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I have not seen any blurbs on this.....looks to be an exciting day in Memphis!

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=&categoryId=300002§ion=community&aId=24600001a&utm_term=events&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text-link-body&utm_source=e9100001-en_GB&utm_campaign=GamesDayTickets-en_GB

Only 1000 tickets?

Is GD US normally that small...?

I'm actually more concerned about the fact that the GD (in every form of GD) model won't be revealed until the day of... lame :-\

Well, on the bright side it's no longer included with the ticket!

I'll save my money for Adepticon, thanks.

You will get to:

• Be inspired by "the Best" with Golden Demon, Armies on Parade and
other exclusive competitions.

So, they aren't actually the best, someone just said they were the best and GW felt the need to quote them?

 JOHIRA wrote:

You will get to:

• Be inspired by "the Best" with Golden Demon, Armies on Parade and
other exclusive competitions.

So, they aren't actually the best, someone just said they were the best and GW felt the need to quote them?

It does sound very sarcastic doesn't it

 BrookM wrote:
Well, on the bright side it's no longer included with the ticket!

And that is a Good Thing!

I'm going to the Rodge Podge that day, which is going to be much cooler.

 Alfndrate wrote:
I'm actually more concerned about the fact that the GD (in every form of GD) model won't be revealed until the day of... lame :-\

Don't we already know what the GD models are? The DKoK guy with the plasma pistol and the Fantasy Priest with two hammers?

Or is this something else, like pre-release models.

 kronk wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
I'm actually more concerned about the fact that the GD (in every form of GD) model won't be revealed until the day of... lame :-\

Don't we already know what the GD models are? The DKoK guy with the plasma pistol and the Fantasy Priest with two hammers?

Or is this something else, like pre-release models.

Those are the FW exclusive models, this is the GW model we're talking about.

We're all 'invited' to attend, for $50, in Memphis, and model not included?

Far be it from me to schadenfreude this one, but it would be fairly amusing if they didn't sell out...

 JOHIRA wrote:

You will get to:

• Be inspired by "the Best" with Golden Demon, Armies on Parade and
other exclusive competitions.

So, they aren't actually the best, someone just said they were the best and GW felt the need to quote them?

I think they're shouting this because they've cancelled GD France and GD Italy.

Very strange, only 1000 participants? This could be the average painter's best chance of winning a Golden Demon trophy since there were 3-4 US Games Days every year.

 BrookM wrote:

 kronk wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
I'm actually more concerned about the fact that the GD (in every form of GD) model won't be revealed until the day of... lame :-\

Don't we already know what the GD models are? The DKoK guy with the plasma pistol and the Fantasy Priest with two hammers?

Or is this something else, like pre-release models.

Those are the FW exclusive models, this is the GW model we're talking about.

Oh...

I was at the first US Games Day ever in Maryland in 1993 and went every year for 18 years consecutive. I don't know what GW is thinking on Games Day now charging $50. The last few Games Day events were repetitive and geared almost completely toward kids except for Golden Demon and most parents are not going to pay $50 for admission (especially for more than one kid) and they no longer have the kind of events (e.g., GW main product seminars, sneak peeks, etc.) that will draw in the adult fans. And they are actually limiting attendance to 1,000 instead of trying to increase attendance. Games Day used to be spectacular fun for every GW fan regardless of age years ago. Now I can hardly find a reason to think of going.

 Oaka wrote:
Very strange, only 1000 participants? This could be the average painter's best chance of winning a Golden Demon trophy since there were 3-4 US Games Days every year.

Then what's the point if your not competing with people who will challenge you. I earned my demon and am damn proud of it because it was some stiff comp. This is just... odd.

Is GD US normally that small...?

No, it used to be massive, especially attendance in Maryland where US Games Day started.

However, the past two years since they moved it to Chicago only attendance was way down. Now to save money they've moved it near their HQ in Memphis, TN and are selling a limited number of expensive tickets.

Sell fewer at higher price.
Isn't that the mantra?

privateer4hire wrote:
Sell fewer at higher price.
Isn't that the mantra?

Less is more you know. Fact!

 Empchild wrote:

 Oaka wrote:
Very strange, only 1000 participants? This could be the average painter's best chance of winning a Golden Demon trophy since there were 3-4 US Games Days every year.

Then what's the point if your not competing with people who will challenge you. I earned my demon and am damn proud of it because it was some stiff comp. This is just... odd.

For those of us that know we hit our talent ceiling, it would be fun to nab a trophy. I got really close at a Chicago GD, when my model made it to the last five (this was when there was a Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Baltimore GD the same Summer, all the best painters in the country couldn't attend each one). If I had won a bronze, I'm sure my gaming group would be very tired of me constantly bragging about it.

Last year was my first GD ever and I was impressed. My friends that I went with were talking about going this year but the prices are a big turn off. Sad to say that since it's only 6 hour drive unlike last years that was which was a 14 hour drive.

 Oaka wrote:

 Empchild wrote:

 Oaka wrote:
Very strange, only 1000 participants? This could be the average painter's best chance of winning a Golden Demon trophy since there were 3-4 US Games Days every year.

Then what's the point if your not competing with people who will challenge you. I earned my demon and am damn proud of it because it was some stiff comp. This is just... odd.

For those of us that know we hit our talent ceiling, it would be fun to nab a trophy. I got really close at a Chicago GD, when my model made it to the last five (this was when there was a Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Baltimore GD the same Summer, all the best painters in the country couldn't attend each one). If I had won a bronze, I'm sure my gaming group would be very tired of me constantly bragging about it.

Just so you know, i understand your reasoning but it's not the right attitude to have. Their is no such thing as a painting limit just what you set for yourself. I have friends with the same mentality and i tell them to challenge themselves because they will progress if they do that.

Only revealing model at the event, huh? Sounds like the iron-clad secrecy of new releases policy has really overtaken GW.

I went a couple years ago to GD in Chicago. It was ok - highlight was having a cigarette with Jes Goodwin. Really friendly guy (though it probably helped that we chatted about Japan, his kids, and nothing really related to GW).

One more little thing that makes me hope for an alternative to GW (that produces miniatures of equal or better quality. So far, only DreamForge, IMHO)

-C6

 catharsix wrote:
Only revealing model at the event, huh? Sounds like the iron-clad secrecy of new releases policy has really overtaken GW.

Agreed. I was almost willing to make the drive(it's only about 5 hours away), then I saw that and decided on no.

Also, some people seriously think $50 is expensive entry to a convention? Wargamers are so spoiled with convention price. IIRC, Baltimore GD 2K tickets(with the two game option) was around $65 and all my anime, horror, and other fandom friends were astounded it was that cheap.

 Deacis657 wrote:
Last year was my first GD ever and I was impressed. My friends that I went with were talking about going this year but the prices are a big turn off. Sad to say that since it's only 6 hour drive unlike last years that was which was a 14 hour drive.

Gas-wise, the $50 ticket with a 6 hr drive is probably cheaper than the 14 hr drive and less expensive ticket last year. Hear me out: with a 6 hr trip, you probably have 1 night of hotels (the night before), as you can drive back the same day of the event. This saves about $75 if you get a cheap hotel room and share with your friends. If you don't share a kingsized bed between two of you, price probably goes to ~$150 for the night for four of you, instead of $300 ($150 if you share) for two nights. Then you tack on the gas costs. Gas is on average about $3.40 a gallon, and that 8 hr difference (16 both ways) will be a difference of another $120, easy-if you have a car that's decent on mileage. So, with a $50 ticket for 4 people, plus gas at around $100, plus one hotel room, the cost is $375-450. The longer trip with cheaper ticket, $35 if I remember correctly, would be $510-650. Huge difference, no? So that $50 ticket is cheaper for you. It's not cheaper for everyone, but in your shoes, you're in better shape. Don't rule out GD if you really like it. I'm personally not going, as it's much further for me, and I can't justify the ticket from NY to TN. Hopefully you take my advice though and think about it, if you really enjoy it. If you don't, then no loss.

Am I the only one that sees 1000 and thinks it is basically just a big Open Day at Memphis? I remember glory days (don't we all) when the doors would open in Baltimore and there would be the big rush as people entered the hall.

But yeah, I'd think it would be hard to make sure all the best painters would be there.

@timetowaste85 - unfortunately for some of us, getting to Memphis is over twice the drive as Chicago, so the price of going did not just go up by a little - it probably quadrupled in gas alone.....

Not revealing the GD model until the day of. What a wonderful idea. I think they should apply that method to all their releases. Not tell anyone about anything until the day it’s on shelves. Retailers can order “mystery boxes” with touch sensitive rapidly decaying poison (so if they try to open it before the release date they die!). That way no one will ever know anything until the last possible second.

Games Workshop: Paragons or marketing. Titans of product promotion.

 BrookM wrote:
Well, on the bright side it's no longer included with the ticket!

This is great news!

bah all you ungrateful youth today! In my day we'd queue for hours outside the NEC or the place before that, and we'd only find out what the mini was when someone stuck it into our hands as we walked in...usually a sprue of gakky goblins or something!

It really is the event horizon of terrible GW marketing ideas:

False sense of exclusivity
Increased price
Lesser value
Mystery surprise (the mini, of which more will sell on ebay than there will be people that attend the event)

Thank goodness for some good BL writers and the FW talent. I love the FW HH content, and the (select) novels tend to be good. I actually considered flying to the UK and paying money to attend the HH Weekender (which is silly, pricewise, from the States, so I won't) and I even scoffed at a $50 GD ticket in Memphis with limited attendance (so limited interest from the home office in the UK). It isn't about the money, but the perceived value.

All of my histrionics aside, I hope those that do attend get good value for their money and that they have a great day. Sincerely.

 Tethyr13 wrote:
Am I the only one that sees 1000 and thinks it is basically just a big Open Day at Memphis? I remember glory days (don't we all) when the doors would open in Baltimore and there would be the big rush as people entered the hall.

But yeah, I'd think it would be hard to make sure all the best painters would be there.

@timetowaste85 - unfortunately for some of us, getting to Memphis is over twice the drive as Chicago, so the price of going did not just go up by a little - it probably quadrupled in gas alone.....

That's why I said it's not cheaper for everyone...like me. It's more expensive for me. But for the the people 6 hrs away instead of 14, it's a big/positive difference. Not so for guys like you and me.