WOTC, when do we see a commercial for D&D on TV???

[Orius]

Quick snarky comment:

That commercial looks like it was made back in the Blume era. And we all know how financially well TSR was doing back then.

 

[kenobi65]

That commercial looks like it was made back in the Blume era. And we all know how financially well TSR was doing back then.

They're using the boxed set that I learned the game with...which would place it at 1982, or so.

 

[Nomad4life]

If I ever see a D&D commercial, I’ll quit playing.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

If I ever see a D&D commercial, I’ll quit playing.

Why?

 

[Nomad4life]

Why?

I guess it’s the elitist in me?

 

[Rel]

If I ever see a D&D commercial, I’ll quit playing.

And if I ever see a commercial for condoms then I'll quit having SEX!

Oh wait, no I won't. That would be silly. :\

 

[Umbran]

BUT I started this thread with the topic of taboo surrounding D&D.
[...snip...]
Of course, market research showing that the ad would loose them tons and tons of cash is also a reason. A very good reason and not one that I would argue with.

You speak as if these two things are mutually exclusive. A persisting taboo would certainly make an advertising campaign less effective - it would contribute toward the "spend $2 to earn $1 scenario".

Dropping taboos is not in WotC's hands. That's something only the public can do. In theory, a company can spend money to help improve public perception, but that avenue is only open to those who have lots of cash to spend on marketing. Gaming is small. D&D sells well enough to support itself, but not enough to pay for massive advertising campaigns attempting to change the minds of a national population. Exxon and Coca-Cola can do that. WotC can't.

 

[Psionicist]

If there's anything that could introduce a new generation to role-playing It'd be a Harry Potter RPG, if marketed and executed correctly. It sure helped remove the geek label from fantasy with a little help from the LOTR movies, and card games with a little help from pokemon. A commercial for said product would probably be less intimidating than this satanist "Dungeons & Dragons" thing people make fun of on TV now and then.

Edit: You can even compare the social, story-telling aspects of RPGs with the ruthless killing and sex scenes in blasphemous computer games! Do you want your child to be the next shakespeare or a murdering rapist! Well do you!
(Sorry couldn't resist the propaganda angle)

 

[kenobi65]

If there's anything that could introduce a new generation to role-playing It'd be a Harry Potter RPG, if marketed and executed correctly. It sure helped remove the geek label from fantasy with a little help from the LOTR movies, and card games with a little help from pokemon. A commercial for said product would probably be less intimidating than this satanist "Dungeons & Dragons" thing people make fun of on TV now and then.

I agree that a Harry Potter RPG would be a great entry product for new gamers, though I don't think it'd help with the people who think D&D is satanic...many of those people condemn the Harry Potter books, too.

Unfortunately, I'd guess that either (a) JK Rowling has no interest in licensing the property for an RPG, or (b) she's asking for more money than any game company is willing to offer. If neither of those were the case, I think we would have seen such a game already.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

or how great the Carolina Panthers are

You got somethin' against the Panthers?!?!



Haven't seen one since the online version of that washer commercial with the geek and his gaming books.