You have to be gaking me!!!!! I am so broke already and I will go all in with this KS! Hell, Warzone has awesome miniatures I can only imagine what these guys will do with my favorite franchise of all time!! Pledges pulled from both Bones 2 and Mars Attacks in preparation!
Please, please, please tell me at least that we will see the original Predator crew made in Resin.
I would bet almost anything it will be a Kickstarter similar to Warzone, of course I am making an assumption but it seems to be the way things are done these days & with Prodos being a relatively new company they probably don't have the capitol to launch a new line and support their existing line.
I do hope they can balance two different intellectual properties, I would hate to see Warzone suffer because of AvP and I want AvP to flourish. Kickstarter is guaranteed funds when it is a low funding goal and enticing stretch goals.
edlowe wrote: Prodos, if you could confirm or imply a ks, and possibly a timeframe so we could prepare. Seriously id drop as much cash as I could afford!
Yes! Those are the Spess Mehreens I really want! I am so backing this one. I wonder if we might get to see stuff from the videogames and the old Kenner toyline? Kenner style Xenomorph variants? Cyborg Dutch and the samurai girl from the Capcom brawler?
I'd prefer the Aliens Movie version sprinkled with Predators. How delicious. I didn't get in on the Warzone KS but I won't miss out on this if it becomes one.
Of course the image on the left could be Pumpkinhead. Also delicious.
To date, the Warzone Kickstarter is the only one I've thrown money at. This very well may be the next.
I would like to ask a little behind the scenes question though - were some new sculptors/writers hired for this, and will it otherwise change the timelines for future Warzone stuff? I'd like to see both games get their due.
but the big question (if you want to actually game with this) is how long they've got the licence tied down for (1 year, 2, 5, 10?)
Products licenced from big movie studios tend to be pretty short term (and if successful tend to end up with raised licence fees possibly leading to the licence not being renewed)
Brother SRM wrote: To date, the Warzone Kickstarter is the only one I've thrown money at. This very well may be the next.
I would like to ask a little behind the scenes question though - were some new sculptors/writers hired for this, and will it otherwise change the timelines for future Warzone stuff? I'd like to see both games get their due.
What's the connection to Warzone? Forgive my ignorance...
I hope they follow the Dark Horse comics with this, rather than the movies, although perhaps it won't matter that much - some of the concepts in the film were quite cool, aside from the film itself being a steaming pile of toss.
Brother SRM wrote: To date, the Warzone Kickstarter is the only one I've thrown money at. This very well may be the next.
I would like to ask a little behind the scenes question though - were some new sculptors/writers hired for this, and will it otherwise change the timelines for future Warzone stuff? I'd like to see both games get their due.
What's the connection to Warzone? Forgive my ignorance...
Prodos is behind the recent re- re- re-release of Warzone.
If I were interested in AvP minis and if it does turn out to be an AVP mini/game KS, I'd be wary of backing it. After all, many people still haven't gotten their Warzone KS minis yet. And resurrecting a system means a lot more than making a KS release and calling it a day. Remember, if they do neglect WZR, they may as well abandon the next game as well...
Of course, this is all unsubstiantiated hate because I'm jealous of their financial success
Regarding Warzone fulfillment, here's the relevant text from an update posted the day before this thread was started:
Warzone: "Update on Status wrote:I am happy to announce that over 75 of our packages have made it out the door, so are with pledgers already and some of the models have even been painted!
We are continuing the process and focus on shipping and still expect the vast majority of parcels to be out this month.
All the Models (except Heavies) are now in production including Nozaki and the Hatamoto. The Addon packs are being printed now and the Heavies and Sculpture are in process. (See the Update file below).
I'll be Very interested in hearing how the model quality is from those who were in on that campaign, and of course hearing if they really do fulfill the "vast majority" of pledges this month. It would give me a lot more confidence in dealing with them, since previously I'd never heard of this company before.
The Warzone page says there are "plastic" troops, does anyone know specifically what is used for them- PVC I'd assume (like Privateer Press)? Please update with any knowledge on that since it will likely be very relevant here
as to whether the resin they're using is hand cast or spin cast I'm not sure
(and I've not got my few bits from this KS to make any judgements on quality yet.... the pictures of what we've been told is the stuff look good so far though
I am still waiting for my pledge, so I cannot comment on the type of resin, but from what the Prodos guys have said, it is not going to be like the one FW uses. It is supposed to be more flexible. There is minimum a month more (I hope not much more) until I get my pledge, so when I do get the minis in my hands I will be able to tell you more
judgedoug wrote: Wow, the quality looks amazing. When will a few models be available for sale so I could place a test order?
Go to warzonegame.com we are on the final stages of preorder at the moment, but if you ordered you should expect your order dispatched within the next 2-4 weeks
I'm sceptic. Maybe they are starting to many projects. I hope they won't bankrupt like Target Games did. I'm not going to support this project, I play to many games now.
Pak0 wrote: I'm sceptic. Maybe they are starting to many projects. I hope they won't bankrupt like Target Games did. I'm not going to support this project, I play to many games now.
I am a bit skeptical about the ability of a relatively brand new company to handle 2 major intellectual properties, however so far they have handled Warzone very well. We do not have rule books yet but the quick start rules they created are fun and intuitive and make a great game, I am hopeful that (Aliens) vs/& (Predator) *whichever* IP it is turns out just as good as Warzone.
Warzone was official, right? I'd be surprised if a company did one official line and another unofficial right after... but confirmation would be great, of course.
Mutant Chronicles is nowhere near the level of this, however. Among other things, this franchise is foundational in the same sense as SW or Dune. You can line-toe on the big boy licenses, a la genestealers for umpteen years now. This thread, where the products are knowingly teased as AvP would be a great exhibit in an infringement trial, however. If I was marketing for a company like Prodos, I would be clear from the start if I didn't have the license for that very reason.
Pak0 wrote: I'm sceptic. Maybe they are starting to many projects. I hope they won't bankrupt like Target Games did. I'm not going to support this project, I play to many games now.
I am a bit skeptical about the ability of a relatively brand new company to handle 2 major intellectual properties, however so far they have handled Warzone very well. We do not have rule books yet but the quick start rules they created are fun and intuitive and make a great game, I am hopeful that (Aliens) vs/& (Predator) *whichever* IP it is turns out just as good as Warzone.
Yeah, it does seem a wee bit early. That said, despite delays, their handling of Warzone has been quite awesome so far and they are already sending out initial orders for it. So give another few months to fulfill Warzone and this wouldn't seem too out of place. Especially if it is something more self-contained (something Space Hulk-esque even) than a full wargame line. I'd almost definitely hope for a Kickstarter on this one though, that, and this is definitely one where I'd love to see them go for polystyrene since I can see this being a big draw for almost any sci-fi gamer (I will have a hard time resisting getting some Colonial Marines if the price is right).
So after seeing how they've gone through Warzone, I am not too worried here. I just wonder when they'll have time to sleep. If they run a KS, it will likely do quite well (and probably be ideal so it doesn't cut in to WZ too much). Since they mostly hire freelancers, a new game line shouldn't really impact a previous one in this case, so long as they price everything out well and don't overstep their budget in either line.
RiTides wrote:Warzone was official, right? I'd be surprised if a company did one official line and another unofficial right after... but confirmation would be great, of course.
Yup, Warzone was done 100% through Paradox, the owner of the rights to all things Mutant Chronicles/Warzone. And the relatively tight-lipped nature of this one has me thinking they may have another license on their hands. It was the same deal back in February when they were winding up to announce Warzone. They couldn't divulge too much because everything had to be OK'd by the guys they were licensing from (likely 20th Century Fox in this case). So most likely this is just a signal that they were given the green light to start hinting at us.
Either way, if this is another license, that is pretty ambitious right out of the gate. I wish 'em luck if it is.
But either way, I hope any potential KS for this is a ways off because I am so bloody broke right now. So please, Prodos, give me a chance to heal my poor bank account.
I've been wanting half-decent Aliens minis for awhile now- If this is a kickstarter I may go in pretty big just for them. The Predator and Marines I could care less about.(Although I do remember enjoying the Predator novels)
Pierzak wrote: If I were interested in AvP minis and if it does turn out to be an AVP mini/game KS, I'd be wary of backing it. After all, many people still haven't gotten their Warzone KS minis yet. And resurrecting a system means a lot more than making a KS release and calling it a day. Remember, if they do neglect WZR, they may as well abandon the next game as well...
Of course, this is all unsubstiantiated hate because I'm jealous of their financial success
Meh, as long as the figures are great, it could be worth backing on the basis of the figures alone. Warzone is a line of figures pretty strongly linked to one series of rules. However, there's a long line of Alien and Colonial marines figures (both licensed and "not") as well as many different rulesets that have been heavily influenced by Aliens.
For my $, cupporting an Aliens kickstarter is much more dependent on the figs than rules. There's plenty of options for rules, but there hasn't been a line of plastic figs (not couting clix) that capture this subject matter.
Despite all those, I think that a cohesive range of models, in plastic, and as accurate to the subject matter as only a licensed product can be, has the potential to surpass all of the options presently available. I will be watching with considerable interest.
Meh, as long as the figures are great, it could be worth backing on the basis of the figures alone. Warzone is a line of figures pretty strongly linked to one series of rules. However, there's a long line of Alien and Colonial marines figures (both licensed and "not") as well as many different rulesets that have been heavily influenced by Aliens.
For my $, cupporting an Aliens kickstarter is much more dependent on the figs than rules. There's plenty of options for rules, but there hasn't been a line of plastic figs (not couting clix) that capture this subject matter.
Despite all those, I think that a cohesive range of models, in plastic, and as accurate to the subject matter as only a licensed product can be, has the potential to surpass all of the options presently available. I will be watching with considerable interest.
Since warzone is going to be all resin (they tried plastic for some rank and file troops but were not satisfied with the quality they could get with it) I think it's unlikely that this will end up plastic
but we'll all have had a chance to look at their warzone resin (hopefully) by the time this launches so we can make an informed choice
From the conversation I had with with someone unnamed at Prodos I can tell they will not do anything without a proper license and would do nothing to threaten said license.
Meh, as long as the figures are great, it could be worth backing on the basis of the figures alone. Warzone is a line of figures pretty strongly linked to one series of rules. However, there's a long line of Alien and Colonial marines figures (both licensed and "not") as well as many different rulesets that have been heavily influenced by Aliens.
For my $, cupporting an Aliens kickstarter is much more dependent on the figs than rules. There's plenty of options for rules, but there hasn't been a line of plastic figs (not couting clix) that capture this subject matter.
Despite all those, I think that a cohesive range of models, in plastic, and as accurate to the subject matter as only a licensed product can be, has the potential to surpass all of the options presently available. I will be watching with considerable interest
.
Since warzone is going to be all resin (they tried plastic for some rank and file troops but were not satisfied with the quality they could get with it) I think it's unlikely that this will end up plastic
but we'll all have had a chance to look at their warzone resin (hopefully) by the time this launches so we can make an informed choice
Thanks for that. I hadn't been following the warzone thread. Does change the equation a bit for me. Could still be tempted into buying in, but it's have to be a great figs and a good deal.
14th broklyn wrote: From the conversation I had with with someone unnamed at Prodos I can tell they will not do anything without a proper license and would do nothing to threaten said license.
I'm assuming it's still 20th Century Fox that owns the license to both franchises?
14th broklyn wrote: From the conversation I had with with someone unnamed at Prodos I can tell they will not do anything without a proper license and would do nothing to threaten said license.
14th broklyn wrote: From the conversation I had with with someone unnamed at Prodos I can tell they will not do anything without a proper license and would do nothing to threaten said license
Yeah, the biggest limiting factor here is how much I'm currently not saving to put toward this because I don't know enough about it yet.
I mean, we don't know if there will be a KS. We don't know anything about time frame. Are we talking about a KS in 2014? That's a different world from now. I feel like the sculpts will be good but that's a guess rather than solid knowledge.
So hopefully we'll get some more info within 30 days so all my dollars don't go to Mars Attacks.
The tacit admission that Prodos has the license is a great piece of info, however. So now it's not really a question of whether I will spend dollars on this but how many.
If they make this stuff in styrene they'll be fulfilling a lot of dreams. It deserves to be done right, and if it is, I don't see how they could fail to make money on this franchise.
Please give us more images, I really want to see some pulse rifles and Alien inner mouths, these will do great for minis for my skirmish game im working on
This is a very interesting project, as Dark Horse comics is rebooting the entire Aliens/Predator comic multiverse next year, and adding in elements and connections in a new Prometheus related monthly book as well.
I'd *much* rather straight aliens vs. colonial marines. Mixing predators in there... hasn't been good for the movies and was always the weakest part of the games imo. Still, colour me highly interested.
Sounds very interesting. I am a big fan of the comics.
But I still hope that the Warzone project gets properly finished (pledged for more that 400 EUR, still no minis!) and nobody gets distracted by doing the AvP minis!
I do hope they have some good marine sculpts, but would it be too much to ask for actual likeness from the movies.
There are those cheaper heroclix aliens (good sized Alien queen).
Damn, didn't realize they had predator figs that look awesome like those, even female predettes (eek!). I do like that where else would you buy predators but from the Predastore. lol.
yeah,
This all looks great. Aliens is one of my favorite movies of all time!
Prodos you should post actual photos before the rabble turns on you!
When will we see actual miniatures?
That Ainisty blue/clear cloaked 'hunter' looks cool too.
Which company had the MDF colonial-esq space corridors KS a while back... Did that fund?
Have they set up shop proper yet?
Might be worth another look to get a board set up!
I lost count of how many years I waited for some good avp 28mm's, specially Xenomorphs... Prodos if you get this right and prepare things for next salute release you will make a small fortune.
I lost count of how many years I waited for some good avp 28mm's, specially Xenomorphs... Prodos if you get this right and prepare things for next salute release you will make a small fortune.
Me too.. I think for anyone who is a fan of the movies/comics, wants a 'counts-as' for their Tyranid armies etc. think these will be extremely popular.
Hopefully they will release some special characters that tie in with Aliens - hell, even some 'survival horror' game with the largely unarmed crew trying to take on the single xenomorph as in Aliens, would be extremely popular!
And there are actually even some special characters already released under different names as part of the Sedition Wars KS (Ripley, Vasquez from Aliens, not sure about any others?)
yeah,
This is not a warzone thread...
I suggest you take your concerns to another thread or PM directly, as this doesn't add to this threads conversation.
Prodos, what are the odds of us getting Engineer figures? And will there be multiple designs for the Alien, beyond just warrior/queen? I understand if it's too early for you to say, but these are burning questions.
Kroothawk wrote: Difficult question: Would you like the predators human sized or movie sized? The latter might be fluffy but awkward for tabletop.
The original Predator actor was only a little over 7ft, so "movie" size Predators shouldn't pose a problem at all, unless I'm missing something?
Depends how original you mean. The original was only 5'8" (Van Damme), though he never appeared in the movie because he spent too much time whining about the suit and not getting his ugly mug on screen.
There was that, and also they realized that next to Arnold, Van Damme just did not look that intimidating even in the suit, so they went with someone larger to be more physically imposing.
I lost count of how many years I waited for some good avp 28mm's, specially Xenomorphs... Prodos if you get this right and prepare things for next salute release you will make a small fortune.
Me too.. I think for anyone who is a fan of the movies/comics, wants a 'counts-as' for their Tyranid armies etc. think these will be extremely popular.
Hopefully they will release some special characters that tie in with Aliens - hell, even some 'survival horror' game with the largely unarmed crew trying to take on the single xenomorph as in Aliens, would be extremely popular!
And there are actually even some special characters already released under different names as part of the Sedition Wars KS (Ripley, Vasquez from Aliens, not sure about any others?)
A: Many different types, movies, books, games
v: Male and Female
P: Movie size so Human truescale 28mm, P = truescaled 28mm. Human ~6 foot, P~7.5Foot
Male and female USMC minis, that's great news! Even better if they are multi-part plastics, would love to be able to rebuild my A:CM buddies for the tabletop.
lord_blackfang wrote: I have no expertise in the matter but I don't see how making one mini a head taller than another is any sort of issue.
It's not about one miniature, but a complete army. Have a look at the FFG Warzone/WOW or Spartan Dystopian Legions range to see how successfull 40+mm miniatures can be.
Make it 30-33mm (25mm round base) and you can use it as Kroot, Tau, Infinity Morat, Orks, Catachans. Make it 40mm and you can use it ... for this game only. Same with Aliens.
lord_blackfang wrote: I have no expertise in the matter but I don't see how making one mini a head taller than another is any sort of issue.
It's not about one miniature, but a complete army. Have a look at the FFG Warzone/WOW or Spartan Dystopian Legions range to see how successfull 40+mm miniatures can be.
Make it 30-33mm (25mm round base) and you can use it as Kroot, Tau, Infinity Morat, Orks, Catachans. Make it 40mm and you can use it ... for this game only. Same with Aliens.
So what you're saying is that Predators shouldn't be taller than Humans in the same scale because people might want to use them as Ork proxies?
Still not seeing the problem here. Sounds like a load of whining? Why should they be concerned if you want to use toy soldier A in game B? It's not mad for game B, and if you want to use predators as proxies that bad then a lot of alternatives have been shown already.
lord_blackfang wrote: I have no expertise in the matter but I don't see how making one mini a head taller than another is any sort of issue.
It's not about one miniature, but a complete army. Have a look at the FFG Warzone/WOW or Spartan Dystopian Legions range to see how successfull 40+mm miniatures can be.
Make it 30-33mm (25mm round base) and you can use it as Kroot, Tau, Infinity Morat, Orks, Catachans. Make it 40mm and you can use it ... for this game only. Same with Aliens.
So what you're saying is that Predators shouldn't be taller than Humans in the same scale because people might want to use them as Ork proxies?
doc1234 wrote: Why should they be concerned if you want to use toy soldier A in game B?
Tripling sales?
Internet Hyperbole Alert!
I think the AvP audience is pretty big.
They should be ok, especially since we already know the scale will work for many ranges.
Agreed, joke all you want about the AvP films but before that the range and whatnot was nothing to be sniffed at.
As for the tripling sales, that's a nice bonus at most. Like with PP, you CAN use their mini's for counts as 40K or whatever, doesn't mean they make them like they do with that in mind though.
I think Kroot has a valid point, but it would be dropping a dollar to pick up a dime. It's an AVP license first. Making AVP fans comfortable enough to go all in (i.e. scaling preds, aliens and humans as seen in the movies) should be top priority over possible sales for counts as proxies.
Prodos wrote:A: Many different types, movies, books, games
v: Male and Female
P: Movie size so Human truescale 28mm, P = truescaled 28mm. Human ~6 foot, P~7.5Foot
I could give two gaks about people wanting to use Predators as Orks in 40k.
A Predator should be Predator height. They should be in-scale to the other miniatures within it's own range.
That's like saying "please don't make Aliens stand up straight like we see the Alien do in the first film because Genestealers don't strand up straight!"
I'd say awareness of Aliens, Predator, and AVP is roughly several orders of magnitude greater than any Games Workshop IP, so you shouldn't hamstring yourself by appealing to three or four people that would want to use Predators as Orks (?!)
Automatically Appended Next Post: "Please oversize the Power Loader figure by 200% and make sure that the driver is wearing a suit of Teutonic plate mail armor so that one or two people can use it as a Dreadknight"
You know... maybe wait a while until some of the existing KS projects deliver. I just had a look through my budget spreadheet and realized to my great dismay that I had pledged a total of €1376 to various Kickstarters and so far only €166 of that stuff has been actually delivered (Bones 1 and a PC game). I think I need a break from throwing money at people without seeing any product.
BrookM wrote: IIRC Predators do vary in size, with the females being larger than males, again, not a die-hard fan, so I could be wrong there.
All correct. I even seem to recall for one series a predator that was referred to as Shorty. Also xenomorphs can vary in size and appearance depending on the host it was spawned from. (This idea spawned an entire toy line).
The idea that fempreds are bigger/meaner comes from the Perrys' AvP novel trilogy. Now, I really love those books (and Steve Perry's Alien trilogy, too) but let's not treat them as "canon" especially now that Fox is making such a distinction regarding the new Alien novel trilogy coming out next year.
BrookM wrote: IIRC Predators do vary in size, with the females being larger than males, again, not a die-hard fan, so I could be wrong there.
All correct. I even seem to recall for one series a predator that was referred to as Shorty. Also xenomorphs can vary in size and appearance depending on the host it was spawned from. (This idea spawned an entire toy line).
Yes, regarding the first point that was from the AvP comics, believe Machiko's nickname for one of the Predator hunting pack?
Also hoping for a miniature of 'Broken Tusk'
I think the human-spawned xenomorph is more than 7ft tall when standing at full height (they look pretty massive in some scenes in the first 2 movies), although much less a lot of the time with all 4 limbs on the ground.
Manchu wrote:Now, I really love those books (and Steve Perry's Alien trilogy, too) but let's not treat them as "canon" especially now that Fox is making such a distinction regarding the new Alien novel trilogy coming out next year.
Think those books will always be 'canon' for true fans, they broke the new ground and especially considering Earth Hive (and I think the others?) were made into comic books. I'm not really sure what the new books could do to make them non-canon?
If I'm allowed to post this quickly, for any Aliens fans if you haven't read these books you should definitely pick this up:
This story was the basis for the original script for Alien 3 apparently, you had a proper continuation for Hicks and Newt, before 20th Century Fox got cold feet about Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) not being in the film and scrapped it.
I believe the novels were actually based on the comics. IIRC, the story was originally about the continuing adventures of Newt and Hicks. Alien 3 meant the comics had to be retconned -- the adventures of "Billie" and "Wilks."
I was just looking at my Aliens and Predator and AvP novel collection the other day, lamenting that Steve Perry was not involved with the upcoming novel trilogy.
This story was the basis for the original script for Alien 3 apparently, you had a proper continuation for Hicks and Newt, before 20th Century Fox got cold feet about Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) not being in the film and scrapped it.
That'd be the William Gibson script, which had the Sulaco drifting into Soviet space and Aliens fighting space commies and Hicks with Ripley being in suspended animation for most of the film.
That got turned into Ripley and the 7 Dwarves on the planet made of sculpted wood, with no aliens in it at all.
Then that got turned into a prison planet with Hicks not making it out of suspended animation.
This is bar none the best news I have heard in this thread!!! His Aliens books are great! AvP Prey is a fantastic series as is Earth Hive!! I never read Nightmare Asylum but I heard mixed reviews. This project has me extremely excited, I just really really hope we get some more information about the scope and vision of this game and if it is a Kickstarter project or a release.
Pacific wrote: What actually happened in the game? Wasn't a level based on the Sulaco?
Sulaco and Hadley's Hope. Sure, the story was gak, but the locations were nicely done. Even better, the coop mode has you fighting through Hadley's Hope before it was blown to gak.
To be fair, Aliens: Infestation, which is basically a remake of the Colonial Marines for the DS is actually a pretty good game. The majority of the game takes place on the Sulaco with a few missions set elsewhere, has no returning movie characters, and basically plays like Metroid/Castlevania. For some reason people never seem to remember that this game exists and that it's far superior to Colonial Marines.
Barzam wrote:To be fair, Aliens: Infestation, which is basically a remake of the Colonial Marines for the DS is actually a pretty good game. The majority of the game takes place on the Sulaco with a few missions set elsewhere, has no returning movie characters, and basically plays like Metroid/Castlevania. For some reason people never seem to remember that this game exists and that it's far superior to Colonial Marines.
Ah, I keep meaning to find out what that game is like, will have to pick it up at some point then if it's worth it.
Infestation was a great game indeed. I am wondering whether Prodos's game will have some RPG characteristics like Necromunda or be a straight-up war game. What exactly is Mr. Perry writing for this game??? I'm so excited about this.
Agreed, to the extent that you wouldn't need a table showing twenty levels of skills or whatever for each Marine. But a Marine might could survive between a series of engagements, a la Aliens. And the occasional badass, like Ripley, might be able to come back again and again. Also, let's not forget there is a spectrum of suitability here. While xenomorphs are identityless gun fodder and Marines are squishy but personable, preds are tough as nails and have a wide assortment of equipment that they earn with experience.
Manchu wrote: Agreed, to the extent that you wouldn't need a table showing twenty levels of skills or whatever for each Marine. But a Marine might could survive between a series of engagements, a la Aliens. And the occasional badass, like Ripley, might be able to come back again and again. Also, let's not forget there is a spectrum of suitability here. While xenomorphs are identityless gun fodder and Marines are squishy but personable, preds are tough as nails and have a wide assortment of equipment that they earn with experience.
Aliens could be explained away some kind of evolution chart. Upgrades cost more, but benefit the whole Hive?
I could see someone starting out with a bunch of younger, inexperienced Preds at the start of a campaign and ending it with two or three survivors who are full warriors with all the gadgets and skills needed to survive.
Manchu wrote: Agreed, to the extent that you wouldn't need a table showing twenty levels of skills or whatever for each Marine. But a Marine might could survive between a series of engagements, a la Aliens. And the occasional badass, like Ripley, might be able to come back again and again. Also, let's not forget there is a spectrum of suitability here. While xenomorphs are identityless gun fodder and Marines are squishy but personable, preds are tough as nails and have a wide assortment of equipment that they earn with experience.
Aliens could be explained away some kind of evolution chart. Upgrades cost more, but benefit the whole Hive?
Hate to bring up a bad game, but Aliens: Colonial Marines had some interesting archetypes for the multiplayer modes. I'd love to see minis of those desiccated exploding things.
BrookM wrote: I'd love to see minis of those desiccated exploding things.
Prodos wrote: A: Many different types, movies, books, games
I'd say you might be in luck, at least generally speaking.
We'll see, while A:CM has been declared official canon*, it is by no means a popular one.
* From Wikipedia: "At PAX East 2012, Gearbox Software's Community Manager confirmed that the game is considered an official part of the Alien franchise's canon by 20th Century Fox."
edit.
The name I was looking for was "Boiler" by the way, that's the name of them kersplodin' critters.
BrookM wrote: Honestly, all I care about will be the minis, anything else good is a nice bonus.
Definitely agreed. And lots of skirmish games work perfectly well without an advancement/levelling system, it can add an extra bit to an already good system, but isn't a substitute for one.
I'd be much more hopefully about a good, balanced system that follows the original alien movies in terms of the alien/marines comparative ability.
I would much rather have the models correctly scaled for their universe than messed around to fit into somebody else's -especially with the quality of stuff Prodos have shown for their other products.
I have shown the teaser shots to several non-gamers who are into Aliens or Predators and all have expressed keen interest in a potential KS project. (Which I assume this will be)
As someone who plays Malifaux and will eventually play the new Robotech minis game, I have literally zero interest in these being compatible with other lines. I can appreciate that some might have a desire to use them as proxies, sure, but count me among the "remain internally consistant, frak the rest" votes.
That said, considering that a little tweaking might allow said figures to be used in other games, which could be a financial boon, I wouldn't fault them for a little tweaking either.
Regardless, I'm intrigued and will keep an eye out for this as it develops.
Forar wrote: That said, considering that a little tweaking might allow said figures to be used in other games, which could be a financial boon, I wouldn't fault them for a little tweaking either.
That's what I meant. Keep in mind that even GW decided against true-scale Space Marines and it didn't seem to have hurt sales.
14th broklyn wrote: From the conversation I had with with someone unnamed at Prodos I can tell they will not do anything without a proper license and would do nothing to threaten said license
That said, considering that a little tweaking might allow said figures to be used in other games, which could be a financial boon, I wouldn't fault them for a little tweaking either.
Assuming the models are 28mm scale, and therefore Predators should be 33mm or so, and they instead make Predators shorter at 28mm so the one guy who would buy them as Ork proxies will be happy, then I'll just buy Predastore Predators instead. Pretty simple.
That said, considering that a little tweaking might allow said figures to be used in other games, which could be a financial boon, I wouldn't fault them for a little tweaking either.
Assuming the models are 28mm scale, and therefore Predators should be 33mm or so, and they instead make Predators shorter at 28mm so the one guy who would buy them as Ork proxies will be happy, then I'll just buy Predastore Predators instead. Pretty simple.
I would suggest that this is a strong enough license to not need to worry about being another companies proxie.
If you really want your IP to stand out then don't impair your designs by trying to fit someone else's IP.
This is a range I am very excited about. I hope it will stand by the strengths of it IP.
An experience system would be a good thing and allow marines to grow as well as aliens, which allows them to mingle with other species which lead to pred/aliens, water/aliens etc from the graphic novels.
Maybe even a wargame+experience sstem so with a kickstarter working on both as easily do-able.
Experience system could expand system to open up new areas of game play and appeal to other gaming styles and gaming groups expanding business opportunities and franchises.
Just think all the tanks and APC's from the films >
If were talking scale, humans, 28mm as are drone aliens as hunched, Heavy armour suited would be 30mm. Warrior aliens, Heavy armour suited marines and Preds would be 28 to 32mm.
Scale would be nice to at least show some thought to the game, as do not need like 40k marines being 7-8ft tall, same size as a standard human look.
Manchu wrote: I think it's clear this range covers more than that.
Sure, but that's what I'm focusing my love and dollars on. My childhood dreams come to fruition!!
Also, fingers crossed for Aliens-style aliens, with ribbed domes.
I really hope this goes for some of those crazy Kenner Xenomorph designs. There were some really cool ones in there, like the flying queen and the snake types. Marines will hopefully be lifted from the technical manual and the side scrolling Capcom beat 'em up. The Predators I couldn't care less about, though I wouldn't mind if they made that samurai one that Hot Toys designed a year or so ago.
Barzam wrote: I really hope this goes for some of those crazy Kenner Xenomorph designs. There were some really cool ones in there, like the flying queen and the snake types. Marines will hopefully be lifted from the technical manual and the side scrolling Capcom beat 'em up. The Predators I couldn't care less about, though I wouldn't mind if they made that samurai one that Hot Toys designed a year or so ago.
I loved the flying queen. Maybe they'll make one of those hopefully. It was awesome.
judgedoug wrote: all I care about is film-canon only. Perhaps with the extra bits from the Colonial Marine Technical Manual.
The Colonial Marines Technical Manual is an amazing book. If some of the additions from that make it into the new game, I'll be pretty excited.
Other than that, though, it all depends on the medium and the price. I'm going to put in an order for some Warzone troops, probably Brotherhood, to test this ProCast material out before I pledge anything. If it's a great material, then I'll be much more excited. Of course, if the alien or marine models come to $5 per mini, it might make it a bit difficult for me to amass a horde.
judgedoug wrote: all I care about is film-canon only. Perhaps with the extra bits from the Colonial Marine Technical Manual.
The Colonial Marines Technical Manual is an amazing book. If some of the additions from that make it into the new game, I'll be pretty excited.
Other than that, though, it all depends on the medium and the price. I'm going to put in an order for some Warzone troops, probably Brotherhood, to test this ProCast material out before I pledge anything. If it's a great material, then I'll be much more excited. Of course, if the alien or marine models come to $5 per mini, it might make it a bit difficult for me to amass a horde.
I'm hoping they're that cheap! I'm preparing to pay Mierce-level prices for (hopefully) Mierce-level sculpts. I wouldn't mind paying $10 per mini if they are excellent.
judgedoug wrote: all I care about is film-canon only. Perhaps with the extra bits from the Colonial Marine Technical Manual.
The Colonial Marines Technical Manual is an amazing book. If some of the additions from that make it into the new game, I'll be pretty excited.
Other than that, though, it all depends on the medium and the price. I'm going to put in an order for some Warzone troops, probably Brotherhood, to test this ProCast material out before I pledge anything. If it's a great material, then I'll be much more excited. Of course, if the alien or marine models come to $5 per mini, it might make it a bit difficult for me to amass a horde.
I'm hoping they're that cheap! I'm preparing to pay Mierce-level prices for (hopefully) Mierce-level sculpts. I wouldn't mind paying $10 per mini if they are excellent.
Seeing as this is likely (i think???) to be skirmish based even $10 a mini (and maybe $30 or so a faction set) would be perfectly reasonable.
Manchu wrote: $10/mini would not be reasonable for 28mm. Whether we're talking about a skirmish game or not is immaterial. Although GW must love you.
Depends on your view, $10 works about £6.50 or so if i recall, which would put it on par with a game like Infinity in terms of price. Still steep, but provided it's good quality and you only need a few it's a small grumble.
Manchu wrote: $10/mini would not be reasonable for 28mm. Whether we're talking about a skirmish game or not is immaterial. Although GW must love you.
There is a difference between quality for something like Eirik Longaxe
and horse-face cone-tits
They are both the same price.
I have zero problems paying for quality. GW charges "quality" prices for "mediocrity" sculpts. If I get mediocre sculpts, I want them for super cheap.
If Prodos makes a true scale 28mm USCM accurately modeled precisely from the film, I have no problem paying 10 bucks per marine (but I doubt they will be that expensive).
Horse-face cone-tits actually got a genuine LOL from me!
I think Prodos are going to have to stuff this up spectacularly to not get my backing when it comes around, although I call shotgun on the Pred, y'all can divvy up the rest between you!
$10 bucks for a good sculpt is a no-brainer for me - if it's for a game where I'm only using 10 or 15 figs, I'm actually going to notice quality a great deal. Large-scale regimented fantasy wargaming? I'll take bulk $2-3/mini.
But you'll be bulk painting there anyway. With skirmish sized games you're painting stuff one by one, actually having fun picking out details rather than planning how to batch paint as efficiently as possible.
Yeah, I've got a pretty fixed idea of acceptable price/quality ratios, but the quality I want to see varies greatly with the kind of game I'm playing with them.
Infinity and Darklands, there's time to fool around with a couple of distinctive sculpts for nights on end - I've done that with larger scale systems and not gotten an army done for years on end. No thank you; spray/base/dry/dip is basically the most I'm going for there, and then, suddenly, sculpt quality starts to not matter. Not really for playing, and not really for painting either.
Skirmish stuff? Heh. Every mini an adventure to paint (if only because, with for example infinity, stuff is so distinctively different you'll be spending time figuring out what the hell to paint how exactly) so $10, or even $15-20, isn't really an issue.
...Of course they better damn well make sure the quality is up there with the best of 'em.
And to an extent there's a problem with AvP really, for me (or rather for them, with customers like me): I'm sure there's plenty of options for great sculpts, but I'll take 3-10 aliens (and more likely three than ten!) and a few predators, for whatever-purpose-I-haven't-even-started-to-figure (besides painting, that is), and that's it.
Now I'm not all that deeply 'into' the universe, but I can't see myself spending much on something which, to me as someone who's only seen the movies, by design involves a small handful of individual monsters and whatever handful of 'survivors'/'victims' one manages to scrounge up for the next not-all-that-greatly-written plot-fulla-holes (but with cool monsters!).
I'm curious to see if there's any kind of a game plan - besides yet another ruleset - they have for dragging folks, who would otherwise back only for a very, very low amount, up to a pledge level they'd be able to make more of a profit with.
@Kroothawk: Other things being equal, expensive licenses cost more because they sell more.
@Others: I can understand the idea of paying for quality. I don't think $10/mini is that good a deal, however. We are talking about a 2" tall toy soldier here guys, let's try to keep things in perspective.
What I don't understand is why it's okay to charge more simply because a game requires less figures. That's just being a sucker.
Manchu wrote: @Kroothawk: Other things being equal, expensive licenses cost more because they sell more.
@Others: I can understand the idea of paying for quality. I don't think $10/mini is that good a deal, however. We are talking about a 2" tall toy soldier here guys, let's try to keep things in perspective.
What I don't understand is why it's okay to charge more simply because a game requires less figures. That's just being a sucker.
Oh, I agree on that. That's the idea with GW's "Goldswords" pricing policy (charge more for figures that the average gamer will use less of in their army), or any company that charges you more for a "character" because you only need one. (was quite happy buying my Anglo-Danish warlord for SAGA for what, 3 or 4 bucks? no problemo!)
Basically:
I don't want to pay a bunch of money for crap even if I only use a small amount of crap.
But, If something is well sculpted then I have no problem paying for the artist's skill:
Robert A. Heinlein wrote:All the work one cares to add will not turn a mud pie into an apple tart; it remains a mud pie, value zero. By corollary, unskillful work can easily subtract value; an untalented cook can turn wholesome dough and fresh green apples, valuable already, into an inedible mess, value zero. Conversely, a great chef can fashion of those same materials a confection of greater value than a commonplace apple tart, with not more effort than an ordinary cook uses to prepare an ordinary sweet.
Pacific wrote: Where is the $10 a figure-figure coming from?
How much are the Warzone miniatures? Would guess they would be pretty similar.
I think the initial pricing is in comparison to other 28mm skirmishes on the market rather than an official number. It's an upper limit of what people are saying they're comfortable with provided the sculpts aren't complete gak.
"troop"!="hero" though - and I am assuming both "A" and "P" to be somewhat larger than their human opponents, and priced as hero sculpts to boot. Add licensing costs and keep in mind JudgeDoug and I are arguing RRP, not KS pricing (I assume, on JD's part ), and you're well on your way there.
I'd guess "line" stuff like marines etc to clock in around there, wouldn't hope for either the A or the P to clock in around that price unless there's going to be line units of either. Best you can do is probably wait for the KS, though.
Warzone heroes are already >$10 RRP (7.20 quid ish), troops are around $3,50-4 a pop (just under 2,50 quid) but that's basic troops primalexile seems to be going by - anything more interesting hits the 10 bucks pretty fast. That's with a rather less expensive license, in all likelihood, so I'd be surprised if A/P were going to be under that even at KS pricing.
I don't mind paying $10 for a 28-ish-mm fig if it's a leader or special character, as long as the reg'lar troops are cheaper.. They should do em in box sets though. Like a squad 9 marines + leader for whatever price.. and then maybe you can buy em separately or in packs of like 3 too, so you can expand easy.
I wouldn't be surprised if these have a slightly higher price tag than Warzone though... they will likely have to pay a royalty fee for every product sold, so that will have to get factored into the retail price too. Most of the time when you license an IP (at least the ones I looked into) you have to pay X amount up front, followed by X over a certain time period, plus X% royalties on everything you sell.
That is what warzone does, basically (the boxing squads thing) - although it's mostly boxes of five from what I see.
The more leverage you have, the easier it is to just get "lump sum" licensing fees, though. Prodos seems to have established themselves a bit (not saying you haven't, just that their scale seems a bit bigger ) - OTOH licensing from some huge media company might offset that more than a bit.
Still, isn't the Aliens etc. IP largely dead, outside of established circles? Wanting to drum some cash out of an essentially dormant IP could help there.
...Oh well, all speculation anyway
Still, isn't the Aliens etc. IP largely dead, outside of established circles? Wanting to drum some cash out of an essentially dormant IP could help there.
...Oh well, all speculation anyway
Prometheus (which is the Alien IP with nobs on) made getting on half a billion $ worldwide, with a sequel on the way, Colonial Marines sold more than a million copies despite being critically panned. So as far as franchises go I'd say not too shabby (certainly the 'Alien' part), despite Twentieth Century Fox's attempts to sink 2 franchises in a single film! I guess not as lucrative as Star Wars for their X-Wing game, but then what is?
Bolognesus wrote: "troop"!="hero" though - and I am assuming both "A" and "P" to be somewhat larger than their human opponents, and priced as hero sculpts to boot. Add licensing costs and keep in mind JudgeDoug and I are arguing RRP, not KS pricing (I assume, on JD's part ), and you're well on your way there.
That RRP sounds like a great way for Prodos to regret grabbing this license. A few people are happy with $10 aliens (a horde creature) because they only want 3 or 4, so naturally that makes it a good decision for the whole company, right?
I reiterate, $5 per figure is probably too much if they want this game to have any legs at all. Otherwise, you can all have your $10 aliens line your shelves next to your Mongoose Minis Babylon 5 ships and Starship Troopers skinnies.
Necros wrote: I don't mind paying $10 for a 28-ish-mm fig if it's a leader or special character, as long as the reg'lar troops are cheaper
Just as a reminder: This one is 30 US$:
Well, yeah. I mean it has a flying skull masked sword holding baby on the dude's shoulder. Totally makes it worth at least 30 bucks. Hell, a flying skull masked sword carrying baby always increases value. Everyone knows that.
Bolognesus wrote: "troop"!="hero" though - and I am assuming both "A" and "P" to be somewhat larger than their human opponents, and priced as hero sculpts to boot. Add licensing costs and keep in mind JudgeDoug and I are arguing RRP, not KS pricing (I assume, on JD's part ), and you're well on your way there.
That RRP sounds like a great way for Prodos to regret grabbing this license. A few people are happy with $10 aliens (a horde creature) because they only want 3 or 4, so naturally that makes it a good decision for the whole company, right?
I reiterate, $5 per figure is probably too much if they want this game to have any legs at all. Otherwise, you can all have your $10 aliens line your shelves next to your Mongoose Minis Babylon 5 ships and Starship Troopers skinnies.
I think there are far too many variables out there (that we don't know about yet) to be able to make those kind of strong statements.
Necros wrote: I don't mind paying $10 for a 28-ish-mm fig if it's a leader or special character, as long as the reg'lar troops are cheaper
Just as a reminder: This one is 30 US$:
Well, yeah. I mean it has a flying skull masked sword holding baby on the dude's shoulder. Totally makes it worth at least 30 bucks. Hell, a flying skull masked sword carrying baby always increases value. Everyone knows that.
And you forget the premium base which you can't even see , what a waste of plastic.
I'm in if the kickstarter is cheap, low model count. If it's massed hordes forget it. It would be great if the game is scale able for whatever size you want to play, but not getting my hopes up. Also sad I threw out those busted plastic Easter eggs a few weeks ago, could use them as stand in alien eggs.
I'm in if the kickstarter is cheap, low model count. If it's massed hordes forget it. It would be great if the game is scale able for whatever size you want to play, but not getting my hopes up. Also sad I threw out those busted plastic Easter eggs a few weeks ago, could use them as stand in alien eggs.
Was about to say you could probably make some decent stand-ins out of a bit of greenstuff and the little container things from the kinder eggs, but then noticed you're US :I
I'm in if the kickstarter is cheap, low model count. If it's massed hordes forget it. It would be great if the game is scale able for whatever size you want to play, but not getting my hopes up. Also sad I threw out those busted plastic Easter eggs a few weeks ago, could use them as stand in alien eggs.
It seems like the 'classic' setup for an AVP game would be a squad-ish of Colonial Marines vs. a large number of respawning aliens. It could be kind of a neat designs pace if the base Alien is pretty 'cheap' points wise, with the expected 'solo' veteran types and specialists, but the interesting part of the Aliens list is buying traps, places to respawn from (the Alien player 'pays' for vent access, or egg rooms, or similar, etc. Main issue is it could make modular scenery a requirement. OTOH, imagine something like the Super Dungeon Explore game, but with a dark and gritty feel. The Colonial Marines have to raid the Alien's "dungeon" and the Alien player plays small squads of Aliens in different configs until finally able to play the 'boss' (Alien Queen).
The Predators would be much smaller forces, of course, and could be either opposition to the Colonial Marines or trying to attack the Aliens themselves for their own victory conditions. maybe add a game-type where it's a sort of race between both forces to get to and kill the Queen?
Bolognesus wrote: "troop"!="hero" though - and I am assuming both "A" and "P" to be somewhat larger than their human opponents, and priced as hero sculpts to boot. Add licensing costs and keep in mind JudgeDoug and I are arguing RRP, not KS pricing (I assume, on JD's part ), and you're well on your way there.
That RRP sounds like a great way for Prodos to regret grabbing this license. A few people are happy with $10 aliens (a horde creature) because they only want 3 or 4, so naturally that makes it a good decision for the whole company, right?
I reiterate, $5 per figure is probably too much if they want this game to have any legs at all. Otherwise, you can all have your $10 aliens line your shelves next to your Mongoose Minis Babylon 5 ships and Starship Troopers skinnies.
I was thinking more in the way of enticing us to buy more things, rather than making them more expensive.
Aliens is one of my all time favourite films, and the only movie I've ever bought 3 times (VHS, DVD, Digital).
If this is a KS, I could totally see buying in for some marines and aliens if there's such a tier, maybe a predator or two as an add on (Alien vs Predator: Prey was a book I enjoyed as a kid, and would totally make my own Broken Tusk), but given that my friends and I just jumped in for $Macross on the Robotech mini game KS that happened earlier this year, I don't think we'll be down for anything absurd.
S&H will also be a consideration. That's been going up, and I can't speak for anyone but myself, but man, getting reamed on shipping is getting old.
The price discussion is interesting. $10 per, is a pretty steep price, especially since you could consider most of the Colonial marines "heroes". I'm sure a fair number of folks would buy in, but I have a feeling it would be hard to sustain a game at that price. I think most folks would want more than a squad of colonial marines to play with.
Still, it's all conjecture at this point. Will be looking forward to more reveals.
Alright, seriously, $10 was a random arse ballpark posted by someone postulating that it would be a fine price if the game were a skirmish scale like Infinity. That is, a game where you would buy 10 dudes/dudettes/dudegendernonspecific and be done with it. If that were the scale then $7-10 per figure would probably be about right. But as we have no idea about the scale of engagement being represented, going on about how reasonable that is is kind of moot.
It may end up being platoon-scale like Warzone. It may end up being a board game where the main draw is getting a big 'ole starter box for a lump sum. It may be 40k-scale mass deployment for all we know.
So pricing discussion is kind of fruitless right now since we don't know much beyond having a pretty good idea at the license in question. Fretting too much over what hypothetical price is hypothetically reasonable for a hypothetical engagement scale in a game that hasn't even been officially announced in name is a bit premature. This may be one of those times when its better to just hang back and wait for updates instead of cluttering the thread. *shrug*
But seeing as they've posted a few prototypes... (and because I don't like posting an entirely off-topic post talking about meta-issues )
The WIP shots of the prototypes look great. You guys really learned a lot going from early Warzone stuff up until now. Can't wait to see you guys continue to produce minis for years to come and see how far the process can evolve. I really hope this is far enough away for me to consider backing it, because I would be all over this in a second with enough money.
Was pondering this earlier. Given that Predators are typically solitary hunters, the Marines generally acted in squads (duh), and the Aliens (where a Queen/hive was available) are known for acting as a Swarm, it wouldn't surprise me if that was basically how the game scaled. A small group of Predators (1-2) roughly equals a larger group of Marines (3-6?) roughly equals a larger group of Aliens (6-12?). Base the game on points (gear/training for the Predators and Humans, evolutionary advances for the Aliens, numbers of each) and it could go from small skirmish of 1 Predator vs X Marines or 2-3x Aliens (more or less based on said upgrades).
How well such a system might scale up to dozens or hundreds of figures for massed warfare might require some tweaking, but the movies, books, comics and games have generally followed fairly simple and straightforward paths along those lines.
That's just something I've been pondering these last few days, and could easily be wrong, but if you put the races down into standard game tropes, they fit pretty naturally in my opinion. Of course, I could be way off, but assuming my vague napkin math isn't too far off, it'd allow for a 20'ish figure 'starter box', and if it were a KS campaign there's always the possibility of KS exclusive or LE figures like specific marines, special variants of the Aliens, objective markers (Newt, Bishop torso, etc), it's quite a rabbit hole to go down.
Eilif wrote: Liking the teaser with the Smart gun.
The price discussion is interesting. $10 per, is a pretty steep price, especially since you could consider most of the Colonial marines "heroes". I'm sure a fair number of folks would buy in, but I have a feeling it would be hard to sustain a game at that price. I think most folks would want more than a squad of colonial marines to play with.
Still, it's all conjecture at this point. Will be looking forward to more reveals.
$10 a figure is pretty bog-standard for single metal/resin figures. Actually, it's a bit on the lower end.
I could see level's of training coming into it for the predators too. Maybe a 3-4 pack of "young blood" style hunters as oppose to the 1-2 count of an older experienced one, particularly if it nets you the option of trapping the playing field before the game starts
I could see the marines getting a similar option too, heavy walker type synths and the giant combat armours instead of a marine squad depending on how far into the universe canon outside the movies they decide to go.
doc1234 wrote: the option of trapping the playing field before the game starts
Now that would be interesting.
I could see it being either "don't go near the obvious tokens" or noting co-ordinates if it's grid/tile based. Maybe noting terrain pieces or something?
BrookM wrote: If Preds can set traps, I'd love to see this special character..
Then I want the option of a nuclear bomb explosion, if I lose, fair is fair
And also the ability to survive said nuclear explosion
If there is a comprehensive range of miniatures with this the prospects will be mind-boggling. Even if the official rules are terrible people are going to be all over them with home-made rulesets and adaptations of stuff already out there.
Bolognesus wrote: "troop"!="hero" though - and I am assuming both "A" and "P" to be somewhat larger than their human opponents, and priced as hero sculpts to boot. Add licensing costs and keep in mind JudgeDoug and I are arguing RRP, not KS pricing (I assume, on JD's part ), and you're well on your way there.
That RRP sounds like a great way for Prodos to regret grabbing this license. A few people are happy with $10 aliens (a horde creature) because they only want 3 or 4, so naturally that makes it a good decision for the whole company, right?
I reiterate, $5 per figure is probably too much if they want this game to have any legs at all. Otherwise, you can all have your $10 aliens line your shelves next to your Mongoose Minis Babylon 5 ships and Starship Troopers skinnies.
Not at all. I have wanted high quality aliens and USCM since the early 90's, when I started wargaming (and was disappointed even then when I bought the Leading Edge 25mm figs brand new). I bought a laserdisc player when I was 16 with my minimum wage dollars and then the $100 Aliens special edition on Laserdisc, because it was the only way to see the extended version. I have an original 1986 theatrical poster framed in glass and hanging in my nerd room. I own a full set of USCM BDU's, body armor with working shoulder lamp, a pulse rifle with LED ammo counter... I'm a fething mega fan (I'm wearing that gak in my avatar pic!). If the sculpts are incredibly high quality then I have no problem paying $10 per figure for _over a hundred_ of them. I will pay for quality and accuracy.
But that's me. A ton of people are quite happy with Mantic's Men At Arms or GW's High Elves or 7th/8th Empire infantry.
And has been pointed out several times before, Prodos is charging like less than 4 bucks for their Warzone stuff.
I'm still not sure why the comment I made about not minding a high price tag for quality minis somehow became the gospel on an actual price point. Well, you said you hoped they were less than five bucks apiece, and I said "I'm hoping they're that cheap! I'm preparing to pay Mierce-level prices for (hopefully) Mierce-level sculpts. I wouldn't mind paying $10 per mini if they are excellent." which is entirely true and entirely my own opinion.
BTW when were Skinnies $10 apiece? I was Mongoose Infantry and I remember paying about 3 bucks per metal fig (8-10 figs in a box for $29.95, right?)
primalexile wrote: If they do not end their KS (assuming it is a KS) with Game over man, GAME OVER! It will be disappointing to say the least.
I'm going to assume that Prodos realizes the fanbase is rabid enough that the title of every KS update is a quote from the relevant film
Though I can pretty much quote the entirety of Aliens from beginning to end, not so much Predator or Predators (and I've seen the two AVP movies once apiece to know that I'll never watch them again)
Bolognesus wrote: "troop"!="hero" though - and I am assuming both "A" and "P" to be somewhat larger than their human opponents, and priced as hero sculpts to boot. Add licensing costs and keep in mind JudgeDoug and I are arguing RRP, not KS pricing (I assume, on JD's part ), and you're well on your way there.
That RRP sounds like a great way for Prodos to regret grabbing this license. A few people are happy with $10 aliens (a horde creature) because they only want 3 or 4, so naturally that makes it a good decision for the whole company, right?
I reiterate, $5 per figure is probably too much if they want this game to have any legs at all. Otherwise, you can all have your $10 aliens line your shelves next to your Mongoose Minis Babylon 5 ships and Starship Troopers skinnies.
Not at all. I have wanted high quality aliens and USCM since the early 90's, when I started wargaming (and was disappointed even then when I bought the Leading Edge 25mm figs brand new). I bought a laserdisc player when I was 16 with my minimum wage dollars and then the $100 Aliens special edition on Laserdisc, because it was the only way to see the extended version. I have an original 1986 theatrical poster framed in glass and hanging in my nerd room. I own a full set of USCM BDU's, body armor with working shoulder lamp, a pulse rifle with LED ammo counter... I'm a fething mega fan (I'm wearing that gak in my avatar pic!). If the sculpts are incredibly high quality then I have no problem paying $10 per figure for _over a hundred_ of them. I will pay for quality and accuracy.
But that's me. A ton of people are quite happy with Mantic's Men At Arms or GW's High Elves or 7th/8th Empire infantry.
And has been pointed out several times before, Prodos is charging like less than 4 bucks for their Warzone stuff.
I'm still not sure why the comment I made about not minding a high price tag for quality minis somehow became the gospel on an actual price point. Well, you said you hoped they were less than five bucks apiece, and I said "I'm hoping they're that cheap! I'm preparing to pay Mierce-level prices for (hopefully) Mierce-level sculpts. I wouldn't mind paying $10 per mini if they are excellent." which is entirely true and entirely my own opinion.
BTW when were Skinnies $10 apiece? I was Mongoose Infantry and I remember paying about 3 bucks per metal fig (8-10 figs in a box for $29.95, right?)
The skinnies are just a reference to another high-profile license that went bust.
And I wasn't commenting directly to just you. Lots of people were chiming in about how $10 (or more!) was fair market value, that skirmish games are just fine with that price point because people (those few who play the official game with them) only need a few, etc.. Superfans might find those prices acceptable--GW has such fans, too--but the strength of the Aliens brand is not appealing to a niche of superfans but in appealing to huge swaths of the population who might not even play tabletop games yet. Selling the models pre-neckbearded is not going to give them that appeal. Prodos is reading the thread, so let's just sabotage them completely and ask for a buy-in of $500 just for the starter set, shall we?
It's not like there aren't cheaper figures out there that look close enough to proxy.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: the strength of the Aliens brand is not appealing to a niche of superfans but in appealing to huge swaths of the population who might not even play tabletop games yet
I couldn't agree more. If anyone needs proof that this is the best approach, please see X-Wing.
The skinnies are just a reference to another high-profile license that went bust.
And I wasn't commenting directly to just you. Lots of people were chiming in about how $10 (or more!) was fair market value, that skirmish games are just fine with that price point because people (those few who play the official game with them) only need a few, etc.. Superfans might find those prices acceptable--GW has such fans, too--but the strength of the Aliens brand is not appealing to a niche of superfans but in appealing to huge swaths of the population who might not even play tabletop games yet. Selling the models pre-neckbearded is not going to give them that appeal. Prodos is reading the thread, so let's just sabotage them completely and ask for a buy-in of $500 just for the starter set, shall we?
It's not like there aren't cheaper figures out there that look close enough to proxy.
Ah gotcha. Yes, I am sincerely hoping they are very cheap as well (because then I'll buy more!! and moree!!!! a whole company of USCM?! why not?! a regiment, battalion, division!!!), and the preview shots are showing the quality. If Prodos can pull a good economy of scale situation here and be able to manufacture a ton of these at a cheap cost, I can't imagine any sci fi fan not pledging at least a few bucks for some cool figs (especially if Prodos does a low level cheap entry that has an alien, a predator and a colonial marine, as a set, maybe each on a special base that matches - hive, jungle, LV-426 flooring).
Bobtheinquisitor - always admire how you manage to walk an extremely fine line between being purposefully contrary and trolling a thread, and make a reasonable argument
Hopefully the pricing structures are already in place (if this thing really is a short time from launching) - Prodos will hopefully be able to learn from Warzone, and if they are on Dakka the sheer amount of bitching that goes on (any time you have Games Workshop and mention of pricing in the same thread) will instead push them towards a pricing strategy that is reasonable for the common law-abiding citizen
BobtheInquisitor wrote: the strength of the Aliens brand is not appealing to a niche of superfans but in appealing to huge swaths of the population who might not even play tabletop games yet
I couldn't agree more. If anyone needs proof that this is the best approach, please see X-Wing.
Not sure X-Wing is immediately comparable, with the pre-paints and different miniature style, plus different scale of game in terms of miniatures used.
I don't care if this is not exactly like X-Wing, the purpose of the analogy is price point. Given that these AvP minis are not pre-painted and will need terrain &etc, do you think that they would need to cost more in order to appeal to people who don't already wargame? Obviously not. Just like with X-Wing, a lower price point combined with a big license is the correct formula for attracting non-wargamer customers.
Manchu wrote: I don't care if this is not exactly like X-Wing, the purpose of the analogy is price point. Given that these AvP minis are not pre-painted and will need terrain &etc, do you think that they would need to cost more in order to appeal to people who don't already wargame? Obviously not. Just like with X-Wing, a lower price point combined with a big license is the correct formula for attracting non-wargamer customers.
Manchu wrote: I don't care if this is not exactly like X-Wing, the purpose of the analogy is price point. Given that these AvP minis are not pre-painted and will need terrain &etc, do you think that they would need to cost more in order to appeal to people who don't already wargame? Obviously not. Just like with X-Wing, a lower price point combined with a big license is the correct formula for attracting non-wargamer customers.
You consider X-wing cheap?
Beat me to it.
I'm getting antsy for more information- I'd at least like to know how long I have to save up for this. Hopefully it's not until after Christmas.
Yes -- without going too far afield, I think X-Wing is very cheap ... and I think the sales back that up. The difference Pacific alluded to, I believe, is that what makes X-Wing cheap (i.e., being playable right out of the box in a real sense) is not going to apply here. Therefore, these unpainted and probably unassembled AvP miniatures, which will require terrain and other modelling time/skill/resources, should be even cheaper, in the sense of pounds/dollars, than X-Wing miniatures.
Again, I don't want to get too bogged down in the X-Wing analogy in this thread -- the point regarding these miniatures is that they're based on a license which has a huge amount of recognition beyond the tabletop war game niche. Charging a lot for them, for example on the nonsensical theory that skirmish games should be more expensive per model, is not a good way to access that market.
Does AvP really have that kind of broad appeal, though? I mean, geeks and video gamers are aware of it, sure. But beyond that? I don't see this license really permeating society like SW does.
lord_blackfang wrote: Does AvP really have that kind of broad appeal, though? I mean, geeks and video gamers are aware of it, sure. But beyond that? I don't see this license really permeating society like SW does.
Alien and Aliens are widely regarded as two of the best films in their genres (horror, and action, respectively).
Everyone recognizes a Geiger Alien. Like, everyone.
Sure, it's not like SW. What is? But the table top niche is tiny. On video games alone, AvP has legions of fans. Take a look at how much money Colonial Marines made despite being a gigantic critical failure.
lord_blackfang wrote: By this logic, $40 for one pre-painted 28mm Predator and Arnie would be cheap, as it is a full game
If it comes with enough terrain to fill up a 6x4 table with dense jungle and multiple traps, then sure $40 would be cheap. That's what it means to be a full game with a ground-based skirmish.
lord_blackfang wrote: By this logic, $40 for one pre-painted 28mm Predator and Arnie would be cheap, as it is a full game
If it comes with enough terrain to fill up a 6x4 table with dense jungle and multiple traps, then sure $40 would be cheap. That's what it means to be a full game with a ground-based skirmish.
Well Xwing has cardboard asteroids, etc. So you're not miles off. If they go for a space colony or a ship, small printed board, couple of marines, couple of aliens, $40? Could happen.
That said since it's going on KS do we think it'll be mass-market priced? KS is niche city. Population: us.
If by "us" you mean millions and millions of dollars, then sure.
I agree that there's money to be made - but it's not the same kind of pay day as putting a boxed game in to toy stores across the globe, surely? Unless, that is, you're going for the quite pricey wargaming niche market, with appropriately pricey stuff, which would likely die on its ass in said toy stores, but will do brilliantly on KS.
Pacific wrote: Bobtheinquisitor - always admire how you manage to walk an extremely fine line between being purposefully contrary and trolling a thread, and make a reasonable argument
It's what I do.
Sometimes, I stumble over the line, but then I look down and see one line of footprints and know that Dakka is carrying me.
Hopefully the pricing structures are already in place (if this thing really is a short time from launching) - Prodos will hopefully be able to learn from Warzone, and if they are on Dakka the sheer amount of bitching that goes on (any time you have Games Workshop and mention of pricing in the same thread) will instead push them towards a pricing strategy that is reasonable for the common law-abiding citizen
I have a lot of friends who would buy up anything Aliens-related that can afford, but they are all 35 or younger in this economy, so...
Ah gotcha. Yes, I am sincerely hoping they are very cheap as well (because then I'll buy more!! and moree!!!! a whole company of USCM?! why not?! a regiment, battalion, division!!!), and the preview shots are showing the quality. If Prodos can pull a good economy of scale situation here and be able to manufacture a ton of these at a cheap cost, I can't imagine any sci fi fan not pledging at least a few bucks for some cool figs (especially if Prodos does a low level cheap entry that has an alien, a predator and a colonial marine, as a set, maybe each on a special base that matches - hive, jungle, LV-426 flooring).
If this product can appeal to the average Aliens fan, it could be worth millions. I really like the idea of a "sampler set" that gets the figures into lots of hands for cheap. Hell, market it right, and you can convince many fans that they never have to use the thimble again in monopoly, or basic chess sets, or ...Risk tokens. Make the rules free, too, and many people with a sampler pack (that they bought because, y'know, Aliens) might try their hand at it just to try out...
Now, that might seem a bit too ambitious, but even trying to broaden the appeal like that will do Prodos a lot better than making Infinity with licensed models.
Manchu wrote: You know, we're just assuming there will be a KS at all.
My god, I'd just really firmly got it into my head that this was a KS. I guess I'm just so used to seeing them. That kind of renders my whole line of argument null and void. Whoops. Nothing to see here folks!
Manchu wrote: Yes -- without going too far afield, I think X-Wing is very cheap ... and I think the sales back that up. .
Agree. When it comes to miniature gaming, X-Wing is a darned steal.
$40 gets in you, and that's retail. Shop online and you can get two solid forces to play with for under $100.
See, the problem with this is that there will be a very large number of potential customers who do not find that cheap for an untested game, who do not want to buy "solid forces", but rather minis for their own purposes and probably in large numbers, and people who will want a sample of "toys" for their computer desk and who don't want to pay for rules or whatever. X-Wing might be very successful, but $15 for a single spaceship is nuts. $15 for a single 28mm dude will be an instant buzzkill.
And Aliens is probably the second most famous and most-imitated science fiction franchise after Star Wars. It is huge. But not $15 for one 30mm alien huge.