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It's well known to those of us who have watched GW for many years that the only thing they hate more than their fans is making money. Otherwise why would they try to make money through the laziest and least effective way of raising revenue, price hikes rather than growing their fan base and improving their products.

But... what if they liked to make money? What if they wanted their stories full and their games growing? What might the world look like?

1. The Hobbit Game would be heavily advertised

2. Popular GW tie-ins like the video games, novels and RPGs would be represented on the table top. Rogue Traders and Death Watch would be playable factions. Each month there would be a new special character based on a popular BL character. We'd have 3 versions of Inquisitor Eisenhorn for example and Guant's Ghosts would still have their own rules.

3. GW would let retailers and fans know what's coming to generate excitement. Stores would hold special events to sell the newest army.

4. Starter sets would be a bargain to get fans started on a new army which they would then spend a fortune improving.

5. GW would still make stand alone games like Space Hulk and would get them into new channels like toy and book stores. And they'd actually stay in production.

6. Horus Heresy, based on a BEST SELLING BOOK SERIES would be a mainstream product, available in plastic in stores rather than mail order only resin.

7. GW would try to keep fans engaged so we don't drift off into other games or hobbies.

8. We'd be able to buy Finecast with confidence the models would be error free.

9. Core products like Cult Marines would be regularly updated instead of focusing on dinobots.

10. Plastic characters would be multipose and have options so we have a reason to buy more than one.

But hey... I'm not a multimillionaire executive so what do I know?

Oh look, this thread again.

Another "internet wishlist" of how everyone knows how to do everything better.

We have these literally every week, bulleted lists and all.

We'd probably have more spin offs and other products like statues, shirts etc.

I'd imagine something like nerf would work well with it.

While true, nkelsch, it doesn't make the points any less valid.

I think the opposite argument is also funny- GW is a successful business, so they must know what they're doing, right? If my experience in businesses thus far is any indication, the answer is a resounding NO those 2 things do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

The rise of Warmachine/Hordes strongly illustrates that people want alternatives to GW's way of doing things (even though most still like the background and the mass-battles games) and with the kickstarter phenomenon, alternatives are only going to increase. GW will get the message sooner or later- I personally think it will be sooner, as their bottom line gets affected.

nkelsch wrote:
Oh look, this thread again.

Another "internet wishlist" of how everyone knows how to do everything better.

We have these literally every week, bulleted lists and all.

What you say?

Sometimes people on message board have same topic? Again and again?

I am shock!

Please feel free to return to threads on which Primarch would win or whether autocannons are better than lascannons.

GW needs to defend that IP, because it is the background and imagery that is holding it together, not it's outlandish and bizarre Weyland Yutani business mindset.

If and When someone comes up with a cooler background for a mini line (fairly difficult, the 40k and fantasy backgrounds have had 25-30 years to evolve and ingrain) and starts making better sculpts (a good deal easier given the recent burnt offerings) then GW will have a very rude awakening and limited time to get it's house in order or die. I can't wait for that day.

Kid_Kyoto wrote:2. Each month there would be a new special character based on a popular BL character. We'd have 3 versions of Inquisitor Eisenhorn for example and Guant's Ghosts would still have their own rules.

I think this is a great idea.

Personally, I like this thread: it's kinda stunning how such simple and obvious[ly logical] ideas would probably be so effective, and even someone such as KK can think of them!

 Just Dave wrote:
....even someone such as KK can think of them!

Zing!

 filbert wrote:

 Just Dave wrote:
....even someone such as KK can think of them!

Zing!

Guilty as charged... I have the business sense of a lemming,

On the other hand, I.have the lemming sense of a buisnessman :-\

IMO, the thing GW plc really needs is a marketing department.
If they had a marketing department , they would realize how to grow a market share, rather than trying to desperately exploit a shrinking one.
And more importantly KNOW who they are marketing their product at...

If they are marketing product at middle class children, why not use the internet , the thing the modern child primarily uses to access information ?
If they are selling a hobby , they need hobby centers not one man retail outlets.
if they are selling to gamers , they need to focus on game play issues.

Delivering average minatures, with a moderately inspiring setting , with poor rules and game support, is bad enough.
But having to overcharge on RRP just to support a now pointless B&M retail chain is slowly pushing them towards falling revenues to compliment their falling sales volumes.

I would be one broke sonnofabitch.

Problem is though, if they rectify one bad thing, y'all will still bitch and moan that they haven't done another thing.

"Oh, they're going to let people retail on the internet again?"... "Great, their prices still suck".

"Oh, they're doing some price regression and advertising it really well" ... "They won't let some random internet store sell it for 25% less than retail, they still suck".

So on and so forth. I tend to play other games but ever so often create one new army every few years for 40k. I know its expensive, get over it.

Also, a lot of stuff on that first post would not work, should not work and nobody would ever implement it, and it sounds like YOUR wishlist, not business acumen.

ammp wrote:
Problem is though, if they rectify one bad thing, y'all will still bitch and moan that they haven't done another thing.

Well, yeah. When there's so much to complain about, that's kind of the way things go.

Also, a lot of stuff on that first post would not work, should not work and nobody would ever implement it, and it sounds like YOUR wishlist, not business acumen.

Which ones? Why?

I think GW doesn't do all that extra stuff because they don't have to. They make money with barely any promotion as it is. I don't like GW's business policies, but I think it's funny they are accused of both hating money and simultaneously being ultra greedy beyond measure.

orkybenji wrote:
I think GW doesn't do all that extra stuff because they don't have to. They make money with barely any promotion as it is. I don't like GW's business policies, but I think it's funny they are accused of both hating money and simultaneously being ultra greedy beyond measure.

But it is possible. You see they shamelessly seem to exploit their existing, and anecdotally shrinking, customer base, while simultaneously appearing to do everything possible to avoid traditional, proven methods of gaining more customers. So while the two things seem diametrically opposed, GW seems to be making it work!

They seem to take the view that they could make more more, but it isn't worth the increased effort. There's an investment-profit ratio that after a point you just can't be bothered to put any more effort in given what you get out. I think GW set this bar fairly low though, product releases are generally slow, they make minimal effort to market their stuff, they don't really bother with making the magazine and website anything other than advertising, and are even getting lax about product quality seeing what they think is okay to ship out under the Finecast banner. Kirby and the other big names in the company are doing quite well out of it so are happy to stay steady year after year even if it makes the much longer term future of the company look less certain. They won't do anything risky or which may involve spending money that could be filling their wage pack. Unless something disastrous happens with the finances, Kirby will sell the company when he exits in a few years, only then are you likely to see any sort of restructuring or change in approach.

The Hobbit is especially odd. He's my suspicion. GW have decided that LotR is on the way out and no amount of investment is going to turn it around, the franchise just isn't as big this time, it's old news. So they've fought to hang onto the licence because it stops anyone else getting it and it means they can still stock their current LotR lines until they wind them down. Losing the licence would probably mean they have to cease selling all those lines. The effort put into the Hobbit line is minimal, they've pushed the prices right up because they've assessed that a certain amount will sell regardless of price, but as a game system they're not going to push it or try to make it mass appeal because that involves spending money for fairly little increased sales.

nkelsch wrote:
Oh look, this thread again.

Another "internet wishlist" of how everyone knows how to do everything better.

We have these literally every week, bulleted lists and all.

If you don't want to read the topic, don't read the topic.

nkelsch wrote:
Oh look, this thread again.

Another "internet wishlist" of how everyone knows how to do everything better.

We have these literally every week, bulleted lists and all.

You knew what this thread was going to be about from the subject, right? I mean, the only thing more tiresome then "these threads" has got to be the people making a beeline to go drop a big stinky turd in them the moment they get posted with their insipid "OH THIS THREAD AGAIN LOLZ". I mean, seriously, the very first response, not even three minutes later! Are you sitting there waiting at home hitting F5? How is this any better then literal spam, like a DOTA key thread?


So, uh, on-topic:




I don't think there's any reason to think there is a market for some of the things you say, like specialist games for example. You can still buy BFG, for example, right? I have to think if they were moving units, they'd move it front facing a little more. I mean, how many of those plastic Nurgle HQ one-shots did they sell? Those seemed like a good pilot for "a new special character every month".

I know everyone has a warm special place in their heart for Blood Bowl, for example. But I have to tell you guys - Blood Bowl, in it's current incarnation, kinda sucks. It's incredibly unfun to an entry level gamer who wants to pick up a game, all the enjoyment of parsing an Excel spreadsheet. My advice: For games like this, release a "starter rules" handbook that is not more then 4 pages.

Most of the other stuff I agree with; especially Finecast. That was a huge, huge blow to my personal confidence in GWS. I felt like at some point, they decided "why feed them steak, when they'll eat gak"?

IDK about the specific "specialist" games but I do think GW are making a bad mistake not to leverage their retail presence by selling a wider range of games.

Right now, there are only two reasons to go into GW -- because you are interested in WH/40K, or because you think you might be interested in it. (But if you aren't, you walk out again.)

If there was a wider range of boxed games, which don't all need to be Grimdark™, there would be more reasons to go in the shop.

The decline and fall of "specialist" games is partly self-inflicted. By relegating them to the rear wall and the Internet, GW have kept them well out of the sightline of the casual shopper.

Yes, two core games means that most people will only buy new stuff when their army gets updated... i.e. once every few years.

I'm almost certain I spent more when there was a greater range of games.

Given that these are obvious to even KK (XD) don't you think there may actually be logical business reasons why GW doesn't do these things?

R.

 precinctomega wrote:
Given that these are obvious to even KK (XD) don't you think there may actually be logical business reasons why GW doesn't do these things?

R.

No.

Marketing, expanded product ranges, two way customer communication are fairly sensible business strategies.

I think not having the specialist games in store is a bad idea for sure ! Fortinately for me I learned about Battlefleet gothic form a friend of mine, and probably have spent a small fortune on the stuff. If that was in store people would be tempted to get into it, thinking "Hey I could have a Space Marine fleet too !!!"

But we can only hope and dream

Flashman wrote:Yes, two core games means that most people will only buy new stuff when their army gets updated... i.e. once every few years.

I'm almost certain I spent more when there was a greater range of games.

I definitely spent more when there were specialist games, as evidenced by my Epic 40k boxed set, my Gorkamorka boxed set and my Space Hulk boxed set. However didn't they lose money on Epic?

precinctomega wrote:Given that these are obvious to even KK (XD) don't you think there may actually be logical business reasons why GW doesn't do these things?

R.

IMO it's because they'd rather exploit a shrinking market share instead of trying to maintain or grow that market share.

#4 seems like the most obvious thing to me. They used to be just a slight discount, didn't they? Now they're all maybe a dollar off the separate price, if that. Even to me, with my very limited view on economics and marketing, that seems like a dumb move.

 precinctomega wrote:
Given that these are obvious to even KK (XD) don't you think there may actually be logical business reasons why GW doesn't do these things?.

Please o business guru - please explain some of the possible reasons for not doing any marketing, shrinking product ranges (including killing off profitable ones) and accepting customer feedback.

3. GW would let retailers and fans know what's coming to generate excitement. Stores would hold special events to sell the newest army.

KK, you be crazy.

What kind of successful businesses do this kind of thing anymore....................

The point I was making obliquely is that GW deliberately limits their expansion to very particular boundaries. They very much want to remain within those boundaries for long-term business reasons.

R.

 precinctomega wrote:
Given that these are obvious to even KK (XD) don't you think there may actually be logical business reasons why GW doesn't do these things?

R.

I think there are reasons why GW think they ought not to do these things.

My view is that they have a false strategy and it shows in the relative stagnation of the company's results since the end of the LotR boom.

However, the recent pick up in the rate of codex releases perhaps indicates that GW also see their strategy was not working and are trying to change course.