The subject of animeeples has come up very often and I find myself in a trying position. I made a promise to make the animeeples available only in copies of the game during a specific time period in order to initiate the publication of Agricola. This promise was made when there were only 2 licensees involved in the production. I knew Lookout was interested in selling animeeples during Essen as part as a "pimp your Agricola" package and that was fine. However, as other companies jumped onto this project, all wanted certain items in their copies and since the use of the animeeples was beyond my control, they ended up as standard items.

So, understanding that other languages have the animeeples standard in their edition, and therefore other people would want these items in their games, but also understanding that I made a promise I have come up with a compromise that will hopefully satisfy both parties.

Starting in December 2008, Lookout Games will start selling the animeeples as they see fit. I will not be selling them.

In this way the animeeples will be available satisfying those that want to have them and in a time frame and extra cost that will satisfy the people who preordered the game initially.

I hope this is a solution most will be happy about (I know I can't satisfy all).

Any questions about the animeeples should be directed to Lookout Games.

Thanks,
Zev Shlasinger, President
Z-Man Games, Inc.
www.zmangames.com

EDIT: Stupid date error.

Wow... What integrity!

This is why we love you, Zev! I am thoroughly happy with my preorder copy, Animeeples and Z-Deck and all, but I don't want other people to be unable to get the Animeeples if they can.

It's a bummer that we have to wait more than a year (December '09) to purchase animeeples "officially," but it's understandable.

Thanks, Zev, for publishing this fine game.

Just checking... was that a typo or did you really mean '09?

Thanks for the news, Zev.
I know a lot of people are whining and complaining about not being able to get the animeeples but please remember that probably a lot more are completely understanding and supportive of your position.

Kudos, Zev. It's hard to both give everyone what they ask for, and to stand by your promise of an exclusive. I hope this puts to rest the complaints.

Zev,
I completely understand. We do not live in a perfect world. I do think the 12/09 release is fair to those of us who pre-ordered, and I do not question your integrity in making this decision. BTW, a great thanks for stepping up and making this game available to the English speaking audience! C U @ EQ.

Zev, I'm just glad I get to play this great game - thanks for making it available! I didn't preorder solely for the animeeples - after all $75 would be an awful lot for a few wooden animals And other people having animeeples in no way takes away from my fun. Thanks for all the work you do!

>I will not be selling them.

I do hope, should pricing models allow, that Z-man would consider making animeeples standard with future printings. Indeed I hope Z-man considers matching all upgrades that become standard in the Lookout edition and making them standard for English edition releases as well.

Thank you.

Now, will the wailing and gnashing of teeth end?

A reasonable policy that should please all.

Well done Zev! When do the resourceeples come out?

* I'll preface this by saying I don't really care too much about the animeeples other than the fact that the term animeeples is kind of annoying.*

I think it would be a good idea to incorporate them in future print runs, as not having them may lead to the Z-man edition of the game being perceived as the 'inferior' edition.

It isn't unprecedented. p500 scenarios from GMT are often released to the general public after a period.

What integrity? He said that only pre-orders would get the Z-Deck and then every one got it instead. Seems like he can keep a promise on some but not all.

Personally, I don't see what the big deal is for either the animeeples or Z-Deck. Why not just have both available? I think more people would LIKE to get them then would be annoyed that you "went back on your word" (although technically you already have).

What, I can't believe it! I only pre-ordered this stupid game so that I could make a killing by reselling it with the animeeples! You've shot my retirement plan!

For humor impaired (or in case I did it wrong):

I haven't been following the Agricola animeeple fiasco, so I'm not sure what the issue is.

Could someone summarize what's going on and what the resolution is? It sounds like originally Zman promised to make animeeples available only in the preorders, but currently they are standard for all copies? But in December 2008, they will no longer be included and they will be sold by Lookout separately, and the Zman Agricola games will be slightly cheaper than they are now?

No... He clearly stated in the original post where he announced the Z-Deck that it would most likely be available through other means. Zev NEVER said that only pre-orders would get the Z-Deck. He said that it was a way to ensure that you got it and that you paid nothing extra for it...

I will admit that I pre-ordered simply because of the animeeples. I probably would have gotten around to pre-ordering anyway, but the exclusive animeeples did cause me to do so earlier. That being said, I would not be too upset if Z-Man eventually sold them. Pre-order people will have gotten them for free. And I would not want to deny Zev a source of income. Let Zev make some money so he can keep putting out great games.

How very fair. More than that, really. You seem to be going out of your way to hobble your own company. The first mention of them never said Animeeples wouldn't be made available in the future, through an expansion or at cons or whatnot, just that they wouldn't be included in English copies outside of the Z-Man direct preorders. I'll buy some from Lookout, or wherever they become available, but I would have preferred to buy them from Z-Man, hopefully at my FLGS.

In short, Animeeples were an incentive to pre-order directly from Z-Man, and to do it early. Zev stated that this would be the only way to get animeeples with the Z-Man edition. I believe that for copies sold in the States, this is true, but with the European sellers of the game, some weird things may be going on. There was a lot of uproar from various people who were mad that they might not be able to get animeeples, and from some pre-orderers who were mad that the animeeples, one incentive that led them to pre-order, might become widely available.

I believe the above is factual, although I'd welcome corrections if I got anything wrong. Now, IMHO, here's what really happened. Zev had a great way of incentivizing pre-orders, and the pre-orders helped finance the English printing of the game. Then a bunch of people got their panties in a bunch about some peoples' copy of Agricola being cooler than theirs. Then rumors started flying nd people started jumping on Zev about animeeples and the price point and the timing of shipping and a bunch of crap that's somewhat beyond his control, and some crap that's just the reality of publishing in a niche market. And this is the thanks he gets for bringing us this wonderful game.

Now, there may be some legitimate complaints floating around, but I'd be shocked if Zev doesn't do right by everyone he can. Given my experience with him over the last couple months, my opinion of the Z-Man has never been higher.

Signed, a relatively shameless Z-Man fanboy.

Zev - great, thoughtful policy and post. Showcases yet another reason why I (and so many others) admire you and are glad you're a part of the boardgame industry.

Seems you can never please some people.

Thanks again, Zev, for making these available, no matter the means. I for one didn't get in early enough to pre-order directly from you (frankly, I didn't get in on the hype), so I pre-ordered from ThoughtHammer. It's nice to know you take care of your customers...all of us, not just those who pre-ordered and think they're somehow "owed" something.

(Does it strike anyone else as odd that people would be upset that Zev will allow others, put simply, to purchase bits of wood?)

Reading your post I am guessing that it did not occur to you that someone's feeling about keeping a promise (partial or not) might be stronger than their desire to please one group or the other.

How sad that people have become so apparently emotional over some playing pieces for a (GREAT!) game.

I'm sure Zev was torn between the decisions he faced concerning the animeeples...keep his promise or try to please some people. Both decisions have their merits.

I applaud Zev for his decision... As far as I'm concerned, he has done nothing wrong.

"You have chosen wisely, Grasshopper..."

My humble 2 cents.

Sounds like a fair way of making everyone happy.