Which DDI Component Do You Think is Next?

[Scribble]

I'm guessing the Visualizer... Only because they mentioned showing it off...

Although the Characetr Builder is a close second now that the Compendium is mostly up and running...

 

[Festivus]

Character builder... it's a low hanging fruit.

 

[Scribble]

Character builder... it's a low hanging fruit.

You think? Seems like that one will require more testing to make sure they got it right...

Mistakes in that one lead to angry gamers, and people not using it... Mistakes in the visualizer seem less damaging.

Just my opinion though obviously!

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

An apology and an excuse.

Given WOTC's history with this sort of thing, I'm waiting any day now for an announcement that they aren't going to do any more with it and/or they've sold it off to a third party.

But for what it's worth, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Scribble]

An apology and an excuse.

Given WOTC's history with this sort of thing, I'm waiting any day now for an announcement that they aren't going to do any more with it and/or they've sold it off to a third party.

But for what it's worth, I hope I'm wrong.

That will really suck if it happens. I'm hoping it doesn't as well. I know, as others have pointed out, their track record in the virtual realm hasn't been that great. But it seems like, this time, they've invested a significant amount into it from the start. Unlike before, when these things were more like secondary add ons, this time the DDi is part fo teh edition as a whole...

 

[Ruin Explorer]

You think? Seems like that one will require more testing to make sure they got it right...

Mistakes in that one lead to angry gamers, and people not using it... Mistakes in the visualizer seem less damaging.

Just my opinion though obviously!

I don't think so.

First impressions count. If the character builder is "wrong", it will be something fixable and players will understand that it's fixable, just a matter of editing a database or the like.

If the visualizer is remotely as crap as it's looked EVERY SINGLE TIME they've "shown it off" so far, then people will be spitting on it from on high and it'll be a bit of a PR debacle. So I'd suspect that, if the creators of the visualizer aren't both delusional and able to convince other important WotC people to share their delusions, then the visualizer is a way off. It'll have it's apologists and fans, everything does, no matter how godawful, but unless the majority of D&D players can build something they like, it's bad PR waiting to happen. It's also a tool that will get hit VERY hard, because a lot of people are eager to fiddle with it - I'm sure even non-4E players or non-D&D players will want to have a go.

Just my opinion of course, but the visualizer needs to get it right first time, where the character builder can be close to right at first, and they can say, correctly, that we're "helping them work the last kinks out".

What I think though is that we'll see the character builder followed by an announcement that the rest of the DDI is on indefinate hold.

I'd actually be delighted if they said they'd sold this all off to a third party, because I'm CERTAIN they'd do a better job with it than WotC has. I mean, they're motivated to make a profit off it, rather than seeming very confused and conflicted about it, and clearly unsure what it's for, as WotC is. It's in a third-party's interest to provide absolutely everything possible, but not necessarily so for WotC.

 

[SavageRobby]

If the visualizer is remotely as crap as it's looked EVERY SINGLE TIME they've "shown it off" so far, then people will be spitting on it from on high and it'll be a bit of a PR debacle.

This current regime at Wizards doesn't seem to shy away from bad PR, though.

 

[Tewligan]

An apology and an excuse.

Given WOTC's history with this sort of thing, I'm waiting any day now for an announcement that they aren't going to do any more with it and/or they've sold it off to a third party.

But for what it's worth, I hope I'm wrong.

Yep, that's my bet.

 

[Transit]

Yep, that's my bet.

Me too.

 

[Scribble]

I don't think so.

First impressions count...

Just my opinion of course, but the visualizer needs to get it right first time, where the character builder can be close to right at first, and they can say, correctly, that we're "helping them work the last kinks out".

Hrmmm yeah, I can see that point. The character visualizer being bad could make the whole thing look cheap, and old tech like... Good point.

I'd actually be delighted if they said they'd sold this all off to a third party, because I'm CERTAIN they'd do a better job with it than WotC has. I mean, they're motivated to make a profit off it, rather than seeming very confused and conflicted about it, and clearly unsure what it's for, as WotC is. It's in a third-party's interest to provide absolutely everything possible, but not necessarily so for WotC.

Not sure if I agree with this... It just sems like the DDi is such an important part of the new edition as a whole, that if they DO scrap it, and sell it off, then they'll have decided it's not that important...

So while the new outside company might make a product that would work faster/smoother/ better.... They won't get the support they need from WoTC, because WoTC moved on...

So it'll be like a big shiney awesome new sports car... with no gas.

Shrug.