Greater Than Games Shutters Due to Tariffs

Greater Than Games, the publisher behind the superhero-themed Sentinel Comics RPG, has shuttered due to the ongoing tariff war between the United States and China. Flat River Group, Greater Than Games' parent company announced that they've reduced Greater Than Games' staff "in response to ongoing economic pressures resulting from the international tariff crisis." Additionally, all new projects from the publisher are suspended due to the tariff situation. However, Flat River Group will keep Greater Than Games' website open for the time being, with in-stock products available and current catalog products produced "as needed."

While Greater Than Games is best known for publishing Spirit Island and Sentinels of the Multiverse, they also published Sentinel Comics, a superhero RPG set within the world of their Sentinels of the Multiverse games. The global tariff war has impacted board game publishers, most of whom rely on Chinese manufacturers to produce games. Some RPGs are also produced in China or printed by other overseas publishers, thus making them eligible for the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in recent weeks.

 

[Umbran]

Oh great! Now people are gonna take my meeple bumper sticker on my cars as a signal that they can clandestinely slip me some money as part of an elaborate handshake in return for illicit game pieces.

"Honest, officer! Those meeples aren't mine! A friend must have left the bag of them in my trunk after PAX Unplugged!"

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

Okay, I admit it...
I am now eagerly awaiting El Meeplero, the exciting new action flick from director Robert Rodriguez.

The worst part is that they're hiding the meeples in shipments of drugs.

 

[J.Quondam]

The worst part is that they're hiding the meeples in shipments of drugs.

"The story of an unsuspecting drug runner caught up in the fight for his life, as two rival gaming groups come after him in search of the plastic crack hidden inside the real crack in his duffle bag."

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Sadly, this seems a sane response to the current tariff situation. (Queue up the Bugs Bunny skit with Elmer in hunting outfit and Bugs and Daffy doing the "Wabbit Season" "Duck Season" rapid change thing.) Best to limit cash outflow until someone figures out what season it is. I don't see how anyone can plan on importing anything into the US with the current rapid changes in the trade situation. The price can change several times between the crate being loaded on the ship and being processed weeks later by the customs official(which I guess is when the tariff is collected at whatever rate is in effect that minute).

Yep, I totally agree. Know one knows what the tariff situation will be a month from now, let alone 6-12 months from now. It makes it all but impossible to make any informed business decision without taking a huge risk.

 

[mamba]

Yep, I totally agree. Know one knows what the tariff situation will be a month from now, let alone 6-12 months from now.

yeah, the whole thing is as well thought out as the South Park underpants gnomes’ business plan

 

[Anon Adderlan]

So on April 14 Chris was applying for a Visa to visit China for 8 days to discuss manufacturing. Given the tariffs were already ridiculous at that time I can only conclude that this was a desperation move to try and find a way to remain solvent.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Duties and tariffs aren't the same thing - are we sure that applies to tariffs?

Tariffs are supposed to be collected at the product’s point of entry, at least in part because they can be so variable. If it’s not paid then, the product is supposed to sit on the dock or be returned to the transport vehicle until it is.

However, I’ve seen at least one article in which the new tariffs were NOT being collected at certain ports of entry at all. The report did not specify whether this was due to ineptitude, bad training on the process, or deliberate non-performance by those tasked with the job.

FWIW, I know of at least one DTC company that currently breaks out the tariff charges as their own line alongside your subtotal, shipping, and other taxes when you’re making your purchases, so you’ll see exactly how you’re getting hit.

Overall, I’m wondering what some of the small companies I buy luxuries from- electric guitars, high-quality footwear, etc.- will do in the coming months/years of this debacle. Many are based here in the USA, but 85-100% of their manufacturing facilities are overseas.

Hell, I just went to a jewelry convention a few weeks ago, and almost every vendor was talking tariffs with trepidation in their voices. Their products cross borders SO often for SO many reasons that this could wipe out a lot of the smaller businesses.

 

[Blue]

Duties and tariffs aren't the same thing - are we sure that applies to tariffs?

Tariffs are a type of duty. No, they aren't the same thing, but duties includes tariffs.

Definition of Tariff from Wikipedia
"A tariff or import tax is a duty imposed by a national government, customs territory, or supranational union on imports of goods and is paid by the importer."

 

[Umbran]

Tariffs are a type of duty. No, they aren't the same thing, but duties includes tariffs.

Definition of Tariff from Wikipedia
"A tariff or import tax is a duty imposed by a national government, customs territory, or supranational union on imports of goods and is paid by the importer."

I am less interested in Wikipedia definitions, and more interested in actual practice.

 

[Anon Adderlan]

I am less interested in Wikipedia definitions, and more interested in actual practice.

The definitions are the actual practice when it comes to tariffs.