Has GW shot themselves in the foot?

[Thornblood]

So, this is expanded from another thread in the background section, however it got me thinking.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://media.desura.com/images/members/1/323/322886/Grimdark.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.desura.com/members/supahchikin/images/grimdark&usg=__C3b83v2d6cAWJiUA_eUGel4amtc=&h=600&w=750&sz=47&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=7APCQJf3W4TjMM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=144&ei=7Iv3TdKHI8Sk8QO4pbnHCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgrimdark%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client% 3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1286%26bih%3D 672%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=392&page=1&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=90&ty=28

The Imperium of man is a grim dark bureaucracy choked elitist, racist, intolerable barely functioning society that is oppressed and ruled by corrupt power lords cynical that there is any real good beyond personal gain, with little faith hope or love to speak of. It is this backdrop that we know and love which makes characters like Leonatus and Uriel Ventris seem so awesome, as they are the relatively morally good, shining knights standing up for the little guys and defending everything we hold dear. Gaunt, Ciaphas Cain and even Eisenhorn spit at the imperium and represent a relatable hero character compared to the Ministorum. It is a grim dark future in the 41st millennium and it is the little shining stars of light which we love about it. They wouldnt be such awesome characters if they weren't in such a dark world.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://th01.deviantart.net/fs42/300W/f/2009/136/0/d/Uriel_Ventris_Finished_by_cyphercodicer2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://cyphercodicer2.deviantart.com/&usg=__PVkrKmOxric90ZWdNsqsAsuCFcs=&h=490&w=300&sz=39&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=12ZKL86k4OqyBM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=82&ei=goz3TeS_Ncyq8QPDo7S2Cw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Duriel%2Bventris%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26 client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1286%26bih%3D67 2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=425&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=32&ty=30

However, GW likes to draw parallel after parallel between itself and the Imperium. From the giant Imperial eagle that sits on the HQ building in Nottingham (which is guarded by space marines), the old staff system which included veteran sergeants and training came from primers and codex's. The fact that most fluff (and much in the way of the presentation of rules and pictures) is from the point of view of the imperium. And indeed, who wouldn't want to be part of the fictional place that they love, that is their hobby, and their obsession (for the record i have just been babysitting my mates kids and had to pretend to be Aslan for a good while).

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/344062663_9e7e900602.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/92595710%40N00/344062663/&usg=__1IYpghE2K-rvYIW-VRiRH-2GaKg=&h=375&w=500&sz=88&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=HveUEm8IfvKaHM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=154&ei=8oz3TYiHGoyu8QO967y_Cw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgames%2Bworkshop%2Bhq%26um%3D1%26hl%3 Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1286%26bi h%3D672%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=116&vpy=78&dur=633&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=199&ty=105&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

When Games Workshop draws a parallel between itself and the imperium, does it project all the hatred of the imperium onto itself? Does our Nerd-rage at price hikes and a buisness like demeanor of the evil dictator and oppressor of wargames hobbies stem from our experience with the Imperium? Do the older gamers remember a less grim dark future (with joke orks, glam rocker noise marines, drunk dwarfs and blood bowl) with cheaper prices and think GW has become more evil?

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQ4mpQI2jaA/TbQ53cjOJcI/AAAAAAAAAKA/gqbqw4kMQ54/s1600/NoisemarineRT.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ruinouspowers.blogspot.com/2011/04/come-on-feel-noise.html&usg=__jdtQBF7r_Y0jIPzJvVbcwWRoWXM=&h=351&w=316&sz=29&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=eiTrgIm8u72ipM:&tbnh=163&tbnw=145&ei=iY33TfruA8Op8AOiwoXHCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnoise%2Bmarines%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26 client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1286%26bih%3D67 2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=619&vpy=196&dur=1506&hovh=237&hovw=213&tx=147&ty=106&page=1&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0

Maybe, if the imperium didnt squeeze every last penny from its citizens to fund luxurious palaces and suites for the rich would we still be so mad? If the imperium raised taxes to pay for better space marine armour development, and the citizens were ok with it, would we be as angry with price hikes and the change to resin?

The fictional Imperium of man represents our own world as well. The corruption and incompetence of our own governments and history. By relating itself to the Imperium, has GW directed that hatred at itself?

Has GW shot itself in the foot? What do you all think?

[GrenAcid]

NWO is comming there we have another sign.


PS. psssss mate pics dont work.

[Wildeybeast]

I think there is strong difference between 'drawing parallels with' and 'using a few names cos they sound cool/funny'. Given that the folk at GW write the fluff for the imperium, I can't imagine that they would actually want to conciously compare themselves to said organisation. And all the 'parallels' you mentioned are all references to Space Marines or Imperial Guard, who by your own admission are represented by relatable heroes, struggling to do thier best in spite of the imperium.

I think you've read far too much into a use of names that have been made because they are a)funny/cool and b)link directly to the companies IP, thus reminding customers of how much the staff love/know about their hobby.

[Drew da Destroya]

Second on the pics not working.

It's an interesting theory, though. Do certain factions of GW's customers (let's call them "Radicals") consider GW to be the "big evil" because they're associating them with the corruption of the Imperium?

Granted, there's a faction of any consumer base that views corporations as inherently evil, greedy, and tyrannical. Is it worse with GW, because the users are already primed on tyranny and corruption?

Personally, I don't think so, because, well, there's always a faction of people looking to take shots at the "evil corporations", but it's an interesting thought nonetheless.

[Deadlift]

An interesting idea but I just don't think so either to be honest :D

I see GW as a company that is committed to producing quality models, some very cool games with very rich backgrounds. This all adds in turn to making the company healthy and profitable and I hope then encouraged to produce further more quality products. I think thats how GW would like us all to see them :)

[Denzark]

No.