In a recent update, Kevin Siembieda has claimed that someone (one of the "big boys") is trying to buy Palladium books.  He's kind of scoffed at this idea, though he says he expects their offer to be "interesting", but I mean, clearly he's mentioning it publicly for a reason.

This is the thread for speculation, rumour-mongering, and maybe even insider information on that subject.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPundit;468944This is the thread for speculation, rumour-mongering, and maybe even insider information on that subject.

So pretty much the same purpose as KS's update then

Ok, so let's figure out what Palladium books has that's worth having.

1. Palladium Fantasy, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, and a bunch of other older, genre-bound systems that, while still popular in certain quarters, probably aren't worth what KS would want for them.
2. Rifts. One of the most widely recognized names in gaming, with a distinct visual look, and subject to numerous video game and/or movie rumors. Conceivably worthwhile to anyone who wants to keep publishing it, or rebooting it, but probably more worthwhile who says potential in non-gamebook products.
3. Some oddball licenses, like Robotech. Is the TMNT license still a thing?
4. Physical stock. As far as a I know, through ups and downs, Palladium books has managed to keep a lot of their stuff in print.
5. Some newer stuff like Nightbane, Dead Reign, etc.

I could see a lot of companies taking an interest in the Robotech license, if it could be had for a good price. But for the whole package, I think the question is, "Who wants to do something with Rifts?" Who, with money, that is.

Potentially there's some mileage there. Retooling some of these games to other systems would likely be a money-making move. That and the licences could make it appealing.

Who are the 'big boys' these days anyway?

Im guessing its videogame companies after rifts and other licences for future videogame and mmorpg treatments more than for the pen and paper side of things, i doubt anything will come of it though since KS will probably want far more than any licence would be worth.

I think they let the TMNT licence lapse a few years back as i remember they cancelled a second edition in the mid/late ninties due to lack of interest in the turtles at the time, though this may have proved a mistake given the resurgence of the early 00's.

I know a film producer and a couple video game designers who wanted to license Rifts.  Siembieda was difficult to deal with, he wanted a boatload of cash and final authorial say.

If someone wanted to make anything Rifts and have it be their project, without having to deal with Siembieda running the thing, they'd pretty much have to buy him out.

On the rpg.net thread similar to this one, Emprint has said that CCP|WW is not considering it.

Maybe it's the RIFT MMO guys

I imagine it could be a videogame company. RIFTS and Dead Reign I think are great universes for a video game. Hell, the Rifts NGage game I hear was a pretty good strategy RPG with an 85% aggregate score on gamerankings.com.

The Rifts IP coud literally be anything. As the de facto bar for kitchen sink settings, there is not much you couldn't make out of it.

As for who I think may be interested: Fantasy Flight Games. Especially for Rifts. The amount of board games and expansions they could make for each individual setting book is insane. Not to mention novels, miniatures, miniature wargames and even RPGs

Maybe Catalyst, to be able to have the unseen back?

Mongoose.

Kev wishes.

He seems to like tossing out bullshit every year or two to keep himself in the gamer news. Remember the Great Betrayal and the request for handouts?

Mmm...the Great Betrayal actually happened. You can look it up in court files even.

Quote from: Monster Manuel;468972Mongoose.

Probably. The only way to do it sensibly would be to buy it wholesale, because Kevin will never allow others to have creative control over his baby otherwise... but without Kevin, is it any good? And is it likely to sell in 2011? I don't see much of a market nowadays.

Quote from: Kyle Aaron;468975Kev wishes.

He seems to like tossing out bullshit every year or two to keep himself in the gamer news.

my thoughts exactly :rolleyes:

Put me down for another vote of "Kev's exaggerating".

I don't think he's lying, mind you.  Or at least, he doesn't think he is.  Kevin's never been good at knowing when he's lying because he's not very self-aware and confuses how he thinks things should be with reality.

I'm guessing its more like someone wants the full rights to Rifts (really, the only property they actually own that's worth anything; I mean, I love some of the other lines, but they aren't very popular).

Quote from: pawsplay;4689462. Rifts. One of the most widely recognized names in gaming, with a distinct visual look, and subject to numerous video game and/or movie rumors. Conceivably worthwhile to anyone who wants to keep publishing it, or rebooting it, but probably more worthwhile who says potential in non-gamebook products.

Could be. But would it be cheaper to develop and market your own Rifts-ish game than buy a whole company for it?

Quote from: pawsplay;468946I could see a lot of companies taking an interest in the Robotech license, if it could be had for a good price.

But if you bought Palladium for the Robotech license, then you'd have to still have to re-negotiate and pay for the license when it came due. It seems to me it'd be cheaper, easier, and better just to go to Harmony Gold and out bid Palladium to get Robotech.

Seanchai