Asmodee la randul ei a cumparat in trecut o serie de publisheri, care si-au pierdut ulterior relevanta. Fantasy Flight Games ar fi un exemplu, unde dupa venirea Asmodee au fost inchise mai multe departamente, oamenii concediati, forumuri inchise, licente de jocuri pierdute (Android:Netrunner). Asmodee a transferat dezvoltarea X-Wing, Armada si Star Wars Legion catre Atomic Mass Studios. Nu stiu cum voi, insa eu nu am auzit niciodata de Atomic Mass Studios, si nu stiu ce-i califica sa dezvolte ei X-Wing sau Armada. Lucruri asemanatoare s-au intamplat si cu Z-Man, Plaid Hat Games, sa vedem ce o sa faca si cu Lookout Games.
Pe bgg este un articol - "Are board games making the same mistakes as video games?",https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/279619 ... ideo-games.
Am impresia ca odata cu achizitia unor "assets" de catre finansisti, se pierde o buna parte din competente si pasiune din hobby. Cumparatori precum Embracer, Asmodee, pur si simplu nu inteleg o multime de produse si... le opresc. Produse care pentru un publisher mic erau sustenabile si profitabile, pentru un behemot devin faramituri neinteresante.Today, in the board game industry, I’m starting to notice that the same practices I loathed in the video game industry are making it’s way over to the board game hobby. Companies come and companies go all of the time. However, when a select few companies (especially companies that do not have video game/board game backgrounds) begin to purchase all of the smaller companies, it becomes a pattern many of us have all seen before. It removes creativity and passion. In its place, a well-oiled machine is erected in which its only focus is to squeeze as much money out of its consumers as possible.
This usually leads to a decline in imagination and uniqueness. If a board game is too imaginative or unique for its own good, it becomes a risk to investors. Therefore, we will begin to see a lot of board games looking and feeling similar to one another. When something unique and imaginative becomes a risk, there will be no risks being made. That means we will begin to see a lot of similar games being released and fewer original games being made.
(Tin minte remarca a unui product manager pentru Valve - propunea sa dezvolte un produs ce in primul an ar fi avut vanzari de $250 mln. Replica conducerii a fost - That's not even a bilion. Iar PM-ul se gandea cu amaraciune ca un studio mic si-ar fi taiat o mana sa aiba un produs cu vanzari de $250 mln... in primul an).
Se pare ca intre timp mai multe studiouri s-au rascumparat de sub egida Asmodee, insa revin slabite pe piata, fara o serie de titluri care le-au facut celebre, pe o piata schimbata de Kickstarter si "Deluxe Editions".
Pe de alta parte, datorita Asmodee, FFG a scos Pandemic World of Warcraft. Nu am jucat jocul, insa am auzit ca ar fi decent:)