Last year, I started Speak Out With Your Geek Out to encourage people to have fun about whatever it is they were into, to spread the happy and the shiny. What happened as a result of that was a swelling community of people who rallied around each other and who were genuinely interested in what people had to say. The biggest challenge we had was defining what the word “geek” was. Some people felt that geeks weren’t persecuted or nerd rage wasn’t an issue. Others were looking for “a” definition that they either fit into or they didn’t. The majority of people we heard from had a good time during that week and asked for this to be an annual event. (It will.)
This experience taught me something. It forced me to see that we are not the sum of our conversations or rants. That opinions of us can change quickly given the right circumstance.
Yesterday, it was announced that Wizards of the Coast is pursuing a new edition of Dungeons a& Dragons. ENWorld has a page summarizing What We Know About 5th Edition. The conversations have been fascinating to watch and the announcement was covered in several high-profile places like Forbes, The New York Times, etc. A lot of the chatter has been about how this new edition will affect them, that particular person. What I’m looking forward to, is whether or not this new edition will encourage new players to pick up the dice and roll.
Someone asked me where I thought the industry was going. Gaming requires a time commitment and social interaction. Different forms of gaming have fit into our lifestyles and our preference for technology, sure, but time is the primary component. You need an hour or two to play a video game. If you screw up or have something else going on, you can power off your console and get back to it whenever you have time. You need a good three to four hours at the table each week to continue a campaign with a group of people. That means managing schedules with kids, jobs, travel, etc. That game had better be worth it, eh?
While not all sports fans play sports, the majority of people I know who like games play games of some sort. In order for this hobby to grow, I feel our attention should be on ushering new fans into the hobby. As our time constraints grow, as we play fewer and fewer games (in public, private, at game stores or at conventions), businesses will have less reasons to put out great games or innovate. Like Hollywood, they’ll stick to the things they “think” will help them survive because they’re not generating enough revenue to stay in business.
As an aside: I know it sucks to think about something you love from a financial perspective. Ever since I first stepped into the industry there’s always been speculation about how different businesses do things. (Usually from other folks, myself included.) But the reality is that, regardless of outside opinions and passionate feelings, companies are run by people who love games and by people who make decisions based not only on what sells and what doesn’t, but what they have time for and how many fans they’ll reach.
I don’t have a public opinion one way or the other on how effective 5th Edition will be because it’s too early to tell. I do feel, however, that it’s important to the hobby as a whole. Dungeons & Dragons is a powerful brand to gamers and non-gamers alike. Healthy conversations about this game affect everyone because it gives us a point of reference when we’re introducing them to new and different games. Mind you, I’m looking above and beyond what happens at someone’s individual table because I care, very much so, about the future of this hobby.
The only way games will continue to grow in popularity (and acceptance) is if we have fun. Our enthusiasm playing the game is what will attract new players who are crucial to the survival of the industry. As people get older (and time grows shorter) the audience will shrink and diminish. How can we interest new players to sit down and roll dice? What is the selling point of RPGs, board games, and card games versus video games and MMOs? These are the things I ponder.
New players, my dear readers, is what I hope and pine for. It’s why I love going to conventions, to see how excited people are regardless of the game they’re playing, and why I enjoy my time with John and Steve Jackson Games. We all have our preferences in music, books, ice cream flavors — games are no different. Not every flavor of game is going to be dark chocolate pistachio caramel strawberry. They’re not all going to come in waffle cones with sprinkles, either. I’ve found conversations about edition wars to be exhausting because I play games to have fun, not be upset about them. I have to wonder if “the silent majority” feels that way, too. In a war, who wins? Throwback Pepsi doesn’t sell as much as regular Pepsi. Does it mean that the one selling better is superior to the other? Maybe, maybe not.
A bit rambling this morning, I know. I was *attempting* to be inspirational and encouraging and all of that craziness. Maybe, what I really want to know is: What will it take for us to publicly focus on the happy and roll some dice? Or, are edition wars important? Is there something I’m missing here?
Mood: Accomplished. The words, they are mine!
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: One. Oy.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Typing like a crazy woman.
Yesterday’s Projects: RPG, Novel
In My Ears: Enya. Yeah, I know… I know…
Game Last Played: PicCross 3D
Movie Last Viewed: Buck Rodgers pilot episode.
Book Last Read: [Redacted for Work. Shhhhhhhhhh…]
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Medallion pendant in silver and red
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem
