WotC new Marketing VP

[Bluenose]

My thoughts are more, is even if it doubled the user base, none of the games he worked on were what I would qualify as a HUGE success. Someone on the otherhand that had created something like WOW marketing if were are talking about MMOs, or perhaps FFG roleplaying which now has the line behind PF and D&D in popularity...maybe we'd be talking...

But this doesn't seem all that stellar of an in-house hire or move.

Hopefully I'm mistaken.

What would you call a 'huge success' that wasn't WoW, in the MMO field? There's a host of MMOs in the second rank, a long way behind WoW, but nothing really outstanding in that lot.

 

[CharlesRyan]

Interesting that they didn't promote from within. I have no inside info, but that tells me they were looking to complement their existing talent with some outsider insight.

Interesting also that he made a lateral move (VP Marketing --> VP Marketing) from what, presumably, was a pretty sweet gig. Tells me that A) WotC pays more (doubtful); B) Working at Turbine sucks (credible, but who knows?); or C) He's a big fan of the WotC brands and really wants to work with them.

C is great (though frankly not necessary for him to do a great job).

 

[GreyLord]

What would you call a 'huge success' that wasn't WoW, in the MMO field? There's a host of MMOs in the second rank, a long way behind WoW, but nothing really outstanding in that lot.

That's a pretty tough arena to be part of and recruit valuable marketing. I think Eve MIGHT be a plausible recruitment arena simply for it's longevity (or what I see as it's longevity possibilities) and loyalty of customer base. I also th ink the original guy behind Guild Wars and their marketing team members did a good job in popularizing that game.

MMO's are not really what I'd be recruiting from for a VP of marketing for a table Top RPG probably...but I can also see how it might work.

 

[Shemeska]

MMO's are not really what I'd be recruiting from for a VP of marketing for a table Top RPG probably...but I can also see how it might work.

WotC has hired from within Turbine before (DDO lead designer Ken Troop, moved over to the DDI and I presume is still there).

 

[TheYeti1775]

You're missing one very important reason for complaints:

5. Lack of communication

Over at the WotC boards in the DDI areas some 50% of the posts are concerned with the rarity of posts of WotC employees.

Communication didn't fall into the realm of my core complaints on them. Many of us are spoiled by the openiness of their 3rd Party contributors so it skews the view some.
But you are right, they have been noticeably absent from boards posting openingly about questions. I think many of them got wrangled by the in-house lawyers.

Not sure if an MMO guy can help there.

If he came from Cryptic, I think it would. At least for STO, the devs are relatively active and open. I like that a lot.

I would love to see Developer input in those areas.
But you have to remember they couldn't say anything because of their NDA's and what not. If they promise something you know we would hold them to the fire on it.

Interesting that they didn't promote from within. I have no inside info, but that tells me they were looking to complement their existing talent with some outsider insight.

Interesting also that he made a lateral move (VP Marketing --> VP Marketing) from what, presumably, was a pretty sweet gig. Tells me that A) WotC pays more (doubtful); B) Working at Turbine sucks (credible, but who knows?); or C) He's a big fan of the WotC brands and really wants to work with them.

C is great (though frankly not necessary for him to do a great job).

Didn't Turbine recently complete a turnout cycle for a product? Maybe he saw writing on the wall there to jump ship.