Where do you see CMON & the mini industry in 10 years?

[No Such Agency]

Originally posted by Jike Ichi
I\'m rather worried about the idea that somewhere in a poor country people (kids?) are sitting in a factory with bad working conditions putting some toxic paints on little minis for us rich people to play with them...that\'s a sad view. And that\'s why I think I will not buy one of those minis...

I\'ve raised this point and I was told that they are largely painted by a clever spray masking process. I guess it\'s the same way they paint the features on plastic action figures. I am not un-skeptical of this explanation but it does match with what the painted surfaces look like - smooth and uniform paint layers.

As for the direction of the industry... Tough call. Video games are only getting more popular over time, but the internet has allowed an explosion of niche hobbyists communicating/sharing with each other and opening new markets for hobby and craft products. I could easily see things moving towards the extremes: more pre-painted miniature games on the one hand, and smaller \"elite\" casters on the other, producing high-quality, pricier display and gaming miniatures. The former field would hopefully \"graduate\" a small % of young devotees to the latter.

 

[fieldarchy]

Originally posted by fieldarchy

Originally posted by mattrock
this has nothing to do with this thread but I couldn\'t see starting a new one just to get the question answered.

Does anyone know Derek Shubert\'s CMON name?

Thanks

Did you try DKS?

I just spoke with Derek and he doesn\'t have a profile up on CMON nor does he have a website up and running quite yet.

 

[lono]

The industry in 10 years... Probably still going but shrinking.

CMON in 10 years... Probably just a load of spammers advertising lesbian ham and other such excitement, with me lost somewhere amongst them, still insisting I\'ll put a mini online at some point.

 

[pez5767]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Over 10 years ago, the first PlayStation had just as much opportunity to steal mini support. Clearly, it didn\'t.
Over 10 years ago, CCG\'s threatened to kill role-playing and mini gaming. Clearly, they didn\'t.
Over 10 years ago, we had the first Unreal, NFS Hot Pursuit, Counterstrike, and lots of other seriously hot PC games (for their day).

Now, all these devices of Doom have gotten ever better in the last decade, but we\'re still here. I believe that all the threats will steal time away from minis and mini games, but they won\'t steal the interest or fan base.

A far greater threat would be if GW decides to go the pre-painted route. If that happens, we\'re screwed.

Well said, i couldn\'t agree more. There is always the ever present fear that our hobby is going to make the inevitable swirly trip of doom.... it just doesn\'t ever happen. Going to a Con. or two I usually see a lot of young new faces at the GW tourney tables year after year, and while they can be a pain socially, I always take comfort that these Cons will be here as long as we/they are. When i go look at the board gaming rooms, it\'s a smaller and older crowd year after year. Whereas the gaming/painting community is a little bigger and equally young year after year.... No signs of doom on the horizon that i can validate... unless GW decides to make a movie or go PPP.

 

[Jike Ichi]

I\'m really interested on the changes the Warhammer MORPG will have (late 08) on the gaming/painting community. Guess that will be more an impact than a movie.

 

[Legacy Account]

Miniature wargaming has peaked and will tail off to the niche it once was I think.

There will certainly be some steps forward in mass production of painted figs - at some point there\'ll be 3D printers capable of producing bang-up jobs I reckon, it\'s just a case of their viability in terms of volume.

Minis\'ll be increasingly designed in 3D packages with the masters being printed on rapid prototypers - so you\'ll see a step forward in sculpt quality as well - especially on things like weapons, armour and vehicles.

Maybe...