Mongoose in 2006 (and a bit on the Industry in General)

[Jonny Nexus]

Could you direct me to those public sources of evidence of Rowlings dislike of RPGs? I've heard this time and time again but have never seen or heard any proof and, as my post above states, we had dealings with her literary agency who didn't seem to mind the idea at all.

Well the story that I heard - and I'm simply passing it on as an "example" of rumour that gets passed around - wasn't that she had anything against RPGs. Instead, it said that she wanted to keep complete control of the world and the characters that she had created.

And the problem with roleplaying games is that they tend to spawn supplements that add extra detail to the world. (i.e. You might want supplements covering the other two big schools of magic - which would require someone to invent a whole load of detail about them).

She didn't want that to happen (so went the rumour), at least as long as she was still writing the series.

That's what people say.

 

[sanseveria]

I wonder if there's any chance WotC would sub-lease the liscence for Star Wars to Mongoose, kind of like what they did with Dragonlance and Gamma World? It's obvious they have no intention of putting out new material, and with Mongoose's claim (which I believe will come true, BTW) that their products will be setting the bar for quality it would be fitting for them to get it.

I know it's not likley to be it, but hey, I can dream, can't I ???

SS

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Which leaves DC or the Matrix. Much as it pains me to say it (because of Etherscope coming out soon), the Matrix would seem to me to be the most likely. Maybe I'm paranoid... any thoughts?

DC rpg rights are with Black Industries/Black Library/Games Workshop, so it isn't that.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I wonder if there's any chance WotC would sub-lease the liscence for Star Wars to Mongoose, kind of like what they did with Dragonlance and Gamma World? It's obvious they have no intention of putting out new material, and with Mongoose's claim (which I believe will come true, BTW) that their products will be setting the bar for quality it would be fitting for them to get it.

Except WotC doesn't own the license for Star Wars, they are licensees of Lucasfilm. Dragonlance & GW were owned by WotC, so they could do what they wanted witht hem. Lucasfilm wouldn't let a licensee sub-license out the property, they would license it out themselves.

 

[exile]

Holy Grail of RPGs- My Guess

I don't know if I would call it a holy grail of RPGs, but Battlestar Galactica would be a pretty cool license to snag. I woudl certainly buy/play it.
Chad

 

[Staffan]

Could you direct me to those public sources of evidence of Rowlings dislike of RPGs? I've heard this time and time again but have never seen or heard any proof and, as my post above states, we had dealings with her literary agency who didn't seem to mind the idea at all.

I vaguely recall a couple of years ago, when Hasbro got the license to make toys and games based on Harry Potter. A press release went out, which included language along the lines of "And our subsidiary Wizards of the Coast will be making both a collectible card game and a role-playing game." Apparently Rowling did not approve of that last part, something about not wanting other people "putting words in her characters' mouths."

But that's all a pretty vague recollection, and I could be misremembering things and/or thinking that some things that flew around as rumors at the time were said by official people.

Ah, some googling finally managed to find the press release: http://www.wizards.com/news/pressrelease.asp?20000211a (note that the formatting sucks, the HTML code is showing through). The relevant bit is: Hasbro category leaders -- Wizards of the Coast , Tiger Electronics and OddzOn -- have been selected to create products that will capture magical moments central to the HARRY POTTER story line. Categories awarded to Hasbro include trading card games, role playing games, trading cards, candy and youth electronics.

 

[Red Baron]

...the likes of WotC, WW and Mongoose (there are other companies that belong in this list, I am sure you can work out who) are grabbing larger market shares...

Hm.

 

[trancejeremy]

Mmmmm, Harry Potter candy.

 

[Eternalknight]

Two people have mentioned Mid-Kemia. A little background for folks.

Mid-Kemia is based upon the Mid-Kimia campaign. An original D&D setting run by a gaming group in San Diego CA. The gaming rights are held by an individual living in San Diego, and he has consistently expressed no interest in seeing the world done by anybody else.

Except...

Go to www.midkemia.com and click on what's new on the left hand side and you will see this:

[bq]What's New

December 2004
We are in negotiations for a d20 version of Midkemia, tailored for the specifics of the world that set it apart from ‘normal’ D&D worlds. Assuming this moves forward, more information will be posted here as available.[/bq]

 

[scourger]

Interesting, especially the specualtion about the big new licensed product. The first poster to mention the Harry Potter RPG is right. It would be huge. People line up to buy the new books & see the new movies. The bookstores here have Harry Potter parties at midnight when a new book releases. An RPG based on that world would probably sell like gangbusters and, yes, bring in a lot of new blood to RPGs.

But, the product I'm waiting to see from Mongoose is The Horned God Complete Campaign. The only other thing I've gotten from the 'goose this year is the Paranoia card game. Since The Horned God Complete Campaign was mentioned in last year's end of year report, it has been stalled indefinitely. Any news, Matt?