Post by gamedave on Jan 25, 2009 17:27:04 GMT -5
So, while I wasn't looking, the Clone Wars Campaign Guide for SWSE came out on the 20th. I just ordered it off of Amazon.com. Thomas told me that he wouldn't be stocking any new RPG products until after the move, but would special order anything, but at that rate I'm better off using Amazon (as I did for "Open Grave"). WotC has done a horrible job of marketing SWSE - most of the time, the only reason I know a new book is coming out is when I see it on Amazon.com.
Also, this points up the problems with Fanboy as a gaming store - ideally, a gaming store would be advertising and pushing products and taking pre-orders as soon as (if not before) the publisher or distributor comes out with a firm release date. There is, unfortunately, a vicious cycle at work. No brick-and-mortar store can compete with Amazon.com on a price basis, or even really a convenience basis. So, they have a hard time moving RPG merchandise, especially the small-market stuff, and, as Thomas is doing, cut down their inventory to what sells. But, that is precisely the stuff where a brick-and-mortar store is at the most disadvantage - most folks who are going to buy a D&D book know that they want it before they see it, and can order it cheaper and more easily off of Amazon.com.
It's the smaller press items, which are the first casualty of any contraction of a brick-and-mortar business, where the b&m has a real competitive advantage, since a prospective customer can browse, stumble across an interesting item, flip through it, and have a knowledgeable staffer recommend it for purchase. And most of these smaller press RPGs can only really sell through b&m stores for the above reason - most gamers do not want to spend $20 - $40+ to try a game sight unseen.
And, with the contraction of b&m gaming stores due to online competition, these smaller presses have less exposure, and have shrinking market share, and may fold. West End Games, Hero Games, FASA, Guardians of Order, Palladium, and others have folded or are barely surviving - and most that are surviving are doing so thanks to a dedicated fan base. Without b&m stores, they don't really have a chance to expand their market. The shrinking smaller press market, in turn, means that b&m stores have a harder time justifying keeping their products taking up valuable shelf and stock room space - not to mention the cash to buy them from the distributors. So the shrinking market shrinks further.
I am actually willing to pay a premium to purchase an RPG book from an actual game store, in order to support a local business. But I'm only willing to do so if that business in turn supports the local gaming community - a game room, an array of gaming products to peruse, etc. I understand Thomas' reasoning - he is a businessman, and makes his living (and provides for several employees) from Fanboy Comics. But, if I'm not getting anything out of that brick-and-mortar premium, I'm likely to just order stuff from Amazon.com from now on.
Anyway, I'll have the Clone Wars book this week (maybe by Tuesday - Amazon has been really good with the free 2 day shipping lately). I'll post a review after I have a chance to look at it.
Also, this points up the problems with Fanboy as a gaming store - ideally, a gaming store would be advertising and pushing products and taking pre-orders as soon as (if not before) the publisher or distributor comes out with a firm release date. There is, unfortunately, a vicious cycle at work. No brick-and-mortar store can compete with Amazon.com on a price basis, or even really a convenience basis. So, they have a hard time moving RPG merchandise, especially the small-market stuff, and, as Thomas is doing, cut down their inventory to what sells. But, that is precisely the stuff where a brick-and-mortar store is at the most disadvantage - most folks who are going to buy a D&D book know that they want it before they see it, and can order it cheaper and more easily off of Amazon.com.
It's the smaller press items, which are the first casualty of any contraction of a brick-and-mortar business, where the b&m has a real competitive advantage, since a prospective customer can browse, stumble across an interesting item, flip through it, and have a knowledgeable staffer recommend it for purchase. And most of these smaller press RPGs can only really sell through b&m stores for the above reason - most gamers do not want to spend $20 - $40+ to try a game sight unseen.
And, with the contraction of b&m gaming stores due to online competition, these smaller presses have less exposure, and have shrinking market share, and may fold. West End Games, Hero Games, FASA, Guardians of Order, Palladium, and others have folded or are barely surviving - and most that are surviving are doing so thanks to a dedicated fan base. Without b&m stores, they don't really have a chance to expand their market. The shrinking smaller press market, in turn, means that b&m stores have a harder time justifying keeping their products taking up valuable shelf and stock room space - not to mention the cash to buy them from the distributors. So the shrinking market shrinks further.
I am actually willing to pay a premium to purchase an RPG book from an actual game store, in order to support a local business. But I'm only willing to do so if that business in turn supports the local gaming community - a game room, an array of gaming products to peruse, etc. I understand Thomas' reasoning - he is a businessman, and makes his living (and provides for several employees) from Fanboy Comics. But, if I'm not getting anything out of that brick-and-mortar premium, I'm likely to just order stuff from Amazon.com from now on.
Anyway, I'll have the Clone Wars book this week (maybe by Tuesday - Amazon has been really good with the free 2 day shipping lately). I'll post a review after I have a chance to look at it.
