The Boardgame Bubble Debate

[Chief]

I've seen a few people discussing whether there is a "bubble" in board games.

The thinking is that the market is becoming crowded with smaller games, indies and so on.

I think there might come a day when there is oversupply, and people who have put a few thousand into a game might think twice in future.

But as long as quality games keep coming out, I can't see that there will be a total collapse in the market. What would such a thing look like anyway? Big names going bust? People's extensive collections becoming worth a fraction of what they paid? Do any games fetch a premium second hand?

 

[NTRabbit]

The biggest names are Hasbro and Mattel, a bubble won't touch them because they're too diverse.

Next largest after them is probably Asmodee... might hurt them, but they have a lot of VC backing, they're one part of a large portfolio run by a French investment group if memory serves.

I don't see a collapse coming either, but I'm sure it will ebb and flow. Second hand games don't fetch a premium, unless they're some kind of collectible, rare out of print edition. Like with anything collectible really.

 

[Chief]

Chinese meeple factories might end up closing?

 

[NTRabbit]

Well, I don't know about meeples, but for the factories making anything in plastic, board game components are the tiniest fraction of their business. Most of their money comes from endless production runs of light fittings, handles for appliances, boxes, pens, bluray cases, et cetera. Most game companies have a go-to or contracted factor, and do a 1-3 week production run of plastic components that lasts them a whole year, if not longer.

Same for printing books, they're just a little slice next to knocking out a million copies of the next 50 Shades novel for worldwide distribution.

 

[Chief]

But come on, the guy who cranks the handle of the machine that turns out little plastic trains for Ticket to Ride has GOT to be freshening up his resume don't you think?

 

[Sublime]

The biggest names are Hasbro and Mattel, a bubble won't touch them because they're too diverse.

Next largest after them is probably Asmodee... might hurt them, but they have a lot of VC backing, they're one part of a large portfolio run by a French investment group if memory serves.

I don't see a collapse coming either, but I'm sure it will ebb and flow. Second hand games don't fetch a premium, unless they're some kind of collectible, rare out of print edition. Like with anything collectible really.

Agree about the bigger companies being pretty well protected. Hasbro have Magic the Gathering, and that's still growing after over 20 years. Board games they could ride bumps for no problems i'd think.

The indie designers are the ones who would suffer if this kickstarter style boom were to grind to a halt. I can't see a board game bubble completely bursting though personally. They've got a really strong geek market that i can't see diminishing.

 

[Chief]

I think the early "Hey I have a game idea gimme $50" Kickstarters are gone. Now they have to have the game at a prototype/print and play stage with good art, a video, and all the other key things ready before they will get any traction.

 

[Sublime]

I'm finding it amazing how much some of these kickstarters are starting to set us back. I dropped over $300US on Zombicide Season 2 and still haven't played it because it's hard to get a game group who want to play it. I'm going to have to sell it, luckily the individual characters sell for so much i spose.

Dungeon Saga: Dwarf Kings Quest wasn't far behind, but i can see that getting play at least. These games are making some serious cash too.

 

[Chief]

I'm finding it amazing how much some of these kickstarters are starting to set us back. I dropped over $300US on Zombicide Season 2 and still haven't played it because it's hard to get a game group who want to play it. I'm going to have to sell it, luckily the individual characters sell for so much i spose.

Dungeon Saga: Dwarf Kings Quest wasn't far behind, but i can see that getting play at least. These games are making some serious cash too.

Let me know what you want for Zombicide

 

[Sublime]

Let me know what you want for Zombicide

I honestly have no real idea. I'd need to have a look, depending on what parts of it you were interested in.

http://www.cmon.com/zombicide2/

I have everything on the left, plus all the extra characters on the right including Guest Packs & Mustache Packs as far as i recall.

Let me know via PM perhaps and we can discuss.

 

[Chief]

I honestly have no real idea. I'd need to have a look, depending on what parts of it you were interested in.

http://www.cmon.com/zombicide2/

I have everything on the left, plus all the extra characters on the right including Guest Packs & Mustache Packs as far as i recall.

Let me know via PM perhaps and we can discuss.

Is that standalone or expansion? I've never played and I suppose in the end I can't justify spending hundreds on something I've not played

 

[Sublime]

Is that standalone or expansion? I've never played and I suppose in the end I can't justify spending hundreds on something I've not played

Prison outbreak is the stand alone and the toxic city mall is the expansion. All the rest is the kickstarter extras. It's a really popular game which is why i got it, just my group isn't into the zombie theme at all so it never sees play.

 

[Chief]

You know what might cause stagnation? Us older blokes realising we never get to play these $100-$200 board games more than once or twice. If at all.

 

[jazzee]

I get involved in math trades to get unplayed games out and new ones in. It's pretty neat.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

You know what might cause stagnation? Us older blokes realising we never get to play these $100-$200 board games more than once or twice. If at all.

Just got to find the right group. We've got a facebook group which we selectively invite people too, there's at least a session a week going for anyone who is available. Take turns hosting, or just down the pub.

 

[Chief]

Just got to find the right group. We've got a facebook group which we selectively invite people too, there's at least a session a week going for anyone who is available. Take turns hosting, or just down the pub.

We play every second week, with some of the guys having a mid-week group. We still can't get through all the games we buy. I think after Mars Attacks I will stop buying miniatures games as we never play those, except a couple of times we've played Zombicide when I have my monthly Saturday games day.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

We play every second week, with some of the guys having a mid-week group. We still can't get through all the games we buy. I think after Mars Attacks I will stop buying miniatures games as we never play those, except a couple of times we've played Zombicide when I have my monthly Saturday games day.

Yeah I have a seperate group for minis games, that we get together a lot less frequently. Different beast really.

 

[Chief]

I might re-title this thread to something about the business of board gaming.

http://dsgcw.blogspot.be/2015/12/pray-i-dont-alter-deal-any-further.html

Asmodee reorganising their businesses in North America that might see the end of big online retailers offering 50% or so off Fantasy Flight games.

This may or my not have such a big impact on small games shops - I would not have bought Star Wars Armada at $130-$160 from a shop but did buy it at $90 online, with another game pushing me above the free postage threshold. Or Forbidden Stars - would Santa have paid $180 or $220 at the shop? No. But at $100 online from Book Depository with free postage I'm in.

I guess they will find out just how much price elasticity of demand there is in some of their games. How much value can they inspire in the buyer's mind?

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

I might re-title this thread to something about the business of board gaming.

http://dsgcw.blogspot.be/2015/12/pray-i-dont-alter-deal-any-further.html

Asmodee reorganising their businesses in North America that might see the end of big online retailers offering 50% or so off Fantasy Flight games.

This may or my not have such a big impact on small games shops - I would not have bought Star Wars Armada at $130-$160 from a shop but did buy it at $90 online, with another game pushing me above the free postage threshold. Or Forbidden Stars - would Santa have paid $180 or $220 at the shop? No. But at $100 online from Book Depository with free postage I'm in.

I guess they will find out just how much price elasticity of demand there is in some of their games. How much value can they inspire in the buyer's mind?

I don't think it will affect us much, as most stock would come from Europe. Book Depository is in the UK I believe.

 

[Chief]

I don't think it will affect us much, as most stock would come from Europe. Book Depository is in the UK I believe.

Yep. But BD also sources from US suppliers I think? Though you can spot those - $90 for a single mini "with free postage!"

 

[Goodo73]

Seemed to be an appropriate thread in which to post this link:

 

[Chief]

Seemed to be an appropriate thread in which to post this link:

Thing is people aren't prosperous enough to have the type of mid-life crisis they used to have - buy a sports car and chase younger women.

 

[NTRabbit]

People aren't prosperous enough to have a life which leads to a mid-life crisis anymore