[Epic] Dave Gentzler's Trouble in Paradise

From: Richard Levick <rlevick_at_...>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 10:03:21 +1200

It seems that GW's marketing strategy is worldwide. I'm down here in New
Zealand, and we've just seen our first GW store open here (although it's
400 miles away from where I live).
Our local retailers have been struggling along and providing damned good
service, but have been constrained with having to buy everything from
Australia's Mail Order Dept. They aren't allowed to order from any other
GW Mail Order Service - sound familiar??
We had two local stores here (not GW), both run by the same guy and still
GW insisted on minimum order quantities for EACH store. He wasn't allowed
to order in bulk then split the shipment, they even checked up on him from
time to time. Does GW know how to foster a good working relationship with
it's customers, or what??
Their marketing plans are the same worldwide and I often wonder why we, the
gamers, bother with them sometimes. Their favourite plan is to release a
game as a "complete package". Gamers save their hard earned pennies and
race down to the stores only to find that the game is, as usual, only
really half a game and more supplements are planned or required. Bloodbowl
is a fine example of this. WH Fantasy, WH40K, and Titan Legions - all the
same plan. I challenge the reader to sit back and think about how much
money you've invested in Epic up to now. You might be in for a shock.
Complete Package, my butt!! GW doesn't know the concept!!
I've been playing Epic since Adeptus Titanicus and in that time I've
amassed a great amount of gear, most of which arrived during the reign of
Titan Legions. I have Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar and
when I saw the new army lists for E40K, most of the gear I had lovingly
painted and prepared over the last few years wasn't in there! We have a
lot of guys here that enjoy playing with Squat armies. They were real
impressed to find the Squats completely omitted. Thanks to the boys at
the Journal these guys are able to play again.
This has been a big failing on GWs behalf I think. I have found that they
are aiming their products at younger gamers these days as well as guys new
to the game, but they never seem to give a toss about the guys that have
been supporting them for the last ten years. We've spent heaps on their
gear, only to have them make it obsolete at the stroke of a pen.
Just once I wish they could release a game that needed no updates, no
supplements, and no re-release in two years time!

Anyway that's my dime's worth.

You've been reading the waffle of ...
Rick Levick
Currently Ranked 4th in New Zealand in Epic 40,000
  (sounds more impressive than it really is ;-)
rlevick_at_...
Received on Thu Jun 18 1998 - 22:03:21 UTC