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Loborocket wrote:
How about this as a radical idea? Maybe there should be a digital version where you simply "subscribe" to a race/faction. I am "subscribed" to Orks for $50 a year and get EVERYTHING Ork related for the year. Maybe a digital subscription could allow you to "galnce" at other codexes you are not subscribed to as well. You have X hours a month to browse other codexes beyond that to which you are "subscribed". A subscription would of course also grant access to the always update e-rules. Any subsequent races/factions you subscribe to would be a bit less money since the first one gets you the rules.
Having a subscripton type base of users/players would make revenue much more predictable and easier for them to develop new and relevant material.
I think that kind of delivery could be kind of compelling. Totally new way of engaging the community of players.

This is how many of the big software companies have operated for years:
Subscription based payment with all updates over that time included.
It could be wrapped into a proprietary viewer within the tablets (not sure you would want to view on a phone) which would phone home and update as needed.
The "glance" could be a limited summary for each codex race to at least show relevant rules "gotcha's" for opponents.

This whole premise buys into the idea you do not own the product, it is merely loaned to you over the course of the "rental".

Some may not like this since having something tangible has been a need, just having the file to point to appeases that in me, keeping even source file info away could cause some to back-out. <edit> This does not appeal to the "collector" part of their customers where we play with little men and have various gaming "stuff" around us, keeping us away from ownership really would not sit well.

 Talizvar wrote:

Some may not like this since having something tangible has been a need, just having the file to point to appeases that in me, keeping even source file info away could cause some to back-out. <edit> This does not appeal to the "collector" part of their customers where we play with little men and have various gaming "stuff" around us, keeping us away from ownership really would not sit well.

Yes I am aware this is the way software companies deliver product (I happen to work for one)

The idea may not sit well with some players, but it would address the problem of bunches and bunches of material being produced and deliverd in different ways (dataslate, codex, white dwarf, forge world, etc...) This is a major source of frustration to me. I don't ever even know all the rules and formation etc... available to my own chosen race, much less that of other races. Just another way of thinking about the problem. I personally have no desire whatsoever to own books. I am much more open to the idea of having the information when I want it. I think the younger generation (I am 43) is MUCH more inclined to this kind of interaction where they just have the info when they want it on the device they are currently working on (probably most often a phone/mobile device). I thnk a gaming company could make a shift to this kind of delivery if done correctly.

Loborocket wrote:
The idea may not sit well with some players, but it would address the problem of bunches and bunches of material being produced and deliverd in different ways (dataslate, codex, white dwarf, forge world, etc...) This is a major source of frustration to me. I don't ever even know all the rules and formation etc... available to my own chosen race, much less that of other races. Just another way of thinking about the problem. I personally have no desire whatsoever to own books. I am much more open to the idea of having the information when I want it. I think the younger generation (I am 43) is MUCH more inclined to this kind of interaction where they just have the info when they want it on the device they are currently working on (probably most often a phone/mobile device). I thnk a gaming company could make a shift to this kind of delivery if done correctly.

I guess I like to be able to control the changes made or at least be made aware the update happened than automatic.
You feel "gas lighted" when changes are made and you could swear the rules were different... which they were.

Yeah, I am mid-40's as well and can see getting it all to fit into a tablet is the way to go... carrying around all those books seem an unnecessary workout.
I find the ability to search for key words the most invaluable than leafing through some dead trees.

I can see GW not getting this off the ground for a while yet since they really want to lock-down their IP but "ease of use" tends to run contradictory to "secure".

Loborocket wrote:
How about this as a radical idea? Maybe there should be a digital version where you simply "subscribe" to a race/faction. I am "subscribed" to Orks for $50 a year and get EVERYTHING Ork related for the year. Maybe a digital subscription could allow you to "galnce" at other codexes you are not subscribed to as well. You have X hours a month to browse other codexes beyond that to which you are "subscribed". A subscription would of course also grant access to the always update e-rules. Any subsequent races/factions you subscribe to would be a bit less money since the first one gets you the rules.

Having a subscripton type base of users/players would make revenue much more predictable and easier for them to develop new and relevant material.

I think that kind of delivery could be kind of compelling. Totally new way of engaging the community of players.

I would love that, but would go one step further: for example, 1 faction, $50/year, 1 faction+rules $75/year, all codices $200/year, all codices and campaigns "all access pass" $400/ year.

This follows the licensing practice of successful software companies like Adobe and Microsoft. While it's possible to get just PhotoShop for $100/year, or 1 other app for $240/year, you can get everything for $600/year. The model works because most people do not use and would not buy everything anyways, so if you can get a little more money out of them, and give them a whole butch of stuff that feels of great value, it's a win/win all around.