What Company Do You WANT To Buy GW?

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**master of ordinance**

Privateer Press as their the only one I have experience with.
Just not Disney... Please not Disney.
I can see it now: In the grim darkness of the far future there is only... THE MOUSE

**Overread**

Disney have done films in the past aimed at adults; although I don't recall any in recent times. That said they make sure that whilst their name is on the credits they advertise differently, Disney as a brand is very much aimed at the kids and family market. If they took over GW they'd likely have the Disney stamp on the box, but the advertising and product direction would remain the same - the only bit I'd expect to change is the possible appearance of a Space Marine rollercoaster and a few walking marines at their theme parks (aiming at the teenage market).

**Shadow Captain Edithae**

I don't want GW to be bought, I simply want a change of leadership.

Kirby and his cronies are sucking the life and creativity out of the company to line their own pockets.

**Herzlos**

Overread wrote:
Disney have done films in the past aimed at adults; although I don't recall any in recent times. That said they make sure that whilst their name is on the credits they advertise differently, Disney as a brand is very much aimed at the kids and family market. If they took over GW they'd likely have the Disney stamp on the box, but the advertising and product direction would remain the same - the only bit I'd expect to change is the possible appearance of a Space Marine rollercoaster and a few walking marines at their theme parks (aiming at the teenage market).

Assuming Disney put their name on the franchise; they might just treat it as a separate entity aimed at a different market.

**djphranq**

Subway Salads and Sandwiches...

GW... play Fresh...

or something like that

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

A private company

(anything listed on a stock market is too vunerable to shareholders needing cash/dividends quick) so no to hasbro

Somebody without their own table top gaming lines in the 40K/Fantasy space

(otherwise either their own line will die or the GW properties will) so no to privateer or mantic

somebody with a clear dedication to quality

(you may not like the direction a bunch of GWs stuff goes in, but it's technically good) so no mantic

So probably a new owner with a strong interest in wargaming or model making coming in without direct experience of running a game company would be the best placed to make a go of things

(as the new owner of WGF has done taking a fairly 'basic' plastic kit manufacturer to one producing real state of the art)

Companies listed I'd go for Fantasy Flight, but I don't think they'd make a great job of it, they're too small (so would have to borrow too much to ever buy GW). I also think they're to prone to overcomplicating rules which is a tendency which might not synergise well with GWs fairly iffy rules writing

**LumenPraebeo**

I want the Virgin Group to buy GW

I think they'll change the entire face of tabletop gaming for the better.

**Shadow Captain Edithae**

LumenPraebeo wrote:
I want the Virgin Group to buy GW I think they'll change the entire face of tabletop gaming for the better.

By hiring lots of attractive young women and changing their dress code to a red dress?

**sing your life**

Mantic would be good in dealing with prices.

Not sure why you want PP in charge of GW, since they've already made a few of GW's mistakes [i.e prices and releasing miniatures in a material that just about every other company does better]

**Grimtuff**

Overread wrote:
Disney have done films in the past aimed at adults; although I don't recall any in recent times. That said they make sure that whilst their name is on the credits they advertise differently, Disney as a brand is very much aimed at the kids and family market. If they took over GW they'd likely have the Disney stamp on the box, but the advertising and product direction would remain the same - the only bit I'd expect to change is the possible appearance of a Space Marine rollercoaster and a few walking marines at their theme parks (aiming at the teenage market).

Depends what you mean by recent. They owned Miramax until 2005 IIRC.

**Rune Stonegrinder**

If or when it would happen, Mantic would be funny. I do not think Fantasy Flight would be good, its a great company and produces excellent games no doubt. However, many of thier games are hard to get ahold of, do to low production scale and shipping issues. I I'm not convinced they do any better a job at promoting anything, other than FOW.

**Mr. Burning**

After he drains GW and leaves a hollow shell before he leaves I want a group of investors led by Kirby parachuted to take control of the IP.

Kirby can then sell rights to the highest bidder from the new biz space offices.

I want to see action figure Space Marines, Tyranid jelly sweets, a 'Spot the Space Marine' book, kiddies Ork playsuits.

It will be glorious and has a higher chance of happening than any toy or wargaming company taking over.

**Shadow Captain Edithae**

Mr. Burning wrote:
After he drains GW and leaves a hollow shell before he leaves I want a group of investors led by Kirby parachuted to take control of the IP.

Kirby can then sell rights to the highest bidder from the new biz space offices.

I want to see action figure Space Marines, Tyranid jelly sweets, a 'Spot the Space Marine' book, kiddies Ork playsuits.

It will be glorious and has a higher chance of happening than any toy or wargaming company taking over.

They'd be breaking copyright.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spots-Space-Marine-Defense-Fiddler-ebook/dp/B006MGJYOE

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Hasbro, just because I'd love to see what they would come up with if they got hold of GW's skill in plastic production. I would expect multiple licenses in GW's future if Hasbro got them.

**cincydooley**

TheAuldGrump wrote:
cincydooley wrote:
I just think it's silly to wish list companies that don't have the resources to actually buy them.
And I think that it is silly to make a claim, then fail to back it up.

*Shrug*

So, I am guessing that you didn't have any substantial remark to make, then?

You just wanted to complain?

The Auld Grump

Fail to back it up with what?

Fantasy Flight doesn't have the resources to purchase GW. It's pretty simple.

You could have listed Bandai. gak. List Microsoft or Nintendo.

And then, when it comes to FFG, it doesn't appear that they have any interest in keeping any 28mm games in their arsenal....

**inferno445**

I kind of wish PP bought them but I'm probably a bit biased in that regard as I'm a warmachine player. Miniatures with their stats on a card so you don't need to buy codexes anybody? If WOTC got a hold of it I think it would be interesting but not necessarily good. WOTC would probably mess it up for a while until they got used to the miniatures market. In that time players might just up and leave it almost entirely since a lot of people are pretty miffed right now.

**kronk**

Forge World. They do 30k better than GW does 40k.

Put Allen Blighe in charge, that crazy, beautiful bastard!

**Pacific**

notprop wrote:

A private individual would be the only way to achieve any of the wish-listy things that are deemed needed at GW. Anyone know of any Nerdy Oligarchs?

That's actually what I would hope for..

I think pretty much any criticism aimed at GW you can attribute to them being a publically owned company. That would be one way to change that..

Cincy wrote:And then, when it comes to FFG, it doesn't appear that they have any interest in keeping any 28mm games in their arsenal...

Weren't there some rumours of a 28mm Star Wars game from FFG?

**Scrub**

I've seen this question crop up quite a few times here on Dakka and without wanting to generalise too much it seems to be a bit of an obsession concerning some members of a North American persuasion, the answer to any negativity concerning a company is to have it bought out it would seem.

That said, whilst I'm far from being a GW fanboy i'd sooner take a change in management over an actual buyout as I see the latter as being a risky maneuver, it could be just as damaging as it could be rewarding imo.

**cincydooley**

Pacific wrote:

Weren't there some rumours of a 28mm Star Wars game from FFG?

I have not heard this, but would wholeheartedly support it!

I can't say it makes me optimistic in regards to production though; they already have a lot of trouble keeping xwing in stock.....

But yeah, I'd totally be down with a new Jedi battles skirmish game.

**The Shadow**

Overread wrote:
Disney have done films in the past aimed at adults; although I don't recall any in recent times. That said they make sure that whilst their name is on the credits they advertise differently, Disney as a brand is very much aimed at the kids and family market. If they took over GW they'd likely have the Disney stamp on the box, but the advertising and product direction would remain the same - the only bit I'd expect to change is the possible appearance of a Space Marine rollercoaster and a few walking marines at their theme parks (aiming at the teenage market).

I doubt it. Disney own Marvel, or example. How many Marvel films have you seen that include Disney's logo? None, because I'm fairly sure there isn't one. Disney are clever enough to know that slapping "Disney" on a superhero film would dissuade many adult males (a large part of the target audience) from going to see the film. Same would apply for GW, if Disney bought it. Which, by the way, I highly doubt they would. GW is nothing compared to Disney, I don't think they'd see any merit in it.

**RogueRegault**

Jehan-reznor wrote:
Bandai is not a fraction of GW's size IMHO.
I would like Vivid to buy GW, they know how to penetrate the market.

Stranger things have happened. Especially considering the nerdiness of Vivid's parodies.

I would think a GW buyout would boil down to a few different groups.

A "Curt Schilling" group consisting of a single super rich fan. (Say Robert Deniro or Robin Williams)

A consortium of angel investors put together by Jervis Johnson or some other designer/former designer. (Andy Chambers probably has the most contacts at this point.)

The largest of companies to which GW owes money.

A toy company looking to diversify its portfolio. Mattel or Bandai are more likely than Hasbro.

Mattel would be just as bad as GW is now, going by the extreme stupidity evidenced by their collector's market targeted products.

**Lockark**

Overread wrote:
If GW went up for sale it would likely only be if they needed a huge cash investment to remain viable. That already removes most of the suggested companies; actually it pretty much removes any miniature company because they are all smaller than GW by a significant margin. They'd just not have the resources to pick up a whole company, a huge whole company and manage it and their own whilst also providing investment into the GW lines.

It's only if GW were healthy and wanted to "hand over the reigns" would we see another miniature company step in to take over; and considering that GW is not a private company that's a remote chance at best.

Like it or not we'd have to be looking at a buyer outside of the miniatures market - with all the risks that come with that. I would expect any company buying GW would respect the IP and market; chances are even if their prime market is in another sector they would let GW operate to its own market rather than try to change it. If they wanted to change it they'd be best to use their other mediums to use the IP content to sell through that.

Of course they might step in and make huge changes; I'd expect to see the stores on the highstreet gone (its likely GW's biggest expense); I'd also suspect that we'd see more outsourcing to China and other markets for miniature production; not to cut losses, but more to scale up the production. Hasbro and such would have the bonus that they could likely land GW products in most highstreet toystores.
Of course the problem there is competition, we'd likely see more boxed sets of miniatures grouped together; we could also see armies get smaller or even lose armies - GW's biggest problem on the shelf on the highstreet is that you need a big section of shelf space to sell a large proportion of miniatures (and when you don't have that space most stores have to block things, so you've got a stack of boxes of random armies all ontop of each other - hiding products!)

Facebook has made stranger purches before...

**Easy E**

Fantasy Flight, because their HQ is close enough for me to drive to.

I think if GW goes down, so will the IP.

**Lockark**

Easy E wrote:
Fantasy Flight, because their HQ is close enough for me to drive to.

I think if GW goes down, so will the IP.

If gw goes down, the ip will go to the highest bidder. No one will buy the gw company as a whole. Unless someone wants the continue the wargame.

**FoWPlayerDeathOfUS.TDs**

Do you think it would be good for the community if the IP went the way of the dodo? I know it is a huge deal, but battletech had its golden days too.

**notprop**

Lockark wrote:
Easy E wrote:
Fantasy Flight, because their HQ is close enough for me to drive to.

I think if GW goes down, so will the IP.

If gw goes down, the ip will go to the highest bidder. No one will buy the gw company as a whole. Unless someone wants the continue the wargame.

Actually I would imagine of would be safely protected in a seperate shell corporation. It would then be fought over by the share holders/directors for many many years to determine control, direction and ownership of this valuable tidbit. During this whole time the IP would stagnate only to being rereleased when the is zero interest in Warhammer anymore because all the future kids are addicted to games that beam directly into your brainbox or holograms or something....?

**Overread**

FoWPlayerDeathOfUS.TDs wrote:
Do you think it would be good for the community if the IP went the way of the dodo? I know it is a huge deal, but battletech had its golden days too.

The IP itself could go away and it wouldn't harm the community much. There'd always be someone else to re-invent the idea of bulk hulking men in suits fighting xenos in space.

But GW is more than IP; its a huge company in the miniature wargames market with an influence and marketing and presence that outstrips the others by far. Whilst it might not be the cheapest, its certainly the one most people have heard of, the one most have seen and the one that often gets them in the door. Maybe that means they start with Warhammer or 40K or LotR or they come in and discover miniature wargaming as a whole and branch out into the other games in the genre.

Lose that and I think the whole wargame market would suffer as a whole. The other companies would have to do a LOT more promotional work to generate the uptake of new gamers into the hobby; plus (esp UK side) a lot of work growing more gaming clubs (beyond friend groups and school level playing groups).

Sure if GW and its IP vanished we'd likely see an end to the dozen or so companies that make copy-cat models of the same theme; and we'd probably ride out the initial loss of new recruits for a few years; but that kick would come (in some countries more than others). I'd rather see the market grow, expand, strengthen - and yes with GW focusing on larger scale games that means the market is open field for a lot of smaller companies to get a good foothold on the market - heck that's was PP did with Warmachine. For a long time it was the small scale skirmish game of choice - now they are ramping up toward larger battles and forces; still no the same rank and file as GW, but a similar larger scale setup.

**tjnorwoo**

I'd like to see GW buy back their own company. I'm not a big fan of going public. Really kills the creative roots and turns a company into a money grubbing corporation.

**Overread**

tjnorwoo wrote:
I'd like to see GW buy back their own company. I'm not a big fan of going public. Really kills the creative roots and turns a company into a money grubbing corporation.

I'd agree with that. So long as they've good business sense whilst running the company (you mustn't be too product focused otherwise you'll make a FANTASTIC product and make yourself bankrupt at the same time). I dislike when a company goes public as the focus shifts to the shareholders (who are generally only in it for the money and any hiccup or slowdown in profit can have them running to better pastures, even if there is nothing actually wrong with the company).

Also I find as soon as companies get shareholders the upper management forgets about the customers and focuses more and more on the shareholders.