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Dubois is answering stuff to questions and suggestions on the Kickstarter discussion thread.

In all seriousness, why should anyone believe a word the man says?

Because just prior to this (as in barely a full day ago) his game designer & chief employee was busy pissing all over the player-base the company intends, and needs, to woo into funding their foray into a plastic miniature revamp.
Yet instead of an apology by Dave everything was swept away out of sight after the comment by said game designer that he found the beta "to be a very open and welcoming process."
That anything even happened at all is mentioned now only here in this thread, and on Google+ for the time being.
Not a peep from Robert on behalf of the company, either.

If that kind of behavior is acceptable to both the company and existing supporters, why should it ever change?
In simple words, it does not make for a good impression, which isn't going to go away anytime soon.
Mostly because, DP9 keeps doing it.


Once concern right off is that while the preview thread/post repeatedly mentions plastic, and notes such and such price planned for each model or kit, nowhere did I see any mention of what specific kind(s) of material those assumptions are based upon.
I would think TPTB should already have had some idea on that, simply by requesting or researching bid estimates for the necessary molds/machinery tooling.


Another thing I noticed is that while Robert did answer that one comment, he only replied to half of the concern, which I think is very valid given the Pod's actual exposure in the gaming market.
If neither their name recognition, along with a concurrent improvement in reputation, changes significantly then what is the point of everything they are planning to do?


The last thing of note kind of puzzles me, in that the same response by Robert essentially lays out that yes, the Pod could plan a viable KS at a reduced level more likely to fully fund with everything after just gravy.
As [Tamwulf] pointed out on the last page, there are no quick start rules because the rules aren't finished, so why demand folks to fund something that may not even be done by the time Gencon '15 rolls around or end up needing to be replaced at a loss.
Something else of mention is the tape measure, which multiple people here and elsewhere have described as "might as well be thrown away upon opening the box."
Or say, why the need to include dice when the Beta specifically maintained the usage of D6 statistics so that folks would already possess them.

Having all of the planned "included extras," which apparently are a not insignificant chunk of the projected $$$ funding level, be available as free downloads or better yet as stretch goals/freebies/etc would seem to make just as much if not more sense.


Given the state Dream Pod 9 is in a KS funded at a reasonable level with a good amount of add-on sales is probably far better than taking a risk on a high opening that might not see as much extra beyond that simply for the sake of a few more new models.
Or else a success they can't meet in their condition, as there is only the two of them at the company and maybe an intern plus any local fan-friends that they haven't already torqued off in the past.

Their inability to keep employees and maintain a good reputation is another factor that could easily come back to render an otherwise favorable situation into a disaster - ask PB (notably, amongst a few others) about that one.

_
_

That's impressive, and good to see. Maybe all the.... let's say rumblings, have actually reached someone.

I think "sanguine" is, perhaps, the best way to describe my feelings about this whole situation.

Smilodon_UP wrote:In all seriousness, why should anyone believe a word the man says?(...)

Firebreak wrote:That's impressive, and good to see. Maybe all the.... let's say rumblings, have actually reached someone.

Robert will promise anything, and lie with a straight face, without any second thoughts, so him going around and claiming the feedback is welcome, right after a forum pruning, is perfectly ok for him.

BrandonKF wrote:
Dubois is answering stuff to questions and suggestions on the Kickstarter discussion thread.

But only from the last few posts strangely. I guess it is too much trouble to scroll back as I don't think the questions themselves were uncomfortable for the most part. Maybe I'll have better luck the second time around.

Ok, I have to ask... Am I the only one who remember that they were initially planning a Kickstarter for a black-and-white soft-cover with cheap binding rulebook ?
'Cause it kinda seems relevant that they were apparently in need of help to publish their basic rulebook.
It seems to me that the whole point of this kickstarter is not to produce a plastic starter set, it's to get money now.
I think that they went with the current project just because they think it will bring more immediate money than the alternatives.
In other words, even if I believed it was a good starter set/kickstarter (I don't. I think it's about the worse way possible to transition to plastic), I would be worried about the project actually finishing. Or starting.

mrondeau wrote:
Ok, I have to ask... Am I the only one who remember that they were initially planning a Kickstarter for a black-and-white soft-cover with cheap binding rulebook ?
'Cause it kinda seems relevant that they were apparently in need of help to publish their basic rulebook.
It seems to me that the whole point of this kickstarter is not to produce a plastic starter set, it's to get money now.
I think that they went with the current project just because they think it will bring more immediate money that the alternatives.
In other words, even if I believed it was a good starter set/kickstarter (I don't. I think it's about the worse way possible to transition to plastic), I would be worried about the project actually finishing. Or starting.

Well that....



... . Good point.

mrondeau wrote:
Ok, I have to ask... Am I the only one who remember that they were initially planning a Kickstarter for a black-and-white soft-cover with cheap binding rulebook ?
'Cause it kinda seems relevant that they were apparently in need of help to publish their basic rulebook.
It seems to me that the whole point of this kickstarter is not to produce a plastic starter set, it's to get money now.

Yeah, any mention of the rulebook and why the Pod apparently couldn't get it published by themselves sure went silent in a hurry.

I had the same initial reaction as well, in that DP9 changed the KS plan almost overnight to become a total overblown $$$ grab, I guess so as to function like a band-aid while TPTB perpetuate the inane past behavior that drove the company into the toilet in the first place.

Because it is assuredly a big, wildly optimistic plan that strongly reminds me of the first time Mektek Stompy Bot tried to fund the Assault title, for like $800,000USD if memory serves.

_
_

Folks were asking for plastic the last two and a half years (if not longer). Now they decide to make the Kickstarter a transition over to plastic. Dubois explained the cost of this transition of the individual sprues. The rulebook of Beta will be included, instead of going with the first lead of promoting the rulebook as the Kickstarter. That happened because folks asked for plastic miniatures in the now-locked KS thread. Problem much?

I don't care much if they locked threads. Some were getting off topic. I just post more questions for the community. Newer players are joining in, and one poster earlier made the point about the divisiveness of the community on our forums. I don't plan on being one of those guys who argues out every other new person who appears.

I get that veteran players from the RAFM days might return, but all need to understand that in order for this community to work we have to move over. I can start a topic, perhaps ask questions for consensus, but I won't make observations without others.agreeing that the idea is sound.

Edit: Smilodon, the KS wasn't MekTek. It was Stompy Bot. And the Alpha is still going.

The divisiveness is unfortunate. I remember making a thread years ago just to say how much I enjoyed the board, because it was so friendly. But it is accomplishing things. The Pod's listening (or, for the more cynical, making an attempt at appearing to listen.) The die-hard "The Pod is always right" camp seems to have dwindled down to one or two, while the "I'm hopeful but wary" camp seems to be growing, and that is healthy for the game overall, I believe. "The Pod is always wrong" camp, of course, does not get much of a voice.

I think Robert and Dave need to take a breather and seriously think about some things. There are essentially two paths for Heavy Gear at this point: Keep on as they are, waving the 20th anniversary flag et al, and potentially embarrass (/ruin) the game and company if the KS fails and presents them as amateurly as they're behaving; Or, stop and admit that they don't have the resources or manpower to do anything, and run the KS and everything going forward as "Hey, we're two guys in a basement trying to revive this old game."

There's just so many things they should be addressing that they aren't.

BrandonKF wrote:
Folks were asking for plastic the last two and a half years (if not longer). Now they decide to make the Kickstarter a transition over to plastic. Dubois explained the cost of this transition of the individual sprues. The rulebook of Beta will be included, instead of going with the first lead of promoting the rulebook as the Kickstarter. That happened because folks asked for plastic miniatures in the now-locked KS thread. Problem much?

Yes, it is a problem because that is NOT what the poll Dave started indicated is what the community wants overall.

http://dp9forum.com/index.php?showtopic=16387

73% of respondents wanted a book based start to the KS with 72% of them wanting minis added LATER as stretch goals. The KS as previewed is way too ambitious and a recipe for failure IMO just like the back to back PAIR of video game ones that assumed to much. What is better for the game? A third grandiose failed kickstarter or one that succeeded but was much more modest in its initial scope? I suspect you'll take the third option of a grandiose and successful KS but the historical trend would indicate that isn't going to be the case. That said.. I don't think anyone has ever accused you of lacking faith.

I support the idea of a plastic KS going back to last year when I posted a series of grog articles proposing it but I wouldn't have recommended jumping right into that but rather as a FINAL stretch goal. IMO, they should have started with a modest intial goal for just the book, improved on the book with a few stretch goals, moved on to one single model sprue from a single faction with each stretch goal (like a "hunter" sprue then a "grizzly" sprue ) as separate stretch goals until they got 3-4 distinct models for that potential starter faction, moved onto single model sprues as individual stretches from a SECOND faction till they had 3-4 there as well, then finally culminating with the full starter with plastic terrain. I would then have STOPPED at that point seeing as how that already would be a big acheivement for a company that barely accomplishes one paper product and a half dozen traditional minis a year. That would be possible by next year's con given the history of plastic minis KS and the perils (whether preventable or not) that they face.

Instead of learning to walk before they run, they signed up for a marathon before taking their first step. I'd post my reservations on the forums but Dave will just end up deleting them en masse and I suspect he'll come around tonight to "clean up" the thread. Who knows, maybe he'll even delete the posts I'll be repeating on every page till they're answered even though they're not IMO inflammatory at all.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I see you making posts over on the official forums, brandon, about attracting new players but honestly I don't see that demographic as being significant for this KS. I see them instead as being integral to growing the game once the KS project is completed. I suspect that the folks who pledge will instead be the small crop of current players and the larger pool of ex-players who might be convinced that the DP9 leopard has indeed changed its spots. YMMV obviously but the above is what my gut tells me. That said, my gut has been wrong in the past as I expected Robotech to get 1/10 the funding it eventually got... but that is a split vote since my gut also told me that it too was overly ambitious in its final scope and a recipe for failure. The fact that it is running 2 years late at this point extrapolating for wave 2 might indicate that the project overall would have been BETTER served if my instincts had been true to the final funding.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Sorry about the multiple edits but things keep catching my eye and worrying me about this even more...

http://dp9forum.com/index.php?showtopic=16502&p=288336

We looked at a lot of different Kickstarter ideas to get the cost as low as possible. But to have everything that we would like to get into a nice two player starter box, there are some costs that you just can't lower. The biggest cost one being the steel mold for 4 to 6 models used to cast the plastic costs between $12,000 and $15,000 USD, and a cost make the 3D models, all that before you pop the first sprue of plastic. The second is shipping and handling costs, everyone in the US and Canada is use to free shipping, US Post and UPS don't deliver packages for free, so it needs to be added in to the Pledge level. International shipping costs are a whole different level, as they jump up so fast we need to have the international Backers, pay the exact shipping cost. We looked at it and the only way to get down to a $20,000 initial funding level would be to lower the number of miniatures included and make it a two player starter army box with just the plastic miniatures. All the other physical items (printed Quick Start Rulebook, reference and terrain/token sheets, dice, tape) would need to be removed and instead they would all have to be free ebooks and downloadable pdfs, that you download and use on your computer/tablet or printout yourself.

I'm sorry but if you can't make a starter set with rules, paper terrain, and a 32 model count profitable at $100+ USD including shipping, how the heck do you plan on it being profitable at 45-50% off as sold to retailers and distributors??? I suspect that the pod just sees KS as a potential cash cow for a quick $$ injection for a company that seems to desperately need it. They seem to have set their goals as lined up for a "mega successful" KS in the hundreds of thousands of dollars but they're frankly not offering the value those campaigns that achieve it have baked in from the start. There are no value added freebie stretch goals nor is there a magic pledge for folks to gravitate towards that would potentially include them. The KS as previewed is just a year long preorder using KS as an extension of the dp9 store. My personal opinion about KS is that they should cover the costs (tooling, production, AND salaries) but not line the pockets of the company flush with new cash. They're cutting out TWO middle men in the traditional retail chain that they expect to use in the long term; how the hell do they not have $40-50 out of that $100 price to add extra value or provide plenty of wiggle room beyond just shipping? The only valid excuse would be in they planned to charge much more at retail ($120-150) for the same set which would not bode well for the health of the KS funding total. People want to feel like they're getting a deal in return for assuming ALL the financial risk for the company on a big project like this.

 Firebreak wrote:
(...)
There's just so many things they should be addressing that they aren't.

Well, yes, and why do you think they aren't ? Or why they never have, for that matter...

BrandonKF wrote:
I don't care much if they locked threads. Some were getting off topic.

Given that in your own words you've chosen to place yourself in a leading role within what community remains, to either grow same or whatever else you might do, any voice being silenced by the company and/or someone else when pointing out things said company plus its employees has done bass ackwards now and in the past so that behavior can be altered instead of repeated seems like exactly the kind of thing that should concern anyone maintaining that role.

_
_

 warboss wrote:

BrandonKF wrote:
Folks were asking for plastic the last two and a half years (if not longer). Now they decide to make the Kickstarter a transition over to plastic. Dubois explained the cost of this transition of the individual sprues. The rulebook of Beta will be included, instead of going with the first lead of promoting the rulebook as the Kickstarter. That happened because folks asked for plastic miniatures in the now-locked KS thread. Problem much?

Yes, it is a problem because that is NOT what the poll Dave started indicated is what the community wants overall.

http://dp9forum.com/index.php?showtopic=16387

73% of respondents wanted a book based start to the KS with 72% of them wanting minis added LATER as stretch goals. The KS as previewed is way too ambitious and a recipe for failure IMO just like the back to back PAIR of video game ones that assumed to much. What is better for the game? A third grandiose failed kickstarter or one that succeeded but was much more modest in its initial scope? I suspect you'll take the third option of a grandiose and successful KS but the historical trend would indicate that isn't going to be the case. That said.. I don't think anyone has ever accused you of lacking faith.

Nope. Never been accused of it. Been accused of everything else, but not that. Keffing A.

Yeah, I voted for the book.

I see you making posts over on the official forums, brandon, about attracting new players but honestly I don't see that demographic as being significant for this KS. I see them instead as being integral to growing the game once the KS project is completed. I suspect that the folks who pledge will instead be the small crop of current players and the larger pool of ex-players who might be convinced that the DP9 leopard has indeed changed its spots. YMMV obviously but the above is what my gut tells me. That said, my gut has been wrong in the past as I expected Robotech to get 1/10 the funding it eventually got... but that is a split vote since my gut also told me that it too was overly ambitious in its final scope and a recipe for failure. The fact that it is running 2 years late at this point extrapolating for wave 2 might indicate that the project overall would have been BETTER served if my instincts had been true to the final funding.

I disagree. New players need to be brought in. It's not one or the other, or one and then the other. It has to be both at the same time.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Sorry about the multiple edits but things keep catching my eye and worrying me about this even more...

http://dp9forum.com/index.php?showtopic=16502&p=288336

We looked at a lot of different Kickstarter ideas to get the cost as low as possible. But to have everything that we would like to get into a nice two player starter box, there are some costs that you just can't lower. The biggest cost one being the steel mold for 4 to 6 models used to cast the plastic costs between $12,000 and $15,000 USD, and a cost make the 3D models, all that before you pop the first sprue of plastic. The second is shipping and handling costs, everyone in the US and Canada is use to free shipping, US Post and UPS don't deliver packages for free, so it needs to be added in to the Pledge level. International shipping costs are a whole different level, as they jump up so fast we need to have the international Backers, pay the exact shipping cost. We looked at it and the only way to get down to a $20,000 initial funding level would be to lower the number of miniatures included and make it a two player starter army box with just the plastic miniatures. All the other physical items (printed Quick Start Rulebook, reference and terrain/token sheets, dice, tape) would need to be removed and instead they would all have to be free ebooks and downloadable pdfs, that you download and use on your computer/tablet or printout yourself.

I'm sorry but if you can't make a starter set with rules, paper terrain, and a 32 model count profitable at $100+ USD including shipping, how the heck do you plan on it being profitable at 45-50% off as sold to retailers and distributors??? I suspect that the pod just sees KS as a potential cash cow for a quick $$ injection for a company that seems to desperately need it. They seem to have set their goals as lined up for a "mega successful" KS in the hundreds of thousands of dollars but they're frankly not offering the value those campaigns that achieve it have baked in from the start. There are no value added freebie stretch goals nor is there a magic pledge for folks to gravitate towards that would potentially include them. The KS as previewed is just a year long preorder using KS as an extension of the dp9 store. My personal opinion about KS is that they should cover the costs (tooling, production, AND salaries) but not line the pockets of the company flush with new cash. They're cutting out TWO middle men in the traditional retail chain that they expect to use in the long term; how the hell do they not have $40-50 out of that $100 price to add extra value or provide plenty of wiggle room beyond just shipping? The only valid excuse would be in they planned to charge much more at retail ($120-150) for the same set which would not bode well for the health of the KS funding total. People want to feel like they're getting a deal in return for assuming ALL the financial risk for the company on a big project like this.

BrandonKF wrote:

I see you making posts over on the official forums, brandon, about attracting new players but honestly I don't see that demographic as being significant for this KS. I see them instead as being integral to growing the game once the KS project is completed. I suspect that the folks who pledge will instead be the small crop of current players and the larger pool of ex-players who might be convinced that the DP9 leopard has indeed changed its spots. YMMV obviously but the above is what my gut tells me. That said, my gut has been wrong in the past as I expected Robotech to get 1/10 the funding it eventually got... but that is a split vote since my gut also told me that it too was overly ambitious in its final scope and a recipe for failure. The fact that it is running 2 years late at this point extrapolating for wave 2 might indicate that the project overall would have been BETTER served if my instincts had been true to the final funding.

I disagree. New players need to be brought in. It's not one or the other, or one and then the other. It has to be both at the same time.

I think you're misunderstanding me. I agree that new players will need to be brought in; I just don't think the kickstarter will do it but rather having the starter set on store shelves and out in the wild will. I suspect that the KS will generate much more buzz amongst EX-players who left for a multitude of reasons and are considering coming back because of it moreso than people who never bought a gear before in their life. I guess time and the KS itself will tell who is right.

 warboss wrote:

I think you're misunderstanding me. I agree that new players will need to be brought in; I just don't think the kickstarter will do it but rather having the starter set on store shelves and out in the wild will. I suspect that the KS will generate much more buzz amongst EX-players who left for a multitude of reasons and are considering coming back because of it moreso than people who never bought a gear before in their life. I guess time and the KS itself will tell who is right.

I believe I did misunderstand you in part. I don't disagree that distributors and retailers do need to be informed about this.

I believe that the KS could generate a great deal of buzz among different players if it is understood that this line has been established for a long time in metal, and that clearly they require time and money to make the change over to plastic.

I also can appreciate your own questions and suggestions.

-Brandon F.

Not to veer too much off topic here but I have a quick question.

In one of Gamers on Games' videos, they refer to Dave as the creator of Heavy Gear. Who actually IS the original creator?

 Firebreak wrote:
Not to veer too much off topic here but I have a quick question.

In one of Gamers on Games' videos, they refer to Dave as the creator of Heavy Gear. Who actually IS the original creator?

...Seriously ?!

Marc A. Vezina for one.

-Brandon F.

HudsonD wrote:

 Firebreak wrote:
Not to veer too much off topic here but I have a quick question.

In one of Gamers on Games' videos, they refer to Dave as the creator of Heavy Gear. Who actually IS the original creator?

...Seriously ?!

The interview did identify as a "junior" correspondent. Dave didn't correct things, though. Robert has at least been with the company for a long time.

BrandonKF wrote:Marc A. Vezina for one.

-Brandon F.

Thanks! That name does seem familiar, from the dark depths of my memories of HG2's credits.


....huh. I just realized I don't think I have any 1e books.

Vezina was senior editor for the IPs Dream Pod 9 created between 1993 (when it was still working with Mekton as Ianus), to 2003.

The others might be Jean Carrieres, Tyler Millson-Taylor, Gene Marcil and Phillipe Boule.

What about Ouellette? The oldest book I've got has him as Creative Director and Art Director/Designer.

Yep, him too.

Thanks again, Brandon.

Welcome Firebreak.

BrandonKF wrote:
I don't know of many distributors in brick-and-mortar stores who have gotten over the RAFM change. But they need to. It's been over a decade. There are 200 miniatures in the line-up that could line the shelves for Heavy Gear. Distributors and retailers need to have this brought to their attention.

ah, For the stores that decided to carry $30-$70 Blitz! books such as FiF just from last year, along with the requisite squad boxes plus whichever of those 200 models are no longer going to be usable if the Beta ever finalizes (or get resculpted) after already being hit by the field guide availability flip-flops, having those items end up needing to be on clearance for a loss might cause some retail hesitation as well.

_
_

 Smilodon_UP wrote:

BrandonKF wrote:
I don't know of many distributors in brick-and-mortar stores who have gotten over the RAFM change. But they need to. It's been over a decade. There are 200 miniatures in the line-up that could line the shelves for Heavy Gear. Distributors and retailers need to have this brought to their attention.

ah, For the stores that decided to carry $30-$70 Blitz! books such as FiF just from last year, along with the requisite squad boxes plus whichever of those 200 models are no longer going to be usable if the Beta ever finalizes (or get resculpted) after already being hit by the field guide availability flip-flops, having those items end up needing to be on clearance for a loss might cause some retail hesitation as well.

The older squad boxes are still viable. The entire set-up for the game's army lists is that you're given a certain number of slots to fill within each requisite squad you have. So all the models are good to go.

There is also no change in scale. Dubois was firm on that in the KS thread.

As for Forged in Fire, I don't know how many distributors and retailers actually purchased many copies of that in the first place.

-Brandon F.

Brandon, man, you keep asking everyone to talk and offer opinions about things likely to turn up when the KS runs or just about HG in general, yet you aren't reading and answering to much of what is actually being said no matter how valid the point.

The way you keep shooting everything down regardless of reality is getting to be like trying to talk sense with Robert.
These problems, and the ones no one has even mentioned or thought of as yet, aren't going to go away just by wishing it to be so.


I guess the only way to break this to you is right between the eyes, but the Pod's lackluster reputation with both people and retailers is not due to a few very vocal individuals who threw the company's public image into the muck as a long term endeavor.

Dream Pod 9 and the people running it the past decade did that all on their own with their freely made decisions.
If that path isn't to their liking, and their supporter's liking, it's something they all have to live with and deal with if the company truly wants a fresh start.


All of us are being asked once again to trust on faith alone regardless of DP9's past and present, and for myself I think that trust needs to be earned back with deeds and not more hollow words, but only the company itself can accomplish that goal.

 warboss wrote:
But only from the last few posts strangely. I guess it is too much trouble to scroll back as I don't think the questions themselves were uncomfortable for the most part. Maybe I'll have better luck the second time around.

 warboss wrote:
I'd post my reservations on the forums but Dave will just end up deleting them en masse and I suspect he'll come around tonight to "clean up" the thread.
Who knows, maybe he'll even delete the posts I'll be repeating on every page till they're answered even though they're not IMO inflammatory at all.

I get the impression you might be on Robert's /ignore list because yeah, they should already be able to answer those questions.

mrondeau wrote:
In other words, even if I believed it was a good starter set/kickstarter (I don't. I think it's about the worse way possible to transition to plastic), I would be worried about the project actually finishing. Or starting.

 Firebreak wrote:
I think Robert and Dave need to take a breather and seriously think about some things.
There's just so many things they should be addressing that they aren't.

Plans definitely seem to be racing ahead of reality.

_
_

BrandonKF wrote:

I don't know of many distributors in brick-and-mortar stores who have gotten over the RAFM change. But they need to. It's been over a decade. There are 200 miniatures in the line-up that could line the shelves for Heavy Gear. Distributors and retailers need to have this brought to their attention.

Er... no, Brandon. Distributors and brick-and-mortar stores don't have to get over the RAFM change. They don't need to do anything at all, in fact.

DP9, OTOH, needs them to get over it. This is very important. It's DP9 who needs to do the effort and change its ways, not the other way around. Distributors and brick-and-mortar stores only have to make enough money to keep being profitable.

No. It doesn't concern me. It's my business to encourage folks to talk and reach consensus and get agreements going on what can/will improve the game.

It's... your business? I'm not sure if you're implying it's a paid job for you, if you've been charged to do it, or if you've decided yourself you're going to do it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Firebreak wrote:
Not to veer too much off topic here but I have a quick question.

In one of Gamers on Games' videos, they refer to Dave as the creator of Heavy Gear. Who actually IS the original creator?

...wow.

No, as far as I know Dave was not involved in any capacity in the creation (or management, or anything) of DP9, HG or anything else. Not even NuBlitz, as it was IceRaptor's creation.

The original creators of Heavy Gear were these ones:

Original Concepts:
Jean Carrières
Jeff Fortier
Gene Marcill
Stephane I. Matis
Martin Ouliette
Pierre Ouliette
Marc A. Vézina

Additional Concepts:
Ghislain Barbe
Elie Charest
Denis Solaro

Silhouette System Design:
Gene Marcil
Stephane I. Matis

Silhouette System Development & Editing:
Marc A. Vézína

There's no indication that Dave was with the company at the time (and AFAIK, he wasn't), and Robert was only their marketing guy.

Smilodon_UP wrote:Brandon, man, you keep asking everyone to talk and offer opinions about things likely to turn up when the KS runs or just about HG in general, yet you aren't reading and answering to much of what is actually being said no matter how valid the point.

The way you keep shooting everything down regardless of reality is getting to be like trying to talk sense with Robert.
These problems, and the ones no one has even mentioned or thought of as yet, aren't going to go away just by wishing it to be so.

I guess the only way to break this to you is right between the eyes, but the Pod's lackluster reputation with both people and retailers is not due to a few very vocal individuals who threw the company's public image into the muck as a long term endeavor.

Dream Pod 9 and the people running it the past decade did that all on their own with their freely made decisions.
If that path isn't to their liking, and their supporter's liking, it's something they all have to live with and deal with if the company truly wants a fresh start.

All of us are being asked once again to trust on faith alone regardless of DP9's past and present, and for myself I think that trust needs to be earned back with deeds and not more hollow words, but only the company itself can accomplish that goal.

There was an opportunity for a fresh start prior to this. A couple, if you asked me.

For the company to accomplish its goals, it will require more than one successful Kickstarter.

It also requires growth of the community, which has dwindled. I am not about to go over reasons, because I am not read in on everything. Suffice to say that I have largely remained an observer.

My observation is that what few threads I can find in any forums concerning Heavy Gear and the company have mostly devolved into arguments.

 warboss wrote:
But only from the last few posts strangely. I guess it is too much trouble to scroll back as I don't think the questions themselves were uncomfortable for the most part. Maybe I'll have better luck the second time around.

 warboss wrote:
I'd post my reservations on the forums but Dave will just end up deleting them en masse and I suspect he'll come around tonight to "clean up" the thread.
Who knows, maybe he'll even delete the posts I'll be repeating on every page till they're answered even though they're not IMO inflammatory at all.

I get the impression you might be on Robert's /ignore list because yeah, they should already be able to answer those questions.

Both Dave and Dubois seemed like they were trying to answer a couple questions, but they are going over the full list of things that were said. So hopefully they do get around to warboss' questions.

Albertorius wrote:

BrandonKF wrote:

I don't know of many distributors in brick-and-mortar stores who have gotten over the RAFM change. But they need to. It's been over a decade. There are 200 miniatures in the line-up that could line the shelves for Heavy Gear. Distributors and retailers need to have this brought to their attention.

Er... no, Brandon. Distributors and brick-and-mortar stores don't have to get over the RAFM change. They don't need to do anything at all, in fact.

DP9, OTOH, needs them to get over it. This is very important. It's DP9 who needs to do the effort and change its ways, not the other way around. Distributors and brick-and-mortar stores only have to make enough money to keep being profitable.

Fair assessment. Hopefully folks can start asking and DP9 can get someone to start reaching out to those parties.

It's... your business? I'm not sure if you're implying it's a paid job for you, if you've been charged to do it, or if you've decided yourself you're going to do it.

I decided to try. American euphemism. I apologize for that. I am not receiving orders or being paid for this. Never have been.

Simply doing what little I can.

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 Firebreak wrote:
Not to veer too much off topic here but I have a quick question.

In one of Gamers on Games' videos, they refer to Dave as the creator of Heavy Gear. Who actually IS the original creator?

...wow.

No, as far as I know Dave was not involved in any capacity in the creation (or management, or anything) of DP9, HG or anything else. Not even NuBlitz, as it was IceRaptor's creation.

The original creators of Heavy Gear were these ones:

Original Concepts:
Jean Carrières
Jeff Fortier
Gene Marcill
Stephane I. Matis
Martin Ouliette
Pierre Ouliette
Marc A. Vézina

Additional Concepts:
Ghislain Barbe
Elie Charest
Denis Solaro

Silhouette System Design:
Gene Marcil
Stephane I. Matis

Silhouette System Development & Editing:
Marc A. Vézína

There's no indication that Dave was with the company at the time (and AFAIK, he wasn't), and Robert was only their marketing guy.

John Nguyen took over marketing at one point I believe, but yes, aside from Dubois, none of the original crew has remained.