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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Nov 2002 : 16:50:58
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For those who revel in scary stories possibly involving D&D (and by extension the Forgotten Realms).
Source: CNN Europe
Hasbro fined for price fixing
Friday, November 29, 2002 Posted: 1624 GMT
LONDON, England -- Britain's trading watchdog has fined the British arm of U.S. toy manufacturer Hasbro Inc. for preventing distributors selling its toys and games below prices fixed by the company.
The fine of £4.95 million ($7.7 million) was the largest imposed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) since it gained new powers March 2000 to crack down on competitive practices.
The investigation by the OFT found Hasbro UK, maker of Sindy, Action Man and My Little Pony, and 10 distributors broke competition law by entering into price-fixing agreements between early 2001 to July of that year.
But it said it was not fining the distributors because it accepted that they had no choice but to accept Hasbro's terms, according to The Associated Press.
"These (price-fixing) agreements prevented the distributors from selling Hasbro toys and games below Hasbro's list price with out permission," the OFT told the UK Press Association on Thursday.
Hasbro UK, based in west London, said it would appeal against the penalty.
"We are surprised and disappointed at the level of the fine imposed by the OFT, which we believe to be disproportionate," it said in a statement.
"These events occurred nearly two years ago and there have been significant changes at Hasbro since then.
"Hasbro believes that such activities had no significant effect on competitiveness within its small network of distributors or on consumers," the company said, AP reported.
The OFT initially proposed to fine Hasbro £9 million ($14 million) but agreed to reduce the figure because the company co-operated fully with the investigation.
Among the well-known toys and games affected in the price-fixing were Action Man, Pictionary, Monopoly, Cluedo, Twister and merchandise from the "Star Wars" films, AP reported.
The OFT has yet to make a final ruling in a separate investigation where it found Hasbro had struck anti-competitive price-fixing agreements with retailers Argos and Littlewoods. It is still studying their submissions in the case.
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Edited by - Mumadar Ibn Huzal on 10 Dec 2002 07:41:44
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2002 : 17:19:48
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Wow! Get outta there WotC, things were just great before Hasbro came along.......in many ways!
Im not actually surprised at all by this news, at first I thought that Hasbro can mean good news for WotC\D&D\FR but its gone the opposite way. I had thought that due to Hasbros large standing in the industry that distribution and advertising of D&D could only greater enhance the hobby.......... but for some reason it just deteriorated! Distribution has got tighter and advertising is almost nil! Its very hard to find any D&D products anywhere, even major bookstores in the UK dont stock WotC novels anymore! As far as the general consumer is concerned, D&D no longer exists! All that effort that went into D&D 3rd Edition has partially been wasted! yeah ok, we know about it and buy the products but the guy who played 1st edition\2nd edition 5 years or so back doesnt even know D&D is still active, never mind aware of a new edition!
IMO, Hasbro are killing D&D and WotC would do better to find a loophole out of that mess!  |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Edited by - Lord Rad on 29 Nov 2002 17:21:16 |
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The Defence Minister
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
218 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2002 : 18:47:30
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Interesting stuff...
That is a bit unfair as it's their products and they should be allowed to make whatever rules they like as long as the retailers agree before hand. That was a bloody heavty fine aswell.
But as an English D&D player (and collector of the Hasbro Star Wars range) I am delighted as this means cheaper prices and a brighter future for all. 
TDM
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- TDM (Candlekeep's most popular, experienced and handsome member) |
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Ghost
Acolyte
Netherlands
38 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2002 : 20:38:23
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| According to the news flash, this occured 2 years ago. Wasn't this BEFORE Hasbro bought WotC? |
The way of a superior man are three-fold;
virtuous, he is free from anxieties;
wise, he is free from perplexities;
bold, he is free from fear. ~ Confucius
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 29 Nov 2002 : 20:57:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Ghost
According to the news flash, this occured 2 years ago. Wasn't this BEFORE Hasbro bought WotC?
Youre right, but my point is still valid..... im not surprised with anything that I hear about Hasbro, as well as this issue Hasbros tactics are still ruthless (yeah i know theyre a huge corporate body and thats their aim but some actions are blinded by the love of money being the goal, not customer satisfaction and loyalty....... for example, check this past article out: http://www.candlekeep.com/library/rumors/rumor7.htm) and im still very annoyed at the lack of support for D&D and the appauling distribution throughout the UK (and probably Europe). |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2002 : 07:44:05
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Some more news from the Wizards' Towers on the Coast...
2003 Revisions to the Dungeons & Dragons
Roleplaying Game Core Rulebooks
Wizards of the Coast, Inc. has some great news to share with our loyal Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game fans. Since the release of the latest edition of the D&D core rulebooks in 2000, we have listened hard to the reviews, accolades, criticism, and other comments that our fans have contributed about these titles. The past two years have been filled with consumer feedback that has provided us with a wealth of information for making our books richer in depth and gameplay -- in short, more opportunity for every fan to enjoy the game a little more.
After gathering this invaluable input from the fans and putting it together with our own observations, it was clear that some targeted revisions in the three core rulebooks would go a long way toward creating the requested improvements in the D&D roleplayer’s gaming experience. Therefore, we have incorporated fan comments and suggestions into upcoming revised editions of the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual.
While the overall rules system remains intact, these targeted changes have been designed to help with character play, convey consistency, and improve overall game flow.
The updated core rulebooks will be on store shelves in July 2003, and we will be releasing more details in the months leading up to release. Please watch Dragon Magazine and the Wizards of the Coast, Inc. website for more information.
We would like to thank our fans for giving us such reliable and valuable input, and we firmly believe that with your continued help and support, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. will continue to provide the foremost roleplaying game experience available.
Sincerely,
The Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Team
(OOC: My thanks to the Ghost for forwarding this.) |
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Echon
Senior Scribe
Denmark
422 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2002 : 09:33:16
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Are there any rumours as to what changes these books included?
-Echon |
"If others had not been foolish, we should be so."
-William Blake |
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Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2002 : 10:08:42
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I hear that theyre to have new covers and contain all the revisions from the erratas since the first release. Also some character classes have been tweaked.
As for the Monster Manual II, completely new layout (I personally thought the current manual is very messy!) and a better index. |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
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The Great Drizzt
Learned Scribe
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2002 : 06:37:02
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Well this a little off topic, but would'nt it be cool if Hasbro(makers of G.I. Joe) came out with some AD&D Action figures that you could buy Clothes, Armor, Weapons, and accesories for just like the big G.I. Joe dolls/action figures? Man, that would be SWEET!
......just a thought!
The Great Drizzt |
"Don't poke Drizzt, 'tis highly unsociable!" Drizzt Do'Urden -BG1 |
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Echon
Senior Scribe
Denmark
422 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2002 : 08:33:12
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quote:
Originally posted by The Great Drizzt
Well this a little off topic, but would'nt it be cool if Hasbro(makers of G.I. Joe) came out with some AD&D Action figures that you could buy Clothes, Armor, Weapons, and accesories for just like the big G.I. Joe dolls/action figures? Man, that would be SWEET!
......just a thought!
The Great Drizzt
uhm...no.
-Echon |
"If others had not been foolish, we should be so."
-William Blake |
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Ghost
Acolyte
Netherlands
38 Posts |
Posted - 11 Dec 2002 : 18:29:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Echon
Are there any rumours as to what changes these books included?
-Echon
If you go to the website, they give a (short) faq of what the changes will be. I don't suppose they could also do this as a web enhanchement? ('cause NO way am I gonna buy the same books twice!) |
The way of a superior man are three-fold;
virtuous, he is free from anxieties;
wise, he is free from perplexities;
bold, he is free from fear. ~ Confucius
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News Flash
