I discovered FFG through X-wing. I thought long and hard about jumping into Armada but have decided to let it pass. I've been a fan of RPGs over 30yrs now but haven't picked up any of the FFG RPGs (yet) because the likelihood of me having an opportunity to play more than once or twice is very small. Now with SW:Destiny I can't wait for my first dive into the CCG pool. My son dabbled with Yugi-Oh and Pokémon but nothing too crazy.
So back to the title question. Does FFG experience a lot of crossover amongst its various titles (especially within the SW license) or are card players distinct from minis guys who are distinct from RPG gals and so forth? If you like LotR do you not like Star Wars? What about Dust or the military mini guys. Do they play Armada too? Does FFG/Asmodee have any numbers on this?
The main reason I ask is for the health of the company. If new titles and game styles are expanding the customer base then great. But if you are trying to sell more and more games to the same core group of players that becomes diminishing returns. I am sure there are some games in the FFG catalog that are no longer profitable or near orphans but so far those losses can be absorbed because other lines have more than enough profits.
Not in the gaming industry but I have first hand experience of a manufacturer who saw sagging sales and thought that the answer was an ever diversifying product line looking for new customers. This ultimately led to high prices and decreased quality across all lines of production; even the ones that had sustained the company for decades. Maybe it was too late but if instead of expanding they had refocused on those products and practices which made the company successful in the first place it may have changed things around. Truth is we will never know.
I was around for both the heyday and eventual dissolution of TSR but only as a customer. (Anyone remember Dragon Dice?) Likewise, I rode with Steve Jackson games through the rise and fall and the slow recovery since. Again only as a loyal customer.
By all accounts FFG is healthy and growing and with Disney's help has access to one of the most lucrative marketing properties of all times. I hope it goes on forever. That being said, without new customers and superior products dark days may lay ahead. So again, what does the numbers show? Does anyone know?
Edited by Eyegor