Will GW ever make a digital codex?

**daddy4count** · 9th February 2012 17:45

BINGO!

GW could do it, should do it but won't do it.

It would be an incredibly simple (and inexpensive) thing to generate a code in every codex that enabled a digital download.

I have Bluray movies that come with both a DVD and Digital Download copy... it hasn't seemed to harm Hollywood at all.

If they were smart they would already be developing their own digital content, delivery system, mobile apps, etc. If they don't somebody else will... and then it costs them potential revenue as well as legal fees to fight those competitors.

But then again, I'm not a business owner so don't take my word for it...

**GKnight** · 9th February 2012 20:14

Ok quick problem with in codex DL codes... people steal that sh!t, ie I play league of legends, free skin if you got a magazine.... people in stores all a round taking pics of the page with their phone then put back pick up the next do it again... clean out whole stores doing this.... I know a lot of lazy dudes working at hobby shops in my area who wouldn't stop anyone from doing it or likely doing it themselves...

**daddy4count** · 9th February 2012 20:20

shrinkwrap the books... easy fix

Sadly the books are already stolen. It takes just a few clicks of web searching to find PDF copies of the novels and codices online as it is.

**Badarmies2** · 10th February 2012 01:04

Originally Posted by daddy4count

shrinkwrap the books... easy fix

Sadly the books are already stolen. It takes just a few clicks of web searching to find PDF copies of the novels and codices online as it is.

I don't think its sad, its market pressure. Their books are too expensive, if it is worth the time to scan one in, or there is demand for a digital format ie, GW's organization sucks and full text searching is a handy tool. I look at it much like movie and tv downloaders basically showed the way to companies like hulu and netflix. People create their own markets for what they want. Initially it maybe illegal but eventually the dinosaurs known as corporations play ball or go extinct.

**CreapingDeath** · 10th February 2012 02:33

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.

and this is different now? you can get a digital copy easy right now.

**edmundblack** · 10th February 2012 11:53

Different because digital copies are easier to distribute than a paper one. A paper one has to be bought, scanned and posted, whereas a digital one is already in the easy to distribute format. It would almost be like them giving people a licence to pirate. "It's already digital, that's OK" sort of thing.

**commandojimbob** · 10th February 2012 12:02

To be honest I see no benefit in digital codices - and as EB says they would just get hacked.

However, they are already available in .Pdfs and I should know

I still own the codices that I have armies for as nothing like flicking thorugh a book

**PyroSikTh** · 10th February 2012 13:09

Originally Posted by Badarmies2

I don't think its sad, its market pressure. Their books are too expensive, if it is worth the time to scan one in, or there is demand for a digital format ie, GW's organization sucks and full text searching is a handy tool. I look at it much like movie and tv downloaders basically showed the way to companies like hulu and netflix. People create their own markets for what they want. Initially it maybe illegal but eventually the dinosaurs known as corporations play ball or go extinct.

People would scan in codexes even if they were £10 each. Price has nothing to do with it. The only way GW could prevent people from scanning it in would be giving the books away for free, which just ain't going to happen.

My point is shown by looking at your example about downloading movies leading to Netflix as, even with Netflix, people still illegaly download movies.

**SourImplant** · 10th February 2012 13:57

If all we're talking about is a digital codex with no other bells and whistles, then look to the digital distribution systems that have come out the past few years in comics. Comixology prices each issue separately, allowing you to buy what you want. Quick and easy. Yes, digital copies will be pirated. No question about that. But as far as I know, piracy has yet to reach the point where it has single-handedly driven anyone out of business.

Marvel's Digital Comics Unlimited is a subscription based service that lets you read everything, but holds back new issues for a few months before they hit this service. I wouldn't expect GW to do soemthing like this unless they tied in White Dwarf and some Black Library exclusives in the mix, but it would keep them on a consistant flow of cash without having to rely on a major release every other month.

**PyroSikTh** · 10th February 2012 14:04

Originally Posted by SourImplant

Comixology prices each issue separately, allowing you to buy what you want. Quick and easy.

Not only that, but Comixology formats the comics in a way that it's better and more enjoyable to read than actual paper comics. GW could fully do this with their codexes.

**Badarmies2** · 10th February 2012 14:32

Originally Posted by PyroSikTh

People would scan in codexes even if they were £10 each. Price has nothing to do with it. The only way GW could prevent people from scanning it in would be giving the books away for free, which just ain't going to happen.

My point is shown by looking at your example about downloading movies leading to Netflix as, even with Netflix, people still illegaly download movies.

People still download music to but it has stopped itunes from becoming a billion dollar industry. If the price is right enough people will pay. The arguements against digital codexes are a bit silly. Saying it will just lead to theft (that is already occuring). Maybe grocery stores should stop carrying candy bars since they get stolen so often, it would fix the theft of candy problem. GW is missing a major opertunity in the digital age, just like they missed opertunities with warcraft/starcraft type games.

**Baragash** · 10th February 2012 14:36

Originally Posted by commandojimbob

To be honest I see no benefit in digital codices

My Kindle... loaded with a full set of FAQs and legally available rulesets for 5 GW Game systems inc FW, 2 Mantic game systems and various other trial and quick play rulesets plus the associated rulespacks for various events . I don't need a lorry to carry my reading material around with me, and it's available to me all the time in a manner I can read on a commuter-busy train or in breaks at the office. As an additional bonus, it's all also loaded onto iBooks so I can access it on my phone.

From a business point of view, all the anecdotal evidence, whether direct or indirect supports the view that the biggest sale period for an army is in the immediate aftermath of a Codex release. A digital solution would effectively allow multiple releases of the same army per edition cycle, and allow GW to take action to prevent dead entries sitting in Codices during each book's lifecycle.

In addition, GW can add new units or not reveal units that it hasn't modelled yet by withholding the entry from the Codex until it's ready and then add it with a PDF re-release with a model wave, which would allow it to avoid either the capital investment required to complete the Codex range, or prevent other companies beating it to the punch on releasing models or conversion kits.

It would also help mitigate the bad PR from their poor playtesting and editing, and on a related note allow a closer integration of FW concepts into the game, though at least FW are a little mode digital update savvy.

**edmundblack** · 10th February 2012 14:36

Of course, if you want digital everything, just play Dawn Of War and be done with it. I like the books, I like the feel of them, the way you can read them whenever you like and not worry about battery power. Having them all on a e-reader would be good still, and will likely happen eventually, but there are some people out there who will still only buy vinyl records (and that market is on the up again apparently). Managing how they'd do digital stuff is the issue, and for those of us who want to, we'll buy the Codices at least for the armies we have. I guess a fully printed Codex/Army Book is a sort of "proof of purchase" that you've invested at least that much in it.

Related/unrelated question to @Baragash - kindles handle pdfs then? Or is it another format?

**Baragash** · 10th February 2012 15:01

Originally Posted by edmundblack

Of course, if you want digital everything, just play Dawn Of War and be done with it.

Can avoid emotional appeals to absurdity (not that I'm surprised, this topic comes up a lot and is characterised by "flat-earth" statements quite regularly)? They don't add anything at all to the conversation.

Originally Posted by edmundblack

the way you can read them whenever you like and not worry about battery power.

1 book...yes. 2 or so books...probably. 30 (that being approx the mainstream 40k and Fantasy armies)? No. I could easily fit the rules, army lists and FAQs for all of GW's game systems including Specialist Games and my army lists and the various other games I play on my phone, which takes up the space of approx 1/9th of a single Codex (because I only have an iPhone 3).

Yes, battery power is a consideration, but it's a long time since I've had my battery go flat on me or been somewhere I couldn't charge a phone or reader, and I can happily fit the charger in my pocket too.

TBH I rarely buy physical books these days because there's a practical limit on space in my house, anything that offers me help on this score is worthy of praise. I buy all my music digitally now.

Originally Posted by edmundblack

Having them all on a e-reader would be good still, and will likely happen eventually, but there are some people out there who will still only buy vinyl records (and that market is on the up again apparently). Managing how they'd do digital stuff is the issue, and for those of us who want to, we'll buy the Codices at least for the armies we have. I guess a fully printed Codex/Army Book is a sort of "proof of purchase" that you've invested at least that much in it.

*shrug* And if those people become too niche then support for them will dwindle. The existence of niche demand doesn't justify niche supply, it will be dictated by the practical economics.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't think digital should replace hardcopy, and TBH I would probably buy hardcopy as well, I just struggle to understand why the pro-hardcopy/anti-digital crowd are opposed to progress without putting forward any arguments of logical merit.

Originally Posted by edmundblack

kindles handle pdfs then? Or is it another format?

Yes.

**Badarmies2** · 10th February 2012 18:09

I <3 Baragash. Well said. Nothing is preventing you from printing the PDF codex at a Kinko's or something in full color on heavy gloss paper and having them bind it like a book should they go strictly electronic. That would probably still cost less than the current price of a dex.

**PyroSikTh** · 10th February 2012 18:16

Originally Posted by Badarmies2

Nothing is preventing you from printing the PDF codex at a Kinko's or something in full color on heavy gloss paper and having them bind it like a book should they go strictly electronic. That would probably still cost less than the current price of a dex.

It would cost less, sure, but the quality would drop also. Well okay, I admit that GW books aren't exactly high quality at the moment, but the latest Fantasy Army Books really have been top-notch, and any and all Warmachine books will show how good the quality of an actual rulebook can be. Printing it out, glossing it and binding it yourself is not only going to be at a lesser quality standard, but is also going to be a hell of a lot of work. I'd much rather spend the extra and get the book ready-made. I have to assemble and colour everything else in this Hobby.

Besides, the likelihood that they go 100% digital is unlikely, and I think it's not a good idea to do it anyway. Some people, like myself, just want to own the physical product. If they do go digital, it'll be a tandem thing akin to the Triple Play Blu-Ray's you get with the physical disc and digital copy.

Note: I am not anti-digital. I fully support the notion. What I'm against is ditching the physical books entirely.

**Architech** · 10th February 2012 19:21

It's also technically illegal.

I can't even begin to describe the hoops I have had to jump through at kinkos (if the people are doing their job)...just to reprint images from books I need. And occasionally my own work...to which I own the copyright and IP

**Badarmies2** · 10th February 2012 19:25

Originally Posted by Architech

It's also technically illegal.

I can't even begin to describe the hoops I have had to jump through at kinkos (if the people are doing their job)...just to reprint images from books I need. And occasionally my own work...to which I own the copyright and IP

The Kinko's here is more like the honey badger.

**nephlim667** · 14th February 2012 18:07

Could do something along the lines of a pay site to access the content....say 10$ a month and you get access to all the codexes, and an army builder of some sort. Make it mobile friendly and I'm pretty sure people would pay to use it....I use my HP Touchpad a lot and I take that along with me pretty much everywhere I plan on getting an android tablet later this year and I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of that as well.

**PyroSikTh** · 14th February 2012 20:42

I don't like the idea of pay per month. I prefer the idea of buying the digital stuff separately as a one-off fee, so that I'm paying for what I use. As for Army Builder, Excel does me just fine.