b1soul Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I am genuinely curious. If anything...BL and the HH series seem to losing steam... I mean, I guess the recent tactics of limited editions, hardbacks, reprints must be working or they wouldn't insist on continuing... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Carnelian Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 How would we know? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4247762 Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1soul Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 I was thinking maybe BL has financial reports or GW's financial reports might reflect BL. Some members of the community might be well-versed in the financial aspect Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248127 Share on other sites More sharing options...
veterannoob Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 All I know comes from Warhammer world and Covention Secundus last month (fan BL event w/guests). Print is a struggle for most publishers these few years and BL has been experimenting with new ways to deliver content inter formats. They definitely aren't keeping in the red. Three? years ago they put out Scars as a serial novel, then more ebook and audio ( they now have their own in house recording for audio) and continue to try new methods to offer their customers. While we all can't wait for more HH novels there is a build up which was held up for BaC box set. We should expect to see more frequent releases, 4 were already revealed last month and the beginning of February is the HH weekender. They do have lots of stories to tell and must increase the author pool. :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248344 Share on other sites More sharing options...
A D-B Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 I am genuinely curious. If anything...BL and the HH series seem to losing steam... Yes and no. Remember, what you're seeing now is the result of stuff that happened in 2013 and 2014, you know? The Beast Arises, f'rex, was planned in 2012 and 2013, and Dan wrote the first book in 2013. The release schedule you've seen in the last year is the result of 2013 and 2014. And so on. There've been experiments and tests for new releases and new formats and all kinds of stuff in a fluctuating industry; even down to something as fundamental as shifts in BL's place in the book trade. All of that's fairly public, obviously, with BL's change in focus in terms of releases and all that jazz. There's a lot I can't/won't say, but I've not been this psyched and happy for BL to be publishing my stuff in ages. A couple of years, at least. Things up ahead are looking great. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248527 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 I am genuinely curious. If anything...BL and the HH series seem to losing steam... Yes and no. Remember, what you're seeing now is the result of stuff that happened in 2013 and 2014, you know? The Beast Arises, f'rex, was planned in 2012 and 2013, and Dan wrote the first book in 2013. The release schedule you've seen in the last year is the result of 2013 and 2014. And so on. There've been experiments and tests for new releases and new formats and all kinds of stuff in a fluctuating industry; even down to something as fundamental as shifts in BL's place in the book trade. All of that's fairly public, obviously, with BL's change in focus in terms of releases and all that jazz. There's a lot I can't/won't say, but I've not been this psyched and happy for BL to be publishing my stuff in ages. A couple of years, at least. Things up ahead are looking great. I really hope so. I know we can't all be happy but for a while I was in heaven with great Chaos releases. My Ultra's saw attention that actually gave them (gasp) personality! The Horus Books and side novels gave us incredible diamonds in the rough like The Purge, and then out of nowhere we get Betrayal At Calth! (really enjoyed the whole theme). Now I find myself unable to go back and read my 'old' favorites. Much of the new stuff carves Marines out in such an interesting fashion that I find it hard to get along with my post heresy fiction! ( I can read about Aeonid meeting with Calgar and then going against... Kor Phareon and WB's.... OR.... 'modern' day Chronos in a tank shooting necron warriors....ugh. ) Just my preference of course. But I will add that I was shocked when BL decided to flesh out Necrons. I read those books and was so impressed by some of the Necrons (Anrakyr and the female Cryptek) that I bought the Campaign Supplement. They left 'crons again, but just sayin' it was a very interesting time, and year. Personally I have zero motivation to read about an Ork battle, and any of the 40K marine storylines now that I feel spoiled by the heavy dose of Primarch's and the apparent superior warriors of the 30K universe. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248630 Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1soul Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 I am genuinely curious. If anything...BL and the HH series seem to losing steam... Yes and no. Remember, what you're seeing now is the result of stuff that happened in 2013 and 2014, you know? The Beast Arises, f'rex, was planned in 2012 and 2013, and Dan wrote the first book in 2013. The release schedule you've seen in the last year is the result of 2013 and 2014. And so on. There've been experiments and tests for new releases and new formats and all kinds of stuff in a fluctuating industry; even down to something as fundamental as shifts in BL's place in the book trade. All of that's fairly public, obviously, with BL's change in focus in terms of releases and all that jazz. There's a lot I can't/won't say, but I've not been this psyched and happy for BL to be publishing my stuff in ages. A couple of years, at least. Things up ahead are looking great. This reassures me Looking forward to MASTER OF MANKIND SCARS 2 NIGHTFALL Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248711 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarKnight Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 I am genuinely curious. If anything...BL and the HH series seem to losing steam... Yes and no. Remember, what you're seeing now is the result of stuff that happened in 2013 and 2014, you know? The Beast Arises, f'rex, was planned in 2012 and 2013, and Dan wrote the first book in 2013. The release schedule you've seen in the last year is the result of 2013 and 2014. And so on. There've been experiments and tests for new releases and new formats and all kinds of stuff in a fluctuating industry; even down to something as fundamental as shifts in BL's place in the book trade. All of that's fairly public, obviously, with BL's change in focus in terms of releases and all that jazz. There's a lot I can't/won't say, but I've not been this psyched and happy for BL to be publishing my stuff in ages. A couple of years, at least. Things up ahead are looking great. This reassures me Looking forward to MASTER OF MANKIND SCARS 2 NIGHTFALL Is Aaron doing Scars 2? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248737 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apothecary Vaddon Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 I am genuinely curious. If anything...BL and the HH series seem to losing steam... Yes and no. Remember, what you're seeing now is the result of stuff that happened in 2013 and 2014, you know? The Beast Arises, f'rex, was planned in 2012 and 2013, and Dan wrote the first book in 2013. The release schedule you've seen in the last year is the result of 2013 and 2014. And so on. There've been experiments and tests for new releases and new formats and all kinds of stuff in a fluctuating industry; even down to something as fundamental as shifts in BL's place in the book trade. All of that's fairly public, obviously, with BL's change in focus in terms of releases and all that jazz. There's a lot I can't/won't say, but I've not been this psyched and happy for BL to be publishing my stuff in ages. A couple of years, at least. Things up ahead are looking great. This reassures me Looking forward to MASTER OF MANKIND SCARS 2 NIGHTFALL Is Aaron doing Scars 2? thought wraight was doing that I am genuinely curious. If anything...BL and the HH series seem to losing steam... Yes and no. Remember, what you're seeing now is the result of stuff that happened in 2013 and 2014, you know? The Beast Arises, f'rex, was planned in 2012 and 2013, and Dan wrote the first book in 2013. The release schedule you've seen in the last year is the result of 2013 and 2014. And so on. There've been experiments and tests for new releases and new formats and all kinds of stuff in a fluctuating industry; even down to something as fundamental as shifts in BL's place in the book trade. All of that's fairly public, obviously, with BL's change in focus in terms of releases and all that jazz. There's a lot I can't/won't say, but I've not been this psyched and happy for BL to be publishing my stuff in ages. A couple of years, at least. Things up ahead are looking great. man I can't tell you how sad I am about all the LE and regular novellas (to me, a novel is 400+ pages, not the typical 250-300 that BL's been tossing out recently, so I'll refuse to call them novels). Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248759 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noserenda Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Ive personally been burned out by the slow releases and annoying pricing/format issues, ive sworn off the Limited edition cash cow and was set to abandon Bl to give me more FW money but then Wolfking was excellent and i burned through my mates kindle full of all the random tiny stories i missed. Lots of talent still on display writer wise, i just hope they can sort the business side of things soon. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4248916 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Antipodes Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 The plethora of shorts and novellas seem to be a stopgap while they attempt to get their schedule back on track. The loss of Abnett and McNeill (on a full time basis, if not permanently), who were the mainstays of their stable of writers for a long time, would have left a large hole in the publishing schedule. It takes time to bring on new writers and/or get other, current ones, to make the jump from shorts to full novels. Don't get me wrong, I'm as pissed as anyone else at the lack of product over the past couple of years but I understand there are issues here we are not privy to. Recent quotes hinting at BL now having a stockpile waiting release in the new year give me hope that the current famine is about to end. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249125 Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1soul Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share Posted December 11, 2015 Dunno how much BL stuff Abnett will be putting out in the future. He seems to be doing a lot of comics, games, movies He's currently working on an AvP comic project Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249272 Share on other sites More sharing options...
veterannoob Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Just Dunno how much BL stuff Abnett will be putting out in the future. He seems to be doing a lot of comics, games, movies He's currently working on an AvP comic project Just for my own curiosity would you consider famine versus a steady flow of books? They've been putting out quite a lot of shorts and audio dramas and more content that they have in a long time. Abnett will come back to black library because he wants to and he has the luxury of choice between his projects and I think Graham will fo the ones that he's started and love sdoing but need to just be more selective depending on time. But yeah, a space for new talent. From that we get greats, like Guy Haley:) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249377 Share on other sites More sharing options...
A D-B Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 The plethora of shorts and novellas seem to be a stopgap while they attempt to get their schedule back on track. The loss of Abnett and McNeill (on a full time basis, if not permanently), who were the mainstays of their stable of writers for a long time, would have left a large hole in the publishing schedule. Again, yes and no. Dan's not written anything for BL in about 2+ years, but Graham was still writing a fair bit until a few months ago - so the shorts and novellas weren't particularly related to Graham, since they were written and commissioned long before he went full-time in the video game industry. Admittedly, me slowing down to one novel every 18 months was another pretty heavy kick in the schedule's teeth. But I'd view the shorts and novellas as a conscious choice rather than a stopgap. BL's been experimenting with a lot of stuff. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249473 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Antipodes Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Dunno how much BL stuff Abnett will be putting out in the future. He seems to be doing a lot of comics, games, movies He's currently working on an AvP comic project That was my point re Abnett & McNeill - we won't see much from them in the short term but I believe they will be back for the wind up of the HH whenever GW is finishes squeezing the apple dry. They gave said several times that they had dibs on that and hope they are drawn back for that at least. @veterannoob Would I prefer famine or feast? Somewhere in between would be nice, especially if it lets them produce a better product and unearth the next Haley (or French or Wraight or ADB for that matter). A lot of that is down to good editorial practice of course so we will see. Pre-planning like the Beast Arises series, if they stick to their schedule, will be a great start. ADB seems to be happy about their future plans so I will give them some slack from my side of the book-reader equation. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249486 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Antipodes Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 The plethora of shorts and novellas seem to be a stopgap while they attempt to get their schedule back on track. The loss of Abnett and McNeill (on a full time basis, if not permanently), who were the mainstays of their stable of writers for a long time, would have left a large hole in the publishing schedule. Again, yes and no. Dan's not written anything for BL in about 2+ years, but Graham was still writing a fair bit until a few months ago - so the shorts and novellas weren't particularly related to Graham, since they were written and commissioned long before he went full-time in the video game industry. Admittedly, me slowing down to one novel every 18 months was another pretty heavy kick in the schedule's teeth. But I'd view the shorts and novellas as a conscious choice rather than a stopgap. BL's been experimenting with a lot of stuff. Once I thought about the lead times involved I see where I made two separate roads look like a conjoined one. This is how it can sometimes appear from the other side of the fence looking in. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249502 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apothecary Vaddon Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 The plethora of shorts and novellas seem to be a stopgap while they attempt to get their schedule back on track. The loss of Abnett and McNeill (on a full time basis, if not permanently), who were the mainstays of their stable of writers for a long time, would have left a large hole in the publishing schedule. Again, yes and no. Dan's not written anything for BL in about 2+ years, but Graham was still writing a fair bit until a few months ago - so the shorts and novellas weren't particularly related to Graham, since they were written and commissioned long before he went full-time in the video game industry. Admittedly, me slowing down to one novel every 18 months was another pretty heavy kick in the schedule's teeth. But I'd view the shorts and novellas as a conscious choice rather than a stopgap. BL's been experimenting with a lot of stuff. GG and Penitent not happening?? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249650 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Of the 'experiments' mentioned my least favorite is the drawn out execution of the Heresy. Honestly I'm of two minds about it. I enjoy (as mentioned) reading about that era's Astartes far more than I do the current timeline's stuff. So when it's over... it's over. Sad days indeed. But the negative is, I hate to be blunt, but there's a good fistful of stuff I read that is just throwaway material. What I do like is the diamonds in the rough. But those side stories are advertised as such. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4249737 Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1soul Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 I think Master of Mankind is going to b incredible Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4250090 Share on other sites More sharing options...
veterannoob Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Of the 'experiments' mentioned my least favorite is the drawn out execution of the Heresy. Honestly I'm of two minds about it. I enjoy (as mentioned) reading about that era's Astartes far more than I do the current timeline's stuff. So when it's over... it's over. Sad days indeed. But the negative is, I hate to be blunt, but there's a good fistful of stuff I read that is just throwaway material. What I do like is the diamonds in the rough. But those side stories are advertised as such. If you have truck loads of salt there are rumors that the held releases will be out early 2016 and more of them. We already know 4 covers, 2 of which and collections, a Garro at-least-larger-than-novella book, and Pharos by the awesome Guy Haley. http://natfka.blogspot.se/2015/12/horus-heresy-book-33-launch.html Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4250154 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Loss Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 At the Weekender in February this year I was told by authors that there was a definite feeling they needed to move faster on the heresy. I think 2016 will be a good year for fans Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4250199 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 I was thinking about this thread as I came home from the local GW with The Unburdened in my possession. (along with a pile of other selfish goodies). I know I'm a sucker for a lot of what BL puts out. If it's HH related, I'm all over like white on rice. There are a few authors I have completely given up. But that's a rare exception. Otherwise I try to read what I can afford, time and money wise. The 40K fiction, as I've mentioned has really dried up for me. I read everything Chaos, and finished with Emperor's Gift (yea it took a while for me to give it a go), and the Plague Harvest series which was a good, quick read featuring Ultra's. But the 40K element seems so dry compared to 30K. Because they play in a limited sand box, there is no -change-. Forever the Imperium defends. I can't remember the last time the Imperium actually attacked something... or took a resource back. The have become the habitual defender. Winning battles, but always losing wars. It never changes... it's just a different resource, a different Ork, or Sorcerer, or... Tau! Always defending.... It feels stuck. But that's just me, and we all look for something different in these books. So I still buy them, but prefer 30K now more than ever. In saying the above, I confess... still a sucker, I pick most of it up. That being said only one thing makes me feel like I've been taken for a ride, or perhaps I'm not fond of BL's practices; it's those re-do covers, with stories you already read. Maybe the plop in one new story, so the new cover is justified. I kick myself because I've done it twice now. The Ultramarines book, has the new cover from the codex... almost bought it, but realized I read probably half of it in other formats. Sons of Titan, shiny new cover... I got close to buying that one and realized they put one new story in it. My problem is I prefer a physical book every time, and twice on Sunday over a digital format. That's my age showing I guess. Unfortunately as a result I will miss the digi-short that may be included in the re-print book. That's my only complaint. Because inevitably we all have the choice of passing on a book or going forward with the purchase. So milking HH may be getting tired, but we keep buying it don't we? (But again I stumble on something like the Purge and I'm pumped to read something of that quality anyway.) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4251348 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Antipodes Posted December 14, 2015 Share Posted December 14, 2015 While I share your pain wrt reperchasing a recovered book, having done so many times over the years, it is a standard industry practice and not confined to BL. I'm not too upset with the contents of recent anthologies. While I may already have them in their original release format (eshort or audio) I'm happy to get a copy in my preferred (dead tree) format. The audios especially can appear totally new when experienced in a visual medium. As long as BL continue to list the contents in the sales blurb so I can check what I'm getting I have no real complaint. And yes, they did paint themselves into a corner when they froze the W40K timeline. The lack of forward progress, regardless of whether it is the Inperium, Chaos or even the bloody Necrontyr who win, makes any storyline with an appearance of advancement more appealing. There has been a lot of negativity of late wrt the HH. A lot of this (IMHO) is because the slowdown in the publishing schedule has created the same feeling of stagnation as W40K. Hopefully this will abate as the schedule picks up in the new year. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4251397 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarl Kjaran Coldheart Posted December 14, 2015 Share Posted December 14, 2015 I've actually stopped buying any novellas,short stories or any variant. They will be collected and released in a future anthology for a fraction of the price. WLK Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4251432 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted December 14, 2015 Share Posted December 14, 2015 Yes that's a piece of what I meant. I will now wait on the small pieces to appear in a compilation. One newish thing I can cite as a positive is the art prints are fairly reasonable and when released with a book even better! I got the macragge' honour package like that and am really contemplating the Ultramarines package as well(I told you I'm a sucker!) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/316965-have-bls-business-practices-actually-boosted-profit/#findComment-4251481 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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