Thank you for the information about WizKids foray into the mass-market world. I think it's a shame that WizKids feels they need to sell their product to a massive retailer like Toys-R-Us.  This is of course nothing new and we specialty stores should have known it would eventually happen.  Things like Mage Knight are still slightly taboo with all the 'evil monsters' and 'nasty things.'  However, we have movies with the X-Men and Spider-Man so 'that' stuff is nice and consumer snuggly-cuddly.  The Marvel stuff most likely will be followed with the DC and then MechWarrior.  I imagine the MechWarrior games will end up in all the video game chains anyway, and at lower prices.  The ironic thing about this is that the sales data compiled from sales of the product to our market is most likely the incentive provided to persuade the big chains to order the product.  After all, they need a proven track record to take a risk on a new concept like these clicky toy-things.  Game stores have worked hard to build WizKids products to the level they are now.  Most stores have displays set up, demo the games and run tournaments.  While I strongly compliment WizKids on their support for tournaments (probably the best in the industry), if we start losing sales to the big chains, I think you'll see a rapid decrease in the amount of tourneys run.  We all know that in current times, when you no longer have a place to play, a game dies very quickly.

I really think WizKids should concentrate on making sure the specialty/gaming industry has product when they need it rather than adding another 'sponge' to the equation.  I foresee the possibility of not being able to get product, as has already occurred at times, when the big chains start receiving their shipments.

Another thought, won't there be theft problems and missing pieces from the boxes?  I noticed that WizKids is planning to start some type of blister packaging.  Was this geared towards the big-chain retailers?  It's a tough business operating a game store.  It's a shame that we all work so hard and make so little.  When we do start doing well with a product, the manufacturers always make sure the big chains notice!  I understand that you produce a product to sell it and ultimately make money.  It just doesn't seem logical when you're already making a tidy sum but the greed factor of 'MORE-MORE-MORE' kicks in.  Most times this just results in the over extending of resources and capitol and the increase of failure.  It all comes down to money and it's a shame that someone always benefits from the hard work of others.  I guess we'll all stay hopeful and see what the repercussions will be.