Serenity RPG Info Page
POSTED BY: JamieChambers
UPDATED: Monday, October 17, 2005 09:43
VIEWED: 28718
PAGE 2 of 7
IIRC the RPG industry is in a bit of a slump and there's plenty of uncertainty to go around. It's really better to just say it's in the works then to give a date you almost certainly can't make and deal with the resulting bitching from fans. Of course, announcing when a product is in a new phase (editing, layout, etc.) would be nice.
The rabbit is cuddly. Kids like little cuddly sidekicks. I mean... The rabbit... It's a time-tested... Okay, the rabbit bites.
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But if the movie DOESN'T tank, and it takes them 18 months to release a single adventure they'll have squandered the lightning in a bottle and the fickle market will have moved on to something else.
The fact that we're 15 days from the movie release and the site for the RPG isn't even up with a pretty image and a 'coming soon' banner is pretty disturbing.
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Small company, busy time with two conventions, personal issues... they all add up. They have three products (book, screen, adventure) already lined up and kinda ready. Patience.
*vibrates with impatience*
"My God - you're like a trained ape. Without the training."
"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all..."
I know the secret.
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It's really not impatience that drives me. If we were at least getting good information and something resembling a release date I'd have something to work with. As a retailer, I have to deal with people asking me "When's the Serenity RPG coming out?" and my only answer is "I don't know, the website isn't even up yet".
If the book isn't out when the movie hits, we won't be able to capitalize on the popularity of the movie to push the book and if we are stuck with a bunch of sourcebooks on our shelves when it's time to order screens and adventures we'll pass. Why throw good money after bad?
As someone who looks forward to PLAYING the game, my concern is that we're dealing with an "Ernest Makes an RPG" scenario and it's doomed from the start.
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Quote:
Originally posted by BigRedButton:
But if the movie DOESN'T tank, and it takes them 18 months to release a single adventure they'll have squandered the lightning in a bottle and the fickle market will have moved on to something else.
The fact that we're 15 days from the movie release and the site for the RPG isn't even up with a pretty image and a 'coming soon' banner is pretty disturbing.
Actually, a shiny placeholder image for the website has been created, and has been ready for a while.
What you're not taking into account is that a licensee has a lot of channels and levels of approvals to go through when dealing with a large corporation like Universal Studios. Delays often result because several people are needed to review and sign-off on everything that is created by the licensee. Everything... even a lil' ol' website placeholder image.
At the present time, one of the reasons for the stalled website is due to awaiting certain approvals, and other answers, from Universal. All it takes is a couple of key people, or just one person, being gone (or not returning calls) to produce a delay.
It's not a straight forward process, and a licensee is not his own master. But be assured that Jamie and his crew are working diligently to get the website up and running as soon as they possibly can. Exact finish dates are impossible to give because other people, not them, are a huge factor in this time table.
It's comin'... it really, really is...
11th Hour
________________________________________________
"Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!" - Hoban Washburne
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Quote:
Originally posted by 11thHour:
It's comin'... it really, really is...
That's what I'm telling the customers. It's a crappy answer and I don't like it.
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Try not to be so negative.
"My God - you're like a trained ape. Without the training."
"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all..."
I know the secret.
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Quote:
Originally posted by BigRedButton:
It's really not impatience that drives me. If we were at least getting good information and something resembling a release date I'd have something to work with. As a retailer, I have to deal with people asking me "When's the Serenity RPG coming out?" and my only answer is "I don't know, the website isn't even up yet".
From a product confidence and sales point of view, it may not be the best tactic to word your responses quite that way. You may be irritated by the delay, but passing along that irritation to your customers just creates negativity and confusion.
The books are getting ready to be shipped, I believe, within the next two weeks. As to the website, instead of saying, "I don't know, the website isn't even up yet." How about saying something like, "The website will be up soon. But in the meantime, there's an info page for the Serenity RPG at margaretweis.com."
Quote:
f the book isn't out when the movie hits, we won't be able to capitalize on the popularity of the movie to push the book and if we are stuck with a bunch of sourcebooks on our shelves when it's time to order screens and adventures we'll pass. Why throw good money after bad?
The book is in the process of being shipped. Try not to go to "worst case scenario land", it's a very unhappy place! Also, Serenity has a very loyal following, and is a movie that will most probably have "legs". I sincerely doubt it will be a one weekend movie, then disappear. Serenity merchandise has been, is, and will continue to be in high demand. Part of that reason being that Joss did not allow very many licensed products. This gives more exclusivity and value.
Quote:
As someone who looks forward to PLAYING the game, my concern is that we're dealing with an "Ernest Makes an RPG" scenario and it's doomed from the start.
Whoa... that's dark dude! Try not to let the doom and gloom scenarios play out their little performances until the play comes to its inevitable, nihilistic end... and makes the conclusion of Hamlet look like a frothy, uproarious romp...
I understand that no one likes uncertainties. It's also hard when you have customers asking you questions that you can't give definite answers to. But stay positive and this will help keep the spirits up for your customers too. I mean, whether being dark, or being light, either attitude won't directly change the outcome of when the books arrive or the website is up. But... Attitude is a choice, something that you can decide. By being a bit lighter and positive, you'll be feeling a lot better until the time that the books and website happen. And that will be a lot better than the doom and gloom scenario feeling. Unless, of course, you're into that kind of thing!
Keeping a sense of humor and being positive gives confidence to your customers, and keeps good feelings about Serenity. And we all want good things for Serenity right?
11th Hour
________________________________________________
"Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!" - Hoban Washburne
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How about an answer like "The demand for the game is very high. Copies were released at Gen Con, but they sold out in two days! I hope to have copies for the store soon. Would you like to pre-order one? That way I can make sure I have one for you." :)
Look at this as an opportunity to increase excitement instead of throwing a damp towel on it.
As far as not giving the license to the right company look at what Decipher did with the 'Trek and Lord of the Rings movies. Their LotR RPG was finally released nearly a year after the movie and was riddled with editing problems as well as some serious (IMO) game mechanics problems.
Thankfully Serenity is NOT being done by Decipher.
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