(coming soon)
I tried a search on Facebook and nothing is coming up for Tiny Adventures.
User wizapps_wotc has already more than 'max_user_connections' active connections
Too many peoples using it!!
Maybe I'm missing something, but if the big effort is to get DDI launched with all the functionality that was supposed to be there at the 4e launch, why are we suddenly getting a facebook app that has nothing to do with the DDI?
Quite probably for marketing D&D in general, with some focus on upcoming DDI features.
for those who want a stand for their power cards, Levenger (www.levenger.com) has something that can hold several cards erect while office supply stores like Staples (www.staples.com) or Officemax (www.officemax.com) have acrylic literature display stands that could also work
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080820
Not bad. But would have been nice if you guys mentioned in the accual DDi weekly update how close you are with the apps being ready. I know you mentioned it alot this past weekend at Gen Con, but I thought this is what these weekly updates are for.
trying to be helpful
We continue to release new articles of Dragon and Dungeon multiple times per week. The Scales of War Adventure Path is getting particularly good feedback.
Say what?
Say what?
You know, like this thread, in Bizarro World.
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1058012
This one too!
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1074760
Plus everyone wants an adventure overview.
However, the thread on the 2nd adventure is much more positive. He must've been looking only at that.
approximately what dimensions are each of the printed power cards because I would be tempted to tape each of my power cards to either 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 index cards to give the power card some rigidity?
Why not hit up officemax or stables for some 90# cardstock paper and print out the power cards on that? Easier to me it seems.. probably look better too.
You know, like this thread, in Bizarro World.
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1058012
This one too!
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1074760
People who speak well of those two adventures must never have read a decent one. They are pretty bad at best. Besides, it is not like the threads you linked are burdened with a huge amount of positive feedback. One is about the lack of overview, the other focuses on the price, comparing it with Pathfinder AP's.
There was two good encounters in the first adventure, the rest was average at best, with some horrible mistakes and omissions.
Besides, it is not like the threads you linked are burdened with a huge amount of positive feedback. One is about the lack of overview, the other focuses on the price, comparing it with Pathfinder AP's.
That was kind of the point...
That was kind of the point...
Ha ha. Sorry, I was in a hurry, and didn't think sarcasm.
I have the new 16GB 3G. I want D&DI on my iPhone, damnit!
What exactly are the priorities?
I disagree with you about the Dungeon and Dragon mags being worth 4.95 a mo. Though the quality is good, i don't think it is worth it yet until we have more quantity. More articles will make it worth that, but for now it is cool and all, but you're really giving out as much online content as you gave out in the days of 3.0-3.5. Now you just want to charge for said content.
Ha ha. Sorry, I was in a hurry, and didn't think sarcasm.
No worries, I'll do my best to be more blunt and obvious in the future. :D
We are working with our hosting provider to open up more ports so more people can play Tiny Adventures at the same time. I file this under "high class problems" and I don't have an eta for the fix yet but with the solution already identified it shouldn't take too long.
Why in the hell is some facebook app existing if the intent of removing personnel from Gleemax, was to provide more support for MTGO and DDI?
Isn't that counter-productive to waste resources like that?
Was there some quick partnership with facebook to actually have them as the replacement for the Gleemax platform?
One piece of feedback that we have gotten consistently is that folks wish the Compendium had the basic rules of the game built into it. Things like “concealment” or “bull rush” are not there right now because we’ve always envisioned the Compendium as a repository for the giant pile of options that will accumulate over the years as new books and magazine articles add more and more rules elements to the game to choose from. That said, we hear you and I can promise that it’s something we’ll look into.
Well one decent thing out of 4 isn't that bad I guess. I shows WotC is at least moving forward rather than back....
Can I have one of whatever you guys are drinking?
So, instead, since these people are on the payroll anyhow, and a little marketing is hardly a bad thing, these people were assigned to make the facebook application.
I mean, yes, it's possible that WotC just has no clue what they're doing, but the question is which scenario is honestly more likely? Yes, yes, the sarcastically "funny" answer is the latter, but really take a moment to consider the question.
However, when I got home, the program no longer appears to be functioning at all!
I've tried refreshing the page, I've tried closing the browser. I've tried rebooting and giving it time... still nothing.
Anyone else experiencing this?
**Edit: I found the answer. If anyone else is wondering, read this: http://www.new.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=23415053320
I mean, yes, it's possible that WotC just has no clue what they're doing, but the question is which scenario is honestly more likely? Yes, yes, the sarcastically "funny" answer is the latter, but really take a moment to consider the question.
I agree with you on every point. I would also like to point out that if you're complaining about Tiny Adventures taking up people's time, then that implies that you're expecting the internet peoples (sorry, not sure what their official title is) to spend every moment of time and every bit of recourse on D&Di, which seems more than a bit unreasonable to me.
Thanks,
Hdier
Just out of curiosity, what is Tiny Adventures? I refuse to sign up for a Facebook account (not just specifically for this, but in general and ever since it was opened to non-school people, simply because 1) I'd never use it, 2) their privacy policy is atrocious, and 3) people always bug me to join it).
You and I are not, from all appearances, the not the target market for DDI.
Tiny Adventures appears to be a bot application that a user can interface with.
There's also the possibility that, even after re-focusing dev time, money, and people onto the D&Di tools that there were a couple "extra" people that couldn't be easily assigned to the existing workflow (too many cooks spoil the stew).
So, instead, since these people are on the payroll anyhow, and a little marketing is hardly a bad thing, these people were assigned to make the facebook application.
I mean, yes, it's possible that WotC just has no clue what they're doing, but the question is which scenario is honestly more likely? Yes, yes, the sarcastically "funny" answer is the latter, but really take a moment to consider the question.
Honestly? I let history give a clue as to what will happen to the future. The history of E-tools, Gleemax, and now D&DI shows that they have difficulty completing D&D software projects, in allocating and managing sufficient resources to complete the project, and in time management. Thats 0-3. If I missed any that have been successfully developed and launched my honest apologies.
While I can see your point that maybe they got it right this time and are doing better, wotc will have to prove that they can get it right before I start thinking they can. I honestly hope they have. While I have no real desire for the vast majority of what D&DI will offer, it will bring in new and customers and I dont take enjoyment out of seeing a people fail
.I havent seen this Facebook program. Its sounds mildly entertaining. It was mentioned that its a marketing tool. One thing about internet gimmicks and viral sensations is that they flare up and burn out fast. What strikes me as odd is that they put out an app to get people interested and excited about a program that is not coming out till next year. So pretty much any interest generated by this app for playing D&DI will be fizzilled out as people will have moved on to the next shiny thing that catches their eye. This would have been a great tool about 2 months before everything is ready to go.
I disagree with you about the Dungeon and Dragon mags being worth 4.95 a mo.
I agree. However couple it with the Compendium and I think it is.
Honestly? I let history give a clue as to what will happen to the future. The history of E-tools, Gleemax, and now D&DI shows that they have difficulty completing D&D software projects, in allocating and managing sufficient resources to complete the project, and in time management. Thats 0-3. If I missed any that have been successfully developed and launched my honest apologies.
While I can see your point that maybe they got it right this time and are doing better, wotc will have to prove that they can get it right before I start thinking they can. I honestly hope they have. While I have no real desire for the vast majority of what D&DI will offer, it will bring in new and customers and I dont take enjoyment out of seeing a people fail
I havent seen this Facebook program. Its sounds mildly entertaining. It was mentioned that its a marketing tool. One thing about internet gimmicks and viral sensations is that they flare up and burn out fast. What strikes me as odd is that they put out an app to get people interested and excited about a program that is not coming out till next year. So pretty much any interest generated by this app for playing D&DI will be fizzilled out as people will have moved on to the next shiny thing that catches their eye. This would have been a great tool about 2 months before everything is ready to go.
That's all fine and good, but your original concern was about why they were making a Facebook app, since the demise of Gleemax was supposed to mean a refocusing on D&Di, and you were questioning the logic of that decision.
So gleemax was cancelled to shift resources to the high priority facebook app that gets the word out about D&DI whose main feature wont be available for a year.
Can I have one of whatever you guys are drinking?
My reply was that making a Facebook App doesn't mean they're NOT refocusing on D&Di.
The success of D&Di remains to be seen, this is true.
I had the opportunity to play with the demo versions of the tools at GenCon (read about it here if you like), and I can only tell you that the programs are far from a pipe-dream like Mastertools, and have (from what I can see) a much more solidly definted plan than Gleemax (which suffered from trying to be "everything" to "all gamers).
D&Di isn't a failure in my opinion unless/until it doesn't release and all development stops (or at least stops making progress). "Better late than never" as they say.
You and I are not, from all appearances, the not the target market for DDI.
Tiny Adventures appears to be a bot application that a user can interface with.
Apparently not. I guess we're not Trendy Hip Youngster enough? Maybe we should create our own site for grumbly-ones that don't want to sign up for such things :D
The Compendium (probably) getting rules is a great step forward, including putting monsters from the magazine up. My biggest complaint with the compendium now is that the format of those monsters is pretty bad for cut&paste printing as well. If we have access to the tools, it means we are subscribers (in the future) so I think a nice "Print Out" sort of format or option would be good on that program too. It would go a long way on selling me on their online offerings if there were rules in it.
My biggest "Huh?" like many of you came from the "positive reviews" of the Adventure Path, because I live on the boards as well. However, I get the sense that lots of new players or those less "jaded" perhaps find it really useful to have for free, and just having an assemblage of encounters is a good help for building your own adventure. In particular I can imagine people at the Con giving positive reviews face to face. Positive stuff doesn't have much traction here.
If they just ramp up the quality some more, the rest of us would like it more in an out-of-the-box way too.
I'm not really going to knock the Facebook thing (even though I won't use it in all probability). I doubt it took much in the way of time and resource to build one of those things, and sometimes just doing something different helps keep you able to work (like many of us stop in on message boards while ostensibly working). More D&D interest is just a good thing I think.
The most blatant flaw with the magazines for me is still the awful editing and proofreading. Errors and typos and mistakes with the rules stick out at me like a sore thumb, and seriously detracts from my enjoyment of reading the articles (yes, I'm like that).
Please please either hire new editors who are familiar with the actual rules, or rotate the editors more so they aren't burned out or whatever the problem is.
It is pretty much an established scientific fact (I say "pretty much" because I don't want to dig up references now) that the actual authors of an article are the worst people to be proofreading their own work, because their brain "fills in the gap" when reading, and they don't notice errors.
You probably noticed in your own life it helps if you put the writing aside for a day or two and then come back to it, because by then you've forgotten a bunch of what you wrote exactly and can read it as it actually is. A different set of eyes (or two sets even, with the amount of things that get through) would help a lot.
-
Attract people to D&D who have not played D&D before, or attract those who formerly did play.
Do you seriously think that Tiny Adventures will attract non-D&D players to DDI? I don't. That's ridiculous. Noone ought to subscribe to DDI unless they are a D&D player or some some concept of the game, really.
-
Have something for people that currently do play D&D, but would play D&D regardless of this application. Perhaps Tiny Adventures will sustain interest in D&D, especially 4.0.
-
This is a wonderful marketing tool, though, as people who get this application invite their friends to play. These people "do the work" for Wizards.
I could care less about marketing tactics. Of course they want and need to make money to stay in business. Otherwise, we have no [new] D&D [products].
Arethereany considerations being made for a release of Tiny Adventures on Myspace? Me and mine use it, mostly for apps like Mobsters, and we'd love to not have to join up elsewhere.
Did anyone else click on the link hoping for another addictive Facebook game of goodness and instead get a message saying that the application doesn't exist?
I tried a search on Facebook and nothing is coming up for Tiny Adventures.
Does anyone know how to start the game
FACEBOOK?!?
Arethereany considerations being made for a release of Tiny Adventures on Myspace? Me and mine use it, mostly for apps like Mobsters, and we'd love to not have to join up elsewhere.
I don't really do the social networking thing (it's my personal item of Grognard-ism or Luddite-ism if you prefer) - but I get the impression (as an outsider) that FaceBook plays nicer with hosting of applications. Myspace is more about a page for you/your band. Facebook is taking that a step furtherwith applications and the like.
FACEBOOK?!?
Arethereany considerations being made for a release of Tiny Adventures on Myspace? Me and mine use it, mostly for apps like Mobsters, and we'd love to not have to join up elsewhere.
Now what did you say you ID# was, and what level are you and how much do you make per hour, or what does it cost to place a bounty on you, how big is your mob? ;)
Maybe they got in bed with facebook and are unable to have an affair with myspace for legal reasons?
That, in itself, isn't a huge problem. It was only up for a short time, though, and already reliability problems have set in. This isn't that difficult an app to create. (It is pretty straightforward without having to deal with a lot of interaction. It is more of a storyteller than anything else.) It is a simple Facebook app.
What makes this an issue is that this is to publicize D&D on the computer, the same market that D&DI is aiming for.
If WotC is having reliability issues with a light Facebook app, what are we to expect from more intensive apps that are in D&DI? What happens when that goes down?
Mind you, I know that any server is capable of crashing. (I've had to deal with it myself.) However, what preparations are the folks at WotC doing to make sure that a problem doesn't impact the number of users that are paying for the service? What happens when I prepare for that night's game from home when I can't connect to the server? Is there a solid contingincy plan in place?
Your dev's are four months behind schedule and you release a facebook plug-in? I have been everything from a software developer to VP of Information Technology for software shops across the country and never have I heard of something like this. You have to be strong with marketing - I know facebook is the thing right now (hell, I am currently helping build a software team for a credit union service organization and they want one) but since you cut the legs out of your real software development team (read: open source community) you should at least have the character generator done by now.The compendium is nice, but without rules checking in there - it really only serves to save a little page flipping while rolling toons. Either loosen the strings on the open source community to let some quality software get out there to your fan base - or put an all hands on deck to finish up the character builder. Table the virtual table - it shouldn't even be at a stage to preview it without having some game aid for character generation.
The visualization idea is neat and novel - but that too... Let someone with game graphics talent whip that up. The community would have had 30 character generators up by now. You can't buy that kind of loyalty and dedication to a product.
Let's get some quality software built already.
*Low Monotone Voice* Buehler.... Buehler... Anyone... Anyone....
My reply was that making a Facebook App doesn't mean they're NOT refocusing on D&Di.
Not going to get overly involved in this thread but wanted to back up this particularly point. The team that created mini-adventures is a separate team from the one that is working on DDI, it's coolness does not subtract from the coolness we are attempting to create.
Sadly, building software isn't as simple as "throw everyone at the project of the day". Most companies have teams and infrastructure that supports those teams, and pointing too many teams at one project can easily cause the entire process to become less productive, rather than more. I know that can seem odd from the outside, but I suspect most of the development associated folk on the board will probably agree.
Or not, boards can be that way sometimes
.Long story short, DDI is and continues to be one of the primary focuses of WotC, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing we do. The trick is finding the balance, and we have a good team of managers who have been working very hard to make sure we have that balance set just right.
we have a good team of managers
Many people that tried using DDI when they noticed the advertisement in the core books would disagree with you there.
Many people that tried using DDI when they noticed the advertisement in the core books would disagree with you there.
Agreed, and the "It may seem odd from the outside" is only because it IS ODD from the outside! I have lead both small and extremely large development teams, and when a core product is "down" - which yours is... it IS an all hands effort. Granted not everyone needs to be heads down keying in code, but the code monkeys you had working on face book could have very easily been getting coffee or at the very least testing what you currently have in the works.
Your team of "good" managers that have things balanced - obviously have you fooled as well as the suits in charge of them. Few companies would stand for a four month delay on a product that is both widely anticipated and an obvious revenue stream. If it were me, you would all be fired and we would open the doors up for some good clean open source development, have the product built in a week or two - fully tested by week three and still be able to charge for the hosting of the data the whole $4.95 / month.
And we would be able to put a call out for both a MySpace and Face Book plug-in - because we would THEN want viral advertisement for the product that was completed... Not viral marketing for a product that doesn't exist yet... just frustration! What spirals up.... can also spiral down!
Sadly, building software isn't as simple as "throw everyone at the project of the day". Most companies have teams and infrastructure that supports those teams, and pointing too many teams at one project can easily cause the entire process to become less productive, rather than more. I know that can seem odd from the outside, but I suspect most of the development associated folk on the board will probably agree.
As a software developer, I can understand your point. However, there is a huge difference between "throw everyone at the project of the day" and "throw ENOUGH resources at the project of the day". I understand that WotC wants this to be a success. We certainly want to see a successful product, too. However, there have been delays and that suggests that not enough effort has been put on this project.
Notice that I said "resources" instead of "people". I still have the concern about whether the service is going to be able to be adequately handled by the servers. (After all, the server for the Facebook app has been fairly unreliable to date.) What plans are there for when there are server issues for the subscribers who are paying for the service?
Sadly, Probably due to the decades that I have played and loved this game, saying "I told you so" does not bring as much satisfaction as I thought it would.
Many people that tried using DDI when they noticed the advertisement in the core books would disagree with you there.
That speaks for itself, because it is 100% true.
What a shocker...
You can't keep a facebook app running... how can expect to keep the DDi severs up and running?
To be fair, I suspect WotC did not expect there to be such a strong reaction to the Facebook app. It was probably created to be a quick throwaway promotional item (like a pen or button in the real world). Even so, its lack of reliability does hurt WotC's credibility with DDI. ("Hey, they can't even get a Facebook app right!")
The loss of data really bothers me though (and not just because I went up two levels on Saturday and got some neat stuff). When DDI comes out, I don't want to find I've spent several hours mapping out an adventure for my game night, picking out V-minis and designing encounters, only to find as I try to connect that I cannot. Worse yet, my adventure is lost. (If there is data loss regarding my purchase of the V-minis, that would REALLY get me upset.)
Still, this isn't just my opportunity to vent about lost levels (though I am still ticked off). I am comforted by a couple of points:
- This is the first week for the Facebook app. You expect some problems right after launch.
- The popularity of the app is likely to wane after awhile. Many people get bored with their Facebook apps after using them for awhile. This is especially true for those without much interactivity. (And this app qualifies in that department.)
- The DDI apps are likely to go through the same issues during their trial period. A lot of problems at launch, initial but waning interest, far less problem once you have fewer people having to pay for it once the trial period ends.
Even so, I'm concerned about the problems the facebook app is experiencing and what it may mean for DDI.
The most blatant flaw with the magazines for me is still the awful editing and proofreading. Errors and typos and mistakes with the rules stick out at me like a sore thumb, and seriously detracts from my enjoyment of reading the articles (yes, I'm like that).
Please please either hire new editors who are familiar with the actual rules, or rotate the editors more so they aren't burned out or whatever the problem is.
The problem is WotC cares less about editing than getting things out on schedule. A friend of mine noticed the atrocious editing on D20 Past and questioned WotC on it. The response he got was that they found the poor editing acceptable. There is no cure but a change in corporate policy.
The problem is WotC cares less about editing than getting things out on schedule. A friend of mine noticed the atrocious editing on D20 Past and questioned WotC on it. The response he got was that they found the poor editing acceptable. There is no cure but a change in corporate policy.
They currently appear behind on getting things out on time.
As far as Editing goes, that is not just a WotC problem as I see it occurring from other companies as well.
Great way to start the day. :D
If anything I totally understand how the Com Reps must feel on a day like today, people jumping to conclusions, people telling Wizards how to do their jobs and that they need X, Y or Z.
It's quite obvious that the team who made Tiny Adventurers wouldn't be the same guys working on D&Di, that's just not how things get done.
As for D&Di, I'm very much in the "I look forward to it coming out, even if it is late, and until then I will happily just play like I always have... with books, and friends, and paper and pencils" camp.
---
Now, proper feedback instead of a /eyeroll at some of the community.
Tiny Adventurers, great marketing tool, shame that the release didn't go that smoothly. This is just a suggestion but what about getting large groups of community members to beta test the application before live launch? It's a handy way to stress test for large groups. It's just a thought, there are plenty of willing folk who would help out I am sure.
Anyway, Tiny Adventuers is a great marketing tool. WoTC even say that it's to help get new people into the game, which is does a good job of. I've already invited people to use it on my facebook and I've had comments from friends saying they're interested in giving D&D a go.
As far as hardcore D&Ders go, I found it amusing and will no doubt update "Anlath" whenever I log on Facebook but it's not like I am going to be checking it every 15 minutes. ;)
Like the Penny Arcade Podcasts, Tiny Adventurers is something which really helps bridge the gap between brand new players and the game.
Good job!
I think whoever you guys have in the marketing team is a very lucky find!
~M
If anything I totally understand how the Com Reps must feel on a day like today, people jumping to conclusions, people telling Wizards how to do their jobs and that they need X, Y or Z.
Well maybe those people shouldn't be a bunch of ******** that imply the D&D gamers and this community is a bunch of retards that don't know anything about computers because they don't work for to oh so powerful WotC rulers of the world as they have the only true and BEST programmers on the planet and anyone else is just worthless and incompetent about computers or any kind of programming or database interface.
I love reading these threads for all the "RAGE D&Di ISN'T HERE RAGE" posts and the snide sarcasm and retorts.
Great way to start the day. :D
---
Now, proper feedback instead of a /eyeroll at some of the community.
Tiny Adventurers, great marketing tool, shame that the release didn't go that smoothly. This is just a suggestion but what about getting large groups of community members to beta test the application before live launch? It's a handy way to stress test for large groups. It's just a thought, there are plenty of willing folk who would help out I am sure.
Anyway, Tiny Adventuers is a great marketing tool. WoTC even say that it's to help get new people into the game, which is does a good job of. I've already invited people to use it on my facebook and I've had comments from friends saying they're interested in giving D&D a go.
As far as hardcore D&Ders go, I found it amusing and will no doubt update "Anlath" whenever I log on Facebook but it's not like I am going to be checking it every 15 minutes. ;)
Wow didn't you just do the exact thing you were talking down to everyone else about.
I think whoever you guys have in the marketing team is a very lucky find!
~M
Agreed they really had us fooled as far as D&DI goes.