No more GW products on Army Builder

[Fritz]

For those of you that use Army Builder for Fantasy and 40k, don't expect to get anymore updates. GW is shutting down the independent group that makes the data files:

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2012/07/ ... -news.html

This could be a sign that GW is about to introduce a product of their own. Hopefully it will be more than iPad only like their current digital products.

[Berserker]

Bah.. Greedy *****..

[Fritz]

There are a lot of things that GW does that can be considered greedy and silly, but I don't really think this one is. Army Builder has basically made their money off of GW's intellectual property. This isn't Apple vs. Android with Apple copyrighting a freakin swipe motion (really?! really?!). This is no shit copying and pasting things out of Codexes and Army Books. Up until now GW has let that slide because they didn't have an alternative and their player base clearly liked having an electronic army list creator. If they are developing a product that does the same thing (or God forbid does it better), then they are well within their rights to ask the data file writers to cease and desist. I think if they didn't have a product in the pipeline, then they would have asked for a royalty. I've heard nothing but great things about the digital stuff they're offering (except that it's only available on dirty dirty apple crap) and I look forward to seeing what they have to offer if/when they offer it.

[Berserker]

I feel the company overall is a greedy company (e.g. price hikes every year and huge prices abroad -- Australia). Is it within their rights to do it? Sure! It's their business, they can run it anyway they want it.

As for a new product that would replace ArmyBuilder, you're speculating. You don't know if they actually have somethign better coming along, when it will come along, how good it will be, or how expensive (Army Builder was just so damn cheap, it will be missed). Until I see a replacement that is just as good, and in the same price range I will continue to think of them as greedy.

Unfortunately for me, I love their ogres and their monsters, so I will keep buying from them, thus supporting their greediness.

[MorGrendel]

If its true that AB didn't have a licensing agreement, I am surprised it has worked for as long as it did. GW has always attempted to lock down its IP. I always thought it a little strange that tourneys required a AB list, and in this wake, I wonder how it will effect the tourney scene.

Team Excel go!

[Fritz]

I think they left it be more or less because they didn't offer an alternative. I think that's also why they're going after the data file people right now. I get the feeling a GW alternative will be coming out. If it's exclusively through the iBook store I will throw a shit fit.

[MorGrendel]

It should be part of the digital codex! That also auto-repoints when they nerf Fear or your favorite magic item.