Well it is maybe at the margins. March would be better than april which would be better than june etc.

But thats not really whats going to matter.

What is important is that PRE SSD release, we get some sort of decent commitment from ffg about ongoing support. At the minimum, we need solid info on organised play up to worlds going forward.

Of much more value would be a proper new wave announcement. Again - PRIOR to SSD release.

Otherwise a high proportion of the market is going to be trying to value a $300 investment (australian equivalent) against a very uncertain return in terms of future support and ability to play.

Worst case scenario this means SSD sales underperform and the case for supporting the game in ffg land deteriorates further.

I tried to build a CC campaign today in the local armada group ( which i noticed is down from 120 in nov to 80 now, 157 was the highest I'd seen it at), first time I didnt fill up day 1, only at 3 currently including myself. I had 3 people tell me theyd lost interest until they saw the game was going to continue on. Game might not be officially dead, but in STL it feels like its bleeding out.

One thing is for certain, FFG are not doing themselves any favours if indeed they are still supporting this game.

Im no marketing expert but there actions towards Armada (or lack thereof) really do suggest there are some serious deficiencies going on.

Leaving continued poor comms & delayed SSD aside, lack of existing ship availability is not going to encourage new players to buy in.

FFG needs to wake up or go out of business. I have done small amounts of marketing (Local) and while its on a smaller scale, if you don't advertise product, dont HAVE product, and don't communicate deficiencies, out of order products, when you might get some in next, or anything near these sorts of issues, people go elsewhere. I used to even go so far as to special order items that customers wanted, and made sure it got in myself if I had to. Not to mention set advertisements for SALES, because there is nothing more then a sale to get new customers in the door.

Good example I can lay out right here.

FFG Sales Figures VS Mel's Minatures//Shapeways - Armada Only

I wonder who is making more bank on sales......

If I am a betting man, It's prob going to be Mel's Minatures // Shapeways, as for one, their products are to be considered (Always in stock) and while yes, I know 3D printing is prob a bit easier to "supply" then say injection molding, painting, packaging, loading,having stores order, shipping to stores, , and etc etc. The fact is Shapeways prob has a LOT more requests for a lot more VARIETY of print outs and like Armada, I feel is safe to say "World Wide".

6 minutes ago, Zeoinx said:

FFG needs to wake up or go out of business.

FFG have been making money since 1995. I think they know what they are doing.

45 minutes ago, Zeoinx said:

I wonder who is making more bank on sales......

Let me know when private equity money starts chasing Mel or Shapeways. Until then, I'd assume FFG earns more revenue and profit by orders of magnitude.

2 hours ago, dominosfleet said:

I tried to build a CC campaign today in the local armada group ( which i noticed is down from 120 in nov to 80 now, 157 was the highest I'd seen it at), first time I didnt fill up day 1, only at 3 currently including myself. I had 3 people tell me theyd lost interest until they saw the game was going to continue on. Game might not be officially dead, but it feels like its bleeding out.

Man, and I thought FFG was the one with ADD. Here, it was the players the whole time.

5 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

FFG have been making money since 1995. I think they know what they are doing.

Really? So then where is the products? Where is the communication? Where is the promised SSD? Consumers only have so much patients. And the worst thing about all this, Crabbok from youtube is doing what FFG SHOULD be doing and that is informing the community about what is going on, like possible reprints, and the SSD new estimated release date. And FFG doesnt even need to make a video, but only a small quick type up and they cant even managed to do that, yet Crabbok can put together two videos with a some research shown and explain which arguably takes more effort, but thats ok, FFG knows what they are doing. Riiiiight

8 minutes ago, Zeoinx said:

Really? So then where is the products? Where is the communication? Where is the promised SSD? Consumers only have so much patients. And the worst thing about all this, Crabbok from youtube is doing what FFG SHOULD be doing and that is informing the community about what is going on, like possible reprints, and the SSD new estimated release date. And FFG doesnt even need to make a video, but only a small quick type up and they cant even managed to do that, yet Crabbok can put together two videos with a some research shown and explain which arguably takes more effort, but thats ok, FFG knows what they are doing. Riiiiight

Read what I said.

Consumers are an infinite resource. Game stores are not. FFG know who their important customers are, and it isnt you.

5 hours ago, RedPriest said:

Man, and I thought FFG was the one with ADD. Here, it was the players the whole time.

"sucks that ffg is missing their launch"

"yep, but it's your fault because you have a mental disability"

"waaa?"

10 minutes ago, dominosfleet said:

"sucks that ffg is missing their launch"

"yep, but it's your fault because you have a mental disability"

"waaa?"

Yes. "Losing interest in a game because new toys aren't being released every other month," is insane. You either want to play a Star Wars fleet combat game or you don't.

Just now, RedPriest said:

Yes. "Losing interest in a game because new toys aren't being released every other month," is insane. You either want to play a Star Wars fleet combat game or you don't.

ya, certainly hasn't been 13 months since the last release or anything. just a month or so. Reasonable argument.

....

When a game is not continualy support it gives the impression that the game is not supported, and people are just mich less likely to play or get into a game that is not supported, because they feel that it will be too hard to find others to play with.

11 hours ago, Zeoinx said:

FFG Sales Figures VS Mel's Minatures//Shapeways - Armada Only

I wonder who is making more bank on sales......  

If I am a betting man, It's prob going to be Mel's Minatures // Shapeways, as for one, their products are to be considered (Always in stock) and while yes, I know 3D printing is prob a bit easier to "supply" then say injection molding, painting, packaging, loading,having stores order, shipping to stores, , and etc etc. The fact is Shapeways prob has a LOT more requests for a lot more VARIETY of print outs and like Armada, I feel is safe to say "World Wide".

FFG. FFG does. I'm pretty sure.

2 hours ago, xero989 said:

When a game is not continualy support it gives the impression that the game is not supported, and people are just mich less likely to play or get into a game that is not supported, because they feel that it will be too hard to find others to play with. 

Exactly. Like, chess hasn't had any new releases in literally CENTURIES, and it's freaking impossible to find anyone to play the game with. Why bother? We'll never get any cool new pieces. I mean, the en passant errata was pretty neat, but that's not enough to hold me over for 500 years.

Armada chess is dead.

5 hours ago, dominosfleet said:

ya, certainly hasn't been 13 months since the last release or anything. just a month or so. Reasonable argument.

49 minutes ago, melminiatures said:

FFG. FFG does. I'm pretty sure.

Really? I am honestly shocked considering how many SSD's Ive seen floating around the forums, on top of the other really large ships you have been selling and seeing sprinkled around painting forums.

5 minutes ago, Zeoinx said:

Really? I am honestly shocked considering how many SSD's Ive seen floating around the forums, on top of the other really large ships you have been selling and seeing sprinkled around painting forums.

Yeah but these forums are representing a small fraction of players who buy Armada, the population here isn't enough to keep Armada officiallysupported on its own. Out of a play group of about 8 I'm the only one who regularly posts or even reads here.

I totally agree however that a game that gets news updates and regular releases feels more alive. It definitely puts new players off, no one wants to drop what for most us probably a considerable chunk of their disposable income on a buy in for a dying game. How many players in the last 6 months might have bought the core yet lost interest due to difficulty getting hold of the basic squadrons?

1 minute ago, Frostweasel said:

Yeah but these forums are representing a small fraction of players who buy Armada, the population here isn't enough to keep Armada officiallysupported on its own. Out of a play group of about 8 I'm the only one who regularly posts or even reads here.

I totally agree however that a game that gets news updates and regular releases feels more alive. It definitely puts new players off, no one wants to drop what for most us probably a considerable chunk of their disposable income on a buy in for a dying game. How many players in the last 6 months might have bought the core yet lost interest due to difficulty getting hold of the basic squadrons?

I am not going to lie, I didnt get the core set even yet because my local store just doesnt have players. I have a few ships that I have on display, and I really do want to play the game, but honestly, I am not going to sit around my bedroom going "pew pew" by myself with ships and dice. I can do that with out the dice and movement stuff and have a better time >.> Err I mean, these are not toys and should be treated with the care and responsibility of a gaming adult.

This is where a community of positivity can really help.

Sure, if they've bought in a Core set and are expanding, how do they know that they're apparently "desperately missing" to buy into Squadron packs, if they are not told? Then it basically boils down into how they are told... If they're told in a negative way, of course, they'll view it in a negative way. If they're told, shown, allowed to borrow, and fostered in a community that plays, then they don't feel like they're missing anything of their own - because things are supported and useful, and when things come around, then they can indulge rather than catch up ...

I hate feeling like this is "my secret to success"... but its apparently is ...

15 minutes ago, Zeoinx said:

I am not going to lie, I didnt get the core set even yet because my local store just doesnt have players. I have a few ships that I have on display, and I really do want to play the game, but honestly, I am not going to sit around my bedroom going "pew pew" by myself with ships and dice. I can do that with out the dice and movement stuff and have a better time >.> Err I mean, these are not toys and should be treated with the care and responsibility of a gaming adult.

This is honestly a great place to start building your Armada community (even better with Squadron Pack 1's on the boat), because you get to start from scratch (check out to the thread on the competitive X-Wing player to see why that can be a good thing). Seriously, buy a Core Set and find someone that is willing to play a few games with you (Learn to Play scenario, 200, 300, or 400 points, whatever you can swing). If they enjoy it, they are likely to get a Core Set themselves, and hopefully turn and do the same with others; if not, try it with someone else. Do this a few more times with a few more people, and suddenly you're on your way to getting a group of players in your area. Seriously not trying to condescend or anything, but if you want to play the game (and you should, because it is an amazing game), buy the Core Set, then go out and find people that are willing to give it a shot.

15 minutes ago, Admiral Calkins said:

This is honestly a great place to start building your Armada community (even better with Squadron Pack 1's on the boat), because you get to start from scratch (check out to the thread on the competitive X-Wing player to see why that can be a good thing). Seriously, buy a Core Set and find someone that is willing to play a few games with you (Learn to Play scenario, 200, 300, or 400 points, whatever you can swing). If they enjoy it, they are likely to get a Core Set themselves, and hopefully turn and do the same with others; if not, try it with someone else. Do this a few more times with a few more people, and suddenly you're on your way to getting a group of players in your area. Seriously not trying to condescend or anything, but if you want to play the game (and you should, because it is an amazing game), buy the Core Set, then go out and find people that are willing to give it a shot.

The main problem is my local store forces players to "rent" out table time each time you go. I really don't wanna go with a slim to nill chance of actually playing with people. Even the employees dont even promote the game there, and its really the main reason I didnt attempt this to begin with. Trust me, the idea was there when I discovered it.

4 minutes ago, Zeoinx said:

The main problem is my local store forces players to "rent" out table time each time you go. I really don't wanna go with a slim to nill chance of actually playing with people. Even the employees dont even promote the game there, and its really the main reason I didnt attempt this to begin with. Trust me, the idea was there when I discovered it.

I’m sorry, because that specific situation sucks. I’d ask the manager (if ordering and buying) something (like a Core Set) grants you some, if not a lot of, table time. I personally wouldn’t support a store that rented out table time, especially if buying product in that store doesn’t count towards it. Before one of our FLGS opened, the owner floated the idea of $5 an hour for a table, in store purchases or not; that idea died pretty quickly. I mean, that is a Neb-B expansionon Amazon for both players in lieu of renting a table at those prices for three hours.

6 hours ago, PodRacer said:

....

tsk tsk. Straight skipping the reserving of a post I see. 10 demerits.