Sol Press Discussion Thread
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@Happy Every publisher has a limited throughput, they can't just license everything they think is good. There's a limited supply of staff, bookstore space, operating funds, etc. For example, two other publishers (SS and JNC) thought FUNA novels would make for good licenses, and I can't think that 80k was left behind because it was too inferior to the others. SS and JNC already had their new FUNA license and I imagine they might have come back later to try to pick the remaining one if it hadn't been doomed to eternal stasis in the clutches of Sol.
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@Happy said in Sol Press Discussion Thread:
Its the reason Yen also calls the shots on every Kadokawa license before anyone else (granted they are a part of it but you get the gist of it).
80k Gold is Kodansha, Chivalry of a Failed Knight is Softbank Creative. I don't think you're going to have an easy time convincing everyone that no one wanted to pick up these series. Seven Seas and J-Novel Club announced FUNA's other two series at nearly the same time as Sol Press announced 80k Gold, and I've heard that Sol Press has been sitting on Rakudai Kishi for possibly years before announcing it and releasing the first 3 volumes, only to again fizzle out with no further updates. No one hated them at first, only once they failed to release more books in a reasonable timeframe.
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@Happy said in Sol Press Discussion Thread:
Yen also calls the shots on every Kadokawa license before anyone else
Kodokawa chooses Yen whenever it makes sense because they are part owners of Yen. If Yen or One Peace, or whoever bid more $$ for 80k then Sol did, they would be publishing it (also was 80k able to be had so cheaply that 'no one else wanted it' ? I don't think so) I think Sol made a error, they paid however much for 80K and didn't have the capacity to do the job. (maybe some plan or funding fell thru or whatever) But the reason they get so much shade is the communication that "it's coming soon...like next week soon!" and not delivering...again and again, it's just unprofessional. If they can't get those logistics right, can we trust that they invested in good translators or editors (or pay them well enough to do a good job?) I'm certainly not going to pre-order a title if they can't adhere to their own schedule.
anyway - I'm done with them
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https://solpress.co/blog/803/where-we-are-and-where-were-going
New updates regarding their releases and plans after Covid. -
@Lotteliese Huh, dropping out of VN to focus on book publishing? Maybe they are doing stuff behind the scenes.
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@Lotteliese said in Sol Press Discussion Thread:
https://solpress.co/blog/803/where-we-are-and-where-were-going
New updates regarding their releases and plans after Covid.I'd be hopeful except there's nothing concrete about actually releasing any more LNs this year.
Perhaps the next update will have some specifics.
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I recall commenting some time ago that one of the sources of my frustration with SOL was the scattered approach they seemed to have with their 'business model'- are they a games (VN) producer? Publisher (and if a publisher, focused on what? digital/physical? LN/Manga?) how do they generate income? actually producing product or crowdfunding?
it seems some internal dialog mirrored my thoughts- looks like they figured out they can't make money with VN/Steam and are pulling out of that market, and they are trying to hire more translators/editors for their LN projects...however I'll believe it when I see results
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One thing that stuck out in that blog post was the mention that some of the digital releases may be tied to 'physical release requirements'.
Obviously this isn't an issue for j-novel titles(duh), but it might explain why Yen Press delayed both digital and physical releases earlier this spring if they had similar conditions to adhere to. Why would a licensor require that? To deter piracy?
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@Korppi Or to keep bookstores happy? Or just plain hardheadedness, maybe.
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Or to be cynical, just as an excuse while they try to get their act together.
I'll be happy if they prove me wrong and start releasing a flood of LNs later this year.
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@Nosgoroth said in Sol Press Discussion Thread:
keep bookstores happy
@Nosgoroth said in Sol Press Discussion Thread:
keep bookstores happy
I suspect that this is the reason. A holdover from when people would go to brick and mortar bookstores and buy books in person. I remember folks lining up outside the local Barnes and Noble to purchase a Harry Potter book at the release date (at midnight)
some publishers set their ebook price to be a % of hardcover price on release date (not a 'thing' for LNs, but definitely part of the industry) and then the ebook price goes down when a paperback version is released
business operations at (some) publishers is still very much tied to the physical first model (I suspect it has something to do with how royalties are paid to authors too)
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@Jon-Mitchell said in Sol Press Discussion Thread:
I remember folks lining up outside the local Barnes and Noble to purchase a Harry Potter book at the release date (at midnight)
I remember lining up in Borders at midnight to purchase the last two Harry Potter books, and then each time reading through the entire thing over the course of about three to four hours.
But yeah, I agree, I have a feeling there's some publishers who require it because they want to support bookstores or have a not-insubstantial stake in one or more bookstore chains.
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I used to work at Borders when they started doing the midnight Potter releases (I think with book 4). Those were a lot of fun!
Regarding Sol Press: I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because I want to believe that 80k won't be lost in this and I'm interested in Chivalry (though I haven't started it yet).
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Hey, another volume 2 is materializing. Maybe there's some hope after all.
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Not 80k Gold unfortunately (which is their only series I've started reading), thus I don't care. I won't start any of their other series unless it's already completely translated. I just can't stand waiting for years between volumes...
EDIT: They're shifting focus to books? What did I miss?
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@Terabyte They updated their blog for the first time in ages a few days ago.
https://solpress.co/blog/803/where-we-are-and-where-were-going
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for grins, I took a look at their job postings and I think their 'focus' on books might night be all it seems. They have "help wanted" for Japanese to Chinese (CN) translators in addition to editors/English translators. But no project managers? Focusing on books but diversifying languages?!
if they had 'too much on their plate' why add CN?I read banned books
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@Timmaaah I saw that blog entry but I just read it quickly skipping things. Guess I'll give it another read. Thanks for the heads up.
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@Jon-Mitchell While they aren't planning on picking up any new VNs (other than maybe sequels), they might still be wanting to do Chinese translations of their existing VNs.
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@Jon-Mitchell
Is there even a point for publishing JP to CN translations?
From my understanding there are already a lot of Chinese Publishers that do a JP to CN translation of any VN/LN material.Do they want to enter the Chinese market now even though there are already a lot of them compared to the English speaking market wherein they themselves are failing to produce results?
