| From: | GRANITE <granite@**.NET> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | FASA FOR SALE - NOT! |
| Date: | Thu, 17 Jul 1997 21:58:34 -0700 |
From: FASALou@***.com
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 17:35:32 -0400 (EDT)
To: earthdawn@*****.iquest.com
Subject: Re: [EarthDawn] Disheartening News
Reply-to: earthdawn@*****.iquest.com
Roger Gaudreau wrote:
>>>A couple of friends of mine in the gaming industry with deep contacts at
Wizards of the Coast have told me recently that negotiations between WotC
and FASA are near completion and WotC will be buying FASA in the very
near future. Truly, WotC is becoming the megacorp of the gaming world.<<<
Okay, let's clear this up right now.
Yes, WotC talked with us about this. They talked with virtually *every*
game company about purchasing them.
As for negotiations being nearly completed, this is patently not true.
There were (and are) *no* negotiations between the two companies.
The final word: Are they buying us? *NO*
>>> The reason this news is disheartening is because it probably means the
end of Earthdawn, or at the very least a suspension of the ED production
schedule. WotC bought TSR (as we are all aware), ED competes with AD&D
and ED is not (despite our best efforts) a profitable product line. WotC
has a habit of canceling unprofitable lines (remember when they yanked
Ars Magica 4th ed. *after* it went to the printer), so they'll probably
ditch ED after they buy FASA. We can hope that some other gaming company
with a conscience will pick up the line and continue it (and I hope
they'll publish any manuscripts that have already been written but not
yet printed; I worked hard on Secret Societies). If they somehow decide
to keep ED and the existing ED development intact, then I will finally
believe that miracles really happen.<<<
Okay, let's clear up some errors here...
First off, *if* WotC were to purchase FASA, why would that mean the end of
Earthdawn? Just because it's competitive with AD&D? I don't think so.
If WotC is really trying to become a megacorp, the closest equivalent we
might compare them to is a company like Hasbro, who own *many* other game and
toy companies, including Parker Brothers and Milton Bradely. These two
companies have competitive products, yet we don't see Hasbro killing off
games of one company that compete with another. I believe the same would hold
true if WotC were to buy FASA.
Also, I feel I should point out that when WotC pulled the plug on its RPG
lines, Ars Magica 4th Edition was NOT at the printer. It was close to being
ready, but it hadn't gone to the printer yet. (Of course according to sources
close to Atlas Games, it wasn't all that close to being finished, but that's
a different topic).
>>>Of course, everyone at FASA (especially Lou) will deny this story, 'cause
it probably means their jobs if they confirm it. I suppose that if there
were a single good thing about this, it's the fact that it's not
happening until after the Thera sourcebook reaches the shelves.<<<
Well, you're right about one thing. I'm denying it. But *NOT* because I
fear for my job, but because it's NOT TRUE. Plain and simple.
BTW, even if it was true, I couldn't confirm nor deny anything, and in
fact, a non-commital response would probably be a bigger hint about the truth
than any denial could ever be.
Hope this clears up some things,
Lou Prosperi
--------------------------------GRANITE
"Rock Steady"
===============================================
Lord, Grant Me The Serenity To Accept The Things I Cannot Change,
The Courage To Change The Things I Can,
And The Wisdom To Hide The Bodies Of Those People I Had To Kill
Because They Pissed Me Off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ShadowRunner's Serenity Prayer
