15 million game players, $1 Billion in retails sales

[talien]

From http://www.247wallst.com/2007/08/can-a-new-dunge.html

Today Wizards of the Coast confirms that the new edition will launch in May 2008. The new system will include illustrated rulebooks, pre-painted miniatures (test that paint boys), web-based tools, online community forums, faster game play, faster prep time, new character options, faster campaign building tools, online magazine content, and a digital game table for virtual and remote game playing. There will be some book preview releases late this year and early next year, but the first live demos of 4th Edition will happen at the D&D EXPERIENCE(TM) gaming convention in Washington, D.C., in February 2008. The full scope of 4th Edition books, miniatures, and adventures will be available in the spring and summer of 2008.

This new 4th edition is dubbed the D&D Insider(TM). Web estimates are far as total dollars spent on the gaming system are impossible to track because new sales often get recycled as used game sales and hand-me-downs. Some estimates have 15 million game players over the history of the game and some estimates are north of 20 million players since its inception in the 1970's. Generally speaking, the game itself and the offshoots for it have been responsible for over $1 Billion in retails sales in the US alone.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

It's not exactly a small amount of money we're talking about here. Still, I think more money would be in the licences they own.

Olaf the Stout

 

[jaerdaph]

Hasbro and Mattel are listed on the stock exchange as HAS and MAT.

Mattel toys made in China keep turning up with lead paint.

Hasbro will be producing painted miniatures as part of 4e.

"test that paint boys"

HAZMAT!

I know there's a conspiracy in here somewhere...

Either that, or a TPK will be expanded to include PLAYERS and not just their characters!

 

[frankthedm]

Thats some really really bad fact representation.

the game itself and the offshoots for it have been responsible for over $1 Billion in retails sales in the US alone.

If i was going to a source for investment info, I want more descriptions of these sales numbers than just "Offshoots"

I know that includes;

Lucrative Electronic game franchise that practically spans the history of electronic games.
Sales of two movies and a complete TV series
30 years of books
Children's toy line that ran for 3 years

But most won't.

 

[Treebore]

Yeah, I find it funny that they refrained from saying in what time frame that Billion dollars was made. I know it wasn't in one year, at least not for Hasbro/WOTC alone.