So what does everyone think about these rumors? I find it interesting that WotC once had the license to make Star Wars games... and now they might be owned by the same company as Lucasfilms. Also I'm curious about whether D&D might be effected. Maye we'll get a good D&D movie?
Highly unlikely. Hasbro's properties don't make for good movies (Battleship, for example) or merchandising beyond the initial product. Boardgames, CCGs and TTRPGs are kind of inflexible in a marketing sense as well.
I think it would e more the other way around. Hasbro producing merchandise for Disney's products.
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Surprisingly, Disney has a pretty good track record with the companies it has acquired of late. Pixar, Marvel, and Jim Henson Workshop have, at worst, maintained their quality. And I don't think you'll find many folks complaining about Disney's handling of Marvel's recent theatrical offerings.
I'd much rather have WotC under the Umbrella of Disney than languishing as it has under Hasbro.
Disney buying Hasbro could mean:
1) Nothing chances for D&D.
2) Disney decides to shelve D&D for 10 years because it is not profitable enough and hopes for a successful relaunch after that shelving period.
3) Disney wants to milk the D&D brand. Invests in developping the RPG, novels, figurines, board games, card games, cartoons, movies, action figures, toys, shirts and all sort of crap made in China...
4) Disney "ignores" D&D and focuses on Magic the Gathering or other brands, giving it the treatment in #3. The D&D staff finds a new freedom.
5)Expension of the RPG division to other brand names: Marvel, Star wars, My Little Pony, Transformers...
6)Disney sell less profitable brands to get some cash flowing after so many purchases. D&D is sold to the highest bider.
7)Disney sues Paizo about the OGL, wants to see it crushed, driven before it and here the lamentations of the women.
Disney buying Hasbro could mean:
1) Nothing chances for D&D.
2) Disney decides to shelve D&D for 10 years because it is not profitable enough and hopes for a successful relaunch after that shelving period.
3) Disney wants to milk the D&D brand. Invests in developping the RPG, novels, figurines, board games, card games, cartoons, movies, action figures, toys, shirts and all sort of crap made in China...
4) Disney "ignores" D&D and focuses on Magic the Gathering or other brands, giving it the treatment in #3. The D&D staff finds a new freedom.
5)Expension of the RPG division to other brand names: Marvel, Star wars, My Little Pony, Transformers...
6)Disney sell less profitable brands to get some cash flowing after so many purchases. D&D is sold to the highest bider.
7)Disney sues Paizo about the OGL, wants to see it crushed, driven before it and here the lamentations of the women.
Or put more simply: anything could happen. ;)
Surprisingly, Disney has a pretty good track record with the companies it has acquired of late. Pixar, Marvel, and Jim Henson Workshop have, at worst, maintained their quality. And I don't think you'll find many folks complaining about Disney's handling of Marvel's recent theatrical offerings.
I'd much rather have WotC under the Umbrella of Disney than languishing as it has under Hasbro.
Unfortunately, D&D is such a tiny thing, i doubt anything would really change. I imagine any corporate takeover will, at most, feature a plan for magic but nothing more than "dont lose money" for D&D.
If hasbro were to actually be taken over, i personally doubt even the situation for magic would change substantially, in the short term, anyhow.
Or put more simply: anything could happen. ;)Disney buying Hasbro could mean:
1) Nothing chances for D&D.
2) Disney decides to shelve D&D for 10 years because it is not profitable enough and hopes for a successful relaunch after that shelving period.
3) Disney wants to milk the D&D brand. Invests in developping the RPG, novels, figurines, board games, card games, cartoons, movies, action figures, toys, shirts and all sort of crap made in China...
4) Disney "ignores" D&D and focuses on Magic the Gathering or other brands, giving it the treatment in #3. The D&D staff finds a new freedom.
5)Expension of the RPG division to other brand names: Marvel, Star wars, My Little Pony, Transformers...
6)Disney sell less profitable brands to get some cash flowing after so many purchases. D&D is sold to the highest bider.
7)Disney sues Paizo about the OGL, wants to see it crushed, driven before it and here the lamentations of the women.
Even the end of the world!?
Even the end of the world!?
Or put more simply: anything could happen. ;)
Given the number of D&D worlds that exist within their IP, it wouldn't surprise me if one or more got the chop...
Hey, I wonder if that was what the Mayans were on about...
;D
:O
Disney buying Hasbro could mean:
1) Nothing chances for D&D.
2) Disney decides to shelve D&D for 10 years because it is not profitable enough and hopes for a successful relaunch after that shelving period.
3) Disney wants to milk the D&D brand. Invests in developping the RPG, novels, figurines, board games, card games, cartoons, movies, action figures, toys, shirts and all sort of crap made in China...
4) Disney "ignores" D&D and focuses on Magic the Gathering or other brands, giving it the treatment in #3. The D&D staff finds a new freedom.
5)Expension of the RPG division to other brand names: Marvel, Star wars, My Little Pony, Transformers...
6)Disney sell less profitable brands to get some cash flowing after so many purchases. D&D is sold to the highest bider.
7)Disney sues Paizo about the OGL, wants to see it crushed, driven before it and hear the lamentations of the women.
Scenario number seven would be amusing in a twisted way.
Reminded me of those cases where Apple started some silly court cases.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I don't see what value Hasbro would have to Disney. I can't see a compelling business reason for such a purchase.I can think of one reason: Hasbro makes all of those nifty Star Wars action figures and other Star Wars related toys...
I'll defer to those with better knowlege of the industry, but didn't Hasbro buy Galoob and others to get all the SW licenses underctheir wing?
As far as Star Wars is concerned, Disney has the most important aspect: the ability to control the licenses. Acquiring Hasbro for the means of manufacture is more of a headache than they want or need.
If you look at the last three major acquisitions (Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilms), it shows that Disney is more concerned with building a large stable for films or, in Marvel's case, properties that have good movie potential. Movies are the cornerstone of their empire. If it wasn't, John Carter's poor performance in theaters wouldn't have prompted that high-profile firing.
Hasbro would have to be an adequate performer in all of its markets for Disney to take an interest. Chopping up acquisitions doesn't seem like their M.O.
On a side note: I find it weird that Hasbro puts the Kenner name on some of the Star Wars figures that come out these days.
