 |
| Art by Carol Cavalaris |
Regardless of the true extent of the damage and the company's (lack of a) future, this news makes me very sad. I got into gaming right as Vampire: the Masquerade was blowing up in a big way. For me, the World of Darkness has just always been there in the background, as much a part of the gaming hobby as D&D or Call of Cthulhu and White Wolf has always been an industry giant. Granted, I knew that the WoD has waned in popularity over the last decade and wasn't nearly as red hot as it was in the Nineties, but I didn't think things were that bad. Personally, I've had a bit of a star-crossed relationship with the WoD, particularly Vampire, always wanting to get into the game but being stymied for a variety of Byzantine reasons.
Ironically, earlier this month I (finally) picked up the nWoD core rule book and have been loving it. The refocus of the new edition brings the world more in line with how I always envisioned it; gone are the days of trenchcoat-wearing goth superheroes, thank god. The nWoD seems to be more of a general horror game now, which is great. A nice companion to the highly specific horror of Call of Cthulhu. But it was in the course of Googling around to catch myself up on the state of the WoD game line that I discovered the links above. My star-crossed relationship continues, it would seem.
Another pillar of my hobby experience crumbling? Say it ain't so!
Oh man, that sucks. I've had limited experience with White Wolf games, having only played a WoD one-shot and owning NWoD and Exhalted, but they've been around for as long as I've been playing games. I guess it's a sign of the times.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that the resurgence in vampire popularity - true blood, vampire diaries, twilight - was not able to breathe some new life (*ahem*) into the line. However, Ryan Dancey of CCP/White Wolf has decreed that tabletop games are a "legacy business" and that the future lays in MMOs.
ReplyDeleteThat pisses me off.
Really? Wow. That's hard for me to even imagine.
ReplyDeleteI think they just stop there MMO section and not their "books" side of things. I think the Wikipedia post is inaccurate, at least I hope. The print on demand is still happening and the Dust to Dust, a Vampire the Masquerade adventure.....A NEW Vampire the Masquerade adventure was released in November, and they still have some stuff that is coming down. I can't wait for V20 style Werewolf the Apocalypse.
ReplyDeleteAt the very lest I think they have enough staff to finish there 2011-2012 catalogue list
(sirlarkins here--Blogger won't let me comment as myself for some reason)
ReplyDeleteChristian: Yeah, fuck that noise. I've been in an active recruiting mode this year, and for every "potential gamer" I meet who decides RPGs aren't for them, I meet 1-2 enthusiastic newbies who love TTRPGs. Personally, I think as computer gaming becomes more popular, TTRPGs will grow a stronger niche precisely for the fact they continue to offer an experience that can't be matched by any other type of entertainment.
Clearly Wizards selling out to Hasbro and White Wolf selling out to the makers of EVE Online has shown that RPGs' future is only in danger when they associate themselves with companies who only care about the bottom line and reaping mega-profits.
Heh, I feel like an aging metal head in the 90s: "Thanks for coming out, keeping the scene ALIVE!" ;)
random NPC: Yeah, I actually just ordered a copy of New Wave Requiem as a POD, so at least those will still be available. I think you're right that releases will continue for a time, but if you look at the list of layoffs on the WW Wiki, there are definitely some names from the "book" division. :-/
http://whitewolfblogs.com/blog/2011/11/15/carbonated-meeting/
ReplyDeleteIn this blog the mention that Ethan Skemp is working of Geist 1.1 and that they are looking for writers for Werewolf the Apocalypse 20th; check the date out. November 15, so they are still working on stuff.
Those names that you see on the WW Wiki were working on the MMO story side of things, I think.
Those are definitely positive signs. Hopefully the rumors of the company's death have been greatly exaggerated.
ReplyDeleteWell, I shot my mouth off and the heading got changed to Reduction of Staff, on the Wikipedia page. Let see how long that is going to last.
ReplyDeleteThe whole 'doom and gloom' scenario is probably the most misunderstood item in gaming today.
ReplyDeleteYes, the days of fat cat execs and million dollar deals are coming to an end. The 'industry' is falling fast.
But the hobby is stronger than it has been in ages. The pivotal period seems to be 2004-05. It was during this period that video game sales peaked and tabletop started making a comeback and that progression has continued, some years a bit leaner than others, but sales have been going up nonetheless.
I read some things on White Wolf that showed them in a transition phase, focusing on pdf sales and trying new marketing techniques which shows they are a smart company. If they could master POD I think they could do a good bit of print sales as well.
Now, if expensive 'coffee table' rule books dripping with color borders and $50-$70 price tags are your thing then I'm sorry for your loss.
But the hobby business re-establishing itself has kept me pumped up for some time now.
Boardgames are booming, card games are holding their ground even in the crappy economy and lots of small, quick to learn publishers are popping up everywhere.
I suggest fans of any company contact them and let them know you are a customer and offer suggestions. It can't hurt and just like with bank fees recently sometimes people do listen :)
While I too would hate to see WW disappear, this press release from CCP is rather damning...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ccpgames.com/en/public-relations/press-releases/article/2990/ccp-focuses-on-the-eve-universe
The new focus seems to be the Djst project with ttrpgs being referenced in the past tense. :-(
WW has an in house podcast and the one covering this event is revealing. They stick to the script in PR terms, but also reveal a lot of unhappiness. They company isn't dead, but it has suffered a set back. We will have to wait and see what the future hold.s
ReplyDelete