Discussion on GURPS 4E Revised or Database

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Yorunkun

I think this is what WotC had in mind with 4e. It's quite bold, and could fail on a number of fronts, business-wise and technologically. Still, a nice dream.

In mind with D&D 4th Edition, or with D&D 5th Edition?

[Ashtagon]

So...

Buying online gives you access to download an encrypted database file. This encrypted file is personalised to your account in some manner, so that you can't just mix and match from files "given" to you by friends.

These database files are parsed by a free front end application (versions for Windows, Apple, and Linux probably need to be developed).

Physical copies of the books contain a sealed pocket that allows the person to add the encrypted database file to their online account for downloading. The physical book needs to be sold in such a way that this pocket can;'t be opened until after purchase (to avoid devaluing the physical book). That probably means everything has to be shrink-wrapped.

It could work, but it'd prevent casual in-store book-browsing.

[Kromm]

Doubts about such an initiative stem not from technology (suitable tech exists) or manpower (we have talented staff), but from market size. This sort of thing would be expensive to implement, and so would only make sense if sales of the revamped distribution were as close to guaranteed as sales can get. Among other things, that would mean gamers rebuying old content in the new model . . . we couldn't pay for such extensive work exclusively with revenues earned on new product going forward. In short, demand would have to precede the project. Doing the work and hoping that it draws a big audience willing to pay for it would be an unacceptable risk.

[Raekai]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Doubts about such an initiative stem not from technology (suitable tech exists) or manpower (we have talented staff), but from market size. This sort of thing would be expensive to implement, and so would only make sense if sales of the revamped distribution were as close to guaranteed as sales can get. Among other things, that would mean gamers rebuying old content in the new model . . . we couldn't pay for such extensive work exclusively with revenues earned on new product going forward. In short, demand would have to precede the project. Doing the work and hoping that it draws a big audience willing to pay for it would be an unacceptable risk.

So how do we increase market size, Dr. Kromm? ;) We just need some famous or to-be-famous (that's me!) to start playing GURPS. People would eat it right up!

[korbeau]

Originally Posted by Raekai

So how do we increase market size, Dr. Kromm? ;) We just need some famous or to-be-famous (that's me!) to start playing GURPS. People would eat it right up!

We increase it with other media; books (novels are good ones), television (comics, series, movies...), games (video games, cards, dices... sjgames are good in this category!)

The problem is it takes money to makes money... Can it be possible to expend the Gurps line with what SJgames already have? I could easely see a "Infinite Worlds Munchkins" card set who can be grab the munchkin fan to be curious about the gurps line (or Yrth Munchkin...). One step at a time

[Kromm]

Increasing an RPG's market size is a grail quest. If I had found the grail, I'd be a high-paid marketing genius instead of a struggling editor/writer. I'm skeptical of any theory that originates with dedicated fans on a forum devoted to discussing RPGs, because – despite being such a person myself – I must concede that such folk have already made their choices and don't constitute the majority of the potential market. There's probably some way to reach non-gamers who believe that pen-and-paper RPGs are lame, but I'm not sure what that would be.

[JP42]

Originally Posted by Kromm

In short, demand would have to precede the project. Doing the work and hoping that it draws a big audience willing to pay for it would be an unacceptable risk.

I'm not really a fan of the process/medium, but isn't this exactly what Kickstarter and IndieGoGo and the like are about?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by JP42

I'm not really a fan of the process/medium, but isn't this exactly what Kickstarter and IndieGoGo and the like are about?

The success of a Kickstarter project doesn't necessarily tell you much about the future sales prospects of a project. SJG seem to want GURPS to be a long-term proposition, so that they can preserve their editorial expertise by continuing to employ the relevant staff.

[lachimba]

Originally Posted by Kromm

There's probably some way to reach non-gamers who believe that pen-and-paper RPGs are lame, but I'm not sure what that would be.

Things like Discworld, maybe getting some 'celebrities' who actually like the system or setting to post their games to youtube or a podcast etc (that could even be done by some fans rather than SJ Games)

That's the best ideas that I have read on these forums.

[namada]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *