MAT bidding for Hasbro??

[francisca]

been there, done that. have the lego castle to prove it.

I'm fond of hijacking my 6 year old's Imaginext Giant and dragons for my game.

 

[bolen]

I honestly doubt anyone of any signifigance at Mattel or Hasbro even knows about the D&D license.

I bet your right.

 

[William Ronald]

It is? Like Coca-Cola? McDonalds? Mercedes-Benz? I've met many people who say "what?" when you say Dungeons and Dragons. I've never had that reaction with the best known brands on the planet. Go to a mall and stand outside the gaming store and ask people who don't look in the doorway what Dungeons and Dragons is. Some will know. Many will not.

Just because you are immersed in it, doesn't make it famous.

As for your point, how and where do you advertise a game that take 4-6 hours to play with 4+ hour prep time by the game "leader"? Who plays anything similar? Sports are similar. Require some of the same dedication but they at least payoff in front of an audiance. No audiance for D&D. The holy grail of the RPG industry is figuring out how to market it outside of the RPG industry.

I seem to recall a few statements on these boards that the D&D brand is widely known as a propert, which was the basis of my statementy. Probalbly NOT on the level of Coca-Cola, which has over a century of market presence. (If anyone hase information on how well known the D&D brand is, please post to this thread. I seem to recall that there is some market research on brand recognition for D&D.)

As for advertising, I seem to recall that TSR even managed a few commercials in the early 1980s. There are some possibilities for advertising, such as advertisising associated with video games. (at least a web-site link explaining the game), and possibly niche-marketing in magazines or even cable television. (If a small pharmacy in the Chicago suburbs can advertise on cable, maybe Hasbro or a future owner might consider advertising on the Sci-Fi Channel.)

I do agree that the role-playing games are hard to market as there is no audience participation, like sports. On the other hand, video games and poker have media-exposure. I agree that the challenge of marketing RPGs is high, but I believe that the hobby has room to grow.

As for the future of the RPG end of WotC, I wonder if the $30 million figure that Steel_Wind mentions inculdes the novel rights? Also, who would be interested in purchasing the RPG line and able to afford the cost> (I definitely do NOT have $30 million in any of my wallets. )

 

[Mista Collins]

Nothing wrong with business professionals running WotC. That is what I just finished school doing. And my hopes and dreams are to someday work for WotC. I am going to have to pay more attention to this rumor.

To any WotC staff members reading this right now.... can I have a job? (I have qualifications )

 

[wingsandsword]

Yeah, but they'd replace D&D minis with Lego dudes (which may be a bane or boon, depending on your tastes).

I ran a Star Wars campaign using Lego figures, mostly Star Wars but a lot of custom ones (like custom modified figures for all the PC's).

 

[Ranger REG]

Nothing wrong with business professionals running WotC. That is what I just finished school doing. And my hopes and dreams are to someday work for WotC. I am going to have to pay more attention to this rumor.

To any WotC staff members reading this right now.... can I have a job? (I have qualifications )

Of course, it helps to have some kind of interest in RP gaming.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Of course, it helps to have some kind of interest in RP gaming.

I think the interest in RPGs may not be quite as important as at least an understanding of RPGs and the people who play them.

 

[Ranger REG]

I think the interest in RPGs may not be quite as important as at least an understanding of RPGs and the people who play them.

And you wonder why gamers who have yet to take Business 101 accused WotC of being a money-grubbing company.

 

[William Ronald]

Anymore news on this?

 

[vulcan_idic]

been there, done that. have the lego castle to prove it.

I may just start doing this for my campaigns - what a nice way to build a map - and the little 2x2 pieces would work perfectly to split an area into the "5'x5'"squares! Yoink!