The LAF Games Workshop Discussion Thread

[OSHIROmodels]

Anyway, back to GW... 

[Cubs]

I really do wonder whether GW's policies are part of a well planned strategic overhaul or just random ideas from Fanboy think-tanks. I applaud them for making changes, which really have been needed for a while, but I for one cannot really see how the magazine changes are going to benefit them.

But what do I know, the only business I run consists of me (and my accountant I suppose ... the missus).

[pixelgeek]

How this will effect GW?

Lowers the cost of entry to producing miniatures. 3D sculpting has exploded in just a few years and a lot of that has to do with 3D printing. There are combo units coming out that are scanners and printers in one system. Drop in your Marine sprue, scan and then print.

I think the biggest threat to GW is that this allows smaller competitors to create figures and produce them in numbers that they wouldn't have been able to before. It also opens them up to sculptors who may be geographically distant but able to deliver figures digitally. Look at the number of companies producing everything from 6mm to 54mm figures in a range of genres.

At the moment, outside of terrain and tokens I don't see myself printing anything gaming related but the growth of companies working via 3D and 3D printing keeps getting bigger each year.

Take Secret Weapon miniatures for example. They designed and are producing 3D sculpted terrain boards similar to the Realm of Battle boards that GW did. A small company with a digital sculptor sends 3D files to a manufacturer who builds moulds and then creates hard plastic terrain tiles.

Suddenly GW has competition in a very expensive market from a small company that wouldn't have been able to do this five years ago.

GW is a big player in a very small market and when your smaller competitors can suddenly scale production to meet yours you have issues.

[Cubs]

It might be we see them going the Warlord Games route and buying up the small companies to reduce competition in niche areas.

[Dr.Falkenhayn]

niche areas.

It's called "specialist Games"  and we all know what happens to that Stuff 

[pixelgeek]

It might be we see them going the Warlord Games route and buying up the small companies to reduce competition in niche areas.

Can't see it happening. No other companies make products that fit into the company. I think they'd be more likely to expand to expand their moves into video games and other content

[pixelgeek]

It's called "specialist Games"  and we all know what happens to that Stuff 

And Warhammer Historical and their Dark Industries(?) RPG publisher.

[Cubs]

Suddenly GW has competition in a very expensive market from a small company that wouldn't have been able to do this five years ago.

GW is a big player in a very small market and when your smaller competitors can suddenly scale production to meet yours you have issues.

Can't see it happening. No other companies make products that fit into the company. I think they'd be more likely to expand to expand their moves into video games and other content

I'm confused.

[pixelgeek]

I'm confused.

Care to explain why?

[Cubs]

You say suddenly GW has competition from a small company.

Then you say you can't see any small companies .... aaah, I see what you're saying.

I think the premise is that you assume they would buy up a company because they're interested in selling their product? Oui?

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, all I'll say is that a company can also buy up a smaller company in order to stop them producing their product.

Sometimes it's just cheaper and easier than trying to compete.

[pixelgeek]

I think the premise is that you assume they would buy up a company because they're interested in selling their product? Oui?

I can't see them buying a small company or a small competitor because they only sell products for their own IP and none of the technology that people are using is unique. People are using the same tech as them its just that it has a larger impact for a smaller company than it does for GW.

Historical manufacturer A can buy historical manufacturer B to expand their range of figures but GW is the sole source of 40K and WFB miniatures. Its not like you play 40K and buy your official Guard figures from Hasslefree. There are a lot of companies like Avatars of War and Gamezone that make figures that can be used in their games but I can't see what GW would gain from acquiring those firms.

And given how many internal divisions they have axed I can't see that their plans currently involve expanding their offerings or their wage bill

[Cubs]

I don't think you're getting it. Doesn't matter, not important.

[pixelgeek]

I don't think you're getting it. Doesn't matter, not important.

I don't agree with the proposition that unfriendly takeovers of companies happen in the hobby.

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, all I'll say is that a company can also buy up a smaller company in order to stop them producing their product.

Can you name any companies in this industry that have done this? I'm not aware of any.

[Dr.Falkenhayn]

Can you name any companies in this industry that have done this? I'm not aware of any.

errm,wrong Forum Zack you should raise this question on Frothers 

[OSHIROmodels]

while i haven't seen the WD/Visions Mag myself,here's a review,doesn't look that much visionary to me 

http://taleofpainters.blogspot.de/2014/02/review-white-dwarf-weekly-and-warhammer.html

I'm getting that impression as well 

They had a spate a few years ago when a Tale of Four Gamers reamerged and they also had a small Necromunda campaign going on with the 'studio' team, Doc butchers clinic and a fair amount of other none standard gaming, painting, converting going on.

That was worth buying, this does not seem to be 

cheers

James