I got a press release today from a company called Andrews McMeel Publishing. I'm not familiar with them (my experience is mainly with RPG publishers), but they claim to have created what they call a revolutionary RPG format: Phone PDFs. The PR is pasted below.
The release contained a link to Zweihander, which I tried to download, but it was a ZIP file, and iPhones can't open those natively (unless I'm doing something wrong). So I haven't been able to check out the actual product. [edit, apparently they can in the latest iOS update]
But when I mentioned the PR on Twitter, a DTRPG rep replied "DriveThruRPG created the format, built the Pugmire Phone PDF, then invited other publishers (including AMP) to make their games in that format. The Zweihander PDF is very cool and I am happy they jumped into this new format after DTRPG showed them the potential and instructions."
Wait, what? Pugmire? That wasn't in the PR. And apparently AMP didn't create the format, they were just invited to use it.
I've asked for more info. In the meantime, this is the PR I got, which basically leads the reader to believe it's a format created by AMP for the Zweihander game. They also claim to be the first traditional RPG publisher, but I'm not sure what that means. Daniel Fox, author of Zweihander, was recently hired by AMP as their RPG staffer, which probably explains that bit.
[PR] AMP AND DRIVETHRURPG CREATE A REVOLUTIONARY RPG FORMAT
Kansas City, MO – Leading role-playing game (RPG) retailer DriveThruRPG.com and Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP) are pleased to announce an exciting new format for digital tabletop RPGs: Phone PDF.
Gamers increasingly use digital PDFs of RPG products, which work well for desktop computers but make for a poor experience on phones and tablets because they do not address common user experience and accessibility challenges. This new format solves these issues by utilizing an optimized, mobile-first design.
“We are incredibly pleased to be working with DriveThruRPG to revolutionize the way role-playing gamers use our products,” said Daniel D. Fox, Executive Creative Director, Games at AMP, and author of Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG. “The Phone PDF is an excellent resource for users who prefer their mobile device at the game table, don’t have the book on hand to look up an important game rule or are on the go.”
Designed with both Android and Apple users in mind and optimized for older and newer devices, Phone PDF maintains mobile swipe functionality and includes useful features like global navigation, a history tool, interactive index and hyperlinked content throughout.
Andrews McMeel Publishing is the first traditional publisher to move into the $65 million RPG industry. “Integral to AMU’s 50 years of success is our unique ability to be nimble and entrepreneurial, to evolve and to identify new markets,” said AMP President and Publisher Kirsty Melville. “This endeavor with DriveThruRPG demonstrates our commitment to the extension of our products and to reaching new audiences in innovative ways.”
The first title offered in Phone PDF format is Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG. The 672-page dark fantasy RPG was the 2018 winner at Gen Con for Best Game and Product of the Year, and the new Phone PDF is now available exclusively at DriveThruRPG. Users can download it for free until 11:59 p.m. CDT, Oct. 11, 2019, after which the price will be $19.99.
Other tabletop role-playing games from Andrews McMeel Publishing will follow the new Phone PDF format (along with print, Kindle, ePub and traditional Digital PDF formats), with Main Gauche Grim & Perilous Supplement slated for release in November 2019 and Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG: Player’s Handbook in December 2019. Phone PDF and Digital PDF bundles will also be available at point of purchase, exclusively through DriveThruRPG.
The release contained a link to Zweihander, which I tried to download, but it was a ZIP file, and iPhones can't open those natively (unless I'm doing something wrong). So I haven't been able to check out the actual product. [edit, apparently they can in the latest iOS update]
But when I mentioned the PR on Twitter, a DTRPG rep replied "DriveThruRPG created the format, built the Pugmire Phone PDF, then invited other publishers (including AMP) to make their games in that format. The Zweihander PDF is very cool and I am happy they jumped into this new format after DTRPG showed them the potential and instructions."
Wait, what? Pugmire? That wasn't in the PR. And apparently AMP didn't create the format, they were just invited to use it.
I've asked for more info. In the meantime, this is the PR I got, which basically leads the reader to believe it's a format created by AMP for the Zweihander game. They also claim to be the first traditional RPG publisher, but I'm not sure what that means. Daniel Fox, author of Zweihander, was recently hired by AMP as their RPG staffer, which probably explains that bit.
[PR] AMP AND DRIVETHRURPG CREATE A REVOLUTIONARY RPG FORMAT
Kansas City, MO – Leading role-playing game (RPG) retailer DriveThruRPG.com and Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP) are pleased to announce an exciting new format for digital tabletop RPGs: Phone PDF.
Gamers increasingly use digital PDFs of RPG products, which work well for desktop computers but make for a poor experience on phones and tablets because they do not address common user experience and accessibility challenges. This new format solves these issues by utilizing an optimized, mobile-first design.
“We are incredibly pleased to be working with DriveThruRPG to revolutionize the way role-playing gamers use our products,” said Daniel D. Fox, Executive Creative Director, Games at AMP, and author of Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG. “The Phone PDF is an excellent resource for users who prefer their mobile device at the game table, don’t have the book on hand to look up an important game rule or are on the go.”
Designed with both Android and Apple users in mind and optimized for older and newer devices, Phone PDF maintains mobile swipe functionality and includes useful features like global navigation, a history tool, interactive index and hyperlinked content throughout.
Andrews McMeel Publishing is the first traditional publisher to move into the $65 million RPG industry. “Integral to AMU’s 50 years of success is our unique ability to be nimble and entrepreneurial, to evolve and to identify new markets,” said AMP President and Publisher Kirsty Melville. “This endeavor with DriveThruRPG demonstrates our commitment to the extension of our products and to reaching new audiences in innovative ways.”
The first title offered in Phone PDF format is Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG. The 672-page dark fantasy RPG was the 2018 winner at Gen Con for Best Game and Product of the Year, and the new Phone PDF is now available exclusively at DriveThruRPG. Users can download it for free until 11:59 p.m. CDT, Oct. 11, 2019, after which the price will be $19.99.
Other tabletop role-playing games from Andrews McMeel Publishing will follow the new Phone PDF format (along with print, Kindle, ePub and traditional Digital PDF formats), with Main Gauche Grim & Perilous Supplement slated for release in November 2019 and Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG: Player’s Handbook in December 2019. Phone PDF and Digital PDF bundles will also be available at point of purchase, exclusively through DriveThruRPG.
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