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Dear Aldo,
The Key of Destiny product has unfortunately been delayed and it will be releasing early next month (February).
Cheers,
Renae Chambers
Director of Sales & Marketing
Sovereign Press, Inc.
262-374-0298 office
262-364-2657 fax
[email]sales@sovpress.com[/email]
I agree
Originally posted by 96Cobra
What kind of business are they running? Maybe I should just DM a forgotten realms game.
One that will get their products to us when they're done and not before.
"Patience is a virtue." ;)
After experiencing some unfortunate delays, we are working hard to get completely caught up on our release schedule, but in addition to normal publishing concerns, Dragonlance has a series of approvals from our licensor, Wizards of the Coast. Key of Destiny has gone through editing, initial layout, and will being going to press very soon.
We're sorry that our delays disappoint some of you, but we hope that our products will please you when they release.
Thanks!
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
Personally with the quality Sov. Press puts out, it is well worth the wait.
Now if they would just let me pay in advance and ship this years releases when they are done.
Does this affect any of the other products, DL or SS, on Sov Press's schedule?
(I'm still considering adding SS products to the DL upcoming list, if only because there aren't very many
)Originally posted by SageofKaolyn
Just remember, unlike a computer game they can't just rush the product to press and throw a patch out three days later.
Nothing against Sov. Press, but WoTC releases rush products frequently.
ing and moaning heard is like being assaulted by a freaking banshee. Heck, even when they finish it on time it'll need to be errata'd, no need to hurry it anymore!Originally posted by Eternal Emperor
Nothing against Sov. Press, but WoTC releases rush products frequently.
You say it like that is a good thing?
I would much rather have a complete, thorough, and well-thought out product, which I am positive the Key of Destiny will be, than one that is rushed.
Originally posted by Eternal Emperor
Nothing against Sov. Press, but WoTC releases rush products frequently.
I don't want to make excuses, but I do think it's important -- when comparing Sovereign Press and Wizards of the Coast -- to remember that we are a small company with a handful of employees while Wizards of the Coast is a the industry leader owned by Hasbro, one of the largest and most successful toy companies in the world.
Nevertheless, we are working hard to get our releases out in a timely fashion. We've revised our production schedule to make this realistic, but it will take a month or so to "catch up" to that point.
Thanks!
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
Originally posted by jechambers
I don't want to make excuses, but I do think it's important -- when comparing Sovereign Press and Wizards of the Coast -- to remember that we are a small company with a handful of employees while Wizards of the Coast is a the industry leader owned by Hasbro, one of the largest and most successful toy companies in the world.
Nevertheless, we are working hard to get our releases out in a timely fashion. We've revised our production schedule to make this realistic, but it will take a month or so to "catch up" to that point.
Thanks!
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
Off-topic: How many people are on the Sovereign Press team now anyway, Jamie? I know at one point it was only you and Margaret (I think that is what Chris said), but then you said that you added more people to the roster (I think...). Anyone we would know?
Originally posted by Daedavias
Off-topic: How many people are on the Sovereign Press team now anyway, Jamie? I know at one point it was only you and Margaret (I think that is what Chris said), but then you said that you added more people to the roster (I think...). Anyone we would know?
Chris has left to pursue a freelance writing career. However, Mr. Chambers' lovely wife, Renae, has joined the Sov. Press team.
There are also freelancers who work for Sov. Press, and the Whitestone Council functions partially as a "review board" to help look over products as they are in development.
So really, Sov. Press is a very small company. Considering the quality products they produce with so few hands, I think this speaks highly of them.
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Chris has left to pursue a freelance writing career. However, Mr. Chambers' lovely wife, Renae, has joined the Sov. Press team.
There are also freelancers who work for Sov. Press, and the Whitestone Council functions partially as a "review board" to help look over products as they are in development.
So really, Sov. Press is a very small company. Considering the quality products they produce with so few hands, I think this speaks highly of them.
Chris is now one of said freelancers in question, by the way ;)
Christopher
Originally posted by lorac75
Sov. Press should take a page out of Monte Cooke's "book" (Arcana Unearthed) and release some products in PDF format for a cheaper price a month or two early.
I'm not sure if they could do this with Dragonlance, since that's a licensed product. You may suggest that for Sovereign Stone, though.
Chris, sorry if I didn't make that more clear. :embarrass
How does one go about getting hired by SovPress? Or any RPG company for that matter? Of course, I'm not old enough yet, I'm only a sophomore in high school, but I have to consider careers, and before, I've always wanted to make computer games, but I would much prefer the RPG industry. What qualifications are needed? Is there a college out there somewhere is specifically for people who want to write RPGs?
Also, on a related note, if I got hired, would you ever consider publishing my homebrew world? I have been working on it since I was 7 years old. Honestly. It's pretty original, although it is partially based on dragonlance(I sorta ripped off the Greygem, and the High God). Elves are evil and Orcs are good!(seriously, Elves were created by an evil god wanting to destroy the world, and orcs were created to preserve it. Later, the orcs established the Holy Order of Paladin)
Originally posted by Jacen Solo 5007
How does one go about getting hired by SovPress?
Like any writing job, success comes from practice, submitting, a bit of luck, and persistence.
If you're interested in RPG writing in particular, I would suggest knowing your materials. For DL that would be both the novels and the game materials in their various system forms.
For writing for RPG's in general, knowing something about how the most popular systems work would obviously help as well.
What is frustrating is that from the fan's perspective the company hasn't gotten a single product out yet on time. At least that's how its played out in game stores here in Tennessee.
Realistic or not, fans think of release dates as being fairly ironclad (which they aren't but the general public doesn't see it that way.)
Not meeting those deadlines looks to the younger fans in particular as lying.
I work retail so I have some expereince from the POV of both customers and suppliers of products. So I can empathize with the colossal task of a small company trying to release quality work on time.
As a fan and especially a gamemaster though the delays are very frustrating.
Originally posted by HobbitFan
Writing isn't easy.
True, but I think it goes to show that the majority of the audience here are the novel readers.
I've read comments saying that such delays are normal in the gaming industry.
Well, for a novel reader, where the majority of novels are printed on time (after a release date is given), who are trying to get into the gaming side of DL, it's a very frustrating thing.
It also presents the possibillity that existing gamers will be put off by the wait as well if other game lines are putting out products on schedule.
Originally posted by silvanthalas
Well, for a novel reader, where the majority of novels are printed on time (after a release date is given), who are trying to get into the gaming side of DL, it's a very frustrating thing.
Yeah, 'cuz we all know that not a single DL novel has never, ever been delayed past its initially announced release date.
Thing is, there are a lot of reasons for delays, many of them often beyond the control of the company. It's a danged if ya do, danged if you don't situation thought, because if the company tries to explain why products are late, it looks like they're making excuses.
Sovereign Press is doing the best that it can given the changes and restructuring it has undergone in the last few months. Heck, I'm probably far more desirous of seeing Key of Destiny in print than anyone, considerin' I wrote the bloody thing :P But, although I finished writing it months ago, I'd rather see that it come out as a high quality product than rushed and skewered all to heck by reviewers and fans because of slipshod editing, crappy graphics, and the like ;)
Delays like this are common throughout the publishing industry; in comic books, in novels, in computer games, and in game publishing. In the end, it'll be out once it's out. The reason dates are usually given is that so distributors and advertising can begin wracking up sales figures/numbers for the print run. Yes, delaying is bad, but sometimes it's unavoidable... and all the griping in the world isn't gonna change it ;)
Christopher
Originally posted by Stormprince
Yeah, 'cuz we all know that not a single DL novel has never, ever been delayed past its initially announced release date.
So are you saying that novels sometimes find themselves...in the middle of nowhere? ;)
(Sorry, couldn't resist. Blame it on my medication. Whee!)
Thing is, there are a lot of reasons for delays, many of them often beyond the control of the company. It's a danged if ya do, danged if you don't situation thought, because if the company tries to explain why products are late, it looks like they're making excuses.
Oh, no doubt.
If you guys think Sov. Press is late, you should see some of the other companies out there. Green Ronin released Mindshadows around 6-7 months late, and I've heard of companies that have been a year late.
We won't even go into comics. I remember how some of Image Comics' early work was months upon months late.
And this really isn't that rare...video games are much worse.
And you know...I remember when the schedule first came out, how many people were complaining about too many products too soon because they couldn't afford them.
Just goes to show, you certainly cannot please everyone...ever.
Originally posted by Brimstone
And this really isn't that rare...video games are much worse.
Well, that depends on whether the code is stolen, etc.
The only company I know that is constantly and consistently delayed their products is Blizzard.
And, the last Blizzard game I bought was Starcraft: Brood War some months after it was released.
Yes, Middle of Nowhere was late after date was given. But is there another novel lately that has also seen such a delay?
Wizards Conclave changed authors, but that was before a date was given. Ann. Legends was a want, not a definite, for a long time as well.
But for video games, I buy games from many different companies. When I was buying comics, I bought 4 series that were all monthly (X-Men titles).
Books are most often on time as well once a date is given.
Maybe I just notice the delays from SP more because a) I'm such a fan of DL, b) the new DL gaming material is the only gaming material I am buying or likely to buy in the forseeable future, and c) every product since the DLCS & AoM is getting delays, rather than just the occassional product.
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
If you guys think Sov. Press is late, you should see some of the other companies out there. Green Ronin released Mindshadows around 6-7 months late, and I've heard of companies that have been a year late.
Look at the Iron Kingdoms campaign setting, thats 2 years overdue!!!
Originally posted by silvanthalas
The only company I know that is constantly and consistently delayed their products is Blizzard.
I dunno. Seen Halo 2 yet?
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by talinthas
duke nukem forever, harpoon 4, daikatana, baldur's gate dark alliance 2, etc etc... dude, the list of vaporware is as long as you want it to be.
According to the comic strip PvP, Neverwinter Nights was supposed to be released in 1907 right? ;)
As for videogames, while a title and general concept (characters, storyline, etc) can be copyrighted so someone else can't steal it, a similar game idea or engine can be released by a competitor, so to some extent I can understand a video game company posting a unrealistic release date in order to keep the interest of potential customers, and away from competition. For SP, they alone have the rights to publish Dragonlance as a D20 game, so it's not like they are in a race with anyone to get a product out the door. That to me, makes an even better argument of providing the fans with a more conservative release date.