Kind of a scary but maybe neat thought

[Lighthammer]

I've been meaning to post this for a while but simply never got around to it.

I had what could be a very scary, but very neat thought for The Hub depending on execution.

We all know right now The Hub is probably brainstorming more unique series to toss on the pot and flesh out a full schedule of unique, "Only on The Hub" content.

To that end, I started thinking about what properties Hasbro has access to, they own outright, etc. That led me to something potentially disturbing I hadn't realized yet. Hasbro owns Wizards of the Coast and Wizards of the Coast has all kinds of properties that haven't been made into cartoon series yet (or at least in a very long time).

Three properties that spring to mind which are owned by Wizards of the Coast are Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer.

Dungeons and Dragons has obviously been done before but not in over 20 years. Magic: The Gathering never has had a TV series spot and Warhammer has had elments used in series, but never an outright series of itself.

Depending on execution all these properties could be really neat or potentially really bad.

IE MTG - YGO Clone? Bad idea. Series that follows the stories of the Planes Walkers? Potentially really cool idea.

Frankly, I'd love to see a Warhammer series if for no other reason then to expose how much of the story was ripped off by WoW >.<

I wonder if Hasbro has thought about this yet.

[Ed Liu]

From what I saw at New York Comic Con last year, Warhammer is definitely a property that WotC/Hasbro is willing to exploit, although I don't know if it's strayed to TV yet. I'm also pretty sure that they're still licensing the Dungeons and Dragons property for really bad live-action movies a cut below the average B-movies running as the SyFy movies of the week. I know they did at least one past the abysmal live-action feature.

I'm sure they're examining all their properties to see what can be turned into TV shows well, these properties included. I'd welcome any good fantasy-themed animation on the network (or anywhere, really), with the operative word being "good." The way they've handled the Dungeons & Dragons property in the past, from the live-action movies to even that animated Dragonlance abomination from a few years ago, does not exactly fill me with hope, though.

[Lighthammer]

Well, Hasbro has only owned Wizards of the coast since around 2000, so, about 10 years.

They have so much lore to draw upon from their major franchises that one would think it would be hard to mess it up. I don't doubt someone will have a dumb idea though.

I mean, I can TOTALLY see Hasbro trying their hand at a YGO clone and use MTG instead. Again, that would totally be the fail direction to go IMHO. That would just be sell out.

[Anyone00]

Isn't Warhammer (Fantasy and 40k) owned by Games Workshop not WotC?

A Cultist-chan and Friends show like a Warhammer 40k My Little Pony.....

[Marvin Tikvah]

^Yup, looks like it, and it also got a DTV release last year according to Wikipedia.

Personally, I'd be all up for a Magic series. I haven't played it in years, but the fantastical elements lend itself well to establish a setting and create an awesome fantasy epic.

[Mandouga]

I mean, I can TOTALLY see Hasbro trying their hand at a YGO clone and use MTG instead. Again, that would totally be the fail direction to go IMHO. That would just be sell out.

(quoted for emphasis)

With all due respect, I disagree. Don't forget that The Hub is "a network for kids and their families". If anything, Hasbro Studios would likely do a combination of both ideas. Either way, a Magic: The Gathering series would likely incorporate the card game in some way in order to make it as family-oriented as possible. The only way it would be unwatchable is if they made it a generic series with non-dimensional characters without any personality, and/or one that focuses more on superficial realism, and/or constantly using the card game as the butt of every other joke (in this case making it a tribute/parody series), but I go on.

In any case, I'll be honest. If it didn't incorporate the card game, it would likely just be another generic fantasy series that could might as well feature original characters. In this instance, it would just be M:TG in name only, also making it unwatchable. I want to watch a Magic: The Gathering series, and not just an "original" show that uses a familar name for attracting viewers.

As for D&D and Warhammer, I guess it really depends on the show and what direction they might want to go in.

[Anyone00]

^Yup, looks like it, and it also got a DTV release last year according to Wikipedia.

I am aware of the DTV. I doubt it will be shown on The Hub, CN, or any of the Disney channels.

As for D&D and Warhammer, I guess it really depends on the show and what direction they might want to go in.

Once again Warhammer is not WotC, it's Games Workshop.

[Lighthammer]

In any case, I'll be honest. If it didn't incorporate the card game, it would likely just be another generic fantasy series that could might as well feature original characters. In this instance, it would just be M:TG in name only, also making it unwatchable. I want to watch a Magic: The Gathering series, and not just an "original" show that uses a familar name for attracting viewers.

There's really two sides to this the rationale here.

I think most of us around these forums can see the pure benefit from having a game that pins interesting opponents against one another in a YGO type setting. It's good largely from the standpoint of teaching players about the cards and the game.

That, is undeniable.

The problem that I see if they go this route is first and foremost, they will disfranchise a MAJORITY of the current MTG players. I'm talking about the players that participate in weekly drafts, touries, etc. I've played MTG Coast to Coast (not like through the internet or anything, in person) and I can tell you virtually everyone I've encountered who plays magic in drafts etc has a few things in common. For starters most are a little bit on the arrogant side, they really believe Magic is not a "Kiddie game", Most tend to make fun of players who like Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, etc. Depending on what area of the country you play in, some areas tend to be more lenient if you started YGO and then moved on to Magic, but they typically won't like it if you try to play both. Most won't tolerate mentioning YGO in context of "similar to magic".

My fear is if they try to make Magic have similar connotations to YGO, they are going to cause massive, massive problems with their player base, plain and simple.

Beyond that, Magic, unlike other card games, has a HUGE story line that extends in almost every block of Magic. There's major looming reasons why certain cards have certain abilities and why certain themes transcend a particular block. They don't need to attempt to bridge things together to make a coherent story, there already is one.

Finally, I think we've hit a point where we should be able to safely stand back and say "We know there will never be another YGO". Konami has now tried to make two new YGO series and neither of those two held a flame compared to the original nor did they come anywhere close to generating the same level of ratings as the origianl. We've also seen three other attempts at other card game related series and all of them failed pretty hard. Even similar game based cartoons like Beyblade haven't managed to get close to touching YGO in ratings.

In closing, A very good YGO like series could fill the void YGO 5Ds hasn't managed to, but the series is going to need to be outstanding, captivating and innovative; but more then anything else, it would need to be done in a way that respects the lores and the players. I just don't see it happening.