The major changes at WOTC

[Nightfall]

Well I'm not suprised. The fact is, if anyone remembers that movie Wall Street, with Mike Douglas and Charlie Sheen, Greed has become the by word for "what makes companies good" Sales are what matters and damn the little people. As for the people that actually WRITE and edit these products, I don't think it's fair for them to take heat for something that they have nothing to do with. They only WRITE the damn things, it's the production people, the layout people and those who set prices, are the ones that deserve our scorn. I also don't think it's fair to denegrate these writers by accusing of them of "poor people skills" The net isn't the best place to introduce one's self. For example, I know Sean here, gave and got some heat for Wild Mages not being in the FRCS. Myself, while I was unhappy, I realized "Hey d20 can do that!" So I'm content with the other products that have dealt with this variety.

As for the changes, I hope the work for the best, but again, I have innate distrust of upper and middle managements in corperate America. Mainly BECAUSE we place such an emphasis on "Rich" and the "American Idea" of being masters of our domains, instead equals of all domains.

 

[Wolfen Priest]

I'd just like to make a broad statement that I work in the "business world" as well, for a company that has laid off many many people in the last few months. Hell, even I got laid off, only to be luckily re-hired in another position a month later.

My point is that, trust me, there are jerks and ***holes at every facet of the business world, it is obviously not limited to the gaming industry. The guy accused of embezzling, if guilty, was surely not a gamer who loved the hobby, but your typical run-of-the-mill Lawful Evil "successful" businessman who cares only for himself and the lining of his own pockets.

I work with (for) another one... He makes a ton of money but the guy is simply Lawful Evil in every respect. Welcome to corporate America, folks.

 

[spacecrime.com]

Does it bother anyone else that a possible hack from Hasbro (land of Barbie Doll and other dumb toys) is now #1 guy at WOTC?

Hate to break it to you, but as far as I know Vince Caluori (the outgoing guy) isn't a gamer and never has been. IIRC, he was Adkison's boss at Boeing before WotC and was hired for his financial acumen and ability to be an "outside the gamer mindset" voice.

Now, whether Caluori actually *has* any financial acumen can be hotly debated, but the truth is that WotC stopped being "run by gamers" when Adkison left and the sky seems not to have fallen.

yours,

 

[realmprotector]

Official word from Hasbro has been posted you can check it out HERE

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Hopefully this doesn't lead to changes like a new set of core rules...to fix the errors of the previous set.

 

[Leopold]

ripped from gospel on gamingreport as the link above states:

realmprotector Reports: I just got off the phone with Hasbro Vice-President Wayne Charness here what he had to say:

We did terminate Tom Fenderling WotC senior vice president and severed our relationship with a quality assurance consultant Gene Maddox. We have filed law suits against both of these

individuals alleging improper purchasing practices and the falsifying of expense reports. since this case is currently in litigation we cannot comment any further.

The retirement of current CEO Vince Caluori is in no way connected to said lawsuits.

Wayne Charness
Senior Vice-President
Corporate Communications
Hasbro

Note: Official WotC word!

 

[drothgery]

Honestly? I want a businessman who is a gamer at heart. I want a competent individual schooled in business but have our desires in mind. Not a straight-up businessman who sees nothing but money and think he can get away defrauding the company's business operation (by funneling the company's profit that could be used to expand more game project, not lining up exec's and shareholder's pockets) that has no choice but to downsize.

It's not always necessary to be a domain expert to be a successful CEO. Probably the best recent example of this is when Lou Gestner came to IBM from PepsiCo, and over the next few years made IBM relevant again.

Heck, at a somewhat lower level, I do web development for a biotech company. I haven't taken a biology class since high school; my degree is in computer science. I don't think that's hurt my ability to do my job, though I may fill my elective slots with biology courses if I ever go back to school for a Master's.

 

[stormdragon]

I wonder how long it went on, and how much these guys embezzled. Going back to Nickchick's post, about folks losing thier positions because of the bottom line... I wonder how many employees could have been retained, if these guys were not funneling money out of the company, how differenty would the bottom line have looked? I know its useless to speculate, but it dose cause one to wonder.

 

[Weeble]

I'd just like to make a broad statement that I work in the "business world" as well, for a company that has laid off many many people in the last few months. Hell, even I got laid off, only to be luckily re-hired in another position a month later.

My point is that, trust me, there are jerks and ***holes at every facet of the business world, it is obviously not limited to the gaming industry. The guy accused of embezzling, if guilty, was surely not a gamer who loved the hobby, but your typical run-of-the-mill Lawful Evil "successful" businessman who cares only for himself and the lining of his own pockets.

I work with (for) another one... He makes a ton of money but the guy is simply Lawful Evil in every respect. Welcome to corporate America, folks.

I don't know about Lawful, but definately Evil. Maybe Neutral Evil.

 

[Aaron L]

I'd agree that corporate business is Lawful Evil. Highly structured, the guys at the top get the money and the power, and those beneath them are viewed as scum. That's LE.