glassdoor: WotC is a shitty workplace

RPGPundit · February 20, 2015, 07:51:53 PM

I do agree that Marketing is one area where WotC have serious problems still; but you have to admit they've been improving of late.

Will · February 20, 2015, 08:02:29 PM

It's a bit embarrassing that a phone game like Game of War can get highly placed adverts with some production values, and D&D... bupkis.

robiswrong · February 20, 2015, 08:30:24 PM

Game of War almost certainly has income of an order of magnitude greater than D&D.

Omega · February 20, 2015, 08:32:02 PM

Quote from: Will;816736It's a bit embarrassing that a phone game like Game of War can get highly placed adverts with some production values, and D&D... bupkis.

Hasbro had/has WOTC on a tight budget leash. And areas where Hasbro wants to spend alot on. Movies. Are being blockaded. the open playtesting was a godsend of advertising for them.

TristramEvans · February 20, 2015, 11:45:48 PM

Quote from: Will;816736It's a bit embarrassing that a phone game like Game of War can get highly placed adverts with some production values, and D&D... bupkis.

Don't kid yourself that anything in our hobby even touches the sales of phone games.

James Gillen · February 21, 2015, 04:08:26 AM

Quote from: robiswrong;816753Game of War almost certainly has income of an order of magnitude greater than D&D.

Also, Kate Upton is an order of magnitude greater than D&D.

JG

Sacrosanct · February 21, 2015, 04:34:12 AM

Quote from: robiswrong;816753Game of War almost certainly has income of an order of magnitude greater than D&D.

$600 million in revenues apparently, with a valuation of $3 Billion.

Gronan of Simmerya · February 22, 2015, 05:08:37 AM

Quote from: TristramEvans;816784Don't kid yourself that anything in our hobby even touches the sales of phone games.

Yep. Over at Purple Nurple, Paul Chapman, marketing director for Steve Jackson Games, estimated circa 2006 that RPGs were "about a $50M a year industry."

Considering that model trains are a half billion a year industry, RPGs are a REAL niche.

Meanwhile, World of Warcraft claims 7.5 million subscribers 3rd quarter 2014. Let's say they're lying and it's actually one third of that... 2.5 M.

2.5 M x 15 bucks x 12 months = 450M per year.

Honestly, I'm surprised Hasbro hasn't dumped D&D years ago.

jeff37923 · February 22, 2015, 05:53:30 AM

Quote from: Old Geezer;816994Yep. Over at Purple Nurple, Paul Chapman, marketing director for Steve Jackson Games, estimated circa 2006 that RPGs were "about a $50M a year industry."

Considering that model trains are a half billion a year industry, RPGs are a REAL niche.

Meanwhile, World of Warcraft claims 7.5 million subscribers 3rd quarter 2014. Let's say they're lying and it's actually one third of that... 2.5 M.

2.5 M x 15 bucks x 12 months = 450M per year.

Honestly, I'm surprised Hasbro hasn't dumped D&D years ago.

Obviously, we have to dumb down tabletop RPGs to the point where Liberal Arts students can understand them in order to become profitable again....

Endless Flight · February 22, 2015, 07:20:09 AM

Quote from: Old Geezer;816994Yep. Over at Purple Nurple, Paul Chapman, marketing director for Steve Jackson Games, estimated circa 2006 that RPGs were "about a $50M a year industry."

Considering that model trains are a half billion a year industry, RPGs are a REAL niche.

Meanwhile, World of Warcraft claims 7.5 million subscribers 3rd quarter 2014. Let's say they're lying and it's actually one third of that... 2.5 M.

2.5 M x 15 bucks x 12 months = 450M per year.

Honestly, I'm surprised Hasbro hasn't dumped D&D years ago.

Hasbro is a black hole of IP. Once it's sucked in, it can never escape. If D&D somehow where to ever be unprofitable, Hasbro would just shelve the property for about ten to twenty years, then try again. Rinse and repeat.

Will · February 22, 2015, 11:11:39 AM

There's also a principle that 'you have to spend money to make money.'

I think you could do a quite cheap, but exciting, commercial if you actually stress the relationships and fun of actual playing over half-naked stuff you'll never see in the game.

Of course, I have no idea what the base cost of airing commercials is... anyone have a clue? (Since that's the hard limit)

Omega · February 22, 2015, 11:29:18 AM

Quote from: Will;817025There's also a principle that 'you have to spend money to make money.'

I think you could do a quite cheap, but exciting, commercial if you actually stress the relationships and fun of actual playing over half-naked stuff you'll never see in the game.

Of course, I have no idea what the base cost of airing commercials is... anyone have a clue? (Since that's the hard limit)

They tried that for 4e. That went over sooooooo well. I hope to whatever gods may apply that that one commercial never was aired on TV!

As is though Solomon was trying to blockade even commercials and Hasbro has withdrawn 99% of their movie deals now and the whole Unit-E line.

Bedrockbrendan · February 22, 2015, 11:30:26 AM

Quote from: Will;816736It's a bit embarrassing that a phone game like Game of War can get highly placed adverts with some production values, and D&D... bupkis.

There is a much bigger market for phone games than table top role playing games.

Rincewind1 · February 22, 2015, 11:57:44 AM

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;817028There is a much bigger market for phone games than table top role playing games.

If only because the group interested in doing something while on the toilet is significantly larger than group of people interested in geeky social activity.

Gronan of Simmerya · February 22, 2015, 08:18:28 PM

Quote from: Omega;817027As is though Solomon was trying to blockade even commercials and Hasbro has withdrawn 99% of their movie deals now and the whole Unit-E line.

I'm sorry, could you explain this further? I have no idea what you're talking about.