Answers to the Future support of E-Tools

[Therigwin]

My problem is when you look at the past few years, when Hasbro took over, they meddled to much in the affairs of Wizards.

I have seen them cut and cut good people.

You no longer have gamers running the business, you have a corporation running it.

Sure, it does give them access to more resources, but why is it Chainmail is getting cancelled, Developers getting laid off, etc?

It all goes down to management. And Hasbro has been managing Wizards.

If I am wrong, I won't blame Hasbro, but just look at where Wizards was before Hasbro bought them and look where they are now.

As to eTools, Hasbro pulled the pull on the original development (The complete integrated 3d map module part), laid off numerous project managers (so the direction of eTools never stayed the same).

Again, I blame Hasbro. If someone who is more aware of Hasbro actual involvement in Wizards, enlighten me, and I will no longer blame Hasbro. But ultimately, Wizards is Hasbro's adopted kid, so they are responsible for them. They could have stepped in and redirected the project correctly.

 

[Ranger REG]

My problem is when you look at the past few years, when Hasbro took over, they meddled to much in the affairs of Wizards.

I have seen them cut and cut good people.

I have seen customers rant about the product published by good people. AFAIK, it is Wizards themselves who edits the material into the final product, not Hasbro.

The rants and negative reviews prompted us not to buy any Wizards book, including supplements such as Sword and Fist and Star Wars Original Core Rulebook due to too many error slips and other things.

You no longer have gamers running the business, you have a corporation running it.

All Hasbro done is provide funds for Wizards' projects, even for that controversial book The Book of Vile Darkness by freelance writer Monte Cook.

Granted, they stepped in when Wizards wasn't producing big revenue (Wizards are still banking on the success of Pokemon and so has Hasbro).

Sure, it does give them access to more resources, but why is it Chainmail is getting cancelled, Developers getting laid off, etc?

I don't know. All I know I didn't buy Chainmail because it has this "scenario" feel of the game without having a core rulebook. So it did not appeal to me nor to many D&D gamers, and it hasn't drawn any from Warhammer fans.

It could also be that Wizards' Chainmail is not on everyone's hot list, because WizKids struck gold with the HeroClix product line.

But do not fret. Even though the Chainmail marketing strategy sucks, Wizards is going back to the drawing board and find a better way to market a new miniature combat game.

It all goes down to management. And Hasbro has been managing Wizards.

Despite a few high-level employees, Wizards managed themselves. Hasbro is too busy with their own toy lines to manage a subsidiary.

If I am wrong, I won't blame Hasbro, but just look at where Wizards was before Hasbro bought them and look where they are now.

All I know is that Wizards are publishing unfavorable products that are more than misses and hits. Their Harry Potter TCG failed. Soon Star Wars TCG will fail (like the RPG development, a lot of Decipher players are peeved and boycotted the new TCG by Wizards). Pokemon is not as strong as it was before. Class splatbooks are not that appealing nor unnecessary.

As to eTools, Hasbro pulled the pull on the original development (The complete integrated 3d map module part), laid off numerous project managers (so the direction of eTools never stayed the same).

From what I know, Ryan Dancey stepped in at Wizards' request and salvaged what he can from the project. He already established a 2-year strategy regarding e-Tools marketing. When he was let go, Peter Kim replaced him but with the plan already in paper, he simply follow the plan.

Personally, I would have pulled the plug the project. Hasbro should have pulled the plug. But Ryan Dancey believed e-Tools has potential, and convinced Hasbro suits not to abandon the project. He got rid of the mapper which is more useful for online gamers but not for tabletop gamers, got rid of the pictures and soundbites, and what's left is the character generator.

Nevertheless, Fluid developed the gold master of that software and given it to Wizards. From there, Wizards is responsible for that software from publishing it to distributing it. Of course, despite the Beta testing period, Wizards should have tested the gold master themselves to ensure that they're working effectively without major glitches.