Quoted from JamCat:I think they need to start a dedicated micro line for the CEs and allow the designers to spare no expense in getting it right. Then only build them as they are ordered. That way they aren’t stuck with a batch of high cost CEs if they don’t sell. I personally think they would be surprised how many would pay up for the better design. And I know, lower quantities of the CE mechs would cost more, blah blah blah, but I can dream at least......
I think you hit the nail on the head.
I think the best way forward for the smaller manufactures (read, non-Stern) is one by one builds. The customer orders the game, they build and ship the game. No distributors, no waste, increased quality. Develop new games On the side, and when the new design is ready, add it to the list of current offerings.
Essentially, this is what Spooky is doing (albeit inadvertently) with their R&M offering. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if they morph into this business model full time. It makes the most sense.
Basically, have a menu of offerings, choose your game, choose your build options, and with a down payment get the game started. Pay on completion and ship door to door a month or so later. When ‘X’ amount of games have been produced, retire the title.
You can absorb cost of the smaller quantities of mechs by cutting out the distributor and keeping the profits in house.
