Why Wizards Has Lost Touch w/ Its Base

[Maggan]

Who is their customer base then? I don't see a huge number of 12 year old kids playing this game.

I went to a D&D meetup recently. 12 people came - all were late 20s and up. ENWorld really is indicative of the average D&D consumer. If people on ENWorld are upset, you can bet that's reflective of the larger D&D population.

There are millions of people playing D&D.

There are 50 000 or so who buy Dragon and/or Dungeon, I have read somewhere.

I have a hard time thinking that the millions of gamers not buying Dragon and/or Dungeon are upset about this.

/M

 

[Scylla]

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

While I respectfully see the point Maggan's trying to make, I go with Ulric here.
To kill off two popular, venerable icons with no more than a small blurb on their website that leads to a press release is disrespectful to the readers and contributors of this 30-year-old institution. (I fall into both categories.) Paizo took the time to answer questions, gave people a good idea where they were going, posted a FAQ, and, in short, showed they cared.
If Wizards cannot respond because they knew a decision would make people angry, that speaks volumes about the wisdom of their decision. I realize that not all customers will agree with decisions made by an IP holder, but a mere glance at the many responces here, at Paizo's boards, and at Wizards boards leaves no doubt as to the degree of anger this decision has generated. No need to worry about things blowing up in their face; I'd say the bomb has already gone off.

 

[Particle_Man]

I imagine it is less that they have loss touch with their customer base as people around here realizing they are just no longer part of that customer base anymore.

Sigged!

 

[drothgery]

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

Well, the 18-23 year old bracket is largely full-time students and people who went straight to work out of high school. With few exceptions, these guys have little income at all, disposable or otherwise. I mean, when I was that age I was going to college on borrowed money and paying for books and my other expenses out of meager summer job earnings. I mean, I spend a much lower percentage of my income on gaming materials now (at age 31) than I did when I was 20, or even 25, but it ends up being a lot more money in absolute terms. Granted, I'm single and live alone, but still...

 

[WhatGravitas]

There are 50 000 or so who buy Dragon and/or Dungeon, I have read somewhere.

I think they're subscriptions, but then it's probably not correct.

 

[Crothian]

Who is their customer base then? I don't see a huge number of 12 year old kids playing this game.

I went to a D&D meetup recently. 12 people came - all were late 20s and up. ENWorld really is indicative of the average D&D consumer. If people on ENWorld are upset, you can bet that's reflective of the larger D&D population.

There customer base is mostly people that don't go to the D&D meet up or hang out much on line for gaming. Gamers have always been a secretive crowd and they don't advertise to the world that they game. My 12 year old nephew those knows plenty of kids his age that do game.

 

[Vigilance]

While I respectfully see the point Maggan's trying to make, I go with Ulric here.
To kill off two popular, venerable icons with no more than a small blurb on their website that leads to a press release is disrespectful to the readers and contributors of this 30-year-old institution. (I fall into both categories.) Paizo took the time to answer questions, gave people a good idea where they were going, posted a FAQ, and, in short, showed they cared.
If Wizards cannot respond because they knew a decision would make people angry, that speaks volumes about the wisdom of their decision. I realize that not all customers will agree with decisions made by an IP holder, but a mere glance at the many responces here, at Paizo's boards, and at Wizards boards leaves no doubt as to the degree of anger this decision has generated. No need to worry about things blowing up in their face; I'd say the bomb has already gone off.

Nothing Wizards said yesterday, or today for that matter, would make things better.

There's a CHANCE they could make things worse, or allow them to stay the same.

I wouldn't step into that if I were them.

Wait until things cool down and folks here are willing to listen, then start communicating.

Wizards is the guy who just broke up with our best friend. We might WANT to hear from him right now, but it won't do any good till we calm down.

 

[smootrk]

Two things:

- If you publicly slandered my professional abilities in the way you have just done to people at WotC that you don't even know I would destroy your life and career, assuming you had a career to destroy.

- Dear business guru, as you clearly know what WotC should be doing to once more become a corporate giant, would you please be so kind as to enlighten to rest of us about your extensive business background?

I'm not a fanboy, as such; I just think 12-year old kiddies shouldn't be allowed to slander people on messageboards. And an MBA of any sort is an achievement.

The test of whether or not WotC has lost touch with its base is its profits. Do we know what they are? The rumour is that last year was very successful. If that's correct then I would say that they're doing a great job connecting with their base.

I'll just say that I have personally fired a substantial number of folks with MBA's (from a variety of fields). An MBA is simply an academic achievement, easily acquired after a standard collegiate education. Most MBA folks don't impress me much anymore. Actual work related achievements (within their particular field) will impress me. Cross-over MBA 'suits' are not well respected in fields that I have worked (advertising & marketing endeavors).

 

[The Shaman]

I imagine it is less that they have loss touch with their customer base as people around here realizing they are just no longer part of that customer base anymore.

The first step toward enlightenment is the realization that you are not part of the target demographic.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Relax. He's doing his job. Part of his job relates to direct management. part of it involves working with a hierarchy that has several levels above him and tells him to do things. I've had a poor opinion of WotC decisions from time to time, but y'know what? They're just jobs and people in them do what they're allowed and told to do.

I've removed all the bad tempered rudeness from this post and guess what? There's nothing left.

If we see this kind of posting again you will recieve a ban. I get that you're upset, but you've got to manage it better.

- Plane Sailing, Moderator