When should we expect answers?

[coastiemike]

I too am extremely disappointed at the cancellations. Unfortunately, I think all that is going to be answered by WoTC at this time is a standard company line. With the last magazines mailing out in Sept., I would almost bet my next paycheck we don't hear much of anything until Gencon in Aug. with one of their 2 hour Q&A sessions. This would allow them several months to develop carefully worded responses and "announce" their new DI that will launch 30 days later.

 

[Riley]

Unfortunately, I think all that is going to be answered by WoTC at this time is a standard company line.

I'd very much like you to be wrong on this. We shall see.

Waiting and hoping.

 

[coastiemike]

Trust me, I'd very much like to be wrong also. However, knowing how they seem to have always handled these things, I really am having a difficult time being optimistic.

 

[Mouseferatu]

With the last magazines mailing out in Sept., I would almost bet my next paycheck we don't hear much of anything until Gencon in Aug. with one of their 2 hour Q&A sessions. This would allow them several months to develop carefully worded responses and "announce" their new DI that will launch 30 days later.

And the problem with that is what, exactly?

Really, this has gotten way out of hand. I cannot think of any other entertainment industry where people have so much expectation of being told what's going on behind the scenes. Frankly, it's unreasonable.

I'm upset about the magazines, too, but I don't feel WotC "owes" me any sort of in-depth explanation.

 

[coastiemike]

Man, talking about being way too sensitive. Take a deep breath and reread my post without adding any imaginary implied meanings into it.

1) I never said there was any problem.

2) I never said I expect anything from WoTC.

3) I never said anything even remotely similar to WoTC owing me anything.

I was simply answering the question asked in the OP's subject line. Next time, try not to read things in my replies that I never typed. Personally, I don't care if they go bankrupt or thrive as a company. I play more games than just D&D, and if their actions destroy the product line, then so be it. /shrug. More money for me to go watch hockey games.

By the way, this is the very reason I have been a lurker for a long time. Look at my join date and my first post was tonight. I hate when people make assumptions about what I said when it isn't even close to what I really said. Sheesh.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I may, indeed, have read too much into your post. I was reacting less to you specifically, and more to what's gone on here in general over the past week. The growing sense of paranoia and entitlement across the various internet forums has been bugging me for a while.

So while I stand by my points, I apologize if they were misdirected in your direction.

 

[coastiemike]

No worries. I understand why you are chippy. I also grow weary of seeing people think they are owed something because they have been a player for XXX years or own XXX books. I have also played for 25+ years, I own every Dragon and Dungeon Magazine, as well as every issue of Startegic Review, as my Dad was a subscriber from day 1 and I inherited all of his issues once I made it to high school.

I generally enjoy a majority of WoTC properties they put out and want to see them thrive so they can continue publishing FR items. However, it is their company, and therefore, may run it however they see is best to make the most money they possibly can.

 

[Khairn]

And the problem with that is what, exactly?

Really, this has gotten way out of hand. I cannot think of any other entertainment industry where people have so much expectation of being told what's going on behind the scenes. Frankly, it's unreasonable.

Uhm ... Why would it be unreasonable for a customer who has loyally purchased a product from a store for over 20 years, to want answers to questions when told the product that they have cherished for all these years is suddenly going away for no reason that the store will share with them and will be replaced by something that the store wont talk about, and that even in its new form you may never be able to use it.

Doesn't sound too unreasonable to me.

I'm upset about the magazines, too, but I don't feel WotC "owes" me any sort of in-depth explanation.

I dont think they "owe" us anything either. But I do think it is reasonable to want some answers, and to be upset (even angry) if the store is ignoring your questions and your concerns.

Hopefully the upcoming communique from WotC will not be too "sanitized", and will actually provide us with some answers, and not just be a vague and nebulous rehash of a corporate statement.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Uhm ... Why would it be unreasonable for a customer who has loyally purchased a product from a store for over 20 years, to want answers to questions...

It's not unreasonable to want them. Heck, I want them myself.

It is unreasonable to expect them, and to hold it against the company when they're not forthcoming.

Consider...

Nobody expects executives from a TV network to sign onto messageboards and explain why a show was canceled. Nobody expects the CEO of a major publisher to address the masses when they choose not to publish the newest book by Joe Author. Nobody assumes they have the right to know why a sports team traded Player Bob when everyone expected them to trade Player Marvin.

Yes, it's nice when those sorts of companies offer an explanation, and it can be frustrating if/when they choose not to. But--and again, this is not directed at any specific person--there's been a definite sense of entitlement creeping into a lot of the Dragon/Dungeon (and, to a lesser extent, the Dragonlance) discussion. I'm definitely seeing a small but significant minority of posters screaming at WotC for not answering questions fast enough, as though the company was required to do so.

The RPG industry is a smaller and (usually) friendlier arena than most of my examples above. You see a lot more RPG writers/developers/managers interacting with fans on messageboards than you do in most other forms of entertainment. But that's a bonus. It's a privilege, not a right. It's something they do because they enjoy doing it, and because their job situation allows them the opportunity to do so. It's not something anyone has any right to demand of them.

And frankly, after the last week, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it happen less frequently than it used to.

 

[Banshee16]

Really, this has gotten way out of hand. I cannot think of any other entertainment industry where people have so much expectation of being told what's going on behind the scenes. Frankly, it's unreasonable.

Ahem....checked out a tabloid lately?

I think most people who are venting understand in the end that it's the company's choice about what decisions to make. They can still vent though, and can be understandably frustrated. And I'm fully confident everyone will mellow out in time. I really don't think this is anything special with gamers though. I mean, at least we're not out digging through garbage cans to see what WotC staffers were eating before they made these decisions...

For many gamers, the hobby requires an investment of time and money. When drastic decisions are made, it can directly impact the investments we've made to date. Obviously, I'm not talking about an investment in the same terms as buying shares on the stock market. What I mean is that the hobby requires sunk costs of time and money in order to participate.

On a personal level, I do think WotC could have handled this whole thing better than they have. Of course, for all we know, somebody announced something before someone else's PR department had their responses ready, which made it look like they were ignoring the fans, when in fact, it was just an unfortunate issue of timing.

I'm not surprised at the expressions of frustrations on the board, as a result.....and the one thing I'll point out is the converse of your statement....although the venting taking place seems to convey a feeling of entitlement by the fans, any corporation should keep well in mind that they aren't entitled to our (the customer's) money. It would behoove them to respect the people putting food on their table...and sometimes that includes communicating with customers who are concerned about directions the corporation is taking.

My own company is going through significant changes right now, and yes, on message boards, I've seen our customers griping. As a company, it's important to listen to customer feedback...and often the dissatisfied/frustrated ones have viewpoints that bring up problems in the change procedure, which we may not have been away of, so the feedback is valued by management.

In the end, I hope this is all much ado about nothing. Sure would be nice to hear something official though.

Banshee