Rick Priestly Interview with 40k Radio

[Malachi]

I thought I'd post this because many people here will find it interesting. In their most recent episode, the guys from 40k Radio have a lengthy (around 90 minutes or more) interview with Rick Priestly. The guys ask some really good questions and Rick is quite forthcoming talking about how he got started with GW, how Warhammer and Warhammer 40k were first developed, and differences he sees between how the company was run "back then" and how it is run now. The bias of the 40k Radio guys do come through in the questions they ask, but their opinions probably don't differ much from the opinions of many others, though. Anyway, I found it to be a really interesting listen.

Download here (http://www.40kradio.com/podpress_trac/web/1433/0/Show21x.mp3)

EDIT: Oh, the interview starts at the 1:15:50 mark, if you want to skip right to it.

[Denzark]

Some interesting things in this:

1. Rick says he takes responsibility for the business model 'to some extent'.

2. 1992 first boxed set for WFB started to see an increase of x5 in profits from £10m turnover on and upwards. However the company had to expand to keep up and had to borrow money to do so and this spiralled into needing more money so more business like processes.

3 He is most proud of Necromunda!

4. He acknowledges the sales team influence on game design 'hey why don't you make these units bigger so we'll sell more men...'

5. Not everyone gets a codex because each race gets (some) support. A new race needs support, but doesn't bring in an extra proportion of money as a percentage - it merely slices the exisiting pie thinner.

6. GW pushed so hard it ended up selling to a wider younger market than intended.

7. Rick thinks Squats are a viable option and should provide some amusement - 'Dark Eldar are for those who take themselves to seriously!'

8. The design team are quite insular and don't necessarily notice developments in other game systems (to then react and adapt to).

9. A good wargame always use to have a gamesmaster - so no rules quibbles - he doesn't sympathise with the smash face style of gaming...