| From: | Nexx nexx@********.net |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Fw: [OT] Industry News Update |
| Date: | Fri, 15 Dec 2000 08:36:23 -0600 |
From: "Keith Strohm" <Aikiboy@*******.com>
Newsgroups: RPG.DnD
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 12:57 AM
Subject: Re: Thursday Dec 14th ** WTF ? **
> > >
> > > Does this kill the RPG comeback?
> >
> > Well, the three D&D core rulebooks are in place, and Star Wars is out,
so
> I
> > guess they felt that they didn't need them anymore.
> >
> > Do you know excatly who they fired, and what these people did for the
> > company?
>
> I posted this message to a private industry mailing list, but I wanted
to
> repost it here, as it bears directly on your questions:
>
> I understand everyone's concern and speculation at this juncture, and
> there's not a lot I can add to the larger discussion of Wizards of the
> Coast, but I wanted to let everyone know that Dungeons & Dragons and the
> proposed d20 strategy are alive and well. Hasbro has on numerous
occassions
> pointed to its strong performing brands like Dungeons & Dragons. They have
> great respect for the vibrant resurgence of D&D and continually talk about
> their hopes and plans for D&D as it continues to grow.
>
> Specifically relating to the TRPG and Miniatures group, our corporate
> restructuring has helped us focus on the strategies and product lines that
> are the backbone of our business, and I urge you all to keep an eye out
for
> the plans we will unveil in the future.
>
> I have worked at Wizards of the Coast since they purchased TSR, Inc
> (where I spent two years as an editor and a designer) and have worked on
the
> TRPG category team since 1998, when Ryan Dancey assembled a small group of
> dedicated folks who labored hard to revive a dying business. I have been
> fortunate enough to learn and grow under Ryan's tutelage, and on October
> 10th of this year, I assumed his responsibilities, as well as the
leadership
> of our miniatures division. This leadership has not (and will not, at
least
> for the forseeable future) changed, and the team that I have been training
> and working with on the TRPG and minis categories remains essentially the
> same. There has been no corporate mandate or interference with the running
> of these categories, and we are indeed looking forward to working with
> Hasbro to grow our brands and the hobby industry as a whole.
>
> The future does indeed look bright for the RPG category. Sales of Star
> Wars and D&D continue to grow and the d20 strategy will officially see the
> light of day (look for upcoming news about that soon). Restructuring and
> reorganizing is always difficult, but the changes that have taken place at
> Wizards will only enable us to perform even better as a company that
> produces quality game products.
>
> Please feel free to disseminate this email far and wide, to lists both
> professional and fan-driven. I hope this helps clear up any initial
> confusion or questions you may have.
>
> Keith Strohm
> Director
> Tabletop RPGs and Minis
> Wizards of the Coast
>
>
>
>
>
