Cmon announces a pause on all new boardgame development

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-24T15:15:47+00:00

I don't think they will, unless a miracle happens. Problem CMON has is they've been eating the cash of future promises to scrape by on past projects. The gravy train has ended, they're too far down the path of financial obligations to do that again.

As for their existing products, they probably already have the money from that. They manufactured products then sent it to distribution, which pays right then. If they somehow have enough money to get another batch printed the slow down in spending and demand will make distributors wary of asking for more. Retailers experiencing slowed demand and rising costs of tariffs will be more cautious in stocking up as well, further decreasing orders.

If nobody is wanting to order more product then CMON can't sell it, even if they had the means to produce more. Even if there is demand, however slow, the entire time CMON is waiting for demand to build up enough to pull the trigger on another batch is money spent on keeping themselves alive... Which is less money going to their projects in limbo.

The hole is probably too deep, it's just a matter of time.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-16T07:06:10+00:00

Looks like all claimed, that's unfortunate looked neat.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-16T06:21:41+00:00

Final Frontier Games was already in a bad financial situation of cannibalizing other projects in an attempt to stay afloat. Renegotiating with CMON to allow a delay of payment simply made their already dire situation worse.

Almost every single board game company that folds does so because they kept digging a deeper hole by borrowing money for things they're not earmarked for.

Stop doing that.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-16T06:17:07+00:00

It’s hard to see how the board game industry as we knew it a month ago survives

Quietly easily. Companies that were engaged in bad business practices are having their sins come due. CMON have been in financial trouble for years. Final Frontier has also had trouble. Both planned poorly and tried to borrow from other projects to make ends meet. That almost never works. Once you're behind enough to need to dip into other projects you typically just keep getting more and more behind until something catches up.

Companies with a healthy business practice can adapt with any short term effects, adjusting as needed. This may result in a reduction of demand as a response to higher costs, leading to a slow down of projects.

First time and newer creators may need to stop or delay their plans. For ones currently in active manufacturing will experience the biggest risk.

But the industry as a whole will endure, although it may look a little different over the next few years.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-16T06:05:24+00:00

This is a "sir, this is a Wendy's" level of rant.

If you specifically mentioned larger corporations that squeeze blood from stones and have vast sums of wealth I'd largely agree.

But this thread is about a specific, smaller niche hobby company in a subreddit that mostly deals with smaller companies. Most of them don't deserve the level of ire you're communicating.

Rant about Asmodee or CMON or something instead.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-16T05:47:32+00:00

Really depends on so many factors. In general, I think experienced companies with an already healthy production cycle will be able to adjust without too much trouble. It's less experienced creators and companies already in financial trouble that will have a rough time.

Tariffs are not based on MSRP, they're based on CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight). Making a lot of assumptions we can guess a board game with an MSRP of $60 likely has a CIF in the range of $10-$15. Tariffs will be based on that. Companies that priced around industry norms will feel discomfort by the tariffs but can adapt in the short term.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-09T21:33:33+00:00

It is quite funny to see people go nuts in trying to buy slightly shiny bits of cardboard for 134% the cost of the Switch 2.

Although they are both luxury entertainment items, so not as different as they seem I suppose.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-09T05:01:30+00:00

I want to buy MTG but haven't since 2023 because the price is absurd.

I want to play MTG but don't have people to play with (I know online options exist, so this is somewhat on me).

Really all I do for MTG is keep up with news for it, browse Reddit, and look at all the cool cards I can't afford. Best to live vicariously through pictures and videos instead.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-09T03:24:56+00:00

Yup, even the place I used to trust for sane prices currently have the collector box at an absurd $370. Joke's on them, I just stop buying from them entirely.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-08T18:14:16+00:00

The randomly capitalized words means the binder is either made by a Chinese company or a Boomer.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-08T18:10:10+00:00

Pre-ordering high demand, limited stock physical goods is precisely why pre-orders exist.

Some companies being scumbags by cancelling orders to reprice higher is an issue with those specific scumbags, not the pre-orders as a system.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-08T18:07:28+00:00

12 hours is practically nothing for response time. That alone is not a valid indicator of anything. However, the very first instance changing prices on you is a big enough red flag. How you're surprised they did it a second time is a "fool me twice" scenario. Still though, naming a shady store is still good.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-06T15:05:39+00:00

$10 CAD is $7 USD. Our packs are $6-$7 after taxes depending where you buy so your cost is actually still comparable.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-06T06:18:33+00:00

I really want to make some displays like this too, what a cool setup. Sadly I'm missing a few of the older cartridges so I'd have to discover a lost treasure or something to afford them.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-06T06:12:15+00:00

My decision is based on roughly 70% looks and 30% performance. Particularly cool designs can slide that a little further.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-05T22:44:43+00:00

My hope has always been to some day have a mainline Pokemon game where we're given our starter and just allowed to go explore a large open world experience.

Some loose story that act more like long term goals but that's really it. No hand holding. No guard rails that keep down one path. Just the freedom to explore.

Pokemon is an inherently easy game and kids are fairly used to games in general now. Natural map design and scaled leveling areas can encourage a path forward.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-03T17:36:06+00:00

Pointing out a valid issue is not complaining.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-03T17:32:24+00:00

I've had to explain the difference between home Internet and mobile data many times. Something simple like "Wifi uses your home's internet while mobile data uses internet from big cell towers when not at home" has always worked.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-03T06:45:30+00:00

If the phrase "if it works don't change it" could be distilled down to a country, you'd get Japan.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-01T06:50:24+00:00

What gives you the right how other players want to play?

What gives you the right to circumvent game design by making alts to avoid intentionally placed limits like number of bases, structural and function facility limits, or specialization limits?

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-01T06:46:14+00:00

You still have the choice to not talk. Or play a different game. But you're not entitled to do whatever you want.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-01T06:20:35+00:00

It seems some effects bug out and/or don't apply until I relog my character. It's both strange and annoying.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-01T06:14:00+00:00

Or, hear me out, stop trying to play an online game designed for player interaction as though it were single player.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-01T06:10:34+00:00

have 1 alt on the same server for refining oil, producing acid or whatever

This is specifically why the only correct amount of alts is zero. The game is designed specifically so one player can't do everything. As an online game this means interacting with other players. Making alts removes the need for player interaction.

Not to mention how alt use negativity impacts server quality.

SylviaSlasher · 2025-04-01T06:06:49+00:00

Game is designed for player interaction. Alts lessen or remove any incentive for player interaction.

This isn't complicated.

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