Breaking the compact with the gamer

Games Workshop has gone and done it again.  No, not raising their prices, but I’m sure we’re in for that again soon (insert sarcasm here).  This time I propose that they have done the unforgiveable.  GW has broken the sacred compact with the gamer, they have changed rules explicitely to make sales.

What’s that you say?  Everyone does this?  Well, I will agree that this is not uncommon when versions of a game are released, but there is an unspoken agreement between the gamer and GW that a new codex or new edition with shake thing sup and then you (the gamer) can expect a slow decline in the ability of your highly priced models over the course of a few years before they become good again.

A few months back GW released new Flamer and Screamer models in plastic and a White Dwarf rules update.  What is truly amazing is that from reading the updates and the new codex at the same time you can tell that GW already had the codex done.  The WD update made flamers and screamers too good to pass up (thus selling losts of models) and then turned around a few months later once the models were sold and reduced their ability by an order of magnitude (100% worse or more).

I’m not upset that the new rules are underpowered.  I think they’re a little more realistic now, but I am upset that we see such a blatant change of rules once they made their sales (and in such a short order).

New Sacramento GW Store (Part 2)

 

I posted an article about 2 months ago foretelling the opening of the Games Workshop store in Sacramento.  The Lake Crest Village GW Store on Florin Road in the Pocket Area.  At the time the info I had was vague, but it got me thinking…  Fast forward to last Friday and I stopped by the new store the day before it was opened to check it out.  Not surprisingly, Steve Sisk, the previous manager of the Antioch store was back in Sacramento running this store.

I previously wrote that “while I wouldn’t mind seeing a store nearby, I think Sacramento already has enough game stores that carry GW products.  I find this issue to be interesting, as GW sells through independent stockists, and also runs their owns stores.  When a city is served by both indys and corporate a conflict of interst arises.”  I firmly stand by this opinion.

I support a few local stores and online retailers for various reasons.  I also happened to be Steve’s first customer.  I bought his only copy of Imperial Armour Aeronautica.  I will likely stop in to the Sacramento GW store to get my ForgeWorld book fix from time to time, but I’ll probably leave Steve to doing what he does best, recruiting new players to the hobby; something no local store does a great job of doing…

Games Workshop opening a store in Sacramento?

 

GW sent out a monthly newsletter this morning via email.  I normally just scan and delete these, as the content doesn’t interest me much; however, this morning something caught my eye.

Games Workshop is looking at Sacramento for store! The closest store is in Antioch, about an hour from the south end of the Sacramento area.  While I wouldn’t mind seeing a store nearby, I think Sacramento already has enough game stores that carry GW products.  I find this issue to be interesting, as GW sells through independent stockists, and also runs their owns stores.  When a city is served by both indys and corporate a conflict of interst arises.

via Games Workshop
Career Selection Centers
Want to run your own store? Games Workshop is looking for people in the following locations and will conduct onsite interviews for candidates interested in learning more and pursuing a career in a Games Workshop Hobby Center at scheduled Selection Centers. Apply online and we will contact you about Selection Center dates and locations.

Los Angeles/San Francisco, CA – Apply by 8/18
Sacramento, CA – Apply by 8/22
Seattle, WA – Apply by 8/30
Philadelphia, PA – Apply by 8/31
Phoenix/Tucson, AZ – Apply by 9/6
Birmingham, AL – Apply by 9/10
Las Vegas, NV – Apply by 9/25
Portland, OR – Apply by 9/25
Columbia, SC – Apply byer 9/27
Buffalo, NY – Apply by 10/1

I find it odd that this is the first I’ve heard of the Sacramento store, but the applications are due in 3 days.