GW 2014-2015 Half Year Results

[Lexington]

Their words (or a close approximation!) not mine!

The one thing I'm really wondering about is that "reassessment" of existing product lines. It...doesn't sound good, especially for Sisters players, but maybe for even more mainstream armies as well. What else is going to end up on that fateful chopping block?

[Mr Mystery]

Rest of it doesn't sound like a chopping board would be involved though.

States explicitly prices aren't going down, but that he wants a better range of price points.

Wide open to speculation, and my own thoughts are earlier in this very thread.

Could also be entirely new product types, or dare I even think it resurrection of older stuff.

We're told Specialist Games weren't particularly profitable - but they're still sales. With the boat seemingly steadied, and most markets emerging from the financial whoopsie of 2008, now could be the time that they feel confident enough to push them again, particularly given the like of FFG have shown some kind of market for it exists, though whether it's big enough for GW to chase is very much up to opinion - but I'm fairly sure they could manage to produce BFG again at a 'Cheaper than Armada, which is almost piss takingly pricey' price point. The rules are there, and people already have fleets. Bit of rebranding, perhaps a spit and polish of the rules, and you have a potential new revenue stream, even if (numbers out my arse time!) it yields only 5% profit compared to 40k's 10% profit

[Caitsidhe]

Rest of the report suggests that 'with an ego free team' change is indeed afoot.

As you say, it'll be a while before any real change is evidenced, but things are certainly looking interesting.

This is perhaps where you and I differ the most. I suspect that you have a much greater opinion of human beings in general than I do. I read the exact same report you did and drew an entirely different conclusion. To me the carefully worded statement sounded like it was merely what Kirby said but proofed to cut back on the crazy and foolish. In short, I don't think the current CEO holds the reigns. I think he was hand picked by Kirby because he does what Kirby says. I think Kirby pretended to take the back seat and just sit on the council to placate the growing agitation of others who are considerable stockholders. To me this looks like it is all about ego and full steam ahead. Very rarely will a CEO every say something like we will NOT lower prices. There is no reason to do it (even if it is true) because it limits your own options and paints you into a corner. Silly statements like this are infamous in the United States, i.e. "Read my lips. No new taxes." It is silly to limit one's options as a chief executive. It also makes one look exceptionally stupid when you end up being forced to go against your own statement. So why did he say it? Why bother? It wasn't necessary to placate stockholders. They only care about profits and the value of the stock. They know lowering prices has no effect on stock prices in general. In fact, increased sales do to that kind of move almost always lead to a bump. The only reason to make such a weird statement was to reiterate Kirby's vision, Kirby's direction, and make it clear who is actually in control. That, my friend, is ego.

[Charon]

The one thing I'm really wondering about is that "reassessment" of existing product lines. It...doesn't sound good, especially for Sisters players, but maybe for even more mainstream armies as well. What else is going to end up on that fateful chopping block?

Actually I would not even dare a bet if Dark Eldar will survive. They did set up for an easy eradication (the "eaten by tyranids" just becomes "someone opened the door") they are not a top seller and a lot of them are in need of an overhaul (finecast all the way) while the codex was exceptionally bad and not well received.

[Mr Mystery]

Again, no suggestion anything is being scrapped. They're only just beginning the review process, far too early to be worrying about what may or may not happen.

[Path Walker]

while the codex was exceptionally bad and not well received.

how the "competitive 40k" community view a codex isn't the same as it being bad.

In fact, its another reason to not want those people as customers.

[Caitsidhe]

how the "competitive 40k" community view a codex isn't the same as it being bad.

In fact, its another reason to not want those people as customers.

That's right. In Bizarro World the customers compete for their right to give vendors their money. Only the worthy customers are wanted. The unworthy have money that is inferior.

[Mr Mystery]

But if it's a case of the minority actually complaining, there's rarely much one can do about it, and it's GW who have the best info.

All we can really offer is anecdotal observations from our own little ponds.

[grimmas]

I can't see that they haven't been constantly reviewing their products lines already and I'd think that judging on the frequency of updates you can tell what the best/worst sellers are.

I've always found Dark Eldar quite popular but Charon does point out that they do this have a lot of finecast in the range which might not be a good sign but at least they got finecast the sisters are still metal.

I don't think they'd just get rid of something they'd already made models for its not really their style they usually just leave it to dwindle and die as stock winds down and not make anymore that's what happened to Squats, dogs of war and specialist games.

I would say it's fairly obvious the Sisters are in a precarious position, what's going to happen I don't know but it's going to come down to how much money they think they can make off them. May be a mini dex like Skitari or MT or a retcon back to their original RT mention. Whatever it'll be down to sales and it seems like Sisters haven't really ever sold well.

[Mr Mystery]

Yet they've never had plastics, and fell into the awkward size of army where sure you don't need Horde Numbers, but still a fairly decent amount, further limiting the range.

They're certainly popular, and it's not the army at fault for not being strong sellers, but the current range. Sort that, and they will sell.