darkSpyro

With SSA, the number of skylanders was slow and stock was short lived...now with Giants, stock hasn't been a problem and they're delivering at a breakneck pace.

1. Do you like how many have come out so far in what we consider wave 4?
2. Do you think increasing pressure by Disney in June is fueling this approach, or was it feedback from customers?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Yes. Wave 4 is huge

Let me give a little more substance...

Wave 4 we know so far is Ninjini, Wrecking Ball, Spyro, Hot Dog and Shroomboom. If you want to call the variants then, we have Molten Hot Dog, Jade Flashwing, And Legendary Lightcore Chill. Those have been found/ordered.

Now, I know Lightcore Pop Fizz is rumored to be in their. It is more than likely to be in wave 4 but not confirmed yet. Also, I think it was regular Lightcore Chill is suspected to be in wave 4.

I don't like the big waves. They should spread the releases out more.

I think it was feedback from disgruntled customers plus the competition from Infinity that is pushing them to show customers no one will have trouble finding characters.

The release of everything is faster than the last game, but at the same time, there is more to release.

In October (in the US), we had -

- Swarm
- Bouncer
- Crusher
- Tree Rex (Starter and Portal Owner)
- Hot Head
- Jet-Vac (Starter)
- Pop Fizz
- Chill
- Fright Rider
- Shroomboom (Battle)
- Flashwing
- Sprocket
- Cynder (Starter)
- Terrafin
- Slam Bam
- Ignitor
- Trigger Happy
- Whirlwind
- Zook
- Chop Chop (Battle)
- Double Trouble
- Bash
- Gill Grunt
- Flameslinger
- Drill Sergeant
- Sonic Boom
- Stump Smash
- LC Prism Break
- LC Drobot
- LC Eruptor
- LC Jet-Vac
- Punch Pop Fizz
- Granite Crusher
- L-Bouncer
- L-Ignitor
- L-Slam Bam
- L-Jet-Vac
- Triple Pack 1
- Triple Pack 2
- Triple Pack 3
- Triple Pack 4

In November, we got -

- Gnarly Tree Rex
- Royal Double Trouble
- L-Stealth Elf

In December, we got -

- LC Shroomboom
- Lightning Rod
- Eruptor
- Prism Break
- Stealth Elf
- Cynder (Single)

In January, we got -

- Thumpback
- Eye Brawl
- Hot Dog (Battle)
- Zap (Battle)
- Triple Pack 5
- Triple Pack 6

In February, we got -

- Ninjini
- Molten Hot Dog

In March, we're getting -

- Spyro
- Wrecking Ball
- Hot Dog (Single)
- Shroomboom (Single)
- LC Pop Fizz
- LC Chill
- L-LC-Chill
- Jade Flashwing
- Triple Pack 7 (and 8?)

So, we got something every month so far, which is a good timetable if you ask me. This is why I think wave 5 will come out in early April, and we will see -

April -

- Jet-Vac (Single)
- Drobot
- Chop Chop (Single)
- Zap (Single)
- LC Hex
- Scarlet Ninjini
- Polar Whirlwind
- Triple Pack 9 (or 8 if it doesn't appear in wave 4)

Not bad, again.

Ahh, the great skylander argument. Ryanator, were you around for S:SA? They spread them out until Juneish I think. People were mad that they spread them out that far. Now, they are having shorter time in between waves. Which make some people happy, some people mad.

I think part of the problem with S:SA they didn't know that the game was going to take off like it did. So after Christmas stores were wiped out. In fact no stores anywhere had figures this time last year. I think that may have played into why it was dragged out a bit.

They are doing things differently this time. Part of it is more readiness on their part. Part of it was us complaining. Some of it may have to do with Disneys game coming out in June and they want everything out before then, because it will take the spotlight away for awhile from skylanders.

Keep in mind we have more figures this time, and more variants that are not chase variants also. So, more figures may make it seem like less time in between waves then we actually have. More stuff to look for, more people looking for it.

I personally would like to see them stretch it out a bit more. Also, maybe release a couple of figures in June, to keep the spotlight on them instead of giving it all to Disney. I am not sure how well the Disney game will do. That is for another forum. Anyways, just a couple of points.

S:SA had 32 character. -3 for the starter pack left only 29 to acquire for the basic collector. there were only 5 in game variants (Legendaries and Dark Spyro) for a total of 37 different in game characters
Giants has 8 giants, 8 newlanders, 24 reposes and 8 Lightcore for 48 basic toys and another 14 in game variants for a total of 62 in game characters and god knows how many chase variants.
Swap Force seems to be poised to be even worse, with 16 swappers, 16 newlanders, 16 reposes and 8 Lightcore for 62 basic characters and my guess is at least the same number of variants, but probably much more (20+)
expect ven bigger and more crowded waves next year!

I like how they released things this time. My only hope, is that no character (ie Scarlet Ninjini) is exclusive to any country or is only gotten via conventions.

Swap Force seems to have more new than old. I appreciate that. 32 NEW figures, compared to 16 old. I can't say how many of the Lightcores are going to be based on the Newlanders from Swap Force.

Quote: Bazinga

Ahh, the great skylander argument. Ryanator, were you around for S:SA? They spread them out until Juneish I think. People were mad that they spread them out that far. Now, they are having shorter time in between waves. Which make some people happy, some people mad.

I think part of the problem with S:SA they didn't know that the game was going to take off like it did. So after Christmas stores were wiped out. In fact no stores anywhere had figures this time last year. I think that may have played into why it was dragged out a bit.

They are doing things differently this time. Part of it is more readiness on their part. Part of it was us complaining. Some of it may have to do with Disneys game coming out in June and they want everything out before then, because it will take the spotlight away for awhile from skylanders.

Keep in mind we have more figures this time, and more variants that are not chase variants also. So, more figures may make it seem like less time in between waves then we actually have. More stuff to look for, more people looking for it.

I personally would like to see them stretch it out a bit more. Also, maybe release a couple of figures in June, to keep the spotlight on them instead of giving it all to Disney. I am not sure how well the Disney game will do. That is for another forum. Anyways, just a couple of points.

Bazinga,

I agree with your assessment. I think the pendelum has swing from not prepared at all (I remember the naked shelves in Jan and Feb last year too) to actually being too prepared...imo their eagerness to "blow out sales numbers" AND the Infinity entanglement is causing me a bit of indigestion. I know I spent a lot of money (for me) on toys. I won't even include my newfound fondness for variants.

Given SSF's number of skylanders I suspect they will trickle it out more than they are now, but there will still be a lot of new skylanders simply from the sheer number they plan on releasing (as you indicated from the move from SSA to SG). At some point, their release model will break, and when that happens---you'll see them scale back.

Quote: GameMaster78

So, we got something every month so far, which is a good timetable if you ask me.

Funny - wasn't it you that was constantly posting angry stuff against Activision because they weren't releasing stuff fast enough for you?

In fact, when I pointed out that Activision was releasing more figures with SG than they had SSA in the same time frame, you just blew that off and continued to complain that the figures weren't being released fast enough?

I hate how they released them this time simply because it is truly a pain for the international customers. I know that someone will misinterpret this as simply US-bashing and am prepared for all hate, oh, fire when ready. I have a rant about why I find the sporadic releases so bad locked up somewhere and I might look for that. It's not the fact that someone else gets it first guys. It's that it does cause stock issues because they don't send very much of it to us from sending it your way so long. I've barely seen Wave Three stock. We miss out on a lot of opportunities you guys get as well- stuff like Glow Boom.

78... There IS a country exclusive variant. It's called Royal Double Trouble. Never released outside of America. Why do you keep saying you hope there are no country exclusive variants, then ignore his existence?

Quote: UncleBob

Quote: GameMaster78

So, we got something every month so far, which is a good timetable if you ask me.

Funny - wasn't it you that was constantly posting angry stuff against Activision because they weren't releasing stuff fast enough for you?

In fact, when I pointed out that Activision was releasing more figures with SG than they had SSA in the same time frame, you just blew that off and continued to complain that the figures weren't being released fast enough?

That was then. This is now.

Quote: GamingMaster_76

I hate how they released them this time simply because it is truly a pain for the international customers. I know that someone will misinterpret this as simply US-bashing and am prepared for all hate, oh, fire when ready. I have a rant about why I find the sporadic releases so bad locked up somewhere and I might look for that. It's not the fact that someone else gets it first guys. It's that it does cause stock issues because they don't send very much of it to us from sending it your way so long. I've barely seen Wave Three stock. We miss out on a lot of opportunities you guys get as well- stuff like Glow Boom.

78... There IS a country exclusive variant. It's called Royal Double Trouble. Never released outside of America. Why do you keep saying you hope there are no country exclusive variants, then ignore his existence?

See, I knew I was't imagining things. So Royal never did come out over there? That sucks, and it's a shady move if you ask me.

26 days later and everythings all better now?

Like I said in the very beginning as long ingame variants shud be accessible to us public consumers not in conventions id be all good. And yes the supply SG is really good and alot of options to buy from. As for current supply isnt it nice to put alot in your Easter Basket? And yes St Patricks is coming and spring break and summer break. id also assume this is pure marketing for Activision. This is very good for us endusers and cant wait to complete our collections and get it over with. Cheers and happy hunting everyone!

Quote: Bazinga

Ahh, the great skylander argument. Ryanator, were you around for S:SA? They spread them out until Juneish I think. People were mad that they spread them out that far. Now, they are having shorter time in between waves. Which make some people happy, some people mad.

I think part of the problem with S:SA they didn't know that the game was going to take off like it did. So after Christmas stores were wiped out. In fact no stores anywhere had figures this time last year. I think that may have played into why it was dragged out a bit.

They are doing things differently this time. Part of it is more readiness on their part. Part of it was us complaining. Some of it may have to do with Disneys game coming out in June and they want everything out before then, because it will take the spotlight away for awhile from skylanders.

Keep in mind we have more figures this time, and more variants that are not chase variants also. So, more figures may make it seem like less time in between waves then we actually have. More stuff to look for, more people looking for it.

I personally would like to see them stretch it out a bit more. Also, maybe release a couple of figures in June, to keep the spotlight on them instead of giving it all to Disney. I am not sure how well the Disney game will do. That is for another forum. Anyways, just a couple of points.

Actually I was around... Okay maybe what I mentioned wasn't the problem. Maybe it's the other way around, push more out sooner so we have time to buy them all.

Quote: Ryanator20x6

Maybe it's the other way around, push more out sooner so we have time to buy them all.

They won't get the stores to agree to that, though. They can't be sure which figures will sell well and which will be fodder lining the shelves for months.


If they push out a larger variety sooner, the stores will buy less of each, so the popular "rare" figures will remain rare.

If they push out LESS figure variety, the stores will remember Swarm (which has been selling as cheap as $2.99 just to clear out inventory), and will keep their initial supplies low to avoid taking another major loss like that.

Quote: Peridot Weapon

Quote: Ryanator20x6

Maybe it's the other way around, push more out sooner so we have time to buy them all.

They won't get the stores to agree to that, though. They can't be sure which figures will sell well and which will be fodder lining the shelves for months.


If they push out a larger variety sooner, the stores will buy less of each, so the popular "rare" figures will remain rare.

If they push out LESS figure variety, the stores will remember Swarm (which has been selling as cheap as $2.99 just to clear out inventory), and will keep their initial supplies low to avoid taking another major loss like that.

Keep in mind 8 months from now, I am willing to bet that Swarm and Bouncer will be going for atleast 25-30 bucks on Ebay, because they will not be able to find him. Also, I don't have 1500 dollars at once to plop down on 50 new skylanders!

Will you guys stop going on about Swarm at $2.99 !!!

The shops here are STILL selling him for £15 ($22) Which I myself paid not only a few weeks ago!

In the UK, they cost much more are harder to find, get released later and we miss out on almost all the exclusives/variants.

So those in the USA complaining that they have to drive around a few stores to find figure blah should count yourselves lucky you have the choice to do so!

Quote: UncleBob

26 days later and everythings all better now?

which was obviously not influenced at all by his free toy fair chop chop and the signed "we love you david" poster from tfb