Hasbro confirmed distribution model for expansions

[Colorcrayons]

Originally Posted by gamjuven

Sparking interest at a local gaming store is how this game will live or die

I am skeptical of this.

By that I mean, I want this to be successful at the Brick&Mortar level too of course, being a gamer who isn't ignorant of specialized shops such as game stores.

But people go into Big Box all the time, all day long and have done so since department stores first came into vogue. When I am sitting in a game shop for a few hours painting minis, and see customers come in asking for the latest video game as if it was a game stop, this anecdotal evidence, to me, is pretty telling of consumers in general.

In short, this doesn't need FLGS to succeed or die. This is why FFG and other game companies vie for a position on Big Box shelves, for greater profit.
It would be better if it's presence in game shops, but people that go to game shops go to Target too. Not everyone that goes to Target, goes to game shops.

[gamjuven]

Originally Posted by Colorcrayons

I am skeptical of this.

By that I mean, I want this to be successful at the Brick&Mortar level too of course, being a gamer who isn't ignorant of specialized shops such as game stores.

But people go into Big Box all the time, all day long and have done so since department stores first came into vogue. When I am sitting in a game shop for a few hours painting minis, and see customers come in asking for the latest video game as if it was a game stop, this anecdotal evidence, to me, is pretty telling of consumers in general.

In short, this doesn't need FLGS to succeed or die. This is why FFG and other game companies vie for a position on Big Box shelves, for greater profit.
It would be better if it's presence in game shops, but people that go to game shops go to Target too. Not everyone that goes to Target, goes to game shops.

True. The bottom line is that if the game doesn't sell in big stores at a profit great than Magic: The Gathering, this game will most likely die out. That is how Hasbro has run things in the past. The only thing we can control is our attempts to at least spark interest in gaming stores and get those people interested, which in turn would mean better profits.

If you are friends with people at a big store like Target or something then by all means try to get them to promote the game though.

[Johngee]

I am surprised that at my local BB's (6x Walmarts and 4x Targets) where I have seen the M:tG-AotPW game, I found it in the Toy Dept.'s Game aisle along with Apples-to-Apples, Bingo, Clue, Etc. and *NOT* in the special aisle in the front of the store where all the M:tG, Pokémon, and Yu-gi-ho CCG's are kept. I'm sure that the Hasbro marketing exec's would have some say in how and where this new game would be displayed. It seems myopic to me that the corporate "suits" would overlook this aspect.

[chas]

Meanwhile, here in NYC I'm going undercover to a certain hospital in Manhattan at 6 AM tomorrow which shall remain nameless, where I shall meet a certain contact, in order to procure my own copy.


Don't ask. If you knew, we'd have to kill you.


Cue Mission Impossible TV theme...


(Edit) Mission Accomplished! (But it never really happened.)

[Hogg]

Originally Posted by Johngee

I am surprised that at my local BB's (6x Walmarts and 4x Targets) where I have seen the M:tG-AotPW game, I found it in the Toy Dept.'s Game aisle along with Apples-to-Apples, Bingo, Clue, Etc. and *NOT* in the special aisle in the front of the store where all the M:tG, Pokémon, and Yu-gi-ho CCG's are kept. I'm sure that the Hasbro marketing exec's would have some say in how and where this new game would be displayed. It seems myopic to me that the corporate "suits" would overlook this aspect.

The collectible stuff in the front of the store is often stocked by an outside vendor and not the store staff. The store itsself usually doesn't have a very good understanding of the inventory in that section because they don't handle it, except ringing it up if someone brings it to the register. So from a stocking perspective, it doesn't make sense to put it there. But I agree it would probably help boost sales and interest.

I've run into frustration trying to get local Targets to stock Heroclix so I can get the exclusives and they are unresponsive because someone from another company stocks that section.

[Johngee]

Thanks @Hogg -
That's a great point. I forgot about that aspect of BB retailing. It's been a few years since I worked in that industry.

[aquamaniac27]

Originally Posted by Colorcrayons

I am skeptical of this.

It's really going to come down to the overall big picture in the end. Locally, there are 2 FLGS within 15 minutes, and a third that is about 3) minutes.

The two closest want nothing to do with AotP. One only hosts MTG and Yu-Gi-Oh. Not even Pokemon gets any real amount of shelving space. The second does play a good amount of MTG, as the owners and managers all play, but the store's real passion lies in Heroclix. Every Sunday a few gather to play 8+ hour-long games of Arkham Horror with all the expansions, but they're slowly getting pushed out for more Heroclix (they don't have a lot of space).

The third is the place most likely to pick up AotP, but I don't know if it will catch. The place is casual to the core. They get a large turnout for Friday Night Magic and new set releases, but the owner hates holding other tournaments as they "tend to bring out the worst kinds of Magic players" (the kind who after paying $50 entry fees want to win that $2,000 prize, not just "have fun"). She used to host HSNights every Tuesday night, but those of us that took it a little more seriously were often pulled aside and talked about how we can't be bringing/drafting these armies that are just designed to win. So we just play at my house.

Anyway, with her pushing the serious HS players away and Tuesday nights just becoming another D&D night, I can't see the game really taking off there.

Which is why the big-picture matters. Between the 7 people in my core group, we've bought 7 copies of AotP just for figures. WotC doesn't care that we'll never play the base game again, just that they got $210 from us.

[jwsanner2]

http://www.gatheringmagic.com/adamst...alkers-review/

“This expansion adds new Planeswalkers, creatures, and spells for players to supercharge their games, and it requires the core Arena of the Planeswalkers game. More details will be revealed at PAX Prime at the end of August,” Angus shared by e-mail.

[gamjuven]

Originally Posted by jwsanner2

http://www.gatheringmagic.com/adamst...alkers-review/

Awesome. I am surprised they are releasing more planeswalkers but I'll gladly take them!

[Nukatha]

It makes me wonder: Would Hasbro/ Wizards be willing to promote the game by a slight sponsering of this year's NHSD events. (Competing for an AoTP base set could really bump up attendance, which has been down everywhere for the past few years).

[gamjuven]

Keep an eye out for new expansion news. Pax Prime starts tomorrow!

[stubobj]

Saw this in my FB feed today.

http://www.gatheringmagic.com/news-0...ion-is-coming/