I’m guessing a true flop would be one where they ended up with stock they couldn’t shift. Though that’s a rather simplistic summary.
[...]
The problem with BB and Necro is that there’s a limited output. Compared to their big systems which are unlimited.
There’s only so many gang members you need, or weapons, or hired guns.
Add to which not being Competitive Tournament Games, the various sub-games like Necromunda and GorkaMorka did not penalize players for using non-GW models in their various conversions. Heck, really, they encouraged it. Which means that support did not necessitate increased dollars for GW. Initial binge of buying for a given player, and then only drips and drabs. Not a matter of un-shifted stock, but a view that "potential" dollars were not being spent, and that somehow that is a loss of profits.
Basically, that each Necromunda player or GorkaMorka player was a loss of a potential 40K player, and how much more money they could make off a 40K player instead. Not actually TRUE of course. I doubt that any actual statistics could even pretend to back that idea up. But the "core games only" idea certainly did visibly take hold.
If on the other hand success of a line were measured by player loyalty, and duration of use, well, the various "specialist games" as they eventually were called are perhaps some of the most successful, right up there with the original WFRP. But that is a long-term, slow income stream, rather than constant and fast.
Edit too:
Also, GorkaMorka especially would also incidentally hide anyone buying models to support their GM game within general ork-for-40K-model-buying. That could not help in convincing any audit.
Edit:
Also looking really forward to adding these to various GorkaMorka gangs. And likely even as straight builds! Just the right post-apocalyptic-road-movie vibe. Road Warrior. Tank Girl. Turbo Kid. Six-string Samurai. Zombieland. Fury Road. Sure, not Panic In Year Zero, but hey.
). 
