At 09:29 AM 9/7/00 -0400, Alexander P. Macris wrote:
>>>>
Random individual gives his background: I recently designed a miniature
wargame, Modern Spearhead, which sold out of its entire initial print run
and is now in its second printing. This is my third published design work.
I have also produced three separate computer game titles, coordinating
artwork, programming, and storyline. And I am CEO for an online computer
game company whose stated goal is to use digital distribution to topple the
retail boxopoly... So, you will forgive me if, when I see a $20 retail
boxed RPG, I think "I could do this better, or less."
<<<<<<
Sure. Now explain why FUDGE, which contains a mature and tested rules
system, is licensed under terms as or more open than D20, and which has an
active online community promoting and developing it has not already done
so. (And why you aren't writing FUDGE supplements/games, if your main
concern is the openness of the license. FUDGE has been around since 1992.)
The other question is -- what will you add, other than a lower price? A
drug is a drug -- it's chemically identical, and there's no reason to
purchase a higher-priced version of the same molecule. But a game is a work
of art. If I can download the plain ASCII version of the D20 SRD -- and I
can -- why pay money for it in a store? (I did buy FUDGE 2nd Edition, even
though I have the ASCII, because I believe in supporting small companies.)
Therefore, even if you manage to price your clone of D&D at less than
20.00, what's in it for me? What will you ADD to the document to give it
more value than the one I can buy off the net? Bear in mind your customer
base almost certainly already HAS a PHB -- what are you going to put in
your game that will make them pick up yours?
Linux companies sell ease of installation and support to compensate for the
fact their core product is available free on the net. What's your
comparable business model?
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