RE: low Saipan sales numbers...
That Saipan is being published this year at all is the result of KSF's failure to catch fire.
It was hoped that KSF would cause the PG line to catch fire once again, and enough product would move to enable AVP to produce a die-cut Sword of David release. Dr. B. has stated that the sales were disappointing.....almost all the faithful had ordered the game in the last 6 years and players who had drifted away didn't come back. With the new micro office-warehouse, only a limited number of black silk boxes can be kept in inventory, The boxes made available for Remember the Maine and then Saipan were released from reserve for anticipated orders for KSF that never materialized.
Unlike KSF, Saipan is bringing in new money into the coffers. Hopefully enough new money (along with perhaps at least 6 additional new PG books with counters currently in the wings) to finance a retail press run. My local gamestore, the Last Grenadier in Burbank Ca, opened on September 4th, 1976. I had to either be there or at my wedding that day, turns out. Two years ago they told me that they weren't sure Avalanche was in business anymore.....
Avalanche needs a retail presence before it can start gaining financial strength. The many announcements of games back in stock at the website is evidence that Avalanche is making itself viable to whole-sale distributors once again. But it's still a long way to Picadilly............
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