Please Bring Back Boosters and 9CB Promo Figures Again!

[BigBlueBeast1982]

I must start by commending you guys for listening to the general populus of the Heroclix community and making some much needed changes in the pricing structure.

However there are still a few things that could be worked on within the games new pricing structure/business model.

1). Single boosters are cool, but let's bring back the option to buy a regular 5 figure boosters again at the reduced price of what 5 single figure boosters cost now. Or give a discount to entice a player to spend a litter more if they decide to buy a 5 figure booster.

As of now the only way to purchase a 5 figure booster is to play in a tournament. Here is the problem I find with single boosters. You can buy 5 single boosters and get screwed over on your pulls-meaning you can pull all commons and uncommons and not get a single rare. I had this happen to myself and I've been told from others in the HCO community that this has happened to them as well. At least with a 5 figure booster your guaranteed to get 1 rare.

Entice people to spend more like retail stores do by selling a 5 figure booster or a brick at reduced prices for buying larger amounts. For instance if you buy 5 single boosters at 19CB a piece it adds up to 95CB. If you buy a 5 figure booster make the price 85CB. Tight wads like myself would be more inclined to buy in bulk if there is some up-front savings involved. Big retail stores have been doing this for years and it works very well. I'll always buy more than what I need/want if I can see immediate savings for doing so.

2). My second issue. What the hell were you thinking when you raised the promotional figures prices from 9CB to 19CB? You had it perfect! 9CB was a good price point for buying promotional figures. I found myself making an impuslive purchase for both figures whether I wanted them or not, just because the price was just right.

Since the raise in prices for the promotional figures I have yet to buy any of them at 19CB and further refuse to do so in the future. As I stated in another post why would I spend 19CB on some commons and uncommons when in the last couple month I've been buying and acquring Super Rares and Uniques for less than 19CB a figure? I'd rather just wait a month or so untill I can pick up these promo figures on the auction house for 2-5CB like every other common and uncommon on the auction house now....

I would appreciate feedback on this thread from both other HCO players, as well as the game designers themselves. Thank you all for your time and consideration to this matter in advance.

[Typhon]

I believe that the answer to #1 is because the 5-figure booster is a "Hobby Game SKU", and single-figure boosters are "all other retail" (ie. mass market). To keep prices down, and hobby game stores happy, WizKids probably had to create a sku that did not directly compete with a hobby game product (because I'm sure those stores still view HCO as a competitor).

That's just my $0.02 on the issue ... they're probably just trying to not piss off the retailers.

[Timeshadow]

I can do without the 9 CB promo figures considering the prices of the figures now. I don't see the point of a 5 figure booster since for the same price as buying 2 of these you can play a sealed and get your figures plus a chance at most of your CB back and an LE. As long as the sealed has some coolation like 5 fig boosters, this is fine. I'd hate to go into a sealed and get all commons and uncommons.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

I don't understand the complacence with the pricing. Why would you want to pay more for something we get less of? Before we could get two promo figs for the equivalent of the price of one now. I guess it's like what Big Oil is doing with gas now. The initial raise ticked everyone off, and now people are just happy the prices aren't higher.

To address the second statement. You can't make most of your CB back now. Most of the figures from HoT are going for 1-5CB including rares with a few exceptions. And you say it would be bad to have a all commons and uncommon in draft, but what about the people that buy 5 singles in a row and pull nothing but uncommon and commons? While I agree it would suck in a draft I think it is also wrong for the person who spends money to get shafted just because they aren't in a draft....

I can do without the 9 CB promo figures considering the prices of the figures now. I don't see the point of a 5 figure booster since for the same price as buying 2 of these you can play a sealed and get your figures plus a chance at most of your CB back and an LE. As long as the sealed has some coolation like 5 fig boosters, this is fine. I'd hate to go into a sealed and get all commons and uncommons.

[Timeshadow]

Going from 239CB for 5 figures or about 48CB each to 19 CB each is HUGE!!!! Using your comparison this is more like if Gas prices went down to 1$ a gallon for a few weeks then went up to 2$. It's still 2$ a gallon less nothing to complain about.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

Ahhh.. I see what the problem is. You've been playing since the inception of the HCO and you were already exposed and paid into the initially high prices, so of course anything lower than the previous amount would make you happy.

Although I had a Beta and enjoyed the game at first, I was outraged and insulted with the intial prices and refused to play. I did not come back until they started putting codes in the Fast Forces packs. I didn't start paying money until they had promo figures for 9CB a piece and AH figures dropped.

This is what happens when you pay those outlandish prices to begin with....You become complacent and desensitived to the new prices and except them, because anything your paying now is obvisouly better than what you were intially paying.

I don't feel that way because I refused to pay those prices from the start. Then I started buying promo figures for 9CB and then they more than doubled the price per promo figure. I'm sorry, but I'm on the opposite end of the scale than you are. I started buying promo figures at a lower cost, as opposed to you who started buying figures in this game at a higher cost. So to me the game is moving in the opposite direction while for you, you see the illusion of progress...

Bottom line is, is that was a nasty tactic to pull on thier end. Get people hooked on paying and expecting a fair price for a promo figure and then more than double the prices on them the next time they are offered. This is another bone-headed move on the public relations side of things and I hope people refuse to buy the figures at that cost to make a statement, because I know I will.

[Crimsonfrost]

The 9cb promo figures only happened for about 2 weeks, and were admitted to be a mistake by HCO.

On the grander scale, HCO set prices have had a paradigm shift from 25 bucks to play a sealed with a current set, down to under 10, which is honestly about $4 cheaper than what I ever expected to see. Quite honestly, it's probably TOO low, but we'll see.

As far as current AH resale goes, HoT has been the only modern set out in well over a year of play, so the market is absolutely flooded. Once a new full set comes out, expect a much healthier market, to the point where placing in a tourney should safely be enough to get your CB back.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

The 9cb promo figures only happened for about 2 weeks, and were admitted to be a mistake by HCO.

Just out of curiosity where was this stated and how come it took 14 figures over the course of 4 weeks to go unrecognized? I can understand if they put up a pair of 2 figures for 9CB then immediately fixed it the following week, but to not remedy this error over the course of 4 weeks and 14 figures sounds a bit strange to me.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. If that was an error, that could have been coded and fixed in 5 minutes after the initial release of the first promo figures, but instead they let the charade continue on for a month unnoticed....

In my opinion they were getting people vested into the game and acclimated to spending their money - AKA (hooked). Then they go ahead and jack-up the prices by more than double per figure in an attempt to see what the outer-limits people would spend on these figures. I'm sorry, but I think this is a shady way of doing business and poor display of public relations with their customer base.

[Crimsonfrost]

Just out of curiosity where was this stated and how come it took 14 figures over the course of 4 weeks to go unrecognized? I can understand if they put up a pair of 2 figures for 9CB then immediately fixed it the following week, but to not remedy this error over the course of 4 weeks and 14 figures sounds a bit strange to me.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. If that was an error, that could have been coded and fixed in 5 minutes after the initial release of the first promo figures, but instead they let the charade continue on for a month unnoticed....

In my opinion they were getting people vested into the game and acclimated to spending their money - AKA (hooked). Then they go ahead and jack-up the prices by more than double per figure in an attempt to see what the outer-limits people would spend on these figures. I'm sorry, but I think this is a shady way of doing business and poor display of public relations with their customer base.

By "mistake" I don't mean that it was a coding error, but it was a conscious decision they made, which they soon regretted making, then made a different decision.

They are still getting people vested in the game, and the current prices are a huge huge reduction from what they were for over a year, nothing shady about it. They ended up normalizing prices so that no matter if you enter sealed or buy a single figure, all figures cost just under a dollar each. That is more than fair, and is much more streamlined than having figures cost $2.40, $2.90, $1, or $.45 each depending on which booster, single booster, fast forces, or figure of the week.

The prices coming down so drastically from boosters and fast forces extremely significant, the fact that the figures of the week had a 50 cent discount from current prices for a few weeks means nothing.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

Well here's the deal. Just using the normal decision making process that we use on an everyday basis ruins the 19CB promo figures price for me, and others I know. This is why; Why would you pay 19CB for a guaranteed common, uncommon, or even rare for that matter?

The whole reason that 19CB works for blind boosters is because of the innate chance or opportunity of pulling a figure worth more than 19CB i.e. a Super Rare or a Chase. That's why paying a little more for a chance for your gamble to pay off big in my eyes is okay for 19CB. But to know what your getting for 19CB and not have the chance of "hitting-it-big" should reduce the cost of the figures in my eyes.

You can't stream-line or normalize the pricing Crimmy when your selling two different products and comparing apples to oranges. They are two different sales in my opinion and should be priced as such. If you play your cards right when they release the X-Men set, you'd be better off buying blind boosters from that set for the same 19CB as you'll have the added chance for the same price to pull Super Rares and Chases or at the very least get the dumb promo figure that you missed first time around.

By "mistake" I don't mean that it was a coding error, but it was a conscious decision they made, which they soon regretted making, then made a different decision.

They are still getting people vested in the game, and the current prices are a huge huge reduction from what they were for over a year, nothing shady about it. They ended up normalizing prices so that no matter if you enter sealed or buy a single figure, all figures cost just under a dollar each. That is more than fair, and is much more streamlined than having figures cost $2.40, $2.90, $1, or $.45 each depending on which booster, single booster, fast forces, or figure of the week.

The prices coming down so drastically from boosters and fast forces extremely significant, the fact that the figures of the week had a 50 cent discount from current prices for a few weeks means nothing.

[Crimsonfrost]

Well here's the deal. Just using the normal decision making process that we use on an everyday basis ruins the 19CB promo figures price for me, and others I know. This is why; Why would you pay 19CB for a guaranteed common, uncommon, or even rare for that matter?

The whole reason that 19CB works for blind boosters is because of the innate chance or opportunity of pulling a figure worth more than 19CB i.e. a Super Rare or a Chase. That's why paying a little more for a chance for your gamble to pay off big in my eyes is okay for 19CB. But to know what your getting for 19CB and not have the chance of "hitting-it-big" should reduce the cost of the figures in my eyes.

You can't stream-line or normalize the pricing Crimmy when your selling two different products and comparing apples to oranges. They are two different sales in my opinion and should be priced as such. If you play your cards right when they release the X-Men set, you'd be better off buying blind boosters from that set for the same 19CB as you'll have the added chance for the same price to pull Super Rares and Chases or at the very least get the dumb promo figure that you missed first time around.

You don't seem to realize that "figure of the week" sales are not intended to be the only way ever to get these figures. They are previews. You can wait, and get them in blind boosters, where you have the chance of getting a better figure. Or, you can pay the 19cb to pick up a figure early. What's wrong with that?

[swampdog]

I'm confused as to why the OP thinks they made the needed pricing changes when all they did was make it more expensive and risky overall, as the OP found out. You buy 10 single boosters in a row and pull nothing, and you pay the most per unit for a single booster.

e: I notice now the sealed pricing is changed to purchase single unit boosters as well. But you're still paying $20 to play.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

Finally...Someone who get's it. It's refreshing to see someone else understand this! I'm was starting to think some of these people who troll the threads supporting every downright dumb decisions HCO has made were inadvertently on their payroll...

I'm confused as to why the OP thinks they made the needed pricing changes when all they did was make it more expensive and risky overall, as the OP found out. You buy 10 single boosters in a row and pull nothing, and you pay the most per unit for a single booster.

e: I notice now the sealed pricing is changed to purchase single unit boosters as well. But you're still paying $20 to play.

[chuckkim2009]

Honestly, I'm no economics wizard, but how much do you think it costs to run HCO? I really don't begrudge them slightly less than 10 bucks for a sealed tournament. It's not perfect, but I look at the number of people online as well as the number of people who mention that they haven't put a buck towards HCO for months because they've won so many tournaments/sold figures/etc-- I wonder how they cover their costs!
I agree that only a few months ago, the idea of paying 20ish bucks a sealed tournament was nuts and too expensive (although I did pay it until I got the figures I wanted). But they lowered it by half so I'm fine with it. I sometimes think that people don't realize that online content costs money to produce and run. Can it be flawed and buggy? Sometimes. But I still get a kick out of playing online and hope that they make enough cash to keep running!

[rystalquinn]

They said that the FoTW will not go back to 9 CB today because of the fact that when they tracked sales.. they are even better now.

-PC

[BigBlueBeast1982]

Thank you to all the dumb arses that had to impulsivley buy the promo figures! You could have made a statement with your wallets and had not bought the figures at 19CB until they were at least single figure boosters.

You could have had them reconsider the 9CB promo figures pricing structure that they had previously had, but you failed Epic-ally. Shame on you noobs and your consumer mentality. Have some restraint and learn 2 save and manage your money better! Why pay more when you could have paid less....?

I don't blame Icarus Studios. That was a smart business move on thier part. They did a test run of promo figures at 9CB, then up the priced to 19CB to see how many fools would continue to pay for the promo figures at double the price. They tracked their sales and seen fools were willing to part with more of their money(double) for the same product they had once gotten for less.

I wouldn't change the price either, if they are getting people that are willing to pay that. Matter of fact why don't they up the price again to 29CB for promo figures and see how many people are still willing to pay triple for a product they once got for 9CB?

They said that the FoTW will not go back to 9 CB today because of the fact that when they tracked sales.. they are even better now.

-PC

[Crimsonfrost]

Thank you to all the dumb arses that had to impulsivley buy the promo figures! You could have made a statement with your wallets and had not bought the figures at 19CB until they were at least single figure boosters.

You could have had them reconsider the 9CB promo figures pricing structure that they had previously had, but you failed Epic-ally. Shame on you noobs and your consumer mentality. Have some restraint and learn 2 save and manage your money better! Why pay more when you could have paid less....?

I don't blame Icarus Studios. That was a smart business move on thier part. They did a test run of promo figures at 9CB, then up the priced to 19CB to see how many fools would continue to pay for the promo figures at double the price. They tracked their sales and seen fools were willing to part with more of their money(double) for the same product they had once gotten for less.

I wouldn't change the price either, if they are getting people that are willing to pay that. Matter of fact why don't they up the price again to 29CB for promo figures and see how many people are still willing to pay triple for a product they once got for 9CB?

I happily paid a 45 cent premium to gain access to each of these figures before they were released in a full set.

Will continue to do so for the next set's previews and be thankful for the opportunity.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

Shame on you! Your inability to manage your finances and see past your own selfish impulsiveness cost a starving child in Africa his life.

That extra 45 cents you think so little of could have put food in his mouth! Now because you decided to have your carpy "Prowler" at a "premium" price you let a child starve....

Unlike you I shall not pay that "premium" price for another promo heroclix, so that a starving child may live!

P.S. On a serious note Crimmy, how much is HCO paying you in money or figures for going around to all these threads and praising the ground they walk on? No matter what the subject your constantly spouting some kind of propaganda in thier favor...

Whenever there is a thread or post with any negative connotation or some form of criticism aimed at HCO, you quickly come to their rescue with damage control.

I happily paid a 45 cent premium to gain access to each of these figures before they were released in a full set.

Will continue to do so for the next set's previews and be thankful for the opportunity.

[Crimsonfrost]

Shame on you! Your inability to manage your finances and see past your own selfish impulsiveness cost a starving child in Africa his life.

That extra 45 cents you think so little of could have put food in his mouth! Now because you decided to have your carpy "Prowler" at a "premium" price you let a child starve....

Unlike you I shall not pay that "premium" price for another promo heroclix, so that a starving child may live!

P.S. On a serious note Crimmy, how much is HCO paying you in money or figures for going around to all these threads and praising the ground they walk on? No matter what the subject your constantly spouting some kind of propaganda in thier favor...

Whenever there is a thread or post with any negative connotation or some form of criticism aimed at HCO, you quickly come to their rescue with damage control.

I only respond that way to things I see as completely wrong. So far, your posts are pretty much the only ones.

You don't know as much about me as you think. Go on to the Icarus HCO forums and look for my oldest posts. I argued very hard about HCO's original price structure, because it was completely wrong - way too high. Now, it's exactly where it should be. I also regularly criticized them for the length of time between sets.


p.s. I manage my money/CB just fine. I currently have 5x as many CB as I've ever purchased, as well as a full collection. If you think 19CB is too much to pay to get a good piece early, you're the one doing it wrong.

[swampdog]

I argued very hard about HCO's original price structure, because it was completely wrong - way too high. Now, it's exactly where it should be.

It's exactly where it should be? Single figure boosters cost more (about double) per unit and are way riskier. Are... are you from bizarro land? I guess I'm just not the target market for over priced virtual figs that'll be gone sooner rather than later :sleep:

[Crimsonfrost]

It's exactly where it should be? Single figure boosters cost more (about double) per unit and are way riskier. Are... are you from bizarro land? I guess I'm just not the target market for over priced virtual figs that'll be gone sooner rather than later :sleep:

Original price structure = 239 CB per 5 figure booster (about 48 CB per figure, over twice the current price). No singe figure boosters were ever 9 CB, only a few figures of the week were for a few weeks.

[swampdog]

Original price structure = 239 CB per 5 figure booster (about 48 CB per figure, over twice the current price). No singe figure boosters were ever 9 CB, only a few figures of the week were for a few weeks.

So it's down to 19 per single figure booster? That you could pull 10 commons from in a row, since there's no guarantee of distribution. I have not had this problem with AvM code boosters but obviously someone is going to have to get the unlucky boosters that didn't have chase loki in them.

I guess technically you are correct and it is a reduction (and technically is the best kind of correct). But why do I still feel like single figure boosters are a shameless ripoff? Oh well.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

Swampdog's right Crimmy. How many people have bought a physical cases of AVM where you are guaranteed to pull a chase Loki in the real case, but then when you enter all the codes from that physical case you don't pull a single virtual chase Loki....

The new pricing structure is not that great when you factor in the fact that there is no guarantee of rarity distrubution as there is with the physical product. I spent money on 5 HoT single boosters myself and pulled 4 commons and 1 uncommon. I've also heard people complain on HCO in chat that they bought 10 single boosters and didn't get a single rare.

So, no the price is not where is should be. If you buy 5 figures you should be guaranteed a rare. How would you feel if you bought a physical 5 figure booster from you local comic shop and you recieved nothing but commons in it?

You say you manage your money and CB just fine, but I don't think paying 19CB for a Blob a couple weeks early testifies to that comment. An intelligent person would wait for the set to come out and do one of two things:

1).Buy a single figure booster and have the added chance of pulling a SR, such as Magneto.

-or-

2). Wait until other people buy the boosters when the set comes out and get someone elses doubles of Blob when they put him on the AH for 5CB like every other figure on the AH now.

Yes, you are right I did notice that you seem to comment on all my threads/opinions regarding HCO....

I mean I like you too Crimmy, but you need to get rid of that virtual boner for me. :laugh:


So it's down to 19 per single figure booster? That you could pull 10 commons from in a row, since there's no guarantee of distribution. I have not had this problem with AvM code boosters but obviously someone is going to have to get the unlucky boosters that didn't have chase loki in them.

I guess technically you are correct and it is a reduction (and technically is the best kind of correct). But why do I still feel like single figure boosters are a shameless ripoff? Oh well.

[Crimsonfrost]

The new pricing structure is not that great when you factor in the fact that there is no guarantee of rarity distrubution as there is with the physical product. I spent money on 5 HoT single boosters myself and pulled 4 commons and 1 uncommon. I've also heard people complain on HCO in chat that they bought 10 single boosters and didn't get a single rare.

So, no the price is not where is should be. If you buy 5 figures you should be guaranteed a rare. How would you feel if you bought a physical 5 figure booster from you local comic shop and you recieved nothing but commons in it?

You say you manage your money and CB just fine, but I don't think paying 19CB for a Blob a couple weeks early testifies to that comment. An intelligent person would wait for the set to come out and do one of two things:

1).Buy a single figure booster and have the added chance of pulling a SR, such as Magneto.

-or-

2). Wait until other people buy the boosters when the set comes out and get someone elses doubles of Blob when they put him on the AH for 5CB like every other figure on the AH now.

I don't think you should be commenting on people managing their CB when you're actually buying HoT single figures boosters. Obtaining those figures through a sealed both guarantees you rares or better, and gives you a chance at free CB and more. Currently, buying single boosters of IC and HoT is the most blatant act of throwing your CB away.

Also, of course Blob isn't worth buying when the GSX set is actually available. It's all about obtaining the figure before that date. That's the whole reasoning behind the figure previews. Nobody is forcing you to buy them, but to many of us that would like to use the figures before the set is released, it's a wonderful opportunity. It's only a clear waste if you don't plan on using that figure before the official release.

I only tend to comment on your posts in this thread because A) Icarus has much better things to do than listen to the silliest cost complaint I've ever heard, and B) New people that stumble onto a thread like this may be discouraged if they believe you that Icarus is on some evil money grab when just the opposite is true, and perhaps they need to see that not everyone on HCO is demanding and insulting.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

You just proved my point Crimmy! You flat out said spending money on a single figure boosters is the biggest waste of money or CB on HCO. So I'll take that reasoning one step further using your logic...

If in your opinion throwing away money and CB is to buy a single figure booster in which you still have a chance to pull a chase or a SR from, then tell me what does that mean to the people who buy the promo figures? Because for the same cost without those odds of pulling a chase or SR you spend the same 19CB.

I don't know Crimmy, but I would rather pay the same amount on a single figure booster and perhaps pull a rare, super rare, or a chase than to own a Blob or Prowler 2 weeks early...

I liken it this way Crimmy; people who buy the blind single figure boosters are getting more for their investment. While people who buy promo figures to have them a couple weeks earlier are just impatient and impulsive.

Also you say that you answer my post because they are silly and discouraging, but the fact is many people on this thread have agreed with me more than they have with you. You also have failed to address the garantee of distribution with single figure boosters which is a valid complaint and argument.

It's obvious your in bed with Icarus studios, the "HCOL director" above your title shows your alligence. If you want to argue on their behalf that is fine, but please back up your arguments and address the facts. Your like a politican talking in circles. All you say is, "HCO prices use to be to high, but now they are just right...."

1). The single figure guarantee of distribution is no longer implemented.
2). The games graphics are still horrendous by today's standards.
3). Lack of available figures and sets to choose from.
4). Games crash all the time. Hell for the last month with the "Blue Sky" crash I find it hard to even start a game with out freezing.
5). The game still has many known bugs that should have been adressed months ago. The Blue Sky bug has been know about for well over a month and has gotten worse with every new update. The Mastermind bug has been known about for longer than 3-4 months and still isn't fixed...

I never said they are an evil money grubbing corporation, but if your going to sell a product then that product needs to be a quality product. Crashes, exploits, and bugs need to be fixed immediately to maintain the integrity of the game. If they weren't taking peoples money I would understand things not getting fixed promptly, but they are. Having concerns addressed from your consumers is to be expected from a company that takes your money.

I don't think you should be commenting on people managing their CB when you're actually buying HoT single figures boosters. Obtaining those figures through a sealed both guarantees you rares or better, and gives you a chance at free CB and more. Currently, buying single boosters of IC and HoT is the most blatant act of throwing your CB away.

Also, of course Blob isn't worth buying when the GSX set is actually available. It's all about obtaining the figure before that date. That's the whole reasoning behind the figure previews. Nobody is forcing you to buy them, but to many of us that would like to use the figures before the set is released, it's a wonderful opportunity. It's only a clear waste if you don't plan on using that figure before the official release.

I only tend to comment on your posts in this thread because A) Icarus has much better things to do than listen to the silliest cost complaint I've ever heard, and B) New people that stumble onto a thread like this may be discouraged if they believe you that Icarus is on some evil money grab when just the opposite is true, and perhaps they need to see that not everyone on HCO is demanding and insulting.

[Crimsonfrost]

You just proved my point Crimmy! You flat out said spending money on a single figure boosters is the biggest waste of money or CB on HCO. So I'll take that reasoning one step further using your logic...

By single figure booster, I mean the HoT or IC booster. Buying the promo pieces is not the same thing at all, and is only a waste if that set is already out.

If in your opinion throwing away money and CB is to buy a single figure booster in which you still have a chance to pull a chase or a SR from, then tell me what does that mean to the people who buy the promo figures? Because for the same cost without those odds of pulling a chase or SR you spend the same 19CB.

I don't know Crimmy, but I would rather pay the same amount on a single figure booster and perhaps pull a rare, super rare, or a chase than to own a Blob or Prowler 2 weeks early...

To some people, owning that piece X weeks early (we don't always know) is very much worth it, when there is no current alternative method of obtaining that figure.

I liken it this way Crimmy; people who buy the blind single figure boosters are getting more for their investment. While people who buy promo figures to have them a couple weeks earlier are just impatient and impulsive.

If you buy blind single figure boosters of a set that's available for sealed play, you are giving up the chance to win CBs or an LE figure, as well as guaranteed rares or better from 1/5 of your pulls. If you buy promo figures, do benefit in that you get the figures several weeks early.

Also you say that you answer my post because they are silly and discouraging, but the fact is many people on this thread have agreed with me more than they have with you. You also have failed to address the garantee of distribution with single figure boosters which is a valid complaint and argument.

What? Only a few people have even responded to this thread. 2 of them have agreed with me, and the 1 that agreed with you admitted that I was right.

It's obvious your in bed with Icarus studios, the "HCOL director" above your title shows your alligence. If you want to argue on their behalf that is fine, but please back up your arguments and address the facts. Your like a politican talking in circles. All you say is, "HCO prices use to be to high, but now they are just right...."

Tinfoil hat time. I back up everything I post, and Was one of HCO's biggest critics for months. I'm always very vocal with I see something that needs changing.

1). The single figure guarantee of distribution is no longer implemented.
2). The games graphics are still horrendous by today's standards.
3). Lack of available figures and sets to choose from.
4). Games crash all the time. Hell for the last month with the "Blue Sky" crash I find it hard to even start a game with out freezing.
5). The game still has many known bugs that should have been adressed months ago. The Blue Sky bug has been know about for well over a month and has gotten worse with every new update. The Mastermind bug has been known about for longer than 3-4 months and still isn't fixed...

1. It is in sealed format, not in the HCO store.
2. This game is a virtual representation of a board game. Considering that, the graphics are pretty good. Heck, the company that designs the Heroclix sculpts is this very same company.
3. The game is still in beta.
4. This is currently a huge problem, that hopefully they are in the midst of addressing.
5. They are pretty slow to fix most bugs, but recently they've solved many longstanding bugs. They will probably not take the game out of beta till most of that is fixed.

[traxlenak]

Hey.

If you recall, i'm the guy that started HCO in December and immediately wrote this post about the pricing structure (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=347436).

I complained. I said that they needed to change to remain viable. I spent money, I was winning CB back, but the average player wasn't able to have fun for a reasonable amount of cash.


When they changed the pricing structure, I was overjoyed. I agree with Crimmy. Not only because he is right, but moreover because the figures of the week are silly things to be complaining about.

Complain because there aren't enough sets (hopefully, that will get us more sets soon [wooo! GSX+WOS!]). Complain about the rarity structure if you want it changed. ...But figures of the week? They are promotional, they are temporary, they are previews.

That would be like if Wizkids started selling Adam Warlock (Common) from GG for $3 a week before the set came out (or a month, or 2 months). Is he worth $3? NO! Would people have bought him? OF COURSE! It isn't feasible to sell a figure like that physically, but it is feasible in digital form. I think they struck upon a genius marketing plan for HCO that has already paid off in the reduction price of sealed tournaments and modern age boosters.

[BigBlueBeast1982]

When they changed the pricing structure, I was overjoyed. I agree with Crimmy. Not only because he is right, but moreover because the figures of the week are silly things to be complaining about.

I'm not complaining about the figures of the week themselves. You people seem to miss the point. I'm complaining about the shady underhanded business tactic of selling figures of the week for 9CB for almost 2 months and then doubling their price to 19CB.

I'm sorry, but a reputable business with some form of public relations and a sense of smart business practice doesn't pull a stunt like that. The price has more than doubled for no apparent reason except to see if people would still pay more than double the price for them.

If you walked into your grocery store and was use to paying $3.29 for a gallon of milk and then seen the price jump to $8.00 for no reason except to see if people would pay that price for it, I'm sure a majority of shoppers would be furious. To me this no different. The bottom line is it was a very shady and under-handed thing to do.

Crimmy I'm tired of hearing the game is in beta. If they are taking peoples money, they lose the right to say they are in beta. Any reputable gaming company will never charge for a beta. I've played many MMO beta's and was never charged a cent. (World of WarCraft, Lord of The Rings, Diablo II, DC Universe). The moment money is exchanged is when the game is no longer considered a beta.

You must live a pretty sheltered life Crimmy, because you say it's just a board game so, the graphics and game play are great when you consider that. Obviously you have not played any virtual board games lately. Go download Monopoly for your iPad or iPhone that game puts HCO to shame as does many others.

You also say this company designs the sculpts for the physical heroclix product. I'm aware of that Crimmy and if you haven't noticed the sculpts are just okay. Some of the best sculpts and paint jobs in all of heroclix were done for Armor Wars, Fantastic Forces, Sinister, and Super Nova. What ever company designed those sculpts and whoever painted those old sets are the people I want back on the job! Any heroclix aficionado will agree.

[Timeshadow]

Also Beast, they said 9CB price was a trial and a mistake.

Stores all the time misprice product. After a wile they realised that it was too low and not feasable, so they upped the price. It's not like they went back and charged everyone who payed 9 CB for figures an additional 9CB without asking.

Prices change all the time sometimes up sometimes down. I agree the interface/program needs alot of work and they will need to be makeing money to do more work. I have no problem with paying more.

Honestly I was ok with the origonal priceing (Yes I was willing to pay full price) but I am estatic about the new price changes. My inital investment will go a very long way now and I will definitly pay more as needed.