darkSpyro

Ok, I've tried to go through most of the topic...

First of all - I live in Poland, a country in which gaming business is treated in a very poor way. When I've heard bout Skylanders, I never really tought that I will try to get them. Unluckily for me, I've bought a 3DS version and I was instantly dragged. But not by the graphic itself. It was more about the idea of figures comming back to life and the fact that there were those 32 different characters with stories and different abilities. I just had to get them all. In that time the Giants were also released, but I wanted to focus on SSA first. The first series was widely distributed in Poland, so excluding price, it wasn't so tough. I collected it in about month, also importing rare Legendaries.

And then came a shock - there was no mention in local shops about Giants at all. I had to order all the figures from abroad... And so I did... More or less, because before all set of them was released, it turned out some are really hard to get. For example Ninjini, which I had to stalk on auctions for hours, just to get it in resonable price. S2 Bash and Slam Bam, which were so overpriced on Ebay, that it was nearly impossible to get one (theyve costed equivalent of 4 figures). The same thing is with S2 Drobot now. It's practically unavailable in Europe or I'd have to pay ridiculous price for it. Color variants are so heavily overpriced, when you're not living in USA/Australia and cannot get them personally, that it's really discouraging. Even tough, I've bought all of them, except of Royal Double Trouble. That was a huge shock, that it was actually only released in USA. If someone tells me, that Activision had some plan in this strategy, then GL! It seems so random and completly out of sense... Unless they treat all the markets except of USA and Australia as unreliable.

Even tough I was more than eager to get all the Swap Force. But when they've started to put all the pre-release infos about variants, I was seriously stunned. Not to mention, that Giants were nearly impossible to get in Poland, with SSF they've suddenly jumped out with over a dozen of Color Variants. I've droped the idea of getting all the figures before they were released. I also decided, that I wont bother with another Prism Break, Eruptor, Chop Chop or Gill Grunt. I've played previous Spyro games and I like it because of it's past, yet I don't really like the idea of getting another dozen of random reposes, which don't even differ from the previous versions too much. Seriously, that's bit too farfetched.

Then I've red about Wii version problems. I was planning to buy it when it will drop on price, but now I seriously wonder about the investment. I like to complete 100% game, but when it turns out, I have to get a heavily overpriced variants and still, I would meet a lot of problems (including risk of erasing the data on the figures) I decided not to buy it. I like Nintendo and I really play their consoles, but I doubt I will buy Wii U anytime soon, since there aren't a single title that would be strong enough, to make me buy the console. Seriously, if Wii was the brand that helped Skylanders to reach the peak, they should at least treat it with proper respect. They could run with SSF on Wii during this year and deffinitely move on to Wii U with the next release.

Of course it won't last forever and they will eventually have to move on, but from mine point of view, if producer is releasing a heavily glitching game, there aren't any excuses. Mostly because it means they've focused more on promotion, rather than production. It was so loud about SSF and there was so many hype, that they could at least focus on the final product. It's like a punch in the face for fans, who contributed a lot and hoped, that they will at least receive the product of the same quality. Because honestly - I didn't expected stunning graphics on Wii. Glitches, and A LOT OF THEM, is completely different story. I don't see any strategy here. Well, only one maybe - MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

Besides, Activision is rushing very much with releases of next waves. I assume it's because in USA Christmas time is the best way for producers to sell toys. Yet, it proves again that they don't really bother with other markets and targets so in the end, it will eventually point at them. It's quite understandable, why they want to milk as much money as they can, before the Skylanders brand will run dry. Pity, they are doing a lot to make it happen sooner than later.

For someone who'd really want to be the collector and fan, but doesn't live in USA, Activision doesn't really makes it easier... In other words, their actions might not be intentional, but even tough, because of them, the franchise is in trouble. At least at other markets than USA. Unless they wants to hold the ground only in North America.

I know we've all talked about their current "wave" strategies and how to make distribution better; had no idea their international distribution has actually gotten worse...anyone else seeing the same thing?

Also--for my knowledge--how available has Swap Force been by comparison to Giants?

Color variants are so heavily overpriced, when you're not living in USA/Australia and cannot get them personally, that it's really discouraging. Even tough, I've bought all of them, except of Royal Double Trouble. That was a huge shock, that it was actually only released in USA. If someone tells me, that Activision had some plan in this strategy, then GL! It seems so random and completly out of sense... Unless they treat all the markets except of USA and Australia as unreliable.

Oh wow,picking up parts of the argument over the overall idea,are we?

I don't even argue with someone that's literally judging me from what I say.

I use logic.

If you want to be so right and superior

Feel free to step on this in a quote