+Stan Shinn was at the GAMA (The Game Manufacturers Association) Trade Show earlier this week and came away with some interesting figures about D&D 5e released by WotC's Mark Price. Here's the takeaway:
— 2017 was the best year for D&D ever in terms of salesCertainly stuff to think about. A rising tide lifts all ships and 5e is certainly doing more to raise that tide than any other system right now.
— Year 3 of D&D sales is stronger than their first year
— Actual play streaming is a key driver of D&D’s success, with 9 million users watching D&D on Twitch
— 8.6 million Americans have played D&D in the last 12 months (they did not give stats for overseas)
Thoughts?
A rising tide lifts all boats.
ReplyDeleteinteresting that they feel twitch is the key driver...not sure if that is completely accurate, but an interesting stat.
ReplyDeleteIts already starting to turn D&D into "something you watch poorly employed voice actors and web-celebrities do."
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly lifting the hoarders-posting-shelfies-with-three-copies-of-every-vintage-TSR-product-in-their-basement boat.
ReplyDeleteI resemble that remark. Except I have no basement.
DeleteThe one thing that makes roleplaying games unique as an art form is that the performers and the audience are the same people. Watching other people play D&D for any other purpose than pure instruction doesn't makes any sense. Roleplaying games are not a spectator sport.
ReplyDeletePeople can make it entertaining. it just like any other let's play, the entertainer is using a familiar medium as a way to channel whatever they are doing, weather its drama or comedy, ect
DeleteThey were smart to discard the 4e "insanely complicated character rules & electronic charbuilder subscription" model for the old "every player buys a Player's Handbook" model. The $50 PHBs give them a nice income, and a common reference point (in my 4e games many players never bought a PHB) which I think has huge network benefits. People buy a PHB, read it, play, have fun, & start thinking they can GM, too...
ReplyDelete