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 unmercifulconker wrote:
http://natfka.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/white-dwarf-what-is-happening-on-22nd.html

-White Dwarf will be available digitally.
- a new logo
-The subscription model has changed. No longer will you subscribe for 12 months. You will purchase 12 vouchers to redeem at your choosing. This means you can buy 12 magazines from one month, or 1 magazine any month for 2 years from purchase. Basically you choose what months you want to pick up at the store. Dont want next months.... no problem.
-If you purchase the vouchers and pick it up in the store you will get 4 free issues. Subscription price is $80 ($5/issue)
-If you purchase on the website or get it sent to your home, you will get 2 free issues. Subscription price is $100 ($7.14/issue)
- The price is going to be $10/issue or 8 Euros
- They are shooting for around 160 pages an issue.

- higher quality paper, different cover quality
- very picture heavy
- more articles featuring the Black Library, Eavy Metal Team, Design Studios... Much more
- They expect to have more items attached (posters, key fobs, etc.)

Some sounds good, some sounds less good. First, I'm pleased with the voucher system in general. I like the idea of being able to skip issues that people here report as being "almost completely LOTR"; when and if that happens. It's a good plan. This is innovative.

I'm neutral on the "better paper and printing quality". While you'd think this would be a big bonus, the fact is that their previous methods, wherein by the second reading all the print had rubbed off the spine and smeared where it was held on the front and back cover; was totally unacceptable. You make hundreds of millions of dollars a year, stop acting like a damn garage mimeograph machine cranking out 'zines to leave in record stores, FFS. Improving this only brings you up to "acceptable" levels. I have no strong feelings about the small-format size, NatGeo does this well.

The idea that you can no longer back order previous magazines would make sense if they meant for issues prior to the relaunch, sure. Even if they mean no more paper editions, that's fine, you can't expect them to have an infinite supply of out of paper magazines eating up warehouse space, that's what Ebay is for. But; the idea you can't get a digital back issue for October's magazine in November is... mind boggling. I'm going to chalk this one up to simply being unclear and withhold judgment until we see how it actually works.

What I don't like is the fact that I'd have to pay a 20% "The closest GWS is 150 miles from my house" tax, which is really the only accurate way to describe the price differential between picking it up in store vs having it delivered. I do get it's cheaper for them to do that so I understand it, but I don't especially like it. Also, why would ordering it on the web cost more then picking it up in a store? That should be the cheapest option, since they don't have to print a copy and send it anywhere. WTF?

When I last subscribed in 2010 it was $75 for 12 issues (and in fact, they sent 15 which was nice). Apparently the price less then 1 year later from when my subscription lapsed has jumped a truly epic 25%. That is a little ridiculous but as GWS doesn't appear to know operate without these incredible price hikes I guess it's not surprising.

I'm a little less optimistic - I had a hard time justifying $75 a year to myself, $100 is a lot more difficult - but we'll see. I don't mind paying for things that are good, and paying well, but we're going to have so see some truly extraordinary improvement over their paltry offering previously to be worth of a higher cover price then every other magazine I have ever read, ever.

If the digital edition is IOS (and there is no real reason to think it won't be) then once again they will have managed to swing and miss, in my mind. Well, more like swing, miss, and then your pants fall down and everyone points and laughs at your tiny wang*.

I'll still buy the next issue to see what I think, and that's more then they could have said about me for the last 10 or so months, so that's a net positive, so far.

*with apologies to PA (link nsfw/language)

Digital? I'm in.... that solves all my problems with having a sub before! Finally I will get the mag on the day it is out...

Hopefully they will give a good deal... but I am not holding my breath on the price -

Also, I'd like to add to my lengthy post a clarification. I'm often down on GWS which in the simplistic world of Dakka has gotten me labelled a "hater". I prefer to think of myself as HBMC does: "credit where credit is due". I hope WD succeeds because I love their universe, I love their models; and even though I am often down on them for this or that, overall I like GWS a lot and I greatly prefer flipping though a magazine on the john over browsing a smartphone - possibly the only advantage WD has for me over Dakka. So I want them to deliver, really bad; and I'm rooting for them.

 Ouze wrote:

What I don't like is the fact that I'd have to pay a 20% "The closest GWS is 150 miles from my house" tax, which is really the only accurate way to describe the price differential between picking it up in store vs having it delivered. I do get it's cheaper for them to do that so I understand it, but I don't especially like it. Also, why would ordering it on the web cost more then picking it up in a store? That should be the cheapest option, since they don't have to print a copy and send it anywhere. WTF?

basically, with the new system, they arn't delivering one for you at the GW store.. you are just prepaying for a copy, far as i can tell you don't even have to get it at the same store, as you will have a voucher.

I'm mostly just interested in how soon or late we can expect leaks.

I'd be quite impressed if GW managed to keep the magazine fully under wraps all the way till the 22nd.

Perhaps the Polish firm "Leaky Sieve Printing Ltd" lost the job and the new firm is keen to inpress/employs people that dont care about toy soldiers, ergo the change of product quality too.

If the size is changing, that will mess up the 25th anniversary spine pic.

- higher quality paper, different cover quality

What an odd choice of words.

I do like the voucher system, and that they last 2 years. This alone might get me to subscribe (instore for the cheaper price). I generally only buy a WD every second or third month due to not being interested most months on the content, so being able to pick and choose 12 issues over 24 months is great.

natfka wrote:-The subscription model has changed. No longer will you subscribe for 12 months. You will purchase 12 vouchers to redeem at your choosing. This means you can buy 12 magazines from one month, or 1 magazine any month for 2 years from purchase. Basically you choose what months you want to pick up at the store. Dont want next months.... no problem.

The flip side of that is that there's even less of a guarantee that you can get the issues you want. While the previous system still didn't mean GW would print off enough copies to cover every pre-purchase, they could have. If there isn't a hard limit where GW knows they need at least X copies and where to mail them, I can definitely see the good issues going out of stock before you can get your hands on them.

 Ouze wrote:
Also, I'd like to add to my lengthy post a clarification. I'm often down on GWS which in the simplistic world of Dakka has gotten me labelled a "hater". I prefer to think of myself as HBMC does: "credit where credit is due". I hope WD succeeds because I love their universe, I love their models; and even though I am often down on them for this or that, overall I like GWS a lot and I greatly prefer flipping though a magazine on the john over browsing a smartphone - possibly the only advantage WD has for me over Dakka. So I want them to deliver, really bad; and I'm rooting for them.

That sounds like 'hater' talk to me Ouze. You better get yourself to the nearest GWS White Knight Re-education Centre, stat!

The problem with the voucher system is that you have to go and have a look at the magazine to decide if you want it. And what happens if you feel WD is going through a bad patch and don't pick any up for 6 months and have a load of vouchers to be used up but not enough time to get them. Just as much a waste as if they had just sent you the magazines you didn't want.

Also, could you use these vouchers to get the magazines in newsagents? I know some newpapers have pre-paid vouchers that can be used in any store to buy the paper.

So it was said earlier that existing subscribers have no change to their T&Cs until their subscriptions expire - does anyone know how this affects those of us with a direct debit subscription? As far as I am aware, it just keeps going; there is no end date (until such time as I cancel). So does that mean I keep ticking along on the rate that I currently have?

It would have been nice for GW to actually notify current subscribers of these changes...

 filbert wrote:
So it was said earlier that existing subscribers have no change to their T&Cs until their subscriptions expire - does anyone know how this affects those of us with a direct debit subscription? As far as I am aware, it just keeps going; there is no end date (until such time as I cancel). So does that mean I keep ticking along on the rate that I currently have?

It would have been nice for GW to actually notify current subscribers of these changes...

There is no change for existing Direct Debit subscribers; they just keep paying the same as before until they decide to stop.
I'd imagine subscribers will be notified when the new subs and WD are actually released...

 Ravenous D wrote:
The destroy policy is the same as they do with black library books, apparently its cheaper for them to write them off as damaged then take up shelf space...

Im sure the enviromentalists would just love this.

It's done in all book shops everywhere- it's far cheaper to destroy and right it off for tax purposes than have it sat around as a liability.
GW have been doing it with BL books for yeeeeeaaaaars and currently WD is destroyed 2 months after release.

 -Loki- wrote:

- higher quality paper, different cover quality

What an odd choice of words.

Maybe it means the cover will be thick paper (like EDGE magazine for instance) or possibly embossed?

Also, I'm dreading they describe it as 'very picture heavy'.. what is the current WD in their eyes then?

 Shandara wrote:

 -Loki- wrote:

- higher quality paper, different cover quality

What an odd choice of words.

Maybe it means the cover will be thick paper (like EDGE magazine for instance) or possibly embossed?

Also, I'm dreading they describe it as 'very picture heavy'.. what is the current WD in their eyes then?

I'm thinking of something more like a fashion magazine - huge pictures, with tips on how to look like that. I really hope the magazine isn't like that.

I dont know much about his editing credentials but his painting isnt bad...

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/wnt/blog.jsp?pid=4200072-gws&_requestid=177035

Those changes are interesting. The only one that sounds not so good to me is "pictures heavy". I like reading fluff pieces, tactics, and things like that. Hope the extra pages balance the content.

Yeah that's our man Jes. Says they are going to showing the faces of the new team over the next few days.

Should please those that have been saying they don't like how faceless the mag has become. This is probably a really good thing. But please no more "Oh that girls cute" etc.

Keeping my eye on this.

 ExNoctemNacimur wrote:

 Shandara wrote:

 -Loki- wrote:

- higher quality paper, different cover quality

What an odd choice of words.

Maybe it means the cover will be thick paper (like EDGE magazine for instance) or possibly embossed?

Also, I'm dreading they describe it as 'very picture heavy'.. what is the current WD in their eyes then?

I'm thinking of something more like a fashion magazine - huge pictures, with tips on how to look like that. I really hope the magazine isn't like that.

nothing wrong with fashion

 ceorron wrote:
Yeah that's our man Jes. Says they are going to showing the faces of the new team over the next few days.

Should please those that have been saying they don't like how faceless the mag has become. This is probably a really good thing. But please no more "Oh that girls cute" etc.

Keeping my eye on this.

Seeing his Nids also makes me hope there's a return of staffer and non-'Eavy Metal armies in battle reports. The WD Daily post also specifically mentioned revamping battle reports, so I'm hopeful.

There isn't anything wrong with fashion. I just don't like how fashion magazines are done - too many pictures, not enough content!

 ceorron wrote:
Yeah that's our man Jes. Says they are going to showing the faces of the new team over the next few days.

Should please those that have been saying they don't like how faceless the mag has become. This is probably a really good thing. But please no more "Oh that girls cute" etc.

Keeping my eye on this.

Twas an offhand remark...I hadn't expected it to have started the mess it did.

Anyway, the changes all sound good...Except destroying back issues, that sucks.

Here's a cover shot. Seems legit: http://descansodelescriba.blogspot.co.uk/

Here's an image for those who don't want to click through:

edit for the work blocked.
Reds8n

Looks good. CHAOS!!!!

Haha, looks like we jumped back in time, thanks for sharing, looks awesome.

edit: woa, is that artwork or the model?

Somewhat retro, Perhaps too retro for my tastes... But content is king. We'll see what happens inside, no?

Weird looking Chaos chap. Looks like a Saurus Warrior wearing Chaos Terminator Armour.

That thing looks ridiculous.

Zoids

Zoids are coming

It could be a chaos blue bird in armour, I mean a greater Deamon of TzeenTch?

Mag looks....interesting. I will get one to see what the score is so to speak.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hang on, weren't there chaosy reptilian thing in the Gaunt's Ghosts books? They had belly blasters and smelt like grimdark milk or something?

Could be a new unit like that.