Munchkin Sales

 

1)   The base Munchkin game still sells reliably week in and week out over 20 years after it first released.  Unlike some other game lines (cough-X-wing Miniatures, DiceMasters-cough), Steve Jackson Games manages to keep the almost the entire line in stock through distribution and, although they have run special sets through Target and Barnes and Noble, I have not seen them participate in any deep discounting or “Buy One, Get One Free” silliness such as appeared on the Target website last week. I doubted the game would sell when it first released but am happy to be proved wrong.

Munchkin

 You like Munchkin, we have Munchkin. you want to mess with other players in a game of Munchkin, we have bookmarks that will let you do just that. For every $10 you spend on Munchkin, you will receive one Munchkin bookmark to use to raise havoc with in your next Munchkin game.

St Patrick's Day

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day so we will be celebrating be playing Munchkin Warhammer 40K, of course. Unless Steve Jackson Games comes out with Munchkin Leprechaun really quickly, like tonight. We will have green cookies or cake or something like that though.

Busy Weekend

We will have quite a busy weekend at the store. Friday night starts off the draft weekend for Dominaria at 6 p.m. We will have 2 more drafts on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Prepay for all 3 for $40 or $15 each. We will also host a modern tournament at 6 p.m. Friday night. Pokemon also gets some love with the pre-release for Forbidden Light at 5 p.m. Friday.

Saturday is International TableTop day and we will host board and card games all day. See the store website calendar or Facebook page for more info. Saturday is also the Sneak Peek for the new Yu Gi Oh set, Flames of Destruction. You can participate in the Sneak Peek starting at 10 a.m. Saturday for $20 or in the tournament at noon.

We will have a game of the Legendary Deck Building game at 4 p.m. Saturday and Munchkin at 7 p.m. In addition, there will be demos of the new Deckbuilding game Dobbers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

See you this weekend.

Three Things for which I am Thankful

Since this is the season in which we traditionally give thanks, not that we shouldn’t do it the other 11 months out of the year,  I wanted to note four things (aside from health, friends, chocolate, etc) that make me thankful:

1)       Other Retailers, both local and distant. While ‘tis true that life would certainly have remained simpler not having 3 other game retailers open up within 15 miles of us within the past year, I have found them in the area has made me focus more on our product mix and determine what elements of our marketing strategy to emphasize and what to de-emphasize.  Result, our revenues did take a hit over the past year but have now climbed back to the point that they equal sales prior to the other stores opening in the area.  From retailers more distant, I can usually find at least one idea or product to integrate into the store’s marketing mix every month,  often moreso.  Visiting the websites and physical locations or reading the blog posts or online musings from stores like The Fantasy Shop, Gnome Games or Black Diamond Games, among others, proves a useful 15-30 minutes of every week.

2

3)      The Bits ‘n Mortar program.  Bits ‘n Mortar doesn’t get nearly enough publicity as it ought but this consortium of small RPG publishers still has their program in place, allowing registered brick and mortar retailers to give a PDF of their products to customers when said customer purchases a hard copy of the RPG.  We have customers who purchase Crucible 7 and Arc Dream RPG products specifically from us on a regular basis specifically because we participate in this program.

4)      Munchkin (and Steve Jackson Games). The base Munchkin game still sells reliably week in and week out over a decade after it first released.  Unlike some other game lines (cough-X-wing Miniatures, DiceMasters-cough), Steve Jackson Games manages to keep the almost the entire line in stock through distribution and, although they have run special sets through Target and Barnes and Noble, I have not seen them participate in any deep discounting or “Buy One, Get One Free” silliness such as appeared on the Target website last week.

Upcoming Munchkin Releases

Munchkin Marvel Universe

Prepare for Battle! Unleash your Superpowers with Munchkin Marvel Edition, an all-new Munchkin game that fuses the classic card game fun of monster-slaying and roleplaying with the most iconic characters from the Marvel universe. Created under license from Steve Jackson Games and in conjunction with Marvel, Munchkin Marvel Edition features new monsters (villains), allies (heroes), and custom S.H.I.E.L.D. Identification Cards. This boxed set comes complete with six oversized S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent role cards, 168 Cards (including Door cards and Treasure cards), six level trackers, a custom die, and game rules.

SKU: PSI MU011-000

SRP: $24.95

Munchkin Card Game (Mass Market Edition)

Go down in the dungeon. Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run. Designed by Steve Jackson, the Munchkin card game captures the essence of the dungeon experience as you and your friends compete to kill monsters and grab magic items. And it`s illustrated (now in full color!) by John Kovalic! NOTE: This product is identical to SJG 1408 except for the outer box.

SKU: SJG 1408M

SRP: $24.95

Munchkin Fu: Guest Artist Edition (John Kovalic)

Everybody's Kung Fu fighting in classic Munchkin style! Join John Kovalic for his distinct take on the Dragon Tooth Katana and polish up your Drunken Monkey Kung Fu - those mooks and demons aren't going to kill themselves! Learn new styles, kill those monsters, take their stuff, and level up Kung Fu style with Munchkin Fu, featuring high-flying, martial arts action at its goofiest!

SKU: SJG 1517

SRP: $29.95

Star Munchkin: Guest Artist Edition (Len Peralta)

Celebrate 15 years of Munchkin with special Guest Artist Editions! Featuring far-out card illustrations by Len Peralta (TenState, Exterminite), the classic space expansion for Munchkin gets a whole, new makeover that's out of this world! In Star Munchkin, players are now Mutants, Cyborgs, and Cat People grabbing Lasers, Vibroswords, and Nova Grenades fighting Fanged Fuzzballs, Bionic Bimbos, and the fiendish Brain in a Jar!

SKU: SJG 1518

SRP: $29.95

Munchkin Steampunk

                Grab your gears, put on your top hat, whack the monsters, and grab the treasure...with the power of SCIENCE! Featuring brand-new art by Phil Foglio (Girl Genius), Munchkin Steampunk brings the zaniness of Munchkin to the pseudo-Victorian steampunk era. Bully! Tea service not included (maybe)!

SKU: SJG 1531

SRP: $24.95

Munchkin 6.5: Terrible Tombs

                More Chaotic Chasms! More Violent Vastnesses! More Abysmal Abysses! Fully compatible with Munchkin 6 - Demented Dungeons, Munchkin 6.5 - Terrible Tombs introduces 20 new Dungeons to delve and 16 new Portals to get you there.

SKU: SJG 1541

SRP: $11.95

Munchkin: Puppies Blister Pack

The latest in Steve Jackson Games' series of Munchkin booster packs is also the newest double-booster featuring 30 cards focusing on adorable, cuddly, evil puppies! Developed by Devin Lewis and illustrated by Katie Cook, the hit team behind Munchkin Kittens, this expansion is the perfect companion for every Munchkin game!

SKU: SJG 4216

SRP: $9.95

Munchkin: Knights Blister Pack

Get ready for Knights to remember! Enhance your Munchkin merriment with a cavalier attitude with this booster pack of 15 new knight-themed cards. Perfect for backstabbing fun at round tables everywhere, this expansion features amazing art by Ian McGinty and new a-sword-ed monsters and Treasures for your Munchkin game.

SKU: SJG 4253

SRP: $5.95

Munchkin Meeples

Ever play some other board game and think "This isn't Munchkin enough!"? Now you can have your Munchkin fandom invade other games with Munchkin Meeples! These classic-style wooden game pieces come in six different designs that feature all your favorite Munchkin characters. Each version comes with four regular-sized meeples and one MEGA Meeple, and feature in-game bonuses when used in Munchkin!

SKU: SJG 5596

SRP: $19.95

Munchkin Playmat: Spyke Gets Suckered

                Don't be suckered by other non-Munchkin mats! This gorgeous playmat acts as a handy reference for the game (including a bonus Cheat! space) and features fantastic art by Ian McGinty.

SKU: SJG 5596

SRP: $16.95

5 and a Half Questions Answered

Two weeks ago I posted a column listing 7 questions I wanted to try to get answered at the upcoming Alliance Open House. I forgot about the one I had for Steve Jackson Games, sorry about that guys, and only part of my WizKids’ question came up during the hour long conversation I had with Justin Ziran of WizKids on Saturday night. Also, I forgot to ask Chris Parmas of Green Ronin Publishing about the possibility of signed copies of Titansgrave, so if anyone from either Steve Jackson Games and/or Green Ronin Publishing reads this and wants to send in answers, I and ICV2 will happily take them. On with the answered questions

1. WOTC--What about your catalog of boardgame titles? When I asked this at the WOTC booth, they introduced me to the Avalon Hill brand manager, whose product portfolio is most of the back stock of boardgames the company owns, and said WOTC did have plans to revitalize and revisit the Avalon Hill catalog in 2016 but were vague on what those plans actually were. So, at least the company will look at them.

 

2. Fantasy Flight Games—Was there anything in the X-wing Core Set sold exclusively at Target to drive customers to game stores?  The FFG rep during their workshop did not know but another retailer said that the box had a flyer inside showing other ships and indicating they were available. Unfortunately, despite the popularity of their products, Fantasy Flight Games does not have a retailer locater on their website, so no way to include one in the box.

 

3.General in-stock of games from companies like Fantasy Flight Games, Days, of Wonder, Z-man Games and Plaid Hat Games over the upcoming holidays. All of these companies have a track record of running out of product midway through the holiday season. This year, they assured me, enough product is in the pipeline to make certain stores will have enough stock for everyone. Huzzah


4.WizKids Organized Play software?  Forgot to ask about this during the conversation mentioned above. However, Ziran did indicate WizKids had no plans to put a earlier date into place for stores to sell off older OP support. However, he did say nothing in the agreement stores have with WizKids precludes them from using the OP product for other purposes, such as prizes for casual events or as a premium for purchasing other product, say buying a Star Trek Attack Wing ship and getting one of the OP tournament blind booster boxes as a premium. Stores just cannot sell them outright.

 

5. Plaid Hat Games—Out of stocks and expansions?  See the answer to question 3 for the answer to the out of stock question. As far as expansions, I gathered no plans for any at this time.

 

 

6.       Steve Jackson Games—As noted above, I forgot to ask about the Evil Stevie plushies, but it did come up in other conversation that the Guest Artist Munchkin sets would come out in celebration of the fifteenth anniversary of the game, just in case those who bought a copy 15 years ago might find their copy just a wee bit worn out.



7.       And finally, Green Ronin—Fantasy Age? Titansgrave? Both games sold out at GenCon but stores should see them coming through distribution in late September. As noted above, I forgot to ask about a signed limited edition of Titansgrave but, Green Ronin, that would be tres cool.

 

7 Questions for Publishers at the Alliance Open House

With the annual Alliance Open House coming up this weekend in beautiful Ft. Wayne, I came up with a list of questions I would like to ask a number of the attending publishers:

1.        WOTC--The focus on Magic and Dungeons & Dragons is great and I know that is where your bread is buttered, so to speak but what about your catalog of boardgame titles? TableTop gave a nice boost to sales of Betrayal at House on the Hill but are there any plans to promote other backlist titles such as RoboRally, Guillotine, Great Dalmuti, Risk 2144 or Diplomacy? All still sell slowly but I would sure like to see what they could do with the sort of promotional push Magic and D&D get.

2.       Fantasy Flight Games—Congratulations on getting the X-Wing Core Set included as part of Force Friday. I haven’t seen a copy of the game yet so could you tell me if there was anything included in it that sent purchasers to the LGS to buy additional ships for the game, those ships that Target doesn’t carry?

3.       And while we’re at it, Fantasy Flight Games, Days of Wonder, Z Man Games—You have track records of running out of your best selling titles during the holiday shopping season. Have you made any plans to build up inventory this year in order to avoid a repeat?

4.       WizKids—You have really started pushing Organized Play registration this year, so any plans to create OP software that we can download to the computer to make uploading results easier? It can be a bit of a pain to handle reporting when the internet is running slow. Also, you finally announce that stores with remaining boosters of War of Light could start selling them without violating our agreement with you. When will you post a date allowing us to sell off old Organized Play products from Star Trek Attack Wing and D&D Attack Wing? OP for both games has died off here and we have months old OP materials sitting in backstock that we would like to liquidate.

5.       Plaid Hat Games—Will Dead of Winter return to stock in time for the holiday selling season and will you have enough product to supply sales through the season? Do you have any plans for expansions and if so, when?

6.       Steve Jackson Games—Any more releases planned for Evil Stevie’s Toys? The ducks didn’t do that well but I can always sell more Cthulhu plushies. Do you have any research showing demand for the guest artist versions of Munchkin?  I can understand guest artists on new versions of Munchkin (Munchkin Kitchen, anyone?) but do you have anything indicating that Munchkin has a strong enough fan base that a player will want another copy of Space Munchkin that only differs due to the art?

7.       Green Ronin—Fantasy Age? Titansgrave? Will we get these while there is still a buzz from the first season of the web series? Any chance for us to get a limited edition signed by the Titansgrave group?

Promoting TableTop Day

Guess what just showed up in my email inbox this week?  If you guessed solicitations for the promo packs for International Table Top Day over a month ahead of the event date, you would be right. In case you missed the blurb in ICV2 last week, this year’s International Table Top Day is scheduled for April 11 and we already know the contents of the kits way in advance.

As has happened with the previous two kits, there are problems with this one but not of Geek & Sundry, TableTop or PSI’s (the company coordinating the assembly of the kits) making. Instead, we apparently get to blame the manufacturers of the games getting promoted. Manufacturers we are looking at two major problems here:

11)       Your game was not on TableTop in season 1, 2 or 3 but I am getting promo items or a copy of you game in the kit, which by the way I do not receive for free. I get to shell out perfectly  good  Jacksons and Washingtons to pay for this kit and I get promo items for such things as Reverse Charades,  Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot, Roll for It,  Cash n Guns, Dead Man’s Draw, and Where Art Thou Romeo. If I purchase the smaller of the two promotional packs offered, with an MSRP of $250, depending on which distributor I place an order with, I will pay approximately $1.60 to $1.75 per promo item. If I order the more expensive kit, at $600 MSRP, the cost per promo item breaks down to $3.15 to $4 per item.  Granted, stores do get full copies of some games, such as Dead of Winter, Council of Verona and Geek Out (in the more expensive kit) which did appear on TableTop and which do help justify the cost, but I am also getting copies of Clubs, Dark Seas and Dead Man’s Draw, which have not appeared on the series. Still, I am not particularly enthused about paying to get promotional items that I do not want and cannot use but  that pales in comparison to 

22)      I don’t get enough of a promo item to give one away to everyone who plays in a demo of the game. I can understand getting one of the Munchkin hoodies and one of the Krosmaster promo figures (no, not on that one I can’t. They have enough promo figures floating around that I could get two or more), but the rest of the promo items are cards. There is no reason that I should get 1 Roll for It Promo Owlbear promo card or 1 Three Cheers for Master promo card. Granted I don’t publish cards but from everything I hear from publishers, they are cheap. Cheap enough that I should get more than one in the box.  Everyone who plays a demo of your game that day should walk away with a promo item, not just one person.  Steve Jackson Games, Looney Labs and Fantasy Flight Games did it right, including enough items so that everyone who plays should get something. A number of the promo items are listed as “1 pack”. Is that one pack to give to one person or a pack to break up and distribute to players? I don’t know and the solicitation doesn’t tell me.

I have already heard from a number of retailers who plan to register as a location for International TableTop Day but who plan to skip the kits altogether, contacting distributors and publishers directly to get promo items to give away. Hopefully, next  year publishers will take a cue from events like Free Comic Book Day or Free RPG Day. If you want me to spend money promoting your product, give me enough support in the kit to justify the effort to promote your product. Otherwise, I will pick the product I want to promote and contact those manufacturers for help.