Jervis Johnson Specialist Games Discussion at GenCon

Post by **GalakStarscraper** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:46 pm

MP3 format and over one hour long if you want to listen.

I finally got around to converting my recording of the session to an internet publishable format.

Galak

http://www.midgardbb.com/JervisRules/Je ... 172005.mp3

Melifaxis · Post by **Melifaxis** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:54 pm

You sir are the BOMB!

Thanks

Gumbo · Post by **Gumbo** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:17 am

how long ago was this? Recent?

Ewan · Post by **Ewan** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:29 am

Thanks! Very illuminating as to where things are going.

Chairface · Post by **Chairface** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:09 am

Gumboo wrote:how long ago was this? Recent?

Gen Con was what, a month ago?

Snew · Post by **Snew** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:35 am

That was Aug 18 or 19.

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:00 pm

Aargh ... started listening on my lunch break and now I am going to be late back....

Post by **Thadrin** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:41 am

Quick summary of what Jervis said:
"We want to sell this stuff, but the kids want more bloody Space Marines, so we have to spend all our time doing them if we want to keep the shareholders happy."
Nothing we didn't already know, but at least he was as honest as he could be about it without commiting job suicide.

Joemanji · Post by **Joemanji** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:07 am

He did seem genuine when he said that both he and Tom Kirby (the GW CEO) are frustrated that this is the case. They want BB to do well, but making that happen is not easy.

Personally, I think the fans should just take it over and lease the rights off GW.

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:04 pm

Interesting discussion.

Post by **GalakStarscraper** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:48 am

Naz asked me what JJ was talking about when he said there were multiple options for marketing BB but that it was complex and he would talk directly to me (JJ had dinner with my family that night).

Okay ... I'll try to summarize an hour discussion into the options:

1) GW agrees to finance the operation as part of the SG range.

2) GW sets up a board game division (sort of like Specialist Games but its own division). This division would service Blood Bowl and maybe bring back Space Hulk, Warhammer Quest, and Talisman. This was the one that JJ really likes. He thinks this would give GW more ability to create some new games and offer Blood Bowl the most funding since it would most likely be the flagship product of this company.

3) License the game and allow another company or organization to market it. Say Parker Brothers ... and then we see it in Wal-Mart, Target, Toy 'R US, and Meijer.

These were the options JJ said are all now being discussed for BB's 20th anniversary release.

Galak

Chairface · Post by **Chairface** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:36 pm

I finally got around to listening to it this morning. Some interesting stuff. I think I have a better idea of the challenges that Specialist games are facing in suppoprting the bloodbowl line. Its not such a big suprise that JJ had such a negative reaction to Shadowforge and other companies making "Bloodbowl ripoffs" but if GW isn't going to fill the BB void, someone has to. It would be interesting if a company set up selling offically licenced bloodbowl products. Something to think about anyways.

mrbrownesquire · Post by **mrbrownesquire** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:40 pm

Despite Jervis saying there were Blood Bowl human releases in October, The new White Dwarf has no new specialist games products in.

I am having a contact look into it though!

Chairface · Post by **Chairface** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:44 pm

I'm kind of intrigued to have a look at them!

mrbrownesquire · Post by **mrbrownesquire** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:45 pm

Chairface wrote:I'm kind of intrigued to have a look at them!

It seems that nobody has even caught a glipse of them.