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

[Nightfall]

Croth,

Which is who I want to hear from now. We'll let the marketing people burninate.

 

[Ourph]

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?

I'm sure they could, but part of the reason I'm disappointed in this turn of events is that Paizo will no longer be doing these magazines (Dungeon at least, I really haven't cared about Dragon for quite some time). Before Paizo took over I was quite disappointed in Dungeon for many years. Paizo apparently can't or won't continue to produce periodicals. Some third party might come along and produce a quality magazine as good as Paizo's Dungeon (a difficult, but not insurmountable task), but they won't have a track record of putting out quality periodicals for the past few years which, I would imagine, makes getting people to subscribe a lot harder.

 

[Friadoc]

Of course it is but that also doesn't make it any less true. But spin control infers that is a planned response and I doubt a bunch of employees at wizards got together to all send a similar e-mail to Morrus on the subject.

While it is plausible that a bunch of employees could get together and do such a thing, I highly doubt how probably it is in this case.

Although I think they way it was initially handled was a mistake, a dropped ball to use that analogy, I don't put it all into a massive conspiracy of spin control.

It is spin control, but I doubt it is directed by TPTB (The Powers That Be) at WotC or Habro.

We're just seeing people who realize that they have have bruised, in some cases broken, the trust of the fan community and they're trying to make it better.

Personally I wish they would post here about it, too, as I'm not going to add to my list of comminuties I log into.

But, I can't blame them, either. I tend to avoid anything that could turn into a nasty flame war, not out of fear, mind you, but because I know how I tend to react to those situations and it is rarely professional. So, if I'm trying to be professional, best to avoid it.

That said, although a lot of us here can be blunt and forthright, I think we're also civil and would, I'd hope, avoid acting like a lynch mob.

 

[Nightfall]

Friadoc,

Yeah cause if I want a lynch mob, I'll drive 13 miles to Ashland.

 

[JeffB]

Jeff,

Yeah I feel you on that but on the other hand, let's just give them a chance. I'm not saying stop being unhappy. Just give them a chance to respond.

Otherwise I feel and agree with you on that 100%.

well, to me..I'm not THAT upset..I mean ...I grew up on The Strategic Review and The Dragon, and Dragon..and I no longer play the current version of the game...so I have no use for the mags anymore...its upsetting though because of the "history"...but it won't hurt my gaming at all.

The point I was trying to make is WOTC FUBAR'ed this up beyond comprehension (from a business/marketing standpoint). You don't take away a 30 year old "institution" to a large number of gamers, and say "yeah well..we'll have something pretty cool in a few months...but uhm..well..we cant say what it is you're going to get..its REALLY cool , though...really....it is...cos uhm..we said so". And then you certainly don't post that poor "blurb" they are trying to pass off as damage control. You get into it with your customers and you inform them..you assure them things are gonna be OK..by giving them SOMETHING concrete...not marketing BS. You post FAQs...you have up a SAMPLE of what some of the things in the pipeline are..SHOW what you are going to do...not just tell them in vague roundabout ways and then "hide". All of this SHOULD have done before the annoucement was made....uhmm...once again..just like Paizo did.

 

[Nightfall]

Jeff,

I don't disagree but on the other hand, like someone once said "Fun is fun. And Done is done."
Change happened. We need to not necessary "accept it" so much as understand it and then maybe accept it. Or not.

 

[JeffB]

I'm pretty sure it is the designers though that are the ones saying they are reluctant to post.

I'm curious to know..I'm sure there ARE designers...but some of the heavys, I'd wager are here seeing the reaction as well.

 

[JeffB]

Jeff,

I don't disagree but on the other hand, like someone once said "Fun is fun. And Done is done."
Change happened. We need to not necessary "accept it" so much as understand it and then maybe accept it. Or not.

Oh I accept it, lol. I'm just amazed at how poorly it was (not) handled.. as I said..it really doesnt affect me or my games. I'm certainly not emotional about it or losing any sleep over it

 

[ShadowDenizen]

I have every confidence that this online format will be amazing,

I, OTOH, feel just the opposite . (ETools, anyone? Not directly comparable, granted, but it doesn't instill me with confidence. And they only TRULY started their "Digital Initiative" within the last year, didn't they?)

I think alot of the preveant hostility seems to flow from the seeming disrespect (at least IMHO) that WotC is showing for the venerable legacy of "Dungeon" and "Dragon" magazines. Which is undestandable.

But I, for one, would still be interested to hear what TPTB over at WizBro have to say, though honestly doubt anything they say would convince me to participate in the "Digital Initiative". (Not a big fan of reading lengthy articles online, and would rather pay the fee to have a nicely printed magazine to read at the kitchen table, or the living room, or the train to work.)

I don't want to steal Merric's title as "ENWorld's Optimist"

Do we have an "ENWorld Pessimist"? If not, can I submit an application?

 

[Nightfall]

Jeff,

Well I have lost something and I feel the emotion. But I'm done with it now and I want to move on.

I don't disagree this was handled pretty poorly. I just want answers now.