We did not make our early Apr 13 release date for Total War. We held off making an announcement about this until now because there was still a good chance that we could get the game out this month, even if late, and we were working hard to make that occur. But it is now apparent that the game’s release will be delayed into May 13. However, our determination to get the game out has not changed; and we are confident that we will recover from this setback.
So what happened?
The Fire Sale was going well and we reached our overall goal of raising the money need to finish the printing of the game and most of the money needed to ship it. Things were going so well that we had started to tell callers that the Total War pre-pub would be ending very soon. We planned to continue the rest of the sale right up to the release date so as to allow everyone the opportunity to bundle things to ship with their copy of Total War.
Then a setback occurred: We were hit with a hefty supplemental bill for the cleanup from the fire that we had not expected at all. Paying this meant we had to delay some of the final printing. Still, by the end of March we had partially recovered. We had renegotiated our contract with UPS such that our shipping costs with them went down overall (the increased shipping volume from the fire sale really helped here), and we found a way to lower our shipping costs through the Post Office by using Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes, one of which is a nice fit for Total War (before the recent postal increase these boxes could only be used in a narrow area around Colorado, whereas now they can be used anywhere in US — although the post office certainly doesn’t advertise this). We had also started changeover to a lower-cost credit card processing service and a lower-cost toll-free number provider. The fire sale continued to progress well.
In late March, one of our local printers installed a raft of new printing equipment that lower print costs for some things a bit (due to higher speed of machines) and that has the potential to make possible a number of future projects many of our customers have asked for. These could include small print runs of the currently out-of-print Second Front, War in the Desert, and/or a March to Victory add-on to Over There where the countersheets are done locally on a high-end laser cutter-engraver machine. Just a potential right now; but the printer is doing test runs for us; and we’ll be talking more about this in future posts.
We have had a series of meetings with our secured investors who have veto authority over anything we do until they are repaid. We laid out a number of options on how to proceed. They agreed we should spend more money on advertising, expanding the fire sale mailing from the current mailing list so that it can go out to many more of the names in a database we purchased from another game company. They also were enthusiastic about the potential for doing laser-cut counters and urged us pursue this as a back-up plan to the fire sale if necessary (subject to a detailed cost analysis before money is committed). We also talked about releasing the rules/charts electronically but they would not agree to this as they see it negatively impacting sales.
We will be using the time while the Fire Sale continues to:
1) Put out an email/print mailing to everyone who has Total War on order that will list the shipping address you have on file, any special instructions attached to your order, and your order sequence number. This mailing will ask you to confirm the information (and doing so will move up your order sequence number if your address was last verified over six months ago), and will give you one last opportunity to access the Fire Sale (with any order going out in a bundle with your Total War). This will go out next week to all 1200 pre-pubs, so if you haven’t received your confirmation notice by Monday, 29Apr13 then be sure let us know.
2) Compile/print a multi-page survey that will ship with all copies of Total War. This survey will ask detailed questions about what you want to see from HMS next, and over the short term (rest of year) and the long-term. This will be a major opportunity for you to influence the future of Europa, Glory, and The Great War..
For the current and final version of the Fire Sale see the HMSFireSaleFinal link under the HMS News – July 18, 20
I have to admire your persistence in the face of adversity. You do not give any estimate for when you think you may be able to complete printing and dispatch. Do you have any idea when we can expect this?
IRT Stephen: When the game will ship is dependent on when we accumulate the necessary money. The Fire Sale should accomplish this sometime in May. If not, we have a couple of other options to raise the money. But the bottom line is that Both Gar and I are committed to getting the game out no matter what it takes.
A number of people have suggested we ship the game, one copy at a time if necessary, as we have the money. Unfortunately, this runs into problems with our secured investors. They will not agree to early shipment, except for early shipment of copies to stores that will be sold to repay their investment. And shipping first to stores and only later to those that pre-pubbed the game is not accpetable to us since it violates the pre-pub promise that those who placed a pre-publication order would get their games first… to say nothing of the ill-will that would be generated when our customers who have already paid for the game had to watch while the johnny-come-lates got theirs first.
Thanks very much for the detailed update.
Is there still an over-the-counter market for this kind of game? Can’t remember last time I was in a store that sold wargames.
IRT to Bobby Bryant – Yes there is still a store market for wargames. It is getting smaller each year, but it is still there. We have reservation orders from several of the remaining distributors (who presumably sell the games to stores), plus orders from 31? stores (at last count), in addition to the internet discounters and europa associations.
Great update, thanks. I really hope it works out with the laser cutters/printers. I know I missed out on a few things that I’d like at some point. But my main focus is seeing that this succeeds enough to get out the whole replacement games for FitE/SE/Urals. That’s my favorite setting for this system. Looks like we’re headed in the right direction at least.
Thanks for the updates. Speaking strictly for myself as a pre-order, I am not concerned if a non-pre-order gets their game before me, as long as the I still get the discounted price. This is just for future reference since you’ve already stated why you can’t ship games individually.
I am glad you are making headway, but am concerned that by continuing to delay release you might be again tempting fate and allowing the potential for another unforeseen mishap to occur. Between litigation, health issues, and fire it might be better to not wait too long by trying to please everyone.
In any case good luck and to misquote Oddball from Kelly’s Heroes, sending positive waves at you.
Dear Arthur,
in your Fire Sale you offered a discounted 2nd white box version of the game for all prepub orderers. As you are planning to print additional boxes anyhow, could you please consider to offer an upgrade of the white box version to the regular Version (a full 2nd copy)? Thanks, Hanno
DId anyone receive an email confirmation by April 29?
Hi, no confirmation received. did they go out?
Regarding: Put out an email/print mailing to everyone who has Total War on order
When will that take place? I haven’t seen mine yet.
Thanks, Bob
You must have a good idea on whether this will be finished in May – we’re almost a third of the way through the month! Whay not COMMUNICATE with people?
I just got the items today that I had only ordered earlier this week. Thanks a lot for the prompt service.
Hola Amigos.
I did not get a confirmation email so emailed A & G as per their instructions in the 4/17 update. I heard back fairly quickly – and was able to confirm my information for their records.
As you might suspect, they have a few delays getting those emails out but rest assured, this is progressing as fast as their limited staff, time and budget can allow.
Patience does not always come easy for me but I accept that which I can not change. Things are what they are. It is what it is. Plant rice and rice will grow. Plant impatience and impatience will grow – and that is something I can do without in my life.
I did order it some 4 or 5 years ago (from Belgium !). Till now, no answer, no information, nothing ! Will this game, yeas or no ever be sold ?
A month since the last update, gentlemen – time for another please?
Any update, now that we are 2/3 of the way through March.
Is this statement still true: We have arranged the printing of the remaining components for Total War so as to make everything come together also around the end of March
I haven’t seen the email yet either. I’m assuming it hasn’t been sent yet.
How about sending the survey out to TEM Association members too?
any update no email received here paid back in 2002 0r 2003 I think you guys have reconfirmed my order a few times anyway hope springs eternal
Anyone gotten their email yet? I’ve not seen mine and have emailed them about it, but not gotten a reply back yet.
Any chance of an update?
Received my Fire Sale 7 stuff in less than 10 days, maps and counters are outstanding, thanks
Is this still coming out?? I know there were/are issues. I have NOT pre-ordered, but hope to get a copy when it comes out. What’s the latest news please? There are more folks that want to know.
Thanks!
How goes the struggle? Any new information on the release timeline? It is now 40 years since I first played DNO. Hoping to play the new game this year.
June 4th any news on the status. I sure didn’t get a confirmation email…..
With us now 5 days into June, I’m guessing you didn’t make a May shipping of TW either. How about some update as to your progress, if any, in the intervening 6 weeks since the last update?
Nothing since 18th April – that’s more than 7 weeks. Effective communication is at the heart of all good businesses.
We are now June, 15 ! More than 2 months after the last information. I didn’t receive a notice. So, can we please receive some info about the laser cutter/engraver, the printer, the weather there, the price of French beans or even the game ?
Are you people still in business? Two months and we, your customers, have heard nothing from you. You really need to let us know what’s going on!
Man this sure doesn’t lead to confidence…..
Hope you guys didn’t just do your fire sale to get people to buy all the stuff and take additional total war orders……then close up shop.
This is ridiculous. I was told by Arthur over a week ago that there would be a website update in a “few days”. And nothing. If you have gone out of business say so. If you haven’t tell people what is going on even if it is more bad news. Thanks