Post by Pop goes the world on Sept 16, 2009 2:09:20 GMT -6
As many of you know, I have been a critic of GW almost as long as I've played their games (which, by this point, is about 18 years). I've seen a lot of good games come and go in the GW roster, and I've seen their core games change drastically.
I recently picked up the new limited edition of Space Hulk that GW just put out, and I was very impressed. They refrained from reinventing the wheel and released the game largely untouched rules-wise (they actually made some subtle improvements, and included stuff from the old expansions). But, the biggest improvement was the miniatures. Just amazing minis, dynamically posed, incredibly detailed, especially for two-to-three piece models.
I have been having a ton of fun painting this Space Hulk stuff, and it really took me back to a simpler time in my life when I was really into 40K (circa 1998). I was struck with such a strong nostalgia that I thought to myself, "You know, it probably wouldn't be too hard to start a small 40K army again, if for no other reason to paint it up and be able to participate in the myriad 40K events out there."
So, I went over to the GW website. I saw all the new sweet-ass 40K terrain, and I got excited. "Aw, sweet! This could be a lot of fun!" I thought. I swore off 40K for a second time about two years ago, so this is a big departure for me.
Since I was having fun painting all the Space Hulk Terminators, I figured, what the hell, I'll take a look at the Space Marines. Hell, if I am going to start a small army, it might as well be one I can win with, right?
And then it all came crashing down. First, there were the prohibitively high costs. 50 bucks for plastic terminators? And they don't even look as good as the Space Hulk ones? Next, the realization that many of the minis they are using are the SAME ONES THAT I OWNED 11 YEARS AGO. Same plastic space marines. Many of the same character models.
Seriously, GW? You have had the same plastic basic marines for at least 11 years. You are willing to put the time and effort into putting out a single-pressing limited edition of Space Hulk with awesome plastic minis, but your bread and butter has been neglected for the better part of a decade? If I had kept my space marine army from high school, back in the dark ages of the 1990's, I would still be using current minis?
Long story short, I remember why I quit playing 40K. Even GW's golden children, the Space marines, can't get any fucking love. While Privateer Press, a relatively new (and considerably smaller) private company churns out mini after marvelous mini, and continually rewards it's players with regular additions to their armies, GW languishes. Everything in the entire Privateer line has been designed, manufactured, and retooled in the time frame since GW last revised it's basic Space Marine trooper minis. Think about that for a second, and reflect upon what that means to you as a gamer. GW, a publicly traded international corporation with coffers full to bursting with newly acquired video game wealth, can't keep pace with a handful of guys in Seattle. They can't be bothered to maintain their core constituency, let alone their "lesser" specialist gamers.
Anyway, if you have read this far, I commend you as a gentleman and a scholar.
I've said it once, and I will say it a million times...
Fuck Games Workshop.
I recently picked up the new limited edition of Space Hulk that GW just put out, and I was very impressed. They refrained from reinventing the wheel and released the game largely untouched rules-wise (they actually made some subtle improvements, and included stuff from the old expansions). But, the biggest improvement was the miniatures. Just amazing minis, dynamically posed, incredibly detailed, especially for two-to-three piece models.
I have been having a ton of fun painting this Space Hulk stuff, and it really took me back to a simpler time in my life when I was really into 40K (circa 1998). I was struck with such a strong nostalgia that I thought to myself, "You know, it probably wouldn't be too hard to start a small 40K army again, if for no other reason to paint it up and be able to participate in the myriad 40K events out there."
So, I went over to the GW website. I saw all the new sweet-ass 40K terrain, and I got excited. "Aw, sweet! This could be a lot of fun!" I thought. I swore off 40K for a second time about two years ago, so this is a big departure for me.
Since I was having fun painting all the Space Hulk Terminators, I figured, what the hell, I'll take a look at the Space Marines. Hell, if I am going to start a small army, it might as well be one I can win with, right?
And then it all came crashing down. First, there were the prohibitively high costs. 50 bucks for plastic terminators? And they don't even look as good as the Space Hulk ones? Next, the realization that many of the minis they are using are the SAME ONES THAT I OWNED 11 YEARS AGO. Same plastic space marines. Many of the same character models.
Seriously, GW? You have had the same plastic basic marines for at least 11 years. You are willing to put the time and effort into putting out a single-pressing limited edition of Space Hulk with awesome plastic minis, but your bread and butter has been neglected for the better part of a decade? If I had kept my space marine army from high school, back in the dark ages of the 1990's, I would still be using current minis?
Long story short, I remember why I quit playing 40K. Even GW's golden children, the Space marines, can't get any fucking love. While Privateer Press, a relatively new (and considerably smaller) private company churns out mini after marvelous mini, and continually rewards it's players with regular additions to their armies, GW languishes. Everything in the entire Privateer line has been designed, manufactured, and retooled in the time frame since GW last revised it's basic Space Marine trooper minis. Think about that for a second, and reflect upon what that means to you as a gamer. GW, a publicly traded international corporation with coffers full to bursting with newly acquired video game wealth, can't keep pace with a handful of guys in Seattle. They can't be bothered to maintain their core constituency, let alone their "lesser" specialist gamers.
Anyway, if you have read this far, I commend you as a gentleman and a scholar.
I've said it once, and I will say it a million times...
Fuck Games Workshop.
