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Backfire wrote:
But it goes on to show that it's not just about sales.

Well, "we're going to get sued for breach of contract if we drop the Hobbit stuff" isn't really much better as a motivation than "cut everything that doesn't sell as well as space marines".

 Peregrine wrote:

 Compel wrote:
I actually thought that was one of forge worlds big sellers, considering it seemed to constantly need its mould replaced through use.

But they probably didn't keep much stock available since it's a niche product, and people have been spending the past ~12 hours panic buying everything. In fact it's probably worst for the high-demand stuff because there are more people thinking "I'd better get another one while I still can", while stocks of some of the really niche stuff might last another day or two.

I know I went and ordered one while they were still in stock. It's the great Specialist Games Rush of 2013. I also grabbed a few orbital defense platforms, which are OOS as well now. Part of me is glad I grabbed stuff while I could, part of me feels like a complete gullible tool for giving money to GW in response to pulling this stunt.

Anyone wants my BFG Imperial fleet?

 Peregrine wrote:

Backfire wrote:
If sales are so important, then why GW keeps around The Hobbit which probably sells poorly even by Specialist Games standards?

License obligations? Also, GW hasn't spent years marginalizing the Hobbit stuff to the point where only the most dedicated fans will notice when they get rid of it. Cancelling a "core" game is the kind of thing that makes shareholders worry

Companies cutting out "niche" products to "concentrate on core business" are generally dying companies.

I think that's exactly it. GW is in trouble, so they're doing stuff like cutting "niche" products and rushing out new codices as fast as possible in an attempt to hide the problems a bit longer. The next financial report will inevitably claim a bunch of money saved by finally shutting down the last of their obsolete metal production, and most of their shareholders won't notice anything beyond the net profit numbers.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Compel wrote:
I actually thought that was one of forge worlds big sellers, considering it seemed to constantly need its mould replaced through use.

But they probably didn't keep much stock available since it's a niche product, and people have been spending the past ~12 hours panic buying everything. In fact it's probably worst for the high-demand stuff because there are more people thinking "I'd better get another one while I still can", while stocks of some of the really niche stuff might last another day or two.

I managed to scrounge up enough cash to buy one of the last Ramilies, but I suspect a lot of the "panic buying" are people with spare money lying about who don't give a toss about the games, they're just going to ebay them for quadruple the price in a month or so. Of course now I'm going to end up getting gouged by those same folks when I need to buy the GW part of my Imperial fleet, since I doubt I'll be able to come up with more hobby money before most of the more interesting metal ships are gone.

 Lansirill wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:

 Compel wrote:
I actually thought that was one of forge worlds big sellers, considering it seemed to constantly need its mould replaced through use.

But they probably didn't keep much stock available since it's a niche product, and people have been spending the past ~12 hours panic buying everything. In fact it's probably worst for the high-demand stuff because there are more people thinking "I'd better get another one while I still can", while stocks of some of the really niche stuff might last another day or two.

I know I went and ordered one while they were still in stock. It's the great Specialist Games Rush of 2013. I also grabbed a few orbital defense platforms, which are OOS as well now. Part of me is glad I grabbed stuff while I could, part of me feels like a complete gullible tool for giving money to GW in response to pulling this stunt.

I started putting together a cart to buy up, saw the Thunderhawk was gone and the Vampire Raider only had 1 left (tried to add 2 to cart and couldn't). At that point I said to myself "feck it, I can't be bothered with this" and just closed the window (didn't help I was at work when I first read about it and have $20k tied up in buying a car). Now I have the AI rules and 8 fighters, 4 from 2 different factions that I bought a couple of months ago... awesome... thanks GW/FW.

Backfire wrote:
27 new Gandalf figures

It's sad because this is true. They already have what? 9/10 sculpts for the guy?

The Hobbit stuff does seem to be lacking. It seems like they did a test run to see if it would be successful, were surprised when the horrific prices scared everyone off and then pretty much gave up on it.

Backfire wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:

Backfire wrote:
If sales are so important, then why GW keeps around The Hobbit which probably sells poorly even by Specialist Games standards?

License obligations?

Of course. But it goes on to show that it's not just about sales. GW will naturally keep on updating Hobbit until movie cycle is done, complete with 27 new Gandalf figures and 6 different Smaug models. Then they will drop it - unless Jackson starts making Silmarillion trilogy and GW has to buy the license again...

And sometimes, old product ranges might seem like a drag to company, even if they're profitable. I don't say it's comparable, but for example Microsoft hates how popular Windows XP still is, and they wish nothing more than it would go away, but the damn thing just won't die.

Actually, Win7 happened and people started to switch. Now MS is all 'Look at Win8! It's just like iOS and Android! It'll rawk yo!'. And everyone points out that they just spent a year or more eval'ing Win7 for their infrastructure and won't change. 7 is the new XP.

After kicking myself for not buying Arbites earlier seeing this thread about Specialist Games, I decided to check some of the collectors under WHFB and some of them are "no longer available" as well like certain DoW stuff. I made an order a month ago to begin filling some voids in my Tileans, and I didn't notice them then as NLA for the US store during that time.

Don't know if this is just a fluke, coinciding with SG going away or just the final nail is finally coming down to a slow and painful death over the last decade, but I am not taking a chance. My savings just went on life support.

While its sad to see some classic lines get put to rest (or out of their misery), I have to laugh at all the "sentimentality" being displayed. It's always, "Oh, I was planning on getting models XYZ sometime in the near future, DAMN YOU GW!!!!", knowing full well that you never had any intention of buying that Necromunda gang or BFG fleet that you were "waiting for the right moment" to get. When was the last time anybody actually played Epic or Mordheim?

On another note, I wonder if this has any impact to the rumored release of a new version of Bloodbowl? Bloodbowl was consider a part of Specialist Games after all.

it will be limited release and will probably befall the same fate as dreadfleet
people won't buy it because it will have no support, models that are only useful for that game, and little replay value
oh- and it will be too expensive

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
it will be limited release and will probably befall the same fate as dreadfleet
people won't buy it because it will have no support, models that are only useful for that game, and little replay value
oh- and it will be too expensive

1) Support may be the only downside.
2) Models will be usefull for other systems, that would not be an issue for many of these games. Look at Space Hulk and how many of these models ended up in Blood Angel armies and Tyranid armies. The only games that I think wouldn't be usable in other armies is Blood Bowl.
3) Replay value: I've never played Dreadfleet so I don't know what it was like. But many of these games came out in boxed format and have plenty of replay value. Gorkamorka, Necromunda, Blood Bowl, Mordheim...they all have plenty of replay value. That's like saying that D&D doesn't have replay value.
4) Price: GW's gonna GW...

 ClassicCarraway wrote:
While its sad to see some classic lines get put to rest (or out of their misery), I have to laugh at all the "sentimentality" being displayed. It's always, "Oh, I was planning on getting models XYZ sometime in the near future, DAMN YOU GW!!!!", knowing full well that you never had any intention of buying that Necromunda gang or BFG fleet that you were "waiting for the right moment" to get. When was the last time anybody actually played Epic or Mordheim?

Sorry, no, I bought my AI stuff less than a couple of months ago and I would have bought full squadrons before the year was out, the only reason I hadn't bought everything for full squadrons was...

1) I wanted to try the rules before spending $400 on models (I spent $150 as it was).

2) I'm currently living away from home so it's inconvenient to buy a large set of minis.

3) I wanted to sort out which models to buy (seeing as they're so damned expensive).

4) I wanted to split my purchases over a few sales, coz, ya know, so damned expensive.

5) I've been saving money to buy a car (which doesn't mean I can't buy anything, I just haven't wanted to drop large sums of money in one hit)..

If FW had of sent a newsletter saying "sorry guys, we aren't going to be able to keep manufacturing these models and will be discontinuing them in a month", yes, I would have filled out my squadrons before they cut them. Instead I have to read it on a forum and by the time I check it out, a quarter of the models I wanted are gone and a few hours later when I get home from work, two thirds of the models I wanted are gone.

 judgedoug wrote:
The only non-overpriced Specialist thing was the 12 Mordheim Villagers for $40, which I nabbed immediately. $3-something per metal model is less than most other companies now. Really sad about this, but it finally gave me the impetus to grab the redesigned Epic Eldar Revenant Titans i've been wanting, plus the aforementioned Mordheim Villagers, plus the Drunk Dwarfs and a few other odds and ends.

Had been looking at Schaffer's Last Chancers (which are even cheaper than the villagers - $35 for 12 figs - under $3 a fig!) and decided I better order them along with a couple of Mechanicus BFG ships. I suspect that the WFB and 40K Collectors pages are not long for this world.

T

 Hulksmash wrote:
So I lied. I did grab a few of the Mechanicus ships because I think finding them on ebay in the future would suck if I even decided I wanted them.

I did the same. I hesitated on them for a number of years and have already lost out on the chance for AM Light Cruisers, so I bit the bullet and just picked up a bunch. The AdMech ships are NEVER on eBay.

Even if I never play BFG again, I've wanted them for display. If they're still around by the middle of the month, may grab some more Cruisers just to bulk it out. Probably going to magnetize mine just for options.

 Rainbow Dash wrote:
it will be limited release and will probably befall the same fate as dreadfleet
people won't buy it because it will have no support, models that are only useful for that game, and little replay value
oh- and it will be too expensive

I will lol when GW starts to take and destroy remaining games then, as was the case with Dreadfleet.

Well I had planned on having some spending money for foam sometime in the next few months but there goes that idea.
I just purchased

SPACE MARINE HUNTER CLASS DESTROYERS
SPACE MARINE GLADIUS CLASS FRIGATES
AERONAUTICA IMPERIALIS LIGHTNING STRIKE FIGHTERS
AERONAUTICA IMPERIALIS AND TACTICA AERONAUTICA
Battlefleet Gothic: Apocalypse Class Imperial Battleship
Battlefleet Gothic: Adeptus Mechanicus Battleship
Battlefleet Gothic: Adeptus Mechanicus Cruiser
Battlefleet Gothic: Space Marine Battle Barge
Blood Bowl: Star Player Griff Oberwald (Blood Bowl XXVII)
Inquisitor: Navis Nobilitai

Luckily I picked up a few inquisitor models and BFG ships at adepticon. Although I'm kicking myself for passing on an aeronautica lot that was there.

 Commander Cain wrote:

Backfire wrote:
27 new Gandalf figures

It's sad because this is true. They already have what? 9/10 sculpts for the guy?

The Hobbit stuff does seem to be lacking. It seems like they did a test run to see if it would be successful, were surprised when the horrific prices scared everyone off and then pretty much gave up on it.

I have my own theory in regards to "The Hobbit" film (aside from the pants on head incompetent pricing structure) and it comes down to the idea that "The Hobbit" just didn't have enough battle to really make people get interested in a battle game.

You had the prologue and a few flashback sequences, but for the most part "The Hobbit" film was a character development piece rather than an epic swords and sorcery clash. That part will come with "The Desolation of Smaug" and the "Battle of the Five Armies"(whatever PJ decides to call it).

As I said, it's just a theory...but it does make a kind of sense. The Lord of the Rings trilogy each had a few epic battle scenes. The Hobbit has not had those just yet. It's hard to get inspired for big army battles when all you've seen are some people wandering aimlessly and fighting whatever happens to get in the way, before running away some more.

 Kanluwen wrote:
It's hard to get inspired for big army battles when all you've seen are some people wandering aimlessly and fighting whatever happens to get in the way, before running away some more.

I'm sure that didn't help GW, but I suspect the bigger factor is that the movie didn't inspire anything. People saw it, maybe enjoyed the evening, and then got on with their lives while the movie was quickly forgotten. It didn't have the same kind of lasting impact that the LOTR movies did, and that's really bad when you're depending on people spending hundreds of dollars (and going far out of their way to even find anything) on licensed products because they loved the movie so much.

But if they discontinue Necromunda, what will John Blanche use as the base for his horrible and pointless conversions in white dwarf?

Graphite wrote:
But if they discontinue Necromunda, what will John Blanche use as the base for his horrible and pointless conversions in white dwarf?

JB will only be allowed to use current releases!

But the shareholders will be pleased for the "little" spike in sales this will cause.

Backfire wrote:


No, not really.

Fair enough. I guess I just assume most other wargamers I meet/interact with do. I love gaming, and the death of one system is sad, but at the end of the day there are plenty of other games to partake in.

Back on topic:

I blinked myself and pulled the trigger on another blister of Lightnings when I saw FW only had one left.... leaves me with an annoying 4 in a game where squadrons are usually in 3s, but I guess I'll live with it.

 ClassicCarraway wrote:
While its sad to see some classic lines get put to rest (or out of their misery), I have to laugh at all the "sentimentality" being displayed. It's always, "Oh, I was planning on getting models XYZ sometime in the near future, DAMN YOU GW!!!!", knowing full well that you never had any intention of buying that Necromunda gang or BFG fleet that you were "waiting for the right moment" to get.

I can't agree with that sentiment. On a personal note, I was definitely considering buying BFG, but I didn't want to buy into anything until I was aware of my permanent residence (because one of the two places that I was considering at the time did consider BFG viable, while the other didn't).
Now, granted, I'm not aware of my permanent residence, and won't be until the end of the summer, if at all, but now I won't have to worry about spending any money on GW products. So at the very least, I must thank GW for saving me a lot of money.

Well, let's see. I can turn to Judge Dredd for Necromunda, Firestorm Armada for BFG, DZC for epic and i'm sure there's a Mordhiem type game out there too. Grats GW for stepping out of the market. Maybe just stop making 40k and Fantasy so that you have nobody to compete with any of your products.

Graphite wrote:
But if they discontinue Necromunda, what will John Blanche use as the base for his horrible and pointless conversions in white dwarf?

Horrible and pointless? They are the most interesting part of WD and INQ 28 is hardly pointless.

Most likely trying to clear slow moving stock off their balance sheet before the end of their financial year. All the moves this calendar year seems to show they are trying to pump up q4 to make up short falling in the previous three quarters.

Fenrir Kitsune wrote:

Graphite wrote:
But if they discontinue Necromunda, what will John Blanche use as the base for his horrible and pointless conversions in white dwarf?

Horrible and pointless? They are the most interesting part of WD and INQ 28 is hardly pointless.

Horses for courses. I personally don't like John Blanche's art particularly and am beginning to get tired of seeing the same Nurgle Warrior model painted in a different shade of rusty orange again and again.

 Surtur wrote:
DZC for epic

DZC isn't the same sort of game as Epic. Maybe you prefer it, and that's fine, but DZC doesn't come close to scratching my Epic itch.

 filbert wrote:

Fenrir Kitsune wrote:

Graphite wrote:
But if they discontinue Necromunda, what will John Blanche use as the base for his horrible and pointless conversions in white dwarf?

Horrible and pointless? They are the most interesting part of WD and INQ 28 is hardly pointless.

Horses for courses. I personally don't like John Blanche's art particularly and am beginning to get tired of seeing the same Nurgle Warrior model painted in a different shade of rusty orange again and again.

It can get samey, but I prefer seeing different and homepainted minis over the "official" armies and minis normally displayed in WD pages.

Well I picked up some pieces of Blood Bowl on ebay, before prices start to go through the roof. Still no guarantee that this rumored Blood Bowl box will turn up or what it will contain, so couldn't risk waiting.

Want to teach the eldest lad how to play this summer, and I only have a Dwarf and Goblin team which is hardly balanced for learning as a new player. So got some Humans and Orcs inbound.

At least Blood Bowl has a lot of 3rd party support, I can see GW teams getting rarer as years go by, but there are a few companies now putting out proxies and they're not ashamed to make the specific positions either (rather than generic FF figures).

Think I'll hold off selling my Undead & High Elf teams for a year or two now.