Release schedule update

[Beran]

Thanks for the MEE website, should be interesting to check out.

Once again my problem isn't with the established approval process, as has been said it is the same as it always has been. My question is how does a brand new product trump 3 other ones that have been in the works for quite some time now? Actually, my question should be is why it wasn't placed on any of the previous release schedules?

Is it a case of;
-the game didn't really contain a lot of info that concerened the Approval Committee and was able to slide through the process faster?
-was it sent over from SG completed and all C7 had to do was publish it?

[Hermes Serpent]

It's case of yes and yes.

Basically SG would have developed Hobbit Tales and got it approved and sent it to the publisher C7.
The approval process was easier because there's less text and many pictures were already approved.

SG may have even considered doing the game themselves but with the link to TOR offered it to C7 for publication. I mean you don't see C7 offering other SG games do you and SG have a great track record of good board games.

[Beran]

To be frank, I seldom even remember that SG is even a part of the process.

That was the answer I was looking for. It would be better if it was an official one, but it will do.

[Jon Hodgson]

My question is how does a brand new product trump 3 other ones that have been in the works for quite some time now? Actually, my question should be is why it wasn't placed on any of the previous release schedules?

The simple answer is that it was added to previous release schedules. Hobbit Tales was announced in July. It was added to the release schedule at that point, though we'd been working on it significantly earlier than that.

It was developed concurrently with all the other releases. It simply finished all the necessary steps first - once the heavy lifting of the core design is done, card games are faster to make than rpgs. Simple as that.

Francesco and Marco made the core design of the game a long time before we announced it, and then C7 and Sophisticated Games were involved in its development and production.

As mentioned nothing else was delayed for Hobbit Tales to happen - card games and rpgs have separate development areas within c7. All that could be realistically considered delayed by Hobbit Tales are other card and board games.

Ultimately whilst I can understand the perception that Hobbit Tales came out of nowhere, apparently delaying other products, that isn't what happened. And as we always say, we share your frustrations at the slow pace of releases for TOR.

Hope that helps. We'll have more information about our plans for 2014 soon.

[bigsteveuk]

Hope that helps. We'll have more information about our plans for 2014 soon.

I will look forward to hearing about this and wish you and all at Cubicle 7 a happy and productive new year.

[James Harrison]

And just to add, thank you so much for taking the time to come and post about these things on the Forum. It is very encouraging to see members of C7 interacting with it's fans.

[Moria Firefly]

It's a tough thing when you love one product so much and to have releases being far between each other or being delayed. When I heard about the Hobbit Card game, it did catch me by surprise as I thought it came out of no where but Jon has explained where it didn't delay nor push the main books back cuz of it. Well now I can't wait for the card game!

The quality and the incredible feel of Middle Earth in TOR is what keeps me patient (more than with any game ever). I understand they can not discuss legal or internal company decisions, C7's passion for TOR is enough for me to hold the line.

Thanks Jon for the responses, it helps.

MFF

[Jon Hodgson]

You're all most welcome. Thank you all for maintaining this place as a very pleasant place to chat about The One Ring.

[Rich H]

You're all most welcome. Thank you all for maintaining this place as a very pleasant place to chat about The One Ring.

We all love the game, Jon, and that just makes waiting much harder for a lot of us!

I do think this is now the best RPG I've ever had the pleasure of playing (even better than Pendragon which I think is an amazing game):

* The rules are easy to use and build upon.

* The products you guys bring out are top drawer - in the writing, production values, artwork, and ideas.

* The source material is (obviously) excellent.

* We have a communicative and friendly publisher - you and Dom rock!

* And we have a supportive and friendly community here with Francesco et al regularly chatting to us.

What more could us RPG geeks want!

[Hermes Serpent]

What more could us RPG geeks want!

A faster release schedule