So Hasbro have appointed Cynthia Williams as President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming and Tim Fields, who is coming in as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Gaming. Both of these have a strong computer game background and both claim to be lifelong fans of DnD and Magic the Gathering
There is an interesting video below that looks at what this might mean for WOTC and DnD and I think there are some interesting and accurate observations.
The first is the idea that DnD is, for hasbro, not about the books and the rules and the rolling of dice, it is about the IP and how it can be monetised, it is about turning DnD into monopoly or Cluedo, every house owning a copy of 2 of the books. It makes sense why more and more "fluffy" fantastical races are being published allowing growing appeal to children. It also explains why Wizards no longer have a presence at gamer conventions, they don't need to market to Gamers, that isn't the target audience. They need to market in Walmart or toy stores making DnD a game for the family to play, emphasising the way it can bring family together around a table for a few hours every week.
He also makes an interesting prediction based off the fact that Hasbro now make a large portion of revenue from digital version of the games, like Monopoly on mobile. I can really see Hasbro pushing to monetise the digital content of DnD, it may possibly medium term mean that DnD beyond gets either bought out, or they just end the licensing deals and go there own way with technology. The fact that both hires are experts in technology rather then a jeremy crawford table top expert suggests that is the way forward.
So what do we think, I don't think these changes are a bad thing, it just means DnD will continue to become more and more mainstream, which is the way it is already heading.
It also explains why Wizards no longer have a presence at gamer conventions, they don't need to market to Gamers, that isn't the target audience. They need to market in Walmart or toy stores making DnD a game for the family to play, emphasizing the way it can bring family together around a table for a few hours every week.
Pandemic not withstanding, I just think this is some really bad tunnel vision talking. WotC has a pretty solid convention presence in places that make business sense for them to attend, and maybe not places you would expect. I have stopped by their both at various major library conventions and enjoyed getting free product in the gaming areas that they have sponsored there. They have a vested interest at getting their product into the hands of people and places that they don't already have large market presences in.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
It also explains why Wizards no longer have a presence at gamer conventions, they don't need to market to Gamers, that isn't the target audience. They need to market in Walmart or toy stores making DnD a game for the family to play, emphasizing the way it can bring family together around a table for a few hours every week.
Pandemic not withstanding, I just think this is some really bad tunnel vision talking. WotC has a pretty solid convention presence in places that make business sense for them to attend, and maybe not places you would expect. I have stopped by their both at various major library conventions and enjoyed getting free product in the gaming areas that they have sponsored there. They have a vested interest at getting their product into the hands of people and places that they don't already have large market presences in.
I suppose the main thing there is he large conventions, I don't remember them having a big presence at Gencon in the UK for instance over recent years directly, although there will be representation from things like critical roll etc at these large conventions. Your exposure to them sticks with that same line of marketing, going to conventions where they still dont have. a strong market presence and they are sure they are getting into the hands of new players.
This certainly looks like an effort to expand D&D's digital presence, which I think is sorely needed. I love the digital tools here, but it very much feels like they lack the investment needed to fully support the content cycle. I'd love to see Hasbro buy out DDB and throw some more money this way.
Cynthia Williams holds a patent for correcting errors in fulfillment networks and has broad expertise in managing intricate fulfillment systems with lots of moving parts. I wouldn't immediately expect appointing her to be a sign of digital fulfillment getting consolidated. Just saying, this can go in many different ways and with her as CEO it can actually go in many different ways at once. Gamers not being WotC's target audience is, no offense, a silly notion: if they make a push to turn families into D&D adopters, that's the same as making those families gamers. D&D becomes their game, and WotC will want them to stick with it and continue to support the brand. Everybody is a target audience: the early adopters in their twenties back when D&D was created in the late '70s are retirees now, so the target demographic really spans all age groups from junior high on and even younger. We're talking Hasbro here: they don't abandon market segments, they push sales wherever they can.
So Hasbro have appointed Cynthia Williams as President of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming and Tim Fields, who is coming in as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Gaming. Both of these have a strong computer game background and both claim to be lifelong fans of DnD and Magic the Gathering
There is an interesting video below that looks at what this might mean for WOTC and DnD and I think there are some interesting and accurate observations.
https://youtu.be/bR0WP02w68w
The first is the idea that DnD is, for hasbro, not about the books and the rules and the rolling of dice, it is about the IP and how it can be monetised, it is about turning DnD into monopoly or Cluedo, every house owning a copy of 2 of the books. It makes sense why more and more "fluffy" fantastical races are being published allowing growing appeal to children. It also explains why Wizards no longer have a presence at gamer conventions, they don't need to market to Gamers, that isn't the target audience. They need to market in Walmart or toy stores making DnD a game for the family to play, emphasising the way it can bring family together around a table for a few hours every week.
He also makes an interesting prediction based off the fact that Hasbro now make a large portion of revenue from digital version of the games, like Monopoly on mobile. I can really see Hasbro pushing to monetise the digital content of DnD, it may possibly medium term mean that DnD beyond gets either bought out, or they just end the licensing deals and go there own way with technology. The fact that both hires are experts in technology rather then a jeremy crawford table top expert suggests that is the way forward.
So what do we think, I don't think these changes are a bad thing, it just means DnD will continue to become more and more mainstream, which is the way it is already heading.
Pandemic not withstanding, I just think this is some really bad tunnel vision talking. WotC has a pretty solid convention presence in places that make business sense for them to attend, and maybe not places you would expect. I have stopped by their both at various major library conventions and enjoyed getting free product in the gaming areas that they have sponsored there. They have a vested interest at getting their product into the hands of people and places that they don't already have large market presences in.
I suppose the main thing there is he large conventions, I don't remember them having a big presence at Gencon in the UK for instance over recent years directly, although there will be representation from things like critical roll etc at these large conventions. Your exposure to them sticks with that same line of marketing, going to conventions where they still dont have. a strong market presence and they are sure they are getting into the hands of new players.
This certainly looks like an effort to expand D&D's digital presence, which I think is sorely needed. I love the digital tools here, but it very much feels like they lack the investment needed to fully support the content cycle. I'd love to see Hasbro buy out DDB and throw some more money this way.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Cynthia Williams holds a patent for correcting errors in fulfillment networks and has broad expertise in managing intricate fulfillment systems with lots of moving parts. I wouldn't immediately expect appointing her to be a sign of digital fulfillment getting consolidated. Just saying, this can go in many different ways and with her as CEO it can actually go in many different ways at once. Gamers not being WotC's target audience is, no offense, a silly notion: if they make a push to turn families into D&D adopters, that's the same as making those families gamers. D&D becomes their game, and WotC will want them to stick with it and continue to support the brand. Everybody is a target audience: the early adopters in their twenties back when D&D was created in the late '70s are retirees now, so the target demographic really spans all age groups from junior high on and even younger. We're talking Hasbro here: they don't abandon market segments, they push sales wherever they can.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].