Consumer Preference: Hardcover or Softcover?

[thundershot]

I've noticed a trend with the way I buy... I'm always more likely to buy a HARDCOVER book over a softcover book, regardless of content. If the same book came out in both forms, I'll have the hardcover. I'll gladly pay the extra 5 bucks or whatnot to have it.

Fantasy Flight Games has yet to disappoint me, and I'll buy their books sight unseen, without a review.

Fast Forward has been on the hardcover kick as well... (though I'll wait for reviews on those before getting them)

Sword & Sorcery's Relics & Rituals books was great.. (though the others didn't catch my eye...)

I've bought every one of WotC's D&D hardcover books, and they have yet to disappoint me...

Don't get me wrong, I like softcovers too, but they just don't look as good on my shelf, and may not stand up to the test of time like hardcovers.

In any case, as publishers, are you seeing a trend toward publishing one way or another? If you currently produce softcover only, are you planning on venturing into hardcover? What price points do you forsee?

sorry for the long post, but I'm just curious...


Thanks!
Chris

 

[Nightfall]

Well as guy that's got a good number of HCs and Softies as well, I'd say, It depends on the material involved. For example, Freeport is a HC. Now considering the volume of material already available, I can by pass it, at least until I feel I can afford it. Does NOT mean I don't want it! I'm just thrify and at this point, jobless/incomeless. (Think that's a word...) Now for softcovers, Bluffside is an unknown (at least in SOME sense of the word! ) but it's certainly a large softy that I think is worth getting. I have no problems with materials, just when it comes down it, it's all about what I like and what I need. Right now it's the possiblity of me winning the lotto!

 

[Lady Dragon]

I prefer Handcovers to softcovers of course I'm sure most people do after all they look better on the shelf and they are more durable than softcovers

I think the real question needs to be is the added cost of the hardcover worth it.

Recently both Freeport and Bluffside came out.Freeport is a 160 page hardcover and bluffside is a 144 page softcover.Freeport cost $29.95 and bluffside rings in at $22.95.I feel both books have equal quality in content and subject.So basically is 12 extra pages and a Hardcover worth $7 to the gamer who is asked to choose which to buy if he can't buy both.

I personally bought both but if I had to choose the extra $7 dollars would not have infuenced me because I'm willing to pay a bit more for Hardcovers.

 

[Dahak]

I definitely prefer hardcovers. It's mostly an asthetic thing; I like how they look shelved. I think publishers should show a little discretion on what they release in hardcover though.

 

[Crothian]

I'd say curtrently over 40% of my d20 books are hardcover. Hardcover usually haas a high quality about it and I like that. Publishers seem to go the extra mile knowing the book is hardcover.

Is that true? Do the writers maje a little extra effort for Hardcover books?

 

[Jim Butler]

The break point between softcover books and hardcover books is about the 160-page mark. Under that, and it's generally not worthwhile to turn the product into a hardcover. Over that, and the books just stand up better over time in hardcover format.

Larger books generally get more attention just because publishers have devoted so much time and resources to them. When you're talking about the added expenses of printing in hardcover, adding in some extra artwork, graphic treatments, and TLC are just no-brainers...

 

[7thlvlDM]

I think preference may also depend on the income of the buyer. When I first started role-playing, back in high school, I would've fainted dead at the sight of a $30 book. Now that I'm moving up in the world, and have a good steady income, hardcovers are my preference.

 

[drnuncheon]

My criteria go something like this:

Core books - I always want hardcover. I discovered that was a necessity after I saved $10 buying the GURPS softcover and then played the game so dang much it fell apart. Same with my HERO softcover. In the few cases since when I've had a choice (Castle Falkenstein is the only one that comes to mind - most companies don't offer both options), I've gone for the hardcover.

Supplements - It depends on two factors - size, like Jim said, and type of use. If I'm going to be constantly flipping through a book, referring to this page and that (i.e. rules-heavy), hardcover is definitely preferable. If I'm not going to constantly be referring to it, however, HC makes the book a lot less attractive to me.

J

 

[d20sites]

I like the often-used reference material to be hardcover but overall, I prefer softcover for the price. I can't afford to buy the products I want if every company starts pumping out hardcovers. Forcing me to choose what I buy ends up to this: losing me as a customer if I didn't buy your product. (Guess I should open a game store so I can get products for half off )

BTW, how do people handle their softcovers? Curl the cover and pages around the back as they read. Use it as drink coaster or a hot pad for pizza. My friend uses softcovers extensively and they still look like they are brand new. I store mine on a bookshelf and each one is bagged in a magazine bag untaped.

A couple more reasons that I am not particularly fond of hardcovers:
- finding out the product was crap after spending my hard-earned money on it
- errors: don't playtesters and editors find them anymore. I am just stunned at the amount of erratas because companies are trying to pump out their products quickly. I ended up getting a revised PHB since I didn't want to deal with all the errors in the 1st printing.

 

[Pramas]

Recently both Freeport and Bluffside came out.Freeport is a 160 page hardcover and bluffside is a 144 page softcover.Freeport cost $29.95 and bluffside rings in at $22.95.I feel both books have equal quality in content and subject.So basically is 12 extra pages and a Hardcover worth $7 to the gamer who is asked to choose which to buy if he can't buy both.

Regarding the Freport book, it's not just 12 pages and a hardcover, it's also the pullout, full color poster map. It was the inclusion of that map that determined the $29.95 price point of Freeport: The City of Adventure.

I think it was worth it. I love that map.