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Of Dice and Plastic Men: Gandalf and Superman, Rep
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How to Build a Successful Venue
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Bin Laden: Dead
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arrowEconomy, Trolls, & HeroClixs
Robert's Dial Maker
ClixCraves Vol 01
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Batman on My Baby
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HeroClix World Baby!
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HeroClix: For Profit
Black History Month
Fixing HeroClix


Economy, Trolls, and Heroclixs
Dr. Faustin (09/07/2010)
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Economy, Trolls, & HeroClixsWizkids recently announced a change to the Web of Spider-Man Prize kits. Previously, the Brave and Bold kit included 15 LE figures, 14 3-D objects, 10 maps, and 12 ATA cards, for $25.00. The new Web of Spider-Man kit is the same price and includes 15 LE figures, 10 Objects, and 6 maps. Additionally, Wizkids recently implemented a new policy that cut the orders of many large retailers, forcing them to wait two weeks for their entire shipment to arrive.

Dr. Faustin chimes in from Belize to give us his opinion about these changes.

With the dual announcements by WizKids of changes to the Official Prize kits (OP) and their Internet retailer policy, the Internet has been ablaze with complaints. People are screaming because the WoS prize kit has fewer items in it than originally solicited and, if you ordered from an online retailer (at a huge discount), you may have to wait two weeks post-release date to receive your Web of Spider-Man brick(s)/case(s).

 

While no one will argue that the decision to communicate these changes to the public so close to the release of Web of Spider-Man is mistimed, WizKids is still trying to do right by the customer. Before you begin shouting at your monitor screaming about how WizKids is giving us fewer prizes for the same amount of money (as The Brave and The Bold prize kit), lets try and keep things in perspective.

 

Times are tough, relative disposable income is at an all-time low (since the Depression), comic and game stores are closing up all over the country. The stores that are still in business are watching every penny and looking for any way to stretch to the far side of a dollar. Comic books and toys tend to be among the first things to go when cash gets tight.


Continued below...

HeroClix Web of Spiderman Prizes

Above, the Web of Spider-Man prize kit (maps not shown)


Call Heroclixs what you want but, in the end, they are toys. WizKids is a toy company that operates in a very narrow niche of the toy market. Certainly the fans of Heroclixs are passionate and vote their loyalty with their money, but this is not enough. In this economy, flat is the new growth. For WizKids to survive, it has to replace any customers it loses (for whatever reason) with new blood. With their decision to favor brick and mortar stores over online presence, WizKids sided with the friendly neighborhood comic/game store as where that new blood would come from. The faithful hordes who order their cases online will call and moan about the delay, but WizKids is making a strategic decision that people who order cases online will NOT drop the game due to a two week wait. In most cases, these hardcore clixers can get their ‘fix for clixs’ by buying some boosters at their local brick & mortar store or by playing in some sealed events. Driving people to Mom & Pop shops is what WizKids is betting on. The future of the game depends on it.


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Your Comments:
Just took part in a sealed at my local where i got a brick the day before and was able to choose which LE i wanted after the Tourney was finished, also got a copy of the map and 1 of each object, then was able to trade my 2nd Bullseye for the other LE i needed, so inspite of the reduced OP kit i've actually gotten everything i wanted from it... now all i need is that elusive green goblin to finish off my Osborn Trio!

Posted by: Ste on 9/12/2010 8:16:15 PM
I'm new to HeroClix and have really enjoyed this game! I'm an older player and only recently found a group that plays on a regular basis in my local Comic Shop, (I'm new to the area, too). After being away from gaming for many years I'm quite surprised to see the comic shops hosting so many game nights and think it's a fantastic idea.

Because of the support of gamers on a weekly basis, I gladly buy my booster packs and all merchandise at the comic shop. I just got my first brick on Friday for the WoS release and paid $115 with tax.

I've heard of people saving quite a bit of money buying online, but I'll always buy locally just to support the shop which, in turn, supports us by providing a great place to meet and play. Besides, nothing beats having the merchandise in hand instead of having to wait and wait for the mail!

Posted by: Top on 9/12/2010 11:00:32 AM
i ordered a brick, will that be delayed too? because it still hasnt come...

Posted by: trever on 9/11/2010 5:13:32 PM
Great article! As the owner of a comic shop I REALLY appreciate Heroclix giving us some love. As you said, those of us left are trying EVERYTHING we can to survive this crappy economy, big-box discount stores and not being able to return unsold product.
In my shop I pre-sell bricks for $100ea. 12:01 last night we all gathered for a "Crack-a-Brick" release party for all those customers. EVERYONE got a map, we opened and traded, and proceeded to play a tournament. I supplied 3 more boosters and we picked figs in the order we finished in. I completely SOLD OUT all of my WOS and had to order more today! We all had a BLAST, most everyone ended up with a full set, (except for several SR's), and the shop made a little profit without getting greedy. And yes, Im addicted to the plastic crack myself.
As for the OP kits, there are usually plenty of goodies to go around if you get your max allotment of 3 kits. I would have been happier with more maps of course, but I think they should have had allowed for judges prizes. My judges give up their time to run tournaments, and rarely get to play.
Once the prize support runs out I have $5 buy in for tournaments, and ALL of that money goes to purchase boosters for prized which we open and pick in the order we finished till their gone. I am getting new players on a weekly basis, and it just gets better with every new set. Tony Grove
Tonys Kingdom of Comics
Keizer OR

Posted by: tonyskingdom on 9/8/2010 2:25:09 PM
Let me start by saying that this is WizKids slight of hand to buy more time for their shipments and manufacturing. They've delayed for a month and I'm sure they are still short on time for manufacturing. Which is probably a good thing because pre-orders probably blew the top off. They are going to favor retail stores because that's where people play heroclix! They are making the same money selling to retail and online stores.

Ugh, and yes I'm one of the suckers that bought online. I bought a case. BUT! I also buy boosters at my local venue to complete my collection. I also attend sealed events at at multiple venues. My stores gets their fair share of my money. I feel that I spread the love everywhere and I want my case tomorrow! =/
I guess I'll have to make due with whatever I get at sealed events.

Posted by: azreal on 9/7/2010 7:52:03 PM
@ seven-feathers, the LE Spider-man is a Dark Avengers Venom, the Carnage repaint is Toxin.

Im happy about the focus being firmly on the Brick&Mortar stores and the reduced numbers of objects & LE's doesnt bother me much but you are right on the subject of Maps.
i personally value Maps quite highly possibly even more so than the minis so the fact that even if i take part at my local store's events i've no guarantee of getting one is quite upsetting.

As far as online retailers is concerned; hay if you dont wanna pay full price for something then you should be ok with waiting a little longer than those who do to get your hands on it

Posted by: Ste on 9/7/2010 7:23:38 PM
Well you hit one major issue on the head. Maps are the driving force to get new gamers to play. They replaced the new guy night figures, period. You mentioned they may change this back.

Tough times yes but they have already done away the cards to reduce costs. They did remove chase figs yes. I wish they would do away away with the useless LE figs in the prize kits and keep it limites to maps and objects and real figures. This will be the first release I will buy a few figs and support my local store with a blind buy in, but not collecting the whole set or bricks this time around. I believe support should swing 2 ways. As it stands now I can not support my basic game group and those that wish to join with the layout as it now stands. Bad cost cutting decision will hurt this release. Many of us kept the hobby alive even after the downfall of Wizkids gen1, maybe they should get feedback before making changes rather then saving some change and adjusting afterward. best of luck :)

Posted by: scourge101 on 9/7/2010 2:08:19 PM
I have no problem with Wizkids slowing down the online stores. I would rather get my pieces from my local store then online. The only time I get any missing pieces is after I have exausted all the local venues/tourneys I make. As far as ideas for them to help promote and keep the game going. I'm for it, even though on a personnal note I feel like I'm getting burnt out from playing since IC.

But no matter what Wizkids does to help the local stores, the biggest thing that still hasnt happen (at least at my venue) is still no new players. Our last new one joined just before HOT and now it looks like we may be losing 2-3 of our old players.

Posted by: Nightwing-fan on 9/7/2010 1:59:37 PM
completely unrelated, but what is that spiderman on the wall LE? it isn't the one that comes in the main set right? and is that a carnage LE?

Posted by: seven-feathers on 9/7/2010 12:28:03 PM
I THINK IT IS GREAT!!!! Screw TOAD ... @#%&! There not there for there customers anyway!!!! Point being look at what they did to ALL WHO BOUGHT A DR.MANHATTAN from them!!! Still talking to my LAWYER about that!!!! After that I Will NEVER BUY ONLINE AGAIN!!! Support your local shop!!

Posted by: Hof on 9/7/2010 12:20:51 PM
The timing is so bad it makes the changes look more appalling than they really are. Announcing the change within days of stores receiving their orders is almost juvenile in it's lack of common sense. If this had been announced at the time of the solicits for WoS being available I would have very little complaint with it.

Posted by: Behemoth on 9/7/2010 11:34:01 AM
Please note that I monitor comments on this site and delete double-posts.

Posted by: The Le on 9/7/2010 11:33:15 AM
Speaking of trolls...
It's funny that you double posted too, Jor-el...

Posted by: KirbyPunch on 9/7/2010 11:28:17 AM
Yea kirby
U do look like a fool.intrnet retailers have better prices n I m broke...u must be rich cuz I cant afford a brick for 140 but if I can get it for one hundderd thenits al good.

ppl r broke but still need ther clix fix...why makem wait?

Nuff ' said.

Posted by: SonofJORELstrikesagain! on 9/7/2010 11:13:39 AM
So how about the online stores that have brick and mortar stores too. Do they get delayed? I order from a local store but when I pre-order I have to do it through their website.

Posted by: Slewach on 9/7/2010 11:07:46 AM
Wizkids are doing right by brick and mortar, which means they are doing right by us....

Posted by: KirbyPunch on 9/7/2010 11:02:57 AM
Brick and Mortar stores are the past...but also VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE!WizKids are

Posted by: KirbyPunch on 9/7/2010 11:01:19 AM
I'm SO glad than NECA did this to intrenet retailers. I know it's more money, but support your local comic book store. That's where this game's roots are. BUY LOCAL PLAY LOCAL!

Posted by: Bigolegreezy on 9/7/2010 10:47:49 AM
Like I said on HCrealms: If we had known about the true contents of the OP Kit, we would have ordered another one. With the original content we would have had more then enough for three months of playing, now it's not. So Wizkids/Neca would have gotten more money from us if they told us in advance.

Posted by: Henk on 9/7/2010 10:40:48 AM
I agree with you

But instead of having 5 LE, maybe only 3 is suffisant and can reduce the cost.

Instead making 3D markers, we can have a sheet of markers in carton...

We can reduce cost easily....

Posted by: Algan on 9/7/2010 10:35:46 AM