TSR paid $1,000,000 for the Dragonlance logo? (New: Response from the authors)

[frankthedm]

A milion bucks "on the books" sounds quite possible for 'art'. Especially if it can be written of as a "business expence". Now, i doubt the artist got all of it, since the whole "party" split it, but it is soo hard to track such things.....

 

[Sammael]

That's a case-study example of money laundering.

 

[Aaron L]

If they paid 1 million dollars for that stuff they got what they deserved.


Actually, anyone who pays 1 million dollars for a logo deserves to have thier money handled by someone else.

 

[Mercule]

That's a case-study example of money laundering.

You mean they starched all those bills before handing them over? Wow, TSR was really a class act.


...What?

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Christmas Greetings!

Someone called my attention to this thread, but I can not give any answers other than speculative sort.

At the time in question I was not at the Lake Geneva office save for once a month for Board of Directors meetings, as I was the CEO of Dungeons & Dragons Entertainment Corporation with headquarters in the Los Angeles area. Kevin Blume was the CEO of TSR in 1983.

That such an expenditure was made is not out of the question, as Kevin Blume reprinted millions of the pick your own path books when the market was drying up--there were some seven million of them that were sold for scrap value in 1984-5. He also had unused systems furniture, TSR owned and leased, for 300 plus persons in storage in the headquarters building, all panels hardwired. There are more examples, but I shan't go on. The mismanagement was quite incredible.

Yuletide best,
Gary

 

[Arravis]

Actually, anyone who pays 1 million dollars for a logo deserves to have thier money handled by someone else.

Don't underestimate the power of a well-designed logo. If you are a large corporation like Nike (which as I recall only paid $170 for their logo, lol) or AT&T (designed by the late, great Saul Bass), that logo is worth much more than one million dollars. The easy reproduction and recognizability of the image can be critical for a company. So, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it.

Now, does TSR warrant such an expenditure in the limited market they hold? Does Dragonlance? Thankfully, I don't have to judge that. The issue I have is what they got for their money (if it did happen, which I doubt). The logo they designed is simply, putrid.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Those really aren't THAT bad. Remember, it's the 80s. EVERYTHING was pretty ugly in the 80s. Women paid good money at stylists for that huge 80s hair. Guys in bands paid good money at stylists for that huge 80s hair.

At any time 1,000,000 for a logo is, well, not a great decision.

--fje

 

[Arravis]

Trust me, as a specialist in logo design, I can tell you it's beyond awful.

Just for startes, a logo needs to be simple and easy to read; easily reproduced in nearly any media, be it on paper, pens, or coffee mugs; able to maintain its integrety (making copies of copies of copies); clear in it's intent; and aesthetically pleasing. I don't see any of that in the logo shown. Bad design is bad design, done now, in the 1980's, or 1880's.

 

[Umbran]

Remember, it's the 80s. EVERYTHING was pretty ugly in the 80s.

No. Everything was pertty ugly in the 70s. The 80s had big hair, sure. But the 70s had afros, bell-bottoms, polyester disco clothing, and interior decorating that should have struck the entire nation blind.

 

[frankthedm]

Actually, anyone who pays 1 million dollars for a logo deserves to have thier money handled by someone else.

That is exactly what happens when you pay that much for a logo

Either it was a smart crook [since they did not go to jail], or just criminally stupid.