Quote from: Crazy_Blue_Haired_Chick on April 17, 2024, 02:45:45 PM

Quote from: SHARK on April 17, 2024, 02:43:03 PMGreetings!

Yeah! GOOD!

However, WOTC is still fucked, and they can choke. Moving chairs around doesn't change the damage they have done to the company, or the damage they have done to the trust and relationship with millions of customers.

And, it doesn't change the other terrible and horrible people they have retained on staff, in command of D&D.

The company should never have hired a horrible person like Williams to begin with.

So, fuck them. Let them continue to burn. I hope they go broke.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

My question is a bit more on the business side. How long can Hasbro use the D&D ip before WOTC gets entirely gutted? And will the upcoming VTT lead to further layoffs?

Greetings!

Yes, good questions! Well, I think in light of recent massive firings of staff at WOTC, from all accounts they are just about running on a skeleton staff. I definitely think that the whole VTT/computer focus for the new edition of D&D is largely responsible for the firings. Having a more computer and online-ficused game means that there is less need, emphasis, and focus for physical, printed books. That's definitely a business choice--and a viable market, all by itself. However, the two are very different markets, with different essential elements and different traditions and preferences. Also, some overlap, of course, but the fan-groups tend towards having interests and requirements that ultimately diverge, and become increasingly less compatible.

I think all of this is the pre-game show to moving their version of D&D into a mostly exclusive digital format. As previously mentioned, that is fine. That's a viable market. But it is very different from the physical game/Book hobby. I think it is clear that WOTC no longer really values the physical game/Book market of the hobby. They certainly do not value traditional gamers, or White people, so their market success and popularity has suffered enormous damage. Having said that, they can still manage to be a profitable company. They are just a very different kind of company, with a smaller, more narrow focus, market, and customer base. They want to cultivate a Woke customer base. So, Ok. Go broke then. Some Woke companies thrive, after all.

That doesn't mean though that they have not lost large numbers of customers. Their business future is somewhat precarious at the moment, though. There is a chance they can jump and hustle and move the company into being profitable for the foreseeable future as a digital-focused company--or, if this new venture fails, they will likely experience a long wallowing existence as a rump company, flailing about chaotically, trying to do a bit of this and a bit of that, but ultimately being consigned to creative mediocrity.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Her resignation is around the time of the 2023 Q4 report is set to drop. At a guess, the report is terrible and she's gonna be the fall guy for the losses. None of the midwits in charge other than her will lose their jobs or their bonuses. Ah well...

Cynthia was a poison who was destroying RPGs and the gaming industry.  Now that she's gone, Wizards of th eWoke will have seen their error and will amend their ways, and Dungeons and Dragons will be a sane game.


NOT

In the immortal words of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, "Who gives a shit?" Seems like this is just some damage control WotC is performing as the ship goes down.

Quote from: Jeffadamo on April 17, 2024, 02:35:10 PMIf I had a nickel for every time a woman named Williams took control of DND and tried to run it into the ground, it's weird that I'd have two nickels.

lewl

Quote from: Brad on April 17, 2024, 04:27:09 PMIn the immortal words of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, "Who gives a shit?" Seems like this is just some damage control WotC is performing as the ship goes down.

Well, it's clear she had some bad ideas and backed some weird plans. I agree it won't fix things, but it's still good to some degree.

Of course, we'll have to see who the replacement is....

Quote from: Brad on April 17, 2024, 04:27:09 PMIn the immortal words of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, "Who gives a shit?" Seems like this is just some damage control WotC is performing as the ship goes down.

Yup.

This is a nothingburger.

Just the corporate snake shedding some skin...

I think that Dork Tower has got it right....

http://www.dorktower.com/2024/04/08/think-pink/

I'll wait to see who replaces her before I pop the champagne.

Quote from: Jeffadamo on April 17, 2024, 02:35:10 PMIf I had a nickel for every time a woman named Williams took control of DND and tried to run it into the ground, it's weird that I'd have two nickels.

Actually you'd have two nickels and two bucks.

She sucked but I fear her replacement will be worse.  Hasbro and WotC are all in on DEI.  I expect the next CEO to be a black trans pansexual small person...(add more descriptors you like) who will want to make D&D more accessible and a safe zone for all gamers and people of diversity.

I'm just too old, jaded, cynical and realistic to believe this will be a net positive.

Doesn't matter, broom still has fleas.

WotC betting it all on becoming a video game while the AAA video game industry is crashing is going to be something to behold.

Greetings!

*LAUGHING*!!

Damn, gang! What are you all snacking on or drinking tonight? Aglondir, on down to Geeky, you all are just stabbing WOTC with gigantic lightning pikes!

I agree entirely. Definitely more of a shitshow trainwreck coming down the track with WOTC!!!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Quote from: SHARK on April 17, 2024, 03:27:40 PM

Quote from: Crazy_Blue_Haired_Chick on April 17, 2024, 02:45:45 PM

Quote from: SHARK on April 17, 2024, 02:43:03 PMGreetings!

Yeah! GOOD!

However, WOTC is still fucked, and they can choke. Moving chairs around doesn't change the damage they have done to the company, or the damage they have done to the trust and relationship with millions of customers.

And, it doesn't change the other terrible and horrible people they have retained on staff, in command of D&D.

The company should never have hired a horrible person like Williams to begin with.

So, fuck them. Let them continue to burn. I hope they go broke.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

My question is a bit more on the business side. How long can Hasbro use the D&D ip before WOTC gets entirely gutted? And will the upcoming VTT lead to further layoffs?

Greetings!

Yes, good questions! Well, I think in light of recent massive firings of staff at WOTC, from all accounts they are just about running on a skeleton staff. I definitely think that the whole VTT/computer focus for the new edition of D&D is largely responsible for the firings. Having a more computer and online-ficused game means that there is less need, emphasis, and focus for physical, printed books. That's definitely a business choice--and a viable market, all by itself. However, the two are very different markets, with different essential elements and different traditions and preferences. Also, some overlap, of course, but the fan-groups tend towards having interests and requirements that ultimately diverge, and become increasingly less compatible.

I think all of this is the pre-game show to moving their version of D&D into a mostly exclusive digital format. As previously mentioned, that is fine. That's a viable market. But it is very different from the physical game/Book hobby. I think it is clear that WOTC no longer really values the physical game/Book market of the hobby. They certainly do not value traditional gamers, or White people, so their market success and popularity has suffered enormous damage. Having said that, they can still manage to be a profitable company. They are just a very different kind of company, with a smaller, more narrow focus, market, and customer base. They want to cultivate a Woke customer base. So, Ok. Go broke then. Some Woke companies thrive, after all.

That doesn't mean though that they have not lost large numbers of customers. Their business future is somewhat precarious at the moment, though. There is a chance they can jump and hustle and move the company into being profitable for the foreseeable future as a digital-focused company--or, if this new venture fails, they will likely experience a long wallowing existence as a rump company, flailing about chaotically, trying to do a bit of this and a bit of that, but ultimately being consigned to creative mediocrity.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

WOTC only laid off a handful of people. It wasn't gutted, and it recently came out most of who was laid off had already been marked for layoff due to their project ending before layoffs were even announced company wide. WOTC had fewer layoffs than any other department at Hasbro. Definitely not a skeleton crew.

Quote from: Mistwell on April 18, 2024, 01:12:40 AM

Quote from: SHARK on April 17, 2024, 03:27:40 PM

Quote from: Crazy_Blue_Haired_Chick on April 17, 2024, 02:45:45 PM

Quote from: SHARK on April 17, 2024, 02:43:03 PMGreetings!

Yeah! GOOD!

However, WOTC is still fucked, and they can choke. Moving chairs around doesn't change the damage they have done to the company, or the damage they have done to the trust and relationship with millions of customers.

And, it doesn't change the other terrible and horrible people they have retained on staff, in command of D&D.

The company should never have hired a horrible person like Williams to begin with.

So, fuck them. Let them continue to burn. I hope they go broke.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

My question is a bit more on the business side. How long can Hasbro use the D&D ip before WOTC gets entirely gutted? And will the upcoming VTT lead to further layoffs?

Greetings!

Yes, good questions! Well, I think in light of recent massive firings of staff at WOTC, from all accounts they are just about running on a skeleton staff. I definitely think that the whole VTT/computer focus for the new edition of D&D is largely responsible for the firings. Having a more computer and online-ficused game means that there is less need, emphasis, and focus for physical, printed books. That's definitely a business choice--and a viable market, all by itself. However, the two are very different markets, with different essential elements and different traditions and preferences. Also, some overlap, of course, but the fan-groups tend towards having interests and requirements that ultimately diverge, and become increasingly less compatible.

I think all of this is the pre-game show to moving their version of D&D into a mostly exclusive digital format. As previously mentioned, that is fine. That's a viable market. But it is very different from the physical game/Book hobby. I think it is clear that WOTC no longer really values the physical game/Book market of the hobby. They certainly do not value traditional gamers, or White people, so their market success and popularity has suffered enormous damage. Having said that, they can still manage to be a profitable company. They are just a very different kind of company, with a smaller, more narrow focus, market, and customer base. They want to cultivate a Woke customer base. So, Ok. Go broke then. Some Woke companies thrive, after all.

That doesn't mean though that they have not lost large numbers of customers. Their business future is somewhat precarious at the moment, though. There is a chance they can jump and hustle and move the company into being profitable for the foreseeable future as a digital-focused company--or, if this new venture fails, they will likely experience a long wallowing existence as a rump company, flailing about chaotically, trying to do a bit of this and a bit of that, but ultimately being consigned to creative mediocrity.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

WOTC only laid off a handful of people. It wasn't gutted, and it recently came out most of who was laid off had already been marked for layoff due to their project ending before layoffs were even announced company wide. WOTC had fewer layoffs than any other department at Hasbro. Definitely not a skeleton crew.

Greetings!

So, as I recall, The Quartering, and Clownfish talked about WOTC layoffs, as well as Pundit. Pundit said there is hardly any designers left--certainly most of the designers with talent have already left, or been fired. (Para).

So, why would Pundit say these things and thus be mistaken--when he could have gotten the deep truth from you to set him straight? What difference would it make to Pundit whether there was a full staff of monkeys at WOTC, or in my words, a "skeleton crew."?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK