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Message no. 1
From: Sam Thomas <sinbad@***.NET>
Subject: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 19:30:06 -0500
Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
(c)1997 Sam Thomas |Email:sinbad@***.net|
Sinbad Sam, Owner and Operator of Sinbad Sam's Saloon
Chief Weapons Designer For Reddkneck Arms and Munitions
-----------------------------------------------------
Message no. 2
From: Caric <caric@********.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 17:20:41 -0700
Sam Thomas wrote:
>
> Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.

Bull?????


Caric
Message no. 3
From: John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 20:51:01 EDT
On Tue, 15 Jul 1997 19:30:06 -0500 Sam Thomas <sinbad@***.NET> writes:
>Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says
>yes.


To whom? Why? When? Who's your source? Where do they get their
information? Are you even on the list?????

Unless FASA tells they're considering selling out (which I don't see
happening, btw), I'd discount that as nothing but a rumor. Especially
because it's not the first time such a thing has been bandied about the
net.


--
-Canthros
I had rather believe all the fables in the legends and the Talmud
and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.
--Francis Bacon
http://members.aol.com/canthros1
Message no. 4
From: Bull <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 21:19:41 -0400
At 05:20 PM 7/15/97 -0700, Caric wrote these timeless words:
>Sam Thomas wrote:
>>
>> Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.
>
>Bull?????
>
Hey, don't look at me... i've heard one or two rumours about this, but
since the whole thing with TSR went down, I've heard that White Wolf, Steve
Jackson Games, and Games Workshop were all being bought and/or sold. And
usually the person they're supposedly getting sold to is WOTC.

I don;t think FASA will get sold. It's on of the few fairly stable
companies in the business... But you never know...

<shrug>

Bull
--
Bull, aka Steven Ratkovich, aka Rak, aka a lot of others! :]

The Offical Celebrity Shadowrn Mailing List Welcome Ork Decker!
Fearless Leader of the Star Wars Mailing List
List Flunky of ShadowCreations, creators of the Newbies Guide,
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"Gen Con, here I come!"
-- Me
Message no. 5
From: "J. Keith Henry" <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 21:27:25 -0400
In a message dated 97-07-15 21:21:12 EDT, lobo1@****.COM (John E Pederson)
writes:

> On Tue, 15 Jul 1997 19:30:06 -0500 Sam Thomas <sinbad@***.NET> writes:
> >Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says
> >yes.
>
>
> To whom? Why? When? Who's your source? Where do they get their
> information? Are you even on the list?????
>
> Unless FASA tells they're considering selling out (which I don't see
> happening, btw), I'd discount that as nothing but a rumor. Especially
> because it's not the first time such a thing has been bandied about the
> net.
>
I am guessing you are probably hearing some of the ripple rumors that went
around when TSR got bought by WotC.
-Keith
Message no. 6
From: Skye Comstock <bilbo@****.NWLINK.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 20:22:24 -0800
>Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.

Dammit, didn't you already post this on rgf.cyber? Are you just trying
to strike up stupid conversation or what? Your post is a single
line, gives no proof, just silly speculation. Who cares?

-Skye
Message no. 7
From: Jaymz <justin@******.NET>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 23:58:03 -0500
are you the same guy that posted the exact same text to rec.games.frp.cyber?

At 07:30 PM 7/15/97 -0500, you wrote:
#Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.
#
#-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
#(c)1997 Sam Thomas |Email:sinbad@***.net|
#Sinbad Sam, Owner and Operator of Sinbad Sam's Saloon
#Chief Weapons Designer For Reddkneck Arms and Munitions
#-----------------------------------------------------
#
#
--
/--justin@****.mcp.com----------------------justin@******.net--\
|Justin Bell NIC:JB3084| Time and rules are changing. |
|Simon & Schuster | Attention span is quickening. |
|Programmer | Welcome to the Information Age. |
\------------ http://www.mcp.com/people/justin/ ---------------/
Message no. 8
From: Adam J <fro@***.AB.CA>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 01:59:58 -0600
At 21:19 7/15/97 -0400, you wrote:
>At 05:20 PM 7/15/97 -0700, Caric wrote these timeless words:
>>Sam Thomas wrote:
>>>
>>> Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.
>>
>>Bull?????
>>
>Hey, don't look at me... i've heard one or two rumours about this, but
>since the whole thing with TSR went down, I've heard that White Wolf, Steve
>Jackson Games, and Games Workshop were all being bought and/or sold. And
>usually the person they're supposedly getting sold to is WOTC.
>
>I don;t think FASA will get sold. It's on of the few fairly stable
>companies in the business... But you never know...

Rumours of this have been floating for awhile; the obvious buyer is WoTC.
I don't believe the sale will go down, but anything could happen. Jill
Lucas was in Washington a couple months ago talking to WotC, from what I
could gather on rec.games.frp.industry. (Which should be fairly legit, but
its the net, so take with lump of salt.)

And since I've never heard of Sam Thomas, either on this list, or on any
other net.forum, or a webpage, etc, etc, I would say its a great big troll.

-Aj
-
http://shadowrun.home.ml.org \ TSS Productions \ The Shadowrun Supplemental
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader \ WildAngle@******** \ fro@***.ab.ca
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Message no. 9
From: William Monroe Ashe <wma6617@****.TAMU.EDU>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 08:44:26 -0500
On Wed, 16 Jul 1997, Adam J wrote:
> Rumours of this have been floating for awhile; the obvious buyer is WoTC.
> I don't believe the sale will go down, but anything could happen. Jill
> Lucas was in Washington a couple months ago talking to WotC, from what I
> could gather on rec.games.frp.industry. (Which should be fairly legit, but
> its the net, so take with lump of salt.)
>
> And since I've never heard of Sam Thomas, either on this list, or on any
> other net.forum, or a webpage, etc, etc, I would say its a great big troll.

I have a question about all of this, Is FASA a public or private
company? If they are public, a little rumor goes a long way to
artifically boost stock prices. Afterall they DID write Corporate
Shadowfiles.


regards

Bill
Message no. 10
From: Adam J <fro@***.AB.CA>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 07:55:26 -0600
At 08:44 7/16/97 -0500, you wrote:
>
>I have a question about all of this, Is FASA a public or private
>company? If they are public, a little rumor goes a long way to
>artifically boost stock prices. Afterall they DID write Corporate
>Shadowfiles.

Privately owned, with I think 3 co-owners.

-Aj
-
http://shadowrun.home.ml.org \ TSS Productions \ The Shadowrun Supplemental
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader \ WildAngle@******** \ fro@***.ab.ca
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Message no. 11
From: "M. Sean Martinez" <ElBandit@***.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 10:04:06 -0400
Greetings!!!!

I saw this at Mania.com, you decide how valide it is:

>>>>I figured I would move this thread on with a few new rumours for your
consumption.

A certain VP, of a certain Renton based game company was cornered and
cofirmed that WOTC has plans to open 50 stores in N. America over the
next 5 years. (confirmed at the Dractus open house in Ottawa in June)

WOTC has been very chummy with a certain English miniatures wargames
company (look at the Seattle game centre to see which miniatures game
WOTC has been pushing.

WOTC has been chatting with some other companies regarding potential
future acquisitions, the companies in queston are: West End Games
(they would not comment on this in Ottawa, and they certainly wouldn't
deny anything); White Wolf (not much to substantiate yet); and FASA
(Jill Lucas at FASA has confirmed that talks are underway, but would
not disclose the nature of those discussions); There is also rumor
that WOTC may want Ral Partha as well.

WOTC has been negotiating with West Edmonton Mall for room for a game
centre. Apparently GW is settin up a store in West Ed Mall, a bit too
coincidental for my tastes.

Now, if you will let my paranoia run rampant for a moment, I will put
together a scenario I really do not relish.

All the best
Grant Kinsley M.D.
sawbones@********.com
Yes, I do own a store, but I'm not saying which one.
This is not an ad <<<<<<
Message no. 12
From: Sam Thomas <sinbad@***.NET>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 10:15:36 -0500
At 01:59 AM 7/16/97 -0600, you wrote:
>At 21:19 7/15/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>At 05:20 PM 7/15/97 -0700, Caric wrote these timeless words:
>>>Sam Thomas wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.
>>>
>>>Bull?????
>>>
>>Hey, don't look at me... i've heard one or two rumours about this, but
>>since the whole thing with TSR went down, I've heard that White Wolf, Steve
>>Jackson Games, and Games Workshop were all being bought and/or sold. And
>>usually the person they're supposedly getting sold to is WOTC.
>>
>>I don;t think FASA will get sold. It's on of the few fairly stable
>>companies in the business... But you never know...
>
>Rumours of this have been floating for awhile; the obvious buyer is WoTC.
>I don't believe the sale will go down, but anything could happen. Jill
>Lucas was in Washington a couple months ago talking to WotC, from what I
>could gather on rec.games.frp.industry. (Which should be fairly legit, but
>its the net, so take with lump of salt.)
>
>And since I've never heard of Sam Thomas, either on this list, or on any
>other net.forum, or a webpage, etc, etc, I would say its a great big troll.

You have not heard of me!!!! Well you don't travel in my circles.<G>
By the way outside this list I have not heard of you.<G>
It is not a troll just an inquiry to see if anyone else has heard any
rumors/tales in way I am trying to confirm my source.

As for my source lets say he/she is freelance "Graphics Illustrator" that
does vast amount of work for one of the principles in the deal.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
(c)1997 Sam Thomas |Email:sinbad@***.net|
Sinbad Sam, Owner and Operator of Sinbad Sam's Saloon
Chief Weapons Designer For Reddkneck Arms and Munitions
-----------------------------------------------------
Message no. 13
From: Sam Thomas <sinbad@***.NET>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 10:19:25 -0500
At 08:22 PM 7/15/97 -0800, you wrote:
>>Has anyone heard that FASA is being sold? I have a source that says yes.
>
>Dammit, didn't you already post this on rgf.cyber? Are you just trying
>to strike up stupid conversation or what? Your post is a single
>line, gives no proof, just silly speculation. Who cares?
>
Skye,
Yes I did post to the rec.frp.cyber. Do you have problem with that? The
rest of your comments do not deserve any more words.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
(c)1997 Sam Thomas |Email:sinbad@***.net|
Sinbad Sam, Owner and Operator of Sinbad Sam's Saloon
Chief Weapons Designer For Reddkneck Arms and Munitions
-----------------------------------------------------
Message no. 14
From: VÆL <ltwiss@********.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 09:45:22 +0000
If memory serves correctly, M. Sean Martinez wrote:

> WOTC has been chatting with some other companies regarding potential
> future acquisitions, the companies in queston are: West End Games
> (they would not comment on this in Ottawa, and they certainly wouldn't
> deny anything); White Wolf (not much to substantiate yet); and FASA
> (Jill Lucas at FASA has confirmed that talks are underway, but would
> not disclose the nature of those discussions); There is also rumor
> that WOTC may want Ral Partha as well.

Do any of you besides me find this... illegal? WOTC had better calm
down or they are going to have a monopoly inside the roleplaying
industry. If america was _truly_ a free market there would be no
problem here, but we aren't.

I'm all for WOTC bailing out flailing companys (ie: TSR), but I can't
see justification for running around buying everyone up, besides pure
greed and profitablilty. You can argue...'Well they did make them
selves available for purchase', but can't these company's see the
potential problems?

From a marketing stand point, this is good business. The people at
WOTC know business, and are in it to make money, as well as good
product. Because, they have separate passions inside the company.
People that love gaming, and people that like gaming but love
marketing, or accounting, or...

They are on the right track for making gaming and games in general
the next thing to movies. But they are going about it in a very
Microsoft way.

Vael
Message no. 15
From: Brett Borger <bxb121@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 11:44:34 EST
> > future acquisitions, the companies in queston are: West End Games
> > (they would not comment on this in Ottawa, and they certainly wouldn't
> > deny anything); White Wolf (not much to substantiate yet); and FASA
> > (Jill Lucas at FASA has confirmed that talks are underway, but would
> > not disclose the nature of those discussions); There is also rumor
> > that WOTC may want Ral Partha as well.
>
> Do any of you besides me find this... illegal? WOTC had better calm
> down or they are going to have a monopoly inside the roleplaying
> industry. If america was _truly_ a free market there would be no
> problem here, but we aren't.

hold on there! Before you get all uptight, take a more skeptical
look at Whats-his-faceys post. As I see it:

1) He is merely poorly informed, with a bit of a paranoid nature
Or
2) He is having a good laugh

I mean, _IF_ all this is true, I can easily see WOTC simply looking
around....now that they have TSR, it's only natural to try and carve
their niche. Talking to people, even everyone, doesn't mean they're
going to BUY them all. I mean, WOTC isn't all _that_ powerful!

Personally, I think WOTC talked to someone...someone else heard it
and mentioned it....a third person twisted it a bit, threw in a
few more companies,.....and PRESTO! You have thousands of gamers
rushing about screaming MONOPOLY!

(And as someone said, Several gaming companies' Stocks soar, which
means they aren't going to comment either way....everyone assumes "No
comment" means that they are right....and the company didn't lie one
little bit.)

Time to Chill, everyone.

-=SwiftOne=-
Message no. 16
From: Adam J <fro@***.AB.CA>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 09:54:53 -0600
At 09:45 7/16/97 +0000, you wrote:
>Do any of you besides me find this... illegal? WOTC had better calm
>down or they are going to have a monopoly inside the roleplaying
>industry. If america was _truly_ a free market there would be no
>problem here, but we aren't.

Unfortunately, RPG's and CCG's aren't big enough to have their own
'market', and so they get thrown in with other board games and I believe
even kids toys. The result, WotC has nothing compared to Mattel and Parker
Brothers.
AFAIK, of course.

-Aj

-
http://shadowrun.home.ml.org \ TSS Productions \ The Shadowrun Supplemental
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader \ WildAngle@******** \ fro@***.ab.ca
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Message no. 17
From: Skye Comstock <bilbo@****.NWLINK.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 09:03:09 -0800
>Skye,
>Yes I did post to the rec.frp.cyber. Do you have problem with that? The
>rest of your comments do not deserve any more words.

A problem? No. I was just wondering how/where you got this information,
I know that seems like a strange thing to ask a person after they
say FASA could be in the process of being sold. Then again, that doesn't
deserve any more words, does it? You are simply a troll that gets his
jollies when people respond to a thread, so I'll stop talking to you,
after all, you're a non-deserver, yourself.

-skye
Message no. 18
From: Michael Broadwater <mbroadwa@*******.GLENAYRE.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 11:30:10 -0500
At 10:15 AM 7/16/97 -0500, Sam Thomas wrote:

>As for my source lets say he/she is freelance "Graphics Illustrator" that
>does vast amount of work for one of the principles in the deal.

I worry about people who use un-named refrences and won't back up their
stories with any facts/proof/evidence. Currently, your source is no better
than a wild hunch. Worse, actually, as someone who was guessing would
admit to it.


Rasputin-the-going-to-GenCon-for-free-magekin
http://www.bcl.net/~rasputin
http://www.blackhand.org/

The dumber people think you are, the more surprised they're going to be
when you kill them. -- William Clayton

Gencon count down: 22 days
Message no. 19
From: Sam Thomas <sinbad@***.NET>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 12:13:13 -0500
At 11:30 AM 7/16/97 -0500, Michael Broadwater wrote:
>At 10:15 AM 7/16/97 -0500, Sam Thomas wrote:
>
>>As for my source lets say he/she is freelance "Graphics Illustrator"
that
>>does vast amount of work for one of the principles in the deal.
>
>I worry about people who use un-named refrences and won't back up their
>stories with any facts/proof/evidence. Currently, your source is no better
>than a wild hunch. Worse, actually, as someone who was guessing would
>admit to it.

Well sometimes sources ask not to named for reasons of their own, ie might
lose their job/work contract, might compromise a trust, etc. Sources do not
always like to directly quoted.

Right now I am just asking for any rumors/scuttlebutt that any one else
might have heard. Seeing if what I was told cross checks with what others
have "heard".

Lets say that right now the subject is greater than a scuttlebutt but less
than a rumor.<g>

As for the veracity of the rumor/scuttlebutt only time will tell. If their
was some truth to the matter, FASA and others would deny until the deal was
finalized. That is just current business practise not just in the role
playing game industry.

As to why FASA would sell to another, well sometimes people want a change,
sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. That is just conjecture on my part.
>
>Rasputin-the-going-to-GenCon-for-free-magekin
>http://www.bcl.net/~rasputin
>http://www.blackhand.org/
>
>The dumber people think you are, the more surprised they're going to be
> when you kill them. -- William Clayton
>
>Gencon count down: 22 days
>
>
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
(c)1997 Sam Thomas |Email:sinbad@***.net|
Sinbad Sam, Owner and Operator of Sinbad Sam's Saloon
Chief Weapons Designer For Reddkneck Arms and Munitions
-----------------------------------------------------
Message no. 20
From: Shane Courtrille <hardware@*******.DATANET.AB.CA>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 11:43:57 +0000
I work in a buisness that deals with comics & games and stuff and
word is WOTC has there eyes on FASA.. along with a whole host of
other gaming companys.. but FASA is suppose to be part of there next
meal..

*wave*

Shane Courtrille - hardware@*******.ab.ca

Being in love... What a trip...
Message no. 21
From: VÆL <ltwiss@********.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 12:10:41 +0000
If memory serves correctly, Brett Borger wrote:

> > Do any of you besides me find this... illegal?

> hold on there! Before you get all uptight, take a more skeptical
> look at Whats-his-faceys post. As I see it:

Actually, I for one, do not believe that WOTC is financially in a
position to buy out FASA. Buying out FASA would be entirely more
financially straining then buying out TSR. TSR, is needy. They _need_
to be bought to survive. FASA has done a extraordinary job with their
licensing and I'm sure the royalties they receive are fair. With
FASA's new interactive company, it looks like they are doing well,
and are financially healthy.

If FASA were to sell, it would be for a large sum of money, to buy
off the current three owners. Were as, TSR just needs a new owner to
pay their bills, not their wallets so they can walk away.

> 1) He is merely poorly informed, with a bit of a paranoid nature

The major problem I have with these rumors, is that the people talking
seem to be excited about WOTC looking into buying companies. Why would
you be excited about it? Do these people not understand the
consequences?

Yes, sure, it is probably never going to happen. But to promote or
gleefully await something like this to happen is ignorant.

> Or
> 2) He is having a good laugh
>
> I mean, _IF_ all this is true, I can easily see WOTC simply looking
> around....now that they have TSR, it's only natural to try and carve
> their niche. Talking to people, even everyone, doesn't mean they're
> going to BUY them all. I mean, WOTC is not all _that_ powerful!

Yes, this I know.

> Personally, I think WOTC talked to someone...someone else heard it
> and mentioned it....a third person twisted it a bit, threw in a
> few more companies,.....and PRESTO! You have thousands of gamers
> rushing about screaming MONOPOLY!

Actually, I am getting a different vibe. They aren't screaming
monopoly. They are going 'yeah! WOTC is buying the world!' Even if
WOTC isn't.

> (And as someone said, Several gaming companies' Stocks soar, which
> means they aren't going to comment either way....everyone assumes "No
> comment" means that they are right....and the company didn't lie one
> little bit.)

How can a _privately_ held company's stock 'soar'?

There is no such thing in a _private_ company. There maybe a way of
maintaining accountability for assets controlled by: but little else.

Sure they will sell more books etc. Which in turn brings up the
profit margin for allocating funds back into the company's assets or
it's owner's wallets. But LT effects are going to bring a whip lash,
as did the initial introduction of M:TG to the market.

Yippee! A new game is on the market that is going to bring floods of
cash to us. <Now three years later> Hurry quick, buy us, because we
managed the ride wrong.

Vael
Message no. 22
From: Black Death <ddmaster@**.NET>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 14:05:36 -0500
VÆL wrote:
> > WOTC has been chatting with some other companies regarding potential
> > future acquisitions, the companies in queston are: West End Games
> > (they would not comment on this in Ottawa, and they certainly
> wouldn't
> > deny anything); White Wolf (not much to substantiate yet); and FASA
> > (Jill Lucas at FASA has confirmed that talks are underway, but would
> > not disclose the nature of those discussions); There is also rumor
> > that WOTC may want Ral Partha as well.


Who is WotC? I have never heard of them. Why are they wanting, TWILTM,
to buy all the RPG companies? Do they have plans to jack all prices up
out of some of our reaches??


> Do any of you besides me find this... illegal?

yes i do .

>>WOTC had better calm down or they are going to have a monopoly inside >the
roleplaying industry.

Mayby that is what they want.

hell i live in a small town thats has two grocery stores they're owned
by the smae company. when i say small about 7-8 thousand people lving
here.


>>If america was _truly_ a free market there would be no problem here, but we
aren't.

I agree and there's other stuff that's suppose to be that aren't.
But we need to stay off this subject so we don't the channels grouch's
hackles raised.

> I'm all for WOTC bailing out flailing companys (ie: TSR),

<sounds of forehead being beaten> Ahhhh WotC= Wizards of the Coast
You talling me they do more than trading cards? </sounds of forehead
being beaten>

I agreee but why go after FASA? They aren't a failing company. Or are
they and they have not told us their loyal followers??


> >From a marketing stand point, this is good business. The people at
> WOTC know business, and are in it to make money, as well as good
> product. Because, they have separate passions inside the company.
> People that love gaming, and people that like gaming but love
> marketing, or accounting, or...
>
> They are on the right track for making gaming and games in general
> the next thing to movies. But they are going about it in a very
> Microsoft way.

What makes you think this? Did you mind probe their CEO? :)



>
> Vael

--
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Message no. 23
From: Mike Loseke <mike@******.VERINET.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 13:04:58 -0600
Quoth Black Death:
>
> VÆL wrote:
> > > WOTC has been chatting with some other companies regarding potential
> > > future acquisitions, the companies in queston are: West End Games
> > > (they would not comment on this in Ottawa, and they certainly
> > wouldn't
> > > deny anything); White Wolf (not much to substantiate yet); and FASA
> > > (Jill Lucas at FASA has confirmed that talks are underway, but would
> > > not disclose the nature of those discussions); There is also rumor
> > > that WOTC may want Ral Partha as well.
>
>
> Who is WotC? I have never heard of them. Why are they wanting, TWILTM,
> to buy all the RPG companies? Do they have plans to jack all prices up
> out of some of our reaches??

Wizards of The Coast. The biggest crack[1] dealers in the world. I don't
have a clue as to what they are doing, or why. I hope that they stop,
though, because I don't like them. But that's just me.

[1] M:TG == crack

--
|
Mike Loseke | You never know how fluffy poodles are,
mike@*******.com | until you step in one.
|
Message no. 24
From: VÆL <ltwiss@********.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 13:16:02 +0000
If memory serves correctly, Black Death wrote:

> What makes you think this? Did you mind probe their CEO? :)

No, he pon-far'd my sister and told her as they were stroking
fingers. <grin>

Vael
Message no. 25
From: Peter David Boddy <pdboddy@****.CARLETON.CA>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 15:36:43 EDT
Hmmm, my two cents on the matter says to wait til someone official comes
on, and posts here, or on the newsgroups, then we'll know for sure. All
we can do at the moment is to make more rumours...

As for Wizards of the Coast wanting to buy up a whole bunch of gaming
companies, while I think they would love to be able to do it, I don't
think they have the $$$ to do so. It's one thing to buy out a company
that is/was in financial trouble (TSR), buying out healthy companies is
harder, and more expensive, especially if said company has only a few
owners (FASA has what, three main owners?).

Hehehe, WotC attracted quite a few of it's followers from the role playing
industry, a scheme to buy out several gaming companies would certainly
gain it a lot more followers...

Pete

Pete aka Spitfire
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter David Boddy
Carleton University
Email address: pdboddy@****.carleton.ca
Email address: bx955@*******.carleton.ca
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 26
From: Bull <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 16:02:11 -0400
At 11:30 AM 7/16/97 -0500, Michael Broadwater wrote these timeless words:
>At 10:15 AM 7/16/97 -0500, Sam Thomas wrote:
>
>>As for my source lets say he/she is freelance "Graphics Illustrator"
that
>>does vast amount of work for one of the principles in the deal.
>
>I worry about people who use un-named refrences and won't back up their
>stories with any facts/proof/evidence. Currently, your source is no better
>than a wild hunch. Worse, actually, as someone who was guessing would
>admit to it.
>
Worse yet, when you say "freelance "Graphics Illustrator", and one of the
companies you mention is WOTC, then you could be talking about one of the
hundreds of artists that work for (or have worked for) WOTC. That's not
exactly a reliable source.

Some of these artists are rather grumpy with WOTC since they changed their
policy toward the artists and how they pay them.

Plus... Few of the artists are really "in the know", if any. They're just
slags who turn in some art to the top brass, sometimes with only "We need a
picture of an Ork with a Chainsaw" as their guide. They don't even know
what the card is gonna be half the time...

Oh well.. I'll take this with a grain of salt until it can be confirmed or
denied. And you may want to consider backing your source up with tad more
info... Unamed sources tend to be rather unbelieveable...

Bull
--
Bull, aka Steven Ratkovich, aka Rak, aka a lot of others! :]

The Offical Celebrity Shadowrn Mailing List Welcome Ork Decker!
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Message no. 27
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 21:23:24 +0100
|Who is WotC?

Never? Never heard of Wizards of the Coast?
The most hated games company in the world (apart from GW)?

Ever heard of Talislanta? Primal Order? Ars Magica?
They used to be quite a good RPG company, but then some pillock had a
wonderful idea....

The "idea" was Magic the Gathering, and as a result, just before xmas, they
fired their entire RPG side, dumped all their RPG games and concentrated
soley on MtG.

Recently, T$R was in deep doodoos, and WotC bought them out.
Possibly meaning a return to RPGs.

NOTE: They won't buy out all the games companies.
They couldn't afford to even if they wanted to, and I very much doubt FASAS,
or many of the others would want it either.....

|<sounds of forehead being beaten> Ahhhh WotC= Wizards of the Coast
|You talling me they do more than trading cards? </sounds of forehead
|being beaten>

Ahh, seems a good beating refreshes the memory.
No, they don't do anything other than crappy trading cards.... anymore....


I imagine that's WHY they bought T$R...
So their T$R subsidiary can sell RPGs whilst the main company still sells
Magic the addiction.....
--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 28
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 21:24:28 +0100
| Wizards of The Coast. The biggest crack[1] dealers in the world. I don't
|have a clue as to what they are doing, or why. I hope that they stop,
|though, because I don't like them. But that's just me.

No it's not....

|[1] M:TG == crack

You're kidding right? MtG is FAR more addictive than crack!

:)

--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 29
From: Adam J <fro@***.AB.CA>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 14:43:33 -0600
At 21:24 7/16/97 +0100, you wrote:
>| Wizards of The Coast. The biggest crack[1] dealers in the world. I don't
>|have a clue as to what they are doing, or why. I hope that they stop,
>|though, because I don't like them. But that's just me.
>
>No it's not....

While I don't hate WotC, I must confess to finding their recent business
practices rather pathetic.
"Gee guys, we can't make a decent RPG, so lets just fire our guys and buy
some other guys."
(Which isn't to say the WotC RPG's are bad, I've heard good things abou
them, they just didn't have much success.

>|[1] M:TG == crack
>
>You're kidding right? MtG is FAR more addictive than crack!

I've never tried crack (Seriously), but I've played M:TG a bit, and
probably still will..

-Aj
-
http://shadowrun.home.ml.org \ TSS Productions \ The Shadowrun Supplemental
ShadowRN Assistant Fearless Leader \ WildAngle@******** \ fro@***.ab.ca
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
GO d-- s--:-- a--- C++++ UL+ P+ L+@ E? W-- N++ o? K- w O- M- V-- PS+
PE++ Y+ PGP- t+@ 5 X R+++>$ tv- b++(+++) DI+ D---- G++ e- h! r y-
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Message no. 30
From: Lady Jestyr <jestyr@*******.DIALIX.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 07:35:11 +1000
> I have a question about all of this, Is FASA a public or private
> company? If they are public, a little rumor goes a long way to
> artifically boost stock prices. Afterall they DID write Corporate
> Shadowfiles.

*grin* True. However, IIRC they're private - a friend and I wanted to
buy shares in them... :)

Lady Jestyr

----------------------------------------------------
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota
monax materiam possit materiari?
----------------------------------------------------
Elle Holmes jestyr@*******.dialix.com.au
http://jestyr.home.ml.org/
----------------------------------------------------
Message no. 31
From: Sam Thomas <sinbad@***.NET>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 18:16:12 -0500
At 04:02 PM 7/16/97 -0400, Bull <chaos@*****.COM> wrote:
>At 11:30 AM 7/16/97 -0500, Michael Broadwater wrote these timeless words:
>>At 10:15 AM 7/16/97 -0500, Sam Thomas wrote:
>>
>>>As for my source lets say he/she is freelance "Graphics Illustrator"
that
>>>does vast amount of work for one of the principles in the deal.
>>
>>I worry about people who use un-named refrences and won't back up their
>>stories with any facts/proof/evidence. Currently, your source is no better
>>than a wild hunch. Worse, actually, as someone who was guessing would
>>admit to it.
>>
>Worse yet, when you say "freelance "Graphics Illustrator", and one of
the
>companies you mention is WOTC, then you could be talking about one of the
>hundreds of artists that work for (or have worked for) WOTC. That's not
>exactly a reliable source.

I never mentioned who the "Graphics Illustrator" had worked for. This is
not a minor league "Graphics Illustrator", sir. This "Graphics
Illustrator"
in the "PROS"

>Oh well.. I'll take this with a grain of salt until it can be confirmed or
>denied. And you may want to consider backing your source up with tad more
>info... Unamed sources tend to be rather unbelieveable...

Yes "Cum Granio Salis" would be very appropriate.


-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
(c)1997 Sam Thomas |Email:sinbad@***.net|
Sinbad Sam, Owner and Operator of Sinbad Sam's Saloon
Chief Weapons Designer For Reddkneck Arms and Munitions
-----------------------------------------------------
Message no. 32
From: david lowe <dlowe@****.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 16:33:41 -0800
At 2:43 PM 7/16/97, Adam J wrote:

>I've never tried crack (Seriously), but I've played M:TG a bit, and
>probably still will..
>
>-Aj


What?!! No RoboRally? IMHO the only decent game ever produced by WoTC.

D.

David R. Lowe (dlowe@****.com)
Photography/Graphic Design

"I can't help it, I'm a greedy slob. It's my hobby."
-Daffy Duck
Message no. 33
From: Benjamin <benjamin@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 1997 16:45:00 PDT
>>I've never tried crack (Seriously), but I've played M:TG a bit, and
>>probably still will..
>>
>>-Aj
>
>
>What?!! No RoboRally? IMHO the only decent game ever produced by WoTC.

Yeah. It's good.

AND I HAVE EVERYTHING FOR ROBORALLY!

I have all of the sets (I even got Crash & Burn before it was out!
Onlything I've ever won in my life)
Message no. 34
From: Spike <u5a77@*****.CS.KEELE.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 12:49:47 +0100
|I never mentioned who the "Graphics Illustrator" had worked for. This is
|not a minor league "Graphics Illustrator", sir. This "Graphics
Illustrator"
|in the "PROS"

It doesn't matter ifhe's one of the Elite!
He's FREELANCE! That means he's not a PART of any company, and therefore, is
not going to be privvy to corporate plotting...

--
______________________________________________________________________________
|u5a77@*****.cs.keele.ac.uk| "Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?" |
|Andrew Halliwell | |
|Principal subjects in:- | "I think so brain, but this time, you control |
|Comp Sci & Electronics | the Encounter suit, and I'll do the voice..." |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|GCv3.1 GCS/EL>$ d---(dpu) s+/- a- C++ U N++ o+ K- w-- M+/++ PS+++ PE- Y t+ |
|5++ X+/++ R+ tv+ b+ D G e>PhD h/h+ !r! !y-|I can't say F**K either now! :( |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message no. 35
From: Greg Childress <greg@***.EDU>
Subject: Re: FASA Being Sold?
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 15:16:42 -0400
Spike wrote
>I imagine that's WHY they bought T$R...
>So their T$R subsidiary can sell RPGs whilst the main company still sells
>Magic the addiction.....

Actually, the reason is probably that the sales of M:tG have been dropping
steadily for a while so the company is looking to diversify to avoid falling
apart. The lads at WotC took a survey of the gaming companies and found one
that was faltering but had really good name-recognition and bought it.
According to Mike Mulvilhill <sp?> (I can't pronounce that name for anything
anyway which put me in the position of having to call him "Mike" in
conversation from the start, he didn't seem to mind too much.) TSR would
have probably been out of business by now or soon had the acquisition not
occurred and his take on the buy-out, which I agree with, is that with this
in mind the purchase was a good thing. The collapse of AD&D would have been
a blow to the entire industry as it is the flagship game. It is the fact
that WotC did have to look around the industry to find a company to buy that
is sparking most of the rumors.
I just got back from origins and I have to say that the atmosphere was kind
of odd. WotC seemed to be more quiet and unobtrusive than usual. In fact
the only real effect they had on the convention was the annoying and
pathetic fourteen year-old Magic zombies wandering around and pitifully
asking if you wanted to play this game (clutching deck) as if they were some
sort of weird beggars and the increase in weight the average attendee was
lugging. The con had a real aura of growth, as if the sale of TSR made
everyone realize that no game is permanent and fostered interest in new
games.


<greg>

noir rocks!

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