Heroscape: Age of Annihilation is here! Back it on Haslab!

[Captain Stupendous]

Originally Posted by Hogg

One thing I don't get: If they're trying to keep costs down and that's why they're going unpainted, then why are they also trying to produce the most detailed minis on the market and seemingly hired every famous mini sculptor in the world to pitch in? Surely that has to be very expensive too.

I would still rather have minis with basic sculpts and paint jobs like we used to get, even if the paint quality wasn't as high.

I'd guess it's a result of the changing industry. The cost of painting miniatures by hand has increased since 2004, while the software and tooling techniques necessary for producing highly detailed miniatures has advanced, bringing down the cost to model those style of miniatures.

[Agent Minivann]

I would imagine getting a prototype sculpt is going to cost a certain minimum amount for any quality, and the cost of getting a really good one doesn't raise that cost as much as we would think. Mass production is where a large part of the cost shows up, and paint costs more in this production model. To cut costs and keep the finished product as close to the original at a reasonable price...paint just might be the biggest place to shave those costs.

Just my uninformed

[Grungebob]

I imagine Hasbro feels that having more, highly detailed figures, is more likely to over-fund than a lesser number of lower quality, yet painted figures.

[Nukatha]

I hope packaging costs have been cut too. The blisters were clearly for catching eyes at big box marts. For AoA, I suggest Cardboard boxes all around, not even printed, just some guy at the packaging department writing 'Heroscape: Unique expansion: Parrots and Pirates' witha Sharpie is fine with me if it saves a buck each. Bonus points for a silly joke like what Colby & co. put on the Summoner Wars packs. Hot Jungle Death!
Edit so I don't double-post:

Originally Posted by Encarmine

Monday should be fun. I’m going to watch all the scalpers on eBay lose their minds.

That sounds like open pre-orders to me.

[MegaSilver]

Originally Posted by Nukatha

That sounds like open pre-orders to me.

Monday they are going to talk about terrain.

[Mr Migraine]

Originally Posted by MegaSilver

Monday they are going to talk about terrain.

Could be both? But I'm expecting the campaign fundraising to begin around Oct 1 alongside the big announcement.

[Mr Migraine]

Regarding minimalist (cheaper) packaging, I remember the WotC employees openly talking about that on this site circa 2010/2011. They mentioned how the transparent blister packaging was pricey, and they teased (I think) a sand/desert/rock terrain expansion in a more ordinary box. I wholly expect Avalon Hill to go that route for the first set (at least) which will be primarily online orders that don't need that shelf wow-factor.

[brak88]

Maybe we'll get some sort of price idea with that scalper comment being made.

[Sherman Davies]

Originally Posted by Mr Migraine

Regarding minimalist (cheaper) packaging, I remember the WotC employees openly talking about that on this site circa 2010/2011. They mentioned how the transparent blister packaging was pricey, and they teased (I think) a sand/desert/rock terrain expansion in a more ordinary box. I wholly expect Avalon Hill to go that route for the first set (at least) which will be primarily online orders that don't need that shelf wow-factor.

Ditching the plastic blister packs and going with cardboard boxes would also be better for the environment, so let's hope that's how AoA will go.

[Hogg]

Hasbro is doing away with the plastic in all the action figure packaging, its a certainty HeroScape will not have boosters with big plastic bubbles or boxes with windows. Besides, unpainted minis don't have the wow factor that the original boosters did so there is no need to show them through the packaging.

[gbizzy]

Originally Posted by Hogg

Hasbro is doing away with the plastic in all the action figure packaging, its a certainty HeroScape will not have boosters with big plastic bubbles or boxes with windows. Besides, unpainted minis don't have the wow factor that the original boosters did so there is no need to show them through the packaging.

A very likely albeit depressing guess lol

I get it's better for the environment, logistics, profit margin, and every other measurable factor but what about the nostalgia!

[Hogg]

They are going to continue to have a bubble for a few display items, like the retro carded figures. But I have already been buying regular series Marvel Legends figures in the windowless boxes. Most of the GI Joe and Star Wars figures I have pre-ordered will be in the new windowless boxes too, so its a universal thing for Hasbro.