Would you purchase a Army Book PDF?

[Lord Dan]

GW sure is giving statistics fans a lot of material to work with these days.

Evidently Games Workshop is testing the water on PDF versions of their army books for the iPad (see here for the thread). So far they only have a PDF version of the space marine codex, which is available through iTunes for 25 pounds. It appears to be at least somewhat interactive, is in color, and is a full version of the hard copy of the army book.

Please take a moment to answer the poll above.

NOTE:
I'm trying to gather information on the ideal price point for such a product, so please answer as though you own an Apple device capable of downloading the PDF.

[The bearded one]

Seeing as I'm no fan of Ipads, or Iphones, or Iwhatevers, and so only really use pdf's on my pc and laptop, coupled with the fact that I enjoy having a nice looking physical book to page through, I wouldn't want to pay much for a pdf version, 10'ish bucks maybe, because higher pricepoints start getting too close to the cost of the physical book which I prefer far more, personally.

[ftayl5]

I'd prefer a physical book anyway so I most likely wouldn't want it in the first place. Then again, if I actually had an iPad then the convenience of having all the books in one thin piece of metal would be substantial. So I'd pay up to 10 dollars for it, maybe a bit over but definitely no more than 20 (considering the hardback books cost 69 bucks in Australia).

[Hoshiyami]

I'd consideer it if it was 10$... and couldn't obtain it cheaper by other means (2nd hand, for a legal example). If thery were VERY cheap I'd think about buying all the books I usually play against though.

Another thing I'd like to know is the update method. If you've bought the book, you can have the last updated version of it, everything handily writen in the same book? You have to buy it again? Or just need another pdf around with the faqs for your ebook? It would be very easy to keep the books updated (download the last version) and as an option, the changes could be highlighted (the way the blood bowl living rulebook is done).

[Athlan na Dyr]

Well, it would be a bit cheaper here if prices are just conversion from one currency to another. I don't know what the extras are (I heard there was something like spinning pictures or somesuch) but it does seem to be more than just a digital form of the previous book. As such, I did select the $20 or less option. $25 I would be okay

>Good points of the PDF
-Won't lose its binding
-Easily updateable with new rules and units from White Dwarf (such as the recent fliers for Space Marines and Orks)
-FAQ's/ errata's could also be easily included in an update of the Ebook (I think they can do that? Not sure though)
-Lightweight and easily portable
-Search Function
-Is an example of innovation and can have more included than a normal book. Imagine if they continue this trend and we have video for the unit entries. Now that I would pay $40 for.

>Poor points of the PDF
-Price compared to the normal book seems a bit steep
-Requires a tablet device (iPhone/ iTouch screen isn't really big enough, at least for me)
-Requires an apple device, though this could easily change
-Lacks the physical properties of a normal book
-Easily pirateable (Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum/torrent...)

[-Totenkopf-]

I already have all the pdfs on my iphone. Its great for browsing while im in my thinking room or looking things up for reference when I am out. For gaming purposes, it sucks.. I tried using it to save my hard copies the abuse but it is annoying to flip through the digital copy.. I would never pay for them.. They are all free online in pdf format as we speak..

[Freman Bloodglaive]

I wouldn't buy anything on an iPad, but on an Android possibly.

[Demoulius]

Tbh GW is awesome at shooting themselves in the foot. Pity as the idea is a nice one (and an ancient one...)

5 bucks, tops. I prefer having an actuall book in my hands so the copy would be only for convience anyway. If the PDF's would get updated when something got FAQ'ed or something got added I MIGHT consider paying abit more; say 7.50 or 10 bucks.

Tbh though the things can downloaded currently already. What in godsname are they thinking chargign such a steep sum? Who keeps coming up with the horrible pricing on their models?

[Razakel]

I'd pay $10 or less. What I think they should do is put a code inside the front cover of each army book, that you can redeem on the GW website. Then you get access to the PDF as well.

Of course this won't happen. It'll end up with the PDF having half the rules and the hardback copy having half the rules, and each one will be $40. As Mr Krabs said: "The money is always right!"

[dimetri1]

If they were 5-10 dollars I would buy all of them.

[Tarian]

I wouldn't buy a PDF for my armies, as I much prefer having the physical book with me. Granted, it gets bad when switching between 2-3 armies for 2 different systems, but dagnabbit, I like my books!

[Iron Puritan]

I voted for $10.00. We are talking about supplements. It is not like we are discussing core rule books. Those could go for more money if they had good search functionality and other nifty features. E-books would get plenty of people buying both editions if a reasonable price point was established.

[bigbear bailey]

It's one of those things to me where if the in your hand book is 40 then the PDF (which costs them VERY little to make) should be at least half off that. They need to start to think about how much sales they are losing to piracy due to selling stuff like that for so much rather then having 10 dollard trickling in from everyone (as most people would easily pay that even if they could pirate it).

Come GW, you're smarter then 40 bucks

[Athlan na Dyr]

It's one of those things to me where if the in your hand book is 40 then the PDF (which costs them VERY little to make) should be at least half off that. They need to start to think about how much sales they are losing to piracy due to selling stuff like that for so much rather then having 10 dollard trickling in from everyone (as most people would easily pay that even if they could pirate it).

Come GW, you're smarter then 40 bucks

Indeed. The eyepatch, hook hand and cheap bottle of Rum one clearly needs to go pirating without guilt is far cheaper than $40 bucks. $10-$20 not so much.

[gdsora]

I would, I see this as a step forward to easy errata/faq's and quicker updates to books.


The only problem is the ludicrous price.

[Balerion]

I would not consider paying money for something like this unless it was a) released at the exact same time as the physical rulebook, and b) cost less. The package needs to represent some sort of actual value and not just be a flashy, shiny supplement you buy a year after already purchasing your hard copy. I don't care about interactivity. I don't care about animation, sound effects or "bonus content". I would simply want a useable codex/AB at a somewhat reduced price.

[Tarliyn]

I would probably get a digital copy of the books I use the most in additition to a physical copy.

And I think it is not fair to expect it to be cheaper. When you buy an ebook novel from barnes and noble or amazon they are usually the same price as if you had purchased the hard copy. Why should we expect GW to be any different?


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[Private_SeeD]

I would probably get a digital copy of the books I use the most in additition to a physical copy.

And I think it is not fair to expect it to be cheaper. When you buy an ebook novel from barnes and noble or amazon they are usually the same price as if you had purchased the hard copy. Why should we expect GW to be any different?


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I mainly buy eBooks from BL nowadays becasue they are cheaper than the physical versions... so I don't see why GW can't do the same tbh

[Tarliyn]

I mainly buy eBooks from BL nowadays becasue they are cheaper than the physical versions... so I don't see why GW can't do the same tbh

I agree. I am not saying it wouldn't br nive or even smart on GWs part but GW is hardly alone in not charging less for digital copies of things. Sometimes people here are
very critical on some things that GW does that are no different from what other companies do. They also make some severe screw us though too, lol


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[Urgat]

Seeing as I'm no fan of Ipads, or Iphones, or Iwhatevers, and so only really use pdf's on my pc and laptop, coupled with the fact that I enjoy having a nice looking physical book to page through, I wouldn't want to pay much for a pdf version, 10'ish bucks maybe, because higher pricepoints start getting too close to the cost of the physical book which I prefer far more, personally.

TBO stole the words straight out of my mouth. I'll expand to say I'd be interested in a free PDF with only the rules for listing making purpose on my computer, but I'd still buy the book.

I mainly buy eBooks from BL nowadays becasue they are cheaper than the physical versions... so I don't see why GW can't do the same tbh

"It's not because you can that you will"