An ICv2 Release.  Loren Greenwood, CEO of Wizards of the Coast, is the most powerful person in the hobby games business, according to a new list compiled by ICv2 in the just released ICv2 Retailers Guide to Games #11.  To compile this list, ICv2 interviewed industry figures near and far about who they thought had the greatest influence on the hobby games business.  We developed a system for tabulating the results and produced a list of the Top 10 Most Powerful:

 

 

  1. Loren Greenwood, CEO of Wizards of the Coast
  2. Jordan Weisman, founder of WizKids Games
  3. Richard McWilliam, CEO of Upper Deck
  4. Steve Geppi, Owner of Alliance Game Distributors and Diamond Comic Distributors
  5. Peter Adkison, Owner and CEO of Gen Con, LLC
  6. Christian Petersen, CEO of Fantasy Flight Games
  7. Tom Kirby, CEO of Games Workshop Group PLC
  8. Matt Wilson and Brian Snoddy, co-founders of Privateer Press, and Sherry Yeary, President
  9. Lisa Stevens, CEO of Paizo Press
  10. Dave Wallace, CEO of The Fantasy Shop

The article lays out the reasons each ended up on the list, along with a discussion of the next 10 (in alphabetical order). 

 

Three other special features appear in this issue:

 

  • John Kovalic joins as a regular contributor of editorial cartoons commenting on the games business (see 'Kovalic Takes on the Games Business'),
  • ICv2 takes on the question of  the future of hobby gaming in the face of relentless competition for time from massively multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) with the core gamer audience (see 'The Death of Hobby Gaming?').
  • We talk to retailers, distributors, and manufacturers involved about the recent cuts in trade channel discounts on two major board game lines (see 'Board Game Pricing Controversy').

As usual, we also provide a market overview and bestseller lists in five game categories.  Here are the top five in each list:

 

ICv2 Top Five CCGs

  1. Yu-Gi-Oh!
  2. Magic:  The Gathering
  3. Pokemon
  4. Versus
  5. Universal Fighting System

ICv2 Top Five CMGs

  1. Dungeons and Dragons Miniature Game
  2. HeroClix
  3. Star Wars CMG
  4. Pirates of the Spanish Main
  5. Axis & Allies

ICv2 Top Five Unpainted Miniature Games

  1. Warhammer 40,000
  2. Hordes
  3. WarMachine
  4. Warhammer Fantasy Battles
  5. Rackham

ICv2 Top Five Board, Card, and Family Games

  1. Settlers of Catan
  2. Ticket to Ride
  3. Carcassonne
  4. World of Warcraft
  5. Blokus

ICv2 Top Five RPGs

  1. Dungeons and Dragons
  2. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying
  3. World of Darkness
  4. Mutants and Masterminds
  5. Exalted

For info on how to get your copy of the ICv2 Retailers Guide to Games #11, with the special feature articles, the full lists, and much more, see 'ICv2 Releases 'ICv2 Retailers Guide to Games' #11.'