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Hasbro's CEO Reports OGL-Related D&D Beyond Cancellations Had Minimal Impact
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<blockquote data-quote="Saracenus" data-source="post: 8941694" data-attributes="member: 47839"><p>Lest we forget, WotC may be driving profit for Hasbro, Hasbro still sets the standards and the tone for all divisions. WotC didn't wake up and think, "Wow, I am going to be a 1 Billion dolar division of Hasbro" all on its lonesome. </p><p></p><p>Hasbro made a call that they are going to focus time, energy, and resources on those segments of their business that are bringing $1 Billion a year in revenue. That filters down and the Execs at WotC hear that and see that their "paltry" $150 million in revenue a year from D&D is not going to cut it. They are now under pressure to increase that revenue so D&D is one of those segments that get those precious amounts of time, energy, and resources.</p><p></p><p>Sure, you are more likely to be able to meet those targets with media deals (Movies, TV, streaming, etc.) and digital tools but they are longer term prospects and really, not a sure thing. They need to show they can squeeze more blood from a stone now because the clock is ticking. So there is one factor, pressure.</p><p></p><p>We know they have been working on a new OGL for nearly 2 years and in that time they haven't done squat. There are internal arguments about how to approach it prior to the $1 Billion directive but now one person or group has made the case yet to change the OGL. Another factor, no consensus on changes OGL.</p><p></p><p>We know there has been a sea change in the top leadership at WotC where most everyone is relatively new in their positions, leading to very fragmented internal communications and incomplete understanding of the D&D market by those at the top. This adds a self reinforcing bubble and ignorance to the list of factors.</p><p></p><p>So, now you have this heady stew of factors all waiting for the perfect moment to mess things up. There is no "evil" here. This is a combination of human failure and flawed processes that allowed people in charge to make flawed decisions, because making D&D a $1 Billion segment of Hasbro is driving the bus. </p><p></p><p>One thing I have learned from hard experience working in corporate America is that people under pressure revert to what they know because they do not have time to think and live to their aspirational goals as a leader and decision maker. What got WotC to the end result was not some evil personified in the form of the upper management, it was the break down of people and processes under strain. The end result may be "evil" if you wish to define it that way, but it really was all to human and understandable.</p><p></p><p>But this explanation will not assuage those who feel personally wronged or temper their anger. WotC cannot individually fix everyone's feelings. They can make efforts to make amends in general and fix internal processes so a Charlie Foxtrot like this is less likely to occur in the future. So, ultimately, the real question is, what are you going to do about how you feel from this point forward. Ultimately, you are in charge of how you feel.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Saracenus, post: 8941694, member: 47839"] Lest we forget, WotC may be driving profit for Hasbro, Hasbro still sets the standards and the tone for all divisions. WotC didn't wake up and think, "Wow, I am going to be a 1 Billion dolar division of Hasbro" all on its lonesome. Hasbro made a call that they are going to focus time, energy, and resources on those segments of their business that are bringing $1 Billion a year in revenue. That filters down and the Execs at WotC hear that and see that their "paltry" $150 million in revenue a year from D&D is not going to cut it. They are now under pressure to increase that revenue so D&D is one of those segments that get those precious amounts of time, energy, and resources. Sure, you are more likely to be able to meet those targets with media deals (Movies, TV, streaming, etc.) and digital tools but they are longer term prospects and really, not a sure thing. They need to show they can squeeze more blood from a stone now because the clock is ticking. So there is one factor, pressure. We know they have been working on a new OGL for nearly 2 years and in that time they haven't done squat. There are internal arguments about how to approach it prior to the $1 Billion directive but now one person or group has made the case yet to change the OGL. Another factor, no consensus on changes OGL. We know there has been a sea change in the top leadership at WotC where most everyone is relatively new in their positions, leading to very fragmented internal communications and incomplete understanding of the D&D market by those at the top. This adds a self reinforcing bubble and ignorance to the list of factors. So, now you have this heady stew of factors all waiting for the perfect moment to mess things up. There is no "evil" here. This is a combination of human failure and flawed processes that allowed people in charge to make flawed decisions, because making D&D a $1 Billion segment of Hasbro is driving the bus. One thing I have learned from hard experience working in corporate America is that people under pressure revert to what they know because they do not have time to think and live to their aspirational goals as a leader and decision maker. What got WotC to the end result was not some evil personified in the form of the upper management, it was the break down of people and processes under strain. The end result may be "evil" if you wish to define it that way, but it really was all to human and understandable. But this explanation will not assuage those who feel personally wronged or temper their anger. WotC cannot individually fix everyone's feelings. They can make efforts to make amends in general and fix internal processes so a Charlie Foxtrot like this is less likely to occur in the future. So, ultimately, the real question is, what are you going to do about how you feel from this point forward. Ultimately, you are in charge of how you feel. [/QUOTE]
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Hasbro's CEO Reports OGL-Related D&D Beyond Cancellations Had Minimal Impact
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