Does Games Workshop Abuse LIMITED EDITION Products?

[@5p3cu10]

Companies who make it to the 'we have 3 stages of customer requirements ' have made it. Those 3 states are 1) "Look at these old things we have!" - also known as member-berries. 2) "Look! stuff that was familiar to you is still here!" - also known as no change. 3) "Look at this upcoming stuff!" - also known as new product addict. GW is the master of it in the hobby world but games coming back like Heroquest tick box 1, Infinity N5 any vanilla faction is box 2 and GW new army is box 3. Each of those 3 manufacturers are currently engaging in that 3 stages approach to cast as wide a net as possible

[@nicholashurst780]

The Disney Vault actually resulted from a huge chunk of their executives not wanting to release their popular animated films on home media at all because Snow White and Pinocchio used to cycle back into theaters every like three years even up until the mid-80s. That's also why Disney VHS's used to cost 50 bucks US in the 80s

[@Dayvon11]

I think one thing you guys missed in your video is that it feels like GW has switched its focus from selling individual kits and is more focused on selling limited time deal boxes (battleforces, new codex edition boxes, bundled sets)

[@herethical]

I think what sucks about the cycle model is how it can be very hostile to new players. Joining the hobby and finding a faction/army you really like, only to find out that they had a super combo box 4 years ago and they won't get one for the forseeable future really puts a dampener on my enthusiasm. It makes me feel like I did something wrong for 'joining at the wrong time,' which is not something a company should make their customers feel

[@earnestwanderer2471]

There’s already way more stuff, from GW alone, that I want but really can’t justify getting. So it’s fine with me if products cycle in and out. Kind of helps focus my attention and makes it easier to prioritize.

[@garyjenson1326]

If playing on scarcity didn't work it wouldn't be used...in absolutely everything. I.e. pumpkin spice Oreos.

[@vaderkoshpaints]

The only thing GW has done recently that really annoys me is the new Heroes Series 5, and not putting one of each model in a box set of 8. One of the models is a 1/24 item and that’s just bleh. Luckily, I’ve got the old Stormcast Warcry card pack, so I can just pick a model. Still, kinda bad pool to do that in my opinion. Even with that, their business model is just on point. Creating implied scarcity increases their sales and it so very smart. By the time anyone might get annoyed, they’ve already spent the money.

[@Skelebob-sp7pn]

Wouldn't say I've "fallen" for it, I know exactly what they're doing, I don't get the minis because they're limited edition, I get them because they are limited and I like the model, if it comes back at some point cool, if not and I missed it, oh well, I've got enough of a pile of shame at this point anyway, you might get lucky on ebay or something in the future if you're patient. They probably do too many "limited" models, but it's not like you have to, or it's even feasible to, buy them all.

[@bazzab1023]

So many people would go hard into 40k Classic. A whole army of firstborn with goblin green bases and bright colours (red everything!)? Shut up and take my money. The thing about TOW is that most of what GW is getting from it is from a market they were never going to tap into otherwise and 40k Classic would be that but up a level.

[@bradp6452]

They have so many different types. You have collector stuff, then limited, then while stocks last, made to order, then sort of normal stock which they also just discontinue without notice.

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Maybe add a second story to the shop? If you can’t go out, go up!

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Second edition Old World? Well, first thing, in about six months or so, fairly major rework of the core rules and army building structure to move the game away from Herohammer and make infantry more relevant. Then 2nd edition in two years or so... reintroducing the exiled factions, maybe Skaven first? Also expanding the setting eastward to bring in Kislev, Cathay and perhaps even a Japanese themed faction. If Mongolia isn’t part of the Cathay expansion, then a separate cavalry based nomad faction perhaps with ogre infantry and artillery.

[@AM-uw3gp]

Anything they did with Old world would be profitable, I was not buying anything from GW for the last 10 years and I’ve spent so much on Old world this year I’m literally a customer coming back from the dead for them

[@ArborRails]

I always have a good laugh when people try selling those single model 'limited edition' space marines on the used market for whatever absurd price they think they're worth.

[@TerrierHalo]

I really try to stay away from “While supplies last”. I don’t think I’m outsmarting anyone though, just that I’m in another spreadsheet in the PR department but FOMO really is the mind killer.

[@JeffG-n8p]

I think they kind of abuse everything ……also i kind of get the feeling they are a little out of touch with what to sell or not sell at times . Perhaps im way off on this.

[@redsven7624]

Purely anecdotally I think they might have pushed it a bit too far a number of locals are taking minimal stock of new boxes unless they have registered interest, A number of the release boxes are still sitting around on shelves has definitely increased. Like most things it is a balance, there are historical cases of it working ... break the space Hulk release button, but if you try to make everything special nothing really feels special. Personally, I have increasingly given up on the idea of wanting all the limited editions, now it is like anything else do I want to paint it, do I think it has reasonable value .... the red Gobbo being an example, I have all so far, not bothering with this years as it just isn't feeling valuable this year.

[@thejdi]

Funnily I have no issues with Limited Edition models or boxes (even if they release it at a later date anyway), my issue is with the Black Library books that are set number of books. Weird how that works,... if everything or many things are limited is anything limited?

[@douglasblouir9185]

From a certain perspective and given a long enough timescale, EVERYTHING is limited edition.

[@Neolazaro91]

I'm not bothered by special value boxes, if you wait long enough, everything gets bundled again. But limited minis is quite annoying. I focus on collecting and painting and I hate discovering a mini that was only sold for 8 months during 2020. If you want it, it will 120 Eurodollars or maybe even more if it is already painted. Makes me consider getting a recast, not because of the price but because there's no other way to get the miniature.

[@piotrjeske4599]

Well if something is really limited, like numbered books etc the l get the price, and the limited. Anniversary stuff coming back as regular stuff gets wierd. And everything else l expect tge company to unlimit , if it has the potential to make good money . Also a SM company is what we call someone buy 3 boxes of the HH starter set.

[@chad534]

Yes. And it creates hobby burnout.

[@asuranshadow9491]

The scarcity issue with kill team just helped keep me away from the game last edition. If they wont keep in stock, why buy in?

[@JimCrimmins]

This is a spicy topic.. And it's super targeted capitalism.. Theyre hyper aware that Fomo helps to move product. The conveyor belt of content and new stuff is one thing.. But the 'limited' fomo stuff feels very intentional

[@Peaty1992]

22 minutes to say Yes. hmmm...

[@Dr_Disintegrator]

Does a bear crap in the woods?

[@Nazgull2k1]

Question - Does GW abuse Products? Answer - EXACTLY Like CMON abuses Kickstarter. Saved you a few minutes.

[@BjornKuma]

Yes, GW uses FOMO in all it's forms, old and new, to generate scheduled short term sales spikes. I think they abuse it, specifically because they are slipping elsewhere (single box sales) as they keep raising those prices well ahead of accelerated inflation. GW's biggest issue, is actually that just like WotC, Bioware, Ubisoft and other storied and well respected game studios, the folks who made those companies great, creative and exciting, are all gone and what's left is just a corporate skinsuit. Folks are starting to notice this and it's bleeding into everything they do. Everything is turning into uncreative and very expensive grey goo on a sprue.

[@sweetmanedu]

Garbage time was especially good this video! 😄

[@Hurricanelive]

GW policy allows it an easy choice for me to not purchase anything they make. Oldhammer... oh wow, I'm swimming in oldhammer, I'm great. GW is out of touch at every level.

[@steeldrac]

I suggest a change in the format, instead of doing the podcast in the morning with a cup of coffee do it late afternoon with a beer, to see the real garbage talk :P

[@montroyalbynight8107]

Everything in this niche hobby is limited run. The people who really need to be kicked down are the ones buying the cope that GW product is more available because it's "mainstrea" when it's actually not due to restricted supply marketing.. which they also then buy into.

[@danman1012]

They're a billion dollar company. The only thing that matters is $. Its why I now have a 3d scanner and a resin printer

[@shitstormbringer]

Whats your scanning gear buddy?

[@danman1012]

@shitstormbringer got a used 3dmaker pro moose lite for $200, it's stellar with a matte background for scanning