darkSpyro

Hi, I'm relatively sure this has been raised before but i just thought i would share my experience.
i am 25, and i have collected almost all of giants and spyros adventure. Due to financial constraints i had no intention of continuing with swap force. However it has persuaded me, just i need to manage how i buy them. No buying all of wave one in one hit this time!
now normally that's what i do, purchase as many as possible in one go, its slightly embarrassing but never once have the staff made me feel bad about it, infact once a member of staff defended this behaviour, says everyone has 'their thing', and hes right, skylanders has become my thing.
today was different, i went to preorder my first step into swap force commitment, the dark starter pack.
the girl at the till hesitated, and was like, uh, you know it costs alot right? I said yeah, around £80, its fine. She flicked through the folder and asked if i definitely wanted it. I said yes, and she said is it for me, so i smiled and said yes. I wasn't falling for this, i remained positive and showed my excitement. I asked questions, confirmed lightcore hex, release date, that my deposit comes off of the cost etc. Then she replied with this, the dark characters are more powerful and this pack is rarer, so when you eventually grow out of this you can sell them for more.
now i don't know if its just me, but that changed my mood, kinda annoyed me. I don't look the type to be collecting these, i know that, but i don't care, spyro has been in my life since he came out on the ps1, i know he doesn't have a huge presence on this, but he started it for me.
i just dislike their attitude towards selling this, or hers atleast. And she asked me if i had Disney infinity, to be frank I'm sick of being asked about that. I know its a similar game type, but no, I'm not interested. I'm here for skylanders, stop trying to sell me something else.

Annoying as it is its their job to push merchandise, but anyways a surprisng amount of adults are into this game. I started spyro with tlos series and that's what got me interested in skylanders. I get similar looks sometimes with skylanders and whene ver I purchase a quote unquote boy game like cod

I would just say you had a bad singular experience. I am 36 have a mortgage, wife, kid, job, blah blah blah, etc. and I still play and love this game. It sounds like she just had a pickle up her a$$ and she shouldn't be working with people. Plus it's just bad business to try and belittle someone for their entertainment purchase of choice. It sounds like this is a Game store since it appears you are in the U.K. and I mean really??? She works at a video game store....WOW. Trust me there are far worse things to be into. I've been defending Pokemon to people for years stating it's one of the most stable and enjoyable rpg's in the biz. Now I do enjoy playing with my daughter but I also play a great deal myself (Still need to complete Nightmare mode before Swap Force). Personally I'm a collector and any game that has a collecting element with a steady progressive system as well is my kind of game. Don't let the crappy people get you down and continue to play what you enjoy...after all it's for you not them.

Yeah, I wouldn't let it bother you too much. I'm 33 and I play. I've worked in gaming shops and comic shops for around a decade and believe me there are just as many adults that like these sorts of things as there are children. Actually probably more adults. In most of the stores I go to in my area for Skylanders, most of the employees have ended up playing too. I would just write this off as a bad experience with someone that has lousy customer service skills.

“People who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves.
To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. ...
When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

― C.S. Lewis

Don't let the one bad experience get you down. I can understand where you are coming from flumpy89 but just brush it off. I am 37, got the whole wife, house and kids thing going too and I still enjoy the game. I mostly only play the game with my Son as I feel that it is the best possible way to experience it. We both love it, it is something that brings us together. Who cares about anything else?

Listen, and this goes especially for the kids - life is a great deal more fulfilling when you choose your hobbies based on what you like and not what other people think you should like. I know it doesn't apply to you, but I see neighborhood kids all the time trying to tell each other what to like. I'm proud my son for the most part resists it - he likes Mario games, Kirby games and Skylanders. He could care less about shooters and fighting games. He has friends that talk about Call of Duty, etc. (at 9-12, no less), he has friends that come over and try to convince him to put in my copy of God of War, Gears of War, Batman, etc. (I play those as well) - but he knows better, and doesn't even want to do it anyways. One kid actually tried to play one of my games behind his back, then told his parents that *I* let him play it (he didn't even get it booted up before my son put a stop to it) - and me and my wife have since banned him from the house.

I hear people all the time talking about how Mario games are "kiddie" and so is Skylanders. Forget them, those games are *fun*. If their self esteem is so low they need to dump some virtual blood so they can feel grown up they have bigger issues.

I tell my friends that I'm glad I have a couple boys so I don't look weird shopping for Legos or Skylanders, but in reality that is just a joke and I really don't care. I bought all the Mario games before my son was born. I'd buy the occasional Lego set too.

I think in general, the girl at the store probably didn't mean "grow out of it" in the offensive way. Probably just meant "when get tired of it", which you will eventually. And Infinity is an obvious cross sale (despite the differences), Gamestop employees are required to push those sorts of things. If she is the kind of person that judges you based on that, then she can enjoy her life with some dude that spends his free time hanging out at bars drinking and ignoring her and the kids when some sports event is on TV. Because that is what many think is "age appropriate" for adult men. I spend my free time playing games with my wife and kids.

Wow. And I thought I was "too old" to play this game.
And I'm 17.
You know what? People around me, mostly my family and my friends always tell me that. And they think they are "adult" because they play Uncharted, CoD or FIFA. Not that these are not good games. I just don't like them as much as I like Skylanders.
If a thing is "for kids", it doesn't mean it could't also be' for adults.
Expecially in this society where KIDS play ADULT games. I think the opposite can only be better.
They always use as theyr argument the fact that to play you have to buy a lot of characters.
Oh, poor poor "mature" persons.
You don't have to BUY them. You can complete a game with one single Skylander.
But the characters are so funny to play as and so original, that you just want to buy more and more.
They even dared to say that "I keep buying games that are all the same".
So, the addiction of the jump mechanic, a compleately new graphic engine, a new story, new minigames, new characters and new game modes are nothing?
I think they are just jealous, after all. Jealous for not being able to be themselves.

Quote: LloydDXZX

If they would ask me if I had DI...I would say (no I don't play gay games)

Now that is a very childish and ignorant statement. Regardless of whether you meant that in a prejudice (anti-gay) manner or not, it is really ridiculous to see that type of comment showing up here. Not to mention under a thread that is addressing social stigmas.

Quote: LloydDXZX

If they would ask me if I had DI...I would say (no I don't play gay games)

That is the not right word to say although I know many who say that and the mean rubbish but they say gay which is misused.

I was in 6th grade when pokemon first hit the U.S. and immediately fell in love. When skylanders came out, I was 25, and jumped right into the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality all over again. I'm in love with the game. My wife plays with me, and we have a almost 4 year old boy that's just as into skylanders as I am. I love taking him skylander hunting with me, because he remembers what skylanders we're looking for better than I do, most of the time. Plenty of times I've gone shopping by myself for skylanders and the last thing I've ever been concerned with judgement from the cashier or associate that's assisting me. The gameplay is fun, the hunt is especially fun, except for the disappointment of course. In my experiences, I've never had anyone look own on me for skylanders purchases, and I apologize for your experience Flumpy, but don't let it question or ruin what you love to do. Life's too short to let someone's disdain change how you feel about something. In the words of my favorite transformer reviewer "You don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing!"

Quote: LloydDXZX

If they would ask me if I had DI...I would say (no I don't play gay games)

"Do you know how offensive what you just said is what if there are DI fans that play the game on here . I play the game and I'm not G** so what gives you the right to post something like that" like honestly Why on Gods green earth would post something like this when there are children on this site. Come on.

* Rant now over *

My Dad and brother think it a weird to play it at 13.

Was talking with my dad and he said "You're to old for Wii and Wii U, PS3 and Xbox are what you need now". I don't have a Wii U, but I was insulted. I wish to play the games I love and the franchises I grew up with till I'm at death's door! And I will one day find a wife that is into theese things. You know what, that lady can just jump off a cliff for all I care, don't worry!

Quote: LloydDXZX

If they would ask me if I had DI...I would say (no I don't play gay games)

Oh the irony...
And you, apparently, haven't played the game either... Double irony of the whipped creaminals!

Quote: Drek95

Wow. And I thought I was "too old" to play this game.
And I'm 17.
You know what? People around me, mostly my family and my friends always tell me that. And they think they are "adult" because they play Uncharted, CoD or FIFA. Not that these are not good games. I just don't like them as much as I like Skylanders.
If a thing is "for kids", it doesn't mean it could't also be' for adults.
Expecially in this society where KIDS play ADULT games. I think the opposite can only be better.
They always use as theyr argument the fact that to play you have to buy a lot of characters.
Oh, poor poor "mature" persons.
You don't have to BUY them. You can complete a game with one single Skylander.
But the characters are so funny to play as and so original, that you just want to buy more and more.
They even dared to say that "I keep buying games that are all the same".
So, the addiction of the jump mechanic, a compleately new graphic engine, a new story, new minigames, new characters and new game modes are nothing?
I think they are just jealous, after all. Jealous for not being able to be themselves.

i thought i was too old for skylanders to. but im 12! when some kid asked me "do you play skylanders?" i said yes, and then everybody would call me gay-ge. yes, my name is gage. and ever since i said i played; that nickname stuck. but after reading these comments, i dident feel objected anymore! (in a good way) kempsville middle isnt what you call "happy days"

I did a little experiment with my wife on this whole game thing. My wife likes games, but doesn't know much about what is popular. She suggested I let him at least try some of the games some of his friends talk about (I don't usually play things like that while he is up). She doesn't want him playing those games all the time, but thought he might at least need to be aware of them. I put in God of War 3, which in my opinion is one of the better ones and played through the first level to show him what it does. He completely lost interest and said it didn't look fun.

Kids for the most part don't play games like that because they are the best. They play them because they think it will make them seem older. The same goes for many of those "adult" things. Teenagers want to drink alcohol because it makes them feel older. When faced with liking something on its actual merits, they go with what they like. If a teen tells you they like the taste of beer, they are lying. Telling them some game is too old for them makes them want to play it more. Banning them from something makes it necessary.

Given a fair, no judgement choice, he will play Mario and Luigi Dream Team every single time over Call of Duty Black Super Ops Extra Blood Edition. Parents do themselves a disservice by not involving themselves in their kid's gaming. It helps them make good choices based on preference and not peer pressure. As he grows up I hope it continues, the games he should play are the ones he likes and not what has the most grey and blood. When that happens, ignorant comments (like the one from the clerk) telling you what you "should like" will roll right off your back.

I am 31, married with children and I am proud to be a portal master. One guy at work likes to mock saying he is "grown up" and only plays on 18 rated games.
My response is Skylanders is rated 7+ and 31 is older than 7.

A long time ago I embrased who I was rather than who people wanted me to be. Life is so much better that way.

I am in into fun cartoony games like Skylanders, Disney Universe, Little Big Planet etc.
I follow football (soccer) and love the wrestling both TNA and WWE.
I love hip-hop music and wear that type of clothing.

People mock me for my interests but its water off a ducks back. I know it sounds cliche but "Dont Be Afraid To Be Who Are".

Roll on 18 October.

The developers at Vicarious Visions have stated straight-up in recent interviews that they developed SwapForce with both a child audience and an adult audience in mind.
Buying Skylanders is not analogous to buying a Justin Beiber CD or a doll house. Don't worry about what others think of your gaming preferences. If you're embarrassed at all, just say that you're buying Skylanders for a nephew or cousin or whatever, or just make your purchases via Amazon so that you don't have to go to a store.

But the idea that Skylanders is for "kids only" is dumb.

I was about to post that C.S Lewis quote, but Arc of Archives beat me to it.


I'm 33 (almost 34) and I love the bejesus out of Skylanders. No kids to blame it on, I just think it's fun and it appeals to my 80s sensibilities.


There is a little more to that CS Lewis quote:
"[Wanting to be grown up and not wanting to be seen as childish]...these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow.
But to carry on into middle life, or even into early manhood, this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. "

People looking down on 'childish' stories, games and books says more about them than you.

Quote: BahamutBreaker

The developers at Vicarious Visions have stated straight-up in recent interviews that they developed SwapForce with both a child audience and an adult audience in mind.
Buying Skylanders is not analogous to buying a Justin Beiber CD or a doll house. Don't worry about what others think of your gaming preferences. If you're embarrassed at all, just say that you're buying Skylanders for a nephew or cousin or whatever, or just make your purchases via Amazon so that you don't have to go to a store.

But the idea that Skylanders is for "kids only" is dumb.

I think VV has done a serviceable job amping up Skylanders for the "rest of us adults", and it is welcome to see that the game actually looks like it may be less of a button masher this time around.

As with everyone else, I got over peer pressure a long time ago. Life's too short not to do what you don't like. My kid may have picked skylanders, but I'm probably a bigger fan than my son. I've also never bought or played with toys, even as a kid. I'm wondering if I'm discovering my lost childhood.

Other Maverick Hunters often question me as to why I like not just Skylanders, but also Mario, Mega man, and especially Sonic. And you know what? I just ignore their opinions. I like these franchises. They're great. I don't like CoD, FIFA, Halo, GTA, or any of that stuff. I like what I like and I never let anyone stand in my way, and neither should you.

Everybody likes different things, so why are we judging each other just because of our preferences?

Hi I'm 26 and have read this topic and feel the same as all of you and there is something I think we as the adult games need to tell people who call us childish that these games have an age rating for all ages not just 6-12, also just look at a skylanders package it says 6+ not 6-12 so don't we all fit into that age catigory

Quote: BlazeHeatnix28

Other Maverick Hunters often question me as to why I like not just Skylanders, but also Mario, Mega man, and especially Sonic. And you know what? I just ignore their opinions. I like these franchises. They're great. I don't like CoD, FIFA, Halo, GTA, or any of that stuff. I like what I like and I never let anyone stand in my way, and neither should you.

Everybody likes different things, so why are we judging each other just because of our preferences?

You had me until you mentioned Sonic. Boy has he seen better days, hopefully the new game will restore him to some of his former glory. I don't question your enjoyment of the character, they just have a very spotty track record lately on the quality of the games.

The rest, well I don't mean to say they are bad games either. Sports games are fun for sports fans, and Halo and CoD are decent as well. GTA, well I haven't been a big fan in the past, but I happened across a situation that allowed me to get 5 for basically $10 so I'm giving it a shot. What you can do in that game is quite amazing, the open world has its allure - they just set you loose and say "have at it". The new one has so many other things to do than just driving and being a criminal, one could play for weeks and never commit a single crime or touch the story. But, it is a different kind of fun - and I'm certainly not willing to forego Skylanders over it.

The game is more chidish looking them the previous games.

Quote: defpally

Listen, and this goes especially for the kids - life is a great deal more fulfilling when you choose your hobbies based on what you like and not what other people think you should like. I know it doesn't apply to you, but I see neighborhood kids all the time trying to tell each other what to like. I'm proud my son for the most part resists it - he likes Mario games, Kirby games and Skylanders. He could care less about shooters and fighting games. He has friends that talk about Call of Duty, etc. (at 9-12, no less), he has friends that come over and try to convince him to put in my copy of God of War, Gears of War, Batman, etc. (I play those as well) - but he knows better, and doesn't even want to do it anyways. One kid actually tried to play one of my games behind his back, then told his parents that *I* let him play it (he didn't even get it booted up before my son put a stop to it) - and me and my wife have since banned him from the house.

I hear people all the time talking about how Mario games are "kiddie" and so is Skylanders. Forget them, those games are *fun*. If their self esteem is so low they need to dump some virtual blood so they can feel grown up they have bigger issues.

I tell my friends that I'm glad I have a couple boys so I don't look weird shopping for Legos or Skylanders, but in reality that is just a joke and I really don't care. I bought all the Mario games before my son was born. I'd buy the occasional Lego set too.

I think in general, the girl at the store probably didn't mean "grow out of it" in the offensive way. Probably just meant "when get tired of it", which you will eventually. And Infinity is an obvious cross sale (despite the differences), Gamestop employees are required to push those sorts of things. If she is the kind of person that judges you based on that, then she can enjoy her life with some dude that spends his free time hanging out at bars drinking and ignoring her and the kids when some sports event is on TV. Because that is what many think is "age appropriate" for adult men. I spend my free time playing games with my wife and kids.

Amen! I completely agree with everything you say! It's really sad to see 9 year olds playing call of duty, it's going to end up ruining that generation, and they might be the kind of people in the future that will go on a shooting spree one day and kill innocents. When I have kids I will ban any kind of call of duty game from my house. I don't know how my brother will turn out as he's already lost to it, but that'll be his problem, not mine.

The guys at the GameStop I go to don't say anything about it, they're cool with it and even tell me about new variants they'll be getting in. I'm 20 by the way.

My friends all know about me collecting and palying Skylanders and they are fine with it. They only laugh and shake their heads at how much money I've spent on it. XP

See for me the entertainment as a whole is blurring the line between kid and adult and nostalgia seems to be an important aspect nowadays. Look at cartoons like Transformers: Prime (OMG Amazing), Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Gravity Falls, etc. They are technically cartoons, which at this point in time, have become an acceptable form of ageless entertainment. Most toys have also blurred the line going from simply "Toy" to "Collectible". When they re-released Gi Joe in the 4" size again (yes I know the originals were technically 3 & 3/4") I went ape, and much to my surprise my daughter did too. She also loves the new Ninja Turtles, both the show and toys. Don't even get me started on comics and movies. My main point is, almost all forms of entertainment have become ageless and should simply be enjoyed or avoided. It's really up to you as an individual to make that choice and only you can determine if you truly get enjoyment out of something.

I'm (insert age here) and I play. My step-dad who keeps up with what's going on with Skylanders (although not to the extend I do) commonly mentions that "Oh, we can sell this next year, you would've grown out of it by then." He always mentions, if I'm talking to him about the possibility of Skylanders 4 that I will have grown out of it. I don't know when (if ever) I'll grow out of Skylanders. He is awesome, and takes me and my bro to the midnight releases and stuff, but I wish he would realize that I'm playing this game because I like it, and I can like what I want...

Like I said, awesome guy, but I wish he could understand that kind of thing sometimes... I feel awkward even though it doesn't matter what age you are to play it, and none of my friends irl know I play.

Wilikin.We all friends here

I love skylanders, I've never been a big fan of spyro or action figures But I saw Skylanders spyros adventure and was like, o.o this is gonna be something big so I jumped on the train at Giants and bought most of the characters in S2 form. I don't think this is purely a Kid game they are some dark things in skylanders like the wilikin or the trolls drowning in the pool. but it's very kid friendly and the new game swap force is just amazing looking I can't understand why people are starting to quit the franchise when there about to release a game that looks a million times better than there other 2 games, but ohwell I know i'll be having a blast on swap force and Hopefully by 4th game we will see a 4 player mode or some online battle arenas (which by the way will probably be filled with older people using the most OP skylanders making the kids sad because they can never win)

Me and my friends are 14 and 15, and there is a 27 year old woman at our local gamestop who plays as well. we love going over to nerd out with her.

Everyone is allowed their own opinion, but if I have fun doing something and it isn't hurting anyone else, how is it anyone's business but my own? If people judge you for it or whatever, they're not worth your time.

Here in Memphis it's kind of hard for me to go into a store and not get looks for buying Skylanders unless I go to Best Buy or Gamestop.

Usually my part of Memphis it's all the Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto( especially since V came out), Fifa, NBA Live, and all of those other sports/shooter/gangster games( minus Halo and Saint Rows for their fantasy like gameplay) mentality. I don't like any of those games because there not interesting to me( especially GTA and sports games).

Being sixteen doesn't help either since the first thing that happens going to walmart or target is someone trying to sell me GTA 5. My dad also hates that I like Skylanders just because it's using toys to play the game and that I prefer it over the recent sports titles.

I've had employees stare at me like; "What's this kid's problem?"

That's usually when I look them directly in the eye and leave.

Ignore miserable employees like that, they usually have no lives and love to piss people off, or they just hate the job.


Everyone has a hobby, but it depends on what it is. There are people older than you that are into it.


In my area, they sell out like hotcakes, but the buyers are almost always eBayers. I know about 20 or 30 kids in the area that actually like the game, and I've seen about 7 eBayers total. It's horrifying when you watch a grown man take down an entire display of toys JUST to sell them. ._.

There is clearly nothing wrong with liking something that is "targeted" at kids. I'm almost 30 and still watch cartoons. I look at it as an adult that's trying to still hang on to some form of purity I have left from being a child. I feel younger whenever I play skylanders. I don't think this game is any different than GTA or Lego games. They are all triggered to gamers of different ages but in the end, a gamer is a gamer. Whether they have been playing for over half their lives or just touched a controller for the first time this year.
Some people just don't understand our world. They think its just for children until they actually sit down and play or watch. Yes, some people get a little crazy over what variant is selling where but that's a collector at work. I mean some of these closeminded sellers are probably the type that would make a teen feel embarrassed buying condoms just so they can feel like the better race. But in the end, you're buying the product. You're using the product in whatever way you see fit whether its for an adult or kids it don't matter. Unless you're filling out a questionnaire I don't think its anyone's business if the game is for me or not. What do they really care anyways?

Quote: BlazeHeatnix28

Other Maverick Hunters often question me as to why I like not just Skylanders, but also Mario, Mega man, and especially Sonic. And you know what? I just ignore their opinions. I like these franchises. They're great. I don't like CoD, FIFA, Halo, GTA, or any of that stuff. I like what I like and I never let anyone stand in my way, and neither should you.

Everybody likes different things, so why are we judging each other just because of our preferences?

I feel like expanding on this a bit more.

I've been online for ** years now, and I still enjoy playing video games, watching cartoons (never got sick of classic Looney Tunes!), drawing, and overall just being my own person. Yet whenever I bring up my plans for buying new Skylanders, or in this case, a whole new game, other Hunters in my Unit either laugh and taunt me or accuse the developers (TFB, VV, AC) for constantly sucking up my money with cool things. They also constantly try to persuade me to get CoD, or something like that. I don't want to play those games, I don't have to play those games, I don't like those games, and I don't want to turn into a crazy addict who does nothing but sit on their *ss and play online 24/7. And then people get the idea to re-enact those things in real-life. (Remember the mass shooting last December? The shooter was heavily addicted to CoD and World of Warcraft, and following the matter, legal parties were given one year to decide if these games should be taken off the market.)

Point is, be your own person, let your personal preferences guide you, and remember that other people's opinions mean nothing in the long run.

Quote: shadowfox

Wilikin.We all friends here

I hear the MAKER would play with us but not anymore. Anyone else wondering how Linda Wilikin had kids? Kaos did play with her....
Don't tell ME this game is for kids

Quote: BlazeHeatnix28

And then people get the idea to re-enact those things in real-life. (Remember the mass shooting last December? The shooter was heavily addicted to CoD and World of Warcraft, and following the matter, legal parties were given one year to decide if these games should be taken off the market.)

It's like the war on [insert your favorite phrase]. It's much easier for politicians to point to one thing (talking points) and say THAT'S the problem but it's simply one of MANY factors that the post WW2 generation has left in its wake and we are dealing with. Until we learn to deal with the problem they will do nothing more than to be talking points by others in an attempt to "save us from ourselves". I'm sorry, who decided to leave the government in charge of me and what's right for me?

Sorry for the off-topic rant.

Bottom line--if you were reared correctly and have balance in your life (the key to all things in life is moderation) all is good with the world.

I'm 28 years old and Love the skylanders franchise. It brings that childhood feeling back like Pokémon still does to this day. I play most of the modern "adult" games as well but nothing compares to the sheer "FUN" feeling of collecting and playing as unique characters with their own special powers and such. Release day of Skylanders is of course the best "OMG I feel like a kid again" feeling but I have no shame in it at all, I have no children to blame either. It doesn't hurt that there is CO-OP play in skylanders either, I even got the wife in on the awesome game. She may not be a die hard fan like I am but I still feel that's one thing Skylanders has over Pokémon.

The only thing that bothers me is how I am viewed and assumed to be a "scalper" due to my age by the employees.

Quote: flumpy89

Hi, I'm relatively sure this has been raised before but i just thought i would share my experience.
i am 25, and i have collected almost all of giants and spyros adventure. Due to financial constraints i had no intention of continuing with swap force. However it has persuaded me, just i need to manage how i buy them. No buying all of wave one in one hit this time!
now normally that's what i do, purchase as many as possible in one go, its slightly embarrassing but never once have the staff made me feel bad about it, infact once a member of staff defended this behaviour, says everyone has 'their thing', and hes right, skylanders has become my thing.
today was different, i went to preorder my first step into swap force commitment, the dark starter pack.
the girl at the till hesitated, and was like, uh, you know it costs alot right? I said yeah, around £80, its fine. She flicked through the folder and asked if i definitely wanted it. I said yes, and she said is it for me, so i smiled and said yes. I wasn't falling for this, i remained positive and showed my excitement. I asked questions, confirmed lightcore hex, release date, that my deposit comes off of the cost etc. Then she replied with this, the dark characters are more powerful and this pack is rarer, so when you eventually grow out of this you can sell them for more.
now i don't know if its just me, but that changed my mood, kinda annoyed me. I don't look the type to be collecting these, i know that, but i don't care, spyro has been in my life since he came out on the ps1, i know he doesn't have a huge presence on this, but he started it for me.
i just dislike their attitude towards selling this, or hers atleast. And she asked me if i had Disney infinity, to be frank I'm sick of being asked about that. I know its a similar game type, but no, I'm not interested. I'm here for skylanders, stop trying to sell me something else.

I'm 20yrs old and play with my 27yr old wife, 7yr old son and 25 yr old brother. I played pokemon when i was a freshman in HS, even watched the show. I could care less waht ppl thought even then, I didnt see why I should pretend to like something to "be cool", when it would bore me to death. Skylanders is fun and refreshing reminds me a tad about diabloish type game. I like leveling figures and doing stuff with them and having different move sets, but I also love the box art and the toys alone are great. I so would have wanted these as a kid. When I go shopping for them I do sometimes I feel abit weird being 30 and shopping for skylanders but I dont let it get to me. I do get sort of sick of getting asked if i want a gift receipt every time i go to target (i never get asked this any other time i buy anything but skylanders I get asked and its each target), thou my local 2-TRU know the wife and I as we are always in there either buying something or returning an item we found better. Between skylanders, TMNT and Power rangers lately this year I've been there more then enough to the point I was even asked why I don't just work there (which i would if starting pay wasn't minimum wage as my experience is non-retail as i last worked retail 16yrs ago).

In the end do what pleases you, if anyone belittles your hobby shop elsewhere. Everyone has different interest, games like call of duty bore me which is why I don't play them. I don't watch sports too much as Id rather be playing the game or doing something I have more control over. Games like everquest and WoW ever what I did for last few years (thou i did stop playing wow with mist of pandara, thou my brother got me to restart as of last week)

Quote: EmperorKaos

The game is more chidish looking them the previous games.

Not really.

My personal opinion is not to worry about other people's opinion too much... Worry about the opinion of someones that you know care for you... That statement actually applies not only to skylanders but in life... It is just the way society works in this modern world, they like to label stuff or people... Thats why the "nerds", "social butterfly", "geeks", "socialite", etc come up... Because society like to label stuff to make it easier for them to state which label they like and which label they dont... But if you really enjoying or passionate about your hobbies or anything else ... Don't be intimidated about how other people thinks, but instead find a way to make them amazed for how passionate are you or genuine are you in doing what you love... That way there will be less judgement and more inspiring to make others better in expressing their "real" self...

Again this is my personal opinion, and btw i'm not a kid and i still very much do and love skylanders and enjoying alot of other fun stuff with joy and excitement

Quote: wreckingballbob

Quote: EmperorKaos

The game is more chidish looking them the previous games.

Not really.

Personally, I think it is. Graphics-wise... The game just looks silly. I still think that (besides occasional screen tear) SSA on the PCS360 has the best feel- its graphics are the most moody, and have great texture. SWAP Force graphics have amazing polygonal detail and some Skylanders look absolutely amazing, but honestly, they lack a lot of charm and look plasticky in some areas. The redesigns of Chompies and sheep are the best examples of these. You can't see fun personality in the sheep any more, and Chompies just look awful. I will admit, some of the enemy redesigns- and without a doubt, environments- look miles better, but the details in other areas are usually hit or miss.

However, the gameplay appears vastly improved. Jumping is going to add a new strategy for combat and allows for much more natural level design. The Swapping Skylanders are also a great sign of customisation. If you have all 16, and you have a second set of 16 down the other paths, you can have 1024 combinations of two halves' upgrade paths. 1024.

And everyone knows, though graphics can be a big improvement to the experience, gameplay > graphics any day.

Thankyou all for your words of encouragement was nice to read all of this.
yes she was from game in the UK, i realised last night i have never seen her before, and freshers have been here for university two weeks now, so chances are shes just a new student, possibly first job, so doesn't understand the kind of people she will see in a game store!
ill be honest I've really wanted grand theft auto 5, but i just cant merit putting £50 down for a game. Yet i put £85 down for skylanders. As i feel its a more worthy investment. I don't just get a game, 5 figures, a free lightcore, special edition etc etc, this feels more valuable and worth the money.
all my life i have gone from one collection to another.
i used to collect star wars figures as a child. Heroclix as a teen. Skylanders are the types of toys i wish i had as a child. Interactive collectibles.
the game itself occasionally does feel more child aimed, but its full of platforming nostalgia i can pick up and play. Not difficult or frustrating or full of the awful online shooter experience.
its a game i enjoy and a collection i like. And i shall continue for as long as it interests me.
and the changes in swap force certainly interest me, i cannot wait to play with the hundreds of characters i have collected and will collect in amazing HD

I'm 20 and I've been quite lucky. I've never bought Skylanders from GAME but I buy Pokémon and Mario and every time I've checked out they always try to make conversation about it so I'm quite lucky in that respect. At Toys'R'Us they don't care what so ever. The only time I've felt uneasy is when buying at Tesco. The women look at me in that 'realllllly?' way. If I want to buy something Skylanders related from Tesco I now travel to one slightly father afield where I find it more comfortable as I see the employees less so don't need to care what they think!

Speaking of Pokémon is anyone able to trade me the recent event shiny Palkia? I was unable to get into GAME due to work commitments. I have a spare Shiny Dialga to send.

I'm 41 - and at first, bought this game for my 11 year old. I love the game, he likes the game - lol - It's a constant joke around my house between my now 13 year old, my other two older children, and my fiancee. They love to kid me about Dad's "toys" all over the living room. I have figure available to date, and have that at different levels of completion. Everyday I sit down and play a level, heroic challenge, or maybe even a PVP with my son. It's stress relief for me, and I've come to have quite an attachment to each of the figures I have. I think the game is "ageless" - sure it was designed to appeal to a 6 year old, but it's basic simple nature of collecting, quests, game play, etc, is very appealing. I love the game, and am looking forward to the new game, and all the new figures that come with it.

Very cool--I have you beat by a couple of years and I'm in the same boat

I am 23 and am completely in love with this game. I grew up on the original Spyro series as well, still have all those games actually, and that was what originally caught my attention with Skylanders as well. Then I realized how much more the game is and completely fell in love. We are coming up on the third game now and just to demonstrate my level of addiction, I have a folder with notes in it on what to expect in Wave 1, what deals this store or that store are running, when those stores open, etc. I also have all figures from SSA and SG except a few of the chase variants. (Of course I have LC Hex on pre-order with my Dark Edition set). My wife plays with me somewhat but mostly she just indulges me. We have no kids to blame the game on, but let me tell you I am absolutely the favorite aunt in our family! I have been pretty lucky to not have been looked down upon with these games so far I think. We are pretty much regulars at GameStop and the two "regular" employees there seem to love it when we come in. The same thing with our local Wal-Mart. The guy that runs the tech department is always friendly and has offered to check if they have anything in back before for us. My family does pick on me a bit by saying I need to start a support group for Skylanders addicts. " Hi, my name is ____________ and I am addicted to Skylanders" and my coworkers think the game is silly and a waste of money but they do not downgrade me because I like to play it. Just feel sorry for her because she will never know the joy of Skylands!! And don't let one bad experience change your attitude about something you love no matter your age or society's expectations!

lol I feel like this thread is turning into a support group....awesome. Activision should make bumper stickers that say "Proud to be a Portal Master".