I like finding out new xwing content as much as the next guy. But these spoilers I hope will not be the new norm. I'd much prefer to see the new content in a FFG article (even though they make mistakes every time) then get it piece by piece as it gets translated from some one who got it early.

Or just don't click on the spoiler?

Usually in this context, a "leak" means the release of secret information that is not yet intended for public consumption. As far as I know, reviewers like SpikeyBits (who released unboxing videos of wave 12 & 13 stuff) are given their products in advance of public release for the purpose of review. To my knowledge, SpikeyBits has not violated any agreement, and nothing fishy is going on with them. It seems like what happened in this case is that FFG's articles were later than they should have been. That's not on the reviewers.

Also, pewpew man. Pewpew.

8 minutes ago, Jo Jo said:

Or just don't click on the spoiler?

I'm with the Chief. If the product is not supposed to have dropped yet, having people unaffiliated with FFG vaingloriously unbox something before the rest of us is a bit rude.

This is a new thing suddenly for this wave.

1 minute ago, Jo Jo said:

Or just don't click on the spoiler?

who said I did? But I am a part of several xwing groups on facebook and you can't miss the spoilers. My point is Id rather get the information strait from FFG rather than some blurry photos that need to be translated. If spikeybits wants to do a review or someone from another country gets one early, in my opinion they should wait for FFG to release their article first. If I was one of the developers who worked hard to get these ships on the gaming table. I'd at least like to be the one to present it first.

6 minutes ago, Incard said:

Usually in this context, a "leak" means the release of secret information that is not yet intended for public consumption. As far as I know, reviewers like SpikeyBits (who released unboxing videos of wave 12 & 13 stuff) are given their products in advance of public release for the purpose of review. To my knowledge, SpikeyBits has not violated any agreement, and nothing fishy is going on with them. It seems like what happened in this case is that FFGs articles were later than they should have been. That's not on the reviewers.

If it was intended for the public...wouldn't we already have all of this information already?

1 minute ago, Darth Meanie said:

rude

Towards whom?

Towards the community? Would it be better if these people had the information for themselves for 2 weeks and share it with selected few?

Or towards FFG? FFG could easily stop this by contracts, or by releasing the information a bit earlier themselves.

Either the article was late, the leakers violated a contract, or everything is fine as it is.

In all cases FFG could have it different if they wanted to

1 minute ago, GreenDragoon said:

Towards whom?

Well, I guess towards me. I just seems a little dodgy that some people who get special treatment by FFG then flaunt it. Want to review it? Fine, unbox it, make your video, and release the video Dec 7.

Yeah, fine, they are not violating the letter of the law or anything, but social convention is that the gifts sit under the tree until Christmas. So I guess if you want to be That Guy and open your stuff the week before. . .

3 minutes ago, Chief Hugh said:

If it was intended for the public...wouldn't we already have all of this information already?

My point is that sending out products in advance of their release to 3rd party reviewers is a means of making the information public, and a legitimate one. I may be wrong, but to my knowledge SpikeyBits just did what they normally do - and happened to beat FFG to the publish button. My suspicion is that with the release of L5R and Legion, the limited FFG staff were struggling to tie up all the loose ends with these two waves of X-Wing and the preview articles were late as a result. X-Wing, remember, also has the extra hurdle of dealing with Disney, so unexpected delays while the Great Mouse Lawyers review the details are probably not unusual.

I'm fine with the unboxing leaks, because it means that the product is starting to reach the hands of distributors, which means it's that much closer to reaching the hands of me. And I want these things in my hands.

1 minute ago, Darth Meanie said:

Well, I guess towards me. I just seems a little dodgy that some people who get special treatment by FFG then flaunt it. Want to review it? Fine, unbox it, make your video, and release the video Dec 7.

Yeah, fine, they are not violating the letter of the law or anything, but social convention is that the gifts sit under the tree until Christmas. So I guess if you want to be That Guy and open your stuff the week before. . .

When I was a kid, I used a flat knife to discretely lift the tape from all of my presents, pull them out, see what they were, and then rewrap them in such a way that nobody could tell. So I'm 100% A-OK with this.

2 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

Well, I guess towards me. I just seems a little dodgy that some people who get special treatment by FFG then flaunt it. Want to review it? Fine, unbox it, make your video, and release the video Dec 7.

Yeah, fine, they are not violating the letter of the law or anything, but social convention is that the gifts sit under the tree until Christmas. So I guess if you want to be That Guy and open your stuff the week before. . .

Ok, but don‘t you think FFG was just late? 1 week before release is extremely late.

I‘m very opposed to actual leaks, like the FAQ, but this looks intentional by FFG

Just now, PhantomFO said:

I'm fine with the unboxing leaks, because it means that the product is starting to reach the hands of distributors, which means it's that much closer to reaching the hands of me. And I want these things in my hands.

When I was a kid, I used a flat knife to discretely lift the tape from all of my presents, pull them out, see what they were, and then rewrap them in such a way that nobody could tell. So I'm 100% A-OK with this.

Ah, so you didn't make a video of the whole thing and post it for the world to see what you got for Christmas. . .

Just for the record, I'm meh on the whole thing cuz FFG will shut it down if they want to, but I can sympathize with the Chief about wanting a more "pure" presentation.

FFG provides the material to the reviewers with a wink and nod knowing they will be “leaked” because the early reveal drives the hype train and is overall good for sales.

I guarantee if they did not want the leaks, the reviewers would never get an advance copy of new releases again, and their unboxing videos would be hit with C&D letters pdq.

@BlodVargarna I agree - although it's not even a sly wink and nod - it's just totally normal above-board business practice. Third party reviewers and in-house preview articles are two different means of generating interest in advance of a product's release. We're used to seeing one thing before the other, and this time things were the other way around. Not a big deal. Not even a small deal.

5 minutes ago, Incard said:

I agree - although it's not even a sly wink and nod - it's just totally normal above-board business practice. Third party reviewers and in-house preview articles are two different means of generating interest in advance of a product's release. We're used to seeing one thing before the other, and this time things were the other way around. Not a big deal. Not even a small deal.

I'll be honest, I didn't know they used leaks as a means to increase their business. It makes sense. I'd still prefer to so the articles first before anything else. It just seems that there has been so many leaks that we may start seeing new product leaks before FFG announces them.

2 minutes ago, BlodVargarna said:

FFG provides the material to the reviewers with a wink and nod knowing they will be “leaked” because the early reveal drives the hype train and is overall good for sales.

I guarantee if they did not want the leaks, the reviewers would never get an advance copy of new releases again, and their unboxing videos would be hit with C&D letters pdq.

So. . .have I simply been blissfully unaware of all this before now because I am not an XWM blogophile, because this seems pretty new to the boards.

Spoiler casual, bro.

I'm all about unboxing before FFG releases their content, but ****, the image that was circulating of the Silence dial was of abysmal quality and the unboxing videos from Spikeybits appeared to be filmed in the biggest rush.

If the community is going to be the one to bring this news to bear, can we.. try?

Leaks from people who got them early is one thing, breaking an NDA is a whole other matter and far more serious.

7 minutes ago, Boba Rick said:

Leaks from people got them early is one thing, breaking NDA is a whole other matter and far more serious.

Yea What that guy said.

59 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

So. . .have I simply been blissfully unaware of all this before now because I am not an XWM blogophile, because this seems pretty new to the boards.

It's new for FFG re: X-Wing, I suppose, but in the gaming community at large (and other industries, in general) it is customary for a company to send early product to a reviewer who is then obligated to showcase a review of said product to drum up visibility and hype. If this is indeed the manner in which these unboxers received their product, then FFG expects them to post it up. If an early reviewer never got around to putting up the unboxing video OR was critical or ambivalent about the product, odds are that said early-reviewer would not be getting any early copies next wave...

So, in this sense, these weren't spoilers at all, but were instead like promotional activities on the part of FFG marketing (if indeed that's how SpikeyBits got his physical copies, which is at least plausible).

Companies do this because (1) It's a way to hit potential customers they wouldn't normally be communicating with AND (2) it's cheaper and easier than having anyone on staff responsible for content. If this is FFG's style moving forward, it's likely one of the many influences of Asmodee NA on the company, I'd guess.

16 minutes ago, AllWingsStandyingBy said:

Companies do this because (1) It's a way to hit potential customers they wouldn't normally be communicating with AND (2) it's cheaper and easier than having anyone on staff responsible for content. If this is FFG's style moving forward, it's likely one of the many influences of Asmodee NA on the company, I'd guess.

So, volunteers do a lot of the playtesting, and now volunteers will do a lot the marketing. Huh.

But if what you are saying is true,

1 hour ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

I'm all about unboxing before FFG releases their content, but ****, the image that was circulating of the Silence dial was of abysmal quality and the unboxing videos from Spikeybits appeared to be filmed in the biggest rush.

If the community is going to be the one to bring this news to bear, can we.. try?

I'm with Rinzler. These para-professionals need to bring the quality level up, because the Silencer French Tickler was just plain garbage.

Just now, Darth Meanie said:

I'm with Rinzler. These para-professionals need to bring the quality level up, because the Silencer French Tickler was just plain garbage.

If FFG wants to send me early release wares, I will buy a high production video camera and feed the masses, soothing them with my voice, which is whiny IRL, too.

"But I don't want to eat a high production video camera." - the masses

1 hour ago, Rinzler in a Tie said:

I'm all about unboxing before FFG releases their content, but ****, the image that was circulating of the Silence dial was of abysmal quality and the unboxing videos from Spikeybits appeared to be filmed in the biggest rush.

If the community is going to the one to bring this news to bear, can we.. try?

Maybe FFG was not willing to pay any professionals ... sure, they could have send a big check to someone like AngryJoe and get a professional unboxing with high quality video equipment. Or they send it so someone unknown via a cheap cam who does it for free. ;-)