Wizards of the Coast LAYOFFS

[dcollins]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: One thing no one has mentioned so far...

Here's a post that's pretty likely to get me in trouble.

Originally posted by King_Stannis
some other observations...the RPG industry is a hobby industry - thus very sensitive to the state of the overall economy. when there is a downturn in the overall economy, expect luxury items such as these to be the first to suffer.

Although that seems intuitively correct, that's actually untrue. Computer games fall in exactly the same category and have been one of the very best sectors of the economy for the last year. It's likely that ~$50 games are a cheap alternative when someone can't afford a new car or vacation.

Originally posted by Wulf Ratbane
If you don't like it, start your own business. The world does not owe you a living.

I'm just enough of a socialist to disagree with the ideology behind that. No one deserves to go hungry or be homeless.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Recipie for WotCs destruction

Hmmm...

1. WotC lays people off due to slumping income.
2. People boycott WotC, due to layoffs.
3. WotC's income declines.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[buzzard]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: One thing no one has mentioned so far...

Here's a post that's pretty likely to get me in trouble.

I'm just enough of a socialist to disagree with the ideology behind that. No one deserves to go hungry or be homeless.

Then how can you afford to play D&D? Any money which you have beyond your basic needs should be sent to someone who is hungry or homeless. The world has no shortage of such.

From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs - right?


Buzzard

 

[Piratecat]

Okay, everyone. Time to take a deep breath.

This isn't the place for discussions of capitalism. This isn't the place to let your anger about something you can't control get out of hand. Please keep discussion polite, civil, and on topic.

Thanks! And David, Nicole, thank you for keeping us posted when/if you do hear something.

 

[Desdichado]

Edited.

When I say stop sniping about capitalism, I mean stop sniping about capitalism. I said it once politely, I'll try it again a little more bluntly: continue on that tack and your post will be deleted or the thread will be closed.

Please keep this thread on topic.

Joshua, if you have any objections or comments, feel free to email me. do not post them here, please.

- Piratecat

 

[Vuron]

Haha pkitty remarks about keeping it somewhat on topic and people continue to snipe <shake head>

Anyway the fact remains x number of people have/will be laid off. Do we know who and in what groups? I imagine the card game group might be suffering more than the rpg group but it might be a case of those groups were already cut to the bone.

Honestly I can't understand why the WotC store fronts continue they seem to have poor sales and high overhead and nobody really seems to get rich off of selling games retail anyway. If any area seems ripe for the cutting it would be the retail division.

With how these releases are handled I could see kicking some of the PR flacks hineys though.

 

[Pramas]

I asked Anthony Valterra for a comment on this. He responded that he was unable to do any more than pass my email to PR.

Guess the old days really are over.

Don't take it personally. No one is saying anything because no one knows anything unless they are in upper management.

I might have a job tomorrow, or I might not. My response to the many folks who've asked for info today is: you'll just have to do what I'm doing and wait!

Chris Pramas

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: One thing no one has mentioned so far...

I'm just enough of a socialist to disagree with the ideology behind that. No one deserves to go hungry or be homeless.

Then how can you afford to play D&D? Any money which you have beyond your basic needs should be sent to someone who is hungry or homeless. The world has no shortage of such.

From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs - right?

Heck, feel free to send it directly to me. I work for a Hasbro subsidiary too, you know. (At least, in the short term, I do...)

Aye... I'll let yer know when and where to send yer purse. I don't deserve to go hungry or homeless, true enough; ergo, I also deserve the money yer got in yer own pocket. Normally I prefer a good honest back-alley muggin' an' a chance to kick a fella's teeth in, but this'll do.

Wulf

 

[Drew]

Chris, that is a very depressing statement.

 

[Vuron]

I guess I'm somewhat confused is WotC a division of Hasbro or a solely owned subsidiary?

There are important differences in how each status would effect the company. If WotC is a subsidiary I believe that it's debtload pre purchase remains on its books which if they were hemorhaging cash as badly as has been implied does not leave me much confidence in thier ability to cut costs and restructure debt. If however they are a division of Hasbro in theory thier debt would have been subsumed into the overall debt of the company and it would be the profits/projections that would be more important.