Now WotC has taken Dragonlance (merged)

[jgsugden]

This type of shifting of rights often coincides with a change in ownership... Perhaps WotC is moving out of the Hasbro umbrella?

 

[Desdichado]

Could be just Hasbro standard modus operandi. That's the least interesting, but it certainly is consistent. They like to sit on licenses to see if they get better with age. They've done it with GI Joe and others as well.

Or, could be that Hasbro is collecting back into itself all possible value corresponding to the D&D brand in preparation to put it up for sale. That's the most interesting, IMO.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

This just in- WOTC INVADES POLAND!

We should step in now and put them down, then divide up Wizards among ourselves. I'd say that the commies get Magic

 

[Thanee]

Use others to spread the word and pay for advertising your product.
Then drop them when they are no longer needed and reap the rewards.

Sounds like a good plan for the evil overlord.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Land Outcast]

Or, could be that Hasbro is collecting back into itself all possible value corresponding to the D&D brand in preparation to put it up for sale. That's the most interesting, IMO.

Yep, that sounds sensible (Same idea struck me when the Dragon and Dungeon cancellation)

 

[variant]

Maybe Hasbro plans to sell off Dungeons & Dragons or they plan to get rid of the d20 license with 4th edition.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Maybe they're being audited?

 

[DaveMage]

Green Ronin is to produce an RPG for George R R Martin's a Song of Ice and Fire series!

http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=23499&mode=thread&order=0

Didn't White Wolf already do that with their "A Game of Thrones" RPG?

Or is this a different series by GRRM?

 

[Mistwell]

First, I think the list of license revocations is misleading. I do not think all of those items were at the behest of just WOTC. I think some were done by the licensee, and some were mutual.

Second, I do think it is vaguely possible, though unlikely, that Hasbro is preparing for a sale of the D&D line or WOTC in general, to generate cash so it can focus on it's deal with Marvel (which is more in line with their core products that sell in toy stores).

 

[an_idol_mind]

Maybe WotC plans on using these licenses. They put out a Ravenloft adventure of their own, and are turning Dragon/Dungeon into their new online periodical thingy. Dragonlance is going to get some exposure soon with an animated film on the way, so they probably want to do something with that.

Previously, WotC wasn't doing anything with those licenses, os it made sense to give them to other companies. But if WotC plans on using them, it makes just as much sense for them to take the licenses back as needed.

The sky isn't falling.