>1. Is it reasonable to assume that new games based on bestselling
>books or popular movies will be more marketable if they are based
>on the "leading" gaming system, rather than on some completely
>new gaming system?
More marketable? Yes, it's another hook someone can use to
sell the game. Measurably more sales? I doubt it. In any case of
a popular mainstream IP, it's the IP that drives sales: the game
system is secondary.
More trouble for the licensee? You betcha. Licensors don't
as a rule like the perception that their stuff is open. Now, all
of us here on this list realize what "open gaming" means, but a
licensee will have to go through the headache of convincing Big
Studio's legal division.
>For example, look at the buzz that conversion
>of the "Star Wars" rpg to D20 would bring. Under OGL/D20 this
>can be done completely without WotC's permission and without
>paying them a dime.
Just as an FYI: WotC is doing the Star Wars RPG now.
>Done properly the IP of the successful story can easily be
>protected. How about creating a company that specializes in
>doing just this for successful fantasy authors and movie
>producers - converting tham into role-playing games based on
>D20?
Dunno that it'd be worth it. Movie studios like nice
high guarantees. Still, I'd be interested in watching it
happen as long as it wasn't my money invested in the company.
:)
>2. Is it reasonable to assume that older games based on
>popular books, stories, and movies could get a much wider
>readership and a new lease on life if they are converted to
>d20?
IMO, no. While there are always those who will buy
anything with the IP of their choice on it, by and large
older games will get the "been there, done that" from gamers,
who will be glad to use the books they've already got and
run it under D20 in their own way.
>3. Other games, such as Shadowrun, Cyberpunk, etc. might very
>well see some marketing benefit from rewritten to be based on
>a gaming system (d20) that was recognized as the market leader.
First, you have to make the assumption that D20 will be
recognized as a market leader.
But even given that (for the moment), I seriously doubt
that companies are going to be lining up to rewrite their games
into other systems: usually house systems are popular within a
company because it's their own IP, and that has more value. D20
would have to be the messiah of all gaming systems for the sales
of a translation to be worth it, I think.
--
Joseph Cochran
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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