Who Will Get the Axe?

[Papa-DRB]

After being in corporate American for the last 15 years, I'll agree that often its because of mergers and such. But just as often it happens for no reasonable or apparent reason. Sometimes management just reads a new book or goes to a seminar and rethinks their org chart, usually with the same terrible results as the last reorg.

Oh how right you are! I have been in a multi-national corporation for 33+ years, and when some corporate executive gets his/her panties in a twist, or reads some new "cool" book, or hears a "wow" seminar, you can bet that it means jobs are lost at the peon level, either through "Resource Actions" (ie. layoffs), or jobs to India, Brazil, Argentina, etc.

Last year was the year of Lean, a manufacturing process. It translates very badly to Mainframe system support, but they did it anyway. Got rid of almost 30% of the folks through layoffs and transfers, bloody *BEFORE* the process was in place. *sigh* what a mess, but some corporate exec got a big bonus.

 

[Imaro]

Wouldn't you rather have a great product, which is significantly delayed, than a crappy product? I know I would. Of course, a reboot by no means that the end product will be great. However, there is a chance at least.

I just have to ask, what about option C., The one where WotC allows fans to create a electronic aids for the game? I would be less irritated with the way it's being handled if...

A. WotC was open and honest about what's going on with DDI. I mean every product has an advertisement for it, and the PHB has a blurb about it, but I don't think it's easy or intuitive on their website to find out what exactly is going on with it as of right now.

B. WotC's 3e track record didn't exist as far as software/vaporware is concerned. At least with 3e fans were allowed to develop and distribute their own software aids for D&D... as of right now, I believe, that's not allowed with 4e. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

I feel like WotC has bet so much on DDI being successful, that they have lost sight of what is best for the fans as far as the game is concerned. Now this wouldn't be an issue if DDI had been ready upon release of the 4e books, but it's not and WotC has decided to charge for a paired down version of what they offered, which doesn't contain the character generator (which I think could easily be done by the more code savy fans, and iis what most people really want.).

 

[joethelawyer]

does anyone know if the new president greg leeds has ever even rolled a 20-sided die before he became president? he sounds like your typical corporate do-it-by-the-numbers inside guy, brought in to roll some heads.

 

[Jack99]

I just have to ask, what about option C., The one where WotC allows fans to create a electronic aids for the game? I would be less irritated with the way it's being handled if...

A. WotC was open and honest about what's going on with DDI. I mean every product has an advertisement for it, and the PHB has a blurb about it, but I don't think it's easy or intuitive on their website to find out what exactly is going on with it as of right now.

B. WotC's 3e track record didn't exist as far as software/vaporware is concerned. At least with 3e fans were allowed to develop and distribute their own software aids for D&D... as of right now, I believe, that's not allowed with 4e. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

I feel like WotC has bet so much on DDI being successful, that they have lost sight of what is best for the fans as far as the game is concerned. Now this wouldn't be an issue if DDI had been ready upon release of the 4e books, but it's not and WotC has decided to charge for a paired down version of what they offered, which doesn't contain the character generator (which I think could easily be done by the more code savy fans, and iis what most people really want.).

Personally, I couldn't care less about parts of the DDI that are lacking. I get Dragon and Dungeon for less than 1/4 of what I payed before, and I do not even have to wait for a month to get them. And that is just about what I really wanted out of it. Some nifty online stuff wouldn't be bad, so to answer your question, I would be fine with WotC allowing whoever else to make said stuff. I doubt it would happen, but that is another matter altogether.

does anyone know if the new president greg leeds has ever even rolled a 20-sided die before he became president? he sounds like your typical corporate do-it-by-the-numbers inside guy, brought in to roll some heads.

What are you basing that on? Share the info please.

 

[Imaro]

Personally, I couldn't care less about parts of the DDI that are lacking. I get Dragon and Dungeon for less than 1/4 of what I payed before, and I do not even have to wait for a month to get them. And that is just about what I really wanted out of it. Some nifty online stuff wouldn't be bad, so to answer your question, I would be fine with WotC allowing whoever else to make said stuff. I doubt it would happen, but that is another matter altogether.

Sooo, you're not really talking about DDI as WotC first presented it, all you wanted were the magazines in PDF format. Uhm, why use the " them taking longer to produce a high quality product" as a defense, it seems a little disingenuous... since you aren't interested in said product and could care less if it ever came out. While others who may not care for a PDF magazine may be more interested in playing (you know the actual purpose of the game), and may only be able to do that online.

 

[Jack99]

Sooo, you're not really talking about DDI as WotC first presented it, all you wanted were the magazines in PDF format. Uhm, why use the " them taking longer to produce a high quality product" as a defense, it seems a little disingenuous... since you aren't interested in said product and could care less if it ever came out. While others who may not care for a PDF magazine may be more interested in playing (you know the actual purpose of the game), and may only be able to do that online.

And people accuse me of being harsh for no reason. ><

Just because I do not care for a product, it doesn't mean I can not put myself in your (or someone else, who really wants/needs this product) shoes. After all, I think we have all wanted/needed a product at some point, which was delayed etc. It's hardly rocket science. So yes, while I do not need WotC to work any further on their DDI, I do hope they do, so they can give their customers the product they want and need. However, If I had been one of those customers, I would still have wanted them to take their time and hopefully (as we say in my gaming group, there is always 2% chance) get it right, instead of just hurrying up and giving us some crap.

But that is just me. YMMV OFC.

Cheers

 

[joethelawyer]

What are you basing that on? Share the info please.

double post. grr....

 

[joethelawyer]

What are you basing that on? Share the info please.

basing it on his resume of where he worked which he posted over on linkedin.com, the various businesses he has been involved in, the roles he has played in those businesses, and his actions on getting fast bottom line results in terms of firing people and cosing down unprofitable lines recently. that and my own experiences tell me that he is bottom line oriented, rather than a visionary type of person. which fits he strategic direction i can deduce over at wotc: getting bottom line results rather than creating something new and revolutionary. which in turn fits wotc's role as a small subsidiary of a huge multinational conglomerate. so naturally i wonder if he has any experience playing dnd. plus i wuld guess that if this guy had any kind of personal background/experience with dnd or mtg, wotc would have touted that in their press release as a touchy feely selling point to the gaming community.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

hat and my own experiences

I read this as "I'm just making this up because it reinforces my own preconceived notions" YMMV.

 

[joethelawyer]

I read this as "I'm just making this up because it reinforces my own preconceived notions" YMMV.

isn't that what we all always do? take the raw data of our senses, run it through the filters of our life experiences, while trying to be as objective as we can, and come to conclusions?