Games Workshop Stock Plummets By 24 Percent

[faefrost]

If any of you people read any of the financial reports you'd know the company was doing pretty poorly before they started increasing prices.

Then they're obviously running their business very inefficiently and/or with some obscene overhead.

It's not even that. They violated the first rule of this sort of business. "Make it easy for your customers to buy your product". Instead they are control freaks. They want to control every aspect of the product, and retail experience, even down to the ownership experience.

In another thread some one suggested that their salvation lie in PC and console video games. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. Once again they are control freaks. They don't like relinquishing enough control of the IP to make a good game. This has happened time and again, and they keep burning A list partners. To the degree that really the only developers that will work with them any more are small and easily bullied.

 

[Random berk]

No matter. The emperor protects. Doubt is for the weak. We all know that the hidden chest in the armory of the Grey Knights holds the key to revitalizing the entire franchise...

Wrong. You think that this news coming out at the exact same time as the new Tyranid codex is coincidence? The Great Devourer has arrived, and this is the first death knell for the Imperium of Man and the Warhammer 40K galaxy.

Om nom nom nom!! Scrreeeeeech! Nom nom nom!

I've always felt the Tyranids were the least evil faction in that universe. They just want to eat new and exotic things, and become all that they can be with the new genes they nibble along the way.

Not to mention, Battlefleet Gothic may be gone (why...), but I could probably still play it rather convincingly with a handful of pine cones and artichokes.

Can't argue with that. Honestly, the Imperium itself, with all its associated factions are probably one of the worst of the bunch. Looking at it like that, the Nids aren't evil. They're just predators following their basic instinct. The Tau want the best for everyone in the galaxy- although I'm sure they'll want the best of the best for themselves. The Eldar, for all their arrogance are STILL more open minded than the majority of humanity. Even the Orks aren't so much evil as having a very destructive idea of a good time. Chaos, the Dark Eldar and perhaps the Necrons (don't know anything about them) are the only completely evil, irredeemable factions out there that I can think of.

Well, ok, the Orks probably are too. But who could really stay mad at the Orks?

 

[Mangod]

Never heard of them, sad to say.

I was just thinking that allowing people to get a sort of "taste" of the game by playing it for a few hours (with a legitimate, if basic and "simple" army) could help promote the hobby, is all.

Too bad, they had beautiful miniatures, I mean truly beautiful. These guys pioneered what you could do with metal, creating and maintaining a level of quality that, in my personal opinion, GW only started to catch up to in later years, before the clusterf**k that was Finecast.

Finecast, man... goddamn Finecast...

Here, I'll link you two videos talking about it; the first talks about how Rackham screwed up, and the second shows the beautiful models they had, and then threw away for the sake of pre-painted plastics.

 

[Sir Shockwave]

Too bad, they had beautiful miniatures, I mean truly beautiful. These guys pioneered what you could do with metal, creating and maintaining a level of quality that, in my personal opinion, GW only started to catch up to in later years, before the clusterf**k that was Finecast.

Finecast, man... goddamn Finecast...

Here, I'll link you two videos talking about it; the first talks about how Rackham screwed up, and the second shows the beautiful models they had, and then threw away for the sake of pre-painted plastics.

So in other words, ditching White Metal = Curse of the Nurgle Leper? X3

 

[Mangod]

snip.

Interesting idea, but not one that I can see GW implementing. The FLGS where I live had a few display miniatures that they let people use during amateur night to test the game, but then GW said screw you to independent retailers, so here we are.

And I suspect GW would rather you buy the models, and the paints, and the brushes, and the terrain, and the books from them, rather than have their one-man stores waste time on setting up demos and teaching people how to play.

 

[RicoADF]

Also things got a lot more easier with the ladies after getting rid of this rather geeky hobby.

Eh, I've never had issues on this front, although I have Battlefleet Gothic and sit them on the shelf next to my normal models I build so I guess they think their just another model, still some people can be silly and their the ones your better off not being with anyway.

OT: everything I'd say has been said 100 times, Games Workshop deserves what they get. Their greed is utter bullcrap.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

snip

Ah, interesting video!

Though what I meant wasn't using pre-painted plastic miniatures, terribly sorry if what I said was confusing. What I meant was that, basically, they could send a box containing two or so different armies to the FLGS or so on, those armies could be painted like normal at the store and so on, all of that set up work is handled by the people who actually run the store. Then once or twice every week or so, they could have a "new player" day, where basically they open up the shop to people who are maybe interested in warhammer or haven't played warhammer before. Those people spend anywhere from $10-$20 to buy a "ticket" of sorts, where they are given a basic rundown on how to play the game (if required) and for maybe an hour or two they're given a choice of one of those two armies and can play Warhammer. When the hour is up the game ends... or they can buy another ticket to continue playing.

Basically, a way to get people hooked on the hobby and still earn some cash. Granted I've never played Warhammer so I don't know if they do something like this already, but I think it would be a smart move on GW's part.

They do, stores usually have a few display armies that beginners can use and have a day a week set aside where noobs get priority on the tables. It's also free. Problem is they'll only let you play a couple of times before they start holding up a boxed set, coughing and making pointed motions towards the till.

 

[Timedraven 117]

I got into 40K through the novels (Cain, Dark Heresy, and Swallow's SoB duology). Since then I've wanted to build a collection of IG, SoBs, and Inquisition but quite a few things are stopping me. First is prices; they're absurd. Seriously, $30 for 10 models (IG Cadian Shock Troops)? Second, when it comes to models of people, I love posing. That's kinda hard to do when the models are 1 piece and made of metal (Sisters of Battle, arggghh...)! But the final nail in the coffin is that GW has the gall to change policy on online stores and make it really bloody hard to find bits for conversions out of some stupid belief that it'll undermine the fanbase or something (I mean, really, WTF?). Focusing on the most popular product lines is smart business, but even the less profitable ones have their fans. Dropping all work on them and leaving them to stagnate is really stupid. This has left me trying to find posable models that have a close look to 40K stuff -not that easy since GW are ruthless with protecting their 40K rights.

So, GW, you want my money? Make more of your models multi-part plastic kits, lower your ridiculous prices, STOP MAKING MODELS IN METAL (I've yet to meet a modeller who preferred metal to plastic), and let us buy individual pieces online.

Here is a few tips for buying guardsmen. I play IG too and my friend has lately been hassling me on not buying the actual models (The prick)

Anyways a few things, try the Dream forge models they aren't made of plastic but some kind of resin so you have to use super glue but many of them look awesome. Also Alien Wars have some good stuff, http://dreamforge-games.com/products/eisenkern-stormtroopers-20-man-set 20 for like 30-40 dollars

Then there are some stuff like this from defiance games who have amazing quality models for cheap ass prices (Although the Chinese militia aren't all fully posable)http://defiancegames.com/ I got my storm troopers from their panzer grenadiers.

For flare i also use my Van Saar naecromunda models for a bodyguard for my Platoon commander and bought a model from i think Rezolution for my female commander and the Necromunda sets come with like 7 guys for 10 bucks (Not posable though and made of metal.)

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I can tell you my local GW is incredibly incompetent and greedy. I absolutely hate going. And let me say that the GW store is about 10 mins away from my apartment. The next nearest hobby store is roughly 45mins away. and i ALWAYS go there because I absolutely hate GW and their staff. For starters they have absolutely terrible hours, and are never open on weekends. I remember I wanted to buy a stompa from my friend who plays orks for Xmas. And they were never, ever open during the season.
Another thing I hate, and this may seem anecdotal, but I went to play a game with a friend at their tables. But I forgot my dice set and I asked the manager if I could borrow the studio set for the game. He laughed and said he'd sell me a set for $8. I told him no way and he asked me to leave the store because I wasn't going to buy anything. Actually asked me to leave.
Also I brought my brother there and he hasn't played since 4th edition and I wanted to show him the new stuff. I asked the clerk if there was a studio army, or at least a play set we could run a quick match. Like for example they had that Dark Angel / Chaos Marine set all assembled and painted on the table. I asked if we could run a few scenarios. He said "No and don't touch those miniatures! Those are for display only!"
Maybe this is not the experience most people have at their local GW, but I see a drop in sales as karma.

 

[NSGrendel]

I'd save your complaining for after they sell the company off to Hasbro or whoever.

Don't believe me? Check recent appointees to the board of directors.

 

[Atmos Duality]

It's not even that. They violated the first rule of this sort of business. "Make it easy for your customers to buy your product". Instead they are control freaks. They want to control every aspect of the product, and retail experience, even down to the ownership experience.

Well, then it appears my assertion to their monopolistic nature some pages back was correct.
Between that, the price and the fact that I've seen better made plastic models in HAPPY MEALS (no joke), it's stunning to me how they're still in business.

 

[Boba Frag]

It's kinda sad, really, several of my friends were really big into GW and table top gaming but the constant price jacking and the fact that models they'd been collecting since their teens were starting to (a) take over the houses and (b) seem less fun and relevant each time.
And these guys game twice or three times a week.

Most of them now play War Machine- cheaper, less clunky, stodgy rules and above all : more fun.

A good friend used to love working in a GW shop for several years, but the SELL SELL SELL pressure they were increasingly put under sucked the fun out of the store and really pissed off their regulars too.

As far as I'm concerned, GW has dug its own grave.

 

[Roggen Bread]

still some people can be silly and their the ones your better off not being with anyway.

OT: everything I'd say has been said 100 times, Games Workshop deserves what they get. Their greed is utter bullcrap.

I agree with you, mostly. I am talking mostly about the equivalent of high school times here, so you get the picture.

My girlfriend is just fantastic, however, she previously had been with an emotionally abusive son of a ***** who played WHFB. So I suppose, in this particular case, I have to disagree with you. Admittedly it's a special case, though.

 

[Arcane Azmadi]

Well, good. I frankly despise Games Workshop now because as far as I'm concerned they're almost as bad as Activision and EA. Fuck, these are the same douchebags who wanted to trademark the term 'Space Marine'! They're just a vile, stupid company run by greedy, short-sighted morons and I pity all the dedicated, hard-working people having their efforts squandered by them.

Also, I'm never, ever, EVER going to forgive them for replacing Necrons with 'Tomb Kings In Space".

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

More on topic though, lo and behold the end times have come. [http://natfka.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/gw-changes-stores-closing-and-armies-no.html] Mark this as the harbinger of things to come.

No more Brets, Beasts, Wood Elves or Khemri? But...

Hell...though, last WE army book was 10 years ago. Time to join the squats and Chaos Dwarves and Fimir and Zoats...

My uncle helped design the Khemri :C He was an archaeologist and Egyptian historian who studied in the region on and off on various digs for about 5 years before going on to work at games workshop. He also co wrote the first Brittonia codex. I wonder how he feels about this :/ I should give him a ring and ask. Nigel Stillman if youre interested.

I collected eldar for a while. Price got me in the end too.

 

[Thaluikhain]

He was an archaeologist and Egyptian historian who studied in the region on and off on various digs for about 5 years before going on to work at games workshop.

Really? I never knew Stillman did that, I always thought he was just a games designer.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

He was an archaeologist and Egyptian historian who studied in the region on and off on various digs for about 5 years before going on to work at games workshop.

Really? I never knew Stillman did that, I always thought he was just a games designer.

My uncle Lemme tell you, what a guy. He crafts historically accurate armor and weapons too. I remember when my family went to tour an old celtic fort and barrows and he brought the entire traditional celtic warrior garb and wore it the whole time. Theres a great picture online of him wearing a helmet fashioned from the horns of some animal. I remember for my 12th he gave me a bronze dagger he forged and bound with leather and wood from near his house. Remarkable, somewhat eccentric, but VERY interesting man.

My favourite story was when my father, along with my mother before they were married, went to visit him one evening as a surprise and when they entered his house to surprise him my uncle swung a cavalry sabre at them thinking they were breaking into his house. It was embedded in the wall and I think it caused an argument between them for some time.

Seriously an amazing person. Im very sad his work might be getting scrapped.