Comments on: First Warhammer 40K RPG sells out preorders, taps out its own publisher http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/ Unplugged gaming news and views Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:57:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Tradesman25 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3608 Tradesman25 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:56:27 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3608 Having watched the actions of Games Workshop for the past few years I have noticed that they seem to have lost touch with the everyday person. Making games more costly and elaborate to get into (Apocalypse anyone) and for only the fanatical gamer instead of the casual player. Perhaps if they focussed on the majority (the everyday person) and their needs, perhaps total sales (and therefore profits) would go up... Alot of people have waited a long time for Warhammer RPG's to come to life, both fantasy and 40k, and to watch these things crumble now is a sad day indeed. Come on people get your act together and do it for the fans and not the profits. Remember the dreams and core values that Games workshop were built on, bringing life to these worlds for the people to enjoy.... Having watched the actions of Games Workshop for the past few years I have noticed that they seem to have lost touch with the everyday person. Making games more costly and elaborate to get into (Apocalypse anyone) and for only the fanatical gamer instead of the casual player. Perhaps if they focussed on the majority (the everyday person) and their needs, perhaps total sales (and therefore profits) would go up…

Alot of people have waited a long time for Warhammer RPG’s to come to life, both fantasy and 40k, and to watch these things crumble now is a sad day indeed. Come on people get your act together and do it for the fans and not the profits. Remember the dreams and core values that Games workshop were built on, bringing life to these worlds for the people to enjoy….

]]> By: Hanbury http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3597 Hanbury Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:54:31 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3597 I think they should look at the closest business model I've ever seen to RPGs. Management Consultancy Publishing. That's a niche that should appeal to management types. Most management books make very modest profits, or sell at a loss. Yet the bookshelves at bookstores and airports are full of them. Why? Because the books allow you to sell seminars, business toolkits, consultancy etc. RPGs are never going to have a huge profit margin, because the 'flight to quality' sees increasing emphasis on production values to generate sales, which in turn drives up costs, both because of the manpower needed to produce it, and the production costs of the physical fabric of the book. But the spin-offs, the supplements, the models, the novels, all have bigger profit margins. But you can't have one without the other. In other words, core RPGs fuel the growth, and the rest drives the profits. GW are saying, based on their financial results, that they can't afford growth, and are thus shutting down all their non-core projects to concentrate on profitability. It's understandable, but doing it at the cusp of an expensive success smacks of someone in senior management, someone not connected to the development process, panicking and pulling the plug. They've lost a business opportunity, for all that the financials may seem to make sense somewhere. The answer to me seems obvious - sell on the license to develop the product line. I think they should look at the closest business model I’ve ever seen to RPGs. Management Consultancy Publishing. That’s a
niche that should appeal to management types.

Most management books make very modest profits, or sell at a loss. Yet the bookshelves at bookstores and airports are full
of them. Why? Because the books allow you to sell seminars, business toolkits, consultancy etc. RPGs are never going to
have a huge profit margin, because the ‘flight to quality’ sees increasing emphasis on production values to generate sales,
which in turn drives up costs, both because of the manpower needed to produce it, and the production costs of the
physical fabric of the book. But the spin-offs, the supplements, the models, the novels, all have bigger profit margins. But
you can’t have one without the other.

In other words, core RPGs fuel the growth, and the rest drives the profits. GW are saying, based on their financial results,
that they can’t afford growth, and are thus shutting down all their non-core projects to concentrate on profitability.

It’s understandable, but doing it at the cusp of an expensive success smacks of someone in senior management, someone not
connected to the development process, panicking and pulling the plug. They’ve lost a business opportunity, for all that the
financials may seem to make sense somewhere.

The answer to me seems obvious - sell on the license to develop the product line.

]]> By: James S. http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3467 James S. Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:37:22 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3467 You mean the 40k RPG /was/ exquisite. You mean the 40k RPG /was/ exquisite.

]]> By: Rob J http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3451 Rob J Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:33:19 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3451 P.S. The 40k RPG is Exquisite! P.S. The 40k RPG is Exquisite!

]]> By: Rob J http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3450 Rob J Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:32:25 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3450 Hah! They stoped making the RPG's due to huge novel sales. Perhaps the huge novel sales were from the thousands of new customers playing the RPG's? Heck I don't table top game...but I bought doezens of novels to get info for my Warhammer and WH 40k games! You can't tell me that the spike of novel sales was from the table top gamers...those games have been around for decades! It's too bad because the RPG's were the best darn advertising they had. Advertising costs a fortune...its a great way to throw away money, yet the RPG's generated an entirely new customer base for the Novels and Minis...And they at least made some money! Doc J. Hah! They stoped making the RPG’s due to huge novel sales. Perhaps the huge novel sales were from the thousands of new customers playing the RPG’s? Heck I don’t table top game…but I bought doezens of novels to get info for my Warhammer and WH 40k games! You can’t tell me that the spike of novel sales was from the table top gamers…those games have been around for decades!

It’s too bad because the RPG’s were the best darn advertising they had. Advertising costs a fortune…its a great way to throw away money, yet the RPG’s generated an entirely new customer base for the Novels and Minis…And they at least made some money!

Doc J.

]]> By: Steve Ellis http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3449 Steve Ellis Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:20:52 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3449 I think the answer if to be found here- frantic cost cutting as the GW group makes a loss - http://www.digitallook.com/news/sharecast/1868927-12010/GAW-Games_Workshop_in_the_red.html Games Workshop in the red Date: Tuesday 22 Jan 2008 LONDON (ShareCast) - War gaming model specialist Games Workshop swung into the red at the half way stage, although it said the figures were “encouraging”. The group reported a loss before tax of £192,000 for the six months to 2 December versus a £127,000 profit the year before on revenue unchanged at £54.6m. “We have re-established constant currency sales growth in the UK, the Americas and Asia Pacific, our gross margins remain strong, and our cost reduction programme is delivering the overhead reductions we expected,” said the company. “The directors firmly believe that the prospects for the business remain very good,” it added. Once again, there will be no dividend, with the firm using the cash to finance the ongoing cost reduction programme. “The board remains confident in the future growth and profitability of the group and will resume paying dividends when appropriate,” it said. * News Channel I think the answer if to be found here- frantic cost cutting as the GW group makes a loss -
http://www.digitallook.com/news/sharecast/1868927-12010/GAW-Games_Workshop_in_the_red.html

Games Workshop in the red

Date: Tuesday 22 Jan 2008

LONDON (ShareCast) - War gaming model specialist Games Workshop swung into the red at the half way stage, although it said the figures were “encouraging”.

The group reported a loss before tax of £192,000 for the six months to 2 December versus a £127,000 profit the year before on revenue unchanged at £54.6m.

“We have re-established constant currency sales growth in the UK, the Americas and Asia Pacific, our gross margins remain strong, and our cost reduction programme is delivering the overhead reductions we expected,” said the company.

“The directors firmly believe that the prospects for the business remain very good,” it added.

Once again, there will be no dividend, with the firm using the cash to finance the ongoing cost reduction programme.

“The board remains confident in the future growth and profitability of the group and will resume paying dividends when appropriate,” it said.

* News Channel

]]> By: Chris http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3448 Chris Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:12:46 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3448 I can't speak for Nik, but my source confirmed an amount similar (in GBP). With thousands more outstanding in unfilled pre-orders because they ran out of books. I can’t speak for Nik, but my source confirmed an amount similar (in GBP). With thousands more outstanding in unfilled pre-orders because they ran out of books.

]]> By: Thomas D http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3447 Thomas D Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:56:55 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3447 It seems that I read an editorial in White Dwarf a few years back completely discounting the RPG market mainly because RPG sales compared to miniature wargaming sales in the UK were not even close. To this consumer, the decision for GW to close BI is surprising, but at the same time it isn't. It seems that I read an editorial in White Dwarf a few years back completely discounting the RPG market mainly because RPG sales compared to miniature wargaming sales in the UK were not even close. To this consumer, the decision for GW to close BI is surprising, but at the same time it isn’t.

]]> By: misuba http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3445 misuba Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:58:32 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3445 Again, if they could take the same outlay and generate even more profit by doing something else with it, then it makes sense on paper. (Nik, what would your estimate be for BI's outlay on Dark Heresy? "No comment" is of course a perfectly acceptable answer - your forthrightness thus far is beyond the call of duty and much appreciated!) Again, if they could take the same outlay and generate even more profit by doing something else with it, then it makes sense on paper. (Nik, what would your estimate be for BI’s outlay on Dark Heresy? “No comment” is of course a perfectly acceptable answer - your forthrightness thus far is beyond the call of duty and much appreciated!)

]]> By: Chris http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3443 Chris Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:28:20 +0000 http://ogrecave.com/2008/01/29/first-warhammer-40k-rpg-sells-out-preorders-taps-out-its-own-publisher/#comment-3443 I would suggest continuing to remember they are a publicly traded company as they do interesting things to restructure their revenue. They have now axed two profit centers. Outright. That will sure have an interesting affect on their trading price. This sure sniffs of a publicly traded company priming itself for a sale...but thats just me thinking out loud. I would suggest continuing to remember they are a publicly traded company as they do interesting things to restructure their revenue. They have now axed two profit centers. Outright. That will sure have an interesting affect on their trading price. This sure sniffs of a publicly traded company priming itself for a sale…but thats just me thinking out loud.

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