Random Sales again

[Hurlshort]

1 hour ago, Zoraptor said:

Probably not as much of a surprise as it could have been. It seems neither Netflix nor Paramount regard WB's games division as an asset, rather more as a liability, so it seems likely to be shut down or sold off if/ when WB is bought. They'd have got some cash from EGS to do it and most people who would pay decent money have it already.

Yeah, it's pretty weird how the whole WB games stuff has gone down. They've published some amazing games that seem like they've done well critically and commercially, and yet it doesn't seem to be enough. I mean the Middle Earth series has the nemesis system, which should be a license to print money, and they seem to be burying it. Then Hogwarts Legacy nails the setting of one of the biggest IP's out there, and there is no follow through on it. *shrug* 

[Zoraptor]

The Middle Earth games seem to sum up WBGames pretty well: the second game didn't perform as well as they wanted, and that was that. 

I'd guess the proximal reason for it is the abysmal performance of the DC live service game they had Rocksteady do which sank so badly I can't even remember its name offhand (Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League per wiki). You can kind of understand it; games now have ~the budget of a blockbuster movie, but take longer to make, for less return. Only takes one turkey- 200mn lost on it according to their filings- to make the whole thing look high risk low reward.

[Hawke64]

Just in case, JK Rowling's favourite hobby is harassing children and donating to hate groups, thus avoiding supporting the Harry Potter franchise would be appreciated. 

https://www.them.us/story/jk-rowling-girlguiding-girl-guides-girl-scouts-trans-ban-consent

Granted, the books were not the best examples of literature to begin with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1iaJWSwUZs
 

[Hurlshort]

7 hours ago, Hawke64 said:

Just in case, JK Rowling's favourite hobby is harassing children and donating to hate groups, thus avoiding supporting the Harry Potter franchise would be appreciated. 

https://www.them.us/story/jk-rowling-girlguiding-girl-guides-girl-scouts-trans-ban-consent

Granted, the books were not the best examples of literature to begin with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1iaJWSwUZs
 

JK Rowling is a total troll, for sure. She isn't the first artist to try and ruin her art with dumb crusades, but she seems to be trying to be the best at it. That being said, I do believe in separating art from the artists, which I know sounds trite. But JK Rowling is an expert in children's fiction writing, and that's all she is an expert in. As an educator who began teaching around when the series debuted, I saw first-hand how the books got kids to read. We can criticize the literature all we want, but it was effective at captivating a generation of young readers, and that is not easy to do. With that said, her opinion on trans-rights shouldn't weigh more heavily than anyone else. 

The Harry Potter world has outgrown her. It isn't just a book series that she wrote. It has taken on a life of its own. Sure, she gets credit for creating it, but that doesn't mean she has control over it anymore. The movies were created by passionate creative teams that deserve credit. The theme parks were designed by artists. The Lego sets, merchandise, games, etc. are all much bigger than a single person. 

I get boycotting her. It's unfortunate that she gets to cash in on this world and then chooses to use that cash to be a bigot. But there is a point where a product becomes bigger than the creator. Volkswagen was created by the Nazi party. There are people that boycott their cars because of this, and that is justified, but it is also fair to say the company has moved past that complicated origin. 

So yeah, just my two cents as I watch the Harry Potter flicks this holiday season.   

[Hawke64]

4 hours ago, Hurlshort said:

JK Rowling is a total troll, for sure. She isn't the first artist to try and ruin her art with dumb crusades, but she seems to be trying to be the best at it. That being said, I do believe in separating art from the artists, which I know sounds trite. But JK Rowling is an expert in children's fiction writing, and that's all she is an expert in. As an educator who began teaching around when the series debuted, I saw first-hand how the books got kids to read. We can criticize the literature all we want, but it was effective at captivating a generation of young readers, and that is not easy to do. With that said, her opinion on trans-rights shouldn't weigh more heavily than anyone else. 

The Harry Potter world has outgrown her. It isn't just a book series that she wrote. It has taken on a life of its own. Sure, she gets credit for creating it, but that doesn't mean she has control over it anymore. The movies were created by passionate creative teams that deserve credit. The theme parks were designed by artists. The Lego sets, merchandise, games, etc. are all much bigger than a single person. 

I get boycotting her. It's unfortunate that she gets to cash in on this world and then chooses to use that cash to be a bigot. But there is a point where a product becomes bigger than the creator. Volkswagen was created by the Nazi party. There are people that boycott their cars because of this, and that is justified, but it is also fair to say the company has moved past that complicated origin. 

So yeah, just my two cents as I watch the Harry Potter flicks this holiday season.   

I appreciate the thoughtful response. However, separating art from the artist works when the artist no longer benefits from the royalties*. Rowling still does and is actively using her fortune to cause harm, regardless of how popular the IP is. When it is 6 feet underground and the fund set up specifically to finance transphobic lawsuits is dismantled, then sure. 

*excluding the financial aspect/from the cultural point of view, I'd say if you can experience the work in isolation from the author's biography and understand it fully.