From: | Dvixen dvixen@****.com |
---|---|
Subject: | Fwd: Re: Decipher to Purchase FASA |
Date: | Fri, 30 Jul 1999 17:09:41 -0700 |
>
>Hey folks. This message can be repeated over on RN by someone who's on that
>list, if they choose.
>
>I just got an e-mail from Mike Mulvihill regarding the whole purchase thing.
>At this point, Decipher Games has only signed a letter of intent to purchase
>FASA, but it's something that almost certainly will happen. It'll probably
>take several months though at least, perhaps even longer. Expect the final
>work to be done by the end of the year probably.
>
>The reason Decipher is doing this is they want to get into RPGs and miniature
>gaming. They have no expertise in it themselves, and as such, they could
>either try to create their own RPG department, or buy some experts. Hence,
>they are buying FASA. They recognize people like Mike Mulvihill are the RPG
>experts and are bowing to that expertise; why purchase FASA and eliminate the
>games or the people behind the games? Shadowrun is one of two FASA games
>that have been experiencing growth during a slow period for RPGs; one of only
>a few industry wide. Decipher knows it would be downright stupid to
>eliminate it.
>
>From FASA's point of view, they are (suprisingly to me) stretched fairly thin
>(though in the black financially) trying to support four game lines. This
>buy-out, and the ensuing positive cash flow, gives them them, Decipher/FASA,
>the money to go with their know-how to really challenge Wizards of the
>Coast/TSR, IF they so choose. Or at least provide them with the weapons to
>increase their market share. Though it means the end of their being an
>independent company, it gives FASA a whole lot of positives, and not just
>money.
>
>FASA will stay in Chicago and people like Mike M. and Randall Bills will
>remain their. Their warehousing operations and perhaps their marketing may
>be folded in with Decipher, but that is something that has yet to be
>discussed. Personally, I consider it likely as it makes good business sense,
>but it has yet to happen and may never.
>
>Essentially, we, the Shadowrun players and GMs, should only notice positive
>things coming out of this business transaction. As Mike M. said himself, it
>would be "insane" for Decipher to drop either the game lines or the
>personnel, since that is what they are buying in the first place.
>
>A personal aside, something I neglected to ask Mike M. about, is that since
>Decipher is a card game company, perhaps this might mean a return of the
>Shadowrun CCG. Or may not, it'll be up to Decipher in the coming months and
>years.
>
>But I thought I'd pass this along to help quell any rumors or panic. I know
>plot-d hasn't suffered from much of that, but RN probably is, and perhaps
>this good info will spread outward from there.
>
>Later,
>
>Erik J.
--
Dvixen - dvixen@********.com - dvixen@****.com
Herkimer's Lair - http://shadowrun.html.com/hlair
"What's your sign?" - "Trespassers will be shot."
Comments/Questions accepted, flames dropped into the abyss.