Will GW ever make a digital codex?

**Judea** · 8th February 2012 23:52

I'm going to be getting a Nook tablet as soon as my tax return arrives. I'm stoked that I can have all my Black Library needs as well as FFG books, but will GW ever make the leap into digital?

**Badarmies2** · 9th February 2012 02:54

GW should make all their rules digital and free. The spend a stupid amount of money on publishing their dex's then are stuck with any mistakes or bad ideas for years. If everything was a PDF they could update them quarterly yearly, monthly how ever much they needed to. Its not like they would lose money either. I would take the extra 35 bucks and buy a model with it. Not to mention it takes all of 20 seconds on google to find any codex you want in a scanned pdf, so honestly no one is forced to buy them, people just buy them because they want them. GW is a bit of a dinosaur in several respects in the business world.

**SourImplant** · 9th February 2012 03:29

If GW ever decides to go digital with their rulebooks and codices, I would be sorely disappointed if all they did was put them out in an ebook format and call it a day.

**PyroSikTh** · 9th February 2012 07:41

Originally Posted by Badarmies2

GW should make all their rules digital and free. The spend a stupid amount of money on publishing their dex's then are stuck with any mistakes or bad ideas for years. If everything was a PDF they could update them quarterly yearly, monthly how ever much they needed to. Its not like they would lose money either. I would take the extra 35 bucks and buy a model with it. Not to mention it takes all of 20 seconds on google to find any codex you want in a scanned pdf, so honestly no one is forced to buy them, people just buy them because they want them. GW is a bit of a dinosaur in several respects in the business world.

Disagree that they wouldn't lose money. The book adds an extra thing for people to buy. You're not likely to spend that money on an extra model, because if you're getting that model, you're getting it regardless. Not only that, but believe it or not there are actually a lot of people who just buy the codex when the update comes, because they've already got everything they need.

**vikinboere** · 9th February 2012 10:04

I allways prefer to take my dex and quick read that what i need to find then go to my pc and start up my pdf version, besides, are you going to take with you; your laptop/e-reader/tablet every time you play a game somewhere away from home?

**Eryx_UK** · 9th February 2012 10:13

I prefer to have hardcopies of books rather than PDFs so personally I hope they don't go digital.

**PyroSikTh** · 9th February 2012 10:15

I think what would be cool would be codes in the codex to use in a digital program like an app or something that allows you to download the digital version of the codex you've just bought. Keeps everyone happy that way.

**vikinboere** · 9th February 2012 10:27

Originally Posted by PyroSikTh

I think what would be cool would be codes in the codex to use in a digital program like an app or something that allows you to download the digital version of the codex you've just bought. Keeps everyone happy that way.

Excellent idea!! A free digital copy if you buy the real codex. Everybody happy.

**Eryx_UK** · 9th February 2012 12:22

Originally Posted by PyroSikTh

I think what would be cool would be codes in the codex to use in a digital program like an app or something that allows you to download the digital version of the codex you've just bought. Keeps everyone happy that way.

That's different. That would be handy to have.

**edmundblack** · 9th February 2012 12:26

Which would then find it's way onto to various websites and be downloaded. Even if it was protected, someone would hack it.

**PyroSikTh** · 9th February 2012 13:05

Originally Posted by edmundblack

Which would then find it's way onto to various websites and be downloaded. Even if it was protected, someone would hack it.

Not when ACTA gets rid of those websites

**Skyy9432** · 9th February 2012 13:30

I think this really depends. I know some people that buy countless codexes regardless of army, simply because they love the fluff.

I used a PDF codex to build my rmy, but I have full intention of burchasing a book copy both as a support to GW for making such a good game, and also to be able to cuddle up to Ghaz as I sleep

**Badarmies2** · 9th February 2012 15:08

While I own the physicals I use scanned pdf dex's that have been run through OCR. I can find a rule in seconds based on one word in a serach while the rest of the monkeys are looking for entries and page numbers. I love the ability to type in say deepstrike and I can see everysingle place in the codex where deepstrike is mentioned. It kind of removes the giant negative of GW's half-baked way of organizing a codex and have rules spread out everywhere.

**Judea** · 9th February 2012 15:17

Originally Posted by vikinboere

I allways prefer to take my dex and quick read that what i need to find then go to my pc and start up my pdf version, besides, are you going to take with you; your laptop/e-reader/tablet every time you play a game somewhere away from home?

It's like a smart phone, except I don't have to pay for a data plan. So, yes, I will be taking it everywhere. And I love the idea of a free digital download.

**SourImplant** · 9th February 2012 15:42

Originally Posted by edmundblack

Which would then find it's way onto to various websites and be downloaded. Even if it was protected, someone would hack it.

Like the various sites where you can download a pdf version of any current or out of print codex in a matter of minutes today? Doesn't seem to be hurting their bottom line.

**vikinboere** · 9th February 2012 15:43

I see, but how big is that screen of your smart phone? I think both digital and codex have pro's and contra's.

**edmundblack** · 9th February 2012 15:48

Originally Posted by SourImplant

Like the various sites where you can download a pdf version of any current or out of print codex in a matter of minutes today? Doesn't seem to be hurting their bottom line.

Those are there because people put them there, and are definitely against GWs desire. A digital copy would be shared illegally, certainly, but for some it'd be like a free licence to pirate.

**Judea** · 9th February 2012 16:37

Originally Posted by vikinboere

I see, but how big is that screen of your smart phone? I think both digital and codex have pro's and contra's.

The screen on my phone is tiny, but the nook tablet is 7" I think. But size doesn't really matter as you can zoom in and out.

**Brother-Captain Sharp** · 9th February 2012 17:13

Originally Posted by edmundblack

Those are there because people put them there, and are definitely against GWs desire. A digital copy would be shared illegally, certainly, but for some it'd be like a free licence to pirate.

EB, the pdfs are already out there. It doesn't change someone's likelihood of illegally downloading them if you change the source. Hell, even the movie business gives out digital copies with pretty much every movie purchase these days. If one of the most pirate-paranoid industries does it, I doubt it would hurt GW.