Upper Deck sues Ravensburger over the Disney Lorcana card game.

[darjr]

Not rpg related. Game company related and about suing over rules?

From io9

Upper Deck … is suing Ravensburger over the publication of Disney’s Lorcana, which it alleges was stolen from an Upper Deck

Upper Deck Sues Ravensburger Over Allegedly Stolen Disney Game

Upper Deck claims new Disney game Lorcana was based on the work of an Upper Deck employee.

gizmodo.com

 

[darjr]

Update with io9 story.

 

[Parmandur]

I remember when Kyle Brink was doing his apology tour about the OGL fiasco,and said thar WotC executives had huge anxiety about a company like Disney entering their market, amd a lot of D&D fans scoffed at that...but those same executives are watching Disney come after their Magic market share right now.

 

[MoonSong]

I remember when Kyle Brink was doing his apology tour about the OGL fiasco,and said thar WotC executives had huge anxiety about a company like Disney entering their market, amd a lot of D&D fans scoffed at that...but those same executives are watching Disney come after their Magic market share right now.

They are busy hurting their own Magic market share though...

 

[overgeeked]

I remember when Kyle Brink was doing his apology tour about the OGL fiasco,and said thar WotC executives had huge anxiety about a company like Disney entering their market, amd a lot of D&D fans scoffed at that...but those same executives are watching Disney come after their Magic market share right now.

The “fear/excuse” was that Disney would use the OGL to eat WotC’s D&D lunch.

 

[Parmandur]

The “fear/excuse” was that Disney would use the OGL to eat WotC’s D&D lunch.

Yes. And the executives who were sweating bullets about that are the same executives sweating bullets about Disney entering the CCG market with a MtG ripoff. Hardly seems like a coincidence, nor frankly does it seem unreasonable.

 

[overgeeked]

Yes. And the executives who were sweating bullets about that are the same executives sweating bullets about Disney entering the CCG market with a MtG ripoff. Hardly seems like a coincidence, nor frankly does it seem unreasonable.

Yes, their response was unreasonable. WotC is not used to competition. They’ve had monopolies so long they don’t know how to handle a real competitor. This is what competition looks like. If WotC has a good product people value and want to buy, they’ll succeed. If Disney makes a product that people value and want to buy, they’ll succeed. WotC isn’t owed customers. If they disappear tomorrow, it’s no loss. 5E is CC-BY now. Doesn’t matter what WotC does or whether they continue to exist. D&D will continue. RPGs will continue. And honestly the industry would be better with WotC gone.

 

[Parmandur]

Yes, their response was unreasonable. WotC is not used to competition. They’ve had monopolies so long they don’t know how to handle a real competitor. This is what competition looks like. If WotC has a good product people value and want to buy, they’ll succeed. If Disney makes a product that people value and want to buy, they’ll succeed. WotC isn’t owed customers. If they disappear tomorrow, it’s no loss. 5E is CC-BY now. Doesn’t matter what WotC does or whether they continue to exist. D&D will continue. RPGs will continue. And honestly the industry would be better with WotC gone.

I didn't say the response was reasonable, I said the fear was reasonable. People act irrationally to fear, but that doesn't mean there isn't a valid source of fear.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Yes. And the executives who were sweating bullets about that are the same executives sweating bullets about Disney entering the CCG market with a MtG ripoff. Hardly seems like a coincidence, nor frankly does it seem unreasonable.

How much worse will it be now that Star Wars Unlimited has also been announced, another Disney TCG game?

Not one, but to shots at Hasbro from Disney.

On the bright side it makes it waaaay more likely that MtG does a Universes Beyond Star Trek set to fight back against Disney.

 

[Dire Bare]

How much worse will it be now that Star Wars Unlimited has also been announced, another Disney TCG game?

Not one, but to shots at Hasbro from Disney.

On the bright side it makes it waaaay more likely that MtG does a Universes Beyond Star Trek set to fight back against Disney.

Star Trek Magic?!?! I LOVE IT! Wizards, are you listening?!?!

There have been several Star Wars TCGs over the years, while I love me some Star Wars, it would surprise me if it became a serious competitor to Magic. But if it's well designed . . . and Star Wars is also seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to Baby Yoda.

Disney Lorcana on the other hand . . . . it's an unknown, which probably does have the WotC execs a little concerned. The broad "Disney" brand has a lot of appeal and a lot of fanatic-level fans, so it could be a huge hit and cut into Magic's market share, especially with the growing dissatisfaction among Magic's fan base. Or it could flop like every other non-Magic TCG ever released.

 

[Dire Bare]

They are busy hurting their own Magic market share though...

Eh. Even if so, not relevant to the discussion.

Magic has growing levels of grumbling and dissatisfaction among its fanbase, but . . . . sales have never been higher. And there are always cranky fans, no matter what you do . . . .

And regardless of how good or poor WotC's own decisions regarding Magic are, they still should be concerned about their competition, such as the possible hit Ravensburger might have with Disney Lorcana.

 

[Parmandur]

Star Trek Magic?!?! I LOVE IT! Wizards, are you listening?!?!

There have been several Star Wars TCGs over the years, while I love me some Star Wars, it would surprise me if it became a serious competitor to Magic. But if it's well designed . . . and Star Wars is also seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to Baby Yoda.

Disney Lorcana on the other hand . . . . it's an unknown, which probably does have the WotC execs a little concerned. The broad "Disney" brand has a lot of appeal and a lot of fanatic-level fans, so it could be a huge hit and cut into Magic's market share, especially with the growing dissatisfaction among Magic's fan base. Or it could flop like every other non-Magic TCG ever released.

Well, MtG is huge, but as it stands it is number three in markets hare for CCGs: Pokémon is top dog, and Yu-Gi-Oh is number two. I'm sure they will be fine, but any 8 billion dollar company who is number three in a markets going to be dropping bricks when a 167 billion dollar company comes into direct competition.

 

[Dire Bare]

Well, MtG is huge, but as it stands it is number three in markets hare for CCGs: Pokémon is top dog, and Yu-Gi-Oh is number two. I'm sure they will be fine, but any 8 billion dollar company who is number three in a markets going to be dropping bricks when a 167 billion dollar company comes into direct competition.

For some reason, I always forget about Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon . . . . .

 

[Parmandur]

For some reason, I always forget about Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon . . . . .

Going out in a limb, you might not be the target demo.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Going out in a limb, you might not be the target demo.

Will D&D 5e24 have an AARP discount?

 

[Parmandur]

Will D&D 5e24 have an AARP discount?

No, the target demo is middle schoolers and high school students. They are giving free resources to teachers.

 

[Dire Bare]

No, the target demo is middle schoolers and high school students. They are giving free resources to teachers.

True, but I teach middle school . . . Magic is #3 in middle school also!

 

[Dire Bare]

Will D&D 5e24 have an AARP discount?

I have a friend who wants all of his gaming buddies to pick the same retirement community . . . so we can all game well into our cognitive declines . . .

 

[MoonSong]

Magic has growing levels of grumbling and dissatisfaction among its fanbase, but . . . . sales have never been higher. And there are always cranky fans, no matter what you do . . . .

Sales are higher than ever, yet Magic is still shrinking. In my country the largest distribution network for MTG used to be a certain department store that is widespread across the country. And in the last month they have just stopped stocking Magic. This despite the collectible department getting larger and larger. And lets not talk LGS. I'm lucky the one closest to me is an official WPN store, but even they have slowed down with Magic while at the same time they keep having weekly Yugioh events.

 

[Dire Bare]

Sales are higher than ever, yet Magic is still shrinking. In my country the largest distribution network for MTG used to be a certain department store that is widespread across the country. And in the last month they have just stopped stocking Magic. This despite the collectible department getting larger and larger. And lets not talk LGS. I'm lucky the one closest to me is an official WPN store, but even they have slowed down with Magic while at the same time they keep having weekly Yugioh events.

That doesn't make sense . . . that Magic sales are growing yet the game is shrinking.

How and where cards are sold is shifting. But that is different from shrinking. WotC is increasing their engagement with online retailers like Amazon, increasing their direct sales with Secret Lair, and dialing back support for local game stores. But sales have never been higher and the game is doing fine.