CGL Speculation #8, Put on your asbestos underwear Options

[Dread Moores]

Take away: Sandstorm LLC is now publishing for Wildfire. Perhaps more interestingly, Sansdtorm's kicker text at the end of the press release mentions a partnership with Posthuman. Sandstorm put out a press release about Closet Nerd earlier and the substance of this PR is about Wildfire, but there's not been a full blown statement regarding Posthuman. This is essentially a backdoor announcement that they'll also be publishing Eclipse Phase. Or a massive screwup. But they're probably publishing Eclipse Phase.

That's awesome news. I'm really looking forward to more Ctech material. And I always liked Dave and Troy.

Let's just hope the resolution of the lawsuit doesn't hurt them too badly, if it goes against Wildfire. Any more news on that, btw?

[Method]

Cross post from the Official Announcements thread.

Excerpt from Rob Boyle's blog:

May 10, 2010
I’ve been neglecting this blog for too long, and now I have a pile of news and updates to catch up on.

Catalyst Woes: In March some unfortunate news came to light at Catalyst Game Labs concerning, as they put it, the improper “co-mingling” of company funds. I’m not going to comment on the situation here, but you can read what CGL has to say in the press releases on their website and there are numerous threads full of rumor and speculation on various RPG forums. Due to what was going on, however, both Adam Jury and myself decided to part ways with CGL. We also immediately went about severing the license between Posthuman Studios and CGL for Eclipse Phase, so now that game is entirely back in our hands. Many of our friends and former colleagues have also distanced themselves from CGL, and WildFire also severed their license and reclaimed their Cthulhutech line. It remains to be seen how the CGL situation will play out, but I’m very sad that many of my friends have had their livelihoods disrupted by this turn of events.

Posthuman Futures: On the positive side, Adam, Brian, and myself are making progress on taking Posthuman Studios up a few notches. We plan to continue publishing Eclipse Phase (and also some other games) in the future and are arranging our business so that Posthuman will handle all EP production itself. We are making an arrangement with a new publishing partner who will handle our printing, warehousing, and fulfillment. We’re doing our best to turn misfortune into opportunity, and we have some exciting plans in the works, so expect to hear much more from us soon.

Emphasis mine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Caadium]

Cross post from the Official Announcements thread.

Excerpt from Rob Boyle's blog:


Emphasis mine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I tend to agree with your emphasis, but as I stated earlier until either company confirms it is still just speculation (even if its speculation that seems very likely).

[Cardul]

Does this mean that Sandstorm owns its own printers? If so...that could be good for those who publish through them.

[BlueMax]

Well this is a speculation thread

[otakusensei]

Does this mean that Sandstorm owns its own printers? If so...that could be good for those who publish through them.

I'm guessing they handle dealing with the printers, but you never know.

[Caadium]

I'm guessing they handle dealing with the printers, but you never know.

I would imagine, again pure speculation here, that if multiple companies are all placing orders through 1 name or business partner, Sandstorm in this instance, it would help with pricing. From the printer's perspective instead of 4 companies placing orders, one company is placing more orders.

I'm sure pricing is based, in large part, on quantity ordered per order, but having 1 company with 1 good relationship with the printers can't hurt things for their partners.

[emouse]

I imagine it's essentially the same setup that CGL had. Sandstorm/CGL is essentially given a PDF or whatever other files are needed to produce the physical item, they send that off to the printers (potentially even the same printer), and then handle marketing and distribution as well. The manufacturing and distribution end is where consolidation pays off the most, resulting in discounts from the printer, and decreased overhead for warehousing.

[Tiger Eyes]

I would imagine, again pure speculation here, that if multiple companies are all placing orders through 1 name or business partner, Sandstorm in this instance, it would help with pricing. From the printer's perspective instead of 4 companies placing orders, one company is placing more orders.

I'm sure pricing is based, in large part, on quantity ordered per order, but having 1 company with 1 good relationship with the printers can't hurt things for their partners.

That's a fairly common economic principal. Many vendors will give a discount or price break if you send a certain # of orders in - ie, 0 discount for 1 order, 3% for 3, 5% for 5... etc. So if you have multiple companies sending in orders via one agent, everyone gets the benefit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You also can often negotiate a price savings if you are able to pay in full up front, versus having to have credit with the vendor. This goes from tee-shirts to books and everything in between. You can do this on a personal scale, too - go into an appliance store and offer to buy 5 laundry machines, and ask for a 5% discount from list price, and you'll probably get it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (Sometimes I think I'd like 5 laundry machines... get all the laundry done at once.... sigh...)

[Caadium]

That's a fairly common economic principal. Many vendors will give a discount or price break if you send a certain # of orders in - ie, 0 discount for 1 order, 3% for 3, 5% for 5... etc. So if you have multiple companies sending in orders via one agent, everyone gets the benefit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You also can often negotiate a price savings if you are able to pay in full up front, versus having to have credit with the vendor. This goes from tee-shirts to books and everything in between. You can do this on a personal scale, too - go into an appliance store and offer to buy 5 laundry machines, and ask for a 5% discount from list price, and you'll probably get it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (Sometimes I think I'd like 5 laundry machines... get all the laundry done at once.... sigh...)

Since you are here Jennifer, would you care to comment on the little line in the release about the relationship between Sandstorm and Posthuman?

[Saint Sithney]

So, Sandstorm is the team's Face? Nuff said.

[Jaid]

on the other side of things, posthuman studios is currently selling through drivethrurpg, so they may not be entirely switching over to another company (or that other company may be handling only print). certainly, the folks over at posthuman have relatively recently started a program where they'll basically transfer your purchase of eclipse phase over to drivethrurpg, which implies they intend to stay with them (for pdf media, at least) for a while. otherwise it's just a whole lot of wasted effort.

[Dread Moores]

Yeah, even Ctech is still on sale through dtrpg. Their newest book, just released yesterday on PDF, is on sale over there right now. Makes sense to use that place you already have a relationship and distribution set up with, rather than going through an entirely different webstore for Sandstorm. Well, at least until a webstore for Sandstorm is set up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Dwight]

Sooooo, I've been away for a while. Is Shadowrun dead yet?

[Cheops]

Not dead yet. But the writing on the wall is getting clearer and bigger by the day for CGL/IMR. A franchise that earns as much as was "mistakenly comingled" is unlikely to die.

Still eagerly awaiting my SR5 announcement.

[emouse]

Sooooo, I've been away for a while. Is Shadowrun dead yet?

NECA has bought the license and will be using it to reissue Shadowrun Duels.

[emouse]

on the other side of things, posthuman studios is currently selling through drivethrurpg, so they may not be entirely switching over to another company (or that other company may be handling only print). certainly, the folks over at posthuman have relatively recently started a program where they'll basically transfer your purchase of eclipse phase over to drivethrurpg, which implies they intend to stay with them (for pdf media, at least) for a while. otherwise it's just a whole lot of wasted effort.

Even when they were published by Catalyst, Eclipse Phase was available through DriveThru. DriveThru is a retailer, not a publisher. When they sign up with a new publisher, the books will probably still be available through DriveThru, though possibly under Sandstorm's label. It depends on what the deal is between Sandstorm and their new partners.

[MindandPen]

Sooooo, I've been away for a while. Is Shadowrun dead yet?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/scatter.gif) The license was bought by The Evil Twirling Mustache Company owned by the Great Dragon Trollman and his band of Immortal Elves. They announced that on April 1, 2011, they will release SR6, the Cyber Unicorn Version. The first adventure will be titled "The Dumpshock Wars" which will include Lone Star Cops, Belly Button rings, Pixie Clanks, Drop Bears, and anything else they can squeeze in while changing the setting to a Steam Punk environment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotfl.gif)

-M&P

[Steelfang]

Does this mean that Sandstorm owns its own printers? If so...that could be good for those who publish through them.

How could they? They are start up just created by the those that left CGL. i doubt that they have financial resources to start a full blown printing enterpirse. What they do have is connections into the printing businenss and they can act as an intermeidary between the creative folks and the printers. They are going to be doing the same kind of job that CGL was doing for Wildfire and Posthuman.

[Dread Moores]

How could they? They are start up just created by the those that left CGL. i doubt that they have financial resources to start a full blown printing enterpirse. What they do have is connections into the printing businenss and they can act as an intermeidary between the creative folks and the printers. They are going to be doing the same kind of job that CGL was doing for Wildfire and Posthuman.

Well, hopefully not exactly the same job as CGL. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Catadmin]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/scatter.gif) The license was bought by The Evil Twirling Mustache Company owned by the Great Dragon Trollman and his band of Immortal Elves. They announced that on April 1, 2011, they will release SR6, the Cyber Unicorn Version. The first adventure will be titled "The Dumpshock Wars" which will include Lone Star Cops, Belly Button rings, Pixie Clanks, Drop Bears, and anything else they can squeeze in while changing the setting to a Steam Punk environment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotfl.gif)

-M&P

Okay, that is the BEST version you've come up with yet. I love it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)

[MindandPen]

Okay, that is the BEST version you've come up with yet. I love it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)

And it only took HOW many drafts? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) That's the thing I've noticed with writing, you keep refining it until someone says "That's It!" (or "Turn it in NOW!")

-M&P

[Deadmannumberone]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/scatter.gif) The license was bought by The Evil Twirling Mustache Company owned by the Great Dragon Trollman and his band of Immortal Elves. They announced that on April 1, 2011, they will release SR6, the Cyber Unicorn Version. The first adventure will be titled "The Dumpshock Wars" which will include Lone Star Cops, Belly Button rings, Pixie Clanks, Drop Bears, and anything else they can squeeze in while changing the setting to a Steam Punk environment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotfl.gif)

-M&P

It's his band of Immortal Trolls, not Immortal Elves.

[Martin_DeVries_I...]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/scatter.gif) The license was bought by The Evil Twirling Mustache Company owned by the Great Dragon Trollman and his band of Immortal Elves.

"Portland are you ready to ROCK! Please welcome... Trollman and the Cabal! Featuring Har'lea'quin on keyboards! Aina Dupree on bass! Aithne Oakforest on drums! Trollman on lead synthtar, playing his custom V-neck--playing BOTH frets while using his tail as a pick! And on lead vocals... please welcome... Miss Jenna ni Fiarra! With back-up performances by the Seelie Court dancers. Opening act: a spoken-word performance of poetry by Ehran the Scribe!"

[Tiger Eyes]

Since you are here Jennifer, would you care to comment on the little line in the release about the relationship between Sandstorm and Posthuman?

Sandstorm Press Releases