Sunday, October 25, 2009

Why GW ... WHY??


Ok first ... in the next day or two I'll have pics of the Ork Horde progress. This is just some random thoughts based on some chatter out there on the net pertaining to GW not producing wolf Calvary models and other models in the past ... when a codex is released with such models in them. One good example was the Chaos Defiler after the 3rd edition revamp of the Chaos codex was released. I always wonder why GW is so slow to market with products for a new codex. I understand periodic "new releases" can help maintain interest and insure that GW gets maximum cash from existing customers. I guess the rational for doing  phased releases must be that GW feels that releasing a huge amount of stuff for a new codex people are likely to not buy it and never get around to going back and picking it up. I think GW really under merchandises their product line and when they release a codex they should release it all. I'm still shocked that they let other companies take a bite at their apple by not having everything ready. I also am always shocked that they don't merchandise in the US like they do in Europe (well at least the UK). T-Shirts alone ... if they put up T-Shirts with various 40K/WHFB motifs on their website (and had them in plus gamer size) they would not only be gaining free advertising ... they'd be picking up probably tens of thousands of dollars a month in revenue. I bet they'd earn a million plus annually just off of reasonably priced merchandise in the US market again stuff like T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Polos, Calendars, Coffee Mugs, etc. etc. It would be low to no cost for them to provide that ... give their fans yet one more avenue to spend money on GW stuff ... but that is GW for you. They seem to think that letting other companies take those revenues is alright ... I'm glad I'm not a shareholder or I'd be ticked off I think .. lol.

4 comments:

Will said...

Hey Larry its Will- great dialog here regarding GW and some of the stupidity concerning the way they use their IP. I share your pain and frankly am saddened by the way they do things. Wont be too surprised to see the next big rules change real soon, messing up what is probably the best and smoothest edition they have come up with so far- keep on trucking with those minis!

Alexander Man said...

I´m still waiting for a plastic version of WHFB Orc boar riders! They will never make them... for God sakes...

Ok, GW haven´t promised to make such things, but all the other units (in two latest Orc army books) have been updated to plastic. And the old metal Boar riders still cost 50 euros a box!!! (includes 5 riders)

Waiting to see your Ork horde!

The Lord of Excess said...

NO KIDDING!! You know what ticks me off is the Vampire Counts Blood Knights ... WHAT THE HELL is the deal 90 bucks for 5 guys?? WHAT ... talk about outrageously overpriced models. I just don't understand how they could reasonably price models that high. Back in the day they tried to contain prices and for awhile they really just went nuts and seemed to not even consider it. Now with the push to go mostly plastic .. they seem to be trying to be a bit more conscious about pricing. One thing that really has always pissed me off with GW is the way they over price some models in the range on purpose ... an HQ model uses just a bit more pewter than say a pewter special weapon model ... yet why does it cost five times more?? Its like they actively discourage conversions, etc. by doing things like that. Always been a pet peeve of mine with GW. Don't even get me going on forgeworld ... lol.

jugger grimlord said...

I totally agree...they give away some of that type of stuff @ the store openings, so they do produce it, they just don't sell it to the general public.