William Ronald
Explorer
This is a depressing development, but not surprising. There have been a few changes in the market since Hasbro bought WoTC.
First, Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, while still having a core base of fans, are not as popular as they once were. Perhaps Hasbro has decided it was time to cut operational costs. It does seem, according to reports, that the CCG division was hit hard.
Secondly, a lot of the things WoTC once produced -- such as adventures -- are now more often produced by other companies.
Thirdly, the economy is in a slump so companies of all sorts are earning less money.
However, I must second SHARK's opinion that the loss of veterans is a key concern. When I worked as a business reporter, I noticed that some companies had cut so deeply that they lost a lot of internal knowledge and expertise. In the end, this hurt the competetive advantage that some companies once had. I hope this will not be the case with Wizards of the Coast.
I suppose the new model of business is similar to what Zaruthustran discussed. However, the loss of such veterans as Jeff Grubb, Skip Williams and Penny Williams is very sad. (By the way, does anyone remember the old Marvel Superheroes adventure in Polyhedron where Penny Williams created a character named Lucky Penny. She had the ability to Power Edit.)
I hope the people who lost their jobs will do well. I admire their enthusiasm and hard work, and hope they will still be active voices in our hobby. You have won my respect and admiration. I will DEFINITELY look for your names on future products. Your work has led to hours of fun with my friends, and a few debates as well.
Also, for the sake of those who still have jobs, I hope that WoTC will not pull up roots and relocate. They will likely loose even more people. (Trying to convince a spouse to relocate the family is probably not going to be something anyone at WoTC wants to think about.)
As for the future, I don't know. None of us truly do as yet. I suspect Hasbro will keep WoTC and its brands for as long as it makes business sense to do so. (Alright people, let the Monday morning quarterbacking begin. I will go consult some tea leaves and try to come back with a reading within a few days. Pity that the Oracle at Delphi is out of business.
)
By the way, Morrus, I did get my notice from your page. However, for major news, it might make sense to post it at the top of a page -- maybe with something to highlight it. Keep up the good work! It is appreciated.
First, Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, while still having a core base of fans, are not as popular as they once were. Perhaps Hasbro has decided it was time to cut operational costs. It does seem, according to reports, that the CCG division was hit hard.
Secondly, a lot of the things WoTC once produced -- such as adventures -- are now more often produced by other companies.
Thirdly, the economy is in a slump so companies of all sorts are earning less money.
However, I must second SHARK's opinion that the loss of veterans is a key concern. When I worked as a business reporter, I noticed that some companies had cut so deeply that they lost a lot of internal knowledge and expertise. In the end, this hurt the competetive advantage that some companies once had. I hope this will not be the case with Wizards of the Coast.
I suppose the new model of business is similar to what Zaruthustran discussed. However, the loss of such veterans as Jeff Grubb, Skip Williams and Penny Williams is very sad. (By the way, does anyone remember the old Marvel Superheroes adventure in Polyhedron where Penny Williams created a character named Lucky Penny. She had the ability to Power Edit.)
I hope the people who lost their jobs will do well. I admire their enthusiasm and hard work, and hope they will still be active voices in our hobby. You have won my respect and admiration. I will DEFINITELY look for your names on future products. Your work has led to hours of fun with my friends, and a few debates as well.
Also, for the sake of those who still have jobs, I hope that WoTC will not pull up roots and relocate. They will likely loose even more people. (Trying to convince a spouse to relocate the family is probably not going to be something anyone at WoTC wants to think about.)
As for the future, I don't know. None of us truly do as yet. I suspect Hasbro will keep WoTC and its brands for as long as it makes business sense to do so. (Alright people, let the Monday morning quarterbacking begin. I will go consult some tea leaves and try to come back with a reading within a few days. Pity that the Oracle at Delphi is out of business.
)By the way, Morrus, I did get my notice from your page. However, for major news, it might make sense to post it at the top of a page -- maybe with something to highlight it. Keep up the good work! It is appreciated.
