Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="HinterWelt" data-source="post: 2803388" data-attributes="member: 14785">Well, some thoughts. I don't really agree with the OP's initial observations. Not that they are wrong but that I feel they are somewhat limited in scope.So, let me start with what I feel is wrong right now. I saw right now because things are changing.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Whining.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The industry is changing. More and more sales are going online and to discounters. I do not believe all sales will go online but a critical mass of sales will do so and then much of the retail and all of the distributor tier will either die or turn to other products for their living and leave games aside. Note, this is not the end of the industry but a very painful and casualty ridden transmogrification.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Retailers, whether you like to admit it or not, are a public face of the game industry. In lite of a lack of serious marketing but large companies, retailers are it. Many do a great deal of advertising in thier town helping to advance the hobby. Many do nothing. So, as retailers die and are not replaced, something will need to come and fill the void. Mouseferatu did a great job of summing this up.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lower sell through for publishers have led to less profits. Companies have to squeeze a lot more to make the same amounts. I think we will start to see lower production values in some products.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A distributor tier that is becoming more unstable as we go along. Osseum will not be the last. Gamus was sold. Consolidation will only carry that tier so far. More and more publishers are looking to sell direct to retailer or customer. This makes the advantages of the distro system pale and weaken.</li> </ul>Strengths or good things:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Adjustments are happening. I think we have had a very rich bullish industry up until now. It is adjusting and some will not like the direction.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pdfs are growing. Contrary to some thoughts this is not a bad thing. I feel the supplemental income helps publishers do more with and get more out of their products.</li> </ul>I do not think the industry is going to collapse tomorrow but it is changing. Change is often accompanied by pain. I also agree with Mouseferatu about the need to recruit young players. I try very hard to support this in HinterWelt's products. Sometimes it works sometimes it does not.Bill</blockquote>

Verification