View Full Version : Galactus Distribution and Events at Comic-Con International
BrotherMagneto
07/09/2004, 20:06
Here's the skinny on Galactus and events at this year's Comic-Con:<p><b>Galactus™ Distribution</b><p>Comic-Con International instituted a new policy regarding the distribution of convention exclusives, so the ability to purchase a Galactus™ figure will determined by a lottery system. <ul><li>A table will be set up at the WizKids® booth (# 2629) from the open of the exhibit hall to Noon on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. <li>Galactus will not be available for purchase on Wednesday during the preview hours of the Comic-Con. <li>During the time tickets are available, adult consumer badge holders may stop by the booth and get a raffle ticket (only one raffle ticket per adult consumer badge per day). <li>Exhibitor and Child badge holders cannot receive tickets.<li>At 1:00pm each day the winning raffle tickets will be posted at the WizKids® booth. Those with a winning ticket may then purchase a Galactus™ at anytime during the remainder of <b>that</b> day only. <li>The winner must have the ticket present at time of purchase. <li>You may only purchase one Galactus™ figure during the convention, and are therefore ineligible to take part in any remaining raffles for the Galactus™ for the remainder of the convention.<li>Please note that the quantities of tickets to be distributed each day are very limited and you are not guaranteed that you will obtain one.</ul><p>The 2004 San Diego Comic-Con International is rapidly approaching and WizKids will be there! Because of space restrictions, we will be offering an extremely limited tournament area at this convention featuring HeroClix Battle Royale events only. The process for participating in these events will be a little different than other conventions, so we just wanted to give everybody a heads up on how to participate. Our HeroClix Battle Royale events will be running throughout the day in our tournament area, but if you are interested in participating, you will need to visit the WizKids retail booth first. We will be offering Battle Royale tournament tickets for sale in our retail booth, which you can then take to our tournament area and turn them in to participate in a HeroClix Battle Royale. One ticket is good for one HeroClix Battle Royale event, and covers the cost of your booster. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!
The Qwardian
07/09/2004, 20:15
See, people, they are here to help!;)
AEONFLUX
07/09/2004, 20:15
Bunk...
The Qwardian
07/09/2004, 20:18
Kinda glad that I am not going,
I am terriblly unlucky,
If I buy lotto tickets 1-47 and 49-100, nuber 48 will br the one drawn.:disappoin
shock man x
07/09/2004, 20:20
Didn't think people were still having a problem getting a Galactus.
and the saga continues.....
skeevo666
07/09/2004, 20:23
Could be worse, Shirley Jackson could be running it . . .
:eek:
Wow, this is actually the worst idea yet. A raffle? And if you win you get the chance to puchase Galactus? That sucks. There's far too much uncertanty involved. They should just handle things like they did at Origins. I didn't dear anyone complaining about that way of handling things.
Wow, this is actually the worst idea yet. A raffle? And if you win you get the chance to puchase Galactus? That sucks. There's far too much uncertanty involved. They should just handle things like they did at Origins. I didn't hear anyone complaining about that way of handling things.
jdm61802
07/09/2004, 20:35
I sure hope they don't do this at Chicago.
I am not fond of the idea of driving 2 hours for the convention, waiting in line for hours, and then finding out that Galactus is sold out. But I like the idea even less of driving 2 hours then waiting until 1:00 pm to find out if I will be given the chance to buy Galacuts. This seems like a lose / lose situation. If I win the raffle, I purchase Galatus but chance that anything else that I wanted to purchase, so I could get the LE Silver Surfer, is not sold out. If I lose, then I drove 2 hours for no real reason since Galactus is my main reason for going, and chance Wizkids being sold out of anything of interest.
Lets just keep the voucher system. So far, if sounds like it worked out well.
VandalSavage
07/09/2004, 20:44
This is going to be a mess...and Here's my thoughts as to why...FIRST, The Raffle Tickets are available at their booth...Only a Limited Number available....Ok..So I wait in the intial line to get in the convention...Then if I am lucky enough not to get trampled, cut in front of, or something else I wait in Wizkids Line for a Raffle ticket...Which will be an extremely long line in which all kinds of chaos will most likely ensue! This puts all the pressure at the booth for both the raffle ticket and the product....
The raffle tickets are stopped at noon and the Galactus results are posted at noon...Let's say I get the chance to buy one...The chance of the Silver Surfer and other goodies being available with the Galactus has went down UNLESS Wizkids holds enough to go along with the Galactus, but I would not hold my breath on that one! So while people are in the raffle line other people will be in the sales line....So to sum up you could stand in line for easily 5 or more hours and not get one at all or longer and get one without any extra goodies...
The gaming room sounds awful...Yet another reason to go to the booth...WOW they really want to clog that booth! I have been to Many conventions and Wizkids never has enough space and this time 3 lines are going on...Chaos will run rampant!!!
I can ONLY Hope that GenCon has the same quality gaming room it had last year and the Galactus line goes back to the still not perfect system of line tickets....True I don't know the cost of each Galactus unit at Wizkids cost, but if I owned the company, I would have limited it the first 2 cons...drove up demand and then sold 2000 to 3500 per show after that....
:cry: Mr. Savage
cpt_kirstov
07/09/2004, 20:46
why not allow children's tickets to have a chance in the lotto?
I know of a 7 year old who plays and wants a galactus and actuall saved the money to go to a convention and buy one - now they can't because their tickets arn't valid for the lotto becouse of their age??? how is this justified?
VandalSavage
07/09/2004, 20:54
Originally posted by cpt_kirstov
why not allow children's tickets to have a chance in the lotto?
I know of a 7 year old who plays and wants a galactus and actuall saved the money to go to a convention and buy one - now they can't because their tickets arn't valid for the lotto becouse of their age??? how is this justified?
They do this because the tickets are free. If you really want him to have the chance just purchase him a adult ticket.
Boy, Wizkids must really like eBay!! No reason to make enough units for every customer....Instead, "Let's make it special and make a huge part of our consumer base pay extra on eBay for it" " Yeah, That's the way to do it"
Mr. Savage
Kudos to WizKids.
You don't need to wait on line through the night in order to get Galactus. You can come at a reasonable time and still have an equal chance to get Galactus. As a father of 2 small children who like to go to conventions with me, I appreciate tihs.
Not giving tickets to Chilren badges seems okay to me. Those badges are free. If an underage child wants a Galactus, he should do what the rest of us do - get a full admission ticket.
And being able to purchase Battle Royale tickets is also a great idea. WW Philly was a bit chaotic with all the back and forth across the convention hall to buy boosters. This way, if you want to spend your day playing in BRs, you can buy 3 or 4 of hem for the day (or for the whole con, as you deem necessary) and then you are set. I would hope that WK allows for unused tickets to be (a) refunded or (b) used in future cons or (c) redeemable for boosters so that if you overestimate the number of games you're gonna play, you have recourse. Of everything in the post, I'm most glad to see this because it was something that was talked about in Philly.
Yay WizKids!
AlgertMan
07/09/2004, 21:07
cool idea
VandalSavage
07/09/2004, 21:08
Originally posted by nbperp
Kudos to WizKids.
You don't need to wait on line through the night in order to get Galactus. You can come at a reasonable time and still have an equal chance to get Galactus. As a father of 2 small children who like to go to conventions with me, I appreciate tihs.
Not giving tickets to Chilren badges seems okay to me. Those badges are free. If an underage child wants a Galactus, he should do what the rest of us do - get a full admission ticket.
And being able to purchase Battle Royale tickets is also a great idea. WW Philly was a bit chaotic with all the back and forth across the convention hall to buy boosters. This way, if you want to spend your day playing in BRs, you can buy 3 or 4 of hem for the day (or for the whole con, as you deem necessary) and then you are set. I would hope that WK allows for unused tickets to be (a) refunded or (b) used in future cons or (c) redeemable for boosters so that if you overestimate the number of games you're gonna play, you have recourse. Of everything in the post, I'm most glad to see this because it was something that was talked about in Philly.
Yay WizKids!
I'll be looking forward to your problem free report when you return from the con! The 3 lines at one booth will make it very Chaotic! I highly doubt there will be refunds or exchanges for unused tickets, and it sounds like space is very limited so it might be tough to even play in the BR's!
You still have to wait in two lines, and if you get to the first line late, that means it will be that much later before you can wait in the second line the wraps around the booth to get a chance at a raffle ticket. And again, the LE's and presells will most likely be gone after 1:00pm by the time the Galactus is available to buy if you were lucky enough to win the chance to spend your $75 to $100!
Mr. Savage
Magog321
07/09/2004, 21:10
this is a stupid idea! geez! by the way, have they posted the prizes for the tourneys ther
CuriousLurker
07/09/2004, 21:25
Originally posted by BrotherMagneto
During the time tickets are available, adult consumer badge holders may stop by the booth and get a raffle ticket (only one raffle ticket per adult consumer badge per day).
Ya know, because Heroclix is a kid's game and that why we can't have certain figures.
Well, where's my Authority and John Constantine figures now?
Originally posted by VandalSavage
[B]Boy, Wizkids must really like eBay!! [B]
Sweet, I have a second Galactus I have been waiting to put on Ebay as soon as the prices bounced back up again.
Darth Sabre
07/09/2004, 21:29
Originally posted by Magog321
this is a stupid idea! geez! by the way, have they posted the prizes for the tourneys ther
This just keeps going from worse to ridiculously worse. Thank goodness, I have a friend who picked one up for me at Origins.
THANK YOU CHRIS!
cpt_kirstov
07/09/2004, 21:42
oh ok thank you for clearing that up - the local conventions have kids tickets at 1/2 price but not free so i was not aware of that fact
Earl
malephoenix
07/09/2004, 21:47
Wow. Me and several friends were going to make the trek down to Texas this year for their new con. However, Galactus was a major reason for our attendance, and if we have to be raffled into each obtaining one, then that won't make for a pleasant ride back home. Imagine the eight of us driving back home and only three of us getting the big G...
Please WK, go back to the formula of handing out tickets outside the door when it comes time for Texas. We know that means we'll have to get there earlier, but we've all planned on doing that already.
Storm Master
07/09/2004, 21:52
I know it looks far from perfect guys, but at least they are trying something new to address the problem. For those that don't know how Origins went, there were a lot of problems with the whole waiting in line thing.
- There were tons of people in line who were 'holding a spot for a friend' and then when ticket time came their friend turned out to be 4 or 5 guys who just rolled out of bed and waltzed down to the line to cut in front of folks that had been waiting several hours. Yeah people complained and harsh words were spoken, but what you going to do? Fight over Galactus? Thank goodness that didn't happen.
- There were several people buying several Galactus' every day in order to Ebay them. They would just get single day badges and get back in line and hold a spot for their friends who were getting single day badges as soon as they got of bed. There were tales of a family of 5 getting Galactus' everyday, that would have been 20 Galactus' by the end. I am not sure if this one is true as I only saw them once.
- I had 4 badges since my wife and kids (teenagers, not toddlers) attended. I sat in line 3 times, each time I had no less then 25 people cut in front of me, and this was when I was at the front of the line (about #25). The last day I had at least 60 people cut in front of me. I was not too upset because I had one by that time, but still I had been waiting over 2 hours just to get knocked out by people that showed up minutes before the tickets were handed out. There were several folks behind me in line who had NOT got a Galactus yet and they felt pretty angry about the whole thing.
At least this raffle thing will knock out a lot of the speculators. The big down side being of course is that you might get your Galactus, but it is entirely likely that by the time you get to the cash register that afternoon that Wiz Kids will be out of the other Con exclusive LEs. They ran out of the LE Gyrfalcon in the early afternoon every day at Origins.
Also some of the Pre-sale items were sold out with 2 hours of the exhibit hall opening. So if you want to get some pre-sale stuff you will most likely have to get in line twice at Wiz Kids. Once early to get the Pre-sales and smaller LEs, then again later to get your Galactus.
The question is, is that really any worse then waiting in line for hours and still not getting one at Origins? I think not so I am guessing this will be an improvement. The fact that Wiz Kids is trying to make things better is goods too, even if the attempt turns out to not be perfect. At least they cared enough to try.
Well there goes my chance at him since i'll only be there friday. Oh well, i'll get more use out of the Gyrfalcon anyway.
fineberg
07/09/2004, 22:11
This is the worst idea ever. I can't believe it! It appears that their stupidity has caused them to give everybody an equal chance at aquiring a Galactus. The gall! I mean, it doesn't even matter any more if you are a retailer or if you can coerce multiple children into cutting in line with you.
daburton
07/09/2004, 22:14
While this idea is not perfect, I think this will really put a damper on the IDIOTS that only go to the convention to buy a Galactus and resell them. I, for one, was sick and tired of all the people who stood in the line at Origins only to resell their Galactus. Not to count the resellers who had tons of people stand in the lines and take the figures away from the players. No, this isn't perfect but now it should make it less of a sure thing for those who have been bilking the system thus far. NOW, maybe the fans and players can truly get hold of the Galactus over the scalpers.
Doug
VandalSavage
07/09/2004, 22:22
I'm not sure how this will cut down on the number people buying Big G just to resell it, unless you think they might be discouraged at the fact they must stand in two lines...The same people who stand in the first line can stand in the second..This way they have 2 chances to line cut;)
Scalpers are a problem because of the limited amount Wizkids has available for sale...Period!! If there were plenty available, the scalper problem would be taken care of as well as all these crazy lines. An increase in the production of Galactus would destroy the Scalper market!!
Mr. Savage
Iceslinger
07/09/2004, 22:43
Hey, a Galactus announcement...aren't I supposed to quit playing now??? Dang, i SO much wanted to get in line at midnight three nights in a row!! They've ruined everything. Gee, what can I obsess and complain about now? And what is this "limited edition" thing? They need to do what the other collectables companies do, when a rare item gets high demand they flood the market with them. Ya, that's it, I bought a pack of "Consumer Demand" ballcards last night and it had all rookie cards: 2 Kobe Bryants, a Jordan, a Nolan Ryan, etc. etc.. I'm going to post them on eBay right now...whats that...they are only worth a nickle each??? They ruined my life!!!!
I'm getting confused about what I'm supposed to be upset about, so I'm going to bed now.
VandalSavage
07/09/2004, 23:08
Originally posted by Iceslinger
Ya, that's it, I bought a pack of "Consumer Demand" ballcards last night and it had all rookie cards: 2 Kobe Bryants, a Jordan, a Nolan Ryan, etc. etc.. I'm going to post them on eBay right now...whats that...they are only worth a nickle each??? They ruined my life!!!!
I'm getting confused about what I'm supposed to be upset about, so I'm going to bed now.
Wow, when each one of those were released, They were Easy to get...You could have bought as many Rookie Nolan Ryans or Jordans as you wanted...It's funny, because your example will most likely be the exact opposite of what will happen in 35 years...The Galactus will not be highly sought after...The examples you mentioned are sought after because of the rarity over the course of 20+ years, not because of an artifically created rarity based on a low production level at time of intial sales!!
Mr. Savage
VandalSavage
07/09/2004, 23:08
Originally posted by Iceslinger
Ya, that's it, I bought a pack of "Consumer Demand" ballcards last night and it had all rookie cards: 2 Kobe Bryants, a Jordan, a Nolan Ryan, etc. etc.. I'm going to post them on eBay right now...whats that...they are only worth a nickle each??? They ruined my life!!!!
I'm getting confused about what I'm supposed to be upset about, so I'm going to bed now.
Wow, when each one of those were released, They were Easy to get...You could have bought as many Rookie Nolan Ryans or Jordans as you wanted...It's funny, because your example will most likely be the exact opposite of what will happen in 35 years...The Galactus will not be highly sought after...The examples you mentioned are sought after because of the rarity over the course of 20+ years, not because of an artifically created rarity based on a low production level at time of intial sales!!
Mr. Savage
i kinda wish they'd stop posting galactus updates.
everything was pretty happy here with ultimates and the results of the very cool dc survey.
it isn't that bad yet, but any mention of galactus, especialy the ways that he'll be distributed at cons, rubs people the wrong way.
people start arguing about it, feelings get hurt and then we have another solid week of the two camps bickering.
then the mods get upset that people won't stop complaining about it, but the people complaining didn't post the story.
then everything ends in a massive wave of forum regulars "quitting for awhile" .
personally i'd rather never see galactus at the top of hcrealms again.
seems like it does more harm than good around here.
but hey, thats just me. what do i know.
DarkCrisis
07/09/2004, 23:17
Stupid idea.
Hoe about go back to the tickets in line thing and have a representativ (or a sign) that says no cutting and make sure it's enforced.
Then if people really want one they can get in line early.
I', starting think the $300 on Ebay for Galactus and the 2 LEs isn't such a bad idea.
Spy Master
07/09/2004, 23:38
is it me or is this whole "BUY" a ticket for a chance to get to "BUY" galactus abit greedy? I mean to have to buy a ticket for a raffle to get to BUY galactus seems abit weird to me.
TERRA_Rising
07/09/2004, 23:45
I understand that WK is trying to do their best, and focusing the potential "blame" on Comic-Con is a viable option, but a raffle is one of the worst things you can possibly do.
All I can say is this. Tf WK has an inadequate list of ticket numbers (they'll need at least 4-5 thousand a day, minimum, to make up for the WWLA S.N.A.F.U.), then I know several dozen people who will not only boycott ALL WizKids products, but get rid of their ENTIRE collections, myself included!
There are going to be almost a million people going to SDCC. I honestly believe that WK NEEDS to bring 15-20 THOUSAND Galacti, along with twice that many of the other convention LEs. If not that many Galacti, then some sort of professional bodyguards. Seriously, cause this may erupt into something nasty for everyone involved. Especially on Sunday.
I don't think I'm out of line when I say that this has the potential to be a MUCH bigger PR disaster than WWLA. WK, I hope to high heaven you don't mess this one up. And I don't honestly expect otherwise, given the record in CA...
hulkamania85
07/09/2004, 23:46
It sucks that it has to come to doing a raffle. This wouldn't be a problem if they did Galactus differently in the first place(Sentinel-like). They should have realized a lot of people want Galactus. Making him con-exclusive is one thing. It encourages con attendance. But to make it extremely limited edition is bull. It's pissing a lot of people off and causing frustration. Wizkids really screwed up by taking a character a lot of people wanted and making it extremely un-freakin believebly limited edition. I hope Wizkids decides not to do this kind of #### again. I'm going to Comic-Con, but I'm not going to try to get Galactus. This raffle is stupid. Not the raffle itself but that they even have to do it in the first place. In a few years when the game is dead Galactus won't be worth ####. Why make it extremely limited edition? He's not worth the $75 anyway.
I didn't hear anyone complaining about that way of handling things.
Are you kidding? I've seen complaining in response to every single announcement regarding Galactus.
absolutvt69
07/09/2004, 23:53
Well all I know is that at my alma mater you have to join the athletic club (minimum yearly donotion of $100) to have a chance to even buy Football Season tickets ($300/each this year).
absolutvt69
07/09/2004, 23:56
Also as someone pointed out in a different thread, is this lottery thing a WK idea or an idea from the people behind the convention:
"Comic-Con International instituted a new policy regarding the distribution of convention exclusives,"
BrotherMagneto
07/10/2004, 00:12
Just to clarify -
This is not a WizKids policy. This is a Comic-Con International Policy, and all attendees offering exclusives for sale MUST follow this policy.
webhead817
07/10/2004, 00:17
Truthfully, this might work out the best...no more camping out overnight to try and get a voucher.
Kite-Man
07/10/2004, 00:18
Yup--It took me 6 days at two Cons but I eventually I lucked out and "won" a chance to buy a Keldor™ figure from Mattel.
I refuse to do it with the Galactus though.
It's a waste of SO MANY HOURS.
I think my time might just be worth $300 on Ebay, too.
firstfederal
07/10/2004, 00:19
Cool.
Maybe next, they can go to shows and sell a big mystery box covered in question marks. Buy one and maybe you will get a Galactus and maybe you will get a giant unplayable Firelord.
After that, the Wheel of Jeopardy.
Seriously, I'm happy for anything that gets them into circulation and brings the ebay price down.
Bill
ps. I thought the SDCC had a prohibition on games of chance.
CMadness
07/10/2004, 00:23
Also note that the new Comic-Con policy is that if the line starts interfering with other exhibitors, the con will shut down all retail sales from that booth.
cmarko458
07/10/2004, 00:45
Are these "raffle" tickets going to cost anything?
Wow, Galactus raffle hmmm......at first I was thinking of lining up earlier to get a chance of getting an Galactus. But now since it is a RAFFLE. Don't need to wake-up or line-up early to get the raffle ticket. :rolleyes:
I think I will take my chances at the 1on1 tournament play and perhaps win one.......wait NO swiss/single tournaments but BATTLE ROYALS. Might as will play RISK take my chances and make cutthroat deals with players around you and still lose in the end.
I like playing Heroclix at my venue. I wanted to come to ComicCon and play 1on1 tournament play and perhaps be humbled. You know either great cheese:rolleyes: or just really good players that don't use cheese and still win.:cool: Now those are the players I wanted to meet. Players who win serving cheeseburgers. ;)
I guess now Galactus is a raffle and tournaments are pretty much like playing RISK cause it is only Battle Royals. I guess I don't need to pack my Heroclix for the trip down to San Diego.
Maybe they should have kepted that point system that was never used. You know back in the days where we all wondered what were those points on the sides of boosters meant. That way when Galactus or something worth getting came up we could all sent in our points as proof we like to purchase Wizkids products and lots of it.(we would have the points as proof). Of course it would be fair to include money to purchase the item(Galacus) too.
Heres my 2 pennies......you know for the man in the boat for whom ever needs it to cross the river. :devious:
Originally posted by webhead817
Truthfully, this might work out the best...no more camping out overnight to try and get a voucher.
Not really, if the raffle line is only open for 2 hours, you still have to be there early just to have a chance for a raffle ticket. Especially if there is not seperate lines for sells, raffle, and Battle Royals. Those 3 lines will be a real mess around the booth.
I still don't get this only having a 100-300 galactus's per day. Heck judging from Gen Con and Dragon Con last year, they sold at least a 1000 dropships on some days. Did Wizkids only order a certain number of Galctus' before the con season and had to make them stretch over the entire con. You think after seeing initial demand, they would have ordered another batch if this was the case.
I do hope Gen Con this year, Wizkids redeems themselves a bit. I hope they have the large room with games going until 2 a.m., give 3 prizes away at each Battle Royal and have not gotten cheap by only offering 2, and knows that they are going to have over 20,000 people there. You think they could at least bring 2000-3000 Galactus's and other exclusives. Even pre-sells is an issue at cons this year. When Hypertime, Clobberin Time, and Xplosion came out early, there was more than 2 cases of boosters to sell for each day. Only bringing enough so they can sell out in an hour turns a number of people off. I have been going to many cons for a couple of years now and have heard many of these complaints from people over this past year. Enough that people are deciding against going to the cons and as a result loosing a bit of their enthusiasm for Wizkids, which is resulting in less sells.
Now that being said, I understand that this is Comic-con policy, but Wizkids really needs to try to redeem themselves at the premier gaming con at Gen Con.
Man wizkids PR department is not helping the Galactus situation,in fact it's makeing it worse if i was running WK(HC would be a lot more fan based,eath set will be polled and then made,also i would make so many Galactus that the world would be in short suplie of plastic and every clix player would have one.)i WOULD fire every one in the PR department,because I DONT like pr!!!!!!!!!!,So if WK has any hope's for kepping it's fan they better FIRE THE PR department RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!.I think all of WK problems can be traced back to the pr department.
GroovyBoy
07/10/2004, 02:11
Like usual, Enderx, you're a genius. Let me know when you come up with some concrete, usable ideas...
Worst idea yet. At least with Wizard World you can be farly sure if you stand in line from six am you will get one...
Glad I am not going to this one!
Marlow.
oh please please please let this not be the method that will be used at Dragoncon!
I'm willing to wait in a line for two days and suffer to prove that I'm one of the few who should get one. Its not really fair that a casual fan or a speculator that only picks up a ticket for the chance to make some quick cash has an equal chance to score a Galactus! Those willing to go to the extreme lengths should have the greatest chance!
A lottery? what cr@p! lets wrestle for it! at least then I can show how much I want one! I can fight for a chance! Please don't let lottery be the method for DragonCon!
TERRA_Rising
07/10/2004, 03:11
And someone who wants quick cash isn't willing to fight either?
I've known people who were beaten for $20!
Hawksmoor
07/10/2004, 04:03
So, let me get this straight...
There are a limited number of tickets per day, so even if I stand in line for a ticket, I may not get one.
Provided I do get a ticket, even that does not guarantee that I will be able to buy a Galactus. I still have to be one of the lucky few whose number is chosen.
And to top it all off, the convention might shut the sales down if the lines get out of hand? Others have mentioned 6am lines...
This sounds more and more like a recipe for a disaster. I'm thinking WK might have been better off not selling Galactus at SDCC.
WK made a lot of people happy by actually making one of the most wanted figures that, at one time, it was said would never be seen. The way they've handled that figure since then has left so very much to be desired...
vaders sabre
07/10/2004, 08:29
Im glad my only chance of getting one was this con,by a friend. Now it looks like Im buying off evil bay.:devious:
AEONFLUX
07/10/2004, 08:57
buy a ticket to have a chance to buy the G-man? What a scam!
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy greedy
just my .02 cents
who are the brainiac's that are coming up with these ideas lately, and to think everyone sitting around in the board room is agreeing to these decisions - mismanagement at it's finest.
this whole GALACTUS promotion was a disaster from the start.
vastly over-promoted, grossly under-stocked, blatantly decieved.
1) Are the Envoys still allowed to get 1 Galactus for "time served"? If so, players may be able to ask local battlemasters/judges/warlords/umpires to help players get one...and nice envoys should offer to do this for their players.
2) WizKids can always hold their own "raffles" in the gaming area...perhaps 1 chance per every booster event?
Anywho...I am glad to have gotten my 1 (and no extras) at Origins.
Originally posted by cpt_kirstov
why not allow children's tickets to have a chance in the lotto?
I know of a 7 year old who plays and wants a galactus and actuall saved the money to go to a convention and buy one - now they can't because their tickets arn't valid for the lotto becouse of their age??? how is this justified?
Why Don't you use your Adult ticket for your kid. That is unless you are already using it to buy yourself one. In that case you have 2 choices:
1. Don't buy yourself one and let your kid have it instead.
2. Buy your kid an adult ticket.
There is also a third option, but if you are like me ( I have a 3 year old daughter) you would not even think of doing this option. That option would be buy one for yourself and not for your kid. But again if you are like me, (and I am assuming you are) the child comes first, what I want is not even a close second.
The convention organizers have obviously instituted this policy to stop lines from becoming unpleasant and disruptive. If the lottery tickets are distributed in a brisk, efficient manner then this will be the best system yet. This convention seems well organized.
Folk who are upset because it ruins their plans to come early are making a glib assumption that they would have been successful in their strategy. At WWLA we saw people camping out all night but still not getting a Galactus because of line jumpers and other snafus. And if everyone knows to come at 6 am then, guess what, the smart money comes at 5 am instead. If there are only so many Galactus to go round then some of you must necessarily lose out. A lottery is a fairer way of managing this than what's been done so far.
As for the limited supply, I heard at Origins that WK cut back production based upon sales of the MW dropship (which has yet to sell out). Whether the production run for Galactus was estimated better remains to be seen. Will there still be unmet demand by the end of the year? We shall see ...
Me, I got Galactus at Origins and ran an event with him for the first time this week. He turned out to be easier to take down than I thought and it was good fun doing so. WK should be running some Galactus scenarios at these conventions rather than the broken Battle Royales. That way, even if you didn't get to buy Galactus, you'd still get a chance to play against him. Here's how I'd do it:
Galactus Fast-Play event
1. Four player events - which will fill up easily.
2. Each player buys 3 boosters and makes a 300 point team from it.
3. One map - one player on each edge - Galactus in the middle as per the scenario. Because the players have 1200 points, it'd be the Hungry Galactus. His countdown would start on the corresponding middle setting - 15 turns before he eats the world.
4. Either Galactus eats the Earth in which case there's no winner and just a fellowship prize. Or one player KOs Galactus to win the scenario and there's a winners prize too.
5. If those victory conditions don't work out too well (because players hang back) then track the clicks of damage done to Galactus and award the victory to the player that does the most damage (with a bonus for the player who KOs him).
I've been thinking of running a Galactus event of some sort at Gencon SoCal as WK had no HeroClix representation there last year and it's still not on their list of conventions. Any takers?
Andrew
Face it,the pr department hates us,so they srike back at us throuh Galactus.
bradley2099
07/10/2004, 11:51
Originally posted by AEONFLUX
buy a ticket to have a chance to buy the G-man? What a scam!
You don't have to buy the ticket.
AlgertMan
07/10/2004, 11:53
i think most of you people that are complaining are the type of people who would just slap it on ebay the same day you got it
EvilGenius
07/10/2004, 12:13
I don't know. On paper, I'm sure this just as fair or more fair than what has come before. But I don't know. I have horrible luck at random drawings. I can't remember a single raffle that I've ever won (schools, fairs, work promotions, radio contests, etc).
This just adds another layer of uncertainty to the whole process. Stand in line to get a ticket. They're extremely limited, so maybe you'll get one, maybe not.
If you do get an extremely limited raffle ticket, then your chances of actually getting a Galactus are still up in the air.
So I guess the real question is, how many more tickets will there be than Galactus?
If there are going to be 200 Galactus available, and they hand out 600 tickets, then that's okay odds, I guess. If there are 200 Galactus and 1000 tickets, that's not that great. If there are 200 Galactus and 5000 tickets, then thats really bad odds.
Now they said that the raffle tickets would be extremely limited, so maybe that means only 3 times as many tickets as product. Or maybe since space is so very limited, they just can't bring that many Galactus and it will still end up being 10 times as many tickets as product.
Dunno. But whatever the odds, it's still another level of risk trying to get the Big G.
Shellhead
07/10/2004, 15:50
When you have a demand that outstrips supply, the most equitable way to distribute is through a lottery system.
How long does it take to get a raffle ticket? 10-15 seconds?
Especially if the line is only for getting those tickets.
This is the only Con I'm going to, so I don't have a problem with it. I'll try on the three days that I'm going to be there and hope for the best. I have better things to do with my time then get up at 3 AM in order to camp out for something I may not get. This way, all of us have an even chance.
Besides, too many of you are treating this like the exclusives are the only reason to go to the Con. The San Diego Comic Con is just awesome. There is SO MUCH to see and do. If you just want the exclusive, just stay home and bid on evil bay. Me, I'll try for the Big G, and then move on to the rest of the shows, lectures, previews, specials, auctions, movies, games, etc. It would be nice to get a Galactus, but I'm going to enjoy my trip regardless.
And remember, the Con is MAKING WK do it this way. So quit blaming them. THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE.
VandalSavage
07/10/2004, 16:41
Originally posted by Shellhead
And remember, the Con is MAKING WK do it this way. So quit blaming them. THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE.
Yes They Do....Increase Production! Easy Enough...By the time Scalpers realize they bought 10 too many and every one has one that wants one, it will be too late and the scalpers will all be stuck and Wizkids will have made Major Bucks!!
Mr. Savage
On the one hand, I'm glad the Con is addressing the problem - although they had to, obviously...but I agree, increase production is the obvious way to go...
The number of Galacti at the Con is down to WizKids - and they need to ensure they take enough with them...I would have thought at least 100 a day could be sold at a fairly big event...the "ticket-for-a-chance" thing SEEMS fair, but is open to several abuses (most of which I'd spotted befor the end of the first post - God I realy worry about my mind, sometimes - at least the Blue Android Body doesn't break down...)
...and here they are
1. There are going to be a limited number of tickets per day, and so not everyone who wants one will have one. People will sell their own tickets at inflated prices to the desperate and the mercenary. Queue jumping and direct theft will also probably occur...
2. Unless the ticket design is changed hourly/daily, or has the purchasers name encoded in it somehow, any one with a scanner, a trimmer, the right grade paper, and a decent computer will be able to turn one ticket into vast numbers, using (eg) photoshop to generate a huge number of seemingly valid tickets with a huge range of possible numbers. These can then be sold or traded (rather like tout tickets at sports events) or simply used to try and scam the Galactus before the real "winner" arrives - after all, the ticket simply gives you the opportunity to buy it...who's going to argue with money ?
3. Children arn't allowed them...so, guy takes child along, and does the rounds of the nice guys at the convention, getting them to "buy a ticket for his boy - look, i'll give you the money, and you could get him one...no, i've already got one for me - he wants his own..." As everybody will agree it's unfair on the kids not to get the chance to buy Galactus, the guy generates several tickets, which HAVE been bought legitimatly, after all...
4. The draw. Substituting tickets INTO the draw tub may be hard, but it is never impossible. Having YOUR copy of the tickets which have been added is easy. A simple distraction and some slieght of hand...
5. Secondary Market...a lot of people at the Con will not wait for ebay - which is still the most certain way to get the Big G - so we will see an (un)healthy market in the Galacti that have been acquired legaly - of course, you could ban Secondary trading at the Con, but that just drives the price up, and leads to lots of Galacti being sold across the table in the local Coffee Shops...
I still feel it was rather good at the UK Heroclix Championships - there was one Galactus, 45 or so players, and at the end of two days of play, the winner got him, and the rest of us aplauded...
oh well - the rest of us can still buy one on ebay - and the price is still falling...does seem strange that it's ebay sellars who are making the money on Galactus sales, but there you go...
LoL
All the Best
(a Galactus-less)
Noman
RavenProject
07/10/2004, 16:58
Yes They Do....Increase Production!
They're already doing that (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89288).
First, to help meet the large demand for Galactus, we have begun producing more of this popular figure. While supplies will still be limited and we cannot guarantee every convention-goer a Galactus figure, we will be bringing increased numbers of them to most conventions. Be sure to check the convention schedule on our website for notes and updates as the season develops.
Problem is that after WWLA and all the coverage Galactus got, the vultures started circling. Once people started seeing stories of how difficult it was to get Galactus and how much they were going for, it created a ripple effect which spilled into the other cons. Even if WK arrived at a perfect estimate of how many people at each show would actually want a Galactus, the arrival of the speculators has nerfed those numbers completely.
The new question becomes just *how many* to bring to meet the increased demand. By some reports, as many as four out of five people who bought Galactus did so solely for the purpose of eBaying it later. If true, that means WizKids would need to bring five times their original numbers to each event in order to meet the demand.
However, you appear to have confused WK with the other company known for a Bag of Holding. These things take up space. They take up space on the boats which bring them to the States. They take up space on the trucks which bring them to the Con. Space needs to be paid for. And space is often limited. Even if everyone wanted to, they can't just magically create empty square footage in the storage area at SDCC so that WizKids could keep more Galacti handy.
And that's just part of the logistics involved in bringing more figures to the center. There's also drivers, fuel, labor to load and unload, and other things which must be acquired. Even if WizKids could afford it, those resources simply may not be available.
It's an unfortunate situation, and a terrible shame that the speculators have made this so difficult for WizKids and players alike. I'm certain that WK is doing everything they can to set things right, but in many ways they're fighting the laws of *physics* in order to get things done.
-J
daburton
07/10/2004, 17:09
Originally posted by VandalSavage
Yes They Do....Increase Production! Easy Enough...By the time Scalpers realize they bought 10 too many and every one has one that wants one, it will be too late and the scalpers will all be stuck and Wizkids will have made Major Bucks!!
Mr. Savage
You are 100% correct on this. As it stands now, just about everything that has been done with Galactus has solely been to help the scalpers continue to make money off of Galactus. Increase the numbers sold and you inhibit the scalper market. Inhibit the scalper market and the ONLY people complaining are those who bought Galactus solely to make money (which, unfortunately, seems to be a fairly large percentage of people). Personally, I really like this lottery system over anything they have done so far. At least its more fair to everyone and IF they keep a list over the convention weekend, noone will be able to buy more than 1 without going through a lot of trouble to do so. In fact, I would bet that a lot of people complaining about this lottery system would be the same ones who have already bought a Galactus and sold him on the secondary market because they could stand in line at another con to get him. I know of at least a dozen people who have done just that, figuring they would get a Galactus at Gencon. I honestly feel that if they up the numbers to 250 a day, most of the people who want a Galactus wouldn't have nearly as much trouble getting one. After all, they sold more dropships a day last year and those were 3x the size of Galactus boxes.
Qoute from RavenProject (who I deeply respect, by the way...)
"Space needs to be paid for. And space is often limited. Even if everyone wanted to, they can't just magically create empty square footage in the storage area at SDCC so that WizKids could keep more Galacti handy."
Fair Point.
But, I have seen the Galactus "Box" for real (at the UK Nationals - I came within 9 places of winning it...) - I could get approx 50, just in the back of our Volvo. A decent
White Van could hold probably 200-300 at the least.
I agree, there is a cost/space issue, but I feel that it is not as crucial as you sugest, RP.
These things are limited by their very nature, and will not be made forever - after all, there are still some figs from the first release that I don't have - I just find it odd that WK seem to force high rarity on certain figures, leading to people other than themselves making serious money.
As long as riots are avoided, I guess we will have to say the system worked...
We'll see.
LoL
All the Best
Noman
TERRA_Rising
07/10/2004, 18:19
These are the three points we shouldn't forget about
1) WK returns to California - After WWLA, or "GalactusGate I" if you will, "space" and "speculators" should be the LEAST of WK's concerns. Memories are not short and WK has to get this right, lest they alienate an entire part of the country. Having an ready made excuse like "Comic-Con made us do the lottery" does NOT inspire confidence, and WK should know that.
Hotels have security, and WK stays at the Marriott next door to the Con. Have some of the staffers use the extra space and store 2-3 thousand in their rooms a piece. It's already paid for, so why not?
2) 800,000 expected attendees - And the spotlight for a lot of people is going to be on WizKids. If anything happens, with that much press around, it won't get the watered-down coverage that WWLA got in "Wizard Magazine" and the like. It will get real TV and newspaper coverage, with shots of angry parents holding crying babies and the expressionless WK staffers "talking" to them. A disaster for Brother Magneto, and one he shouldn't have to deal with.
3) So what if it's a "comics" convention! - The "fact" that SDCC is not a "gaming" convention is bogus and should NOT enter into any speculation. Loyal gamers who missed out at WWLA WILL be at San Diego. Fans of Galactus who do not play HeroClix will be at San Diego. And yes, the "speculators" will be there too. What's more important than factoring in the "vultures" is generating good press for the company, NO MATTER THE COST! If space on the floor/warehouse is not available, look into other avenues, like off-site private storage, keeping figures in hotel rooms and the like.
Once again, WK cannot mess this one up. There is only so much forgiveness most of us have, and in a few local cases, that well's run dry.
Just remember, WK. I can count faster than most people. And if I see a woefully inadequate number of "winners," it will be known during the convention!
VandalSavage
07/10/2004, 20:38
Originally posted by RavenProject
They're already doing that (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=89288).
However, you appear to have confused WK with the other company known for a Bag of Holding. These things take up space. They take up space on the boats which bring them to the States. They take up space on the trucks which bring them to the Con. Space needs to be paid for. And space is often limited. Even if everyone wanted to, they can't just magically create empty square footage in the storage area at SDCC so that WizKids could keep more Galacti handy.
-J
Well, At Gencon last year, and more than likely this year and at al the cons, Wizkids product is kept in the Tractor Trailors they are shipped in to the cons. This means if production was increased in March...they could have shipped them over to the States within the last 3 1/2 to 4 months to the central warehouse. They would just pack an extra Tractor Trailer Full of Galactus Figures for SDCC. I was told by the guy working the truck last year that they sold 3500 Dropships at 1 Convention...Why are these kinds of numbers not available at the Cons with Galactus? Labor is all figured in to the cost of the item...If I were a company, I would figure all costs including everything mentioned above into the bottom line. If I am still making a sizeable profit on the item...I sell as much as the market can take. Wizkids is a company...Everything they do in the end should be and is about profit...When they sold to Topps it was not because they thought "Gee, These guys are great lets be friends" They sold to them because of PROFIT!!! They did not make Galactus to Impress the Fanboys...They made him because there was a PROFIT to be made!!! So you can't kid yourself thinking poor Wizkids would have to pay more labor, gas, storage whatever...That's all taken into account....and remember..Last time I checked they pay 75% of their help at these cons with little plastic figures that cost pennies to produce which includes unloading of the trucks, moving around the product and helping with the booth.
Mr. Savage
JtHM_Dude
07/11/2004, 01:11
Originally posted by Shellhead
And remember, the Con is MAKING WK do it this way. So quit blaming them. THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE.
i blame them every day for being COMPLETE IDIOTS and screwing around with this con excslusive thing
I DONT WANT TO WAIT IN A FREAKIN LINE FOR A CHANCE TO GET HIM
online stores.....its a good idea
You dont make a character this wanted in so limited value
TERRA_Rising
07/11/2004, 01:36
Not to pick on someone when they're down, but...
Originally posted by Shellhead
And remember, the Con is MAKING WK do it this way. So quit blaming them. THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. What if WK did this? Everyone who gets a Lottery ticket gets to buy Galactus? 100% winners!
AEONFLUX
07/11/2004, 08:34
any way you want to sugarcoat it RP, go ahead, it is still a joke.
darius_dax1
07/11/2004, 10:05
Originally posted by BrotherMagneto
Comic-Con International instituted a new policy regarding the distribution of convention exclusives, so the ability to purchase a Galactus™ figure will determined by a lottery system. I don't know if anyone else has said this. I don't really care to read the rest of this thread because it will just make me ill. BUt for thoise who are trying to blame WizKids for this current travesty might want to re-read the previous quote very carefully.
AEONFLUX
07/11/2004, 10:37
blah blah blah... still lame as all get out.
darius_dax1
07/11/2004, 10:40
Originally posted by AEONFLUX
blah blah blah... still lame as all get out. I agree. All the whining is lame and counter-productive.
Psylockeslover
07/11/2004, 10:46
Originally posted by darius_dax1
I agree. All the whining is lame and counter-productive.
You forgot that it won't change a single thing....
darius_dax1
07/11/2004, 10:47
Originally posted by Psylockeslover
You forgot that it won't change a single thing.... I thought that was implied by counter-productive but you're right!
AEONFLUX
07/11/2004, 10:48
sorry massa... I wont be backtakenz youz nomo!
darius_dax1
07/11/2004, 10:51
Originally posted by AEONFLUX
sorry massa... I wont be backtakenz youz nomo! I suppose a Galactus is really important to you...so important that you must not be thinking about anything else.
AEONFLUX
07/11/2004, 10:52
yeah, its the central focal point of my life, all I life for. Who cares about career, family, or school? I just want the G-man so we can play in the kiddie pool!!! ;)
AEONFLUX
07/11/2004, 10:54
live for, typo ;)
ah who am I kidding, I just can't spell, lol
TERRA_Rising
07/11/2004, 18:07
Just because I like stirring the pot...
The convention opens for the general public at 10 am and the "Galactus Lottery Line" closes at Noon. That gives WizKids 2 hours to get tickets out to people. Best case scenario, being one ticket every 1.8 seconds, that's 4,000 raffle tickets...
IF WizKids takes 4,000 Galacti per day, which is 16,000, they will have a bunch of satisfied customers...
And IF they manage to make 5,000 tickets in two hours (1.44 seconds a ticket), an 80% win rate is MUCH better than anything else!
So WK, there you go. The minimum amount of Galacti to make your customers happy. And IF most of them are Ebay vultures, so be it. Vultures are part in parcel with the collectibles industry, and always have been!
VandalSavage
07/11/2004, 19:32
Originally posted by darius_dax1
I agree. All the whining is lame and counter-productive.
But whining about whining...Now that changes things!:rolleyes:
Mr. Savage
LOL!!!!! this is just too funny... LOL!!!!!
fineberg
07/11/2004, 23:47
I haven't heard enough whining...so I'll just bump this...
Yup, pretty evil of me, lol.
skyounkin
07/12/2004, 00:07
Originally posted by fineberg
I haven't heard enough whining...so I'll just bump this...
Yup, pretty evil of me, lol.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....
Yeah, that actually made me laugh.:laugh:
Man, sorry to all the people this will eventually screw over some way or another.
GroovyBoy
07/12/2004, 01:29
Originally posted by AEONFLUX
sorry massa... I wont be backtakenz youz nomo!
Wow, somehow bringing racial tones into this. What a genius!
I cant wait to get in line 3.5 hours early & get nothing. Again.
Originally posted by TERRA_Rising
The convention opens for the general public at 10 am and the "Galactus Lottery Line" closes at Noon. That gives WizKids 2 hours to get tickets out to people. Best case scenario, being one ticket every 1.8 seconds, that's 4,000 raffle tickets...IF WizKids takes 4,000 Galacti per day, which is 16,000, they will have a bunch of satisfied customers...
Judging from Origins, you can expect 100-200 Galactus per day. They won't be doling out tickets as fast as you suggest because they'll have some scheme for stopping people from getting multiple tickets - badge punching, probably. Figure more like 5 seconds per ticket so that's about 1000-2000 raffle tickets. So your chances will be about 10:1 against. If you try on every day of four days then that's about 2:1 against.
Andrew
darius_dax1
07/12/2004, 06:57
Originally posted by VandalSavage
But whining about whining...Now that changes things!:rolleyes:
Mr. Savage The difference between whining and calling someone on whining is the content of what's written. Words like "screwed", "travesty", and phrases like "WizKids sucks" and "WizKids blunders again" are whining.
TERRA_Rising
07/12/2004, 07:32
Originally posted by warden
Judging from Origins, you can expect 100-200 Galactus per day. They won't be doling out tickets as fast as you suggest because they'll have some scheme for stopping people from getting multiple tickets - badge punching, probably. Figure more like 5 seconds per ticket so that's about 1000-2000 raffle tickets. So your chances will be about 10:1 against. If you try on every day of four days then that's about 2:1 against.
Andrew With 5 seconds per, that's 1440 tickets over two hours (7200 seconds divided by 5). That's STILL well within a 100% possible saturation rate (instead of 20,000, think 6,000).
If WK is going to go to Comic-Con with only 800 Galacti for the whole convention, this whole excercise is pointless. Odds of probability and convention policies aside, WK will end up nerfing California HeroClixers over once again, but this time with a MUCH larger unfiltered spotlight on them this time! And no amount of Brother Magneto's wonderful PR spin will quench this fire this time.
I'm still hopeful that WK will take as many as they possbily can to sell. However, I'm not holding my breath.
Originally posted by Darko
Wow, this is actually the worst idea yet. A raffle? They should just handle things like they did at Origins. I didn't dear anyone complaining about that way of handling things.
Actually, this is just about how EVERY company offers convention exclusives.
And I was at Origins. Re-read the postings about it, a LOT of people didn't like how they did it there either.
And BTW, about I kept seeing people w/ 4 or 6 Galacti. So hopefully, they do something about that.
Likes2smash
07/12/2004, 14:01
Okay so here is the thing. My girlfriend and I will be attending our first con in Chicago this summer, which was prompted mostly by the chance to get Galactus. This was not an easy decision because it's a 2 day drive for us, plus hotels etc etc. After WWLA I was wary but after a couple cons it seemed that if you were prepared and got there early you would be able to get the ticket, go check out the con and come back to by the Galactus later in the day. Waiting in line is pretty easy if you bring a book or a friend and some magic cards. So we bought our tickets, made the reservations and mapped everything out. What frightens me about this lottery is that, if they do it in Chicago, there is the chance that I may wait in line all three days, when I could be enjoying the con, and still not get a Galactus.
firstfederal
07/12/2004, 14:19
There is a huge cargo/ staging area at the convention center. If they really wanted, WizKids could have a dozen pallets of them behind the scenes. The short supply is fueling the big demand.
When did the card guys buy WizKids?
bigkahuna83
07/12/2004, 16:00
Wow, wizkids just cannot win. What we have to remember is that these are not Wizkid events. WK has to live with a different set of rules and regulations for each different Con/Show. It seems to me that the distribution of Galactus has improved with each and every Con since WWLA. (as far as fewer complaints) It seems that almost everyone who got up early and waited in line before 7am snagged one at WWE. Reports from Origins seemed like line cutting was a major problem but overall most people seemed satisfied. There is no way that Wizkids can make everyone happy.
If you really want one, just wait until the week after each Con and check ebay. several have sold for $125-140 in tha last week. the market will be flooded with Galacti after WWC and every other con this year.
xxgoonboyxx
07/12/2004, 16:47
I was at WWLA and the very next day the big G was on ebay for like 450 bucks plus... now most of them are selling for 150ish. after every convention they are going down. I have a feeling that they will bring more than 800 to the biggest comic con of the year. So I think the secondary market will get flooded and you might be able to pick up on at a shade over 100 bucks. They could have avoided all of this by just making the #### thing a mail away.
irweasel
07/12/2004, 17:17
I've sifted through most of these posts and can't really find a 100% clear answer to my question and concern.
Will the raffle be in place at the Chicago comic con?
This is a concern for me since this is the one I will be attendidng.
Thanks
RavenProject
07/13/2004, 01:47
I've sifted through most of these posts and can't really find a 100% clear answer to my question and concern.
Try the first post:
Comic-Con International instituted a new policy regarding the distribution of convention exclusives, so the ability to purchase a Galactus™ figure will determined by a lottery system.
This is identified -- here and elsewhere -- as a system imposed by the con itself.
The system for Wizard World Chicago has not been announced, but you shouldn't assume the raffle will be it.
-J
How's this for a method ?
1. Take zogging crate loads of the things to the Convention.
2. Pick a price.
3. Put the price on the Galactus figures, with a big sign.
4. Stand back. Sell them all.
5. Make money.
6. Get more Galactus figures.
7. Repeat until there is no more demand.
8. Take the remaining figures. Repaint Purple/Mauve/Blue/Black with sparkles, dayglo paint, stuff which glows under UV light, etc etc. Give the main dial some even higher stats. Call the figure Cosmic Galactus, or somesuch. Release details on the web. Sell the figures at a very high price at, oh, I don't know, say a convention as far as possible from most known player bases as possible, possibly the US mid west ???
9. Make a LOT of money.
10. Retire.
I don't know, WizKids / RavenProject / BrotherMagneto, oh and CriticalMiss, if she's still around, but it seems like a viable idea to me...
LoL
All the Best
Noman
mylo1wagner
07/13/2004, 16:42
I live in San Diego and was planning on going early with the hopes of getting the Big G. But a raffle? Will have three chances at it if I bring my wife and brother-in-law. Might just sit this one out though, and buy it on e-bay in a few months. Really disappointed.
Pootzwacke
07/13/2004, 17:28
All I can say is this.
After not getting a Galactus at WWLA, I waited until I was sure everything was worked out. The last two Cons seemed to go quite well despite a few complaints.
So I bit the bullet and bought plane tickets, and registered for the San Diego Con. And, of course, nine days before I fly out, THIS gets posted. Just wonderful. I should have guessed.
I'll say it now, if I walk away from yet *another* convention without a Galactus (or even a reasonable shot at getting one), I'm done with the whole thing. I don't like to complain for complaining's sake, but this is too much. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
I like WizKids' products and have a lot of fun with them, but if it isn't enough to simply go to a Con to pick up an exclusive, I'm not giving WK any more of my money, and my friends will feel the same way. There are other entertainment products out there.
WizKids, if you care about not losing another 6 or 7 customers, you'd darn well better have enough figures at the show. If I spend all day in lines only to be denied a figure again when I could be enjoying the rest of the show, I'm done with Clix. I'm not chasing your carrots any more, after two failed conventions and hundreds of dollars in plane fare, etc. I know the raffle rule isn't within your control, but the number of figures is. Don't let me down again.
-Pootzwacke
It will be nuts at Comic-con. Having survived, barely, the WWLA fiasco, I can say this. Southern California has the largest group of collectors and speculators then anywhere else in the country. A friend of mine who is heavy into buying and selling toys has run into this in the past. A huge number of the big dealers are also in CA. By the time they get to WWLA, they probably won't have as many issues since the local fanbase isn't as huge.
Anyway, you guys are right, people will get raffle tickets every day at the con. Sure they punch badges, but they won't when you get a ticket because you might not have your name drawn so must try the next day. Lets say someone wins one the first day. Well on the second day, he will get another raffle ticket. If he wins that day, he will go buy a 1 day pass if needed, then go buy the galactus. Repeat for every day of the con. I actually think it is possible for more people to get multiple galactus under this method.
And how are they going to make sure a person only gets 1 ticket for the raffle. It is possible you could make it through the raffle line a couple of times if the line moves fast enough. So who know, you might be able to win several Galactus a day and then just buy the one day passes if needed.
From what I hear through the grapevine last year, they sold more than 3500 Dropships at Gen Con alone and I think that was by the Saturday of the con. At a $100 a pop, thats $350,000. You know at THE premier Comic book convention, they could easily sell 3000-5000 (could very likely be double that). I mean it is hard to turn down almost a half a million dollars in sells by not having the product. Sure you may have the cost of shipping back product that does not sell, however if you bring enough you will make a ton more in profit then it will cost you to sell any excess.
Anyway, as far as ebay goes, the average price for Galactus is $150-170. A couple have even sold for as low as $130. In the next 2 months there is 3 huge conventions. If you need to get one online, you probably could get one for around $120. Spend 50-60 dollars more so you don't have to fight the lines at the con. Of course if it is only 50-60 more, the ebayers might not buy as many.
CMadness
07/14/2004, 06:29
One point of correction: total attendance for Comic-Con International will total closer to 80,000 than 800,000.
TERRA_Rising
07/14/2004, 07:04
Originally posted by CMadness
One point of correction: total attendance for Comic-Con International will total closer to 80,000 than 800,000. I realize that now.
I was going by a local newspaper article, and they got their numbers wrong.
darius_dax1
07/14/2004, 07:47
Out of all that are complaining about how bad this is, how many are still going to try to get a Galactus?
TERRA_Rising
07/14/2004, 08:14
I, for one, will go through the process.
If for no other reason than to say "I went through the process and was denied the whole trip..."
Ammo against WK AND Comic-Con, I figure!
Pootzwacke
07/14/2004, 11:05
Originally posted by darius_dax1
Out of all that are complaining about how bad this is, how many are still going to try to get a Galactus?
Well, I'm kinda *stuck* trying to get one now, aren't I? I dropped $300 on plane fare alone (and I wouldn't have bothered had I known this information two weeks ago).
You know, this announcement wouldn't have bothered me nearly as much had it come out about a month back. Surely WK knew this information before now - they'd have to to plan the event. Don't they understand that people set itineraries based on information like this? Honestly, if they had made this announcement back when they first found out about it, I wouldn't have even gone to Comic Con. I'm pretty much going only for Galactus; I would have waited until Texas or something. For that matter, I could have put the $300 into just snagging one on eBay instead of buying a plane ticket to a freakin' *lottery*.
Anything would have been better than an "oh, and by the way..." two scant weeks before the show.
-Pootzwacke
darius_dax1
07/15/2004, 07:59
Originally posted by Pootzwacke
...Surely WK knew this information before now - they'd have to to plan the event... I wouldn't assume too much about what WK knew and when did they know it. They may have just found out and needed time to prepare a press release. Regardless of that...we shouldn't assume they knew.
After going to WWLA for Galactus and missing out, I hope i can get one at SDCC =) Raffle....sounds like Mattel
The last time I checked, the reason for going to conventions was to PLAY not stand in line.
There is a simple solution to the whole WK disaster. At the end of the convetion season, WK could make the convention specials mail aways. Up the price a little to encourage convention goers to attend conventions, but allow players who couldn't go to get the pieces.
F.Y.I. my 7 year old son wants Galactus also. Way to discourage your meal ticket WK.:ermm:
TERRA_Rising
07/19/2004, 05:09
Actually, the reason to go to a convention is to prove you're not alone as a geek/loser/Shriner!
chuckkim00
07/20/2004, 12:58
Out of curiousity, most of the other con alerts listed which LEs they're giving as prizes for the battle royales. Anyone know which LEs it will be for comiccon?
macliving
07/21/2004, 13:24
Originally posted by RavenProject
These things take up space. They take up space on the boats which bring them to the States. They take up space on the trucks which bring them to the Con. Space needs to be paid for. And space is often limited. Even if everyone wanted to, they can't just magically create empty square footage in the storage area at SDCC so that WizKids could keep more Galacti handy.
And that's just part of the logistics involved in bringing more figures to the center. There's also drivers, fuel, labor to load and unload, and other things which must be acquired. Even if WizKids could afford it, those resources simply may not be available.
It's an unfortunate situation, and a terrible shame that the speculators have made this so difficult for WizKids and players alike. I'm certain that WK is doing everything they can to set things right, but in many ways they're fighting the laws of *physics* in order to get things done.
gosh, you're right. how could we have been so wrong?!? POOR WizKids.
And to address your argument:
Ship it to me. I'll happily pay for the shipping charge.
yes it's a terrible shame, but WK has brought this on themselves.
we can't=we won't
we are doing=smokescreen.smokescreen.smokescreen.
what's the smokescreen concealing EXACTLY? I don't know. The real reasons my not be nearly as exciting as what we've all fabricated in our minds. but I'm still bitter about WWLA.
in WK's defense, it is SDCC mandating the ticket policy. and it is a decent plan that has worked for SDCC (aka CCI: SD) thus far. you gotta understand that while it may not be the best method of fixing WK's customer relations problems, there will be somewhere between 70 and 100 THOUSAND people attending over the course of the 4.25 days. a vertible schload of unwashed geekdom ascends upon San Diego (where we DO sell deoderant folks, I swear!) and it's perfectly reasonable that 10 to 50 percent of those will try and get a ticket to get a galactus. so with these fair estimates in hand, we can assume that 7000-50,000 people will want a galactus.
now imagine that wizkids decided to bring only one truckload, BUT decided to take credit card preorders for another shipping container worth of Galacti. even if it took 6-8 weeks or even 90 days, we'd all be happy and their public face would be clean again.
worth thinking about, no?
See you at Comic Con!
-K____'_
macliving
07/21/2004, 14:20
[QUOTE]Originally posted by TERRA_Rising
2) 800,000 expected attendees
QUOTE]
Grossly FALSE. try more like 80 to 90 thousand.
tho everything else you said seemed reasonable.
VandalSavage
07/23/2004, 06:15
Originally posted by macliving
[QUOTE]Originally posted by TERRA_Rising
2) 800,000 expected attendees
QUOTE]
Grossly FALSE. try more like 80 to 90 thousand.
tho everything else you said seemed reasonable.
He realized that 7 days ago....check his post..He stated he was mistaken.
Mr. Savage
charlesx
07/23/2004, 13:07
Hey, I have a wild and crazy IDEA! What about, instead of playing shenanigans with tickets in line and lotteries and other brilliant brainstorms from the geniuses at WizKids and company, what if they made it AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC by selling it as an online exclusive?????
Oh wait - that would be incredibly less interesting since no one would get frustrated or po'd, and it would also pull the rug from under those swell speculators on Ebay who are selling Galactus for boo-coo bucks. I mean, it's not like everyone would want to spend the $75-$100 and then pay for shipping afterwards, right? Why take any steps to stop alienating your customer base, WizKids maroons? Golly gee. Let's stick it to the fans yet again - hooray!
DarkLiger
07/23/2004, 13:33
Originally posted by RavenProject
These things take up space. They take up space on the boats which bring them to the States. They take up space on the trucks which bring them to the Con. Space needs to be paid for. And space is often limited. Even if everyone wanted to, they can't just magically create empty square footage in the storage area at SDCC so that WizKids could keep more Galacti handy.
And that's just part of the logistics involved in bringing more figures to the center. There's also drivers, fuel, labor to load and unload, and other things which must be acquired. Even if WizKids could afford it, those resources simply may not be available.
It's an unfortunate situation, and a terrible shame that the speculators have made this so difficult for WizKids and players alike. I'm certain that WK is doing everything they can to set things right, but in many ways they're fighting the laws of *physics* in order to get things done.
____________________________________________
True however, all of these things are already factored into the price for Galactus. Wizkids isn't losing money on him.
They could make a lot more money by shipping More of Galacti. That said, there may be other reasons for the difficulty in getting him.
1) The chance of getting Galactus draws more people to Cons and tournments, which is what they want.
2) He is the most powerful clix around. If here were alvible to everyone they might run into the problem of kids brining him to local play ares and throwing a fit when the realize they can't use him
(such is the situation with the Yu-gi-oh God cards)
I'm sure there are others
firstfederal
07/23/2004, 19:23
Update from the floor:
Two lottery tickets and no Galactus.
Bill
Originally posted by DarkLiger
They could make a lot more money by shipping More of Galacti.True, but how do you ship what you don't have? How do you know that they can get more Galacti made at a price that they can make money, without pushing back other production schedules?
That said, based upon reports I've seen, only 400 Galacti were made available, total, Thursday and Friday. Even if they offered double that each day Saturday and Sunday, that's a ridiculously low number to bring with the projected attendance of San Diego, even before the results of WWLA.
Titans_rule
07/25/2004, 21:30
Wait in line 5 hours for galactus that is riduclious!
Titans_rule
07/25/2004, 21:34
Ive seen plenty of (toys) at toys r us and other places alot biggger that galactus!
I wish wizkids would stop WHINING! I was going to go to a con but wizkids srews eerything up! So forget about Galactus i dont even care anymore.
Well I went to comic con yesterday(Saturday) with my dad and won TWO Galactus's!! I was happy! I didn't think I would win! Let alone TWO! Since I'm such a nice guy I found someone who didn't win and gave him one of my tickets. Cause really now, who needs two? And I'm not an ebay scalper!
DarkLiger
07/25/2004, 23:47
I guesse for those whoa ren't as lucky, there is always Ebay
Darth Sabre
07/25/2004, 23:55
Originally posted by Kvan
Well I went to comic con yesterday(Saturday) with my dad and won TWO Galactus's!! I was happy! I didn't think I would win! Let alone TWO! Since I'm such a nice guy I found someone who didn't win and gave him one of my tickets. Cause really now, who needs two? And I'm not an ebay scalper!
So what was the process like? How was it run?
Well they opened the floor early (at 9 instead of 10). There were made a total of 15 people in line (about 7 in front of me), they handed me a ticket, marked an X on my badge and had a sign that said when the drawing would be, which was at 1pm. After sitting through the StarWars Exibit (had to find out the name of the third movie) I went back down to there both at around 2 and they had a board up that said all the numbers. They didn't seem very random to me since they had like numbers 44506 through 44587. They had about 9 or so numbers like that ( ie 44300-44330). To me though it seemed like alot were picked that day. Although I think its either a blessing or a curse if you go in a group, since me and my dad had like only one number apart. You either both get it, since the numbers a drawn between two numbers and if you're in a group you're likely to have almost the same number, or you both don't get it for that exact reason. After I double checked my number and gave my other ticket to a lonely soul, I waited in a 20 minute checkout line. The man at the checkout would ask you if you want the LE Surfer heroclix (since Big G is only 75 and to qualify you need to spend 100), so I picked up a two pack and a Sinistro. And I must say they were very nice there. I know I'm a customer and I'm buying there stuff, but it was a pleasant experience and it just perked my interest in Heroclix again.
macliving
07/26/2004, 19:52
We finally got our Galactus on Sunday.
We didn't think we had much chance of winning, as we hadn't the chance to get to the Con before noon (the cut-off point for the day's lottery) on any other day. we actually cut it really close on Sunday too, with me leaving my son to escort my wife to disabled services so she could rent a wheelchair, and me power-walking through the convention from prime parking place to WizKids booth to get my ticket 15 minutes till noon. I continued on (still plenty of move left in my HSS) and caught up with my family just as they were arriving at disabled services.
I rushed the DS personnel through the sign-up process, and flew Oracle through the crowd as fast as possible.
we made it to the ticket booth just as the noon bells tolled, and my sweetie was among the VERY last of those who got a ticket for the 2004 San Diego Comic Con.
We went out to lunch at the Spaghetti Factory, ate too much, drank enough to where the great unwashed were way more tolerable (two long islands, for those keeping score) and then returned to go bring a friend some take-out pasta at the Clix tourney room. On the way back in our route happened to take us past the wizkids booth again and there it was: I had lost again, my son was also once again unable to purchase a Galactus, but my wife, who has won more concert tickets off of the radio than anyone I know or have ever heard of--She won Galactus.
the evil puppetmaster gremlins from deep inside the machinery will be happy to know that she was also PO'd. not that she didn't win, cause hey, she won, but because she thought that she was WINNING rather than winning a chance to buy. it's a good thing she's never aquiesced to my pleadings to play Clix with us, as no doubt she'd have choked someone by now, as she puts up with far less than my son and I do.
anyway, we got Galactus.
and our Galactus can beat up your Galactus, so there.
oh, and we got two packs of euro-indyclix and got a vet judge fire and a U judge death. and we got a 3-pack of Pirates boosters, one of which had two 15 point ships in it. we just played it today. very cool game.
oh, and just so wizkids doesn't think I've let them off the hook, coming to a convention with fewer gyrfalcons than Galacti doesn't help the image either. had you said something like, "hey, you've earned one, we'll mail you one," I would have checked it out and possibly started playing mechwarrior. but I'm not going into a pricy new game without some sort of teaser, soooo... nevermind.
It was kind of funny actually, in a wizkids-funny kind of way. they were all, "we're out of the mageknight relics cards, is that okay? and I'm all "uhh, I really don't care about a couple of joke cards, so it's cool." and then they went up to "we're all out of the gyrfalcon, is that okay?" and I'm all "no. I'll hassle you about it another time." and just kinda stared. but when I didn't throw product at them I think they might have then thought I was kidding.
I'm not kidding wizkids, I want the dumb gyrfalcon. see, it's the extra #### that makes spending $75 on a galactus closer to worth it. I bought up to the surfer, they should mail me a gyrfalcon (or really, any sort of equivalent mechwarrior fig would be totally fine). that would be fair, right?
is it too much to ask that a company could have a change of heart and start doing things in a fair and equitable manner? is it?
QUIT LAUGHING AND ANSWER ME!
TERRA_Rising
07/27/2004, 00:50
800 Galacti were apparently at Comic-Con.
That, being only 1 for every 100 people at the event, is complete bull****, and WK should know it!
Everyone there should take a heavy mallet and smack themselves with it until they all knock themselves out!
Better yet, let those who missed out take the hammer and smack the employee of their choice with it!
macliving, so thats probably the reason I didn't get a gyrfalcon. Have you tried emailing them? I'm thinking I might try, I don't know what good it'll do...
Great story and good job on scoring a Galactus. Have you used him yet?
macliving
07/27/2004, 12:44
Originally posted by Kvan
macliving, so thats probably the reason I didn't get a gyrfalcon. Have you tried emailing them? I'm thinking I might try, I don't know what good it'll do...
Great story and good job on scoring a Galactus. Have you used him yet?
thanks, Kvan,
I haven't yet tried emailing them on this issue. see, emailing wizkids hasn't generally been very fruitful for me. I tend to just get ignored until I flame them, then they get angry with me and don't do what I asked of them in the first place.
doesn't mean I won't try tho.
I haven't used galactus yet, but I will introduce him to my players this week with the standard galactus scenario, then I will have him play a part in my upcoming Thanos scenario: the infinity toupée. you will soon be able to see these scenarios as well as our custom football maps at comicsonline.com, in case you're interested.
GroovyBoy
07/28/2004, 00:13
I would just like to welcome all the San Diego Comic Con complainers (and you know who you are) to the group of complainers from LA, Philly, and Origins. Oh wait, I should have welcomed you a couple weeks ago, since it's pretty much the same people that were complaining before they even got to the con. Hmmm, could the fact that you knew the distribution method, heard stories from previous cons, and already complained enough beforehand have prepared you enough in advance? Apparently not, as so many people were still completely blindsided by what happened with the Galacti! Oh well, come join our ranks, and be comforted to know our numbers will swell greater than should be expected by common sense after WW Chicago and GenCon... :cheeky:
VetLogan
07/28/2004, 09:52
I was at ComiCon, I got a Galactus, I thought Wizkids did a fantastic job with the situation.
There were no huge lines, there were no incidents, just a LOT of people having a great time. Enough with the complaints.
Originally posted by VetLogan
I was at ComiCon, I got a Galactus, I thought Wizkids did a fantastic job with the situation.
There were no huge lines, there were no incidents, just a LOT of people having a great time. Enough with the complaints. Hey now we're not complaining so much as just stating what we should have gotten since we hit the 75 buck mark. So if you're going to complain about us complaining please, do it somewhere else
GroovyBoy
07/28/2004, 17:05
Okay, Kvan, you get an exemption. But only you...;)
firstfederal
07/29/2004, 01:06
I went to SDCC and won the right to buy a Galactus. I even got a unique out of one of the boosters I bought. But I won on Sunday after three other tries. I was on the last try.
On Saturday, over 1,000 people entered the drawing for the 200 le's for the day. Those are long odds.
I believe that WizKids is keeping the supply artificially low to keep the interest high.
RichStahnke
07/29/2004, 04:29
I have Galactus and the Silver Surfer to accompany him, plus the LE Invisible Woman and movie version Catwoman that I picked up in SD this past weekend.
Anyone here not having any luck winning at the convention, just hit me with an email at
[email protected]
Dreadwing
08/04/2004, 02:13
I think the recent conventions supplied the market with enough Galactus for everyone willing to get one. The cheapest "Buy it Now" [BIN] for Galactus (on eBay) is now $130. And I think you can even get one for under $90 if you watch the correct one. For that extra $55 (for the BIN price), it's well worth it considering it covers airfare, event fees, waitings, and frustrations... :cool:
Iceslinger
08/05/2004, 13:44
I agree. I don't think there is going to be any shortage of Galactus figures at a decent price for people who truly want one to use it. The speculators are being brought down to earth by more realistic demand via ebay. The initial demand came about BECAUSE of the rarity. If Wizkids had made tons of them from the beginning there would not have been such a demand and attention on them and they probably would have been sitting on a warehouse full of purple people eaters with players sitting back saying "Those greedy ^$%$&s at Wizkids expect me to pay $75 for a Heroclix figure!" You would probably see Galactus being sold at reduced prices and people saying Wizkids made another marketing blunder. In the end I think all the hoopla is going to be good for the game (albeit diminished somewhat by the negative spin so many "hardcore" clixers want to put on everything.)
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