Why Wizards Has Lost Touch w/ Its Base

[Ghendar]

WOTC is concerned with folks who actually SPEND money, not how much they have. Ryan Dancey said their earliest market research drew a very clear distinction, to the point that they stopped looking at the over 30 gamer.

I've enjoyed 3rd ED since it was released and at one time I bought many, many a book. Some, as it turns out, I never really used. Hence my decision to stop buying many books. Therefore, I used to be a heavy supporter on D&D.

However, if WotC doesn't care about me because I'm an over 30 gamer, why should I continue to care about them? If they stop looking at me, I'll stop looking at them.

 

[Crothian]

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.

Wizards has their own message boards. I have no idea what if any threads they had on the subject were like but they very well could have been answering questions there.

 

[Ghendar]

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

I don't have a problem with change and evolution. I really don't. I'm just dismayed that change and evolution comes at my (and other long time gamers) personal expense as I watch D&D slowly become something far different than what it was when I enjoyed it most and also when I see things like long established game references such as Dungeon and Dragon get canceled.

If this is the future, maybe it's time I found something else to do with my free time. That makes me sad.

Has D&D passed me by?????

 

[Raven Crowking]

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

Sorry. I must still be in shock.....

 

[Maggan]

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.

I think people would have screamed their heads off regardless of what WotC said. Sure it's in their interest to maintain a dialogue with the fans, but the people there are beholden to more layers of management than Paizo, and probably have a lot more strict rules on what they are allowed to say and not say.

One misstatement from one individual at WotC could blow up in their face and anger some gamers who are quick to anger and slow to forgive.

Also, it's a lot easier for Paizo to talk to people about this cause they're the underdog. No one is angry with them, so it's a lot easier for them to be out here on the boards with the rest of us.

/M

 

[SavageRobby]

I wonder where that "figure" came from (about 30+). Perhaps the same kind of self-slanted poll as Wizards' online poll that showed them that people wanted more online content?


I know that as I've gotten older, I spend more money, but I spend it less blindly. I won't buy any ole crap that a company puts out, whether I like the company or not - but once upon a time, I was far more likely to. Now I buy based on proof of quality.

I can see where Wizards isn't interested in spending the time or money on quality, and would rather pander cheaper to create crap products to consumers who are less discerning. That is the same mentality that sells Brittany Spears albums.

 

[mmadsen]

However, if WotC doesn't care about me because I'm an over 30 gamer, why should I continue to care about them? If they stop looking at me, I'll stop looking at them.

Yes, but they're not bitter about it, and they don't blame you for ruining the relationship. They've moved on.

 

[SavageRobby]

Wizards has their own message boards. I have no idea what if any threads they had on the subject were like but they very well could have been answering questions there.

They're not. Other than warning people about the code of conduct.

 

[WhatGravitas]

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.

But then, they should rather pick that up and do a new magazine. Because this new target group is much more internet-savvy, and invested into it. Making it prone to file-sharing, especially because it's digital.

And MtG, a game totally aimed on younger kids, has massive support for tournaments in stores, and many of these stores also sell Dragon/Dungeon. But by going online, they're basically denying that support, and forcing younger people to convince their parents to do a subscription. And they make it more problematic to "just spot the magazine". Which is a huge factor, at least in my experience.

I don't see where this is good. And it's certainly not geared towards younger people. Note that I'm young (19). And they've lost me, whereas Paizo got a new customer.

If they want to address younger people, they should do a magazine, and put "funky" stuff into it. Put CDs with background music into it, with previews, coupled with a subscription-based online enhancement, get some older D&D games (like Pool of Radiance) as freebie for it, do D&DO-tie ins... after all, youth magazines sell pretty well. Perhaps couple it with Magic: The Gathering, and their other games, making a "Wizards Magazine", perhaps splitting it up, whatever.

I don't see where they're aiming at all, except at "how to get the most stuff out without having high production costs".

And now, I ask, are they doing this "Expeditions" with an obvious "nostalgia"-feel and then bunk everything that could've drawn in nostalgia.

 

[Anti-Sean]

Why do I feel like I'm in Logan's Run and my Crystal just changed colors.

I hate to say it, but referencing Logan's Run pretty much guarantees that you're not in their target market anymore.