Early this week we picked up the last load of our material that could feasibly be recovered from the damaged building. An unexpected bonus was the research material that we hadn’t expected to be recovered. We were able to get most of the company’s research folders and notebooks, including Arthur’s draft Turning Point, First to Fight II, A Winter War II, and Bloody Eagles maps, OBs, and research notes. Much of this week has been a reorganization of the incoming boxes to make them fit into the newer, and much smaller, storage area. This meant opening and repacking 1200+ boxes into the 500+ that fit in the new storage, inventorying the contents, and restacking everything so that things are as accessible as possible without having to shift boxes again.
We still have a number of boxes staged at a temporary site that need to be inventoried, but the results of the inventory so far show that the bulk of the Total War components were recovered undamaged. This included almost all the maps and most of the counter-sheets. We also recovered most of the older game and magazine inventory that was still in shrink-wrap and/or sealed in boxes. The good news is that we will definitely have enough counter sets and maps for those who preordered. The counters and maps are the most expensive parts of Total War and it looks like we won’t have to reprint any of these.
Unfortunately we lost more than half of the Total War game boxes. Essentially we lost all the boxes that we had previously assembled and that were stacked up in the warehouse as some of our earlier photos showed. This was expected as each box top and box bottom had to be treated as a separate item making the total recovery cost significantly higher than just reprinting them. Still, it was very sad to see these being treated as trash in the end-of-process photographs provided by the recovery firm — you can see a couple of these photos below. We may have enough of the game boxes to cover the preorders but that should be determined shortly.
Also, although we recovered most of the counters, we lost a few hundred sets of collated counter-sheets that we had not moved into sealed boxes before the fire. And, we lost all of our accumulated shipping supplies: boxes, mailers, packing peanuts, bubble-wrap, box tape, and shrink-wrap; and a lot of older games/magazines that were not in sealed boxes at the time of the fire. Finally, a lot of equipment like desks, bookcases, etc was lost. We did, however, recover tables sufficient to put together the Total War assembly/shipping line, plus the shrink-wrap machine itself.
Recovering our material cost much less than reprinting the Total War counters and maps, but it was still expensive. The cash reserve we had accumulated to complete the printing and shipping of Total War essentially went to pay for the recovery. To make that up, plus replace the lost shipping supplies, we will be holding a (what else) Fire Sale soon – check back here later this week for details. It will include all of our older games that are available and a special offer available only to those who had preordered Total War.
As many of you know, when we established HMS we purposely accepted as our obligation the preorders that had been made prior to our purchase of the company, even though the previous owner had already spent those preorder funds. Most of you know about the lawsuit against the company and us personally that followed the purchase. The suit effectively halted publication for a number of years, saw the withdrawal of our planned operating capital and cost us almost $70,000.
Part of our new financing for Total War came from individuals who loaned the company money secured by interests in the game. These folks contractually have a say in what we do with the finished game. They naturally will not approve shipping of any games until we can show that they will be repaid. The business plan is to repay them with the sales to stores after the preorders were sent. That is still the plan and we will use the fire sale to raise the cash to complete the printing of the game and begin shipping of the game.
Photo 1 of the aftermath – boxes everywhere!
Photo 2 – another area, with more boxes.
I have not checked on the progress for quite some time now … boy, was I surprised to hear what happened. It could have been far worse … was for some.
In typical fashion, you guys have seem to bounce back. Huzzah! A force driven from the heart is much more resilient. I have always appreciated y’alls efforts to stay in business – the other 99.9% would have folded long ago.
Anyway, I really don’t care if my game comes packaged in a box … save your money, okay to send my components in a plastic bag.
I do not need a box. If you want to just send the game in a plain brown paper envelope it would be fine with me. Save the money for yourselves and get that game to me faster. I first played Drang nach Osten in 1973 and in my wildest dreams it never occured to me that there would be a third iteration of it in 2012. Wargaming has seen a lot of ups and downs in the last 50 years and I hope that all us old retired guys will bring back a new golden age.
It occurs to me … shipping isn’t really that expensive … until you start adding up all the however-many-games you have obligations for.
I hereby offer to pay the shipping costs for my game. Even though it was part of the pre-order deal that you would cover the s&h cost, I’ll not hold HMS/GRD to that clause under the circumstances.
It might be a small way that some of us stakeholders could help out this company in their time of need. My hope is that small individual gestures might add up to something significant.
I am glad so much has been recovered. I for one could not care about the game box at this stage. I just bought a game from the UK where I print the rules, charts etc, no game box and air freighted to me in Australia in 5 days.
Please include the chance for us to buy what you have now. Turn it into cash, so you can do the other things you want to do, and we’ll buy them when they are ready.
You have a chance to substantially improve the companies image in the marketplace in the next few days, please don’t miss this chance.
I also am not that concerned with a box. Send me out the game, when you can, in whatever you can fit it into. I also would be willing to pay for the shipping, as acts of god are just that, and you guys are hanging by the fingertip ledge of contentment. I applaud you for your aplomb and devotion to the game!
I agree, I don’t need the box! I want the game!
Hi, folks;
I too can live without the game box–save those for store sales. Counters and maps are what’s important. I would even print the rules and OBs myself if you sent them as e-files.
Hang in there;
Peter Robbins
Burnaby, BC
Guys –
I didn’t realize the pre-order moneys got spent. Speaking for myself, if I could get the charts, counters and a rules CD in a bag, I would happily pay the pre-order price again. This would be a good time for HMS to be flexible.
Oh yes, send me the game, never mind the box! And I’ll also pay for shipping. You guys are troopers to have stuck with this when many would have given up. Anything we can do to help? Just let us know!
Update: Finished inventory yesterday. After I complete checks of shipping costs for various items we will finalize Fire Sale terms later today. Sale particulars should be up on website this Thursday. Most of older games/magazines will be 50% off and we’ve put together a number of ‘bundle packs’ that offer even more savings. A number of specials for those who’ve already preordered Total War as well.
RE Ziplock vs Box: All the support here is appreciated, but if you preordered a game with expectation of a box you will get a box unless you opt to forgo box for a sale credit.
Again, sale stuff should be up on site sometime tomorrow.
Just to add my two cents….keep the box. A ziplock bag or manila envelope is good enough for me. This should also help in reduced shipping charges. And I am also willing to pay for shipping. In addition, rules, charts, etc.., can be sent to me on a CD/DVD and I’ll print them myself. I just want the game. And quite flexible on getting it.
Good hunting
If it makes it any easier, I will forego the box!!!
After reading Arthur’s comment about “games without boxes” I would like to formally request that my preorder of TW be sent to me as soon as possible without a box and that I will accept a sale credit for the price difference, whether I ever use that credit or not.
I like the box art/box. Think it’s great. I’ll take mine with the first/only box. Don’t mind the wait. Good work, gents/ladies. Fulfillment feels as if it is in the air. Press onward.
I do not need a box. Zip locked would be good fo me or whatever you want to ship it in.
While I would like my copy to come in a box, the most important thing for me is that the game series continue. To that end offers to take the game without a box should be accepted so as to maximise the number of games that can be sold in stores.
My suggestion to take or leave:
For those who feel so disposed, send HMS/GRD a Christmas gift (e.g., check) in the amount you feel appropriate. I, for one, feel Gar and Arthur have taken a lot of flack when they were not to blame, and with calmness under fire. Xmas check on the way. Hopefully it helps a little.
When will the sale be? I am ready to make an order to help out.
I have no problem getting the game with no box. A Cd with the charts and rules is also fine by me.
Good luck guys! I am cheering for ya.
Jay
I would be happy to pay S&H.
Keep the box.
Any traction on the upcoming “Fire Sale” promotion?
Team, really appreciate the efforts and can only start to feel the pain you have been through. Like others, if it helps you guys out I will forego the box and pay for shipping to secure my preorder
cheers
Michael Krause
Still no news on the fire sale? Why don’t you guys EVER do something when you say will? Arthur, on the 28th of November you wrote “Again, sale stuff should be up on site sometime tomorrow.”. Today is the 4th of December and nothing has been posted.
My wife asked what I want for xmas. PLEASE list the items for the fire sale, as it is now December 4th, and I would like something under the tree besides new shirts! PLEASE DO IT NOW!!
Gar, I pre-ordered relatively late. Will I still get my game? tim