WotC Restructuring

Gryfalia · 08-21-2008, 09:09 AM

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/13126.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivc2.com

Wizards of the Coast announced today that it is restructuring “to focus on key growth strategies for core brands,” which will result in job eliminations. A spokesperson for the company declined to reveal the number of positions eliminated, or their departments, but did say that the total job cuts were less than 5% of the workforce.

Sorry, can't link it from where I am, when I get to a more useful space I can link the story, or else someone else can.

mondu_the_fat · 08-21-2008, 09:48 AM

The article reads like a Dilbert strip.

"to focus on key growth strategies for core brands"

translation:

we're cutting staff, cutting tournaments, introducing new rarity levels to encourage more people to buy packs, cutting novels

I fully expect them to start cutting artists (thus I'm betting we'll start seeing reused artwork; or new artists that are probably willing to work for less), and cutting playtesting staff, probably start accepting fan-made cards (with iron-clad copyright laws) in order to cut some of R&D, higher prices

It's Hasbro's show.

Chinkle · 08-21-2008, 09:54 AM

OR it means the company won't be wasting its time producing flop after flop anymore.

PorcelainGod · 08-21-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mondu_the_fat

The article reads like a Dilbert strip.

"to focus on key growth strategies for core brands"

translation:

we're cutting staff, cutting tournaments, introducing new rarity levels to encourage more people to buy packs, cutting novels

I fully expect them to start cutting artists (thus I'm betting we'll start seeing reused artwork; or new artists that are probably willing to work for less), and cutting playtesting staff, probably start accepting fan-made cards (with iron-clad copyright laws) in order to cut some of R&D, higher prices

It's Hasbro's show.

Starting with Alara it seems like they are releasing more books per year. Before we just had the three parts of the Block Novel. Now we have a single Block Novel, a Planeswalker's Guide, and 2 Planeswalker Novels that cover 2 different stories. That sounds like a lot more work to me.

FoxBat · 08-21-2008, 10:27 AM

You know Magic is a "core brand" and its stuff like Dreamblade, Duelmasters etc. that wasn't?

Teflon_Jeff · 08-21-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mondu_the_fat

The article reads like a Dilbert strip.

"to focus on key growth strategies for core brands"

translation:

we're cutting staff, cutting tournaments, introducing new rarity levels to encourage more people to buy packs, cutting novels

I fully expect them to start cutting artists (thus I'm betting we'll start seeing reused artwork; or new artists that are probably willing to work for less), and cutting playtesting staff, probably start accepting fan-made cards (with iron-clad copyright laws) in order to cut some of R&D, higher prices

It's Hasbro's show.

I know they aren't cutting new art. I know a few of the artists, and they have new commissions lined up, so...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinkle

OR it means the company won't be wasting its time producing flop after flop anymore.

I hope so. I liked Dreamblade, but it was a flop, and tried to push it too hard on the pro scene. Magic wouldn't have worked if that was the case, either. You have to have balance.

**Evil Betty** · 08-21-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxBat

You know Magic is a "core brand" and its stuff like Dreamblade, Duelmasters etc. that wasn't?

I guess it's personal opinion whether those lines were worth it or not, but it has been said by fans before that Hasbro and/or WotC were shooting themselves in the foot by not paying more attention to what put them on the map in the first place. Before I start seeing something like Gleemax, for example, I'd like a V3 whose servers don't inexplicably freeze up.

SnoopDoggAtog · 08-21-2008, 12:08 PM

Probably a lot of waste is being cut. dreamblade, DuelMasters, the charm bracelet thing for preteen girls, Neopets, Hecatomb, etc. sucked a lot of staff away from Magic and required new hires and production methods. A figure like 5% cuts in jobs probably means that a total of 30% of the workforce is being removed from current projects, which will end abruptly or be phased out. 25% will be reassigned to core projects, and that 5% are those who will get the ax. Of course, Wizards probably offers them priority status for reapplying for the new openings.

As for publishing, the initial surge in Planeswalkers Guides and whatnot is intended to set the new tenor for the publications in the future. So this year we're getting a couple extra novels. They will transition the community from "one novel per expansion" to "one or two novels per year, one or more of which will be about one of the planeswalkers featured in that set". Notice the difference is NOT in the number of novels issued, it's in the delivery method. Previously, you got the novel bundled in with your fat pack. Now, the novel is separate, and if you want it, you pay for it individually. This is a great boon to fat pack buyers who just wanted the players guide, or the packs, or the dice, or the sturdy box. Now they can get some of those things on the cheap by just getting an intro pack.

It's also a great boon for the guy who occasionally bought them mostly for the books. Now he doesn't have to pay $30 or so just to get the book (and a few boosters thrown in).

As for the box I don't have a clue where you can get those now.

It's a standard strategy for weathering a bad economy. Value added bundles are taken apart and buyers can pick and choose what they can afford. That way Wizards makes some money, as opposed to no money.

Teflon_Jeff · 08-21-2008, 12:37 PM

Probably more freelancing stuff as well, rather than in house staff.

***Lesurgo*** · 08-21-2008, 01:14 PM

I don't think that this is just excess positions outside of Magic. According to someone who informed me about this before I saw this thread, one big Magic name removed in the layoffs is Devin Low.

Jaelan · 08-21-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lesurgo

I don't think that this is just excess positions outside of Magic. According to someone who informed me about this before I saw this thread, one big Magic name removed in the layoffs is Devin Low.

WOW...WHAT!?!?!?!

So you're saying Devin Low has been fired? (or at least that you heard a rumor that he was getting fired?)

That's pretty shocking…

Apex · 08-21-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopDoggAtog

It's a standard strategy for weathering a bad economy. Value added bundles are taken apart and buyers can pick and choose what they can afford. That way Wizards makes some money, as opposed to no money.

Forgotten_Hope · 08-21-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lesurgo

I don't think that this is just excess positions outside of Magic. According to someone who informed me about this before I saw this thread, one big Magic name removed in the layoffs is Devin Low.

Wait.
WHAT?!?!
Seriously!?

mutantman · 08-21-2008, 05:48 PM

Corporate doublespeak makes me cross-eyed. Firing people = re-aligning resources?

lizardgod · 08-21-2008, 05:50 PM

That is crazy...you can't ax D. Low...he is freaking awesome and I like what I am starting to see with him in his current position. I still think that overall Magic has become stronger as a game, although I don't like all the changes, I am not immediatly taken aback by any single change they have made, but firing Devin is a bad move by Hasbro.

08-21-2008, 09:48 AM	#2
mondu_the_fat is dansen Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,051 Blog Entries: 3	The article reads like a Dilbert strip. "to focus on key growth strategies for core brands" translation: we're cutting staff, cutting tournaments, introducing new rarity levels to encourage more people to buy packs, cutting novels I fully expect them to start cutting artists (thus I'm betting we'll start seeing reused artwork; or new artists that are probably willing to work for less), and cutting playtesting staff, probably start accepting fan-made cards (with iron-clad copyright laws) in order to cut some of R&D, higher prices It's Hasbro's show. __________________ "Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn

08-21-2008, 09:54 AM	#3
Chinkle Ascended Mage Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Philly Posts: 242	OR it means the company won't be wasting its time producing flop after flop anymore. __________________ DCI Certified Judge(retired) DCI Ratings Page Team Revolution

08-21-2008, 12:08 PM	#8
SnoopDoggAtog Dmg on the Stack RIP 1998-2009 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,170	Probably a lot of waste is being cut. dreamblade, DuelMasters, the charm bracelet thing for preteen girls, Neopets, Hecatomb, etc. sucked a lot of staff away from Magic and required new hires and production methods. A figure like 5% cuts in jobs probably means that a total of 30% of the workforce is being removed from current projects, which will end abruptly or be phased out. 25% will be reassigned to core projects, and that 5% are those who will get the ax. Of course, Wizards probably offers them priority status for reapplying for the new openings. As for publishing, the initial surge in Planeswalkers Guides and whatnot is intended to set the new tenor for the publications in the future. So this year we're getting a couple extra novels. They will transition the community from "one novel per expansion" to "one or two novels per year, one or more of which will be about one of the planeswalkers featured in that set". Notice the difference is NOT in the number of novels issued, it's in the delivery method. Previously, you got the novel bundled in with your fat pack. Now, the novel is separate, and if you want it, you pay for it individually. This is a great boon to fat pack buyers who just wanted the players guide, or the packs, or the dice, or the sturdy box. Now they can get some of those things on the cheap by just getting an intro pack. It's also a great boon for the guy who occasionally bought them mostly for the books. Now he doesn't have to pay $30 or so just to get the book (and a few boosters thrown in). As for the box I don't have a clue where you can get those now. It's a standard strategy for weathering a bad economy. Value added bundles are taken apart and buyers can pick and choose what they can afford. That way Wizards makes some money, as opposed to no money. __________________

08-21-2008, 12:37 PM	#9
Teflon_Jeff Ascended Mage MTGS Writer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 262	Probably more freelancing stuff as well, rather than in house staff. __________________ My articles You should read them. *"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen"*

08-21-2008, 01:14 PM	#10
*Lesurgo* Realmbreaker Administrator MTGS Writer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 7,267	I don't think that this is just excess positions outside of Magic. According to someone who informed me about this before I saw this thread, one big Magic name removed in the layoffs is Devin Low. __________________ My signature banners were made courtesy of AEther and Hallucinogen Graphics. Get yours today! Two Pro Tour top 8's. Nine Grand Prix top 8's. Three top 8's and 10+ top 32's at the J/MSS Championships. Several PTQ, Regionals, GPT and JSS top 8's and wins. Many great strategists from around the world. Would you like to join a team that has all of the above? Visit Team Unknown Stars at our website by clicking on this text. TheStarkingtonPost - With up-to-date Magic content uploaded every day by Bill Stark, how can you go wrong? The MTGCast Network - an entire network devoted to podcasts. With so many, there's a podcast for everybody! Top8Magic podcasts - listen to Brian David-Marshall, Mike Flores, and guests such as Jon Finkel discuss Magic.


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08-21-2008, 10:27 AM	#5
FoxBat Archmage Overlord Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,598	You know Magic is a "core brand" and its stuff like Dreamblade, Duelmasters etc. that wasn't?

08-21-2008, 05:48 PM	#14
mutantman Wizard Mentor Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sebastopol, CA Posts: 559	Corporate doublespeak makes me cross-eyed. Firing people = re-aligning resources?

08-21-2008, 05:50 PM	#15
lizardgod Just Getting Started Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19	That is crazy...you can't ax D. Low...he is freaking awesome and I like what I am starting to see with him in his current position. I still think that overall Magic has become stronger as a game, although I don't like all the changes, I am not immediatly taken aback by any single change they have made, but firing Devin is a bad move by Hasbro.

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