Quote from: Sandinista on 17 January 2014, 06:19:22 PM
I find GW bashing quite boring. I'm not really interested in their games, or prices or how they work. Some people think they are killing the hobby, some think they bring in new blood, some people also zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 

As Phil pointed out, plus ca change...

I keep an eye on what they're up to, but I leave them to it these days.  I've decided that every customer they bring in to the 'Hobby' is potentially a customer we'll gain one day, and every customer that turns away from GW is also a customer who we might gain one day.  Win-win for us, so stuff GW.

On a business level, unless they're all incompetent, they must realise the spiral they're in, where in view of decreasing sales, all they can do is increase prices to maintain an even keel.  No one seems to be looking at the core business, and asking why it isn't generating the money.  Why don't they have any fresh idea's?  And if they don't have the staff to create original games, then why don't they hire some?  

If it was me, I'd be looking at what games were getting good market share, and see where I could fit into that.  Whether in a partnership deal, distribution of that game, or simply hiring the author/creator to come and work for me instead.  They've got the biggest customer base in this industry, and they're not making the most of it at all.

Quote from: Leon on 17 January 2014, 06:28:33 PM
I've decided that every customer they bring in to the 'Hobby' is potentially a customer we'll gain one day, and every customer that turns away from GW is also a customer who we might gain one day.

Me for one; living proof.  Leon, you've seen my spend increase and increase since EE dropped Warmaster.

Their loss, your gain

http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/2014/01/16/83338/

Some very interesting comments in that, Will.
Cheers - Phil.

I was a wargamer before GW and will continue to be a wargamer if GW fail.
To me they have always been a niche market. Loved the idea of fantasy battles even used the notes in the back of the WRG ancients book to form armies, but could never get away with GWs need to control lists, uniforms, etc. so never got into it. As for the sci-fi the use of a sword in the distant future left me cold.
Sorry but big gaming companies will come and go. What is needed is a company with great figures and a friendly service which makes an effort to talk and listen to their customers, say a company like. . .Pendraken.
Long may they prosper.   

Back to the thread.
Prices have always and will continue to rise, but as long as the product is what we want then we will pay what is asked for it.
       Its a cruel world !

  They who shall not be named have just reported over a 30% loss for 2013, now we didn't see that coming did we. And the shareholders are reported to be slightly jittery at the prospect of no dividends or payouts.It just shows you can only bump your prices up so far and people will start to move away, link that with some unpopular introductions/moves going on in the stores and hey presto, it all starts to go belly up.

Its been going belly up since they started pricing figures by how over powered they were in game. And of course dumping everything but their 2 "flagship" games.

They did produce some really nice rulesets though, Warmaster/Mordhiem/Trafalgar to name but a few, but these rulesets didnt need the flavour of the month over priced character model that you couldnt win without so were consigned to the bin.

I think their drop in profit is more likely down to everyone having less to spend AND a poorly timed massive price hike in their ranges as opposed to a major move away from the dark side

I have opened this thread for that purpose: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,9268.30.html

particularly to compare directly a few reasons of success of one competitor who doe snot need to be named and the demise of those you shall not be named

Concerning your feel Nosher I must object. Done a little analysis  (in German though) and in short: They sold much less due to sectioning markets and price increases. Said price hike did not compensate the loss in sales which can be seen from the numbers. Thus people move to alternatives. I stopped after Sales/Earnings/ROE plus cost structure and did not bother with cashflow and more elaborate analysis.

  Yes all the above comments are probably true,to a more or lesser degree. but it will be interesting to see what measures they come up with to balance the books, i wouldn't rule out store closures or lay offs,surely they can't put prices up again  in an attempt to make up the losses.

Dont bet the farm on it. 

They blew it for me; over priced, wrong models on offer, regular changes in rules and armies ...

Quote from: GordonY on 18 January 2014, 05:50:11 PM
Its been going belly up since they started pricing figures by how over powered they were in game. And of course dumping everything but their 2 "flagship" games.

They did produce some really nice rulesets though, Warmaster/Mordhiem/Trafalgar to name but a few, but these rulesets didnt need the flavour of the month over priced character model that you couldnt win without so were consigned to the bin.

I think this must be a big factor, they instantly lost all possible income from those who played the non flagship games.

Had they  looked to expand into producing proper "Historical figures" it might have had a big negative impact on wargames manufacturers. Fortunately they did not.  

I expect they dropped Warmaster because you could buy figures elswhere and they hate that.

Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 18 January 2014, 08:39:50 PM
I expect they dropped Warmaster because you could buy figures elswhere and they hate that.

I suspect they dropped Warmaster because you could buy an army and stop. Not enough special units to hype the price of. Plus, if a hero is a hero is a hero, how do you sell people hugely overpriced characters?

Do wish I'd picked up a set of the Gotrek and Felix figures though

Also mourn their refusal to produce the wonderful Mammoth figure because it didn't fit in with the established background fluff.