http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23903817/
whatcha all think?
linkified for the click-compulsive
Wow. They mentioned Paizo and talked to Chris Pramas. I'm impressed. I'm betting some people will say that the article made 4e sound too online focused, and there may be some truth to that, but at the same time, I think that WOTC seems a bit divided on whether online is the primary focus or if its just an added "benny." I think the answer they give tends to be based on who they are talking to, just as the amount of influence that online games have had on the design principles varies depending on who is being talked to.
I really dig the Erol Otis Roper picture. I still have the at book.
I think Paizo looks good in that article. Although I put WOW at about 1.49 billion last year from subscriptions alone.
I'm not sure if Paizo looks good or bad, but mentioning that a former product supporter is no longer doing so isn't a good thing. (WotC: You're FIRED!)
The marketing has already been pretty sucky (IMO) for 4E, and now that a national (AP) article on the subject essentially claiming that D&D is past its prime certainly won't help. (Not to mention the April Fools Artwork from today's WotC website was used. I'm sure that's the face WotC wanted to put out for the national media.)
I think Wizards got in most of the points they wanted to, but the ending is pretty somber. Along the lines of, "yeah, they might get players away from WoW.... not."
And as DaveMage said, the illo from their April Fool page has got to sting, too.
Unless you are of the opinion that there's no such thing as bad press, probably not one for WotC's clippings file. At the same time, WoW's status as the one ring to rule them all gets reinforced again.
Nice to see the mention of Paizo. Getting mentioned in the same article as Vivendi and Wizards shows again the growing influence disproportionate to their relatively small size.
linkified for the click-compulsive
thanks RD! Still a forum novice.
Creative Director
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I read this part as a B.S. attempt to trash Paizo (as they are supporting 4E with their Pathfinder non-AP modules line)...
Actually... the non-AP Pathfinder Modules will not be 4th edition. Everything set in Golarion will stay 3.5 until August 2009, at which point it'll transition to 3.5/Pathfinder RPG. If we DO end up doing 4th edition products, those products will likely be setting-neutral. It's impossible to say much, of course, having not seen what the GSL will and won't allow us to do in the first place...
It's impossible to say much, of course, having not seen what the GSL will and won't allow us to do in the first place...
Back at last Gen Con, did you ever think it would be (at least) April before you got to see the new license and rules?
How would you have reacted if you knew this?
A wise man, you are...
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If I was a publisher and heard the 4E had just gone to the printers (like it is now) and still hadn't received the licensed, I'd call up Wizards and tell them to keep the license. At this point, I don't see how laying down $5000 for the rules "early" will benefit anyone.
Side note, I love that the article truly reveals how badly DDO did. There were so many mistakes made with that game, from basic MMO design to setting it in Eberron but not to ignoring most D&D rules and coming up with their own.
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wow 14.95 a month for the online part or discounted for a year's worth (paid all at once or what??). I pay 9.99 a month for LOTRo & it's a great way to play fantasy games online (no local group for D&D).
I can't see myself paying 14.95 for their online version. I'll buy the Player's book but that about as far as it goes, thou lately I've even been rethinking that.
wow 14.95 a month for the online part or discounted for a year's worth (paid all at once or what??). I pay 9.99 a month for LOTRo & it's a great way to play fantasy games online (no local group for D&D).
I can't see myself paying 14.95 for their online version. I'll buy the Player's book but that about as far as it goes, thou lately I've even been rethinking that.
If D&D's future is, in any large part, dependent upon subscription to WotC's Digital Initiative then I fear for the future of the game.
I see people buying the initial core books and, if those are decent, follow-up books. I really don't imagine that a large chunk of D&D player's will fork out $$$ for their digital content.
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wow 14.95 a month for the online part or discounted for a year's worth (paid all at once or what??). I pay 9.99 a month for LOTRo & it's a great way to play fantasy games online (no local group for D&D).
14.95 for the online part monthly. It drops with a longer subscription (I think a year was 9.99/mo). Keep in mind that what was the srd with 3.5 will only be available through paying this fee in 4E. Of course the graphical bright color setup they tend to use may prevent people from using it in the office in the way the srd often was.
As far as the article- it was funny to see they ended up using 1st ed art because they grabbed it on april fool's day.
If D&D's future is, in any large part, dependent upon subscription to WotC's Digital Initiative then I fear for the future of the game.I see people buying the initial core books and, if those are decent, follow-up books. I really don't imagine that a large chunk of D&D player's will fork out $$$ for their digital content.
Especialy since their versions of Dungeon and Dragon magazine online has managed to produce a whopping 2 issues of each in 7 months! And as far as core books go, the only thing slated (From what I've read) is the three core books, and then a 2 month gap then FR then at least a 4 month gap for Eberron in 2009. Bad plan.
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wow 14.95 a month for the online part or discounted for a year's worth (paid all at once or what??). I pay 9.99 a month for LOTRo & it's a great way to play fantasy games online (no local group for D&D).
I can't see myself paying 14.95 for their online version. I'll buy the Player's book but that about as far as it goes, thou lately I've even been rethinking that.
Well don't forget, that $15 lets you play D&D online with other people using their virtual table top. It also lets you create your own dungeons, print them out or use a laptop (and an internet connection) for your real gaming group. There's also the fact that Dungeon adventures are "supposed to be" available in this toolset too.
This subscription fee is more like Magic the Gathering Online then it is a MMO.
