Hasbro 4th Quarter Report

[AnthonyRoberson]

Did anyone else read the transcript of the Hasbro Q4 report? I was trying to gleen any info about WotC, but I couldn't find much. That was some mention of DDI and something about constraining 'incremental spending' but that was about it. If you did read it or even listen to the conference call - comment away!

 

[joethelawyer]

Did anyone else read the transcript of the Hasbro Q4 report? I was trying to gleen any info about WotC, but I couldn't find much. That was some mention of DDI and something about constraining 'incremental spending' but that was about it. If you did read it or even listen to the conference call - comment away!

it appears that there is no meaningful mention of anything wotc or d&d anywhere in there, other than to mention the investment in the digital initiative.

transcript is here

http://seekingalpha.com/article/119418-hasbro-inc-q4-2008-earnings-call-transcript?source=yahoo

 

[Neil Bishop]

I am very surprised that the Digital Initiative for WotC was specifically called out when it is such a small part of the overall Hasbro company. Perhaps this suggests that there are much larger plans at work. Perhaps it will be the basis of a WoW-like MMORPG at some point?

I find it interesting how royalties, R&D and advertising take such a massive chunk out of revenues (speaking of the overall Hasbro business, of course). Hmmm, royalties. It really is time for Hasbro to do a "Transformers" on the D&D brand and extract some real value with a decent blockbuster movie (and while RAS may have become a parody of his former self, The Crystal Shard would, IMO, be perfect as source material for a summer blockbuster).

 

[Melba Toast]

It really is time for Hasbro to do a "Transformers" on the D&D brand and extract some real value with a decent blockbuster movie (and while RAS may have become a parody of his former self, The Crystal Shard would, IMO, be perfect as source material for a summer blockbuster).

I'm curious... how would you, as gamers, react if Hasbro made a D&D movie based on the 80's cartoon? Let's say they have a huge budget and top talent involved.

Would you see it? Would you be outraged?

Personally, I'd dig it. I think any D&D movie is going to turn out as campy trash no matter how hard the filmmakers try, so a slightly tongue-in-cheek movie based on the cartoon, imho, could be goofy fun.

Can't you just see it?

Eric's dad is a nuclear physicist experimenting with quantum mechanics when he opens a portal to The Realm. The Kids are drawn through the portal. Cue encounter with Tiamat, Venger, and DM. Then the kids set out on a crazy fantasy adventure to get home. A parent or adult eventually follows them, and is captured by Venger. Venger learns of "the real world", and the film climaxes as Venger leaps into the real world, let's say Pheonix, Arizona, and Venger tries to capture a nuke or something.

Think it sounds too stupid? This really isn't that far removed from Narnia or Neverending Story, or any of countless other fantasy adventure films which kids of all ages have loved for generations.

Hollywood, send me a small check and I'll write the screenplay tomorrow.

 

[Shemeska]

I am very surprised that the Digital Initiative for WotC was specifically called out when it is such a small part of the overall Hasbro company. Perhaps this suggests that there are much larger plans at work.

I'd guess it's because of the amount of hype that WotC applied to the Digital Initiative from the start, and presumably the large monetary investment they made in it (and Gleemax).

That said, and I forgot to quote it above, but I'd see a movie based on The Crystal Shard in a heartbeat. I think the story would translate well to the screen.

 

[arscott]

Melba, why do you think any D&D movie will end up as campy trash? Hollywood has gotten pretty good about avoiding campyness in their recent ataptations (See Dark Knight, for example.)

A D&D movie isn't necessarily going to be good, but that doesn't mean it's going to be campy.

 

[Cadfan]

1. The digital initiative was probably called out specifically because, as far as I can tell, its pretty different from Hasbro's usual stuff.

2. There are about a million reasons that a D&D movie will suck. The biggest is that any movie advertised as a "D&D movie" is going to let fan service devour any hope at quality. And any movie that decides to put plot and characterization first isn't going to be called a "D&D movie," its going to have a title like "Lord of the Rings" or something.

 

[Arivendel]

If there is going to be a D&D Movie it has to be either from the Drizzt series or the Elminster Series nothing else deserves to see the big screen

I would love to see the Elminsters Books translated into movies, that squirt was such a hilarious read, even if he later became master of all arcane powers (and is now currently master of all arcane loonies)

 

[Jan van Leyden]

DDI? Well, some of the investors might want to know what the comapny is doing to ensure future success. As hollow a term DDI may be, the keyword "Digital" sounds so 21st century like.

 

[vagabundo]

I find it interesting how royalties, R&D and advertising take such a massive chunk out of revenues (speaking of the overall Hasbro business, of course). Hmmm, royalties. It really is time for Hasbro to do a "Transformers" on the D&D brand and extract some real value with a decent blockbuster movie (and while RAS may have become a parody of his former self, The Crystal Shard would, IMO, be perfect as source material for a summer blockbuster).

With a decent production crew it could be very decent. It has a strong plot and interesting characters, it is a little campy, but so are 99% of the interesting fantasy novels.

Do it WotC, get Hasbro on board with this.