I know we all like getting new info about upcoming X-Wing stuff. But do you think the announcements come too soon? With the past few releases I've noticed that by the time something new is released, like Rebel Aces, most players aren't as excited about it anymore, since they've already analyzed it to death and are licking their chops for the Next Big Thing; in this case, Wave 5. By the time Wave 5 comes out, I suspect it's Wave 6 that will have been spoiled to death.

I wonder whether it might be more advantageous for FFG to hold new product info until just before a previous product is hitting stores. For example, now that Rebel Aces appears to be close to showing up on store shelves, what if we were just now learning about Wave 5? And then just as Wave 5 were about to hit, we'd hear about Wave 6, etc.

Obviously the Wave 6 announcement was timed for Gen Con this year, but what do you think of my idea in general?

Nope. I much prefer knowing what's coming out well in advance, so I can put some money aside and plan accordingly. Plus, it keeps me interested!

I would almost expect another new announcement this week or next for maybe another multi ship expansion. Rebel Aces announced the week imperial aces dropped. Wave 5 announced the week Wave 4 dropped. Wave 6 announced at GenCon, as the first players were able to but Wave 6.

They might do a preview for Wave 6, as the first preview articles typically drop about six weeks after the announcement, which it has now been. Or, they might hold off on that and announce another stand alone release.

We shall see.

We will know about the new products at roughly the same time, no matter what. Just, instead of announcements, we would get bland information from pre-order sheets. Just look at Attack Wing, they know the releases all the way to June next year. At least FFG doesn't send the information out that long ahead. And I prefer to have some information to talk about instead of pure speculation.

The announcements allow the forum community the opportunity to collectively assess the new upgrades and pilot abilities and analyze them for game turning/breaking combos or unintentional rules interactions. We are the third level of analysis:

1: Designers use basic mock ups with rough upgrade cards to test ideas.

2: Playtesters get a couple of versions to test and play with and to comment on.

3: Forum looks at final product and nit picks any issues it sees and computes all the different variables looking for new and weird card/pilot combos. Cards can be changed before final printing or at least FAQ'd shortly after product is released.

It also give us the benefit of anticipation for when it comes out. Something to look forward to.

I have not forgotten about Rebel aces. I have planned out space for two aces contents when I upgraded my storage a couple of months ago. If that came out willy nilly without any beforehand info, I would have to scramble every couple of months to find storage for what I was going to add to my ever expanding collection.

Maybe, but really I'd prefer a slightly slower release schedule. I still don't feel like I've fully explored the ships I've got. Because I like the Empire the most, there are lots of cool Rebel lists I never get around to trying.

I don't mind the product announcements, as it isn't the number of announcements that bothers me, its the large amounts of new product coming out that bothers me. I can't buy it all in the timeline of release that FFG has out right now. Its too much too soon.

If I have to wait patiently for news, they can patiently wait for my dollars - I can only make those so fast...

Being spoilt for choice is horrible isnt it...

I have so many different lists I want to try out, but never have enough time.

I'm glad FFG release info when they do, they still often dont tell you everything, and it lets you plan out your purchases. I've already pre ordered some scum and villany stuff, cant wait to fly the new Boba!

Also knowing about the ships and flying them is rather different. I dont like using proxies or stand ins so haven't flown any of the new b wings or a wings yet, and wont until I get them in my grubby mitts.

I want info on Wave 6 before a new product announcement. I just want news at this point. I don't like this drought .

I don't mind the announcement and reveal so far out but would like to see more consistent info released. I'd much rather get a pilot and an upgrade or 2 a week rather than a reveal with 2/3 of the info and then glob here glob there with no schedule till release. New I to weekly would drive anticipation greatly.

I wonder if part of the reason they announce the product so early, but with a lack of information, is because they know a lot of people will preorder all the ships before even knowing if each expansion is even going to have cards they will want or use?

Well, I guess I really wouldn't mind an announcement about a huge Imperial ship, but that's in a sort of different category in my mind.

Here's what I said 2 weeks ago in this same thread

I like getting advance notice of new products. What I don't like is have EVERYTHING in a set spoiled months before it is released and then spoil the NEXT product before that one is even in the stores. The excitement for wave 4 was totally ruined because we knew everything about it well in advance, people were play testing everything in the set for weeks and when it finally hit the stores... All anyone could talk about was the recent preview of wave 5.

If you have to put up preview articles x months in advance because of retailers, push the release date so that they won't steal the thunder of your other releases.

I also think making the initial preview more of a teaser would be a good idea. The retailers won't have more than just a product name. If they just teased that and maybe a partial picture or a single new upgrade at that time it would be fine. That would get lots of people talking about the upcoming release and then they could extend the preview cycle some so that they don't end up spoiling everything weeks before release.

Generating excitement and hype for a release is good, having some stuff be unknown until someone actually gets the product in their hand generates excitement and hype.

Being spoilt for choice is horrible isnt it...

This. Being "bored" by the time a product releases is a consequence of the thought engagement of the consumer, not the company. If this game, wonderful as it is, is all you incessantly think about, that's a bit of a sad commentary. Add some variety to your experience.

I wonder if part of the reason they announce the product so early, but with a lack of information, is because they know a lot of people will preorder all the ships before even knowing if each expansion is even going to have cards they will want or use?

I don't actually put my pre-orders in generally until the product is changed to "On the Boat" status. I've never had any issue with not getting what I order for any release so far. Once the spoilers are put out, I'll start deciding how many I want once I have some idea of what's in it, and how likely I'll be to use it.

Being spoilt for choice is horrible isnt it...

This. Being "bored" by the time a product releases is a consequence of the thought engagement of the consumer, not the company. If this game, wonderful as it is, is all you incessantly think about, that's a bit of a sad commentary. Add some variety to your experience.

I realize fully that your comment is directed at the all-encompassing "you" and not any specific, individual "you", but I'll reply in a personalized way.

My father was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer - leukemia to be specific. At times, I've immersed myself in thinking about Star Wars X-Wing to get myself through some of the otherwise dark, depressing thoughts that can fill my mind very easily. So yes, I'm one of those one's that certainly been making heavy use of a "thought engagement" to distract myself. What someone chooses to think about, as their hobby, their distraction, or even their obsession shouldn't really be the concern of anyone else.

I love new product announcements. It keeps me excited for the new stuff, and then I know not to spend all my money too quickly.

I wonder if part of the reason they announce the product so early, but with a lack of information, is because they know a lot of people will preorder all the ships before even knowing if each expansion is even going to have cards they will want or use?

People would pre order them regardless.

'tis fine.

Just fine.

Having the announcements and previews so far ahead lets us get all the info so we can preorder said product well in advanced. Rebel Aces is almost here and I am dieing to use it. Who knows when wave 5 will get here but before the full info release I wasn't all that thrilled with the decimator now I want it more then the outrider which is quite the turn around for me. I will be buying both ships instead of one. I can't wait for the scum previews to start rolling in. I figure with 7 ships we could get one preview every other week and have previews from now until the middle of december, which should be about when we get it if they can keep to their plans. None of that deminishes my want of having rebel aces now.

Being spoilt for choice is horrible isnt it...

This. Being "bored" by the time a product releases is a consequence of the thought engagement of the consumer, not the company. If this game, wonderful as it is, is all you incessantly think about, that's a bit of a sad commentary. Add some variety to your experience.

My father was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer - leukemia to be specific. At times, I've immersed myself in thinking about Star Wars X-Wing to get myself through some of the otherwise dark, depressing thoughts that can fill my mind very easily. So yes, I'm one of those one's that certainly been making heavy use of a "thought engagement" to distract myself. What someone chooses to think about, as their hobby, their distraction, or even their obsession shouldn't really be the concern of anyone else.

I didn't realize we were playing the "whose life sucks more" game! When my father shot himself I chose a musical instrument, role-playing and books for thought engagement. Sometimes I got bored with one or the other. But I certainly didn't blame the manufacturer of my instrument when they announced a new model or the publisher of a book for announcing a new book when I got disengaged. I didn't say: "TSR should announce fewer products because they happen too quickly for my tastes and needs!" The very premise of the TC's original argument is silly: I'm bored, therefore the company should have a different announcement schedule." That's my point. People can choose to engage or disengage in whatever they wish. But to blame a company for one's attention span? That IS sad, and is an indicator that a person is scape-goating other, more pressing concerns.

Everybody take a breath... Nobody is intending to comment on anybody else's hardships, let's not risk taking this thread to a very inappropriate and spiteful place. Fly casual people. Suffice to say why people become bored or not in a given time frame is far too idiosyncratic an endeavor to attend to on an internet forum. Likewise, nobody is blaming a company for their boredom. A single moment's of reasonable thought recognizes that nobody meant that. So let's all take a breath, remember that Han shot first, and unite in our shared joy that Jar Jar is nowhere to be seen in this game.

We all good?

Okay, now, back to the OP's original message.

Everybody take a breath... Nobody is intending to comment on anybody else's hardships, let's not risk taking this thread to a very inappropriate and spiteful place. Fly casual people. Suffice to say why people become bored or not in a given time frame is far too idiosyncratic an endeavor to attend to on an internet forum. Likewise, nobody is blaming a company for their boredom. A single moment's of reasonable thought recognizes that nobody meant that. So let's all take a breath, remember that Han shot first, and unite in our shared joy that Jar Jar is nowhere to be seen in this game.

We all good?

Okay, now, back to the OP's original message.

Yet.

Maybe, but really I'd prefer a slightly slower release schedule. I still don't feel like I've fully explored the ships I've got. Because I like the Empire the most, there are lots of cool Rebel lists I never get around to trying.

Only thing to do is play more. I would probably follow my own advice if the store wasn't 25 minutes away.

I wonder if part of the reason they announce the product so early, but with a lack of information, is because they know a lot of people will preorder all the ships before even knowing if each expansion is even going to have cards they will want or use?

People would pre order them regardless.

I know. I do