why are people mad at games workshop?

Games Workshop love them or hate them are currently the biggest company in the wargames industry and have perfected the art of convincing fan boys to part with their hard earned cash.

Over the last couple of weeks something has happened and the nerd rage has exploded over the internet and through the wargames community. There have been rage threads and numerous YouTube videos, leading fans to call for a boycott.

So….. what exactly has happened to create such hatred?

There are 2 main reasons as to why this rage has recently appeared over the internet.

The ex employee’s debacle. 

A few ex Games Workshop employees have come forward to speak out about their experiences working for Games Workshop. 

Sophie Williams is one such ex employee who went on maternity leave while working for Games Workshop, only to be told her job was gone, that’s it, gone, her job just disappeared. Games Workshop had decided to restructure her department, they decided to get rid of her boss, who was replaced and Sophie’s work duties were spread out amongst other staff. Sophie was then made redundant! Sophie has talked in more detail over on Twitter, I’ve added the link if you wish to read more. https://twitter.com/sophisaurus_rex/status/1419738513386397699

We also have James Hewitt, another ex employee who has talked about the employment pay processes at Games Workshop and the shockingly low wages he was paid for such a specialised job, working within the rules design department. The low pay is probably the reason that Games Workshops rules have been shockingly bad over the last few years.

James was on a salary of around £20,000 which is shockingly low for a specialised job “its a little more than a warehouse worker would be paid”. Employees were also discouraged from talking to each other about their wages, to screen any transparency. When James countered his wages and asked for a raise he was told there wasn’t the funds for a raise but there was enough money for unlimited overtime!  You can read more of James story here….https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/ex-games-workshop-employees-opens-up-about-workplace

Games Workshop released new IP guidelines which can and already has destroyed YouTube channels. 

Intellectual Property Guidelines

Warhammer: Beyond the tabletop

Games Workshop has been designing and selling miniatures and games for over 40 years. Our design studios have worked hard to create the unique settings and characters that are enjoyed by our fans all over the world.

We love to see fans enjoying all things Warhammer. We also have a duty to preserve and protect our intellectual property rights – this is the only way we can ensure that Warhammer will be around forever. Our goal is to do this while continuing to support the passion and creativity of our fans. We will level with you – this is a difficult balancing act.

So, whatever exciting Warhammer hobby activities you are working on, we ask that you follow the below guidelines at all times. By doing so, we can all continue to enjoy all things Warhammer for a long time to come.

These guidelines do not constitute formal approval or authorization of any fan content, or a waiver of our legal rights. We reserve the right to change these guidelines at any time.

Fan-fiction, hobby books and magazines
Individuals may write their own stories, hobby books and magazines based on our characters and settings, but these must:

  • not include text, artwork or imagery copied from any official Games Workshop material
  • be non-commercial, with no money being received or paid. This includes all forms of fundraising activity, and generation of any advertising revenue
  • not be publicly distributed, except for no-charge digital distribution
  • make it clear that they are unofficial, without using any Games Workshop logos, and include the word ‘unofficial’ prominently on the front cover
  • not be prejudicial to the goodwill, reputation or integrity of Games Workshop or its intellectual property

Fan-artwork
Individuals may create their own artwork, drawings and designs, based on our characters and settings, but these must:

  • not include artwork or imagery copied from any official Games Workshop material
  • be non-commercial, with no money being received or paid. This includes all forms of fundraising activity, and generation of any advertising revenue
  • not be publicly distributed, except for no-charge digital distribution
  • make it clear that they are unofficial, without using any Games Workshop logos
  • not be prejudicial to the goodwill, reputation or integrity of Games Workshop or its intellectual property

Fan-sites
Individuals may create their own fan sites based on our characters and settings, but these must:

  • not include text, artwork, imagery, footage or animation copied from any official Games Workshop material
  • make it clear that they are unofficial, without using any Games Workshop logos
  • not post or display rules or stats copied from from any official Games Workshop material
  • not be prejudicial to the goodwill, reputation or integrity of Games Workshop or its intellectual property

Underlying rights

Please be aware that where fan content is created based on our settings and characters, Games Workshop retains ownership in respect of the underlying intellectual property rights in those worlds, and therefore such fan content cannot be sold or otherwise monetised.

Infringements

We have a zero tolerance policy in respect of infringement of our intellectual property rights. This includes:

  • counterfeit models – our products must not be reproduced and sold.
  • imitation models – our products must not be imitated. Imitators produce models which copy heavily from Games Workshop’s artwork, books or products.
  • recasting and 3D printing – our products must not be illegally re-cast or scanned, nor should digital designs of our products be illegally produced and distributed.
  • Illegal downloads – our publications, audio books, and other material protected by copyright must not be illegally uploaded, shared, or distributed in any format.
  • unauthorised use of our trademarks – unauthorised use or registration of our trademarks in respect of similar products or services is not permitted.
  • Fan-films and animations – individuals must not create fan films or animations based on our settings and characters. These are only to be created under licence from Games Workshop.
  • Games and apps – individuals must not create computer games or apps based on our characters and settings. These are only to be created under licence from Games Workshop.

Games Workshop have started to slide backwards to the bad old days of the 2000’s where they made so many bad decisions and showed a lack of respect to the fan base. The very fan base that has made Games workshop successful. 

Games workshop even tried to stop fans getting tattoos of their IP!

Games Workshop have already put an end to fan videos such as If the emperor had a text to speech device , the last church and Sodaz. All of which bought many new fans into the hobby. I personally know people that have bought their first miniatures because they watched and enjoyed Astartes. These channels were all free advertisement for Games Workshop, who have decided to put all their advertisements behind a pay wall “Warhammer +”. 

Games Workshop are shutting down fan projects in the name of protecting their IP all while diluting their IP by selling it off to companies making crappy mobile games, looking at you “Lost Crusade”.

 

These are just a few of the reasons that the long turn fan base are becoming disgruntled and calling for a boycott. 

Images such as this have been spreading around the internet but I would suggest that if you want to make a stand and show your feelings towards Games Workshop, boycott Warhammer + as this seems to be the origin of all the recent issues.

 

So if you want to boycott Games Workshop start here…….