From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Jeremy
Reaban
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2000 3:13 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ogf-d20-l] Bad Rumor or an End to Ryan's Dream?
<< Well, it's a bit contradictory. >>
True. The very preliminary and changing nature of the whole thing means that
some of the pages are inconsistent on its status. But the status is: not yet
released.
<< At any rate, if it's not open, then what about the various d20
products that are already out? Are they all illegal? Has any publisher
of a d20 product received a warning? >>
The products are legal, but risky. Ryan and Wizards gave approval -- for
anyone on the closed D20 list, if I recall correctly, but maybe for others
as well -- to release stuff in time to hit GenCon and other marketing
deadlines. This was necessary because the D20 license is now conservatively
five to six months late (and counting) for anyone to have really used it for
GenCon. (Ideally, I would have wanted to see it around May, giving time for
lawyers to consult and for corporate heads to make decisions.)
I say "risky" because this was with the VERY CLEAR statement that D20 as an
open system might be canceled, rendering these products development dead
ends. Given the qualified approval, I doubt that Wizards would take action
against such products. Canceling open D20 would be enough of a PR black eye
as it is. Punishing producers of products THEY SELL IN THEIR OWN STORES
would be a PR mistake right up there with New Coke. But I'm sure that, were
the license effort scrapped, they would look VERY suspiciously at anything
that came out afterwards.
And if any publisher has received a warning, they have been VERY mum. In
fact, every publisher in these parts has loudly denied any such warnings,
and has promised more D20 products soon. They all fully understand the
business risk, and are choosing to take the gamble anyway.
Ryan, meanwhile, is utterly pleased as punch with all these products. I'm
sure that is only encouraging the production of more.
Martin L. Shoemaker
Emerald Software, Inc. -- Custom Software and UML Training
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.EmeraldSoftwareInc.com
www.UMLBootCamp.com
