Just as an FYI, Cocks did not say anything about the OGL in the investor call. The comments about the OGL in ICv2's articles is Griepp's estimations, not Hasbro's.
The irony is that Linda was the one who suggested the spinout. Also, I'm not posting anything as an "exclusive interview." Nowhere in my article do I promote it as such.
I'm the writer of that ComicBook.com article and while I have no shame in admitting that I lurk here on the regular, I'll note that I didn't write this article based off of anything I saw on here. To be honest, I didn't even see this thread until today!
I simply did a Google search this week...
So - Middle-Earth Enterprises licenses non-movie LOTR games to Sophisticated Games, which in turn licenses The One Ring to Free League Publishing. If Middle-Earth Enterprises is for sale, then assumably that would affect the non-movie licenses as well.
I'll add that Middle-Earth Enterprises does include tabletop gaming rights. Free League and Games Workshop both are licensees. It wouldn't make an immediate impact, obviously, as the licenses would hold until their expiration dates, but it could be a factor on those games in the long run.
I got a similar care package from WizKids earlier this week. It likely includes the adult green dragon, adult gold dragon, the Witchlight swamp balloon, Gravedrinker from Van Richten’s, and a bunch of smaller box sets.
Mediocre or poor reviews certainly will not get a site pulled from a media list from any established company, provided that their marketing group is at all professional. The aim of review copies is not to get positive reviews, it’s to get…reviews. Even a review that points out flaws is better...