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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 5:54AM
#241
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I think Jell_Moo makes some good points.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 6:35AM
#242
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When a group of students can create something like Surfacescapes for a class project it leaves me scratching my head as to what issues a company like Hasbro has at delivering their digital product for DnD.
The issue is actually quite simple. Hasbro is not now, nor ever has been, willing to put forward the effort required to actually get these products to market.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 8:04AM
#243
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Please excuse me if this has been brought up before but I am new to the dialogue. In addition, I know that I am throwing apples in with the oranges a bit.
When a group of students can create something like Surfacescapes for a class project it leaves me scratching my head as to what issues a company like Hasbro has at delivering their digital product for DnD. Here are links to two different videos. I recommend letting them load completely before playing them.
vimeo.com/11471075
vimeo.com/11462817
As a side note, I watched a video from PAX in April with one of the people from the team. This was all developed in 26 weeks. A Microsoft Surface Table is not realistic at this point but what about a larger iPad or even some other touch pad tech?
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 8:51AM
#244
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Date Joined:
Aug 13, 2007
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along the lines of the surface scape thing. Rapid prototyping can be done quite quickly just watch "Prototype this" on the discovery channel.
if we took everything that was in a prototype stage and said "Why dont we have this already!!!!one!" We should be complaining about self parking cars, wall climbing kits, jetpacks, flying cars or anything cool they said we would have in the 21st century...
just because someone made it. doesnt mean its feasible on a commercial scale.
 Never Point a loaded party at a plot you are not willing to shoot. Arcane Rhetoric. My Blog.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 10:20AM
#245
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along the lines of the surface scape thing. Rapid prototyping can be done quite quickly just watch "Prototype this" on the discovery channel.
if we took everything that was in a prototype stage and said "Why dont we have this already!!!!one!" We should be complaining about self parking cars, wall climbing kits, jetpacks, flying cars or anything cool they said we would have in the 21st century...
just because someone made it. doesnt mean its feasible on a commercial scale.
Based on the videos out there from this student project, it appeared to be way past prototype. It could be due to my lack of tech savy but the last demo in May seemed very playable. Regardless, the point that I was trying to make was that something this fleshed out was done as a student project in 26 weeks. What can/should we expect from a multi-national corporation, such as Hasbro?
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 10:29AM
#246
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What can/should we expect from a multi-national corporation, such as Hasbro?
That would depend on how many people are currently working on it, and what kind of resources they have access too. I suspect that both answers may not be as sizeable as we might hope.
My approach to the NPCs of previous editions. Spoiler:
Show
I always saw the High Level NPCs as shepherds of the Realms not its defenders. Making sure that not too many sheep were lost as they milled around (as they are wont to do) and bringing on the young'uns into the job. In that way a shepherd never has time to go and hunt down all of the wolves but is pretty dashed effective at keeping them away from the sheep when they rear their heads. "It was a puzzle why things were always dragged kicking and screaming. No one ever seemed to want to, for example, lead them gently by the hand." - Terry Pratchett
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 10:38AM
#247
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along the lines of the surface scape thing. Rapid prototyping can be done quite quickly just watch "Prototype this" on the discovery channel.
if we took everything that was in a prototype stage and said "Why dont we have this already!!!!one!" We should be complaining about self parking cars, wall climbing kits, jetpacks, flying cars or anything cool they said we would have in the 21st century...
just because someone made it. doesnt mean its feasible on a commercial scale.
Based on the videos out there from this student project, it appeared to be way past prototype. It could be due to my lack of tech savy but the last demo in May seemed very playable. Irregardless, the point that I was trying to make was that something this fleshed out was done as a student project in 26 weeks. What can/should we expect from a multi-national corporation, such as Hasbro?
Grrr, irregardless isn't a word! Pet peeve.
They aren't going to show a prototype that fails, are they? They are going to show what they did in the best possible light. It's all set up and designed to show the possiblities in the best possible light.
As for being fleshed out, you don't know that. Also, what they were showing wasn't the same thing as the VTT was planned to be. They were showing a flat, 2d playing board that was touch interactive.
Honestly, in this day and age, that isn't to hard, so yeah, I expect a group of students to be able to do that in 26 weeks.
The VTT was much more, and was in 3D, and what we saw was the basic 3d version, as they were working to adding more. That's a lot more complex then a 2d flat playing surfice.
I think it's a great idea, I think it's certainly possible. But I don't think the screen size is going to be commerically viable, so would likely have to go down in scale. As it was, it was a piece of furniture.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 10:51AM
#248
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Date Joined:
Sep 24, 2002
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I think a Microsoft surface computer like they were using goes for about 10 grand. Not really a good price range for the average consumer. I am not sure how the programing is on a surface. and how easy it would be to translate that program to other touch computers like the Ipad.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 11:05AM
#249
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As I stated in my initial post on this matter, I know that it is not an equal comparison between VTT and touch tablet technology. It just seems to me that Hasbro/Wizards has done an effective job of getting people to lower their expectations of DDI. With all the innovation and technology that has become the norm in the 2 years since the release of 4E, I think that consumers, us, should keep our expectations very high. With a brand recognition like DnD and a company like Hasbro, what better scenario could there be, (besides a better economy)?
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3 years ago ::
Aug 12, 2010 - 11:27AM
#250
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As a side note, I watched a video from PAX in April with one of the people from the team. This was all developed in 26 weeks. A Microsoft Surface Table is not realistic at this point but what about a larger iPad or even some other touch pad tech?
You've just reminded me that PAX is coming up in a month.
Does anyone know if WotC going to be at PAX? I'd assume so, since it's just a short commute away from Wizards HQ, it's a gargantuan con with a large tabletop gaming segment, and because WotC and the Penny Arcade/Acquisitions, Inc guys seem to be pretty tight.
So... maybe this "soon" we're hearing about is really "September 3-5" at PAX Prime 2010?
I know I shouldn't get my hopes up for anything at this point, but I think I just did.
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