InQuest 12 - 15 - InQuest News
of ourselves in terms of hiring and infrastructure building. There
were some months there when we were not profitable and we
had to correct that. Unfortunately, that required laying some
people off."
Wieck called the previously reported number of 15 peo-
ple laid off "a little high," adding, "We prefer not to release
an accurate number." He also confirmed that Trace O'Con-
nor, formerly editing and development coordinator, as well
as Internet representative for the company, was among those
let go, as were Vampire developer Jennifer Hartshorn and Rage
Internet representative Tim Byrd. Layoffs were made across the
board, affecting the R.P.G., cards, fiction, warehouse, account-
ing and marketing departments.
Wieck was quick to note, however, that the cost cutting
did not end with the layoffs. "The officers and owners of the
company - including me - are not drawing compensation," he
said. "The people who are still here have taken some salary
cuts as well."
Wieck said that the layoffs wouldn't affect the release of any
of White Wolf's 1996 products, "which tells you how far ahead
I let things get," he noted.
Wieck said he expected the downsizing to be temporary.
"Our goal is be able to bring some of these people back even-
tually," he said. "As we continue to grow and then need additional
people, we want to be able to re-hire the same folks we let go."
were some months there when we were not profitable and we
had to correct that. Unfortunately, that required laying some
people off."
Wieck called the previously reported number of 15 peo-
ple laid off "a little high," adding, "We prefer not to release
an accurate number." He also confirmed that Trace O'Con-
nor, formerly editing and development coordinator, as well
as Internet representative for the company, was among those
let go, as were Vampire developer Jennifer Hartshorn and Rage
Internet representative Tim Byrd. Layoffs were made across the
board, affecting the R.P.G., cards, fiction, warehouse, account-
ing and marketing departments.
Wieck was quick to note, however, that the cost cutting
did not end with the layoffs. "The officers and owners of the
company - including me - are not drawing compensation," he
said. "The people who are still here have taken some salary
cuts as well."
Wieck said that the layoffs wouldn't affect the release of any
of White Wolf's 1996 products, "which tells you how far ahead
I let things get," he noted.
Wieck said he expected the downsizing to be temporary.
"Our goal is be able to bring some of these people back even-
tually," he said. "As we continue to grow and then need additional
people, we want to be able to re-hire the same folks we let go."
- Patrick Daniel O'Neill
Triviathlon
A.D.& D. Triviathlon
What's a Flumph anyway?
Longtime players of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons may
recall that ridiculous-looking beast from Fiend Folio, long
since out of print. Now that TSR has launched its largest
contest ever, those players can put their knowledge to the
test in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Triviathlon: The
Arcane Challenge.
Entrants will be required to answer all 100 A.D.&D. trivia
questions, which will be printed on the official entry form and
posters. Questions will be from three categories: A.D.&D. game
rules, stories and settings, and art. All the answers can be found
in A.D.&D. products past and present. The contest begins March
1 and ends May 31. A clue line has been established at (900)
420-CLUE (2583). The cost is 90 cents per minute and the aver-
age call is two minutes. People under 18 must have parental per-
mission to call.
Players can win a trip for two to a game convention in Europe,
a trip for two to the Gen Con Game Fair in Milwaukee or a lim-
ited edition pewter dragon. The winners will be chosen at random
from a pool of correct entries at this year's Gen Con in Milwau-
kee, to be held Aug. 8-11.
Triviathlon
A.D.& D. Triviathlon
What's a Flumph anyway?
Longtime players of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons may
recall that ridiculous-looking beast from Fiend Folio, long
since out of print. Now that TSR has launched its largest
contest ever, those players can put their knowledge to the
test in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Triviathlon: The
Arcane Challenge.
Entrants will be required to answer all 100 A.D.&D. trivia
questions, which will be printed on the official entry form and
posters. Questions will be from three categories: A.D.&D. game
rules, stories and settings, and art. All the answers can be found
in A.D.&D. products past and present. The contest begins March
1 and ends May 31. A clue line has been established at (900)
420-CLUE (2583). The cost is 90 cents per minute and the aver-
age call is two minutes. People under 18 must have parental per-
mission to call.
Players can win a trip for two to a game convention in Europe,
a trip for two to the Gen Con Game Fair in Milwaukee or a lim-
ited edition pewter dragon. The winners will be chosen at random
from a pool of correct entries at this year's Gen Con in Milwau-
kee, to be held Aug. 8-11.
Contest entry forms will be available at hobby, book and
comic stores nationwide. A total of 400,000 entry posters will
be made available.
- Jeff Franzmann
XXX Marks the Spot
With collectible card games based on football, TV shows
and movies already on the market, it was probably only a mat-
ter of time before a C.C.G. based on adult-oriented material
was released.
Dark Angels, designed by Rusty Gilligan and produced by
Hero for Hire, is unique in many ways. With 10 cards by 10 artists,
including Mike Bradley and the legendary Bill Ward, Dark Angels
is by far the smallest C.C.G. on the market.
The set, how-
ever, can be used
with almost any
other collectible
card game, from
Magic: The Gather-
ing to OverPower.
comic stores nationwide. A total of 400,000 entry posters will
be made available.
- Jeff Franzmann
XXX Marks the Spot
With collectible card games based on football, TV shows
and movies already on the market, it was probably only a mat-
ter of time before a C.C.G. based on adult-oriented material
was released.
Dark Angels, designed by Rusty Gilligan and produced by
Hero for Hire, is unique in many ways. With 10 cards by 10 artists,
including Mike Bradley and the legendary Bill Ward, Dark Angels
is by far the smallest C.C.G. on the market.
The set, how-
ever, can be used
with almost any
other collectible
card game, from
Magic: The Gather-
ing to OverPower.
"While they play
as regular cards with an
each other, they
all have 'universal
rules,'" Gilligan
explained. "Points on
the cards can be
applied to a wide
range of games."
Hero for Hire has
more adult cards in
the pipe. "We're
planning on doing a
set molded in the same cast, with a new twist. We've already got
designs and people slotted for at least 100 cards."
While Dark Angels is the first adult-oriented game card
set on the market, Palliard Press is planning to release its own
adult C.C.G. in July: XXXenophile, based on Phil Foglio's
comic of the same name. Is Palliard Press worried about
the competition? "The product will stand or fall on its own
quality," said E. Jordan Boyar, acting publisher for the
XXXenophile game. "Anything which promotes this line will
benefit the consumer."
Gilligan echoes these sentiments, saying, "You can't get into
a specialty market and expect to be the only one. If they're doing
it based on the comic, that's great. It's another avenue for the adult
market. I'd buy it."
- Jeff Franzmann
TSR Retail Changes
as regular cards with an
each other, they
all have 'universal
rules,'" Gilligan
explained. "Points on
the cards can be
applied to a wide
range of games."
Hero for Hire has
more adult cards in
the pipe. "We're
planning on doing a
set molded in the same cast, with a new twist. We've already got
designs and people slotted for at least 100 cards."
While Dark Angels is the first adult-oriented game card
set on the market, Palliard Press is planning to release its own
adult C.C.G. in July: XXXenophile, based on Phil Foglio's
comic of the same name. Is Palliard Press worried about
the competition? "The product will stand or fall on its own
quality," said E. Jordan Boyar, acting publisher for the
XXXenophile game. "Anything which promotes this line will
benefit the consumer."
Gilligan echoes these sentiments, saying, "You can't get into
a specialty market and expect to be the only one. If they're doing
it based on the comic, that's great. It's another avenue for the adult
market. I'd buy it."
- Jeff Franzmann
TSR Retail Changes
TSR has announced sweeping changes in its distribution and
retail support departments, including the closure of the Mail-
Order Hobby Shop.
TSR President Lorraine Williams explained that the re-organi-
zation would allow the company to concentrate on what it does
best. "We are turning the sales of TSR games over to retailers.
Our company's best efforts are focused on producing games and
books, not selling to consumers."
In that vein, a new quarterly newsletter, Tactical Sales Report,
is being made available to retailers. Also, a nationwide toll-free
phone number has been set up for consumers who are looking
for nearby retail outlets that sell TSR products.
- Jeff Franzmann
