darkSpyro

Just wanted to clear everything up. Here is a list for those who are unsure of releases, and for those who are, I know this is old news, so don't say anything rude please.
Dec. 7:

RUMORED: Dec. 13 or 15:


Phantom
Hyper Beam
Horn Blast
LC
LC



Sheep Wreck Island with , Sheep Wreck Island, Platinum Sheep, and Groove Machine
Arkeyan Crossbow with , Arkeyan Crossbow, and Thorn Horn

Swappers won't be out befor christmas

Proof?

A Target employee revealed it to us. He's one of the most reliable people on here.

So the Swappers will not be out before Christmas? What about the cores?

Cores, Adventure pack, Battle Pack: Before Christmas, unknown exactly
Swaps: December 26-31, unknown exactly

They're releasing the Swappers after Christmas so they can reel in the people that received gift cards as presents.

Well this is a brilliant move if it's true...for Disney Infinity that is. This just mean that I need to get more Infinity figs. Thank you Activision for clearing that up...if it's true. This is a dumb move. Kids that got the game for X-mas but don't have the figs will need all of them let alone the new ones. Oh well we'll see.

The majority of shoppers for Skylanders prior to Christmas consist of parents that can't tell the difference between Stink Bomb and Hoot Loop. The majority of shoppers for Skylanders after Christmas consists of kids that know EXACTLY the difference between a Wave 3 and a Wave 2 figure, AND they have Christmas money to spend.

It's hard for us collectors to remember at times, but early releases benefit us, yet we are the minority of buyers of figures BY FAR. Marketing decisions aren't based on us. That's the problem when choosing to collect things intended for mass market appeal.

Quote: Skylanders fan

Swappers won't be out befor christmas

.....
O come on!!
There goes my plan for getting SM spy rise -__-

Grrrr. I just want a single sneak character. Weak that we can't even finish all the levels because it's missing one type of guy.

Quote: defpally

The majority of shoppers for Skylanders prior to Christmas consist of parents that can't tell the difference between Stink Bomb and Hoot Loop. The majority of shoppers for Skylanders after Christmas consists of kids that know EXACTLY the difference between a Wave 3 and a Wave 2 figure, AND they have Christmas money to spend.

It's hard for us collectors to remember at times, but early releases benefit us, yet we are the minority of buyers of figures BY FAR. Marketing decisions aren't based on us. That's the problem when choosing to collect things intended for mass market appeal.

If that's true, where was the logic in giving TRU a two week exclusive on wave two only two weeks after the game launched and then nothing until almost two months later? I almost wonder if they are having manufacturing/distribution issues with wave 3. Plus having more models out before X-mas gives more parents something to buy.

Quote: Xerxxees

Grrrr. I just want a single sneak character. Weak that we can't even finish all the levels because it's missing one type of guy.

This is also an interesting decision on their part. Not allowing people to get 100% until after the holiday seems strange and for the life of me I can't see why. People will get these new figs. no matter when they are released without question, so why hold them back? I'm also not buying the gift card thing since they already got their money when the gift card was initially purchased. They are actually hoping you won't use that gift card.

I hope this is true, been wanting wham shell since the first skylanders, but living in a small town with a P.O.S. Kmart that barely ever got any skylanders except TONS of starter packs and triple packs out the butt. I remember chop chops as far as the eye could see. I remember they never got singles of prism break until many months afterwards, which I was already forced to buy him through a triple pack that included voodood and boomer anyways... I should sell boomer, he's worth something right now.

So, of what I see there, want LC Whamshell, wind-up + adventure pack, rubble rouser, and smolderdash, then POSSIBLY dune bug

Quote: Tigorus

Well this is a brilliant move if it's true...for Disney Infinity that is. This just mean that I need to get more Infinity figs. Thank you Activision for clearing that up...if it's true. This is a dumb move. Kids that got the game for X-mas but don't have the figs will need all of them let alone the new ones. Oh well we'll see.

Lol its funny cuz I need more infinity figs.

We don't know when wave 3 is, or is not, coming out. It's not impossible Toys R Us could get it earlier than everyone else like they did with wave 2, for example. Your best bet is keep checking around, because as of now no one can say anything for certain.

I'm happy to hear of a release window for the sneak SF guy. So going to pick him up along with a speed SFT guy and hopefully Swap Force for PS4 as well. Sucks that they aren't out before Christmas but when you're currently short of pocket, your wallet breaths a sigh of momentary relief, hehe.

Quote: defpally

The majority of shoppers for Skylanders prior to Christmas consist of parents that can't tell the difference between Stink Bomb and Hoot Loop. The majority of shoppers for Skylanders after Christmas consists of kids that know EXACTLY the difference between a Wave 3 and a Wave 2 figure, AND they have Christmas money to spend.

It's hard for us collectors to remember at times, but early releases benefit us, yet we are the minority of buyers of figures BY FAR. Marketing decisions aren't based on us. That's the problem when choosing to collect things intended for mass market appeal.

As per usual, Defpally is right on target (no pun intended!)

Honestly,Activisions release dates are getting on my nerves.

I must knows where my previous is! Let my precious go you hoardersis!

Oh, have a raw fish, Gollum!

Why are the release dates "getting on your nerves", Wrecknroll?
The anticipation and hunting is part of the mystique, is it not?

Part of me gets irritated - I've stopped playing entirely because I don't want to wear out the game before I get the other figures (Trap Shadow where art thou) - because I want some of the new wave (I really only give a kitty about the Swappers and new cores, reposes can kick rocks).

But at the same time I'm closing on my house on Dec 30 and have been in financial lock-down by the wife - for a while now (she curled her lip at me trying to get Jully Bumble Blast) so it won't be until then that I get to buy new figures anyways without ending up in the doghouse.

And while I understand the logic of delaying swappers until after Xmas its actually still dumb.

The bottom line is selling as many as you can - especially the high margin ones (I assume it is the swappers). To do that they need to be on the shelf. It doesn't matter if they7 are put out after Xmas, the goal is the same - so not having them on the shelves to try and get those 'after Xmas' sales is a very poor business idea. Let's call this what it really is - it just sounds like they are having an issue with manufacturing. Cause whomever thought it would be smart to release ANYTHING AFTER Xmas is an idiot. You are not only losing opportunity but those sales won't calculate for 2013 (it does depend on their fiscal calender) - which is the opposite of what they would want to advertise.
- Unreall

Disagree with this last comment -- There is a lot more to marketing and the psychology of the customer than just simply blasting the shelves with everything you got.

Quote: Unreallystic

Cause whomever thought it would be smart to release ANYTHING AFTER Xmas is an idiot.

Interesting perspective, and might you impart why you are the master of marketing over all of us "idiots"? Maybe you can explain why it is smart to blow the excitement of a new wave for a bunch of parents that couldn't tell the difference? I've got news for you, but little Johnny's mother doesn't know the difference in Stink Bomb and Free Ranger. Little Johnny does. Which one of those people is going to be shopping before Christmas, and which one after? Now who do you think is going to get all excited over new figures being released?

I'm sorry, but you are not the primary audience that they target their marketing towards. Almost none of us are. You have to limit your playtime to keep the game interesting because you have played it to death. Most kids don't even have the game at all yet. And I'm really sorry they didn't consult your house closing schedule on their Wave releases.

And BTW, I think Activision knows what they are doing. They have been doing pretty well despite all of us back seat marketers telling them they are being dumb constantly. Remember, three years ago no one knew what a Skylander was.

Quote: defpally

Quote: Unreallystic

Cause whomever thought it would be smart to release ANYTHING AFTER Xmas is an idiot.

Interesting perspective, and might you impart why you are the master of marketing over all of us "idiots"? Maybe you can explain why it is smart to blow the excitement of a new wave for a bunch of parents that couldn't tell the difference? I've got news for you, but little Johnny's mother doesn't know the difference in Stink Bomb and Free Ranger. Little Johnny does. Which one of those people is going to be shopping before Christmas, and which one after? Now who do you think is going to get all excited over new figures being released?

I'm sorry, but you are not the primary audience that they target their marketing towards. Almost none of us are. You have to limit your playtime to keep the game interesting because you have played it to death. Most kids don't even have the game at all yet. And I'm really sorry they didn't consult your house closing schedule on their Wave releases.

And BTW, I think Activision knows what they are doing. They have been doing pretty well despite all of us back seat marketers telling them they are being dumb constantly. Remember, three years ago no one knew what a Skylander was.

Actually Activision did not know Skylanders would blow up like it did, and I got that straight from them, which is why we saw such incredible shortages that first year. Frankly, Unreallystic and others are right, getting them on the shelves before Christmas is the better idea. There is no huge "After Christmas" market for toys. Some things get bought, but nothing even close to what gets bought before. Kids in the age range of Skylanders don't typically get money for Christmas, parents want to watch them actually open what Santa brings.

Also, what you don't seem to be grasping here is that parents can read. Amazing, isn't it? They can look at the front of the package, see that "Spy Rise" or "Trap Shadow" is written on it, compare it to their child's Christmas list and *GASP* buy that one! And of course, pass it by and go get another toy or game altogether if it's not there.

Holding so many figures until after Christmas is a mistake. The vast majority of money will be spent, and when the kid says "Mom, I want that one." the typical response will be "You just got a bunch of toys for Christmas." Once those Christmas present dollars are gone, they are gone. You keep talking about the excitement of a new wave release, but it's only a small minority of us that really keep track of wave releases like this. For the vast majority of buyers, they go to the store (or maybe online) at Christmastime or around a birthday and see if the chosen figures is there, They don't even know waves exist. If it's not there, move on to the next toy, and Activision loses that money. Just because you get excited when a new wave is released doesn't mean most people do. Your personal desires do not make good marketing decisions.

My personal desires would have them release everything, altogether, right now. I would get them, then be done searching and waiting. My suggestion was that meeting my desires as a collector wasn't the best marketing perspective, thanks for agreeing with me.

There are 10 swappers out now, as well as 10 newlanders and 10 reposes as well as several variants. Shelves are really well stocked at every store I go to. Wave 3 right now would work out great for me, but for the franchise? Not really. I'm not looking out for me. An early Wave 3 is just more "stuff" on the shelves, and the parents that know it is new stuff, would flock to it over the earlier stuff. They do it now with Wave 2 stuff. People want the new hotness, even if they don't know the difference. Employees tell them "hey, this one came in today" and they buy Fire Kraken instead of Hoot Loop. There is already a glut of Wave 1 stuff (and some Wave 2, like Boom Jet). Wave 3 means parents wanting a gift that do know about it buy that instead. Stock needs to rotate for the franchise to remain successful. I doubt many parents go buy Scrabble instead if they don't find Spy Rise. Worst case they buy a gift card to get it after Christmas. Most of the time parents that can't find a particular figure ask an employee which one is cool instead to get.

You heavily underestimate the awareness of kids that love Skylanders. I can tell you that my son, without any prodding at all is fully aware of when figures come out, and he isn't allowed on the wide Internet un-monitored. He gets it from his friends at school. They know. In fact, it often makes things difficult for me, because he doesn't get figures just because - I buy them when they come out, but save them for an event, like a birthday or an excellent report card or for doing extra chores. I end up telling him "Oh, I'll have to look out for that figure", knowing full well I already have it in most cases. It would be so much easier if he didn't know everything that is currently new and out. He knows we will want to get them all, but he has to earn a figure to get one, and it is all the better if it is a surprise he isn't aware is out.

Yes, parents *can* read, but very often they do not. GhoastRoaster and I were having a conversation with a TRU employee just yesterday as he was looking for Jolly Bumble Blast and he was telling us all about the guy that was there the day before upset that the green Gil Grunt was pictured in the ad wasn't in the store despite it clearly stating it was a promotion that would not be awarded until January. And that's just one example they gave. I talk to other parents all the time in stores (I'm a friendly fellow), and the vast majority have zero clue about figures and waves, let alone marching orders for Trap Shadow, etc.

And there IS an After-Christmas shopping rush. Kids get gift cards from relatives that don't want to go hunting for specifics. They return things they got but already have or don't want. Stores are open extra hours the week after Christmas for exactly this reason.

And I have a feeling their marketing thinks along the lines I do, the first two years Wave 3 has hit after Christmas. We did get repose singles right before the holidays last year, but wide Wave 3 release didn't hit until mid January. They made a few bad moves the first year, leading to shortages. But, it could be argued that helped the franchise. If they thought early Wave 3 would make for better sales right now, they would be on the shelves right now. I have little doubt they have Wave 3 (and 4, maybe even 5) sitting in a warehouse waiting for them to flip the switch. Molding and manufacturing in China takes months of lead time.

At first I was upset about there being no Sneak Talent available, making 100% completion impossible months after the game's release. But I understand the logic. If there were a sneak Skylander out, I would be at 100% and likely be done buying figures and done playing the game unless my nephews stormed our home. The Sneak Skylander (Stinkbomb) will likely act as an anchor and keep people locked into the Skylander universe. How many people would be at 100%, have all the achievements and be done buying figures if a Sneak Skylander was out?

They are holding off on the Sneak ones because they need that nagging feeling of incompletion to fester in the stomachs of their diehard base, forcing them to the stores to make impulse buys on their other new Skylanders that they likely never would have bought because they never would have been in the store looking at them in the first place. To be honest, if Activision was smart, they'd hold off on the Sneaks until March and trickle out a couple new Skylanders every two weeks or so. Few enough where you don't feel like you're breaking the bank on an entire wave, but still keeping you forever engaged; preying on our neuroses.

If shipping complexities would allow it, releasing a new figure every week after the initial release would probably be one of the best ways to keep the franchise going strong. You could put out about 6 of each type on release, then trickle them out one at a time weekly and people wouldn't feel the sting of a big purchase that might turn them off. It would be predictable, and people would constantly be talking about the game. And it would make the game last most of the year gap - I would guess it would run until at least mid-May. Think of how TRU did the Legendaries and Disney power disks recently and how great it was to be able to plan for it. There would be less lulls for people to lose interest. It would also practically kill the "normal figure" EBay market, the uncertainty of finding figures and early findings drive a good bit of that market. Why spend the cash on EBay if you know you could go to TRU on Sunday and get the figure? Stores would also love it because it would ensure frequent traffic.

Of course, that would require shipping cases of just that figure, and it also would make finding figures in later weeks more difficult. It would also have an adverse effect on the variety on the shelves for new buyers. But, it would be cool for those that get in early. If real world shipping realities weren't a problem they could do all kinds of things like this.

Quote: Dog Dude

At first I was upset about there being no Sneak Talent available, making 100% completion impossible months after the game's release. But I understand the logic. If there were a sneak Skylander out, I would be at 100% and likely be done buying figures and done playing the game unless my nephews stormed our home. The Sneak Skylander (Stinkbomb) will likely act as an anchor and keep people locked into the Skylander universe. How many people would be at 100%, have all the achievements and be done buying figures if a Sneak Skylander was out?

They are holding off on the Sneak ones because they need that nagging feeling of incompletion to fester in the stomachs of their diehard base, forcing them to the stores to make impulse buys on their other new Skylanders that they likely never would have bought because they never would have been in the store looking at them in the first place. To be honest, if Activision was smart, they'd hold off on the Sneaks until March and trickle out a couple new Skylanders every two weeks or so. Few enough where you don't feel like you're breaking the bank on an entire wave, but still keeping you forever engaged; preying on our neuroses.

That may all be exactly correct. However, I still think it's a bastard move.

No matter how you slice it, there is no fiscal since in delaying ANY release to right after X-mas. Simply having more figs for clueless parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, brother and sisters and or friends to buy makes more since. I also don't see any wisdom in the scenario of waiting for gift cards since the store has already been paid for the gift card and don't care when you use it. I mean the releases from early to November to right before X-mas (if part of wave 3 is released by then) will have been pretty much the same and a lot of parents have been slowly accumulating them since. Why not give shoppers a few more figs to stick under the tree since most consumers usually pull back on the spending after X-mas. If it's a supply thing I get it but why the staggering amount of time between wave 2 and 3 is still a mystery for a game that is in it's third holiday release. You'd think they'd figure it out by now.

Quote: defpally

If shipping complexities would allow it, releasing a new figure every week after the initial release would probably be one of the best ways to keep the franchise going strong. You could put out about 6 of each type on release, then trickle them out one at a time weekly and people wouldn't feel the sting of a big purchase that might turn them off. It would be predictable, and people would constantly be talking about the game. And it would make the game last most of the year gap - I would guess it would run until at least mid-May. Think of how TRU did the Legendaries and Disney power disks recently and how great it was to be able to plan for it. There would be less lulls for people to lose interest. It would also practically kill the "normal figure" EBay market, the uncertainty of finding figures and early findings drive a good bit of that market. Why spend the cash on EBay if you know you could go to TRU on Sunday and get the figure? Stores would also love it because it would ensure frequent traffic.

Of course, that would require shipping cases of just that figure, and it also would make finding figures in later weeks more difficult. It would also have an adverse effect on the variety on the shelves for new buyers. But, it would be cool for those that get in early. If real world shipping realities weren't a problem they could do all kinds of things like this.

Maybe the Amazon shipping droid can take all the pain away... hehe

If that actually happens (very, very unlikely), it would make shipping Skylanders a breeze.

awww.... no ?

it is already in testing it can deliver up to a 10 mile radius of the warehouse

Quote: defpally

Quote: Unreallystic

Cause whomever thought it would be smart to release ANYTHING AFTER Xmas is an idiot.

Interesting perspective, and might you impart why you are the master of marketing over all of us "idiots"? Maybe you can explain why it is smart to blow the excitement of a new wave for a bunch of parents that couldn't tell the difference? I've got news for you, but little Johnny's mother doesn't know the difference in Stink Bomb and Free Ranger. Little Johnny does. Which one of those people is going to be shopping before Christmas, and which one after? Now who do you think is going to get all excited over new figures being released?

I'm sorry, but you are not the primary audience that they target their marketing towards. Almost none of us are. You have to limit your playtime to keep the game interesting because you have played it to death. Most kids don't even have the game at all yet. And I'm really sorry they didn't consult your house closing schedule on their Wave releases.

And BTW, I think Activision knows what they are doing. They have been doing pretty well despite all of us back seat marketers telling them they are being dumb constantly. Remember, three years ago no one knew what a Skylander was.

Because it is WAY overblown how much attention kids pay attention to the release dates of the waves. Me - my marketing experience comes from being a reseller and tracking to market to make the best moves possibles. I'm not speaking from a position of ignorance - and I've watched the retail trends on the 'floor' before when I was younger - several times - before, during, and after the holidays. I've done well and taken my lumps. I'm retiring/ed though - its just not worth the effort. I spend WAY too much time talking to parents AND their kids who've come into Target, Walmart & TRU looking at both DI & Spyro's. I've done a lot of educating to parents and have helped a lot of kids as well. Are there 'educated' buyers - sure, but the majority of people buying are NOT educated or even follow when figures come out. IT boils down to

-Parent walks in and tries to figure out what toy their kid thinks will be cool
-Kids walk *err run heh* in, grab an armful of figures, mom & dad walk up and tell them how many they can get, and then they pick the 'coolest' one(s)

There are ALWAYS going to be scenarios outside of those two - but I'd wager that the vast majority of purchases are along those lines and NOT planned. Don't let the internet - especially with people on a Spyro's website - overstate the reality of how things are sold or even the interest levels. Most kids only average like 9 figures. Want to test - hop on eBay right now, look up Skylanders Lot - and average out how many figures are in the lots being resold. So when kids are working with nine or so figures, they aren't the type to chase 'waves' and street dates. They ask for it when they see it - plain and simple. IF it's not on the shelves, they aren't going to ask for it.

Now, If they wanted to throw a random variant out during that time frame - that's perfect - and I'm also not saying no one goes out and buys stuff during that time frame - but they are essentially saying "We'd sell more units after the holidays"...marinate on that and find a way to justify it as a smart move...

No one does that except for extra stock...

And there is a reason for it. Outside of gift cards, you lose the "nice/random purchases" right after the holidays as wallets tighten up - you are relying ENTIRELY on revenue from returns and gift cards

I honestly think that deep down, watching the 'shifting' rumored dates and their 'exact' shift of a month, looking at how they've been releasing current figures as well - with a 'struggle stock' early on, so forth and so forth, they just can't manufacture sufficient quantity to release in time. I don't think it's truly intentional and more of a 'recovery plan'. I'd be completely 'un-surprised' if TRU got ALL of Wave 3 the same way they got Wave 2 - before other retailers by a few weeks, but the stock for the swappers is low.
*shrug*
-Unreall

Forget drones! The way I order stuff from Amazon - even Skylanders - I'm surprised they haven't figured out a way to install a direct TUBE. Like at the bank. *FWAP!!*

Quote: Concept

Forget drones! The way I order stuff from Amazon - even Skylanders - I'm surprised they haven't figured out a way to install a direct TUBE. Like at the bank. *FWAP!!*

Introducing, the all new "FWAP Force"! Lol

I think DefPally still has the best idea. Release a new figure/trible pack/adventure pack/etc. every week. Not only would that more likely keep parents buying, but it makes Skylanders a weekly event for the family. Plus parents could totally use that as a praise opportunity (chores across the country suddenly get done, and homework is completed on-time).

I do sort of agree with that conceptually - DI kept my wife and I going into TRU every sunday for a solid month...throw in a random sell here and there and you end up stringing people along to spend more money than they really should hehe. It also gets...I'll say disappointing, going in that frequently, knowing how much Activision has lined up, and not seeing ANYTHING new on the shelves for such a large time (it feels like at least). They aren't doing anything wrong, but they might be able to etch out some more dollars doing something like that, every ad - instead of having the same few skylanders advertised, they'd be able to get a promo shot of a specific Skylander to plant that seed in all the kids/parent/s heads - then maybe once a month do a sale like 'Buy 3' figures get one of the storage accessories for $X.XX (those are pure mark-up anyways).

Yeah I do like that idea. Though thinking on it a bit, they might have to double up every now and then - you don't want to 'delay' figures so long with a weekly release - that the interest in the game dries up before you finish releasing characters.

But I do like the idea on the surface.
- Unreall

The Arkeyan Crossbow is out now in the UK:

Whenever I see "Thorn Horn" Camo, I can't help but think of the mythical "Jackalope":

It's all for naught anyways. They aren't going to do the figure a week thing, I think we just have to settle for their current distribution model. We can whiteboard and second guess it all we want, but Activision has decided that the current model suits their bottom line best. The thing that will affect it most is how the figures are moving, and if I take an uneducated look at the shelves, I see tons of Wave 1 sitting untouched, even after Black Friday (wasn't the case for Giants). Maybe they will adjust their patterns, but the release schedule has been like this:

SSA
Wave 1: Release Day
Wave 2: November
Wave 3: mid-January
Wave 4: mid-March
Wave 5: mid-April

Giants:
Wave 1: Release Day
Wave 2: Day Two
Wave 3: Right before Xmas - mid January
Wave 4: Late Feb-early March
Wave 5: Late April-early May

Swap Force:
Wave 1: Release Day
Wave 2: Day Two
Wave 3: Current info suggests right before Xmas - mid January

Apparently they were happy with the results from Giants, so they appear to be repeating it. By this point last year, as I recall, TRU had already reduced one of their two displays, likely due to lack of stock. That isn't the case this year, both are still completely full, and as GhostRoaster and I saw the other day, they had loads of Wave 2 cases in the overstock bins above the display. I'm wondering if store overstock is going to end up delaying Wave 3 (or later waves). I personally think the overflow of Wave 1 three packs is the reason for the delays on the Wave 2 three packs not being really out there. If I had my guess, overstock on lightcores last year was the reason it took so long for Chill and Pop Fizz to hit (and in greatly reduced numbers).

Two different people at Our Toys R Us said they will have wave 3 on the 15th.

Quote: Kick2cats

Two different people at Our Toys R Us said they will have wave 3 on the 15th.

If they do, it will only be the non-swappable characters from Wave 3.
the swappable characters won't be out until just after Xmas.

After all the lastest messages, it's seems fair to say we can expect wave 3 whit the swappables around this/next week. A lot of hints towards the 15th.

Darn it, I won't have enough money until the 20th.

Yeah Europe gets them first!

I'll get Arkeyan Crossbow soon!

Here's a very small stock image of Sheep Wreck Island in the US packaging:

here in the us packaging real picture

I found wave 3 Swap Force at Target today on the west coast. Spy Rise (x2), Rubble Rouser (x2) and Stink Bomb (x1). No sign of new reposes, Dune Bug or LightCores so they either have those cases and had not put them out yet or they only got the new wave 3 Swap Force cases so far.

What if they?

Arkeyan Crossbow=Europe
Sheep Wreck Island=USA