More Industry Layoffs
Wizards of the Coast is the latest genre publisher to announce layoffs, in this case, it was the game company’s second round this year. Among those terminated were VP of Digital Gaming Randy Buehler, Director of Digital Games Andrew Finch, Creative Manager of Digital Design William Meyers, and Online Community Manager Jennifer Paige according to ICv2.
A WotC spokesperson told the trade website, “Wizards of the Coast consolidated its digital game organizations to streamline execution of digital growth strategies for core brands.”
“Consolidating internal resources coupled with improved outsourcing allows us to gain efficiencies in executing against our major digital initiatives Magic Online and D&D Insider,” Wizards of the Coast President Greg Leeds added.. “Wizards of the Coast is well positioned to maximize future opportunities, including further brand development on digital platforms. The result of this consolidation is a more streamlined approach to driving core brands.”
Simon & Schuster laid off 35 people yesterday including Senior Editor Marco Palmieri. Palmieri, a former DC Comics marketing staffer, joined Pocket and successfulyl edited Star Trek novels in addition to helping Pocket expand its media tie-in operations to incude Blizzard’s RPG titles and Marvel’s super-heroes. Margaret Clark, another former DC staffer, is now solely responsible for the media tie-in line along with editors Jennifer Heddle and Ed Schlesinger.
Mutts has never been afraid of dealing with current events and now, a new storyline begins on Monday as the characters begin discussing the hunt for a dog as pet for president-elect Barack Obama’s children.
The 2008 Lucca Festival, Italy’s foremost festival of the arts, announced their annual awards. Courtesy of 
"There is talk of doing a movie version," Bruno Heller told 
The Toy Industry Association nominees for the 2009 Toy of the Year Awards were announced this week. The 9th annual TOTY Awards will be held at Chelsea Piers in NYC, on Sunday, February 15, kicking off Toy Fair Week. 
Lexi Alexander, director of Punisher: War Zone, opening on Friday, told 
As you might have seen, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit last night. But you probably didn’t know what was going around in the background… Jon Sable Freelance and Maggie the Cat wandering around.
Apple has announced that Warner Bros.’ The Dark Knight is the most downloaded film of the year from its iTunes store. The movie is not yet available but pre-orders have pushed it to the top of the charts according to 
Kevin McKidd is a hot property right now. The Rome star is of course ticketed for the big screen version of the HBO series should it actually get made. Currently, he’s the latest male hottie on Grey’s Anatomy and remains interested in visiting Asgard in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor film.
As November sweeps end and the holiday lull sets in, the networks have begun modifying their line-ups for the second half of the season.
