Post originally by Jack Holcomb at 2004-07-26 05:27:39
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Yeah, what Shanya said.
In terms of quality (research, writing, usefulness to GM), I consider SJG/GURPS to be just about the most consistently good game company/line around. I'm pleased about the new edition and I hope the new marketing plan works for them, but I was already more than happy with their books.
Post originally by Buzz at 2004-07-26 07:37:24
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Shanya Almafeta wrote:
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<i>I thought GURPS -was- one of the big boys (behind D&D and WoD).</i>
It is, in the sense that, unlike most RPG companies, it has a market share above 1%. It's still in the single-digits though (last data I saw put it at 3%), which puts it a ways behind WotC, WW, Palladium, and a few others. Consdier it a "bigger boy" but maybe not a "big boy".
Post originally by Rev. Pee Kitty at 2004-07-26 08:33:59
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GURPS is usually about the fourth or fifth most popular line, in terms of sales. That definitely makes it a significant force in the market, but it's dwarfed by d20 (which, to be fair, *every* other RPG is... and yes, pun intended) and isn't even close to the Wolf's sales.
One thing that both of these lines are known for is their high production values. It is my fondest hope that this change in the quality of their books will bring GURPS some significant crossover market share.
I'm the most fanatical GURPS fan I know, so don't anyone dare take that comment as a pejorative. It isn't. GURPS is a name synonymous with well-researched books containing high-quality content. And now the books will finally LOOK like the high-quality gaming supplements that they are.
"Fantasy Flight and Steve Jackson Games (which saw a decline in GURPS sales in 2003) probably make up the sixth and seventh slots, but nobody could probably say for sure."
Post originally by Rev. Pee Kitty at 2004-07-26 09:17:03
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<I>Buzz wrote:
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Rev. Pee Kitty wrote:
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GURPS is usually about the fourth or fifth most popular line, in terms of sales.
According to Ken Hite's State of the Industry 2003:
"Fantasy Flight and Steve Jackson Games (which saw a decline in GURPS sales in 2003) probably make up the sixth and seventh slots, but nobody could probably say for sure."</I>
Thanks for the stats, Buzz!
Now hopefully this rather radical change to the GURPS line will mix some of those numbers around! I would love to see GURPS break the top three, and at the very least, it <B>belongs</B> in the top five.
Post originally by Buzz at 2004-07-26 10:10:42
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commited hero wrote:
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<i>If you consider Mongoose & AEG to be part of "d20" then the original statement still stands.</i>
If you replace "line" with "system" in your original statement, then yes. I don't know if it's fair to just lump Mongoose and AEG into "d20," though, as both companies make (or are developing) systems other than d20.
I can still see GURPS appx. 2% market share as making it something less than a "big boy", however. The reviewer's original comment is also valid in that it's market-dominators WotC and WW that consistently release slick hardcovers with nice art, i.e., the "big boys who produce the lion's share of the fancy hardcovers in the biz."
I'm not much of a GURPS fan, but the improved production values, combined with the mere fact that SJG undertook a revision, are certainly making me consider looking into GURPS4e. And, hey, the more gorgeous, well-researched hardcovers on the FLGS shelves, the better, IMHO.
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