D&DIL Selling the Dream - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

D&DIL Selling the Dream

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
balanced
Aug 05, 2008 10:11:17 D&DI isn't, at least not yet, really a product. It's a bunch of demos, screenshots, under-development features, a bit of content, and other random stuff thrown together.

What has been sold is the dream of D&DI. This may be WotC's biggest misstep with the project, as while D&D 4th edition is perfectly functional as-is it is being judged on the unreleased tie-ins.

That's two important points:

First, 4th edition is a perfectly playable RPG which means you can use it (like most all RPGs) for a wide range of games. It imparts a flavor to games run with it: some will like this flavor, some won't. However, it is as 'complete' as can be expected, much as products from White Wolf, Pinnacle, Steve Jackson Games and Dream Pod 9 are.

Second, D&DI is essentially an 'accessory' that facilitates gaming. That's it. It's not required.

Essentially the marketing for 4th edition sold a dream of a really highly linked set of products, and this just isn't there. The two projects (D&DI and 4th edition) don't appear to have been truly developed together and have been attached primarily by the glue that is marketing.

I feel a bit bad for the D&DI crew. A lot has been promised, and they have inherited the reputation earned by the eTools team even if there s little crossover between the two. There's been a lot of spin, but the marketing expectation was that these two projects were hand-in-hand and while that's not the reality, it's the expectation.
#2
KM.549
Aug 05, 2008 13:01:38 I don't feel sorry for them at all. If they could not deliver, they should not have promised it. Period. The fact we have heard NOTHING about DDi for almost two months makes me think that DDi is not real.
#3
kyros_tachyus
Aug 05, 2008 13:19:14 Due to my previous statement is the "Tradgedy at WOTC" thread, I'll just say this:

My fears are in line with what KM thinks. I hope that isn't true, but it is starting to seem that way.

Thats all I'm going to say, no full on Blast 5 Breath Weapon until AFTER Gen Con.
#4
Ore
Aug 05, 2008 17:28:14 Agreed, while DDI is important to us what has happened, as mentioned in the other thread, is bigger than this game. What happened is the real tragedy. The unfortunate side effect for us (secondary to the tragedy, mind you) is things are going to be slowed down even further. I'm not going to complain about that portion of the delay. So I won't expect word until after Gen Con. Hopefully someone will say something to us by then (or if I can manage it I will get to talk to one of them at the con - typical gamer dreams).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 balanced Aug 05, 2008 10:11:17	D&DI isn't, at least not yet, really a product. It's a bunch of demos, screenshots, under-development features, a bit of content, and other random stuff thrown together. What has been sold is the dream of D&DI. This may be WotC's biggest misstep with the project, as while D&D 4th edition is perfectly functional as-is it is being judged on the unreleased tie-ins. That's two important points: First, 4th edition is a perfectly playable RPG which means you can use it (like most all RPGs) for a wide range of games. It imparts a flavor to games run with it: some will like this flavor, some won't. However, it is as 'complete' as can be expected, much as products from White Wolf, Pinnacle, Steve Jackson Games and Dream Pod 9 are. Second, D&DI is essentially an 'accessory' that facilitates gaming. That's it. It's not required. Essentially the marketing for 4th edition sold a dream of a really highly linked set of products, and this just isn't there. The two projects (D&DI and 4th edition) don't appear to have been truly developed together and have been attached primarily by the glue that is marketing. I feel a bit bad for the D&DI crew. A lot has been promised, and they have inherited the reputation earned by the eTools team even if there s little crossover between the two. There's been a lot of spin, but the marketing expectation was that these two projects were hand-in-hand and while that's not the reality, it's the expectation.
#2 KM.549 Aug 05, 2008 13:01:38	I don't feel sorry for them at all. If they could not deliver, they should not have promised it. Period. The fact we have heard NOTHING about DDi for almost two months makes me think that DDi is not real.
#3 kyros_tachyus Aug 05, 2008 13:19:14	Due to my previous statement is the "Tradgedy at WOTC" thread, I'll just say this: My fears are in line with what KM thinks. I hope that isn't true, but it is starting to seem that way. Thats all I'm going to say, no full on Blast 5 Breath Weapon until AFTER Gen Con.
#4 Ore Aug 05, 2008 17:28:14	Agreed, while DDI is important to us what has happened, as mentioned in the other thread, is bigger than this game. What happened is the real tragedy. The unfortunate side effect for us (secondary to the tragedy, mind you) is things are going to be slowed down even further. I'm not going to complain about that portion of the delay. So I won't expect word until after Gen Con. Hopefully someone will say something to us by then (or if I can manage it I will get to talk to one of them at the con - typical gamer dreams).