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The ineptitude of the WotC/Hasbro marketing machine
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<blockquote data-quote="Dragonblade" data-source="post: 1042252" data-attributes="member: 2804"><p>Ok, I have had this percolating in my head for quite some time.</p><p></p><p>You have one of the most recognized toy companies in the world, owner of such tremendously popular lines as G.I. Joe and Transformers (at least tremendously popular in the 80's and still with Gen X'ers)</p><p></p><p>Through their subsidiary WotC, they own the most popular RPG brand and system on the market, hands down.</p><p></p><p>They also own a chain of shopping mall retail stores that are perfectly positioned to sell Hasbro/WotC product.</p><p></p><p>Why is there no cross marketing? Why is there no seemingly no communication between WotC and Hasbro? Why do fabulous marketing opportunities seem to be totally missed?</p><p></p><p>1) European Hasbro just released a new Dungeons and Dragons board game. We need something similar in the States. You don't need the D&D adventure game, you need a tactical Hero Quest style board game that can be mass marketed through toy and hobby stores everywhere and especially through the existing chain of WotC stores. </p><p></p><p>A boardgame that, like Hero Quest can include some light RPG elements. A boardgame that can serve as a spring board to D&D itself. Although I wouldn't call it Dungeons and Dragons just because of the stigma attached. I would call it "Adventure Quest" or something similar. Advertise during afternoon and morning cartoons and you have a surefire hit. Kids will ask their parents, parents will buy it. They play, have fun, and lo and behold they find out that the game is related to D&D. Well, surely D&D can't be all bad if all its a board game. (Remember people, the actual role-playing element of RPGs is often the biggest barrier to entry for new consumers) Start with the tactical wargame elements and slowly lead people into the RPG elements so naturally they don't even know they are playing an RPG.</p><p></p><p>Include rules for "Advanced Play" that include even more RPG elements. And finally include a section on how to upgrade the game by purchasing the D&D core rulebooks.</p><p></p><p>2) Lets see RPGs dedicated to Hasbro properties. Lets see a Transformers RPG and a GI Joe RPG. Again with a little tinkering you could even release a boardgame version that can springboard people into the pen and paper RPG books.</p><p></p><p>3) Lets see Forgotten Realms action figures or a cartoon show for mornings or afternoons. FR has all the ingredients required for a successful series. The secret to cartoon show success is to treat the material seriously with mature themes and stories. Kids can handle it. Transformers and GI Joe were hugely popular because the stories were cool and weren't dumbed down. Kids are young but they aren't stupid. Now WotC may not have corporate muscle to pull this off, but Hasbro certainly does. C'mon, Hasbro these are you profits too, what are you waiting for?</p><p></p><p>4) Lets see WotC heavily promote the fact that the Knights of Old Republic game for Xbox used the d20 rules system. Why the hell is the d20 logo not on the back of that game box? The game continues to be one of the best selling Xbox titles of all time and putting the d20 logo on the back and maybe slipping an ad for the SW RPG in the instruction manual is a no-brainer. Its good for everyone. Xbox people get exposed to d20. Lucas and WotC sell more SW books. d20 RPG players see their logo on the Xbox game and buy it. The consumer gets a great game for their Xbox. Everyone wins!</p><p></p><p>5) Why doesn't WotC encourage more companies to use their engine in the way that Bioware (makers of KOTOR and Neverwinter Nights) does? Create a special d20 license for software that lets game companies use the d20 ruleset and requires them to slap the d20 logo on the back of their game box. Sure, Infogrames has the rights to the "D&D" brand, but to the "d20" brand? I think not. Of course not every videogame player is going to go out and start playing the RPG, but it generates a lot more interest and brand awareness of the d20 logo.</p><p></p><p>6) Why do WotC stores not sell more Hasbro/WotC products? A WotC store that isn't even selling WotC products is ridiculous. Remember people, Pepsi Co. created Taco Bell and Pizza Hut for the sole purpose of selling Pepsi products. If WotC isn't a well known brand name, then call it the Hasbro store. Hasbro is a well respected and loved name and you can sell a zillion Hasbro toy products along with board games and RPGs. Preferably Hasbro boardgames and RPGs. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Any thoughts or anything to add to the list?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dragonblade, post: 1042252, member: 2804"] Ok, I have had this percolating in my head for quite some time. You have one of the most recognized toy companies in the world, owner of such tremendously popular lines as G.I. Joe and Transformers (at least tremendously popular in the 80's and still with Gen X'ers) Through their subsidiary WotC, they own the most popular RPG brand and system on the market, hands down. They also own a chain of shopping mall retail stores that are perfectly positioned to sell Hasbro/WotC product. Why is there no cross marketing? Why is there no seemingly no communication between WotC and Hasbro? Why do fabulous marketing opportunities seem to be totally missed? 1) European Hasbro just released a new Dungeons and Dragons board game. We need something similar in the States. You don't need the D&D adventure game, you need a tactical Hero Quest style board game that can be mass marketed through toy and hobby stores everywhere and especially through the existing chain of WotC stores. A boardgame that, like Hero Quest can include some light RPG elements. A boardgame that can serve as a spring board to D&D itself. Although I wouldn't call it Dungeons and Dragons just because of the stigma attached. I would call it "Adventure Quest" or something similar. Advertise during afternoon and morning cartoons and you have a surefire hit. Kids will ask their parents, parents will buy it. They play, have fun, and lo and behold they find out that the game is related to D&D. Well, surely D&D can't be all bad if all its a board game. (Remember people, the actual role-playing element of RPGs is often the biggest barrier to entry for new consumers) Start with the tactical wargame elements and slowly lead people into the RPG elements so naturally they don't even know they are playing an RPG. Include rules for "Advanced Play" that include even more RPG elements. And finally include a section on how to upgrade the game by purchasing the D&D core rulebooks. 2) Lets see RPGs dedicated to Hasbro properties. Lets see a Transformers RPG and a GI Joe RPG. Again with a little tinkering you could even release a boardgame version that can springboard people into the pen and paper RPG books. 3) Lets see Forgotten Realms action figures or a cartoon show for mornings or afternoons. FR has all the ingredients required for a successful series. The secret to cartoon show success is to treat the material seriously with mature themes and stories. Kids can handle it. Transformers and GI Joe were hugely popular because the stories were cool and weren't dumbed down. Kids are young but they aren't stupid. Now WotC may not have corporate muscle to pull this off, but Hasbro certainly does. C'mon, Hasbro these are you profits too, what are you waiting for? 4) Lets see WotC heavily promote the fact that the Knights of Old Republic game for Xbox used the d20 rules system. Why the hell is the d20 logo not on the back of that game box? The game continues to be one of the best selling Xbox titles of all time and putting the d20 logo on the back and maybe slipping an ad for the SW RPG in the instruction manual is a no-brainer. Its good for everyone. Xbox people get exposed to d20. Lucas and WotC sell more SW books. d20 RPG players see their logo on the Xbox game and buy it. The consumer gets a great game for their Xbox. Everyone wins! 5) Why doesn't WotC encourage more companies to use their engine in the way that Bioware (makers of KOTOR and Neverwinter Nights) does? Create a special d20 license for software that lets game companies use the d20 ruleset and requires them to slap the d20 logo on the back of their game box. Sure, Infogrames has the rights to the "D&D" brand, but to the "d20" brand? I think not. Of course not every videogame player is going to go out and start playing the RPG, but it generates a lot more interest and brand awareness of the d20 logo. 6) Why do WotC stores not sell more Hasbro/WotC products? A WotC store that isn't even selling WotC products is ridiculous. Remember people, Pepsi Co. created Taco Bell and Pizza Hut for the sole purpose of selling Pepsi products. If WotC isn't a well known brand name, then call it the Hasbro store. Hasbro is a well respected and loved name and you can sell a zillion Hasbro toy products along with board games and RPGs. Preferably Hasbro boardgames and RPGs. :) Any thoughts or anything to add to the list? [/QUOTE]
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