Comments on: Wizards of the Coast Ignites the Great PDF Controversy of ’09 http://www.robotviking.com/2009/04/07/wizards-of-the-coast-ignites-the-great-pdf-controversy-of-09/ Gaming Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:49:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ggodo http://www.robotviking.com/2009/04/07/wizards-of-the-coast-ignites-the-great-pdf-controversy-of-09/comment-page-1/#comment-1778 ggodo Sun, 28 Mar 2010 03:24:40 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=767#comment-1778 Coming back to this topic, I've discovered that I tend to use the PDFs as a demo, if a system seems like it'll be interesting, I'll download the PDF and check it out. I will pick up the book afterward if I can get a group together to play or if it's Shadowrun, cuz no one wants to play that and I love it. Coming back to this topic, I’ve discovered that I tend to use the PDFs as a demo, if a system seems like it’ll be interesting, I’ll download the PDF and check it out. I will pick up the book afterward if I can get a group together to play or if it’s Shadowrun, cuz no one wants to play that and I love it.

]]> By: Simon May http://www.robotviking.com/2009/04/07/wizards-of-the-coast-ignites-the-great-pdf-controversy-of-09/comment-page-1/#comment-371 Simon May Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:07:37 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=767#comment-371 I have heard rumours that Wizards' pulling of the PDFs was something they are doing mainly because they want to DRM everything, and the whole thing with a stripped PHII appearing on rapidshare via 4chan within like hours of the release was an excuse, because they've intended to do it for a while, because they have a DRM-based content initiative coming soon. Or something. I am not sure if I believe that rumour, but I thought it worth repeating. I have heard rumours that Wizards’ pulling of the PDFs was something they are doing mainly because they want to DRM everything, and the whole thing with a stripped PHII appearing on rapidshare via 4chan within like hours of the release was an excuse, because they’ve intended to do it for a while, because they have a DRM-based content initiative coming soon. Or something.

I am not sure if I believe that rumour, but I thought it worth repeating.

]]> By: Bentcorner http://www.robotviking.com/2009/04/07/wizards-of-the-coast-ignites-the-great-pdf-controversy-of-09/comment-page-1/#comment-368 Bentcorner Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:02:09 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=767#comment-368 What struck me funny about the press release is that all this really did was inform everyone that they could download D&D stuff on the various file sharing sites. If they didn't already know this, now the do. What struck me funny about the press release is that all this really did was inform everyone that they could download D&D stuff on the various file sharing sites. If they didn’t already know this, now the do.

]]> By: mordicai http://www.robotviking.com/2009/04/07/wizards-of-the-coast-ignites-the-great-pdf-controversy-of-09/comment-page-1/#comment-366 mordicai Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:28:14 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=767#comment-366 More & more, creative processes are being pushed into the basements of fans. By the fans, frankly. I don't know-- on one hand, a guy who downloads .pdfs of the PHB2 probably already owns the PHB, right? So that is one sale. Me, I can't use .pdfs to play; it doesn't work for me. I DO wish I got a copy of the .pdf for every book I buy though (those goes for WW et al too), so I could print out the powers/rules sections that apply to me. Course, now, if I want one, I'll HAVE to get an illegal copy...as with a lot of things like this, I think the trick is to make things cheaper & easier, not harder. Give me a free pdf download with every hardcopy purchase, give me free .pdf of some sections of the books? More & more, creative processes are being pushed into the basements of fans. By the fans, frankly. I don’t know– on one hand, a guy who downloads .pdfs of the PHB2 probably already owns the PHB, right? So that is one sale. Me, I can’t use .pdfs to play; it doesn’t work for me. I DO wish I got a copy of the .pdf for every book I buy though (those goes for WW et al too), so I could print out the powers/rules sections that apply to me. Course, now, if I want one, I’ll HAVE to get an illegal copy…as with a lot of things like this, I think the trick is to make things cheaper & easier, not harder. Give me a free pdf download with every hardcopy purchase, give me free .pdf of some sections of the books?

]]> By: Frostbeard http://www.robotviking.com/2009/04/07/wizards-of-the-coast-ignites-the-great-pdf-controversy-of-09/comment-page-1/#comment-365 Frostbeard Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:47:08 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=767#comment-365 Pulling the PDFs due to piracy concerns is kind of silly. It does nothing to prevent people from creating pirate PDFs - have they never heard of scanners? What it DOES do is remove a legitimate source for PDFs of their products. Now, if you want an electronic copy of one of their rule books, your only source is an unauthorized copy. I love that White Wolf is exploiting this for all it's worth. Exalted is under-rated and deserves more attention. Giving away the core rules is a great way to do that. Pulling the PDFs due to piracy concerns is kind of silly. It does nothing to prevent people from creating pirate PDFs – have they never heard of scanners? What it DOES do is remove a legitimate source for PDFs of their products. Now, if you want an electronic copy of one of their rule books, your only source is an unauthorized copy.

I love that White Wolf is exploiting this for all it’s worth. Exalted is under-rated and deserves more attention. Giving away the core rules is a great way to do that.

]]> By: ggodo http://www.robotviking.com/2009/04/07/wizards-of-the-coast-ignites-the-great-pdf-controversy-of-09/comment-page-1/#comment-364 ggodo Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:31:11 +0000 http://www.robotviking.com/?p=767#comment-364 Did Wizards just find out? No. Their lawyers however. . . Did Wizards just find out? No. Their lawyers however. . .

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