Wizards of the Coast pulls PDFs from Paizo - Page 2

mjh215 · 04-09-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

How did digitizing "Dragon" kill it, as a matter of interest? Weren't people interested in a digital version, or do you mean that piracy killed it?

RPG guidebooks have been among the most scanned titles out there, I think someone at WotC have seen them appearing online and are mistaking them for the 'digital' copies they sell. Of course, anyone that wants digital copies now can just turn to illegal sources

... I recall seeing txt copies of DND manuals back in the 80's on BBS's, with ASCII graphics for the monsters and other illustrations (Probably around the last time I played any RPG, lol)...

-MJ

JSWolf · 04-09-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

How did digitizing "Dragon" kill it, as a matter of interest? Weren't people interested in a digital version, or do you mean that piracy killed it?

When you play DnD, you don't want to have to search through PDF files to find what you want. You want everything laid out in front of you and that means paper copies. Going to PDF only was a rather bad idea as it meant you'd need a computer to be able to play the game. Bad idea and it's only right that it tanked.

Jellby · 04-09-2009, 11:32 AM

I have a friend who used to download tons and tons of RPG PDFs from "dubious" sources, and then printed them in a colour laser printer at work... Of course, we never played any of those games or adventures, but he enjoyed having those books and looking at them (I have the feeling he actually read them).

HarryT · 04-09-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When you play DnD, you don't want to have to search through PDF files to find what you want. You want everything laid out in front of you and that means paper copies. Going to PDF only was a rather bad idea as it meant you'd need a computer to be able to play the game. Bad idea and it's only right that it tanked.

Is that what they did? Go to PDF only?

HistoryWes · 04-09-2009, 02:13 PM

Well, I suppose technically it isn't digitized. It's now only available as web content-- so you can't read it away from their web site. In fact, it's not a cohesive magazine at all anymore, just a collection of articles on the web site under a "Dragon" subdirectory.

=X= · 04-09-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is that what they did? Go to PDF only?

Yes I believe so. I do recall a few years back Dragon announced it will no longer print the Dragon magazine.

PhishStyx · 04-09-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HistoryWes

Well, I suppose technically it isn't digitized. It's now only available as web content-- so you can't read it away from their web site. In fact, it's not a cohesive magazine at all anymore, just a collection of articles on the web site under a "Dragon" subdirectory.

Actually from my reading of their subscription webpage, it appears to be both a series of web articles and a monthly PDF.

HistoryWes · 04-09-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

When you play DnD, you don't want to have to search through PDF files to find what you want. You want everything laid out in front of you and that means paper copies. Going to PDF only was a rather bad idea as it meant you'd need a computer to be able to play the game. Bad idea and it's only right that it tanked.

It didn't tank at all. There is a healthy market for RPG game books in PDF format. Thousands are sold at RPGNow.com DriveThruRPG.com Paizo.com and other retailers. PDFs are more handy than printed books, because instead of searching through a 400 page tome during the game, you can print out the ten or so pages you might need for that session. Dozens of different game companies are selling their games as pdfs, many as pdfs exclusively, and doing well. I might add, those products seldom show up in pirated form. As several others have pointed out, most of the Wizards pirated products predate their selling books in PDF form. Wizards never went exclusively pdf. It was more of a sideline, but it was growing.

Since Wizards became a Hasbro subsidiary, it's like they are running around with their head chopped off-- which is probably metaphorically correct.

PhishStyx · 04-10-2009, 02:24 PM

Hey Wes, I know this is off-topic, but what is the text portion of your avatar, please?

MerLock · 04-11-2009, 02:20 AM

This stinks. I really enjoyed reading the dragonlance novels and was hoping they would be released in digital format so that I could purchase them and read them with an electronic reader. This looks like a step against ever releasing any dragonlance material in digital format. A sad day for me.

mjh215 · 04-11-2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerLock

This stinks. I really enjoyed reading the dragonlance novels and was hoping they would be released in digital format so that I could purchase them and read them with an electronic reader. This looks like a step against ever releasing any dragonlance material in digital format. A sad day for me.

Huh, I didn't realize that... Personally I thought about grabbing some Forgotten Realms when funds permitted... Googling both just returns those evil 'pirate' sites, too bad for TSR/WotC... I quite enjoyed the Icewind Dale trilogy years back...

-MJ

HistoryWes · 04-11-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhishStyx

Hey Wes, I know this is off-topic, but what is the text portion of your avatar, please?

It's the cover of my novel with the title "Princess of Amathar" at the top and down below the picture is my name.

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04-09-2009, 11:32 AM	#18
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,549 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	I have a friend who used to download tons and tons of RPG PDFs from "dubious" sources, and then printed them in a colour laser printer at work... Of course, we never played any of those games or adventures, but he enjoyed having those books and looking at them (I have the feeling he actually read them).

04-09-2009, 02:13 PM	#20
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	Well, I suppose technically it isn't digitized. It's now only available as web content-- so you can't read it away from their web site. In fact, it's not a cohesive magazine at all anymore, just a collection of articles on the web site under a "Dragon" subdirectory.

04-10-2009, 02:24 PM	#24
PhishStyx The me that I am Posts: 413 Karma: 1078 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: In my house! Duh! Device: Kindle 1 & DR 1000s	Hey Wes, I know this is off-topic, but what is the text portion of your avatar, please?

04-11-2009, 02:20 AM	#25
MerLock Evangelist Posts: 411 Karma: 1034889 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	This stinks. I really enjoyed reading the dragonlance novels and was hoping they would be released in digital format so that I could purchase them and read them with an electronic reader. This looks like a step against ever releasing any dragonlance material in digital format. A sad day for me.

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