WotC Should WotC buy a Fantasy Novel Publisher like Tor next?

[Parmandur]

Big leap to go from buying one indy developer to buying a publisher like Tor. Even bigger leap to say buying a company like Games Frikkin Workshop (I know that LuisCarlos, but that's who I originally quoted).

Also I think you're strongly downplaying purchasing Tor; it's been around for 39 years. No idea how many employees they have, but it's a weird leap to say "Wizards bought a video game developer; publishing next???"

Also, Tor is owned by one of the five major English language publishers, who is in turn owned by a large German corporation.

 

[gyor]

Big leap to go from buying one indy developer to buying a publisher like Tor. Even bigger leap to say buying a company like Games Frikkin Workshop (I know that LuisCarlos, but that's who I originally quoted).

Also I think you're strongly downplaying purchasing Tor; it's been around for 39 years. No idea how many employees they have, but it's a weird leap to say "Wizards bought a video game developer; publishing next???"

Tor was just the first though off the top of my head, I've since listed smaller, more realistic fantany publishers.

 

[gyor]

Also, Tor is owned by one of the five major English language publishers, who is in turn owned by a large German corporation.

Okay, yes Tor was a bad example, but I have since given better ones, can we move on from the Tor example.

 

[gyor]

Unlike a video game studio, probably isn't worth the ROI versus selling novel rights.

So far selling novel rights has not worked out well for them, if it was, I wouldn't have suggested it.

 

[Parmandur]

So far selling novel rights has not worked out well for them, if it was, I wouldn't have suggested it.

Has it not worked for WotC purposes?

 

[Umbran]

Okay, yes Tor was a bad example, but I have since given better ones, can we move on from the Tor example.

Sure. But.. there is still no reason for them to buy an entire publishing house. They are publishers. If they lack staff with particular expertise, they can hire staff, without purchasing an entire publishing house, with much less risk.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I know my theories are only speculation, but we can't say this is totally impossible. Let's say it is possible but not probable. At least I enjoy telling it.

WotC doesn't need to buy other companies for their IPs but if these are really good and popular (in a no-Western public). And WotC knows a good toy line what becomes a tabletop RPG is perfect for the new teenages who would rather videogames, miniatures and board games. A good hook may be a famous franchise they knew as toys when they still were preteens.

And novels also can make money as media adaptation, for big or little screen. The comingsoon serie based in Magic: the Gathering is only the beginning. Hasbro has got ambitious plans about the movies adaptations of its franchises and let's remember now they have got former Saban's franchises, not only power rangers.

They could use novels and comics like a cheaper version of the pilot episode of new teleseries to test the reaction by public opinion. They would dare to publish more stories set in Ravenloft, someone supernatural romance with some monster girl, but also with a softer tone as R.L.Stine "Goosebumps", PAX serie by Åsa Larsson, Ingela Korsell and Henrik Jonsson, or "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark".

In the age of the internet streaming services as Netflix there is space for a media product, the hybrid of visual novels+adventure games, the interactive films as that episode of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. This format could be perfect for epic gothic adventures in Ravenloft.

Gamma Worlds is also possible as an interactive cartoon in streaming platforms, like the 80s cartoon movie for adults "Heavy Metal" but a "shonen" public. The level of violence wouldn't be very hard, more like "Exo-squad" cartoon.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So aim lower, buy a smaller, but reasonable size Publisher.

Why? What would be the point? Buying a computer game studio provides people with skills that WotC didn't have. WotC have all the skills they need to produce and distribute novels - that they don't indicates they don't want to, not that they can't. It makes more sense to let some other company carry the risk.


Buying a TV (e.g. animation) production company - that might make some sense, but I suspect it would be way too expensive.

 

[Salthorae]

Buying a TV (e.g. animation) production company - that might make some sense, but I suspect it would be way too expensive.

Given that Hasbro just closed on a deal to buy eOne, a Canadian mass media company whose divisions include Film & Television production company (they were one of the companies behind Criminal Minds!) who makes the Peppa Pig and PJ Masks cartoons... I kind of doubt that WotC will buy one.

Though they might get to do some favorable intracompany licensing deals for eOne to produce D&D related content.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Buying a TV (e.g. animation) production company - that might make some sense, but I suspect it would be way too expensive.

There's not much point doing that either, since Hasbro has connections with Netflix and Paramount Pictures.