Games, Schedules and the AoG flame war.

G'day, I guess I started the rants and counter rants about AoG for which I
will not apologise. I may work for the Government but I am not so dumb as to
realise that few production projects (in any industry) actually run to time
exactly for which I am prepared to forgive. (Getting projects done on time is
why you have project managers, but that's a whole 'nother
flaming.....)
I also understand that AoG have had problems that were outside their immediate
control, but then again part of good business is to choose reliable supplies
and subcontractors, but they are forgiven, for this. What AoG is not forgiven
for is that all of this is irrelevent for the purpose of ongoing supply and
actual release dates here in Australia. The production problems were
encountered (and sorted out) several months before the miniatures arrived here
in Australia. A few of us here, the lucky ones who walked in at the right time
and were quick to get the wallet out, have seen the final product. I am one of
2 people (the only 2 as far as I know) that own Minbari War Crusiers here in
Sydney. I never saw the Starfury's (they didn't last long) and there were also
some Minbari Flyers and Raider ships, of which there was only ever one batch
arrive here. Why? Demand in the States can't wholy be the answer. 3 months
after the minis arrived (and were gobbled up) the actual B5 Wars box set
arrived. I saw one which was walking out the door of the "Tin Soldier" under
someone's arm. If AoG was having trouble meeting demand in the states why did
they sent a batch of games here? Australia is a very small market and so it
should have been no problem to push back the Australian release and send
everything they had to distributors in the States. In short I am impatient for
a product I have been promised, a product which others are recieving and for
which I can see no valid reason for further delay (limited quantity yes but
that I am prepared to accept). Upsetting customers is bad for business. I am a
customer, I am upset and I have no doubt that others are too. If anyone feels
the need to reply to this then Email me.

Hi Tony,

> What AoG is not forgiven for is that all of this is irrelevent
several months
> before the miniatures arrived here in Australia. A few of us here, the
Why?
> Demand in the States can't wholy be the answer.

Here in Australia the reason for the lack of supply of the product is NOT from
lack of product (that is only part of the reason) but mostly because AOG don't
have the rights to distribute B5Wars here in Oz yet! They ONLY have the rights
to distribute the product in the US and Canada. It is illegal to distribute
the game outside of the US and Canada. So any copies you have seen here in Oz
are being sold illegally. The release dates you have heard were given to Oz
stores by US DISTRIBUTORS!!!! Not by AOG.

> In short I am impatient for a product I have been promised, a

I am as upset as the next person about this all, but I understand why we can't
get it here. AOG have stated that they fully intend to distribute overseas,
but they are busy with the US market at the moment. They have told me
personally that they want to supply the Oz market (and the European one too)
very badly, but that at the moment, they are supplying their immediate market,
which is the US and Canada. Once they have that done they have said they will
start negotiations for the Oz and European markets. I hope that it won't take
too long.

> On Tue, 28 Oct 1997, Kelvin wrote:

> have the rights to distribute the product in the US and Canada. It is

Erm. This is a rather strong statement. The limitation on distribution is
based on a *contract* between AoG and whoever. That contract can not bind
parties that have not signed it.

E.g. Pioneer USA does not ship laserdiscs to non-USA addresses because
other Pioneer branches are supposed to handle other parts of the world
(it's just that Pioneer Europe doesn't give a hoot about LDs :-(

Big Deal. I order from Ken Crane's Laserdisc.

To sum it up: If you want it now, contact a US dealer directly. Not AoG,

since they are bound by the contract they've made, but an independent third
party vendor.