Nanite Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I'll venture a guess that 6mm sci-fi has a larger market then 15mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I'll venture a guess that 6mm sci-fi has a larger market then 15mm. I was just going to say the same thing. And the reason, IMHO, for that is in fantasy and historical games the action is focused on people so the people figures are more important. In Sci-Fi, the focus is on he tanks and other machines. 15mm sci-fi is really people just looking for a cheaper alternative to 28mm skirmish games, or they want large scale skirmishes like 40K wants you to have with their expensive models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacketboss Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 I am currently working on a line of 15mm scifi, done as rapid prototypes, including tanks, walkers,dropships and alien races as well. I even have a rules set to go with it, and a set of rules for space ship combat as well. I hope to have them on mold and released in the next 3 months. I just need to finish the alien races and get them on mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Holy crap! Jimbo's still alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 I agree 15mm might be a nitch market right now, but their is growing evidence that it is becoming much more main stream and a very good seller. Here is a great example that was just posted on TMP http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv...2674&page=1 Now I don't know the exact amount he had allotted for restock, but Jon is pretty experienced with selling 15mm figures. The simple fact that this guy's running his business website on Tripod says to me that he's not making very much money. If you're going to use a website to leverage all of your sales, at least invest $10 a month to get a hosting company that has an actual help desk and will allow you to get your own domain name. edit/PS - This might seem really nit-picky to some of you out there. To me, well I spent 5 years working in eCommerce so it just jumped out at me. IMO if you're going to do business on the web there's a few basic things that you *must* do. Your own domain name, a professional looking website, and a reliable hosting service would be right up at the top of the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Definitely agree re: website issue. Personally, if I were to get into SF gaming at a scale smaller than 28mm, I'd go straight to 6mm. If you're playing in 28mm, you're essentially playing a skirmish game (couple squads to reinforced platoon size...), but if you go smaller than this, I'd want to bring all the assets, and 6mm allows me to run infantry squads, armor platoons, hover gunships, mechs, etc. Even 10mm would be better. 15mm is still going to be too big, especially if the tanks are in the $10 range... Damon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacketboss Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 yes chrome still alive despite rumors to the opposite. I am doing 15mm because of one simple fact that we figured out when doing cav. Asset management. In a future setting certin things(tanks mecka powersuits) all have viable uses under certain combat situations. You dont use tanks well in mountains, mecka would be slaughtered in the desert. Both suck in a city. So by having all options available players can use what they want, as the situation dictates. Now 6mm/10mm is great for large scale battles, just for painters it leaves alot on the design floor. Not alot of room for customazation,painting and general "coolness" for the model. At 15mm you can do some great modeling, have creative freedom and keep the model cost down. Thats why alot of 15m stuff is resign. My Idea is to do all tanks and anything over 25mm long/tall in resign. Everything smaller in metal. To keep cost down production affordable (from my own garage) and make it were everyone is happy with there purchase. But again it also comes to taste, if you as a consumer dont like 15mm you wont buy it. just mt 2cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRI3 Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 I agree 15mm might be a nitch market right now, but their is growing evidence that it is becoming much more main stream and a very good seller. Here is a great example that was just posted on TMP http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv...2674&page=1 Now I don't know the exact amount he had allotted for restock, but Jon is pretty experienced with selling 15mm figures. The simple fact that this guy's running his business website on Tripod says to me that he's not making very much money. If you're going to use a website to leverage all of your sales, at least invest $10 a month to get a hosting company that has an actual help desk and will allow you to get your own domain name. edit/PS - This might seem really nit-picky to some of you out there. To me, well I spent 5 years working in eCommerce so it just jumped out at me. IMO if you're going to do business on the web there's a few basic things that you *must* do. Your own domain name, a professional looking website, and a reliable hosting service would be right up at the top of the list. I agree with you there. Domain names are very cheap ($10 a year). Hosting is also very inexpensive. But if it is working for him, then I guess he knows his business better than we do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRI3 Posted October 30, 2009 Author Share Posted October 30, 2009 Another company jumps into the 15mm sci-fi goodness TopGun Marketing. I know of a much bigger company that will be on the 15mm board probably in the next 4-6 months. RAFM after saying they were getting out of 15mm sci-fi earlier this year are back into it more than ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 RAFM first got into 15mm Sci Fi back in the early 80s when Traveller was really big. Indicating that companies are jumping on board isn't helping your arguement very much either. More and more companies, splitting the pie into smaller and smaller pieces. The fact still remains that if you want to make Reaper seriously consider the investment then you need hard sales figures which you have yet to provide. Random posts on forum boards, someone managing to be succesful without a proper domain name, hits (unique or not) on a website is not the information needed to get Reaper into the market. Oh and just because they seem to be succesful and managing to do it on Tripod doesn't mean they know what they are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Also one other very important consideration: How big is the operation of the 15mm producers that ARE successful? The vast majority of minis manufacturers (in terms of sheer numbers, not necessarily of marketshare) are cottage industries, with perhaps one or two actual employees, not always full time either. FREX, Iron Wind Metals, who has been very successful putting out minis for Battletech as well as their own fantasy lines, has perhaps half a dozen employees (if that). Its much easier to be successful when you operate out of your basement or a backyard shed, and you have the wife drop off parcels at the post office. Reaper OTOH, from what I understand, is rather much larger, more commercial. What may be successful as a small operation might not have the turnover to make a decent profit margin to justify the resources expended. Damon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRigger Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 I've been finding myself buying more and more 15mm stuff. Mostly because it is what is fun for me right now. :) That is just me though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 I haven't bought any 15mm Sci Fi in years even though I enjoy the scale and the games because its not readily available in the stores. I think that's the big difference and possibly why Reaper might look at working in 15mm because there are commercial rulesets available in the stores and most everything is only available online. Odds are if I can touch it there's a good chance I will buy it. However, the spectre of no hard sales figures and consequently no idea of how large the market really is is going to bring a big no from the people making the decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgtriplec Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 I'd rather see WL in 10mm, but that's me. This site has the old 25mm line from Reaper http://www.minifigs.com/catalog/index.php?...amp;&page=2 They also have a 10mm fantasy line 25 for 6.95 and centaurs are 12 for 6.95. And Perrin Minis is supposed to start making the Reaper 15mm line again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars Porsenna Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Those figures posted from Minifigs are the old Heritage line, which reaper indeed had at one point, but are unfortunately not 15mm (more like true 25mm)... Damon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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