This is actually something I don't know and have tried to find out. The most I have is that Heroclix was the 3rd best selling collectible game after MTG and Pokemon at the time. So it was at least selling. However, Topps bought Wizkids for WAY more than they were worth ($29 million and change) - that was a repeated problem with Topps where they seemed to have no clue about what happened in the marketplace. Whether the sales covered their costs I don't know.

We also know that 50% of Topps' profit in 2008 was actually around things that weren't it's core business (including Pokemon). When Torante bought Topps, they purchased a fairly dysfunctional collection of mini businesses. At the time of the shut down there was even a statement from Topps that they were cleaning house of non-sports related merchandise. My guess (and only a guess) is that Torante saw the setup of Topps and realized that it really didn't have a core business model any more.

Here is a blog entry that covered some of these things just after the Topps buyout.

http://rant.sportslizard.com/2007/05...or-collectors/

It is interesting, the Wikipedia article about Wizkids/Topps they say that the shutdown occurred because of the economic downturn. Certainly that played its part as well given that the global downturn was ... well ... global. However, it isn't clear that this was core reason.

1. What is your point?
2. Old sets are old.
3. You can not get a magic set that is as old as GSX. This dose not mean the game is doing very well, just normal for a healthy game.

Good stuff! I am always fascinated by business and seeing companies numbers and decisions. Part of why I am a business major, this stuff fascinates me! Thanks for the information and stuff.

I hope heroclix could just last forever they really should do some sort of golden age marvel set. That would be really cool. Anyway I just cling to the fact that Magic, and D&D have been around for a really long time and that hopefully heroclix can do the same.

Speaking of which, exactly how long have those games lasted?

At least a decade.

I'm not so sure. Don't you think over-saturating the market is going to negatively impact the game? There is a ####ton of product out right now.

I know WK's/NECA is selling out to distributors and supposedly they are selling out on most sets as well. However, with some of the product it appears to just hang around stores. I'm talking about Superman and Hulk.

GSX/HoT were anomalies. If I wanted to I could find bricks/cases of Cap, Supes, Hulk and the like. Yes, popularity drove HoT and GSX to stardom but at some point I think the backup is going to be too much.

I've never been a "gotta catch-em all" sorta player but it's going at such a pace that I am having a hard time keeping up. I see previews and I'm like "duuhhhhh, whaaa???". Maybe it's the OCD in me but it all seems so unorganized.

I agree with you! I just wish heroclix could last a long time, so that one day when I have children, I can teach them how to play.

You can. Nothing is stopping you. When it dies there will be a final PG and rules update to go by. (That's just the rules Nazi in me.)

Seriously, I am going to sell of everything I own aside from Fin Fang Foom and my GSX set when the game dies. I have the entire factory set aside from Colossal's and the Cable/Deadpool chase. It took me a whole year to trade and win all the pieces for GSX but I did it! That's one set that will never go away. Even when heroclix dies.

Cup bases, amazing sculpts, and all the mutants a nerd could desire. It's got all the elements for the perfect set. I may go just stare at it now. In all its infinite glory.

It'a called "slap it on the grill while the fire is hot". As long as it's moving they're going to keep pumping it out, when sales crash then Neca will do what they always do with their own stuff and probably fold Wizkids for a second time.

Ha, you said what I have been trying to say for months in one paragraph.

Indeed. I'll still have my pieces when the collapse happens. I will take solace in that single solitary fact.

You guys are pessimists with this "when" nonsense. Lol

I see no proof to support the fact that WK's will keep the game running as long as MTG or Warhammer.

If anything I expect the collapse to happen in half the time it did last time. I give it 2-3 years from today.

Pessimists, HA! My wife says that to me all the time and I tell her what some people call a pessimists others call a realist. You don’t think it could happen; but hasn’t it happened once already?

I'm just clinging to th hope that it does survive, and hat the money IV spent hasn't been for naught.