Can't seem to get an answer from Dark Horse...

[lasraik]

I count three people wondering where this book is. Only one of whom has stated specifically that they contacted Dark Horse about this. Editors are busy people. They don't have time to answer every question sent to them.

Only three people asked in this thread, so obviously it's only three people who are interested in the book. That makes perfect sense. Thanks for clearing that up.

Don't worry about the thread on the Dark Horse forums, the emails that have been sent or any other times they've been asked about it. That doesn't count.

[sephiroth61787]

More then that, I go on the Image Forum page, and many of the creators and lead people from the company post and respond to posts. Its great seeing, say, Erik Larsen answer a question about an upcoming comic or the like.

IDW's Forum has been ok. We had a thread there for the Library of American Comics, but they were only recently informed of its existence. Now they post and respond there, which is great.

When there was a forum at The Comics Journal site, we would get people from Fantagraphics comment there.

Dark Horse? They have a forum, but its like no one at the company takes a look or responses. I've posted several times on topics like their John Stanley reprints (Little Lulu & Tubby) and various comic archive series, and several times gave suggestions of new titles or ask questions. ZERO response.

So I understand your frustration.

Thanks for your reply and providing insight on the situation. I guess I and the others who have been waiting for this book will have to wait and see what happens.

If I go to a con that Dark Horse is attending, you can be sure that I will ask them why it is so difficult to get a response from them.

[DonC]

Only three people asked in this thread, so obviously it's only three people who are interested in the book. That makes perfect sense. Thanks for clearing that up.

Don't worry about the thread on the Dark Horse forums, the emails that have been sent or any other times they've been asked about it. That doesn't count.

Look, I understand being upset and wanting to read this book. But, really, the number of people who care just aren't enough for Dark Horse to take notice. The thread at darkhorse.com has, what, one other person asking about the book? Add that to the three who've said so here and you get four people.

Also, it's entirely possible Dark Horse doesn't know what they're planning with the book. In reality, it's been a year. I'd say the book is canceled.

[sephiroth61787]

Look, I understand being upset and wanting to read this book. But, really, the number of people who care just aren't enough for Dark Horse to take notice. The thread at darkhorse.com has, what, one other person asking about the book? Add that to the three who've said so here and you get four people.

Also, it's entirely possible Dark Horse doesn't know what they're planning with the book. In reality, it's been a year. I'd say the book is canceled.

Sure, a bunch of people could've given up hope that it was being released and decided that was that. So I guess the question is "How many people does it take to ask a question until Dark Horse cares enough to respond?".

Again, if other companies that are BIGGER than Dark Horse can take the time to respond to a single person's question, so can Dark Horse. It takes literally a second and a half of my time to type out "It's been cancelled". That's all we want; confirmation of what is going on with this book.

Also, it seems a second listing for the book has popped up on the B&N Marketplace. So you can say it's cancelled, but until Dark Horse comes out and says it, nobody knows for sure.

[DonC]

Yes, but if they answer your question, they have to answer everyone's question. Otherwise, the next guy will say, "But you answered his question!"

[sephiroth61787]

Yes, but if they answer your question, they have to answer everyone's question. Otherwise, the next guy will say, "But you answered his question!"

Don't comic companies answer questions at comic conventions all the time? Why bother having a Contact page then? If they don't want to answer questions, they should take that down. They should also take their Twitter, Facebook, and Forums down as well.

[sephiroth61787]

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!

From Mike Richardson himself:


"Due to a problem in solicitation, we were forced to change the release date, and then the package itself. It hasn't come out yet, but watch for an announcement very shortly, as it is on the way."

[SeymourGuado]

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!

From Mike Richardson himself:


"Due to a problem in solicitation, we were forced to change the release date, and then the package itself. It hasn't come out yet, but watch for an announcement very shortly, as it is on the way."

Wow, how did you get his info?

What does he mean by change the package? Hope it isn't too drastic.
I like the sound of "very shortly" though.

[sephiroth61787]

Wow, how did you get his info?

What does he mean by change the package? Hope it isn't too drastic.
I like the sound of "very shortly" though.

I got it through persistence to say the least. I also received a message from the VP of Publishing, Randy Stradley, and he had this to say:

"The book (actually books) in question were not published. If I remember correctly, it was discovered that the editor of the project did not provide the correct information to Diamond (our primary comics shop and bookstore distributor) regarding the set. The information most stores received was that it was a single volume for $130. Order for that particular "product" were so low we could not afford to print.

I believe it is being reworked so that it can be offered again. Again, I'll track down the current status of the book and let you know what I find out."

That adds clarity to the situation. I emailed them both back and told them that once it's offered again, I'd do my best to promote the set (or individual volumes, whatever they choose to do) amongst various gaming and comic websites/blogs.

So it's still being worked on, which is great news. I'll update this thread if I happen to get any more information.

[IsaiahPLG]

I got it through persistence to say the least. I also received a message from the VP of Publishing, Randy Stradley, and he had this to say:

"The book (actually books) in question were not published. If I remember correctly, it was discovered that the editor of the project did not provide the correct information to Diamond (our primary comics shop and bookstore distributor) regarding the set. The information most stores received was that it was a single volume for $130. Order for that particular "product" were so low we could not afford to print.

I believe it is being reworked so that it can be offered again. Again, I'll track down the current status of the book and let you know what I find out."

That adds clarity to the situation. I emailed them both back and told them that once it's offered again, I'd do my best to promote the set (or individual volumes, whatever they choose to do) amongst various gaming and comic websites/blogs.

So it's still being worked on, which is great news. I'll update this thread if I happen to get any more information.

Thats good to hear! Thanks for the info.

[SeymourGuado]

So it might become separate volumes, eh? Fine with me if we still get the biography, prints, and the flipbook.
Perhaps keep it hardcover (probably not cost-efficient)?

And on a side note, which game art are you looking forward to? I'm waiting for X.

[sephiroth61787]

So it might become separate volumes, eh? Fine with me if we still get the biography, prints, and the flipbook.
Perhaps keep it hardcover (probably not cost-efficient)?

And on a side note, which game art are you looking forward to? I'm waiting for X.

It seems the solicitation information wasn't quite clear on what it was and that's what they're trying to fix. There are probably more Final Fantasy fans than there are comic fans, so maybe it was just a matter of people not realizing this would be released? If they do change it to individual volumes, I wouldn't mind. I'd still like the biography, prints, and flipbook, but what I want most is the the volumes.

It seems both Mike, Randy, and the VP of Merchandising (who contacted me as well) all want to see this released, so that's a good thing. However it comes out, I will support it and try to spread the word.

As for which game's artwork I am looking toward seeing, that should be obvious. VII. I figured yours would be X.

[IsaiahPLG]

So it might become separate volumes, eh? Fine with me if we still get the biography, prints, and the flipbook.
Perhaps keep it hardcover (probably not cost-efficient)?

And on a side note, which game art are you looking forward to? I'm waiting for X.

I want VIII

[SeymourGuado]

It seems the solicitation information wasn't quite clear on what it was and that's what they're trying to fix. There are probably more Final Fantasy fans than there are comic fans, so maybe it was just a matter of people not realizing this would be released? If they do change it to individual volumes, I wouldn't mind. I'd still like the biography, prints, and flipbook, but what I want most is the the volumes.

It seems both Mike, Randy, and the VP of Merchandising (who contacted me as well) all want to see this released, so that's a good thing. However it comes out, I will support it and try to spread the word.

As for which game's artwork I am looking toward seeing, that should be obvious. VII. I figured yours would be X.

Hehe, I like how you went from hearing from no one to the most important folks at Dark Horse!

Anyhow, I plan to send book info to Kotaku and Siliconera once they announce it.
Their audiences are pretty big and preorders would definitely go up if they both write articles about it.

[waltermcphilp]

So no news on the release?