WoTC in the Frying Pan

[Graf]

And the thread on wizards has "mysteriously disappeared".

The funny thing is that nobody really expected much from DDI. The press demos (all graphics, not a shred of underlying code) already looked like vapourware.

The online, free Dungeon/Dragon aren't bad. I mean they haven't put out the actual magazines themselves yet (slightly annoying) but the new computer screen friendly layout is pretty cool.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I'm with you there. A few years back, I loved hanging out there; but I've completely abandoned the "worship halls" of the new community manager ever since he started making changes there.

Who is the WotC community manager that I've seen quite a few people refer to?

Is it Gamer Zero?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Jadeite]

And the thread on wizards has "mysteriously disappeared".

The funny thing is that nobody really expected much from DDI. The press demos (all graphics, not a shred of underlying code) already looked like vapourware.

The online, free Dungeon/Dragon aren't bad. I mean they haven't put out the actual magazines themselves yet (slightly annoying) but the new computer screen friendly layout is pretty cool.

The thread hasn't disappeared. I got a blank page for a while, but now it is back on. I guess it was just the usual wizards downtime. And yes, the DDI seems very vapourwary to me.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Is it Gamer Zero?

Yes.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Wow. I can't see any reason at all that a class wouldn't be certified for a class-action lawsuit against WotC for this.

And I thought 1-1-1-1 movement was a screw-up.

 

[Fifth Element]

Wow. I can't see any reason at all that a class wouldn't be certified for a class-action lawsuit against WotC for this.

For what, exactly?

 

[Piratecat]

Wow. I can't see any reason at all that a class wouldn't be certified for a class-action lawsuit against WotC for this.

You're kidding, right? I'm trying to figure out a way in which such a thing was remotely feasible, and I'm drawing a blank. A delayed product that no one has paid to subscribe to yet isn't exactly the thing you sue over. Good luck proving damages.

 

[Jer]

You're kidding, right? I'm trying to figure out a way in which such a thing was remotely feasible, and I'm drawing a blank. A delayed product that no one has paid to subscribe to yet isn't exactly the thing you sue over. Good luck proving damages.

Seriously, if Wizards could be subject to a class action lawsuit over their DDI, then the entire software industry would be the next target. If you could get a class of people together to go after a software company for not delivering a product that no one has paid for, you might as well shut down Silicon Valley.

Heck, I'd be looking to get a group together to go after everyone involved in the "Duke Nukem Forever" fiasco. If Wizards is liable for anything for the DDI, the guys involved in DNF would have to be Public Enemy #1 or something...

 

[Jeff Wilder]

You're kidding, right? I'm trying to figure out a way in which such a thing was remotely feasible, and I'm drawing a blank. A delayed product that no one has paid to subscribe to yet isn't exactly the thing you sue over. Good luck proving damages.

DDI was (and still is) advertised as a draw, available immediately, to sell core rulebooks.

This is not simply a matter of vaporware. It is, at the very least, arguable that DDI was a promised part of a product -- the core rulebooks -- that was not delivered.

Proving damages is easy: "If it weren't for the unequivocal statements that I'd be able to play D&D via DDI, with my friends that lives around the country, I would not have bought the rulebooks."

An analogy: a high end car company advertises that buyers of their soon-to-be-released hybrid will be able to immediately subscribe to highly anticipated SOTA satellite services (for the hybrid) of various sorts. After thousands of the cars are sold, the company announces that none of the subscription services will be available for months.

If you don't see legal liability there, well, it's a damned good thing you're not a lawyer, because you suck at it. (I am, BTW, a lawyer.)

There's not really any question in WotC's case, and starting RSN, you can expect to see some serious legal scrambling.

 

[Aeolius]

No frying pans in 4e. You'll have to wait for the DMG2 next year.