Okay, here’s where I saw it: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drdd/20071024a
“D&D Insider and 4th Edition
D&D Insider will launch in June 2008 with the new Player’s Handbook, but is not required to play D&D 4th Edition; it simply provides extra options that you can unlock with the subscription. These digital tools are by no mean necessary to play the game, but are designed to facilitate some of the game’s aspects.”
In light of Wizards of the Coast’s backtracking, I suppose they could say “well, we meant the web site, obviously.” I don’t think that cuts it, though.
Better communication would have been key here. Lots of people are upset about the non-launch, and worse, lots of people are in “I-told-you-so” mode. I think it could have been avoided. Too bad it wasn’t.
The latest I’ve heard is that they will roll out the tools as they become ready, and the time frame is months to the first tool, then more intervening months to each successive tool. An interesting question now is: what will happen with their pricing scheme as a result of this debacle? Something? Nothing? They have a huge long time to think it over. I’ll say it again, in case anyone is listening: $14.95 a month is too much. A lower price point will bring in many more users. I want to use it! It looks cool! But not $14.95 a month cool.
Leave a comment