Forum - View topicNEWS: SAO Extra Edition, Kill la Kill Vol. 3 Ship Early
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Blatch
 Thread Killer Posts: 348 Location: Northeast U.S. |
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Looks like we're going to inflict the pain a little early?
Good customer service, but bad company services. |
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Kadmos1
 Posts: 13556 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
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From what I read about this company, they don't understand that many people would want them to do boxsets and not singels. Seriously AoA, this business practice is considerably outdated compared to the more common boxset approach. |
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Zilan
Posts: 167 |
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Aniplex will never release the way Sentai and Funimation do, they are not an american company. They don't care about American fans. They don't care if you buy their overpriced releases, as they have drones of Otaku in the homeland trained to shower them with money to *support them.
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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But Aniplex of America does care whether people buy their releases or not. Of course they do. The fans support them by buying their releases. The business model works. The company is profitable. These are undisputed facts. Without fans buying the releases the company can't make money, so of course AoA cares. |
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Angel M Cazares
 Posts: 5424 Location: Iscandar |
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Aniplex USA is interested in making lots of money, which is what every company should strive for. Unfortunately, this is frown upon by many R1 costumers because Funimation and Sentai have pampered us with their ridiculous low prices. |
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Vaisaga
 Posts: 13227 |
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While I understand their methods, it has kept me from buying stuff I definitely would have bought normally such as Fate/Zero and SAO. That said, I just ordered Extra Edition because it was quite enjoyable and I'm okay with paying $50 for it plus a booklet and poster.
Last edited by Vaisaga on Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Hameyadea
 Posts: 3679 |
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For a moment I thought the title meant that Aniplex was "shipping" Kill la Kill and Sword Art Online.
Kirito x Mankanshoku |
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rinkwolf10
Posts: 750 |
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Let's just put it this way, it doesn't take much to keep AoA open. They have stated that they operate with a very, very small crew. They really only need a fraction of what Funimation and/or sentai need to come out even and thier prices make it even fewer copies to sell so that they reach their goal. Then, they can repeat the cycle. Don't forget that they almost always first release a subbed release which sometimes is fallowed by a dubbed release. They are a troll that needs very little to keep going and it's proven that the little they need they can get from the few desperate fans that buy their release at an outrageous price because they like the shows. Besides, the fandom would actually be better off without AoA existing. Think about, they don't do anything special that thier competitors can't do at a fraction of the price. Nis America releases their shows in a high quality at 1/3 the price and Funimation releases dubbed anime like candy. If AoA didn't exist all of it's shows would still have been licensed by other companies because they are hot titles. The fandom would be better off without AoA ever existing in the first place. I wouldn't say that their model works as much as it's just a tolerable means for them to release a show that is hot on the market when they release it. If it weren't to that fact, they would have died just like Bandai Visual. They kinda couldn't care less about normal R1 fan. They just do what they want and will continue to do so because they are in a safe position to do so. Even if people boycott their prices they still could stick around and troll the random with the small amount of support they would get. They aren't a big company and don't need much to get their return on their investment and can also invest more (out bid the competition) on hot title because of it. Thus, essentially taking some of the hottest shows "hostage" and making people pay outrageous prices to get them. AoA is the troll of the Fandom. One that needs very little to survive and can take very anticipating material hostage and make fans work over time to get it from them. Also, the funny thing is that AoA isn't offering/doing anything new in fandom. Nor are they the best in any aspect of what they do. Their high quality releases are outrageously prices but Nis America beats them in that regard with having nicer releases (more complete at that, more extras) and they charge a fraction of the price. AoA doesn't do anything to justify the price jump (or it's existence for that matter) between itself and it's competitors. They are just not-so-nice-people, simply put. They want 3 time the market value without doing anything different or exceptional to make the price at least somewhat justifiable in some way. What's worse, the shows they get would definitely get released without them and at a much better price. If anything the fandom would be better off WITHOUT AoA. Last edited by rinkwolf10 on Sun Dec 14, 2014 2:27 am; edited 2 times in total |
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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They are a boutique company that specialises in niche products, which is hardly the same thing as the giants who target a broad audience - like FUNi and Sentai.
"Outrageous" prices that fans are content to pay aren't all that outrageous. As for releasing subbed versions before dubbed versions, there are four things I'd like to point out to you. The first is that they release titles quite soon after broadcast and therefore may not have time to make a dub, especially given that they aren't as proficient with dubs as other companies. The second is that their BR releases are often just the Japanese release but with English subtitles and an AoA logo on the packaging. That's not AoA's fault, that's the fault of Aniplex and Sony back in Japan. The third is that it is sometimes hard to know what level of interest fans have in a title, so releasing a sub is much easier and less risky than releasing a dub. Based on how the subbed version does the company can then know if a risky dub will be worthwhile. And lastly, not one consumer in history has ever been forced to buy the subbed version straight away. If you don't want to double-dip then wait to see if a dub is forthcoming. If one is then buy that. If one isn't then just get the sub version. Either way you'll have had all that extra time to save up for whatever version you get.
Of course their business model works well for them. They make money on nearly every release, such is their aversion to risk. Their corporate masters in Japan must be very pleased with AoA. You say the company does too well at the expense of fans but then you claim their business model doesn't work. Which one is it? And what's wrong with releasing shows when they are hot on the market? That's a much much much better business model than releasing decades-old shows no-one even remembers let alone wants to buy.
They deliberately aim their releases towards the upper end of the market, and there is nothing wrong with that. It's called capitalism. Every industry has options which are more exclusive and expensive than others, so why should the anime industry be different? Seriously, to claim that every company must care about every potential consumer smacks of socialism.
If you've got something that people really want then why charge a low price for it? If demand is high, put up your price to match. Fundamental economic theory.
Harmony Gold is an example of a company that takes titles hostage. AoA does not. They put their shows up for free online for those who cannot afford their releases. The fact that ingrates like you whine and bellyache about it in every thread is a sad indictment on the feeling of entitlement that runs through the current fandom. [EDIT: Added some subtlety and took out some rudeness. -TK] |
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mgosdin
 Posts: 1302 Location: Kissimmee, Florida, USA |
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I'd given up on talking about how AoA's approach to the NA market was, shall we say - Less than Ideal, but then dtm42's last bit caused me to want to comment. Where is it entitlement to want to be served by a business, as a customer, in a specific fashion? True that there is nothing, other than a desire to grow and profit in the market, which can push a business to change their way of serving their customers. If they are content with a tiny fraction of what they could achieve then there is little that can be done other than complain. So, that is what happens. On a somewhat different note, AoA + Aniplex are part of SONY and these days we are watching a slow collapse of significant sections of the overall business that is SONY. So, the chance exists that Aniplex will eventually become someone else's property, perhaps they will see things differently. Mark Gosdin |
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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@mgosdin:
AoA obviously wants to make money and exists for that purpose, but it is notably risk-averse. They're not after sizeable market share or a huge cashflow, they just want to make a safe profit in their small corner of the market. As a subsidiary of Aniplex Japan, AoA does not call the shots themselves. You can't compare a company with just five employees to relative behemoths like FUNimation and Sentai and expect them to operate the same way. AoA probably has strict instructions from their Japanese corporate masters that a large percentage of releases (if not every release) must make money, or sales targets to that effect. For better or worse that's just how it is (and how it has been for nearly four years now), and it isn't likely to change in the forseeable future. There is a huge sense of entitlement in the fandom. It's one thing to want cheaper releases; I mean heck, who doesn't? If AoA dropped their prices I'd be among the first to celebrate. But it's quite another thing to call a company a troll or label them as evil just because you don't like their business model. Fans don't have to like what AoA does, but they should at least accept that this is the way it is and move on, rather than throwing verbal tantrums by ranting about it at every opportunity. If you or anyone else wants to wish Sony, Aniplex and/or AoA ill then that's your business. No-one has the right to tell you what you can and cannot like. But please try to understand that soapboxing about it in every thread that's even tangentially related to AoA is both toxic and pointless. AoA are not going to change their business model while it is still working for them, and all the endless hostility does is make those who do buy AoA releases feel uncomfortable and sad. Seriously, there are people on this very forum who have been harassed and insulted just for admitting that they purchased an AoA release. I don't care how much someone hates AoA, that sort of spiteful and vindictive behaviour is completely out of line and must stop. |
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SquadmemberRitsu
 Posts: 1391 |
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If everything got released Sentai style, I'd have two options:
1. Pay $60 for 10-13 episodes of every show with a shitty rushed dub, oversized piss yellow subtitles, some crappy trailers and textless songs. 2. Get it for free off the Internet in better quality. All you get for buying a Sentai release is a physical copy of the series that's of inferior quality to what some random guy uploaded on nyaa a year earlier. What keeps me buying anime and supporting the western industry rather than just pirating it is actual incentives to spending large sums of money on a series. Top notch English dubs that give me an excuse to re-watch a series I've already seen, physical extras like soundtrack CDs and posters, on disc extras like interviews and commentaries, that's the sort of stuff that makes it all worth it in the end. Even though Aniplex charge way more I still feel like I'm getting far more bang for my buck than Sentai's barebones crap. Funimation are definitely a big step up from Sentai but the quality varies between releases. Sometimes the commentary tracks are really funny and informative but then you also get a good amount of commentary tracks filled with awkward silences and off topic rambling. Sometimes the dubs are great like Steins;Gate, but you also get annoying overrwritten dubs like Strike Witches every so often. Sometimes there's cool on disc extras, but sometimes it's just textless credits and two crappy commentary tracks I'll probably only listen to once. I wouldn't be too mad if everyone followed Funimation's example, but I doubt those methods would keep AoA afloat for very long. |
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rinkwolf10
Posts: 750 |
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AoA isn't doing anything that other companies weren't already doing before them at a fraction of the price. Quality release, Nis America at only 1/3 the price. Quality dubs, Funimation, Sentia (I know a few are underwhelming but they have a lot of good dubs too), and Viz Media. Quick release, Funimation (some shows take long and other a super quick, Psyho Pass 2 and Space Dandy for dubs), Viz Media (Neon Alley, for dubs) and Sentia (Little Busters) AoA doesn't have ANYTHING going for it other then the fact that they grab 1 or 2 highly anticipated shows of the year and with that get the attention/support they need to survive.
Sorry but that isn't going to work here. Sentia and Funimation both are selling the same product as AoA. However, AoA is the only one that wants 3 times (or more) the cash for practially the same type of release. NIS America does what AoA does (sometimes even better) at a fraction of the price.
First, Sentia releases almost all of it's catalog at the same pace as AoA (Little Busters was release within 5 months of finishing it's broadcast in Japan and it was released with a dub). AoA is releasing Kill la Kill the first 4 episodes Dubbed within 4 months of the finished Japanese Broadcast. So, that in of itself already disproves your first point. Besides, AoA doesn't dub anything itself, they just higher Bang Zoom, to the speed of the dub is not their concern. Second, Sony tried releasing Blood + on it's own here but failed so they made AoA and gave it free reign on what to do. As long as they earn a profit then it doesn't matter to Sony what they do. Make no mistake, the pricing of titles AoA is there own doing. So, don't try to shift blame for AoA's sake. Third, Madoka, was it really that hard to know the level of interest of the movie. Yet, they released the first 2 movies subbed and later with a dub. Yet, after all that they are STILL releasing the third movie sub only and will later release it with a dub. How about the Fate franchise. They released it subbed and then later dubbed. How much you wanna bet that the new season (Unlitmited Blade Works) will first release subbed only and then later with a Dub. They already have the data to show that the show has a large enough fallowing. Yet, they continue to release it in this format. Forth, no sane person (desperate maybe) should buy AoA's first release anymore. A few years back, sure, people bought sub only releases of Blue Exorcist, Fate/Zero and others BECAUSE they weren't expecting another release with a dub. Now, buying a sub only release for AoA is practically like asking to get ripped off twice. Since, most of their releases are bound to get another more "complete" release down the line (complete as in with more to offer, like say a dub).
I think my point went way over your head. AoA DOESN'T need a lot to survive, they are a small company that wants to bake the pie and eat it to at the expanse of someone else. The ONLY reason they are still around is because they have leverage against the fandom. AoA doesn't exist to release shows in the R1 market, it ONLY exists because of the shows it can snatch and demand outrageous ransom for. It's doing the same thing Bandia Visual did but with Newer more relevant shows. Shows that would be much better handled in other companies hands. I mean Nis America is doing the same thing as AoA but better. AoA only survives on the fans that cave in and pay them their outrageous prices.
But, apparently spiting in fans faces is totally acceptable in the form of releasing titles in sub only and later releasing them with a dub when they already know that the title can garner the finances needed for a dub (Madoka Movies, Unlimited Bladeworks (call this one ahead of time)). Let me blow your mind here. It is very possible to earn money AND please the fans. Funimation is a good example of that. Viz Media is a good example of that. Nis Media is a good example of that. Sentia Filmworks is a good Example of that (be it their quality may not be up to par on some releases). Speaking of Sentia and sub only releases. Sentia handles them much better then AoA does. Take Chunibyo for example. Sentia listed the show as sub only and within a few days of listing the show, they announced that they underestimated the show and that they are going to release it with a dub and a premium package at a later date, so if you still want to buy it subbed go ahead but know that there will be a dub later on and the have a trade in program for sub only release that got a dub later on. Where as AoA releases a show sub only and just waits for enough people to buy it so that they can list the dubbed release at a later date that they were going to release regardless. That is a dick move by AoA.
If that was the mentality of all R1 companies, we would be getting about 20 titles a year combined by all the R1 companies on these shores. However, as I've stated already, it isn't about the demand. Heck, you've said it yourself, anime is niche and so is the market. So, demand is obviously not that high. However, AoA can get enough to survive and keep trolling the fandom with the little that they do sell. This gives them 2 options. Release a show at the current market value that will sell well because the shows they own are hot items at the time they acquire them and make the return they need while pleasing more fans. Or release the titles at 3 time the current market value to sell a fraction of the copies they would if they sold them at a market value, make fans that want their shows be unable to afford them and make the money they need from the fans that can afford them to continue and repeat the cycle. Both are profitable but one just shits on normal fans and that is the route that AoA chose to go and that is why so many hate them and why the Fandom would be Better off WITHOUT AoA ever existing. Anyways, I'm done here. Last edited by rinkwolf10 on Sun Dec 14, 2014 12:55 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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Themaster20000
 Posts: 863 |
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I don't see why this is news since Rightstuf does this all the time with new releases. As for AoA. I can't blame them for charging these it works so well,but I don't agree with it since it screws over the average consumer in the process.
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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And there you again, insulting people just for buying a release. Maybe they don't want a dub because they specifically enjoy the Japanese voice cast. Maybe they want the release as soon as possible and a dub is a secondary priority. Maybe they don't mind double-dipping because they can afford to? At any rate, their reasons are their own and you should stop with the derogatory comments. |
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