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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 3:59PM
#21
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Date Joined:
Oct 26, 2005
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html_removed
I'm not giving any date or timeframe (well, "soon"  ), but I can say pretty much for certain that this situation will change.
You are no longer allowed to use that word... It is a forbidden word.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:15PM
#22
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And before another round of speculations, etc.... What I meant by "financially damaging information" was in the context of stuff like insider trading or company secrets being leaked. I did not mean to infer that there are troubles around here... (cue the new round of speculations )
Paolo Marcucci
"Building better worlds"
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:22PM
#23
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Do you folks mind if I offer a word of caution?
I'm by no means any sort of authority on human behavior, but I've seen threads like this pop up before. When they happen, the person who has offered to try and get us information ends up getting dumped on. I'd really hate to see that happen again, so I'm asking you, as a personal favor, to please avoid directing your irritation about the lack of information towards Paolo. Asking for an update on his progress is perfectly fine by me. I just don't want to see one of us chop his head off in gratitude for him sticking his neck out.
Thank you.
I think that this is a very appropriate reminder to remain civil on the boards. It's all too easy to express frustration with a company on a forum in such a way that it impales a guy who is honestly just trying to do a good job. Anyone who has worked a call-center or other service oriented job knows what I'm talking about, and it can be even worse on the boards.
Having said that, my patience with WotC is growing thin. The lack of communication from anyone at WotC regarding CB/MB updates and the mysterious web-based tool(s) is startling in this day and age, and--though I have no love for Pathfinder or how the edition wars played out on their site--WotC could stand to take a page from Paizo's communications playbook. Yes, Paizo is a smaller company, but I see no reason why WotC can't be just as transparent. Or, half as transparent for that matter. Okay, so Hasbro has some whacked communications policies that are muzzling WotC. But isn't what's going on here with regards to the news about CB updates and obtuse references to web tools more about WotC than Hasbro?
I'm by no means any sort of authority on corporate behavior, but I am seeing more and more frustration being expressed on these forums. I'm also seeing a lack of acknowledgement on the part of Wizards that does nothing but exacerbate the problem. It seems that, in an effort to avoid another instance of over-promising and under-delivering on DDi tools, WotC isn't saying anything or, even worse in some ways, offering crumbs of information to customers who clearly want more.
Personally, I would have prefered if Wizards had just told me when Darksun and Essentials was being added to the CB and kept any reference to web-based tools to themselves. Announce it when the thing is ready to release, don't allude to it, get everyone riled, and then go mum.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:26PM
#24
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Date Joined:
May 21, 2008
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html_removed
I'm not giving any date or timeframe (well, "soon" ), but I can say pretty much for certain that this situation will change.
You are no longer allowed to use that word... It is a forbidden word.
Sijal some contacts at Hasbro that might make a difference
Brian Goldner (CEO) Bgoldner@hasbro.com
Seriously, well maybe anyway if his email is like other peoples.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:26PM
#25
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Date Joined:
Aug 17, 2007
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Except that this is Hasbro's policy, not WotC. As a publically traded company, Hasbro has a right and a duty to their shareholders to make sure that the communications are controlled and no leaks or financially damaging information are ever released.
That said, WotC's policy was very different and we're trying to get back to that level of openness.
I'm not giving any date or timeframe (well, "soon" ), but I can say pretty much for certain that this situation will change.
Now, let me go back flogging my team.
Hasbro and WotC are the same entity in this case. As much as I'd like to separate the two, it is impossible as one company is owned by another and is clearly dictating policies with a heavy hand. Furthermore, actions by WotC affect Hasbro shareholders, by your own logic. The two are interchangable. WotC may have been different in the past, but until a change comes around again to make that true, there's little difference in the companies, aside from being a 'branch'.
As far as 'financially damaging information': Hasn't anyone within the company gone up and said 'Hey. People are pulling away because of what we're doing. We're losing revenue.' At what point is the company reputation damaged beyond repair?
I'm not trying to say -you- are the cause. Rather, I'm saying.. look at the forums and count the number of positive posts you see about recent changes. This is the face of Hasbro's policies and choices. -If- these views are inaccurate, maybe it's time the company addresses it, instead of pretending that the public face is still the same.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:32PM
#26
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Date Joined:
May 21, 2008
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Khor - there is one part of WotC that even makes a note on Hasbro's bottomline: Magic.
If its not magic, they barely even notice it. Even if the 41K DDI members are present monthly subscribers, its a litteral drop of water in the revenue of Hasbro.
Believe me when I say for certain that the corporate bigwigs of Hasbro at best know there is a ruckus about DnD, not the exact financials of it, as I am not even sure DND makes an impact on Wizard's bottomline.
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:39PM
#27
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Date Joined:
Aug 24, 2005
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I'm by no means any sort of authority on corporate behavior, but I am seeing more and more frustration being expressed on these forums. I'm also seeing a lack of acknowledgement on the part of Wizards that does nothing but exacerbate the problem. It seems that, in an effort to avoid another instance of over-promising and under-delivering on DDi tools, WotC isn't saying anything or, even worse in some ways, offering crumbs of information to customers who clearly want more.
I'm curious about the acknowledgement part. They've acknowledged that there is a problem. At this point, they are avoiding coming to the forums and posting 'We're sorry. We'll have more information soon' because that just draws the ire of some folks. Do you have a suggestion for what kind of further acknowledgement would be constructive, and avoid irritating people with a non-informative post?
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:42PM
#28
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. . . Even if the 41K DDI members are present monthly subscribers, its a litteral drop of water in the revenue of Hasbro.
Believe me when I say for certain that the corporate bigwigs of Hasbro at best know there is a ruckus about DnD, not the exact financials of it, as I am not even sure DND makes an impact on Wizard's bottomline.
True. And there are, what, eight people on this forum currently? Perhaps twice or three times as many are expressing the same frustration that I am on this or other forums? Given that context, I should be greatful that Paolo and AsmodeusL even read these posts, let alone respond to them. Depressing but true.
I kind of wonder, then, if D&D is just kind of a loss leader for Hasbro. Or WotC for that matter.
I'm by no means any sort of authority on corporate behavior, but I am seeing more and more frustration being expressed on these forums. I'm also seeing a lack of acknowledgement on the part of Wizards that does nothing but exacerbate the problem. It seems that, in an effort to avoid another instance of over-promising and under-delivering on DDi tools, WotC isn't saying anything or, even worse in some ways, offering crumbs of information to customers who clearly want more.
I'm curious about the acknowledgement part. They've acknowledged that there is a problem. At this point, they are avoiding coming to the forums and posting 'We're sorry. We'll have more information soon' because that just draws the ire of some folks. Do you have a suggestion for what kind of further acknowledgement would be constructive, and avoid irritating people with a non-informative post?
Maybe I'm not seeing the forums where they've acknowledged the problem. I've seen you and mudbunny (spelling?) acknowledge problems and then be in the unenviable position of being able to offer nothing in terms of solid information. Other than that, I've seen Paolo acknowledge that Hasbro is whacked and Trevor make an announcement about how Psionic Power was included in the last CB update. The omission of any reference to DS or Essentials was deafening.
Okay, so saying "they're coming soon" ticks people off. But is the DDi team over there so overworked with so many different projects that no one has an ability to announce a deadline and keep it? If so, say so. Hasbro is really keeping WotC from saying, "Hey folks, you'll get DS and Essentials in CB. We're so overwhelmed that we don't want to set a deadline we can't keep, but you'll get' em. (So quit yer whinin'!)"??? Okay, so maybe not the whining part. We're not even hearing that, which, when combined with some vague mention of web tools, leads folks to believe that the continued existence/development/support of the CB is now in question. Am I making sense?
The forum you started about the web-based tools that had the 33 questions listed on it is another unsettling example. What happened there? Did those questions get looked at? Did WotC tell you to shove it? There's nothing there to indicate that the thread served any actual purpose other than letting people somehow feel that they were being heard by WotC when they were only being heard by you. No offense, but I was hoping (as I'm sure you were) to get some of the questions answered by now. Two of them? One?
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:45PM
#29
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Date Joined:
May 21, 2008
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It might be truth be told. I know Hasbro gives its subcompanies some latitude so long as their quarterly statements are in the black and not the red. DnD's revenues could be under its costs by a small margin and not even be noticed by Hasbro. Or it could be the deal with Atari keeps DnD as a brand name in the black (though Infrogames has maybe two more quarters until insolvency hits)
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3 years ago ::
Oct 22, 2010 - 4:45PM
#30
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Do you have a suggestion for what kind of further acknowledgement would be constructive, and avoid irritating people with a non-informative post?
*raises hand*
I have some.
- Tell what measures have been taken to prevent similar events in the future. No details needed, only an outline of what is done.
- Tell what went wrong, also no intimate details needed, only a rough outline as to make people aware of the complexity WotC have to deal with.
- Acknowledge that any of our letters (with bugs, comments, complaints) to Customer Service has actually reached Paulo's studio and/or higher tier folks.
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