On Sat, 20 Nov 1993, Bertil Jonell wrote:
> Wildstar noted the lack of small scale third party producers of Traveller
> material today.
>
> Isn't this true for all games and all companies? Most small scale outfits
> either do their own thing or produce generic supplements(1), not many
> specialize in a specific game or even company.
>
> Why? I don't know, but I'm open to the possibility that it is because
> something inherent in the system: Something in the way the distribution
> chain works or something about the profitability of supplements. Does anyone
> know?
>
At a guess, I'd say it has to do with the market and the whole profit
motive thing. After all, if you're publishing Traveller stuff (or D&D
stuff or ShadowRun stuff or GURPS stuff) you are greatly dependent upon
the "parent" company to keep the game alive. Plus, you will make less
than the parent because you have to pay them to sell stuff for their
game. You can (I assume) make more money writing and distributing your
own game instead of supplements for someone elses.
Why did it happen in the first place? Because Gaming wasn't
quite the Industry that it is now. Because some people were just
dedicated to the hobby. Face it -- if you're publishing supplements in
your spare time and you start to get successful at it, wouldn't you like
to make it into a full-time job? The best way would be to increase
profit and make your game company self-sufficient (ie, not dependent upon
another gaming company for policy...) <Shrug> Just my theory...
> -bertil-
Dane
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