Hmm...all I see is tree branches with some of them lightly covered in ashes.
Of course, something like that is as subjective as seeing images in clouds.

Kingofpain89 wrote:Do something worthwhile with all of those postage paid junk mail envelopes:

http://officeofstrategicinfluence.com/bulkmailer/

Oooo!  And I like the e-mail harvester killer too:

http://officeofstrategicinfluence.com/spam/

Aneoth wrote:OK folks I am NOT making this up, look at the lower right corner of that first picture.

What do you see?


The image is somewhat tuff to glean, as it is mostly hidden in varying shades of grey and black and other colors.

Are you talking about the two beady eyes, big nosed visage looking to the left image?   It's not so much to the lower right in the photo as it is to the middle right, correct?

Anyone who has been keeping up with recent gaming news has probably heard the news that WOTC might not attend Gen Con.

Are you kidding me?  

I predict the absolute death knell for 4E if they pass up the biggest marketing opportunity of the year.  Crazy in so many ways I can't even count them.

Mike B.

Badmike wrote:Anyone who has been keeping up with recent gaming news has probably heard the news that WOTC might not attend Gen Con.

Are you kidding me?  

I predict the absolute death knell for 4E if they pass up the biggest marketing opportunity of the year.  Crazy in so many ways I can't even count them.

Mike B.

Been reading about this at the various news sites (enworld & rpgnet etc) - From what I read this is serious, WOTC could genuinely not be going to THE convention (certainly THE convention as regards name-recogniotion, I have no idea re profitability/business levels/attendees etc). Surely this cannot be a good thing for WOTC, or for Gencon. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of Wizards, and 4E, like 3E, leaves me cold, it just seems so wrong for the largest games company to not attend the largest games convention.

A bit sad really.

FormCritic wrote:


But...it sounds like a rumor with no basis.

Your point being (said in voice of Homer Simpson with both hands stuck in vending machines.

I can't see that WOTC have booked space at Gencon so there is presumably a speck of truth in there. (You're right though Mark, I shouldn't be sreading such nonsense!)  (Though I did hear a rumour that Elaine Williams would be attending in EGG's place for book signings)

FormCritic wrote:
Well...they might be making war on GenCon itself...trying to control all of the industry again..

Or...they might have just analyzed and realized that they don't need GenCon to hawk their products and have no more need to support an established gaming community...one that is mostly hostile to their plans.

But...it sounds like a rumor with no basis.

WOTC not needing Gencon is like a major motion picture company saying they don't need to spend any money advertisting, say, the new Iron Man movie because by God he's been a comic book character forever and everyone knows who Iron Man is.  WOTC employees should start dusting off resumes immediately if this is their attitude, because in that case they have officially finished themselves off as a brand name and become another niche of a niche of a niche product.

It apparantly stems from a decision by Hasbro not to do business with Gen Con while going through bankruptcy proceedings.....thereby "tainting" their product by having such proximity to the convention. The rumor is given legs by two things; #1 WOTC has not booked any space at this year's convention, despite said space being held for them, and the convention being only three months away; and #2 They have not come forward to dismiss this as rumor.  

At this point, no one who has bought tickets is cancelling their reservation. They are bringing money. And they will SPEND this money. Only the money won't be spent on WOTC products but whatever games are available. Not to mention the ill will that will be stirred up if such an event comes to pass.  Not to mention the lessened exposure to a game system that is already not making use of any available channels to promote their product.  

Won't even get to the fact that I didn't spend a single second at the WOTC area during the entire Gencon last year, and I wouldn't this year anyway, but I'm sure there are plenty of gamers that WOULD...but instead if WOTC didn't show up, would find something else to occupy their time....and wallets....

This would be an absolute disaster for WOTC on a scale unheard of in the gaming industry.  When 4E fails to take advantage of the premium game convention in the world to promote their spanking new product, and instead snubs the community and spits in the face of the fans, it'll all be over but the pink slips being handed to the unfortunate WoTC empolyees who get screwed by Hasbro's brain dead decision making process...

Along with the OGL frock up that WoTC is now slamming Goodman, Paizo, Necromancer and other 3rd party manufacturers with, has this been the absolute worst roll out of a product since New Coke????

Mike B.

quite honestly, i couldnt care less really if they are there or not. i am glad they wont be (if that IS the case), because i then won't have to look at whatever rubbish they bring along, and at least my valuable time can then be spent looking at better stuff.

i think it will be a great event, regardless of whether they are there or not.

Al

Hi,

probably WOTC didnt event think about it much. Sometimes they are SERIOUSLY disorganised.

RE: disliking industry figures : Ian Richards has to wear a suit of chain mail in the UK. He doesnt bother to visit much anymore...

Cheers,
Malc