Why Are the New Covers So...Bland?

[Thunderforge]

The 2004 Paranoia line had a variety of different colors featuring humorous scenes of life as usual in Alpha Complex. This of course included weird stuff, troubleshooters getting zapped, and general craziness.

But the new 2009 Paranoia line just looks so... bland. Aside from the core books, they pretty much all feature a colored photo of loose leaf paper. It's not very inspiring to say the least and I'm not sure why the decision to change it was.

Back in 2008 I'd introduced a friend to Paranoia by showing the cover and the illustrations while I explained the game world. They were laughing really hard and instantly wanted to play it. Sadly, I'm not sure I could see that happening today when I show them a book with a picture of notebook pages.

 

[Danforth]

We've had a couple of threads about this recently. Matt Sprange has said that Paranoia's supplement sales, when compared to core book sales, were surprisingly low for the previous edition (i.e. surprising when compared to suplement:core sales for other Mongoose RPGs).

So based on that fact we can make a few guesses. If Mongoose were paying for a new cover for each book, and sales were low, an accountant (or any savvy business type) was eventually going to step in...

I was pleased to see Jim Holloway get the illustration gig for the 2004 edition. It's a shame he's no longer involved, and I don't much care for the interior art in the current edition, but Chris Quilliams' core book covers are solid (the High Programmers one is great). If this is what it takes to keep the line going, so be it. Can't see the covers when the books are shelved anyway

 

[lastbesthope]

I have the limited editions of the core books so no cover art for me

LBH

 

[Danforth]

I have the limited editions of the core books so no cover art for me

LBH

Me too (well, I had to skip Blue Line, but I know what you mean). Clearly, you need the GM Screen which incorporates a montage of cover art

 

[lastbesthope]

Oh I have that, no fear.

LBH

 

[Thunderforge]

We've had a couple of threads about this recently. Matt Sprange has said that Paranoia's supplement sales, when compared to core book sales, were surprisingly low for the previous edition (i.e. surprising when compared to suplement:core sales for other Mongoose RPGs).

So based on that fact we can make a few guesses. If Mongoose were paying for a new cover for each book, and sales were low, an accountant (or any savvy business type) was eventually going to step in...

If I'm understanding this correctly, you're saying that sales were low with the previous products, so they are cutting costs by not creating an interesting cover. While that would probably create a better profit margin per book, I fear that having a bland cover means that people are less inclined to purchase these supplements, further reducing supplement sales.

At any rate, I was very fond of the High Programmers cover too! Definitely interested in that one.

 

[Danforth]

If I'm understanding this correctly, you're saying that sales were low with the previous products, so they are cutting costs by not creating an interesting cover.

Yep, that's what I'm saying, though I should reiterate that the cost cutting is guesswork on my behalf, based on the low attach rate of supplements to core books (which is straight from Matt Sprange).

Mongoose have had to trim sails this year (them and pretty much every other business out there), moving from full-time staff to contractors etc.

While that would probably create a better profit margin per book, I fear that having a bland cover means that people are less inclined to purchase these supplements, further reducing supplement sales.

I do worry that it might affect sales. On the other hand, even if the sales drop further compared to the previous edition, it might still be financially better for Mongoose than slightly higher sale books, but each with a specially commissioned cover!