https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2019/2/8/star-wars-outer-rim/

You might be wondering what this has to do with IA. Well, the IA naysayers out there think that FFG is going to be pulling the plug on IA soon often cite the contentious deal FFG has with Hasbro, who has the exclusive licence to make Star Wars board games (not war games or card games), as a source of headache for FFG surrounding IA and that is the reason that FFG is eager to pull the plug. But if that's true, then why is FFG making another new Star Wars board game? It even says right there in the headline, "announcing a new board game of bounty hunters, mercenaries and smugglers".

So could this mean that IA isn't actually doomed by FFG's deal with Hasbro and maybe had just been back-burnered for a bit to have the devs start working on this project? Clearly if FFG is putting resources into making new Star Wars board games then they don't seem to be that bothered by whatever deal they struck with Hasbro in making Imperial Assault and Rebellion.

True, and FFG would not be adding new stuff to the free Legends of the Alliance app if any of the current IA was in jeopardy.

Outer Rim finished and going into production (otherwise FFG would not have announced it - if their MO holds) at least should free some design resources. And where do we want them? (all together now) IA!

Looks interesting, it would be cool to bust out my unused Xwing minis for the spaceships in outer rim. Im sort of glad IA might be slowing down. this Legends of the Alliance app may be an End cap to the game. and im happy that digital content could keep expanding the game in the story side of the game.

was never really a Skirmisher, but loved playing some games. and came 2nd in the whole of New Zealand in Skirmish tournament. (was not very popular here) but i have always been campaigner through and through. i dont mind. was a good run. and i need to end cap it, othe wise i have to keep drawing more characters for my Character tracker app

Indeed! Clearly it means we'll be getting TWO new big expansion boxes in the next week or two... AND more app content! We can also infer we will be getting Boba Fett, Dengar and RGC fixes along with 4-LOM and Zuckus.

(I wish... actually have no idea)

(

Looks like a cool game, but no more impedes IA than Rebellion did.

I actually wonder if they forgot about Rebellion, or if the first expansion was rushed so much to fix the combat as it did.

Rebellion is such a good game.. I imagine Outer Rim will also be very well done.

More importantly, some of the intellectual property seems interesting. They're still using the Harrison Ford based Solo, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando, Dr. Aphra? That's a telling inclusion into the FFG/Star Wars fold. I can imagine an IA Campaign with Aphra as the nemesis.

Looks interesting, and I'll be keeping an open mind about this one.

Good point. Outer-Rim might be the board-gamiest release FFG has done, so I can totally see that being interpreted as a bold statement.

Now... *puts on tinfoil hat*

It also means there's probably some new Aphra artwork out there, and we all know that FFG loves to crossover their art game-to-game...

Seriously though, if we wanted to keep tabs on the art (new or not, I can't keep track) and consider each item as potentially something that could come to IA, we have (as far as I can tell):

Allies/villains:

Aphra

Jyn Erso

Maz Kanata

Solo: A Star Wars Story versions of Han and Lando (seems unnecessary though)

Heroes:

Dug mechanic (I'd be SO down for that)

Rewards or Items:

Coaxium Crystal

And more to tease us with in the future, I'm sure.

On 2/8/2019 at 4:13 PM, Tvboy said:

So could this mean that IA isn't actually doomed by FFG's deal with Hasbro and maybe had just been back-burnered for a bit to have the devs start working on this project? Clearly if FFG is putting resources into making new Star Wars board games then they don't seem to be that bothered by whatever deal they struck with Hasbro in making Imperial Assault and Rebellion. 

As no one has ever put forth this alleged deal and things continue to happen that conflict with the narrative, I maintain that there is not a licensing issue and never was one.

I'm also sure there are some people who refuse to believe that LotA even exists.

9 minutes ago, Zrob314 said:

As no one has ever put forth this alleged deal and things continue to happen that conflict with the narrative, I maintain that there is not a licensing issue and never was one.

There is an agreement, and it was confirmed by FFG (the CEO Christian T. Petersen IIRC) on a video at least, and the change of distribution of IA should be a clear indicator as well. We just don't know what the agreement contains.

You have obviously missed all the discussion / hubbub in late 2014/early 2015 about it.

It is of course possible that FFG has later gotten a more preferential deal/treatment from LFL/Disney.

Just now, a1bert said:

There is an agreement, and it was confirmed by FFG (the CEO Christian T. Petersen IIRC) on a video at least, and the change of distribution of IA should be a clear indicator as well. We just don't know what the agreement contains.

You have obviously missed all the discussion / hubbub in late 2014/early 2015 about it.

Source?

Because I've asked for a source before and no one has been able to produce anything.

21 minutes ago, Zrob314 said:

Source?

Because I've asked for a source before and no one has been able to produce anything.

So, they have not wanted to make your research for you...

Googling "ffg hasbro distribution change imperial assault" immediately gives quotes of FFG referring to Hasbro influence:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1288738/will-hasbro-ruin-game

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1296487/ffg-customer-service-fail-warning-fellow-aussies

Also, there's the fact that FFG cannot sell Imperial Assault on their webstore which you can verify yourself.

If you want more, you can start watching the videos. It was maybe Chris T. Petersen or Anton Torres, possibly GenCon, possibly Team Covenant. If I come across it, I'll let you know. (Edit: Or I might be thinking about Mr. Petersen confirming they could use Prequel material but he doesn't want to.)

1 minute ago, a1bert said:

So, they have not wanted to make your research for you...

Googling "ffg hasbro distribution change imperial assault" immediately gives quotes of FFG referring to Hasbro influence:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1288738/will-hasbro-ruin-game

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1296487/ffg-customer-service-fail-warning-fellow-aussies

Also, there's the fact that FFG cannot sell Imperial Assault on their webstore which you can verify yourself.

If you want more, you can start watching the videos. It was maybe Chris T. Petersen or Anton Torres, possibly GenCon, possibly Team Covenant. If I come across it, I'll let you know.

Yeah, a thread of Board Game Geek is hardly a "source." I mean I want something official please, because otherwise you're referencing rumor, conjecture and hearsay.

5 minutes ago, Zrob314 said:

Yeah, a thread of Board Game Geek is hardly a "source." I mean I want something official please, because otherwise you're referencing rumor, conjecture and hearsay.

So, you are saying all those people directly quoting FFG (indicating the were issues with Hasbro) are in a conspiracy to fabricate quotes from FFG?

Is FFG not selling Imperial Assault on their webstore somehow unofficial? Do you think they have a better reason to not sell Imperial Assault online? Occam's Razor and so on...

4 minutes ago, a1bert said:

So, you are saying all those people directly quoting FFG (indicating the were issues with Hasbro) are in a conspiracy to fabricate quotes from FFG?

Is FFG not selling Imperial Assault on their webstore somehow unofficial? Do you think they have a better reason to not sell Imperial Assault online? Occam's Razor and so on...

"You know, I really think I never should have run for president. I'm just ripping off the American people and I'm doing everything I can to land myself in jail." - Donald J Trump.

I'm directly quoting him. Prove I'm not.

7 minutes ago, Zrob314 said:

"You know, I really think I never should have run for president. I'm just ripping off the American people and I'm doing everything I can to land myself in jail." - Donald J Trump.

I'm directly quoting him. Prove I'm not.

I'd believe it.

7 minutes ago, Zrob314 said:

I'm directly quoting him. Prove I'm not.

Why? I have no issue with that statement.

You have an issue with people quoting FFG. You could dismiss one person as unreliable, but not all. If you dismiss all evidence, you are calling out for conspiracy, including FFG being on it for not selling Imperial Assault on their own webstore.

Just now, a1bert said:

Why? I have no issue with that statement.

You have an issue with people quoting FFG. You could dismiss one person as unreliable, but not all. If you dismiss all evidence, you are calling out for conspiracy, including FFG being on it for not selling Imperial Assault on their own webstore.

I'm not calling out a conspiracy. I'm saying that that information you're referencing is hearsay. I would put no more stock in that than I would if some rando told me that you were the Zodiac Killer or that you were a sock puppet for Ted Cruz the Zodiac Killer who also likes to play FFG star wars games.

You also said that the CEO at the time confirmed this in a video...I guess that means you watched this video? Does this video exist somewhere you can link?

9 minutes ago, Zrob314 said:

You also said that the CEO at the time confirmed this in a video...I guess that means you watched this video? Does this video exist somewhere you can link?

If I can find it. It's been a few years you know, and like I edited above, I might be mixing it up with Petersen confirming they could use Prequel materials - which was why I asked to look for it.

For the meanwhile:
What's your theory for the reason FFG does not sell Imperial Assault (or Star Wars: Rebellion, which is also a Star Wars boardgame) on their webstore? (While they do sell all of their other non-boardgame Star Wars games.)

1 minute ago, a1bert said:

If I can find it. It's been a few years you know, and like I edited above, I might be mixing it up with Petersen confirming they could use Prequel materials - which was why I asked to look for it.

For the meanwhile: what's your theory for the reason FFG does not sell Imperial Assault (or Star Wars: Rebellion, which is also a Star Wars boardgame) on their webstore?

I don't have one. I also don't care.

Them selling the game on their website or not has no bearing on whether this alleged restrictions exist. This is because Rebellion exits, now the Outer Rim and LotA exists. Since you referenced Occam's Razor earlier, I'll throw it back at you.
Thesis: FFG/Asmodee creating board games digital games on Star Wars license is a violation of said license and they are/will be/have been sued by Hasbro.

Proof for this thesis: IA not sold on the Website
Proof Against this thesis: LotA, Rebellion, Outer Rim, continued expansion of IA. As to legal action no one has been able to produce a court filing in an matter between the companies (which would be a matter of public record dontchaknow).

Null hypothesis: There is some other reason for IA nto being sold on the website.

Seeing that evidence directly in contradiction continues to be produced I then conclude that there is some other reason for IA not being sold on the FFG website that does not necessarily confirm the thesis. I am unable to reject the null hypothesis.

Show me proof and I'm happy to accept it. So far every single time I'v asked someone to produce documentation they have been unable to do so.

I'm sorry, but your thesis is that FFG just decided to go ahead and just start making Star Wars board games with no licensing agreement, got involved with a lawsuit, and just continued making new games and expansions for years to come?

edit: Ah I see, nevermind. That was more or less a scarecrow argument against the general consensus, but was so far from what people actually believe that I didn't even recognize it as such.

I didn't read all the backstory, but was anybody ever saying there was a lawsuit involved at any point? To me the most logical sequence of events would have been something like...

FFG: Hmmm... we've got this great idea for a star wars board game, but Hasbro has that license. Hey, Hasbro, this doesn't really infringe on your turf - any chance we could come to an arrangement on this?

Hasbro: Sure, but we want a cut (or whatever). Such and such per sale (or something) and you have to go through our distribution channels (etc).

I mean just because they have a legal arrangement of some sort doesn't mean that it had to be a lawsuit, or even contentious. Seems to me something like the above could benefit both companies. And although I don't have any video evidence or whatever, I think the pure fact that none of these Star Wars board games (and ONLY the Star Wars board games) are sold on the site makes it pretty self-evident. I can't think of another explanation for that that even begins to make sense.

1 minute ago, subtrendy2 said:

I'm sorry, but your thesis is that FFG just decided to go ahead and just start making Star Wars board games with no licensing agreement, got involved with a lawsuit, and just continued making new games and expansions for years to come?

Not mine, other people's.

That's what everyone has said for years. They can't make an app for IA because that's too much of a video game and company X has the license for that or this violates the Hasbro agreement....
At some point before HOTE came out people were trying to say that FFG/Asmodee had been sued but no one could produce a court document to support that.

4 minutes ago, ManateeX said:

I can't think of another explanation for that that even begins to make sense.

Inability to conceive of a reason or counterargument is not positive proof of any particular argument.
If I cannot imagine what there was before the big bang that does not mean I have created proof for the existence of any particular divine creation story.

1 minute ago, Zrob314 said:

Not mine, other people's.

That's what everyone has said for years. They can't make an app for IA because that's too much of a video game and company X has the license for that or this violates the Hasbro agreement....
At some point before HOTE came out people were trying to say that FFG/Asmodee had been sued but no one could produce a court document to support that.

That's fair, I misunderstood your post at first.

And yeah, I'd say I've generally been in line with @manatee_x 's line of thinking, in that these types of licensing issues probably originated from a deal made.

And as far as that goes, I seriously doubt we'd ever see any evidence of it, since those types of deals are generally not public knowledge, specifically the provisions in them.

And man, as bad as FFG is at communicating to their fans, I'm sure being transparent about this isn't their priority.

Just now, Zrob314 said:

Inability to conceive of a reason or counterargument is not positive proof of any particular argument.
If I cannot imagine what there was before the big bang that does not mean I have created proof for the existence of any particular divine creation story.

Except I'm not looking for airtight logical proof, I'm speculating about my favourite board game with other fans on a Star Wars message board. And if I'm presented with 1) a theory that makes practical sense, and has direct, measurable evidence to support it and 2) literally no other options presented.... I'm going to go with option 1 every time