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Via 40K Forums


From an email allegedly sent to store managers:

From August 17th, Games Workshop are changing their trade terms. This will effect the way that New Release information will be handled.

After August 17th, any shop selling White Dwarf or any New release item before the release date, discussing New Release information or posting images on Facebook, forums etc before release date will be punished by not being allowed to stock New Releases for 6 months !

Seems like they are not pleased with all those White Dwarf scans heralding new releases recently. Could even cover the infamous Beast of War "drawings" in the way it is formulated.


[edit]
The confirmation via Warseer via Kroothawk

Kroothawk wrote:It is official now (posted by store owner xxRavenxx over at Warseer):


Be aware that discussing Dakka rumours instore is now a capital crime not tolerated by GW management. Thank you for your cooperation

Well, not that I think GW's stance on pre-release info is smart

If a business or individal signs a non-disclosure agreement they should stick to it. This might make business owners more concerned with enforcing this.

(but my guess is it will only be applied to 'small fry'. would the so called GW cash-monster really stop selling if it cost money?)

This seems like a scare tactic more than being plausible. If a random person posts all the information on a website containing the new White Dwarf pictures, how much effort does anyone really think that GW is going to invest to determine which store did it knowing specifically it will cost them money?

If GW is coming down to hollow threats, they need to look at thier marketing a bit more deeply...

Zweischneid wrote:Via 40K Forums


From an email allegedly sent to store managers:

From August 17th, Games Workshop are changing their trade terms. This will effect the way that New Release information will be handled.

After August 17th, any shop selling White Dwarf or any New release item before the release date, discussing New Release information or posting images on Facebook, forums etc before release date will be punished by not being allowed to stock New Releases for 6 months !

Seems like they are not pleased with all those White Dwarf scans heralding new releases recently. Could even cover the infamous Beast of War "drawings" in the way it is formulated.

If GW sent an email to store manager informing them of changes to their terms, it would be worded a lot more formally than that "email".
And it definitely wouldn't end in an exclamation mark.

How would they enforce it?

"Scans appeared again!"
"Again?"
"Yes, again!"
"Start calling retailers. I'm sure once we've called them all we'll get to the bottom of this."
"I'm sure the retailer responsible for this will be 100% honest."
"Of course they will."
"How many have we got to call?"
"A little over 600. In this region. I'll get on the horn to GWUK and tell 'em to start calling Europe!"
"Good idea!"

I'm not sure I understand why GW seems so focused on hiding information about new releases. Shouldn't it be the other way around, to hype up potential sales and get customers more exited? It'd be akin to the video game industry blacking out all information about the next AAA title, only to have it drop in stores one day with no warning whatsoever.

As a potential customer, I'd love at least *some* information on what's being released in the months ahead, so that I can plan my hobby budget and start thinking about new unit/army possibilities.

Can't they just do their previous properly and you know, try to market their own stuff?

Mr. Grey wrote:I'm not sure I understand why GW seems so focused on hiding information about new releases. Shouldn't it be the other way around, to hype up potential sales and get customers more exited? It'd be akin to the video game industry blacking out all information about the next AAA title, only to have it drop in stores one day with no warning whatsoever.

As a potential customer, I'd love at least *some* information on what's being released in the months ahead, so that I can plan my hobby budget and start thinking about new unit/army possibilities.

This is what they want to avoid. They do not want you cherry picking what you want to buy. They hope you will go OH! SHINY at every new release and pick it up regardless.

That is all...

Well, actually, maybe instead of havng their web monkeys surf he web for "illegal scans" they could put them to work doing something useful like posting a PDF of the damn Ork Flyers...

CT GAMER wrote:Well, actually, maybe instead of havng their web monkeys surf he web for "illegal scans" they could put them to work doing something useful like posting a PDF of the damn Ork Flyers...

I wouldn't worry about that. They're going to release those rules.

On a related note, you have an iOS device right?

H.B.M.C. wrote:

On a related note, you have an iOS device right?

Of course.

It's to protect their market, if they said right in two months time we will be doing a Black Templars release:

Suddenly all the independent moulding companies are marketing a Knight Templar in space insignia pack! So all the people looking to do a new BT army buy the insignia pack cos it's a lot cheaper than the GW conversion pack.

The theory is that if they don't tell anyone what the new release is the competition doesn't have time to prepare.

(not my opinion of whether it's right etc)

C-Hydra

You'd think an official communique wouldn't mistakenly use 'effect' when they meant 'affect' ...

'Cause that's how it's going to be released. You'll have to pay for it, and it'll only work on iOS devices.

I hope I'm wrong, but I suspect I'm right. I think the days of the free PDF are over.

Totaly stupidity

GW dont have the man power to govern indy stores and they sure in hell wont spend the money to get secret shoppers to do it. Pure GW crap scare tactics as usual.

Goliath wrote:

Seems like they are not pleased with all those White Dwarf scans heralding new releases recently. Could even cover the infamous Beast of War "drawings" in the way it is formulated.


If GW sent an email to store manager informing them of changes to their terms, it would be worded a lot more formally than that "email".
And it definitely wouldn't end in an exclamation mark.

True enough. Along with the effect/affect mix-up, it might just be a bogus thing and not actually a true GW email. Please not the "allegedly" I included precisely because I am not in a position to verify if this is legit or not.

In all seriousness, what would make more sense is if they do what map companies do and publish slight flaws, so they make a slight error on the page with the next hot information on it. Then when it hits the net they look at it, determine what error it is, look up which Indy that version was given and rain the full wrath of the GW thought police upon their heads!

That said, it would take a lot of time to determine that amount of different errors, possibly a code printed discreetly somewhere...

C-Hydra

Necroagogo wrote:You'd think an official communique wouldn't mistakenly use 'effect' when they meant 'affect' ...

It's not an official communiqué - it's a paraphrased version of a phone conversation.

One point that I missed the first time - if this is accurate, it actually says the retailers are not allowed to mention items that GW has already put up for pre-order.

Fake.

Pffft, GW might be horrible, but not as stupid as some of the die-hards would love to make it out. Six months of not selling latest releases, the big cash-candy cows? Come on now, think!

We've got a "FLGS" that did that for a long time, GW simply demoted it from premiere store to regular store status when it still meant something.

I wonder if this might be in response tot he post yesterday about the contents of the new starter set that hit beasts of war.

Mr. Grey wrote:I'm not sure I understand why GW seems so focused on hiding information about new releases. Shouldn't it be the other way around, to hype up potential sales and get customers more exited? It'd be akin to the video game industry blacking out all information about the next AAA title, only to have it drop in stores one day with no warning whatsoever.

My opinion is that they should shoot for a middle ground. I'm all about controlling your message, but GW could build more buzz about products (especially big things like army releases) shortly before release and still keep a firm hand on the wheel. Virtually all their customers know they're on a monthly release cycle. So why the monthly pretense that they aren't?

If any of this has to do with leaked WD scans, that's kinda ironic considering the company is relying on a monthly print magazine as a primary method of communicating with its customers. But hey, I was fond of the '80s too.

GW could do better while still achieving their goals and it wouldn't have to break the bank. Maybe that digital agency will change GW's thinking, but I'm skeptical that they'll listen. Believe me when I say that clients don't listen.

There was a "store owner" last month that did a video in his store showing the new white dwarf days before its release date. All they have to do is figure out who and where this is...
But does this effect me from wanting that issue of the White Dwarf?? Not at all...What really ticks me off is the fact I have a subscription and it takes weeks after the stores get them to receive mine in the mail, with the fact I live less than two hours from Memphis their main distribution center.

This is stupid, where are they staying tight lipped instead of hyping up their new releases. It seems all they really care about is looking like a premium brand as an excuse for high prices instead of following legitimate and strong business strategies which will be good for the long run of the company and the market. Making hollow threats is not very professional!

Timing doesn't surprise me. We are getting closer to The Hobbit. And as that has now become a trilogy, look to things not improving for 3 years...

Genoside07 wrote:There was a "store owner" last month that did a video in his store showing the new white dwarf days before its release date. All they have to do is figure out who and where this is...
But does this effect me from wanting that issue of the White Dwarf?? Not at all...What really ticks me off is the fact I have a subscription and it takes weeks after the stores get them to receive mine in the mail, with the fact I live less than two hours from Memphis their main distribution center.

They really screw over their customers on the White Dwarf subscription. I will not subscribe again when I can get White Dwarf from my FLGS the day of release instead of a week after with the subscription.

H.B.M.C. wrote:How would they enforce it?

"Scans appeared again!"
"Again?"
"Yes, again!"
"Start calling retailers. I'm sure once we've called them all we'll get to the bottom of this."
"I'm sure the retailer responsible for this will be 100% honest."
"Of course they will."
"How many have we got to call?"
"A little over 600. In this region. I'll get on the horn to GWUK and tell 'em to start calling Europe!"
"Good idea!"

"With the way this Internet thing's going we may have to take on another person!"



GW, there is no amount of facepalming we can do if this is true.

heartserenade wrote:Can't they just do their previous properly and you know, try to market their own stuff?

I don't know if you checked this month's White Dwarf. The first 24 pages are nothing but marketing. Not that I think this is the way to go about it, because the information is basically less than what you get on their own website, on the very same day as the drop day for WD.

And while I'm at it, who's the genius who used a two page spread for The Hobbit and basically makes the two central characters unviewable? I understand this is probably pre-existing material, but it just looks bad that I have to literally stretch the magazine to even see Thorin Oakenshield correctly.

This is obviously fake.

Not even GW would send out something like that.

Getting into Magic the Gathering shows me quite a contrast in approaches. When there's a new release coming for Magic there's a date set well in advance and some little spoilers, and a few weeks before hand the cards for the new set are gradually revealed a few each day. Then a week before the release they support pre-release events in stores everywhere so you can get a few packs of the new set and promotional cards for that specific event. Then they do something similar for the actual release.

GW do none of this. They clamp down on all information until they decide to put it in their monthly sales catalogue. Then the stuff is available on the day if you want to go and buy it.

GW just don't manage any hype or try to engage their customers. Each event from Magic is memorable, they make it eventful and you feel part of something when getting involved, and you get some promotional bits and pieces as extra reward. GW simply don't foster any community with their releases, their White Dwarf is about as exciting as the new Argos catalogue.

Seems legit.

Seriously, who feeds these complete spank-factory rumours?