Jane Witt of The Keep in Fort Wayne, Indiana read Fred Hicks’ recent comments (see “Fred Hicks of Evil Hat Productions on RPG PDFs”) regarding RPG PDFs and sent in this response:

I would like to commend Catalyst Games and Evil Hat Productions for collaborating with brick and mortar stores and I look forward to having a collaborative relationship with more PDF publishers.  I would however, like to point out, they are the exception to the rule.  Most PDF publishers haven't attempted to collaborate with retailers.

My store would not be open if I was not adaptable.  Once such experience of adaptability was when a beloved gamer, who played all genres of games, past away.  We opened our doors to his fellow gamers.  Sometime during that event, a couple of patrons were perusing the RPG books.  One was getting ready to purchase the book; the companion stopped the fellow gamer and convinced them they "would save money if they purchase the PDF version."  This was my first encounter of the PDF saga.  I could list many times I have had potential customers prefer to pursue this venue.  These customers didn't consider PDF's as enhancements.  Any successful retailer researches the items they sell as well as items their customers start to have an interest in.  I have purchased some PDF material and have seen first hand the pros and cons of PDF's from my customer's point of view.  I've even considered providing a service to allow them to print out the PDF's.  When we conducted a cost analysis of this service, it was not feasible.  In my opinion, it’s the file sharing sites that are the true problem for retailers and publishers.

Sir, I do not have blinders on, nor am I in fear of electronic media.  I love hardbound books but sadly printed books will become outdated and electronic media is our future.  Michael Stackpole has written several industry articles stating that fact.  Therein lays the challenge that retailer's of RPG's and any printed media face, and you can bet that I'll be flexible to those challenges.

Gamers purchasing books in our stores help support the game space retailers provide for them to come into the store to game.  It is unreasonable to expect the local game store to keep game space available for them to game in, when they choose not to support the store by purchasing their items online.  The expectation of maintaining a game community in the store with out the support of its members within that community is unreasonable.  This community includes publishers, manufactures, retailers, and gamers. In order to "change and become adaptable" and still maintain our community, I had to decrease the size of my game space that I provide for my community of gamers.

RPG's represent a small piece of the pie, when considering all game genres that a retailer carries in their store.  The lively discussion about PDF media has highlighted, either positively or negatively depending on your perspective, one aspect of the game industry.  But, I'm certain all aspects of this dilemma will bring about positive changes to the industry and a convenient exchange of such media to those we serve, our gamers.

The opinions expressed in this Talk Back article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.