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Mark Wells didn't leave 3 years ago, he left Jan 13.

Things change quick, huh?

WOW....


Am I thinking of someone else? Are you sure it wasn't Jan last year?

<this feels like the perfect time for a 'what year is this? Image but I'm posting from a phone>

Yep, I felt it was more recent than 3 years, Googled to be sure.

Edit
And I meant Jan 2013, not 13/01/14, that would be crazy!

H.B.M.C. wrote:I don't think the distinction even needs to be made. A clear, concise and tight set of rules will support competitive play simply as a by-product of existing.

Definitely.

slowthar wrote:40k didn't start to suck for me when I played in tournaments, it started to suck when my buddy finally got an updated Tau codex and while my other buddy was playing BA. Games started to feel like a complete waste of time where we just felt bad for the guy playing BA, and no one was having any fun.

A consistently negative experience for one player because of army wide balance issues is not good. It's the type of thing that makes people quit.

MWHistorian wrote:I'm a casual player and this lack of balance I find too punishing. I have an army that's fluffy and how I want it, and it has zero chance of beating an Waveserpant spam or riptide spam list. That's an extreme example but my armies were always fighting uphill battles and too often I found that I had no chance of actually winning and though I'm not a competitive player, I want at least the illusion that I can win.

GW is also actively encouraging spam lists that a fluffy balanced list won't have a chance against.

Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:Can they even afford to pay dividends at this point? Surely given their falling revenue and sales, giving away their cash reserves doesn't strike me as very wise.

The dividend is covered by cash reserves, so they can afford it, but it's a strange thing to do compared to finding something to do with the money to return to growth. Some form of marketing. An expansion of retail in a way that works? New product development. Something. Heck, they could start buying out their small competitors. Or buy back their stock.

Either way there's a mismatch in GW's dividend policy with their business model. They have the dividend policy of a stable, large, mature company, but are a niche retailer with an unstable revenue stream and a shrinking product base as brands like LOTR and Warhammer Fantasy bring in less and less revenue.

azreal13 wrote:Both in the sense that Kirby wouldn't be directly responsible, at least not solely for much of the hiring and firing, but wasn't the most recent appointment to the board someone with experience in managing takeovers and mergers, not resisting them?

The new board member is also very skilled in the restructuring that involved when you join two companies together. I imagine she headed up the closing of the regional HQs just as if they were redundant offices when two companies joined.

Taking out a loan to pay dividends... does not seem a wise decision to me.....

We will see what the end of year report has to mumble. The last minute release of 7th ed. WH40K may bump up the receipts enough that they will not need to float a loan - at the cost of liquidity.

The Auld Grump

 jonolikespie wrote:

Mark Wells left what.. 3 years ago now? He was brought in to reduce waste and when he left he was praised for his efforts in trimming the fat. After he was gone GW then powered ahead cutting costs everywhere, especially with their 1 man store method. That says a lot to me. The guy they brought in to cut costs leaving would, to me, suggest that the fat is gone. GW then slashing costs more and more means they are getting rid of anything they posibly can because they simply can't support the massive retail chain like they used to.

It reminds me of that scene in Pirates of the Caribbean when they are trying to outrun the Black Pearl and throw everything overboard only to realize that it wasn't enough and now they have to fight a battle without proper weapons.

 azreal13 wrote:
Yep, I felt it was more recent than 3 years, Googled to be sure.

Edit
And I meant Jan 2013, not 13/01/14, that would be crazy!

Feels like a long time because the new Edition of 40k, as odd as that seems to be. I guess the state of a core game is tied to the company more than we know? However, I might have had too much conspiracy juice today.

 TheAuldGrump wrote:
The last minute release of 7th ed. WH40K may bump up the receipts enough that they will not need to float a loan - at the cost of liquidity.

I think that, at the very least, the rushed 7th Ed will cause an improvement in the full-year report. Thing is though, we'll all know that that was the reason. And they'll know that that was the reason.

So, yeah, 8th Ed, coming 14/12/14?

 H.B.M.C. wrote:

 TheAuldGrump wrote:
The last minute release of 7th ed. WH40K may bump up the receipts enough that they will not need to float a loan - at the cost of liquidity.

I think that, at the very least, the rushed 7th Ed will cause an improvement in the full-year report. Thing is though, we'll all know that that was the reason. And they'll know that that was the reason.

So, yeah, 8th Ed, coming 14/12/14?

I would certainly expect something "big" from GW to entice people to throw money at them this year. Plastic Thunderhawk, maybe? (that's a Dakka Bingo for someone).
Seriously, though, I would expect some sort of big, and possibly limited, release from GW to raise money. Maybe they will rerelease one of the Specialist Games or something.

They could just be hoping that The Battle of 5 Armies finally pays off for them.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:

I would certainly expect something "big" from GW to entice people to throw money at them this year.

Fantasy 9th Ed. Of course whither that still counts as 'big' is anyone's guess.

Big isn't really relevant, all they need is "big enough."

Flat is the new growth don't you know?

 azreal13 wrote:
Big isn't really relevant, all they need is "big enough."

Flat is the new growth don't you know?

I think those days are numbered.

Oh yes, I'm indecently interested to see the next FYE report. I honestly thought my atrocious Business lecturer had managed to kill any interest I had in the wider machinations of the business world years ago, turns out all I needed was the ongoing validity of my collection of toy soldiers to be connected to it and I'm right into it again!

Just got an email from Jaroslaw (Buypainted / Wargamingzone / Forgeplanet). GW stopped him from selling their products because "he sold too many". GW... /facepalm

Relevant excerpt from the email:

The last thing I have to mention is my absence in Fabruary and March. I had to close my miniature store after 12 years, because Games Workshop refused to sell me their products, because I was selling "too much". This is the most sophisticated selling policy I've ever heard, but OK. Let see their annual report in next upcoming weeks. I have a bad feeling about this . I didn't comment the Games Workshop policy in past, because I was their retailer and generally it wasn't a good idea. But now my company is not tied with them in any way and I will tell you a little about my vision on gaming market and GW policy. Anyway - I wasn't able to focus on tutorials. As a compensation all subscrbtions active from February 1st to March 31st. were prolonged by 60 days. For example - if someone bought a 1 year subscription on July 1st, it has an expiry date on September 1st. Sorry for inconvenience.

 Yonan wrote:
Just got an email from Jaroslaw (Buypainted / Wargamingzone / Forgeplanet). GW stopped him from selling their products because "he sold too many". GW... /facepalm

Relevant excerpt from the email:

The last thing I have to mention is my absence in Fabruary and March. I had to close my miniature store after 12 years, because Games Workshop refused to sell me their products, because I was selling "too much". This is the most sophisticated selling policy I've ever heard, but OK. Let see their annual report in next upcoming weeks. I have a bad feeling about this . I didn't comment the Games Workshop policy in past, because I was their retailer and generally it wasn't a good idea. But now my company is not tied with them in any way and I will tell you a little about my vision on gaming market and GW policy. Anyway - I wasn't able to focus on tutorials. As a compensation all subscrbtions active from February 1st to March 31st. were prolonged by 60 days. For example - if someone bought a 1 year subscription on July 1st, it has an expiry date on September 1st. Sorry for inconvenience.

Wat.

That's even more batgak crazy than usual GW.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them go direct sale only in the next couple years.

Maximize profit margins, minimize sales!

 Yonan wrote:
Just got an email from Jaroslaw (Buypainted / Wargamingzone / Forgeplanet). GW stopped him from selling their products because "he sold too many". GW... /facepalm

Relevant excerpt from the email:

The last thing I have to mention is my absence in Fabruary and March. I had to close my miniature store after 12 years, because Games Workshop refused to sell me their products, because I was selling "too much". This is the most sophisticated selling policy I've ever heard, but OK. Let see their annual report in next upcoming weeks. I have a bad feeling about this . I didn't comment the Games Workshop policy in past, because I was their retailer and generally it wasn't a good idea. But now my company is not tied with them in any way and I will tell you a little about my vision on gaming market and GW policy. Anyway - I wasn't able to focus on tutorials. As a compensation all subscrbtions active from February 1st to March 31st. were prolonged by 60 days. For example - if someone bought a 1 year subscription on July 1st, it has an expiry date on September 1st. Sorry for inconvenience.

I have a great many words in my vocabulary that have been used to describe GW's idiocy in the past but this.. this is a new level.

I have no words for this.

 slowthar wrote:
I wouldn't be surprised to see them go direct sale only in the next couple years.

Maximize profit margins, minimize sales!

To be honest I'm surprised they didn't do that when they first put the kibosh on online retailers, given that they have to know that online retailers still sell at a discount just you have to ask for a price list now and have to call/email them.

I could see GW finally "get" the internet... by thinking that it means they can cut out retailers (other than GW shops, of course) entirely. You can only buy GW products from GW stores or via the GW website, no place else. Since naturally that will divert sales there, I mean it's not like there's any competition to GW...

Seriously though, the above doesn't sound all that insane anymore... more and more things are already direct only, and it seems t be increasing all the time.

The sad thing is, I'm usually happy to buy direct from the manufacturer to cut out middlemen. You can bet 100% that there will be no sharing of the margin saved with the customers due to going direct only though.

Yeah, it'd fit completely into what I see as GW's plan now.

Where do they think people will play if they cut out brick and mortar retailers? It's not like you can actually play at a GW.

Well.. Bring on the next financial report I guess.

Maybe if their stock price drops another 30-40% GW will finally start to change for the better. That or disappear before 2016.

On reflection, I honestly don't give a gak if they go 100% Direct Only.

My backlog is MASSIVE for all three games I play (40K, Lord of the Rings, SAGA) and I have more or less everything I want for all my armies. I'm stocking up on old LOTR figures using Ebay to build up my backlog and provide me with plenty of projects for the future.

What little of GW's recent releases (last year or two) that I wanted, I already have (SM Codex, Storm Talon, plastic Vanguard and Sternguard Veterans, Tauriel, Mirkwood Rangers, Rivindell Knights).

The ONLY thing I need now is a 7th Ed rulebook, and since I don't want that overpriced 3 book monstrosity, I'm going to wait till they release the rules in a stand alone book like with 6th Ed.


As a business, GW really isn't doing a good job at making things that I want at prices I'm willing to pay.

If GW goes direct only, I'm pretty confident it'll spark a huge increase in piracy of their books and recasting of their miniatures. As it is I still buy legit GW models where they're reasonable value - Dark Vengeance, SM Strike Force, SM Strike Force Ultra from a US discounter for example. Cut out that discount, not to mention forcing regional pricing and yeah... ni hao GW. Ni hao ; p

I'd be really surprised if they went Direct Only. It'd be a pretty terrible decision!

I can't see it happening. I'm sure they'd like to be the only online store, but I can't imagine they'd close down the sales through independents. That's complete madness.

I'm out of the loop, but I gotta say. When GW dusseldorf was there, I used to pop in once every few months and pick up some paints or the odd box of minis. Now it's closed, that's not going to happen at all any more. I've no reason to keep paying attention to GW because the independent store in town stocks plenty of other games that I am interested in that are better value for money.

I'm not an angry hater or anything, but I'm a long time fan of the setting and the miniatures, and I can't be arsed with these shenanigans any more.

Dead curious to see what happens though. My money is on a mediocre but not disastrous financial report this year (the sheer volume of sales will have had a positive impact, not to mention all the folks buying the new edition) followed by a very poor showing next year due to people dropping out of the game due to disgust over the 7th edition rules change- whether it be due to the new background-ignoring rules, or the fact that a new version was released so soon after the last version, with so little in terms of actual difference or improvement.

 Da Boss wrote:
I'd be really surprised if they went Direct Only. It'd be a pretty terrible decision!

I can't see it happening. I'm sure they'd like to be the only online store, but I can't imagine they'd close down the sales through independents. That's complete madness.

Exactly why I could see it happening.. this is GW we're talking about. The company that pulled all its social media and communication networks because people weren't showering them with praise. The company that has zero marketing and PR beyond their magazines and stores and keeps everything under wraps as long as possible. The company that thinks it owns the words "Space Marine" and had the gall to try and sue an independent author writing a book for a charity when said book had feth all to do with anything remotely like 40k but used the word "Space Marine" in the title.

They make terrible decisions because they think that their "hobbyists" will buy anything they sell no matter what. Doing something like that would be right up their alley.

 agnosto wrote:
Where do they think people will play if they cut out brick and mortar retailers? It's not like you can actually play at a GW.

GW doesn't care where you play, or if you play at all. After all, they're a collectible miniatures company, not a game company. They want you to pay; play is irrelevant.

 Da Boss wrote:
I'd be really surprised if they went Direct Only. It'd be a pretty terrible decision!

I would not be surprised. Look at how much of their product is already Direct Only. Their website is just a storefront now.

direct only would raise prices by 20% or more and also strictly enforce regional pricing.

good luck with that GW

 Da Boss wrote:
Dead curious to see what happens though. My money is on a mediocre but not disastrous financial report this year (the sheer volume of sales will have had a positive impact, not to mention all the folks buying the new edition) followed by a very poor showing next year due to people dropping out of the game due to disgust over the 7th edition rules change- whether it be due to the new background-ignoring rules, or the fact that a new version was released so soon after the last version, with so little in terms of actual difference or improvement.

In looking at the trends of the last six months, I will actually be surprised if the results are even as good as being mediocre. GW seems to be acting in panic mode lately trying everything under the sun to "up the numbers". The quality of the books since the beginning of the year has gone down the drain (very little crunch for lots of money). Both the IK and MT codexes were a complete and utter joke for $50. Then we have the shenanigans of the Imperial Guard release with the MT coming out before the AM codex - just so they could push the new Scion models. Speaking of the Scion models, to see a 70% price increase in one go over the previous stormtroopers is another sign they have really lost it. Then, we have the dataslates geared at selling expensive kits (reclusiam), fixing half-baked codexes (tyranids), and painting books for $4 each that used to be free in White Dwarf. Speaking of which, we had WD go weekly so they could conveniently double the price. Lastly, we have a complete rush job of 7th edition, that at $85, they couldn't even get the cut-and-paste right on the Imperium book - missing a massive section of the timeline and rules that were CLEARLY designed to throw all semblance of game integrity out the window (Daemon Summoning and Unbound) so that GW could hopefully push more model kits.

Of course, all of that is topped by moving 1,100 products direct, absolving themselves completely from the internet except for their webstore, and cutting off retailers left and right.

Add further is that sales of 40k 7th edition don't really seem to be that strong. 7th LE still is available after more than three weeks from ordering even though it was only 40% of the run of 6th edition LE and the 6th edition sold out in a matter of hours. It appears the GW pricing, and half-baked products have finally reached a tipping point with most gamers. Is it any wonder we are hearing things like Dystopian Wars (of all things) outselling 40k 7th edition by a factor of 7 to 1.

I personally believe the next period financials are actually going to be pretty bad. This is why we saw the rushed 7th edition release and higher than normal dividend (20 pence per share versus 16 pence normal) being announced prior to the financial period reporting. My bet is GW has crossed the threshold at this point and you are going to see more of this panicked behavior as they try to stem the inevitable mass exodus of customers.

Even if they do manage to pull it off so it isn't so bad, what is going to save them next period? Over priced Orks or Necrons? A new $85 three-book edition of WHFB? Bretonnians? Or are their really that many little Timmys running around who's mums don't mind plopping down $400 for little Timmy to get into a new game?