Why Wizards Has Lost Touch w/ Its Base

[naturaltwenty]

The analogy goes too far. The Dungeon & Dragon magazines =/= D&D. D&D, as produced by WotC consists of:

- Rulebooks
- Sourcebooks/Modules
- Miniatures

While long time gamers associate the magazines with the hobby their limited distribution does little to gain new gamers.

While B&N may carry (I can't say if they do or not) the magazines the above three elements have much more shelf space dedicated to them.

Again, I'm not advocating the magazines do not add value to the overall game they just are not-in-fact necessary to play the game.

Thanks, Charles. I am really upset about this, but do appreciate you giving your perspective on things. At least it helps a little to make this all a little more palatable. For me at least this would be the equivalent of Harley Davidson changing their iconic motor sound that of a put-put moped. If WOTC would just be willing to have a dialogue or a better explanation of things, instead of one quote in a press release, it would probably help people to feel a lot better about this.

 

[DaveMage]

I wonder how the authors (Mearls, Cordell, etc.) at WotC feel about these latest developments.

I'll bet many of them have issues of Dungeon and Dragon dating back quite a ways.


On the other hand, maybe they are taking the approach that D&D needs to evolve, and this is the first step...

 

[Hussar]

I have been considering the core fanbase issue as well and also agree with the other posters that ENWorld, and the older generation (including myself) and not part of the core market of the hobby. My recent perusal of other online gaming communities seem to confirm this ( most of the gamers seem to be teen to young adult who grew up in the electronic era yet also seem to be very creative and talented in their own right; they also seem really into all the alternate classes etc. probably a by product of exposure to anime and video games).

However, based on age dynamics alone, I would hypothesize that our market subsegment probably has more disposable cash and spent more $$ per person on the hobby.

You are kidding right? The 30+ demographic has more disposable cash than the 18-25? With kids, mortgage, car payments, bills etc.? There's a reason that entertainment caters to that age bracket and not to mine. They spend all the money.

And, wow, it took this long to Godwin this thread with anime AND video game references. Bravo sir!

 

[naturaltwenty]

Does anyone remember when Dungeon Magazine added an Alternity adventure to it. The outrage that went through the roof regarding 16 pages of a magazine was immense. When I get home I'll repost some of those articles.

How many people have clamored for d20 Modern adventures (which there have been quite a few posted on wizards.com) or Star Wars adventures (again which have been posted on wizards.com....start to see a trend?).

I hope not only to see D&D adventures but more articles on d20 Modern, d20 Future, Star Wars, etc., etc.

As being one of the few people excited about this and who doesn't feel like WotC came to my house and killed my puppy I can't wait to see what's in store.

Later,

Greg Volz

 

[Maggan]

They'll probably be willing to.

After people stop clamoring for their blood, analyzing their professional backgrounds and professing them to be "non-gamers" though they've never met them, calling them mean, etc.

What! You mean the EN World community should wait and wait and wait for ever and ever for WotC to speak up?

I mean, its been like ... at least ... 15 hours, since the press release!

/M

 

[naturaltwenty]

Right on. The kids today get an average of 10-20 dollars a week from their parents in disposable income. I for one don't charge my 11 year old son for the WoW or CoH subscriptions. As of right now his disposable income goes to buying WarMachine minis, D&D minis, and every once in a while saving up for an XBox game.

That's a continuous influx of $40.00-80.00/month into the gaming industry/gaming kid. I do not spend 40.00-80.00/month on gaming. There are splurges but I can go for months without dropping a dime.

You are kidding right? The 30+ demographic has more disposable cash than the 18-25? With kids, mortgage, car payments, bills etc.? There's a reason that entertainment caters to that age bracket and not to mine. They spend all the money.

And, wow, it took this long to Godwin this thread with anime AND video game references. Bravo sir!

 

[papastebu]

While I am upset--I lack about 75 issues to having a complete set of Dragon--that the magazines are about to go the way of the white buffalo, I don't feel that WotC has given up on D&D. A great many of the things they did when releasing 3e had profound impact on the gaming industry as a whole, and D&D specifically.
If WotC hadn't taken over D&D and its rights, then it would be a case of, "Remember that game they used to make?" instead of "What's going to be included in 4e?" The game would only exist as a bunch of mouldering books on some ancient gamer's---mine included---bookshelves.
I'm glad the game is still alive, and I hope it continues to thrive. WotC's actions revitalized the gaming industry, and there weren't many companies, at that time, who could have pulled D&D, specifically, out of the abyssal hole TSR had dug for itself.
If you want to rag on something, pinpoint things that the company has actually done wrong, gather your arguments, and try and convince them to reverse the decision that offends. Really, that's the only way to effect change. By doing something, rather than ranting. Although a good rant does help you feel better, sometimes.

 

[Maggan]

You are kidding right? The 30+ demographic has more disposable cash than the 18-25?

They also probably have more than enough Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guides to last them a lifetime or two. So they might be more disinclined to buy new stuff, since their basements are probably filled with stuff already.

/M

 

[Ulric]

What! You mean the EN World community should wait and wait and wait for ever and ever for WotC to speak up?

I mean, its been like ... at least ... 15 hours, since the press release!

/M

Tongue in cheek aside, look at Paizo. Their guys spent some serious time yesterday--both here and on their boards--answering everyone's questions and showing us they care. I have huge respect for them. They must have had serious finger cramping by the end of the day. Wizards has serious resources. Couldn't they have assigned a few people yesterday to have done the same? It's the difference between being a part of your base and seeing your base simply as part of a pie chart. Wizards has already missed a huge opportunity to sell us on their on-line stuff. How cool would it have been if they would have done they same as Paizo yesterday? Instead of everyone being annoyed, mad, disillusioned with them right now, people would now be psyched about all the cool things they would have told us were forthcoming.

 

[mmadsen]

You are kidding right? The 30+ demographic has more disposable cash than the 18-25?

An adult should have orders of magnitude more disposable cash than an 18 year old. Certainly the typical 18-year-old spends all his cash, and if he's a gamer he spends it all on games, but one nice dinner out with the wife cost more than a typical college kid spends on games, movies, and beer in a month, and one family vacation can cost more than a typical college kid spends on entertainment through all four years of college.

There's a reason that entertainment caters to that age bracket and not to mine. They spend all the money.

They may outspend grown-ups on games, and they may spend a much larger proportion of their income on entertainment, but I can't imagine they have more disposable income in absolute terms.