Except the digital book is not a .pdf, it’s a web file.
I'm pretty sure copying a web file doesn't take much effort or cost either. Come to think of it, the whole process is likely automated.
Databases, application servers, virtual storage, load balancers, and firewalls cost money. Having them online and available 24/7 for when you might decide that 'copy' procedure needs to take place costs money. Having backup redundancy, identity management, security control/review, dev environments, ... costs money. All of this is ongoing, continual basis.
something something cloud. Let's not head down the path of digital infrastructure cost & design. :D
Except the digital book is not a .pdf, it’s a web file.
I'm pretty sure copying a web file doesn't take much effort or cost either. Come to think of it, the whole process is likely automated.
Databases, application servers, virtual storage, load balancers, and firewalls cost money. Having them online and available 24/7 for when you might decide that 'copy' procedure needs to take place costs money. Having backup redundancy, identity management, security control/review, dev environments, ... costs money. All of this is ongoing, continual basis.
something something cloud. Let's not head down the path of digital infrastructure cost & design. :D
I never said that it didn't cost money. I said that the incremental cost of producing each additional digital copy is less than the cost of producing a physical book.
Digital storage cost is nominal compared to physical inventory holding costs.
The various server cost you mentioned are likely shared between applications and different cost centers within the company.
The per unit cost is probably very low.
However, the reality is that it boils down to a pricing strategy. Digital books could be sold for less, but that would be undercutting retailers and other partners that rely on physical sales.
I don't get the "generate good will", WotC acquiring DDB isn't going to change anyone's feelings about either. A digital book combined with a toolset is already available at a considerably less then the MSRP for a hardcover (yeah, yeah, "but Amazon" Amazon does what it wants as it destroys whole industries and homogenizes the printed word, this isn't that discussion). So you already have the DDB product at a price point substantially lower than what WotC thinks they can sell they're physical books at. I don't see a lot of room for adjustment, especially, as I've said, one recognizes that it's not likely WotC bought DDB to make D&D a better $ deal for consumers. It's buying DDB as another means to make $ form those consumers.
I saw a weird article speculating WotC would use DDB as a sort of boutique development space akin to Hasbro Pulse. I don't see that, and it suggested to me the article writer didn't really know what D&D Beyond was. I could see them acquiring or taking lessons learned from their relationship with Beedle and Grimm to go that way, as that relationship proved that there are people willing to spend much more than hardback prices for their enhanced D&D experience. I'd expect that logic to influence future D&D pricing more than some new break for players.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Who started saying "giving the product away for free"?
The OP was suggesting a 50% discount. That's probably more than can be reasonably expected, but it is not the same as free.
Given that digital books have a much lower production cost**, and no inventory holding costs, a small discount is not unreasonable,and would have the potential of generating good will.
** Both physical and digital books require writers, editors, and artists, but with digital, after the first book is scanned, producing each incremental book costs pennies. (copying a .pdf is almost effortless)
We’re excited to offer our first ever selection of specially priced bundles that give you a physical copy and a D&D Beyond digital copy of the upcoming book Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen. Our first offering is now live on dndstore.wizards.com.
Can I expect more D&D products to offer physical and digital bundles?
Yes! We want to deliver on this ask. Right now, we are in the test and learn phase. Join us on this first foray and expect more in the future. For now, we’re not quite ready to commit to every book getting a bundle.
Databases, application servers, virtual storage, load balancers, and firewalls cost money. Having them online and available 24/7 for when you might decide that 'copy' procedure needs to take place costs money. Having backup redundancy, identity management, security control/review, dev environments, ... costs money. All of this is ongoing, continual basis.
something something cloud. Let's not head down the path of digital infrastructure cost & design. :D
I never said that it didn't cost money. I said that the incremental cost of producing each additional digital copy is less than the cost of producing a physical book.
Digital storage cost is nominal compared to physical inventory holding costs.
The various server cost you mentioned are likely shared between applications and different cost centers within the company.
The per unit cost is probably very low.
However, the reality is that it boils down to a pricing strategy. Digital books could be sold for less, but that would be undercutting retailers and other partners that rely on physical sales.
I don't get the "generate good will", WotC acquiring DDB isn't going to change anyone's feelings about either. A digital book combined with a toolset is already available at a considerably less then the MSRP for a hardcover (yeah, yeah, "but Amazon" Amazon does what it wants as it destroys whole industries and homogenizes the printed word, this isn't that discussion). So you already have the DDB product at a price point substantially lower than what WotC thinks they can sell they're physical books at. I don't see a lot of room for adjustment, especially, as I've said, one recognizes that it's not likely WotC bought DDB to make D&D a better $ deal for consumers. It's buying DDB as another means to make $ form those consumers.
I saw a weird article speculating WotC would use DDB as a sort of boutique development space akin to Hasbro Pulse. I don't see that, and it suggested to me the article writer didn't really know what D&D Beyond was. I could see them acquiring or taking lessons learned from their relationship with Beedle and Grimm to go that way, as that relationship proved that there are people willing to spend much more than hardback prices for their enhanced D&D experience. I'd expect that logic to influence future D&D pricing more than some new break for players.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Hmm, it appears that WoTC is looking to offer digital and physical bundles, AND at a discount.
Who would have figured?.....
Quote from Grunk999 >>
Who started saying "giving the product away for free"?
The OP was suggesting a 50% discount. That's probably more than can be reasonably expected, but it is not the same as free.
Given that digital books have a much lower production cost**, and no inventory holding costs, a small discount is not unreasonable, and would have the potential of generating good will.
** Both physical and digital books require writers, editors, and artists, but with digital, after the first book is scanned, producing each incremental book costs pennies. (copying a .pdf is almost effortless)
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1310-faq-one-d-d-rules-d-d-digital-and-physical-digital
Digital & Physical Product Bundles
What are digital and physical product bundles?
We’re excited to offer our first ever selection of specially priced bundles that give you a physical copy and a D&D Beyond digital copy of the upcoming book Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen. Our first offering is now live on dndstore.wizards.com.
Can I expect more D&D products to offer physical and digital bundles?
Yes! We want to deliver on this ask. Right now, we are in the test and learn phase. Join us on this first foray and expect more in the future. For now, we’re not quite ready to commit to every book getting a bundle.
Y