Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[stevehousse]

I find it weird that Disney is licensing their characters to casino games! I understand that they want to make more money, but with all the backlash that casinos already recieve, letting them use children's movie characters is just bizarre???

I will keep a look out at the casinos in my area next time I hit one up to see of I find anything Disney or marvel related...

 

[danlb_2000]

If Disney and gaming are OK with you (let some arsehole explain to us simpleminds that Disney is a business ...I actually think using that line should be a crime punishable by stoning) why not move to the sex business?

How about some Ariel lube before you Journey Under the Sea? And what dude wouldn't want to slip into a Mighty Thor or Buzz Lightyear condom?

And no one in the real media thinks Disney's gamble should come up snake eyes?

I am not sure why you are so shocked about this? Yes, I know you don't want to hear it, but Disney is a business, and a very big one. Businesses like this only "do the right thing" when it's in their best interest. Disney doesn't promote "family friend entertainment" because they feel they have some moral obligation to do this, they do it because it helps the bottom line. I may not like it but it doesn't surprise me in the least.

 

[WDW1974]

Truthfully, Marvel should probably be staying out of the gaming industry, even as a stand alone company. Now that they are owned by Disney, it seems even more imperative to get out.

Like it or not (I do not) Spidey, Wolverine and the Avengers are Disney characters just like Pooh, Minnie,Cinderella, Jasmine, Woody, Kermit, Goofy and the Dwarfs.

To see Disney licensing them for gambling, while leading the pitchfork brigade against casinos in Florida is simply astounding. What arrogance. What avarice.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Spirit, I'm quite impressed that you know about the gaming area... but keep in mind that Marvel's operations are still kept completely separate from the rest of the company... However, you do have a point. Bob has had ample time to dispense of these operations, and the fact that he hasn't yet... it says something.

 

[Nemo14]

They are evil...evil I tell you - they will rule the world and control all of our minds with this magic band stuff just you wait and see. I'm sure they poison the dole whips too but just for the little kids...evil I say

What insight you show....

 

[Hakunamatata]

Like it or not (I do not) Spidey, Wolverine and the Avengers are Disney characters just like Pooh, Minnie,Cinderella, Jasmine, Woody, Kermit, Goofy and the Dwarfs.

To see Disney licensing them for gambling, while leading the pitchfork brigade against casinos in Florida is simply astounding. What arrogance. What avarice.

Although I have no issue with the slot machine licensing since, for the most part that should have little impact on children, note I said should, the licensing for scratch off tickets is much more concerning to me because they are much more visible. All that being said, the last comment about casinos in Florida is totally on target.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

why not move to the sex business?

Anyone have a copy of that playboy/disney channel ad from 1983 (and yes, that was a real thing, D23 is where I first heard about it!)?

 

[flynnibus]

If you have a contract that you can produce between Disney and WMS, I'd love to see it. Of course, even Disney breaks contracts or pays to get out of them. They are staunchly anti-gaming, so one would be hard put to fathom how they would possibly want to see Spidey on a brand new slot machine (one that could easily attract the eyes of children walking thru a casino to get to their room or have dinner with their folks).

Maybe Marvel is the new touchstone or mirimax?

And I concur with you.. licensing deals in gaming/coin-op are not deals that sit for 3+ years before a game is out. I would expect this deal to have been done in the '11 timeframe given the game was launched in the fall of '12

 

[wdwmagic]

I've had to remove posts here again. Let us not go back down that road again.

 

[WDW1974]

I am not sure why you are so shocked about this? Yes, I know you don't want to hear it, but Disney is a business, and a very big one. Businesses like this only "do the right thing" when it's in their best interest. Disney doesn't promote "family friend entertainment" because they feel they have some moral obligation to do this, they do it because it helps the bottom line. I may not like it but it doesn't surprise me in the least.

I am hoping this is sarcastic.But if you are serious, just read about Disney's efforts to keep casinos out of Florida going back to the late 1970s and try to rationalize one stance while they engage in the other.

 

[WDW1974]

Spirit, I'm quite impressed that you know about the gaming area... but keep in mind that Marvel's operations are still kept completely separate from the rest of the company... However, you do have a point. Bob has had ample time to dispense of these operations, and the fact that he hasn't yet... it says something.

There is separate and then there is Disney.

And not only has Bob not stopped this business, he has grown it. Amazing. And folks were complaining about Disney selling overpriced wine at the Be Our Guest Cafe?

And not a single soul calls him on this. Astounding.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Not to derail the gambling discussion, but BOM has their summer report up and its discussion of the decline in 3D ticket sales and the failure rate of tentpole titles should be of interest to Disney Studios:

This Summer also appears to be the one in which audiences finally rejected 3D in a meaningful way. 3D shares for early Summer releases were consistently below 40 percent, with some even dipping below 30 percent. By late July, most studios were no longer reporting 3D shares at all, which is a trend that will likely continue indefinitely (except, of course, in the case of the occasional major 3D title like Gravity).

With record overall grosses, what explains the general negativity surrounding the box office this Summer? It's likely a combination of ballooning budget figures and slower-than-expected foreign growth. This Summer, a whopping 18 movies cost over $100 million to produce. In comparison, last Summer only had 13. Unfortunately, just because studios are spending big bucks doesn't necessarily mean audiences are going to rush out to theaters—of those 18 movies, only 11 will earn over $100 million at the domestic box office.

The inflated budgets would be okay if the foreign box office was still growing at a relentless pace. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case. Last Summer, the Top 10 earned $4.85 billion overseas; in comparison, the Top 10 has only grossed $3.98 billion so far, and probably won't wind up much higher than $4.2 billion when all is said and done. Obviously, this data isn't perfect—outside of the Top 10, there could be enough growth to make up for this—but it's still indicative of a foreign box office that isn't quite as explosive as many expected.

Next Summer, it does look like the studios are reigning in their spending a bit: while official figures aren't yet available, it's unlikely that more than 15 titles cost over $100 million.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2013&wknd=35a&p=

 

[danlb_2000]

I am hoping this is sarcastic.But if you are serious, just read about Disney's efforts to keep casinos out of Florida going back to the late 1970s and try to rationalize one stance while they engage in the other.

I am not being sarcastic. Of course Disney is going to fight casino's in Florida since it would be in competition with WDW. Of course they don't say that publically and use the "it's not family friendly excuse". The stances are easy to rationalize, they both are in support of Disney's bottom line. Again, not saying I like it or agree with it.

 

[BrianLo]

Marvel had a deal to build a theme park in Dubai. That came to an end very quickly when Disney took over.

Hmm... I actually thought this was still on track via IMG Worlds of Adventure. It actually has a legitimate structure well under construction.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

While free dining and small crowds are worthy of discussion, I can't help but think I've stumbled upon something that is utterly baffling and disgusting and right out in public view.

Yes, I am speaking of gambling and Disney. I want to make it clear that what I am posting is info that I have just come upon. It's probably worthy of its own thread, but I also don't want it moved to where no one will read it as if it was news to me, it's probably news to 99% of the people here.

Disney has a thriving casino and lotto branding division. STOP. READ AGAIN. THINK.

The company that has spent countless millions over the years to keep casinos out of Florida (and their higher paying jobs too) has a business that they never talk about and no one ever writes about (anyone want to send this to Jason Garcia at the Sentinel? It really is more of a Bloomberg or WSJ piece, but you'd think the local paper would be interested.)

It was developed under Ike Perlmutter's stewardship at Marvel, BUT Disney has moved full-throttle it would appear into this unreported business segment.

As Disney is perceived as a wholesome, family-friendly purveyor of entertainment, it is unfathomable that TWDC is quite active in this business. Yet, it is true. Being that Disney has thwarted ANY AND ALL attempts to bring casino gaming to Florida, it is also the utmost of hypocrisy.

Not only does this now-Disney business division actively leverage IP for casino games, it pursues state and national lotteries. Disney inked deals just this spring and is continuing to work pushing its IP for use in slot machines on casino floors and scratch-off lottery games. Moreover, Disney has redirected its efforts at the online gaming community where there has been an explosion of IP-related growth in just the last few years using Disney-owned characters.

Not only does this go against the image of the company, and its platform against gambling of any kind, the online activity is directed squarely at attracting younger gamblers familiar with the Disney characters. Attracting kids. (Playtech and Cryptologic are the led companies Disney is working with presently.)
...
Here is just a sampling:
**WMS

Ironman

Spider-Man, Green Goblin, Marvel,Super Hero and all related characters...

(the above deal is through MDI Entertainment which is a subsidiary of WMS owned Scientific Games...)

**The Avengers, Spring 2012, Disney inks a deal for the Canadian Lottery

http://epublicgaming.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9554:mdi-acquires-marvels-the-avengers-film-rights-for-instant-games-&catid=30:us-lottery&Itemid=30
**The Iowa State Lottery
http://www.ialottery.com/games/Scratch/IN808IronMan3.asp (deal signed in 2013)
**A letter from an outrages shopper in Texas to Marvel/TWDC...
http://otherversegames.blogspot.com/2012/04/stop-this-now-marvel-comics-lotto.html (April 2012)
**The Colorado State Lottery
http://news.lotteryhub.com/2013/05/23/iron-man-and-the-colorado-lottery/ (deal signed in 2013)

A good topic. If old news - every conservative thinkthank in America has made the same outraged hissyfit about Disney betraying family values by licensing its Marvel characters to gambling. As has the gambling lobby - who have even deeper pockets than Disney and ran many ads.

I think this non-issue had its heyday two years ago.

January 9, 2012​

Disney is under fire from a conservative Washington, D.C., think tank for opposing a plan that would allow casino developers to build massive resorts in South Florida, all while the entertainment giant licenses its Marvel comics superheroes to gambling.
http://robot6.comicbookresources.co...f-hypocrisy-in-south-florida-gambling-debate/​

​

Here's my reply to konservative outrage and the gambling lobby:

I think there would be a problem if TWDC opposes gambling from a moral standpoint. In that case it could rightfully be accused of hypocrisy. With the note that this moral objection needs to be absolute. Because one can without hypocrisy oppose organised gambling and casino-driven tourism, but not slot machines or lotteries. For example, I myself enjoy buying the odd lottery ticket, might throw in a quarter in a slot machine at my local bar, but will oppose organised gambling industry where I live.
With Marvel on slot machines and lottery tickets, TWDC does need to be mindful not to evoke family values in its lobby against gambling in central Florida.

TWDC opposing gambling in (Central) Florida not from a moral objection but from a self-serving interest of maintaining a specific kind of tourism and economy in Central Florida is a different matter altogether. One not at all at odds with TWDC licensing Marvel characters for gambling. No more than it is hypocritical to oppose a new aiport runway behind your new house that represents your pension while still flying yourself.

 

[BrianLo]

I haven't been in 2013, which is shocking, and I just swapped my annual September visit for a winter visit to DLP, so I have no firsthand experiences.

When was the last time you visited DLP? Not sure it was a good trade-off. However, your commentary on it will be worth it for us at least!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I am hoping this is sarcastic.But if you are serious, just read about Disney's efforts to keep casinos out of Florida going back to the late 1970s and try to rationalize one stance while they engage in the other.

I'm not so sure that the efforts to keep casinos out of Florida would come under the heading of anti-gambling as much as it is anti-competition. The more money lost in gambling, the more adults diverted to casino's instead of Disney, the fewer dollars to be spent at Disney Parks. It isn't even close to being a moral protest against gambling. If it were they would be active in New Jersey and Connecticut and Las Vegas. Heck up until a few years ago they even had a Disney Store in Caesars Palace in Vegas.

They couldn't care less about gambling except where it threatens their business. The cruise lines have tons of kids on board so as a family experience they can oppose that without being hypocritical, in fact that enhances the image for that part of the company. Same with the parks. However, like I said, it isn't gambling that is the crux of the hypocracy...it's the competition.

Maybe this just comes under the heading of wherever the casino doesn't infringe on Disney territory...why not make a few bucks on it. Different branch of the company...different mission statement.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Disney is again being hypocritical and hoping no one looks closer. I doubt the O-Town Sentinel will. Maybe someone should Tweet Jason Garcia?

The Orlando Sentinel has been running tired artiles about 'Evil Disney is into gambling itself' for many decades now.

Here is the Orlando Sentinel 1986 (!) article about manufactured outrage about Disney opposing gambling in Florida while being involved in gambling itself: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...-cruise-ships-casino-gambling-vote-on-casinos


It is always the same routine, for decades now. Some konservative thinktank discovers that evil Disney betrays family values by having some interest in gambling somewhere. The deep-pocketed pro-gambling lobby then jumps on the opportunity and runs endless ads about the hypocrisy of TWDC.

Yawn.

 

[Nubs70]

So? Not really a big deal in my opinion. They are running a business and its not like they are prostituting Cinderella downtown.

But think of the money Disney could make if they did????

 

[Goofyernmost]

But think of the money Disney could make if they did????

I firmly believe that the evil step sisters would be a lot more fun. Cindy looks a little prudish.