Available - Three More GURPS Books in Print-On-Demand

[philreed]

We released three different out-of-print GURPS books in print-on-demand last year using Amazon's Createspace service. As was reported in January -- Daily Illuminator post: http://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/J...tespace_Update -- we needed more information on the experiment and took steps to prepare three more OOP books for release in POD.

It turns out that while I was away for New York Toy Fair, our team launched the next wave of POD tests, posting three more books to the Amazon Createspace system. The three latest books are:

* GURPS Infinite Worlds http://www.amazon.com/dp/1556348134/...evejacksongame

* GURPS Bio-Tech http://www.amazon.com/dp/1556348142/...evejacksongame

* GURPS High-Tech http://www.amazon.com/dp/1556348126/...evejacksongame

That makes a total of six books released in this format. If you missed the earlier releases, those are still available:

* GURPS Magic http://www.amazon.com/dp/1556348118/...evejacksongame

* GURPS Thaumatology http://www.amazon.com/dp/1556348096/...evejacksongame

* GURPS Ultra-Tech http://www.amazon.com/dp/155634810X/...evejacksongame

You can also bookmark this page, which is updated every time we add a new print-on-demand GURPS book to Amazon CreateSpace:

http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/ondemand/

---

What comes next?

We now need to keep an eye on sales of these six titles, checking sales vs. expenses to determine whether or not we release more out-of-print titles using this system. We'll review the POD project again in April, and if the numbers are strong, then we'll take steps to post another batch of OOP books to the Amazon Createspace system.

If things go especially well, then we can expand the operation beyond Fourth Edition GURPS titles, looking at some older books and bringing them into the world of print-on-demand. The numbers have to be right, though, or it simply won't be worth the expense to prep the files or the marketing effort to promote the books.

[philreed]

More info on the print-on-demand experiment for those who are wondering about how things are going.

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/M..._Now_Available

[johndallman]

Thanks for being open about this.

[GM Joe]

Fingers crossed that Compendium II is up next!

Just kidding. Hopefully Powers and Martial Arts will be in the next group (if there is a next group).

[Refplace]

Thanks for the update, too bad sales have not been high but I did not expect them to be. Most fans already have the books but there in place for new ones. The DFRPG is the biggie, if it attracts a bunch of new fans I expect a bump.
Marial Arts would be a good one ot have available at that point.

I wonder if sales would go up though if any of these were books that had never been printed? When the How to be a GURPS Gm book is ready that may be telling.

[bert]

When I discovered GURPS, but prior to getting my first books - this was during 3rd edition - I got the impression that a lot of the interesting titles were out of print. I got the 4th edition when it came out, and then didn't buy very much RPG books at all for many years. When "rediscovering" GURPS a year or so ago, I discovered there was a lot of interesting 4th edition books I wanted... all of them, mostly without exception, out of print.

The point I am getting to is that there might be a perception that GURPS is generally an out of print game, with exception of a couple of core books. Now, personally, my perception of this is changing - I got Horror, Space and a couple of other books in newly printed B&W editions, and then suddenly the Print-On-Demand service was launched. However, for the general RPG audience, changing this perception my take time and marketing effort.

I really, really hope you are successful with this - it is a good way to circumvent all the trouble there seem to be with distribution. And, keeping things in stock is expensive.

[Macarn]

I actually prefer hardcover books. I own all the collector hardcovers that were put out at one time.
I would like to see compilation books of the smaller supplements put out.
i.e. the variants of Thaumatology in a collection, the Martial Arts in another, I would say the Dungeon Fantasy, but I already backed that one at the I want it all level.

But I like those numbered hardcovers signed by everyone even if it costs a bit more.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Macarn

I actually prefer hardcover books. I own all the collector hardcovers that were put out at one time.
I would like to see compilation books of the smaller supplements put out.
i.e. the variants of Thaumatology in a collection, the Martial Arts in another, I would say the Dungeon Fantasy, but I already backed that one at the I want it all level.

But I like those numbered hardcovers signed by everyone even if it costs a bit more.

Createspace doesn't support hardcover.

[Macarn]

I realize that.
I'm just expressing my preferences.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Macarn

I realize that.
I'm just expressing my preferences.

I didn't realize it until I went to comparison shop around CreateSpace vs other options. The CreateSpace vs DriveThruRPG decision is actually pretty dynamic, though perhaps less so when it comes to the 8.5x11" format. For short books, CS is decent, but you always have to watch for comparison shopping. I learned a bunch getting my own book to print, so I felt the nuance was worth noting for those that didn't spend some sweat equity looking at various POD options.