John Nephew wrote:
>
> White Wolf may be looking to make a sort one-way street from D&D to their
> product line, by creating a number of interrelated and cross-referenced
> products for the "Scarred Lands" that, through product identity
> restrictions, keep other publishers from creating products that would be
> easily used in that setting -- and consequently bring repeat customers to
> White Wolf D20 products (which of course can use that product identity).
> (Computer savvy types please provide on cue appropriate analogies to
> Microsoft versions of Java, browser incompatibilities, and whatnot.)
I wouldn't be surprised. The end result is that the protected content
(vs. the open content) relates specifically to the Scarred Lands and
SSS's specific setting.
The other material is usable anywhere.
I was surprised to see that all monsters were handled like that rather
than making some OGL and some not. *shrug* Who knows, feedback may
result in different handling for future products (or not - SSS may be
satisfied with their decision).
> Of course I don't know what WW is thinking, but this is an alternative to
> the "they just don't get the philosophy of open gaming" hypothesis. After
> all, they may get it, and not like it, but see this as a way to profit from
> it anyhow.
Indeed.
The concept is evolving anyway, and may or may not change over time. :-/
> In the end, the market will decide. I'd like to think that more-open
> products will be more rewarded, in the long run, by the practice of network
> externalities; and that developers and gamers who might want to share their
> materials under the OGL will turn away from over-product-identitied branches
> of the D20 tree, while other more fertile branches flourish.
I suspect both will happen - setting specific products will attract
followings, and more "universally applicable" products will attract an
overlapping following.
I like the Creature Collection, but I also like Three Days to Kill, and
intend to follow SSS along with Penumbra.
Of course, it'd be fun to write for either, each with its own flavor.
> On the other hand, White Wolf might simply build a strong, proprietary
> subset of the D20 market with rabidly loyal fans who wouldn't think of
> looking at someone else's product, because they already know it's not going
> to build on the brand of D20 that they're playing; and by defending that
> territory they've marked White Wolf may generate more profit than they would
> otherwise.
I hope not - rabidly loyal fans, that is. I don't really like the breed
- always getting in the way and spouting conspiracy theories...
> Interesting. Not sure how else to evaluate it, at this point. Should be
> interesting to see how it works out.
I can agree with that. :-)
--
Deird'Re M. Brooks | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | cam#9309026
Listowner: Aberrants_Worldwide, Fading_Suns_Games, TrinityRPG
"Atlantic City is Oz envisioned by used car salesmen and pimps."
http://www.teleport.com/~xenya | --Rick Glumsky, Celtic Filth
-------------
For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
