Discussion: Why Did Heroscape Fail? (as a retail product)

[chas]

I just want to mention that there was much discussion after cancellation about the license being picked up by another company, with rumors that several other organizations were trying to get it from Hasbro. For months there was hope and speculation. Nothing would make most of us happier to see it happen--as long as its not My Little Pony Scape!

[itsbuzzi]

Originally Posted by Agent Minivann

There are a lot of hurdles with this idea.

One being that Hasbro is not likely to sell their IP, or sit idly while someone else tries to make money using it. They aren't or haven't yet pulled a Games Workshop on the customs community, but another company would invoke the full wrath of their legal department. Even if Hasbro sold or licensed the IP, it would be a pretty big cost/investment.

Two being that other properties (TMNT, Transformers, Pokemon, etc.) would have to be either owned by the "New Heroscape" company or they would need to be licensed. Odds are Hasbro made very little profit on Marvel, and/or the license costs are the reason there was so little terrain. It might also be a problem if the company that owns those properties looks at Marvel Heroscape and asks why it will work for a new company when it didn't work with Hasbro and Marvel.

Those are two big hurdles (and possibly really big costs) without even talking about plastic and labor prices (both are probably more expensive now.

1) As already mentioned it would be a big risk but would gain insane profit when rewarded, the price of the IP is only the first step. That being said one would obviously have to be devoted to the game or highly motivated by the profit to jump into such a task of bringing back Heroscape at all.

2) If we can figure out what went wrong with Marvel Heroscape, odds are, other people can as well. They could also look at other hybrid games (such as Super Mario Smash Bros) and wonder why this is so successful. A bit of a stretch from board game to video game, but the vastness of characters are very similar.

[IshMEL]

The new Disney "Infinity" video game is Heroscape-esque -- a big mashup of characters, with a miniature component a la Skylanders.

Just to throw some fuel on the fire, some guy who, I don't know, is the descendent of Sir Hawthorne or something, said there was a 20% chance of a Heroscape return over on BGG.

[ibechief]

Originally Posted by IshMEL

Just to throw some fuel on the fire, some guy who, I don't know, is the descendent of Sir Hawthorne or something, said there was a 20% chance of a Heroscape return over on BGG.

I'm pretty sure that is Grungebob, but I could be wrong.

[IshMEL]

I'm pretty sure it is too

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by IshMEL

I'm pretty sure it is too

Yes, that is Grungebob.

[Agent Minivann]

Originally Posted by IshMEL

The new Disney "Infinity" video game is Heroscape-esque -- a big mashup of characters, with a miniature component a la Skylanders.

Just to throw some fuel on the fire, some guy who, I don't know, is the descendent of Sir Hawthorne or something, said there was a 20% chance of a Heroscape return over on BGG.

Ancestor of Sir Hawthorne would be closer. Did you see the part about "If you had to make up a number out of thin air..."? It goes right along with 64% of all statistics are made up.

[Kroc]

Originally Posted by ibechief

I'm pretty sure that is Grungebob, but I could be wrong.

I hate to say this but I've been burned before believing what Grungebob said. He's been responsible for a quote in my signature about how Heroscape was not having any problems.

[caps]

Originally Posted by Kroc

I hate to say this but I've been burned before believing what Grungebob said. He's been responsible for a quote in my signature about how Heroscape was not having any problems.

20% is a pretty low chance. Higher than we might expect, but still remarkably low. I don't think he's being misleading.

[PeasantDave]

Right when I got into HeroScape I wondered why Hasbro didn't make a deal with Blizzard to use the units from Warcraft 3. They are cool looking, thematic, would have been [relatively] easy to design and very fun to play. There was even a window where Blizzard canceled their miniatures deal with UpperDeck.

Obviously this stuff is easier said than done, but I always felt like it would be an easy way to bring new people in and maintain the integrity of the product.

[Agent Minivann]

Originally Posted by capsocrates

20% is a pretty low chance. Higher than we might expect, but still remarkably low. I don't think he's being misleading.

I'm sure GB would be the first to say he was pulling numbers out of the air, and at best he was doing freelance work on Heroscape, so he isn't necessarily privy to the kind of information that would lend weight to that number.

Now Rob Daviau's comments on the Plaid Hat Games Podcast are a lot more informed.

[joe5joe7]

Originally Posted by PeasantDave

Right when I got into HeroScape I wondered why Hasbro didn't make a deal with Blizzard to use the units from Warcraft 3. They are cool looking, thematic, would have been [relatively] easy to design and very fun to play. There was even a window where Blizzard canceled their miniatures deal with UpperDeck.

Obviously this stuff is easier said than done, but I always felt like it would be an easy way to bring new people in and maintain the integrity of the product.

Man if they made a deal with Valve and came back with a line of DOTA 2 figures compatible with Heroscape I would be in heaven. Valve seems like they'd be an easy company to work with too.