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[Sharpandpointies]

I have a few 'favored opponents' for debates here, because, while the opinions may vary, they are well thought out, even if I disagree with them.  I can always respect a differing opinion, so long as it comes from a well thought out position.

Full agreement with this.  Nothing wrong with healthy discussion, and even if I'm not convinced it's always good to see the other side.  Questioning one's own ideas is the only way to make sure they're right for oneself. 
 

[Pneumonica]

AND TO BRING SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION TO THE FOOLS WHO DON'T SEE THE INFINITE WISDO-  *ahem*  Yes.  Quite.   

[VoidKnight]

I, for one, tend to read through every Anima rpg thread I can find so as to expand on my growing knowledge about this game 

I only ever post on extremely rare occasions when I need a specific question answered or thanking someone for answering said question   

[shuuichikun]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as voidknight, I like to lurk XD. But I will post in the great while. Albeit probably not that often on this forum @.@

[sAdam]

Ditto, I'm lurker because i usualy find that somebody already posted opinion similar to mine.
About Anima dying it's all about fandom I think. In my town we lost advertising support of shops so we decide to create on our own presentation about game on local conventions. So far effects are minimal but it's still better than doing nothing.

[Ten No Ryuu]

Well, not seeing a presence at this year's A-Kon was depressing, since that was a major reason for my attendance (flying halfway across the nation isn't cheap), but I'm not convinced that the game is dead everywhere.  I feel that it doesn't yet have a foothold in my area (Kentucky), because it's everyone's "second" game, after WHFB/40K/WM.  In that market segment, I can see competition from Hell Dorado and Malifaux, which may prove fatal in the long run.  Rather than speculating, though, I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude, and since I'm a poor grad student, not buying much (if anything) until I know that I'll get long-term enjoyment from the purchase.

[Skywalker]

From an RPG perspective the RPG has been around for a long time now and it has a slow but steady ebb of posts. That's a positive in terms of longevity and better than a fast flow that peters out.

[LennonVC]

I saw this coming last year. These forum are slowly going to be made more and more irrelevant. See http://cipher-studios.com/AnimaBB/index.php?topic=3832.0

The problem isn't popularity of anima, but the fact these forum are well hidden. There is no link to them on fantasyflight's website or on the front page of animarpg.com and cipher studios.

[-DE-]

I'd love to keep buying AT stuff but Cipher is not willing to sell it to me. The only way I can get my hands on AT models with ENGLISH cards is to order from the UK, and trust me, it's not as easy as it sounds. AT availability in the UK is dreadful and I reckon it's the same with HD. The rulebook for HD is STILL NOT AVAILABLE. I can't play HD without the rulebook even though I've had the models for months. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! (excuse the caps)

Currently it seems if you're not from the US then you're screwed either because you WILL have trouble finding models with English cards OR you will be paying for them through the nose only because your currency is not Dollars but Euros. And it all began when Cipher took it upon themselves to distribute the game and ended the contract with FFG... Go figure.

Frankly, my faith in this game is getting smaller with each passing day. They have a great product that I'd love to buy, BUT I CAN'T. What the f***? Get your act together, Cipher, or this game's going bust sooner than later! Remember Rackham and how they couldn't handle the distribution which was one of the reasons they folded? I think you know where I'm going with this...

[warlorddawg]

-DE-, your post was reported & edited due to language.

Please keep it family friendly.

[Cipher Kai]

We are looking at more distribution in the UK for Anima.  Currently we sell to two different distributors for each product, primarily due to the partnership and cross promotion with FFG on the Anima line and selling to their Board game distributor from teh beginning.  We are still selling through them and doing good business. Fantasy Flight was our US distributor so this should not affect UK sales and we were already selling Hell Dorado to the same distributors that FFG uses when we took over US distribution of Anima again.  The Hell Dorado line is distributed through the miniature distributor Simple Miniatures in the UK.  They have been restocking regularly and the reason it's hard to get a book is it's hard to keep them stocked.  We're talking to them to resolve some of these issues.  Let your retailers know you're having trouble getting the product and they can talk to their distributor in getting the line in.  We've picked up several new distributors in the last month and are working over time (including Saturday night *ehem*) to stay on top of the orders.  We're not nearly as behind as some much bigger companies are on restocks...only 2-3 weeks at the most.

The best thing to do is talk to your retailers and let them know where they can order it.  Customers are our best marketing tool in this hobby industry. It's out there.  We certainly aren't concerned about the game dying.  I'm more concerned about getting some sleep...which I'll do after I pack some more of this Simple Miniature order I was taking a break from. 

[eternaldream]

I took a break from anima for awhile, but I'd like to get back into it and see what I missed.  I absolutely HATE the Hell Dorado stuff.  I just don't like the models at all.  But that's just my opinion.  I selfishly wish they wouldn't have made it so we get more Anima Tactics stuff, but if it makes them more money so they can stay in business then I can't complain.  I did see some newer models coming out soon.  The releases aren't as steady as they were before unfortunately, but it still is keeping me interested.  I don't want to invest any more in the game if I know it's going to die out next year, ya know?

[Fallecs]

I don't want to invest any more in the game if I know it's going to die out next year, ya know?

Vicious cycle?

[Gimp]

I started buying Anima miniatures for other games, because I started buying them before there were enough to really give Anima many options.  We tried and like Anima Tactics, but left the game alone until more miniatures were available, while we kept buying the miniatures to use with other games.  While I play more Anima now, those same figures still do duty in multiple games.
 
As for the game 'dying,' that depends on what you want the game to do.  If dying means no organized tournament play in your area, that's the fault of the local players, and not Anima.  Nothing the company does can help that.  Take what you have down to your FLGS and get people to play.  That's the only way organized play gets going; through players organizing it.  Game companies do demos and events at major conventions. 
 
Players coordinate everything else.  Prize support can come from entry fees looped back as certificates to the local store if they don't want to front prizes.  Game companies that give away free local prize support frequently get ripped off by players that want freebies without working for it, so the idea has faded in the industry.  A local tournament for bragging rights, with simple certificates made by local players, can be more than enough fun for most players.  You can do those for free until you get more interest up, or work with your FLGS.
 
The game has had consistent releases, additional rules, continued quality, and continued variety, both for the RPG and Anima Tactics.  They aren't a huge company, cranking out loads of new releases, but there are very few that could claim that, yet Anima has kept a stream of high quality product coming our way better than many companies.