From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 11:49 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Open_Gaming] Non-D20 Reference Documents
<< While I agree with your sentiments I think the only commercial incentive
to
create OGC was WotC's desire to make more money. >>
And White Wolf's desire to make more money. And Pinnacle's desire to make
more money. And Steve Jackson's desire to make more money. And Atlas Games'
desire to make more money. And Green Ronin's desire to make more money.
And...
If you think we'd have a quality hard-bound book like CC without a profit
motive, I must respectfully disagree.
<< I doubt if they care
whether anyone else makes money as long as they profit from it. >>
Except they very carefully crafted and recrafted the OGL to ensure that it
protected IP and supported other producers in efforts to make money off
works that contained both open and closed content. Ryan made it very clear
that they did not expect significant "after market" products that would
affect THEIR bottom line unless they encouraged other companies to try to
make a buck off d20. Altruism? Nah. Enlightened self-interest is more like
it.
<< I must also disagree that commercial
incentive is necessary for the progress of OGC or that the lack of it would
hinder it. Non-profit works have just as much potential to reach WotC's
goals, and the general goal of gamers to receive greater benefits with OGC
than they would otherwise. >>
Here again I must respectfully disagree. The Creature Collection and Death
in Freeport and Three Days to Kill, stocked in major stores right next to
the DMG and PHB, have expanded knowledge of Open Gaming far more than any
non-profit work ever will.
<< The profit motive is nice but I think it is a
by-product of the decisions involved rather than a motivating factor. >>
See above. It is not a motivating factor -- Wizards would be happy to make
money in other ways if Ryan doesn't sell them on this way -- but it is NOT a
by-product. It is a designed-in factor that they believe to be essential to
Open Gaming meeting their goals.
<< Certainly it does matter to WotC but only as it affects them. Everyone
else
must look out for themselves and the OGL is not a shepard for making money.
>>
Again, see above. The OGL was specifically designed to support the profit
motive. Not to guarantee it, by any means, but to support it.
Martin L. Shoemaker
Emerald Software, Inc. -- Custom Software and UML Training
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.EmeraldSoftwareInc.com
www.UMLBootCamp.com
-------------
For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
