Keeping ACTA in stores.

[ShopKeepJon]

This is really a thread for all of the people out there who sell ACTA in stores. Since ACTA is obviously going through a big change and Mongoose is equally obviously making decisions about how it will be supported, this seems like a good time to discuss things. So...

Will you continue to support ACTA in your stores? If not, what would it take to convince you to continue to support it?

As for myself, as it stands right now, I can't. It just isn't economically feasible. I don't have enough time or space to adequately promote all of the games that I carry. Games that provide repeat sales are going to get priority. With only two books (possibly one more per year, possibly a single counter set...) ACTA just isn't going to get that priority. I will continue to play it myself and I will continue to have fun with it, but in my store it is effectively dead.

If all of this sounds a little mercenary, it is. I really want my store to still be in business next year. Given Mongoose's recent actions, they at least should understand...

So all of you shopkeeps out there. Do you agree? Disagree? Let me (and Mongoose) know your views.

ShopKeepJon

 

[ShopKeepJon]

So what would get me to change my mind? Right now I would have to say fleet specific counter packs. There are at least thirteen fleets in the game. If someone liked the game and picked up a counter pack to play, I would be pretty certain that eventually that player would want to try out another fleet and would buy another fleet pack (and eventually another...). This would give me enough different product and repeat sales to be worth selling and promoting in my store.

To make players happy about buying separate fleet packs, the counters would have to be substantial enough and nice enough to make the average player feel like they are worth the money. In short they would have to be better than the ones currently available...

Personally, I think that salable counters would have certain qualities:

• 1. They would be thick. They would have to feel substantial for them to have real perceived value. In addition, thick counters are easier to use.
  2. They would be sturdy. Again, this is a perceived value thing. Most people don't like to shell out lots of money for things that they think are just going to break on them.
  3. They should be round. I know that we've had this argument before, but I've now tried the old counters and mocked up oval, square and round counters. The round ones look better and are slightly easier to use. In addition, most of the people that saw them thought that the round ones made it "look more like a space battle game". I don't know why, but that was the common perception.
  4. The artwork should be clear and high quality. Again, make people feel like they are getting their money's worth. In addition, if the counters look really good, the game is easier to promote.
  5. A counter's size should, in general, be based on the size of the current miniature. I would really like to see people with the actual models re-basing them onto the new counters. (Basically using the new counters as the new "official" bases) If this were done, everyone would be playing the same game (the people with models would just be a little cooler. :wink: )

Most people are willing to do a little assembly, so just having sticky backed counter sheets packaged in with wooden or plastic discs (such as are available through Litko Aerosystems) would probably be sufficient and easy for Mongoose to market.

ShopKeepJon

 

[noobdelux]

#5 is somthing to consider i think.. makes those fire sections clean heh