GW's Secrecy

[Shibboleth]

I don't care why they do it, I just find it insulting, that any news or WIP pics or information for what's coming up has been clamped down on so hard by the draconian dictatorship behind GW's facade.
It shows that the fans here on these forums, and others like it, the ones who love GW's games, models, stories, and everything about the hobby, who pay GW their income, who are GW's Base, their life blood and very existence... are treated as either A) Enemies, to be wary of, despised for any victory they might achieve (ie. leaked pics or rumours), OR B) Suckers to be exploited, ie. manipulated by marketing strategies aimed at insta-buy hype.

I don't like being viewed that way, especially by some monstrous corporation.

Just be human, be open, and let everyone in on the deal.

I've been out of the hobby for the last 3 years or so, because the Chaos Marine Codex was so lacklustre, and I don't care for any other races - but with Chaos coming back, the few leaks that have come out brought me back to see what's up (though it looks more like they're merely finishing off the 'half-job' they started with the last one. I still don't think my Lord will get a Retinue - but Cultists are coool.)
Yet at the store there's nothing, and noone's talking.

I didn't even feel like talking to the staff at the store (what's left of the one's I used to know since they've just sacked all the casuals), because I know they're bound by the same GW policies - and so I view them with the same suspicion they view me (What am I doing back? Am I gonna try and pocket something?) If you bring up anything 'coming soon', beyond what the current WD reveals they clam up.

I hate secrets and I hate being manipulated - I'm not an enemy - I'm a customer.

[shades of blue and grey]

I know what you mean about gw, it does start to piss you off when theres no hint of what
Is coming out next intill white dwarf comes out. As a customer who doesn't have tons o spare money
at a moments notice its difficult to buy the next big release without being able to save up.
Unlike a third of the customers who get the new toys given to them by their parents.
Gw are getting better at hinting at whats coming next, look at the spine of white dwarf and you
will notice some big green marines, but thats about it even at games day there tight liped.
I dont expect gw to hand a magazine out with pictures,dates and prices of whats next to come
but at least they could give us hints or clues even write stories in white dwarf that people could speculate over and get people
more hyped up for a release over a longer amount of time.

On the other hand if you look at it from a business point of view if your customers
saw what was coming then you cant control what they buy so easyly.

Sorry if im rambling.

[arkirk246]

i feel your pain? ever since the clamp down i have found myself less and less interested, in the up and coming releases, before i use to get all excited on what was coming out , now one minute nothing and then all of a sudden a new codex/models, i don’t pay any attention anymore,

[Turrican1983]

It's ironic that they've gone back to the old preview model of showing new stuff in White Dwarf.
But that strategy only worked before the internet existed!

Just look at how they put out a really poor teaser video one day and suddenly all the new minis are leaked all over the web.
Think GW should seriously rethink their strategy and do web teasers with instant preorders rather than trying to get their new stuff in print first.

It's just not working.

[xxRavenxx]

I find it hilarious that people think they are "the enemy" purely because GW is clamping down on leaks.

Putting aside whether or not the strategy works, GW are doing what dozens of other companies do.

They keep quiet, and then within a "close" timeframe of each other unveil the product, then place it on sale to generate interest.

GW have the hard time that people are directly interested in what comes next. A company making the next model of vacuum cleaner have the advantage that their audience isn't champing at the bit to see what is next.

Don't mistake this for some personal slight from GW to you. They're just another company doing what most companies do.




Now, to address the strategy: Look at the damage full spoilers has done to MTG releases. Only the newest players, who havn't realised they can look up the content get hyped about new sets. Look at how PP announce models 8 months in advance, and half the players have forgotten they want the model by the time it actually turns up. The implementation might not be quite right, but the idea is sound. Spoiler, a week or two of hype, then the models.

[The Dire Troll]

Does not bother me a bit, I dont see it as any different, I have my hobby money and if nothing new I want comes out I will just buy something else, paint, more troops ect, or if nothing takes my fancy I will get something from privateer press, and this is how I functioned before. I have never encountered that with the staff at my local , but I love geedub Exeter. But I do see how the lock down has differing effects on everyone, I am just glad it has not dampened my warhammer/40k spirit.

[shades of blue and grey]

Maybe all these rumours are started by gw you could look at it as cheap advertising. And thers so many rumours around that staff must be getting fired right left and centre or not,it would be like working with the inquisition up there!

[zoggin-eck]

Don't mistake this for some personal slight from GW to you. They're just another company doing what most companies do.

So true. GW just seem to think this system works, or is the best choice for them. Right or wrong, I dare say they have a better idea of how it works than you do.

Also, take this thread to the GW general section, or better yet, just post in one of the many similar threads.

[Woodsman]

Meh I really couldn't careless. I started playing before they had a website, (or was it just that I didn't have internet??) So it doesn't really bother me. I know what armies I like and teasers/rumours/pics aren't going to convince me to start collecting something e.g. marines, only a good model set (IMHO of course!) will do that so it really makes no difference!

[shades of blue and grey]

Im just saying that us grown ups with bills ect find it very difficult to justify buying a £45 rule book with a months notice when if we had a bit more time i could at least say to the mrs "iv been saving up" especialy when that is a must have. But

[shades of blue and grey]

But thats a individual experence and im not saying gw should change for me.

[Wintermute]

I've moved this thread to GW General

Wintermute

[AngelofSorrow]

The release strategy is fine by me. I find it very reasonable and as much as you think the Internet leaks reach everyone you are wrong. Most people that wander in to my local GW have no clue.
It's a smart strategy that may not work for everyone. I can say with certainty that those it doesn't work for are a vocal minority.


Ready for eternal war!

[xxRavenxx]

Im just saying that us grown ups with bills ect find it very difficult to justify buying a £45 rule book with a months notice when if we had a bit more time i could at least say to the mrs "iv been saving up" especialy when that is a must have. But

Something which would help you, and quieten down other halves, would be to arrange to have a monthly budget.

That way every month there is definately say... £25 to spend on models. When you don't spend it, you have more on the next month.

This is, pure and simple, how I afford anything I could dream of in models. I keep a slush fund. You could spring a new model on me 5 minutes from now, and I can buy it, because theres about £150 sat in the bank marked "for gaming", which has been building up for a while.

[shades of blue and grey]

Great idea thanks

[Killgore]

I don't care why they do it, I just find it insulting, that any news or WIP pics or information for what's coming up has been clamped down on so hard by the draconian dictatorship behind GW's facade.
It shows that the fans here on these forums, and others like it, the ones who love GW's games, models, stories, and everything about the hobby, who pay GW their income, who are GW's Base, their life blood and very existence... are treated as either A) Enemies, to be wary of, despised for any victory they might achieve (ie. leaked pics or rumours), OR B) Suckers to be exploited, ie. manipulated by marketing strategies aimed at insta-buy hype.

I don't like being viewed that way, especially by some monstrous corporation.

Just be human, be open, and let everyone in on the deal.

I've been out of the hobby for the last 3 years or so, because the Chaos Marine Codex was so lacklustre, and I don't care for any other races - but with Chaos coming back, the few leaks that have come out brought me back to see what's up (though it looks more like they're merely finishing off the 'half-job' they started with the last one. I still don't think my Lord will get a Retinue - but Cultists are coool.)
Yet at the store there's nothing, and noone's talking.

I didn't even feel like talking to the staff at the store (what's left of the one's I used to know since they've just sacked all the casuals), because I know they're bound by the same GW policies - and so I view them with the same suspicion they view me (What am I doing back? Am I gonna try and pocket something?) If you bring up anything 'coming soon', beyond what the current WD reveals they clam up.

I hate secrets and I hate being manipulated - I'm not an enemy - I'm a customer.

I see what’s happened, we've all been spoilt in the past with some shocking leaks that probably cost GW thousands in lost revenue, like when everyone rushed off to download the early leaked Ork and Chaos Marines codex and now people think GW is evil because they are trying to regain some form of control over their marketing plans.

I disagree with your verdict that GW regards customers as 'Enemies and Suckers', imho it’s a simple case of some GW gamers throwing their toys out the pram because they no longer get any early candy.

GW is a business, and customers should have the common sense to continue their life’s as normal and not worry about 'what might be around the corner', and when a new product does appear customers should analyse and evaluate if it’s worth a purchase without needing to rush out and impulse buy. This may require waiting till next payday, but anyone should be capable of even basic budgeting to ensure they can get a new release in a reasonable timeframe.

In the meantime I welcome anyone who’s unhappy with GW's secrecy to go look at other companies who do the same, for example Apple who have a deep culture of secrecy, good luck finding many leaks with their products, and they have a customer base in the multi-millions.

[Erazmus_M_Wattle]

Apple have a culture of secrecy but we know iPhone 5 is coming. That's not a secret, just exactly what it does is. There time frame of telling you what's coming and the eventual release is a lot longer than one week.

[Host Tar]

Doesn't bother me - whether I know months, weeks or hours in advance, or not at all, I still get excited by new releases. There are enough of the old releases for me to look at/buy/paint to keep me going. I don't need more & more new stuff to keep me drooling just as long as I know SOMETHING is coming. In some ways, knowing weeks in advance gives me time to get under-excited.

But that's just me

[tiger g]

Apple have a culture of secrecy but we know iPhone 5 is coming. That's not a secret, just exactly what it does is. There time frame of telling you what's coming and the eventual release is a lot longer than one week.

And after iphone5 will be 6. So? Again no idea what it does. Just like a new codex we know they are coming ( except wood elves) just do not know what will be new. Actually spend more with the secrecy as I buy what I like. Old way was always waiting for three releases down the road.

[Omniassiah]

Now, to address the strategy: Look at the damage full spoilers has done to MTG releases. Only the newest players, who havn't realised they can look up the content get hyped about new sets. Look at how PP announce models 8 months in advance, and half the players have forgotten they want the model by the time it actually turns up. The implementation might not be quite right, but the idea is sound. Spoiler, a week or two of hype, then the models.

Never seen the issue with MTG. Most of the newer players aren't hurt by missing the spoilers because they wouldn't know what to do with the information if they have it. Releases are just as popular due to the organized play (MTGs Real strength) and people who do know where to look have the ability to to do some planning ahead of time so the first few constructed events the following week aren't just a combination of throwing stuff at the wall and seeing if it works. Now the full set is spoiled about 1-2 weeks before the pre-release which is a sealed event (6 booster packs - so what you pull for those not familiar) so the spoiling doesn't really help much of anyone. The following weekend at the release its sealed as well so no help there either. The first drafts which are usually the following week are the first events that it might help and those are a week after the set would have been spoiled anyway because of the cards appearing at the pre-release. So overall them being spoiled doesn't hurt the game at all, the spoilers also aren't hidden amongst several hundred post forum threads.

PP is good for letting us know what is coming out ahead of time same as battlefront, though I will admit that PP is a bit too far out on their release information a month is good.

Now the secrecy is fine it the timing that is off. WD should be released with the information a month in advance of the models being released not on the day of which is often the case. I don't know that many GW players that have such collections that what the fantasy/lotr release the month before mattered to them one bit. Those that do aren't going to have an issue with anyways as they would have the money set aside for those models anyway.

And after iphone5 will be 6. So? Again no idea what it does. Just like a new codex we know they are coming ( except wood elves) just do not know what will be new. Actually spend more with the secrecy as I buy what I like. Old way was always waiting for three releases down the road.

Whether they told me what was in the next codex or not I still wouldn't be buying anything from it and still waiting till 3-5 releases down the line, why? Because I don't own the armies coming out next, have no intention of buying a single model for them and as such will spend my money elsewhere instead of budgeting for anything GW. GW current policy is to avoid losing a sale of a new release by people who more and likely would have never bought it anyway. So players are still waiting 2, 3, 12 releases down the road they just have no clue when or what that release may entail and in the mean time they may check out that other game system they see playing which could be far more harmful to the long time purchasing of that customer.

Now the other issue is the current block release schedule GW has. No matter what army you play chance are you may have to wait YEARs before anything new comes out for you to be interested in. I think this is part of the reason FW is doing so well in the fact that they are doing lots of tiny updates for armies so that they get sales when an army isn't the current release. The summer of Flyers bit should have been an example of how to do this type of thing but GW failed by not covering the rest of the armies.