The Return Of The Pre Release Tourny

[dweez009]

I dont know about anyone else but id really love to see a pre release returned with the new year 2011 would be the perfect time for its return.

[Kamakura]

I used to have a really good time at pre-release events, but I'm also fortunate enough to live near pre-release venues.
I liked it, but it should be available to more people, I know how annoyed I get when SDCC gets all the exclusives and NYCC gets nothing.

[TH0MAS5]

Regional Pre-releases were a lot of fun.

I remember that about 7 of us from my area
would all travel 3 hours north and party for
the whole weekend.

But note to Neca: please have them a Week and
a half before the Release Date and not just 4 days
before the release date.
It would make them more fun and special.

[Sheeplover]

Bring it back. It is one of the few events where the pieces you get matter more than how you did in the tournament.

[violentcalm]

It's good for the game! I live in Indy, and go to Gen-con. The pre-release is the best part of the weekend! Everyone should have a chance to play at a pre-releases!

[MistahJustice]

With purple-tabbed SRs? Hell yeah, count me in!

But seriously, I really miss pre-releases...

[Beastlordleo]

We need a return of pre-releases, but not like the Monsters & Mutations one. My friend a I drove for 2 hours, both went 3-0 and all we got were the BCF and an extra BCF for going 3-0.

[happyoptimistic88]

I dont know about anyone else but id really love to see a pre release returned with the new year 2011 would be the perfect time for its return.

Good poll, I vote:"Yeah! its been gone too long."

[Darth Sabre]

Absolutley. it's a fun event that brings together different playing communties and is the best option to bring players together, who cannot otherwise afford to attend the big Con events.

Perhaps the best event I ever attended was the Legacy Pre-Release in Washington State.

The Holiday event was a fun thing too and it was for a good cause.

[jak7890]

I voted yes, but this isn't just a simple, "Ok, guys, let's have a Pre-Release," and bam it's done.

To have a pre-release you have to have a WK run OP to keep track of things and insure that it's handled properly. Otherwise, a number of dishonest venues just made bank on ebay.

[soxolas]

Sorry, but I have to vote "no."

I may be in the minority here, but as I've noted previously, I'm among the folks who grew tired of having our favorite venue invaded by bad actors who, in fact, would come and take up space for no other reason than to scoop up two boosters, the contents of which ended up on evilbay a few hours later --- strange newcomers not seen again until the NEXT pre-release tourney.

I hate to sound cynical, as though newcomers should be shunned until they provide a reason to do otherwise. In fact, I make it a point to personally welcome all newcomers to our venue, because I happen to think more customers are good for the store and more players make it a stronger venue.

But at those pre-release events, it didn't take a genius or a detective to figure out what certain strangers were all about. In some cases, they'd come with a child in tow, as a ruse to buy two additional boosters.

Dropping out and leaving after the first round of the tournament (so they could post their clix goodies on evilbay as quickly as possible) tended to give them away.

My favorites were the weasels who would try to buy leftover boosters on their way out the door.

So, there you go...and why I vote "no.":(

[Toughest 1 there is]

YES! Why shouldn't they?

[tom730]

The big regional ones that actually were more than a few days before release were very cool. You'd meet judges and players from all over and it was a lot of fun. The next version was a little weak, where there'd be several venues in an area actually doing a pre-release event, it pretty much lost it's "cool factor."
The experience and "flavor" of the original Pre-releases was what we were shooting for with the Maryland mega Games we started during the dreaded "Heroclix Hiatus." It really helped keep the energy alive in this area, and without the model of those early pre-releases I'm not sure they would have been as successful as they were, or that we would have even attempted them.
I think the Clix for the Cure "coast to coast" events will have a lot of the same energy, in some ways even more so. The East Coast event (see link in my signature line) already has players coming from 6 different states, which is kind of what we used to have with the pre-release tournies.
I say bring them back, but bring them back "old school!"

[Hesster56]

I don't think it's a stupid idea, but I think it's a pain in my butt. If you're a collector, it pretty much forces you to travel all over the map to get the figs.

Now, if they had a way to allow each and every venue to function as a pre-release location instead of just one venue per every five states, we'd have a possibility.

[Clclix]

YesYesYesYesYesYesYes.

This was one of my favorite things to do heroclix wise. I played in two, judged one, and had a blast at all of them!

[techdog]

I know one of the most fun games I ever played was at the Legacy Pre-release. I would be in favor of them happening again.

[Thrumble Funk]

Sorry, but I have to vote "no."

I may be in the minority here, but as I've noted previously, I'm among the folks who grew tired of having our favorite venue invaded by bad actors who, in fact, would come and take up space for no other reason than to scoop up two boosters, the contents of which ended up on evilbay a few hours later --- strange newcomers not seen again until the NEXT pre-release tourney.

Who cares?

I'm not a businessman, but I did attend the Origin pre-release tourney back in the day, and the store sold about 5 cases of product. Who cares why people are buying said product? It leads to a successful pre-release, a robust tourney, and excitement!

[tom730]

I don't think it's a stupid idea, but I think it's a pain in my butt. If you're a collector, it pretty much forces you to travel all over the map to get the figs.

Now, if they had a way to allow each and every venue to function as a pre-release location instead of just one venue per every five states, we'd have a possibility.

So who is forcing you?
You only have to travel all over the map if you want to get a few figs (maybe two booster's worth and maybe a participation prize) before release date. Each and every venue having a pre-release? Then it just becomes the "release" which we already have, obviously. The vast majority of venues (and judges) don't even take the trouble to put on a "Midnight Madness" event at 1 minute after midnight of release date.
It's a lot of effort to hold a big regional event or a convention. Most folks aren't up for even trying it. It is something of a "pain in the butt" to travel to a convention or a regional event, but not nearly as much as actually putting one on.
I've volunteered at CONs all over the country. All I had to do was make travel & hotel plans and show up. The amount of effort compared to actually putting on a big event? Minimal.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! It's a blast! But it's way harder than driving a few hours, trust me.

[Thrumble Funk]

So who is forcing you?
You only have to travel all over the map if you want to get a few figs (maybe two booster's worth and maybe a participation prize) before release date.

Yep. This. If you're a collector, then you can either wait the extra week or (if you're one of the more obsessive types) you can suck it up and find a venue.

[dweez009]

I remember those Maryland events me tryin ta find a ride to rocksville to get to Dream Wizards. Man I miss that just hangin out playin id make it a point o come to it if they brought it back for GSX. Id be there if its like the classic style so you can go to different venues and meet tons of people.

[soxolas]

Who cares?

I'm not a businessman, but I did attend the Origin pre-release tourney back in the day, and the store sold about 5 cases of product. Who cares why people are buying said product? It leads to a successful pre-release, a robust tourney, and excitement!

Well, if it were just a matter of buying and selling product, the only one who should care is the store owner who is selling the product.

But this happens to be a matter involving a venue where a regular group of people shows up, week in and week out, for the fun of it -- not the profit of it (that's the store owner's concern) -- while demonstrating support for the venue each time, not just that one day. And in doing so, the group fosters a sense of community (which, when you think about it, is what goes on here at HCR).

A community is not a private club, but it does involve some give and take. The bad actors, as I called them, who show up at a pre-release to get their two boosters and a possible participation prize (all of which will end up on evilbay a few hours later) only to drop out early, actually taint the day's tournament and that's hardly in keeping with the spirit of play at the venue. With all due respect, I disagree with the notion that it makes for a "robust tourney."

As for your query ("Who cares?")...considering that the available product -- as well as space -- is limited at a pre-release, I would imagine that someone who sees a friend shut out because a number of pre-release profiteers -- the newcomers who won't be seen again until the NEXT pre-release -- had signed up, well... I'm guessing that person might care more than you think.

Just my two cents.:cool:

[TH0MAS5]

Id be there if its like the classic style so you can go to different venues and meet tons of people.

This was always a great aspect of them.