WotC Replies: Statements by WotC employees regarding Dragon/Dungeon going online

[Ulric]

For what it's worth, I can actually kind of understand why WotC hasn't released any information, yet. Considering how big this news is and how upset so many people were over the who whole ordeal, if they were to release their future planes right this moment they'd get shredded by the "angry mob" and spit back out to WotC in tiny, tiny pieces. In other words, nothing at the moment could possibly be good enough to take the place of Dungeon or Dragon, and people would make sure WotC knew it. It would forever taint people's perspective on the new product.

As it is, yeah, perspectives are tainted, but we don't even know what it is, yet. So once the big hooplah dies down a bit, people might react quite a bit differently to the new product when it's finally revealed what that's going to be. As it stands, anything new would not be "good enough" and many people would probably cement their current feelings on the project once and for all.

I'm not saying that those upset are a problem or anything like that. No way! I'm not pointing fingers at anybody - nothing like that at all. Just want to clarify that. All I'm saying is... I can kind of see why Wizards wouldn't release their plans just yet, especially so soon after this news broke.

I agree with this. And the response from Wizards is appreciated. It probably would have prevented a lot of the negative responses if this would have come out yesterday, but, again, thanks Wizards for posting it. I look forward to seeing their on-line offerings.

 

[Reynard]

Actually, if I understand correctly, you can buy WoW time at pretty much any video game store. At least I'm pretty sure I've seen them...and what would be the point of such a product if not to let people who won't give up their CC numbers play?

You are absolutely right. I can't think of a single MMO that requires a credit card to play in fact. All of them have prepaid cards you can buy in stores. Usually they have a time limit rather than a dollar amount on them (3 months, frex) but I know XBox live at least sells in game "money" as well as subscriptions in B&M stores.

 

[Agamon]

You are absolutely right. I can't think of a single MMO that requires a credit card to play in fact. All of them have prepaid cards you can buy in stores. Usually they have a time limit rather than a dollar amount on them (3 months, frex) but I know XBox live at least sells in game "money" as well as subscriptions in B&M stores.

So, online games have evolved to let you buy off the shelf...looks like WotC is going bass-ackwards...

 

[Nightfall]

Shem,

All I care about is seeing your Loth articles and planar stuff being used. Cause if it's not, well there goes a hell of a lot of fun in my book.

*is on Team Nightfall that supports team #1 which has done BETTER at adventure writing a good portion of the time than Team 2.*

 

[Reynard]

So, online games have evolved to let you buy off the shelf...looks like WotC is going bass-ackwards...

There's no indication that if the digital initiative is a subscription service, WotC won't be selling the same kind of prepaid cards in your FLGS -- and your Walmart, and your Borders, and even your Best Buy -- in the same manner. I assume -- no matter what one may actually think of the prospect of a web enhanced D&D experience -- that WotC isn't run by idiots.

 

[Agamon]

There's no indication that if the digital initiative is a subscription service, WotC won't be selling the same kind of prepaid cards in your FLGS -- and your Walmart, and your Borders, and even your Best Buy -- in the same manner. I assume -- no matter what one may actually think of the prospect of a web enhanced D&D experience -- that WotC isn't run by idiots.

There's certainly no indictation that that won't happen. There's also no indication I won't trip and fall into a pit full of money tomorrow, either.

 

[Nightfall]

Reynard,

That's a VERY dangerous assumption to make by a company that keeps changing it's tune each time they want to do "New Coke" to us gamers.

Me, I suspect the subscription service WILL be mandatory.

 

[Wraith Form]

For me, it's not about losing the magazines. It's about losing hardcopies of what was good.

Reading online content is not the same as holding a book/magazine in your hands. I'm sure they will charge close to the same price for the online content as we would've paid for a printed version. The new content might be just as good or better, but paying full price for an online download without having a hardcopy is a deal breaker for me :\

See, this is the ONLY way in which I think this is positive: I love to write and scribble all over my Dungeon adventures. In paper form, I'd have to photocopy them....which is technically illegal....in order to do that.

In PDF, I can print the pages, and then write anything I want all over them.

Aside from the positives of this, I see nothing good about this move, and have little or no itention of supporting WotC's decision. OTOH, I do fully intend to support Mr. Mona and Company, as my gaming mindset seems very much on the same level as his (Greyhawk, Cthulhu, a darker D&D game, etc).

 

[Nightfall]

There's certainly no indictation that that won't happen. There's also no indication I won't trip and fall into a pit full of money tomorrow, either.

Aggy,

If you do, give me a few million.

 

[Nightfall]

See, this is the ONLY way in which I think this is positive: I love to write and scribble all over my Dungeon adventures. In paper form, I'd have to photocopy them....which is technically illegal....in order to do that.

In PDF, I can print the pages, and then write anything I want all over them.

Aside from the positives of this, I see nothing good about this move, and have little or no itention of supporting WotC's decision. OTOH, I do fully intend to support Mr. Mona and Company, as my gaming mindset seems very much on the same level as his (Greyhawk, Cthulhu, a darker D&D game, etc).

That and the fact there will be MAJOR opportunities for Paizo to work deals with Necromancer Games to create truly innovative products.