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blackaeon wrote:
Just got confirmation on shipping for my RAW Lazlo book, so it seems feasible for at least one of the previously mentioned books. I've gone back and forth with feelings about Palladium's release schedule over the years, but at the end of the day, I realized that I waited hopefully for a third season of Twin Peaks since 1991, and I've never been as disappointed with a book I've waited x years for from Palladium as I was with that third dang season. If Palladium was backed by a multinational manufacturing corp that had four and a half billion on hand in cash assets and the toy licenses for most major kids properties at the end of 2020, I reckon someone could rightly feel entitled to expect more frequent releases. As far as generating cash goes outside of RAW prints and the like, I for one missed the Megaversal Insider stuff previously, so that's something I'd be down to clown on if it became a thing again!

Prince Artemis wrote:Cancelations happen for various reasons, its how writing works. Heck, China 3 is dropped because the author died before he could finish, and no one has the level of knowledge he had that's willing to write it.

Crap happens. See a book there you really wanted to see come out? Get to writing and submit something XD

eliakon wrote:What I am wondering is what happened to New Navy and Hardware Unlimited?
Both had full texts available to browse at one of the Open Houses.
Finished up to the point of having had spacing for art blocked out.

Why are things like *that* still unprinted?

Sambot wrote:

blackaeon wrote:
Just got confirmation on shipping for my RAW Lazlo book, so it seems feasible for at least one of the previously mentioned books. I've gone back and forth with feelings about Palladium's release schedule over the years, but at the end of the day, I realized that I waited hopefully for a third season of Twin Peaks since 1991, and I've never been as disappointed with a book I've waited x years for from Palladium as I was with that third dang season. If Palladium was backed by a multinational manufacturing corp that had four and a half billion on hand in cash assets and the toy licenses for most major kids properties at the end of 2020, I reckon someone could rightly feel entitled to expect more frequent releases. As far as generating cash goes outside of RAW prints and the like, I for one missed the Megaversal Insider stuff previously, so that's something I'd be down to clown on if it became a thing again!

I'm not sure about Megaversal Insiders stuff? I am sure though that I'd rather have an unfinished book than no book at all. I know Palladium is a small company and that things happen. It would be nice if books came out regularly and nothing got cancelled but I understand why it doesn't. I'm hoping more books will be produced, late if need be. I would also prefer a finished book but I'll take a RAW one if that's all there is. And with 30 or so cancelled books there must be enough material to create a few RAW editions.

Sambot wrote:

Zer0 Kay wrote:I think they need to stop doing the RAW editions. Sure they drive up sales if the book is good but it also drives down sales if the book isn't good. Leaving the tension and anticipation of getting a complete book makes it so that even if the book isn't the best more people will buy it because they haven't found out what they don't like. I'm almost worried that KS will go to an all RAW format, never publishing another complete product because it is less expensive.

Go from the Palladium, "softback to save you money" to the Neo Palladium no cover, no polish, no art, to save you money. Then Post Neo Palladium "straight from my computer to a PDF no cover, polish, art, or editing... to save you money". Kevin please don't do these I was just kidding.

I hope Palladium doesn't go all RAW editions too. I hope they don't even do it for every book. I do hope that they do it for books stuck in development hell or that had been started and then cancelled. There does seem to be enough to keep the printers busy for a while.
Now see there is a good marketing idea. Release the RAW even incomplete manuscripts for all the unpublished backlogged and or killed books. It would increase desire for the stuff we're still waiting for like Mechanoids Space and let us honor the passing of some authors who's works we won't see completed :'(

I also think RAW Editions have a value beyond freeing books, or even just pieces, from development hell. I think they're better than pre-orders for gauging customer's reactions. It's not a description of what might be. It's an actual book you can look at. It's like being a test audience for a TV show or movie. You actually get to see the product not just a description. Sure, the final product may be very different but it's still better than paying for an item that never comes. Plus RAWs are good because the reviews can tell you how to proceed.

If the book is well received, give it art and send it to the printers. If the reception was okay, rewrite the areas that weren't liked. If it bombs and is important but still important to the story rewrite it to make it better. If it's not that important cancel it. Books are expensive. Why waste time and money on a book that won't sell? It'd be better to put the resources into a book that will.

I think it could also prevent bad will and impressions. Tension and anticipation are only are a double edged blade. They get the customers attention but what happens once they get the book and don't like it? They're less likely to buy another. OR the book gets left of the shelves which makes the stores less likely to carry other books. If the company knew ahead of time how the book would do they could take steps to make any needed improvements.
Only good if the RAW don't cost anywhere near the price of the full book. Maybe even make it where if we buy a RAW we get a discount off the Polished version.

I don't think every book needs a RAW edition. I think some things could be put in the Rifter (Please being it back.) Mostly the smaller things that wouldn't take up a small book and previews of things in the works. For bigger things though, I do see the value in having some RAW editions. Especially, if it's RAW or nothing. I'd take a 90% completed book over no book which is what we have now.
agreed

Emerald MoonSilver wrote:Everything else got cancelled, or the manuscript wasn't any good, or any number of reason books don't come out. Things happen. By the way
Wizards of the Coast can provide its staff Health Benefits for Self and Families, Parental Leave, Direct and Indirect Compensation. Kevin only wishes he could
do that for the six people he employees and the many freelancers. Open any D&D book and look how many people are contributing. Author Michael Connelly writes a book during Covid in April and it get edited and on the shelf by January. Not possible for us. Michael Connelly not juggling 15 different things.

Tiree wrote:

Emerald MoonSilver wrote:

Everything else got cancelled, or the manuscript wasn't any good, or any number of reason books don't come out. Things happen. By the way
Wizards of the Coast can provide its staff Health Benefits for Self and Families, Parental Leave, Direct and Indirect Compensation. Kevin only wishes he could
do that for the six people he employees and the many freelancers. Open any D&D book and look how many people are contributing. Author Michael Connelly writes a book during Covid in April and it get edited and on the shelf by January. Not possible for us. Michael Connelly not juggling 15 different things.

If things are that bad and money is so tight, perhaps it is time to look into seeing if WOTC is interested in either a partnership with Palladium or buying it outright. Either way at least books would come out at a decent rate and the employees of a possible partnership would get the increased benefits WOTC offers to its present employees.

Emerald

I don't want to sound mean. But who are we to decide when an owner of a company to sell their company? It's their decision, it's personal, and soul searching. From seeing someone who built a business, and then had to let it go. It's not something that is ever taken lightly.

That being said, IIRC Steve Jackson Games had an open letter to buy other game companies.

Josh Hilden wrote:You'll never see most of those.

Books get canceled, it happens.

Sureshot wrote: Unless a book is ready to go to the printers it should not even be in Coming Soon section imo.