FS: Asmodee. Bargain at 2 Billion euros

ELI5; why is it such a bad thing that Asmodee would own Miniature Market?

Vertical integration can end up pretty bad for consumers would probably be the argument. I don't really care myself but it's not like a great sign.

Gary Sax wrote: Vertical integration can end up pretty bad for consumers would probably be the argument. I don't really care myself but it's not like a great sign.

Not hard to imagine MM now selling Asmodee titles below MAPP to gain a competitive advantage and squeeze out competition.

There are all kinds of possible negative implications from this. If an online retailer does something they don't like, they could cut them off with little downside.

People saw what happened to FFG and are thinking it will follow a similar path. Cut payroll, decrease customer service.

For me, the prospect of bad customer service is the problem.

Someone on reddit joked that you used to go to the publisher with problems like missing parts, but Asmodee sends you to the retailer. Now that they own the retailer, they will send you to the factory.

Found the BGG freak out thread:

boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/126073?commen...3008#comment10613008

Makes for some entertaining reading. Me, couldn't really care less. Funny how before this became public, nothing seems to have changed regarding MM's level of service. Now the pitchforks came out. And the BGG crowd wonders why they didn't announce it when it happened. Some are in fact petulantly asking why it wasn't "disclosed" as if it was any of their business to know.

Embracer has just bought Dark Horse as well.

I stopped using MiniatureMarket years ago because they kept sending me spam for upcoming kickstarters. Like not even store sales or upcoming releases. Fucking kickstarters that haven't funded so the games are at least a year out. I drew a line and have no regrets. Plenty of other places to shop.

n815e wrote: Embracer has just bought Dark Horse as well.

Horizontal integration of the nerd marketplace. Doctor Who is surely in the crosshairs next.

Owner of Asmodee Group Says Not to Worry About $1bn Investment from Saudi Arabia

Saudi money funding the LIV golf tour and competing with PGA has been a huge story in sports the past few weeks. Lots of high profile players questioned over the ethics of joining the LIV tour and it's hard to square morally. Lots of fans up in arms over it.

I'm curious if this will fade away in the board game industry or if it will see extended media play and haunt Asmodee.

I think it's pretty shitty to accept Saudi money and then just say "eh".

hotseatgames wrote: I think it's pretty shitty to accept Saudi money and then just say "eh".

Oh, it's not just "eh" it's actually YOUR FAULT for even bringing it up, because... uhhh... other shitty countries?!?

He said any company member who would question Embracer’s economic ties to a “non-democratic” country should “look ourselves in the mirror” and consider the other MENA countries and individuals with whom they already do business.

And then Embracer guy goes on to parrot the same playbook that every company uses when they take dirty Saudi money: "We're gonna totally change the world and magically transform their government into good people!!!! No, really, we totally can!!!!"

Further, Wingefors cites the increasing popularity of games in MENA countries, including Saudi Arabia, as a chance for Embracer Group to enact positive change.
“I truly believe in inclusion and the change that can be affected by opening our content to new markets,” he said. “By bringing more of our products to the MENA region, we have the opportunity to build local connections, support entrepreneurs, employ a diverse group people (sic) in our whole ecosystem, promote growth and bring the world closer together through gaming.”

This is the same trick the WWE tried to pull when they took ~$50 million per year to put on shows in Saudi Arabia. And had the audacity to say that they were doing something for women & girls there, except that when their WWE female wrestlers were allowed to wrestle they were forced to cover up from neck to toe AND put on a baggy t-shirt over that:

hotseatgames wrote: I think it's pretty shitty to accept Saudi money and then just say "eh".

Thing is, Embracer is a publicly traded company, traded on the open stock market ( www.nasdaqomxnordic.com/aktier/microsite...Instrument=SSE128651 )

So its not like they have a choice whether or not to accept dirty Saudi money.

A better worded PR release, sure I suppose. But it probably doesn't behoove the guys in the Embracer C suite to shit on their second largest shareholder. Its a fact of life when you are a public company unfortunately.

Rich people consuming everything.

Maybe I'll just buy pirated copies from now on.