EN World GameStore Closing

[Urizen]

I think another problem with your points is that you continually seem to think that people seeing this as a bad thing are equating it to something dishonest. That need not be so, but, similarly, dishonesty isn't required for something to be less than favorable.

Well, we're still waiting to see where this increase in traffic is coming from. There's absolutely no evidence that the merger will expand the market. Just merging consolidates the publishers, true, but for many of us who were already tapping into the affected stores, there's no increased exposure--for us to benefit from increased exposure the overall market will have to grow because of the merger. Where is the proof this is going to happen? Indeed, I don't even see anything that would support speculation at even a base level?

I'm just trying to be optimistic.

Granted, this is an extremely difficult situation. I hope that somehow it works out for all parties involved, because I think ultimately the merger is a good thing.

 

[Yair]

To be honest, refusing their terms and refusing to sell at the new site will mean the end of Ronin Arts and will force me to find a job. As of this moment I don't know what to do.

If I may suggest: accept their offer, you don't really have a choice. But don't go for exclusivity, and work to bolster the sales from other channels until perhaps, one day, you'll be able to gain economic independence and cut them off.

Or perhaps you'll one day decide to just ignore the whole issue, realizing you're still making good money. Or to return to a normal job and retire from RPGs. Or to negotiate a better deal. Or whatever. In any case, it seems to me you can certainly afford to take your time and delay that decision - it's not THAT large of a change as to render your current economic plans untennable, right?

And in the future, try not to rely on a single vendor (to the degree that you can).

Just MO, of course. I would hate to see you leave the scene because of this merger.

 

[Paradigm]

If people object to the new terms and conditions due to the merger, then just object. I've already emailed concerns regarding the new contract to the folks at RPGNow.

Consolidation is not neccessarily good for the industry, especially once the merged sites become one venue. Distributor consolidation was not a good thing for the print industry. Right now I am looking at higher commission rates but, I am willing to see if there is an adequate sales increase before I change what I charge.

 

[Alzrius]

I apologize - no ominous overtones were intended. We've generally had a cordial relationship with many of those folks. We've got an official word up on our front page now. It doesn't cover our plans to rule the world, but it's otherwise as complete as we can make it.

And that second paragraph, we mean it. We do wish them the best.

I fully plan to capitalize on their new rates (I am, as I've mentioned elsewhere, a soulless corporate drone), but there's no one at RPGNow, DriveThru RPG, EN Game Store, or the newly formed OneBookShelf that I would wish any ill against.

No apologies were necessary. My smiley was supposed to indicate that I wasn't being too serious. It's just that last line, "We're looking into what happened." sounded like something you'd hear from a Man In Black, or something. I just sounded ominous, but I didn't really mean that I thought there was anything truly sinister going on.

 

[kigmatzomat]

I'll post my reasons, as a consumer, why I dislike mergers that consolidate >60% of the market into one vendor when it was previously more fractious.

1. Single point of failure. If something takes out OBS then I won't have access to my existing purchases. I tend to shop for PDFs at work on lunch and then download them later at home.

2. Single choke point. I've had bad experiences with some companies and I generally don't go back. Now if I have a problem with OBS I've got no alternative vendors.

3. Cost. Megavendors ultimately result in either increased cost (by increasing profits) or shoddier products (by passing costs onto suppliers). Maybe not today, but eventually. (I'm lookin' at you Walmart!) And from Joe's stance, the "passing cost to suppliers" has already started.


What do I gain?

1. Convenience. Which is not the factor online that it is with brick&mortar. I make a bookmark, save a cookie, and I'm in like Flynn at five different vendors.

2. Wider selection. Yes, I may have missed "ThingofBeauty" when I was browsing the "you might also like..." links from VendorA. Truth of the matter is I rely more on product reviews than browsing. I'm already drowning in the sheer quantity of PDF products so if it isn't from someone I already know and trust (Hi Phil & Joe!) it better be darned cheap.

3. Advertising. Whee. Maybe Joe & Phil will have the time to check and make sure the combined OBS banner presence significantly outweighs the combined ENGS/DTN/RPGN banners but I don't give a whoop.

So I, as a consumer, don't really see an advantage. I've heard at best ambivalent statements from the publishers.

I expect OBS has no more than year to either produce the magical increases in sales or they will find publishers are both dying and conspiring to create their own PDF mall.

I really think they'd have been better off taking the increases in efficiency that come with the merger as their profit boost, skim off the new folks, and grandfather in the rest. Actually, I'm kind of surprised they can rewrite the contracts at will but I haven't seen any of the contracts nor am I a contract lawyer.

 

[Pielorinho]

You've got no opinion on quantum physics?! BLASPHEMY!
- Yair, a physicist

Once I study it, I'll either approve or disapprove of it. Until then, I exist in a state of simultaneously approving and disapproving of it: my opinion is indeterminate.

Daniel

 

[Vigilance]

Once I study it, I'll either approve or disapprove of it. Until then, I exist in a state of simultaneously approving and disapproving of it: my opinion is indeterminate.

Daniel

So you're Schroedinger's Poster?

Chuck

 

[Morrus]

So you're Schroedinger's Poster?

Don't explain his joke! Jokes are always less funny when they're explained!

 

[Vigilance]

Don't explain his joke! Jokes are always less funny when they're explained!

Doh! Sorry!

 

[Mark CMG]

The rate increase is not only likely to mean higher prices for the end user, but lower wages/rates for freelance writers, artists, editors, etc.


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[highlight]Regarding the planned publisher rate increase by OBS (formed by the merger of RPGNow.com and DTRPG) - "With the possibility of price hikes, I believe that both vendors and consumers have a stake in this. Perhaps, just a joint request from those two groups for the rescindment of the rate increase will have some effect. To that end, I see no reason why a petition can't be started to get the simple message across. Click here to view it, please."
- Mark Clover, CreativeMountainGames.com[/highlight]