ACTA:SF release

[AdmiralGrafSpee]

Well its not like its the end of the world here, were all not going to keel over if we don't have our resin spaceships immediately. I've preordered over $160, and sure I'm a little bummed that they haven't come yet, but I'm not going to get mad over it. Of course its going to be hectic at Christmas time, I'm giving them some slack and trusting that they'll get it all squared away. I'm still excited they're doing all these ships in the first place.

Couldn't agree more. I think it's insanely short sighted to give up on a game that will give you years of enjoyment because it's a couple weeks slow - due to overwhelming demand. Hardly a snafu in the business world!

Production issues (again due to demand being much higher than expected) have little to do with the quality of the game itself. How you can be super excited about a game because of its game play and then because you don't receive that game immediately do a complete 180 on you interest of the game just baffles me?! Just do something else for two weeks!!

 

[Apep]

While it is disappointing that some have not received all or part of their pre-orders - delays like this regularly happen when new games are released (trust me I have been there) – However Mongoose and ADB are trying their best to resolve issues ASAP from what I have seen.

This game has a lot of potential and everyone needs to look at the long game for which the omens look very good – (Once the kinks are worked out in production / delivery)

Myself – while I only have part of my pre-order (which I am very impressed with) I am looking to the future and am looking forward to the 2500 versions of Federation CVO, Battleship, Space Control Ship and the Heavy War Destroyer.

 

[billclo]

Well its not like its the end of the world here, were all not going to keel over if we don't have our resin spaceships immediately. I've preordered over $160, and sure I'm a little bummed that they haven't come yet, but I'm not going to get mad over it. Of course its going to be hectic at Christmas time, I'm giving them some slack and trusting that they'll get it all squared away. I'm still excited they're doing all these ships in the first place.

Couldn't agree more. I think it's insanely short sighted to give up on a game that will give you years of enjoyment because it's a couple weeks slow - due to overwhelming demand. Hardly a snafu in the business world!

Production issues (again due to demand being much higher than expected) have little to do with the quality of the game itself. How you can be super excited about a game because of its game play and then because you don't receive that game immediately do a complete 180 on you interest of the game just baffles me?! Just do something else for two weeks!!

While I am not pleased about the delays, I'm not having a fit about it. BUT I also don't have any money tied up in the game yet. I can understand people who put out money and have yet to receive product being ticked off.

But I also think that it's short-sighted to swear off a game because it didn't come out on time. People are going to be missing out on many products that don't come out when scheduled if they apply that to all their dealings.

Just another symptom of our instant gratification society. Shoot, you youngsters don't know how good you have it, as compared to the Pre-Internet Days. When I was growing up in the '80s, it was a given that games would come out when they did, not when scheduled. You didn't even hear about them beforehand unless it was in a gaming magazine, and it might be months before you could find a copy.

It's now, now, now, now or I'm going to die.

 

[Iain McGhee]

Yeah, tell me about it. We're probably talking about a month's delay at the outside, it's not as if the game's been dropped and Mongoose has run off with our money.

I ordered and paid for two fleet boxes as soon as they were up for pre-order (plus the rulebook that's already arrived) and will be ordering a third after the holidays.

 

[IraShaine1972]

Well as for me I was not really having a problem until I saw that a retailer has them before I do. All the ifs and buts in the world cant change the fact that all the hype led me to the conclusion that pre-orders meant first in line. Maybe that was my error. Either way I have had 4 other product snafus from Mongoose in the last 2 months that are still waiting to be rectified. All taken probably got me a little more annoyed than I am prone to get over something game related. I still love this stuff.
I am still a huge Noble Armada/Star Fleet/Traveller/Mongoose/ADB fan and have been for a long time and most likely always will be. If I can get over the Battlefield Evolution/death of SST fiasco from a few years ago I doubt that this would turn me off from Mongoose. As far as retracting my order, I doubt that is even possible and does not indicate that I am not going to buy the stuff. In fact I want to get it from FRP but do not have the funds as MGP has them. Thas IS annoying. Well at least I can probably afford to pick up the hardcover full size book as I have not ordered that yet anyway.

To the people vowing away from all the games because of delays with these models.......um...thats silly. Fed Com and SFB come with tons of counters and Fed Com have some really nice ones and these games have been around for years. Noble Armada as well is full steam ahead and to date the BEST ship to ship combat game I have ever played. There is more stuff available already for all of these games than you could ever play in the time it will take for the full 2500 line to be available. And as I have pointed out you can already order them from US retailers that are very fast and reliable.

That does seem extreme.

 

[IraShaine1972]

Oh, I have no doubt the minis will be fantastic. It's not that at all. It's just that both ADB and MGP will take much flak from this for years and many consumers will not become customers because of this snafu.

My club WAS interested in ACTA NA and SF, but after this they're not interested in doing business with a company that makes mistakes like this. SFB and FC is something I have been pushing for a while for us to pick up, but everyone was leery of the rules, after this I don't even want to spend any more if the goods won't be there. It's not real rational with SFB, the rules are already out and have been for a long time, but I CAN NOT convince my club to pick it up after this. If I am the only one in the area who is willing to play the game what's the point?

And there is the problem the delay has caused ADB and MGP. People who would otherwise promote or even buy the game, won't. I can't even find good things to say about the game anymore. The models yes, good, fantastic, superb; the game? Not a peep from me.

I dont know about the "years to come" part. There have been a couple of product delays this year longer than this from some games that I was intensely following in order to get my hands on that had potential games ready to storm the gates. Now its all ancient history after only a couple of months. In reality production delays are very common. Your buddies will soon have a small list if they use "production delays" as a criteria for not buying from a given company. I can think of 3 or 4 companies off the top of my head just this year that I would no longer be purchasing from if that was my standard.

Hell I recently paid DOUBLE the retail price for a Battletech IBS because of the delays that Catalyst have been experiencing. Talk about BAD. They have had the WORST. FFG a HUGE company has routine delays but they are pretty low key because they NEVER give a release window and even when they break down and give an approximate the fans are up in arms when they dont deliver. This happened with a couple of products I can think of from them this year. The list goes on.
While I think that MGP had no inclination that they were going to receive such high demand I frown upon the constant just another week routine. When in reality its several weeks. While also I am sure that they made promises to distributors as well that they don't want to break I still think that this could have been coordinated a little better. Just tell me straight up the situation don't kick me down the road.

Overall I think the above reaction was a little over the top considering that just about everything on the clubs list of interests IS available except the 2500 line of models. And they technically are now as well. At least a few. But not to me.....because I pre-ordered.

 

[Iron Domokun]

deleted

 

[tneva82]

While I am not pleased about the delays, I'm not having a fit about it. BUT I also don't have any money tied up in the game yet. I can understand people who put out money and have yet to receive product being ticked off.

Hey I have had money tied in for product for longer than couple weeks...Think over half a year...In a product that kept getting pushed back.

I actually had slightly more pressing concern in that around midway I unexpectedly had to move a house...And for some reason store couldn't alter the delivery address after it was in. But quick talk about the subject with the new resident solved the issue.

Should be getting the product within couple weeks. Got notification couple days ago it was(finally) shipped

Next up to wait for the next one in the series. No I did not get discouraged from buying more from the same series or from same company despite the delays. Give me MOAR!

(and if you mention to any Wheel of Time fans how bad it is to wait couple weeks...Well you aren't getting much sympathy from there either We have been waiting for YEARS but first the writer suffers from very real health issues. Then he dies, then takes time to decide whether to get new writer to finish it up and who it would be, then the new writer needs to re-read the whole series, then he starts working, then he notifies that instead of being able to complete the book in timeline he thought he would the book is so big that it has to be split and that the last one would be 2+ years later than original goal was...We are getting the last one next fall by the look of it...)

 

[tneva82]

Well, it's a fact that people do get upset by having their expectations disappointed. I understand and sympathise with the OP's feelings here. There may be a lesson here, not to make promises until you know you can deliver.

Then again what's the alternative? Produce huge stockpile before starting to accept orders? Possibly resulting in TOO many models creating stockpile of models to sit on shelves...

So let's say they create X amount of models. Then they open orders. Whoom they get 4X amount of orders. Again people are going to be pissed off.

OTOH if they create 20X models "just to be sure" then that's lots of models sitting on shelves. Models sitting on shelves don't bring company any cash. Actually more of the opposite...

 

[hermitbob]

My primary disappointment lies with the misrepresentation by Matt of the actual time it would take to get the mini's. And yes, my beef is about the Fleet Boxes.

First post was the 7th "next week," then on the 14th "next week" again, but later on the 14th "products are going out right now and will continue for the next few days." Finally on the 15th "we are seeing more orders from, well, everywhere (!) than we had guessed - the Fleet Boxes are currently running a little late." Then we find out from Jean on the 23rd that Steve says January at the earliest, seriously? A two week delay at MINIMUM is "a little late"? A little late is getting caught at a red light on your way to work. A little late is the package getting posted on a weekend and being held back a few days. This "a little late" is like when...I apologize, Jean, I almost posted something offensive to women.

The point being, yes, demand was big, but you weren't ready for any demand! Production at 1/3 the expected rate?!? Was there no lead time built into the manufacturing schedule? Was there a test run for quality of the molds and models? Did no-one know how long it would take to manufacture the models?

I am in fact a jerk.

 

[GalagaGalaxian]

And yet, at the start of december, many of us were getting quite irate that Mongoose hadn't given us a firm and exact release date. I know I was irritated. Guess we pushed too hard, they made an estimate and unfortunately weren't conservative enough about it.

You just can't win.

 

[Apep]

Delays in receiving pre-orders are very common – depending on the company it can take up to six months between when a game / sourcebook / minature is released in the States and when it (finally) hits Europe (even if you pre-order).

The worst case is that you will receive a bit latter than you expected – I have had dealings with Mongoose since 2002 / 2003 and always have been impressed with them.

 

[hermitbob]

Except this is not a delay in shipping, it's a delay in production. And again, 4 weeks after the initial release date is not "a little delay," 2 weeks after the most recent announcement is still not "a little delay," and that is if it is shipped on the 2nd or 3rd, even more time if shipments don't go out until the 6th or later.

 

[IraShaine1972]

I would have at least liked an option when it became apparent fleet boxes were going to experience and indeterminate delay. ADB offered one. MGP shut the office and went on holiday. I cold have used my money to get the items from somewhere else that has them instead of keeping my money tied up at MGP.

 

[IraShaine1972]

Delays in receiving pre-orders are very common – depending on the company it can take up to six months between when a game / sourcebook / minature is released in the States and when it (finally) hits Europe (even if you pre-order).

The worst case is that you will receive a bit latter than you expected – I have had dealings with Mongoose since 2002 / 2003 and always have been impressed with them.

WOW. I have never had that experience. In fact every pre-order I have placed that I can ever remember I have gotten before the items were available retail end. Even from a manufacturer in the UK (I am stateside).

 

[Apep]

I have sympathy for most that have been unfortunate enough to have not received their order – I am lucky as I have most of my order and I know the rest will come.

If it comes quickly – it’s a bonus.

If it’s a few weeks later or a few months - I am not really going to get worked up about it. – This is a game and a hobby.

The thing is I know I will receive my order and I have some perspective about this matter.

I am already planning my next order with mongoose for ACTA:SFU and that includes pre-ordering Squadron Box No 7 when it becomes available for pre-order.

 

[Da Boss]

I would have at least liked an option when it became apparent fleet boxes were going to experience and indeterminate delay. ADB offered one. MGP shut the office and went on holiday. I cold have used my money to get the items from somewhere else that has them instead of keeping my money tied up at MGP.

Out of interest what did ADB offer?

As I unnderstood it MGP posted out the part orders and will send the rest on when its available at no extra charge?
ADB would not do split orders at free postage?

My only issue is that is getting the fleet ready for the tourney in February.

 

[Jean]

Folks, ADB and Mongoose are different companies with different ways of handling things. ADB never charges a card until we know we can ship an order. When we found we could not fill the fleet box orders, we cancelled them so our customers could make alternative choices. Mongoose has chosen a different way of handling the situation by splitting the orders and not charging additional postage.

Some folks are going to like one option; others will like the alternative. I wish we could have met the schedule and I know that Matthew and SVC already plan to talk about how to avoid this ever happening again. I ask you once again to please bear with us as we get your orders to you and get this sorted out. ADB is all about transparency with its customers and fans and we will do our best to keep you in the loop as long as I am dispensing information. That is my personal promise to you.

Jean

 

[hermitbob]

ADB is all about transparency with its customers and fans and we will do our best to keep you in the loop as long as I am dispensing information. That is my personal promise to you.

Jean

And that is why you are awesome. You weather the storm and say "Hey! We're getting it done."

 

[IraShaine1972]

At least now I know who to order from. Transparency and communication vs. going on holiday see you in January.