Game Table noob question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Game Table noob question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
chilkoot
Jun 09, 2009 21:39:10 I always get a blank page when searching the forums, so please don't flame me too severely....

I remember the Game Table feature advertised several months ago. Is it still in the works? Can Insider subscribers gain access to the beta (if there is one), or was the whole thing trashed so WotC wasn't in competition with their key licensees for online play?
#2
Nived
Jun 09, 2009 21:40:58 It has been put on indefinate hiatus. Obstensively so they can focus on some campaign management suite of tools that they claim their focus tests have determined there is a higher demand for.
#3
chilkoot
Jun 09, 2009 22:07:50 Thank you for:

A) The clear and informative answer, and
B) Not using the opportunity to call me a retard and telling me to l2read ;)

I can understand that resources are limited, but I think there was a lot of hope in the general community for this product. Considering how many players are older now and tied to the house with family obligations, heading out to meet for campaign play isn't always easy. The Game Table looked like it would help keep people playing (and spending), rather than being a convenience for others (maybe hardcores) who are already committed customers. Some times the consideration of 'demand' is to heavily weighted by current customer feedback, and doesn't relate to what will broaden or expand the size of the market for a product.

I'm going to hold out hope that it's implemented at some point, either by WotC or some 3rd party who see an opportunity and can find a way to get it to market without royalties/licensing hindering their efforts. More power to Wizards if they make it happen, but it's not *that* huge a programming undertaking. A smarty-pants with some venture cap and a good team could probably pull it together both well and in a reasonable time frame, even if they have to leave out labor-intensive features like custom 3D character models.
#4
Nived
Jun 09, 2009 22:11:35 Oh I feel your pain man, I too greatly looked forward to it. If you're looking for more information check out the Dungeons and Dragons Insider sub-forums, you're bound to find a topic or two on the matter.
#5
chilkoot
Jun 09, 2009 23:03:19 Oooh... I found all the juicy drama on the Insider forums (new signup - didn't know they existed). People are understandably pretty cheesed at the bait-and-switch when Game Table was one of the main DNDI subscription selling points this time last year. I personally signed up for the CB, so I'm happy with my $5/month purchase, but I can understand why people are screaming fraudulent advertising now that it's shelved.

From what I'm reading, there are other fairly mature open-source 'virtual tabletop' products like MapTools out there already, so I guess WotC decided the cost of entry wasn't worth the potential return. Focusing on the IP-specific stuff to add value was probably a smart business decision, but they should be wary of small-scale class action when they pull stuff like this on the masses. If it's a full abandon, they should consider dumping their artwork and other high-cost assets into the open source tool on the condition of a 4e-specific fork, and then tout it as "4e Ready!", with a link on the D&D site. I dunno... I'm half cut here, but there was probably a more elegant way for them to handle the whole situation, even if some of the newer tools like CB are really a solid value-add for pretty much any type of subscriber.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 chilkoot Jun 09, 2009 21:39:10	I always get a blank page when searching the forums, so please don't flame me too severely.... I remember the Game Table feature advertised several months ago. Is it still in the works? Can Insider subscribers gain access to the beta (if there is one), or was the whole thing trashed so WotC wasn't in competition with their key licensees for online play?
#2 Nived Jun 09, 2009 21:40:58	It has been put on indefinate hiatus. Obstensively so they can focus on some campaign management suite of tools that they claim their focus tests have determined there is a higher demand for.
#3 chilkoot Jun 09, 2009 22:07:50	Thank you for: A) The clear and informative answer, and B) Not using the opportunity to call me a retard and telling me to l2read ;) I can understand that resources are limited, but I think there was a lot of hope in the general community for this product. Considering how many players are older now and tied to the house with family obligations, heading out to meet for campaign play isn't always easy. The Game Table looked like it would help keep people playing (and spending), rather than being a convenience for others (maybe hardcores) who are already committed customers. Some times the consideration of 'demand' is to heavily weighted by current customer feedback, and doesn't relate to what will broaden or expand the size of the market for a product. I'm going to hold out hope that it's implemented at some point, either by WotC or some 3rd party who see an opportunity and can find a way to get it to market without royalties/licensing hindering their efforts. More power to Wizards if they make it happen, but it's not that huge a programming undertaking. A smarty-pants with some venture cap and a good team could probably pull it together both well and in a reasonable time frame, even if they have to leave out labor-intensive features like custom 3D character models.
#4 Nived Jun 09, 2009 22:11:35	Oh I feel your pain man, I too greatly looked forward to it. If you're looking for more information check out the Dungeons and Dragons Insider sub-forums, you're bound to find a topic or two on the matter.
#5 chilkoot Jun 09, 2009 23:03:19	Oooh... I found all the juicy drama on the Insider forums (new signup - didn't know they existed). People are understandably pretty cheesed at the bait-and-switch when Game Table was one of the main DNDI subscription selling points this time last year. I personally signed up for the CB, so I'm happy with my $5/month purchase, but I can understand why people are screaming fraudulent advertising now that it's shelved. From what I'm reading, there are other fairly mature open-source 'virtual tabletop' products like MapTools out there already, so I guess WotC decided the cost of entry wasn't worth the potential return. Focusing on the IP-specific stuff to add value was probably a smart business decision, but they should be wary of small-scale class action when they pull stuff like this on the masses. If it's a full abandon, they should consider dumping their artwork and other high-cost assets into the open source tool on the condition of a 4e-specific fork, and then tout it as "4e Ready!", with a link on the D&D site. I dunno... I'm half cut here, but there was probably a more elegant way for them to handle the whole situation, even if some of the newer tools like CB are really a solid value-add for pretty much any type of subscriber.