype.

A.) No mechanical info
B.) Not necessarly even what will appear in 4e

Not extensive = mechanics.

 

[Wormwood]

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.

Ditto that.

Of the three gaming groups I'm part of, I'm the only one who follows RPG news online.

These folks will appreciate the preview series.