Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 crushbrain Jun 08, 2008 19:37:52	This is an edit of a poorly written post. I was angry when I wrote it. I shouldn't have posted it in the first place. I apologize... The D&D website is filled with information about dnd insider, but no news is available on when it will be released (or accessible) and a number of very annoying / frustrating circular links. D&D INSIDER, Here are some suggestions. 1. Get the home page up ASAP. Even if all its says is "D&D Insider, comming *summer*/*fall*/*winter* 2008" ... whenever you expect to see it release. Maybe you can throw the eerie looking goblin head graphic you use for the Game Table Lobby. Anything is better than nothing. 2. The last page of the core rulebook make it look like dnd insider is up and running and ready to go. Obviously this isn't the case. It appears you have made a lot of customers angry (including myself). This is a marketing opportunity. Acknowledge your mistake and apologize for it. This is good press coverage, and its all positive. Sure you made a mistake, but owning it and apologizing for it and then showing you really mean it by taking actions (like getting the page up with relevant and up-to-date information) will ONLY leave a positive impression on current and future customers. 3. About sales. $15 is WAY too much. Consumers pay that for World of Warcraft, and all the rules work is done for them. Why would they pay the same amount for a program that does much less? Throwing the Dungeon and Dragon publications as add-ons is insulting, to say the least. It doesn't get printed because no one reads it. Why would consumers want it forced on them to make your fee structure look legitimate? 4. Why would consumers pay $15 for a web-based application when the its homepage doesn't have any useful information - even circular links! Not exactly a confidence booster for expected value. 5. Please consider that the best way to sell the game table is NOT online play, but as a DM's tool. Online play is an interesting option, but it should be from the DM's perspective. So the product remains mostly a DM's tool. Most of DMs will probably hook it up to our big screen monitors and use it IN PLACE OF the physical game table - IF the features are good enough. We definitely will NOT use it if each of our players have to have a pc on game night, access to the internet AND each of us paying the already inflated $15/month. Even for groups that are separated, this seems unrealistic. They can all get on WoW and group roleplay for $15/month and the advetures are already designed and the graphics way better and the game works more efficiently. But, as a DM's tool, now that makes sense and you are talking about $15/month/group - a much more reasonable price point. 6. Lets talk about it as a DMs tool rather than a poorly designed MMORPG. It would need to have customizable tiles, NPC tokens (digital minis), PC tokens, monster tokens, and props (like pillars, statues, tables, etc.) Just like the demo suggests, the reason why it is so powerful is because the DM can allow the software to take care of line of sight and lighting effects. Also, the DM saves time on tedius descriptions and has a stong visualization aid for building atmosphere. This speeds up gameplay and makes. A DM could program triggers on tiles and maybe even import mp3 files to further give a true soundtrack to his dungeon. Most appealing, is it is a web-based application so he can take it anywhere and if he is out of town, he can still play with his group. Now, instead of shuffling through thousands of laminated tiles or spending precious game time redrawing maps, the DM has a powerful tool that will promote efficient gameplay to a complicated system and produce good-will among first-time players (expanding your customer base). If I was going to make a bet, DM's drive your sales, not the players. The game is a team effort, so costs are distributed across the team. Your best marketing option, then, is to sell this to DMs, not players. DM's in turn sell this to their groups. This is your core growth model, is it not? ... Someone loves D&D. The best way to get their friends interested is to run a game for them. To do so they need all 3 core rule books. Their friends love the game and realize they need the PHB. At least one of these players wants to try DMing so they buy the DMG and MM. ... And the cycle continues. The technology HELPS this model, it doesn't create a new one. 7. Bottom line: Great idea. Terrible execution. I suggest a youtube video (5 to 10 minutes) saying, here is how we messed up, here is what we are doing today to fix it, here is how you can benefit today from these fixes, here is what to expect in the future. Maybe even show the developers hard at work programming the application and setting up the homepage... Give the angry customers a reason to believe they should be patient today, and buy this product tomorrow. Thank you for your consideration. What are your thoughts everyone?
#2 crushbrain Jun 09, 2008 10:48:27	I hope this is clearer and less angry sounding... BTW the 4E rules are AMAZING. They are tight and fun and interesting. I haven't had fun playing D&D since the newness of 3rd edition wore off. I truly had fun and sensed strongly that the rules design themselves will ensure the fun doesn't ware off with time. Thanks D&D design team! Great job!