| From: | Sommers sommers@*****.umich.edu |
|---|---|
| Subject: | [OT] FYI |
| Date: | Thu, 09 Sep 1999 21:32:12 -0400 |
>Tarek Okail wrote:
> >
> > Bull--
> >
> > >Here's another link...
> > >http://www.wizards.com/news/hasbro1.asp
> >
> > Well, of COURSE Hasbro wants to buy WOTC. WOTC has the Pokemon
> > CCG license for the US. That's primarily what Hasbro's after, and if
> > they also pick up M:TG, well, that's another good deal for them.
> > The problem is that Hasbro won't have a clue as to how to handle
> > the RPG's that WOTC/TSR produces. If this deal goes through, and Peter
> > Adkinson and the WOTC lawyers blow it, look for D&D3 and the other RPG's
> > that WOTC produces to repeat AD&D 2; overproduced and underdeveloped.
> >
> > Shadowmage
>
>I think that none of us can expet good products if such a deal is
>sealed.
>We saw what happened with TSR when WOC bought it.
What happened with TSR? They stopped production for a few months while they
got their act together. Then they started putting out more focused, and
from some things I've seen better quality, products. They got their long
lasting legal troubles finished so that they can go back to D&D (without
the Advanced) and brought back the guy who started it all, Gary Gyax.
>We saw what happened with Avalon Hill (ok it was almost ruined but the
>games were still good) when Hasbro got it.
Avalon Hill was basically dying. They made good games but were lousy at
business. They let the rights go for games they didn't want (Advanced
Tactical Squad?) and worked on getting more out of the games they wanted
(Civilization). There was no way that AH games were going to be made much
longer. At least now there's a chance that they will.
>They will have a treasure in their hands that they won't have a clue how
>to deal with it.
Maybe they will, maybe they won't. They are keeping the WOTC and TSR names,
and it sounds like they want to make it more of an independent division
than AH is. It will help them more with their marketing and distribution
channels. On the other hand, expect to see a line of official D&D and M:TG
toys out soon, like there was in the early 80's.
>And they will translate everything in money.
I hate to say it, but it is about money. If they are smart, they'll realize
that the best way to make money is to put out a good product.
>I just hope that something like this will never happen with other RPG
>companies like FASA, White Wolf and ICE.
Right. Because I'm sure that no-one on this list would ever buy an
action-figure of Fastjack or Hatchetman (Now with interchangeable
cyber-arms!). ;)
>Cybertroll
Sommers
Insert witty quote here.
