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

[BadMojo]

I think the lesson here is that a company thinking of moving to an online model, needs to be better at managing the web reaction to their announcements...

I think the other lesson might be that even the 20 and 30-somethings who are comfortable using the Internet (banking, buying a car, ordering a pizza) aren't as excited about online content as the press release suggests.

Game Informer magazine actually just had an editorial about web content vs. a print magazine. The main point was that the web is great for up to date information on new products, reviews, previews, etc. but print is much better for a longer, more in depth article. I really, truly agree with this and don't want to read a 10 page article on my monitor for a variety of reasons. There's a reason why electronics manufacturers are still struggling with e-book readers.

I agree that WotC's handling of this has been awful. The press release seems like it came out with the assumption that people who have been enjoying these magazines for most of their lives would be happy with one lame blurb about the great things to come. The responses from the Wizards staffers now just seems like damage control. I'm sure most of the things posted by the Wizards folks are truly what they feel, but it's hard not to see this as a bit of last minute corporate spin.

It's a shame that the WotC people don't feel comfortable posting here, but I can't believe they'd be shocked at the anger this business decision has stirred up.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I think the lesson here is that a company thinking of moving to an online model, needs to be better at managing the web reaction to their announcements...

Damn right. Do I want to subscribe to an online scheme where the publishers will go and sulk in a corner with their hands over their ears when I don't like what they're selling to me?

Do I want to pay them a monthly fee if they go gnome on me?

 

[Treebore]

I think the other lesson might be that even the 20 and 30-somethings who are comfortable using the Internet (banking, buying a car, ordering a pizza) aren't as excited about online content as the press release suggests.

Game Informer magazine actually just had an editorial about web content vs. a print magazine. The main point was that the web is great for up to date information on new products, reviews, previews, etc. but print is much better for a longer, more in depth article. I really, truly agree with this and don't want to read a 10 page article on my monitor for a variety of reasons. There's a reason why electronics manufacturers are still struggling with e-book readers.

I agree that WotC's handling of this has been awful. The press release seems like it came out with the assumption that people who have been enjoying these magazines for most of their lives would be happy with one lame blurb about the great things to come. The responses from the Wizards staffers now just seems like damage control. I'm sure most of the things posted by the Wizards folks are truly what they feel, but it's hard not to see this as a bit of last minute corporate spin.

It's a shame that the WotC people don't feel comfortable posting here, but I can't believe they'd be shocked at the anger this business decision has stirred up.

Their own message boards have not been a "comfortable" place for them to post. Quit nasty, actually.


ENWorld has been a safe haven compared to posts I have read over there.

Plus WOTC better up thier building security for awhile. Just in case the myth that RPGers are mentally unstable sociopaths has some truth to it. IT would only take one, so I am not kidding about beefing up security and the strict enforcement of it.

I think it would be wise of WOTC to put forth a few pounds of prevention for awhile.

I definitely would if I were them.

Just to be clear, I am in no way implying a threat, just a very honest (and I think real) concern. Much better to be safe and alive.

 

[smootrk]

Damn right. Do I want to subscribe to an online scheme where the publishers will go and sulk in a corner with their hands over their ears when I don't like what they're selling to me?

Do I want to pay them a monthly fee if they go gnome on me?

Yes, I find it odd that they are so excited for their online version of Dragon/Dungeon content, yet are dumbfounded and afraid to deal with this online reaction.
They have a lot to prove to impress me.

 

[Nightfall]

Smootk,

Just tell em they got the protection of Nightfall for the moment.

 

[pemerton]

One thing I don't understand - if Dungeon and Dragon are such good products with a high degree of economic viability, why can't another company take them up (with different names, of course, to avoid trademark issues) and keep going under the OGL?

To put it another way - why is it crucial that the content come out under the same name? After all, Dragon once was called The Strategic Review, and Dungeon was once just adventures published in Dragon.

 

[Nightfall]

Pem,

WotC holds the rights to allow Paizo to use D&D specific stuff and also the fact I believe, they (Paizo) are under some contract that doesn't allow them to change names at the drop of the hat.

Someone with more legal expertise can explain that part.

 

[EricNoah]

I believe OGL magazines have been tried. And did not last long. EN World Player's Journal was one such. Now one could take a gamble that with no "official" print counterpart available after Sept 2007 there would be more of a market.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Everyone ragging on the WotC folks for being "too cowardly" to post here, and for not wanting to be "thrown to the wolves," may want to stop for a moment and consider that the people likely to be posting about this are the creative folks--the ones you know by name, the ones who have posted here before--and not the ones who made this decision. Even if some anger is justified, it's not justifiably aimed at the people who would be posting--yet in the current environment, I don't blame them for worrying that they'll still get a face full of it.

 

[Nightfall]

Ari,

I believe my Declaration post addressed that point...but hey you can post it there too!