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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Troll Wizard" data-source="post: 2831793" data-attributes="member: 17513">Sorry, but no Hasbro executive will try to directly control "Wizards" game division “D&D” sub-division directly, with a small business it might work that way, but Hasbro is a large corporation.  That level of micromanagement is just not possible.  Just look at the Hasbro financial reports for the last 5 years and you can tell what level of sales Wizards “RPGs” contribute to Hasbro's "game" division.Until last year RPG games of Wizards was barely commented on.  Early on, most of their focus was on the $20+ millions that Wizard's retail outlets (Game Keeper and one other shop) bled out over the years before Wizard's eventually closed.  There primary focus has been on Wizard's sales of CCG, which until late last year and thru this year had been doing great.  This year DDM products got a mention on how great the sales have been.Having worked for mid-size and large-size corporations, I wouldn't be surprised if each of their $50 - $100 million product review brief was merely a 1 page slide in a presentation to the senior executives of Hasbro.The only "Hasbro" executive that "might" have direct influence would be the VP of Hasbro's Game Division; he is responsible for overseeing Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Avalon Hill and Wizard's of the Coast.  Yet if he is like most senior executive, with "all" the products and services those sub-divisions put on the market every year, his primary concern is watching the overall capital coming in and out of his division at the macro level.  As long as each division is getting a good return (sales) on the capital invested by Hasbro for product development, he leaves them alone.  If sales decline, well then he replaces the management staff of that group to put fresh ideas to turn the group around.Therefore IMO it is totally in the hands of the senior staff within WOTC, “RPG D&D” group that will determine "when" 4th edition will be released.  Also most importantly it will be to their determent if they wait until sales start declining for them to move on R&D of 4th D&D.  If they wait until sales start declining and don’t rush out 4th edition, then they will be in a bind as capital flowing will be decreasing to pay salaries and other costs for 2+ years.  I doubt any of their senior staff would have jobs if Wizard’s RPG group starts bleeding out money for 2+ years.  If Wizards wants to do a good job and through testing of “4th Edition D&D”, and release it before sales start to decline in general, then they should start development soon if they haven’t already – if they are aiming for a 2008-2009 release.Also they have said (I believe it was Charles Ryan) that they would give us at least 1 year of warning before 4th edition was released.  That’s one year of sales assuredly dropping as many players will save their money for the forthcoming 4th edition products.</blockquote>

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