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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greatwyrm" data-source="post: 2576845" data-attributes="member: 479">But this has been true for several D&D settings.  Dark Sun, Mystara, Red Steel, and most noticeably Planescape have essentially been gathering dust since 3e.  Also, having no plans for new products in those lines is not the same as having no ANNOUNCED plans for new products in those lines.Let's assume there really is a constant churning of books just to keep cash coming in.  Eventually, people would get sick of it or you'd run out of ideas.  That would be a darn good time to announce the triumphant return of Dark Sun or Planescape -- updated for 3.5 of course.  And TSR should have easily taught us the perils of having too many irons in the fire at once.Maybe they just wanted the dealines to all line up for expiration?  Working in insurance, we've had clients renew lines early or push off renewals just to get everything to all renew on the same date.Right when D&D Online is about to come out?  An MMORPG with exclusive IP rights, tons of crossover marketing, and about two generations worth of fairly dedicated fans to market to.  You (the general you, not Sanguinemetaldawn) would have to be a blue ribbon idiot to drop that.And it simplifies tracking copyrights.  And it simplifies valuation of assets for accounting purposes.  And it simplifies negotiations for future licenses.  It simplifies all kinds of stuff that doesn't have to do with putting it up for sale.It also makes investors happy.  Investors like to know that you've got stable, long-term plans for properties that made you so much money in the first place.No, but that's largely because I don't think someone will pay that much for an unprofitable product.All of which is based on the assumption that the line isn't performing well.  There have been public statements, by Charles Ryan IIRC, that this isn't true.All of which is still based on the assumption that the line isn't performing well.It's a business.  Everything is for sale.  And honestly, can you really look at yourself in the mirror and say 2e was a better product than 3e?Yeah, TSR was going bankrupt.  Show me where Hasbro's financials are anywhere close to that.  The fact that D&D is still around, but TSR isn't, demonstrates the product wasn't the problem.But that also assumes the liquidation will mean the sale of the D&D property.  Hasbro is a toy and game company.  There is a ton of room for D&D across the spectrum of their products.  It would be insane to just throw that name away.  Books, boardgames, video games, cartoons, comic books, minis, CCGs, blah, blah, ad infinitum.If it was really doing that poorly, the smoothest move would be to:a)  Spin Wizards back off to their own companyb)  License the CCG and RPG rights to themc)  Let them fend for themselves while the rest of Hasbro makes whatever else they wantWhy?  Well:a)  WotC as it's own entity protects Hasbro's financial statementsb)  Licensing means Hasbro still has ultimate control of the IP, as opposed to sellingc)  If the rpg dies, Hasbro was right to be rid of it.  Meanwhile, they still make profitable stuff.</blockquote>

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