Pretty sure it was GW that pulled the license. If you're going to boycott you may want to start there?
Of course it was GW who pulled the license - because FFG had decided to move into their bread and butter domain of fantasy minis as a direct competitor! How can you license to a competitor of your staple business?
FFG made the decision to move into minis and lose so much loved IP. Which they were running so well too. GW didn't mind X-Wing as a lucrative moneyspinner. But to move into fantasy minis and expect GW to not react?
Your argument is like saying "you filed for divorce so it's your fault, nothing to do with my adultery".
If FFG fantasy minis becomes a success (and by the bargain clearance prices 1 year later, it seems not), this would vindicate the decision to enter the minis market knowing this would then provoke losing their GW license. So my friends and I are united that we will do our bit to ensure the decision is not vindicated. It will be very interesting to listen to the FFG status report at Gencon to see how they performed. That is if Asmodee allow FFG to continue to be so transparent (because they were once never profiteering until they stumbled onto a cash cow called X-Wing and got gobbled up, now the whole company seems to worship at the Temple of Mammon). The only way to hit companies like that is in the pocket.
FFG was a brand we hardcore gamers loved. The successor to the ludicrous component quality of short-lived Eagle Games, the fusion of Ameritrash theme and Eurogame elegant mechanics captured our imagination. They were the good guys who invented LCGs to not fleece card gamers and the game quality was so amazingly good with superb designers like Eric Lang for LCGs, Corey Konisweska, Kevin Wilson and their CEO Christian Petersen for classic boardgames. And gamers loved them because they gave great value and had clever innovative mechanics steeped in theme.
Yes, their marketing operations were often a disaster like the NRDB Cease and Desist, the lack of stock post-Gencon and distribution logistics. As well as Organised Play that was patchy at best and has since slowly devolved in prizes to paltry levels. But once you got the game, the play quality and value compared to their competitors was undeniable.
FFG HAVE LOST THEIR WAY. A BIT.
I suspect it's Asmodee pushing them down fixating on lucre more than maintaining game quality and love of their customers. But that's what happens, Mr Petersen, when you sell your soul, your much-loved baby.
What great new buzzy boardgame have they launched? The Fallout license game had zero buzz at Expo compared to historical outputs (because it's so drab to fit the theme). The FFG area used to be so packed with so much buzz. This year it was sad to see it so empty, living off past glories like Twilight Imperium IV. The focus is on minting as much money out of the Star Wars license mainly. Let's reskin Diplomacy for Game of Thrones and L5R. Let's reskin Cosmic Encounter for Game of Thrones. It's all such lazy design. They are no longer a superb games design company for games afficionados. They are just another corporate merchandiser, maximising profit at the cost of their historic high quality.
I have been angry and exasperated by FFG because it's like your favourite child. You love the child and don't want to see them make these mistakes. But such a promising child has grown up to be just another corporate clone, taking lazy shortcuts (The Perfect Gift design is in almost all LCGs). And gamers are clever customers: you can't hope to fool them for long.
It's so sad when you fall out of love (with your favourite games company).
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