San Diego 2007

[Guest]

[kbmum]

The update set was going to be released in August, then it was moved to October.  Now, I've heard a rumor that it will come out late fall or early winter, before the end of the year.  Artbox moved the release date for 24 Season 5 from June until October and supposedly canceled the 24 Season 5 Expansion Set.  Maybe the rush to release so many sets in one year has finally caught up with them.

Personally, I hope OOTPU isn't released until November or December.  I need time to recoup from 3D and OOTP.

[Bryanjs14]

I was simply told Quarter 4.
So my guess is November.

[kbmum]

Let's say OOTPU comes out in November 2007.  The Half-Blood Prince movie will be released in November 2008.  What filler sets will Artbox release between those two sets?  It's a bit scary to contemplate.

[Kelly]

Something with sketches would be nice! 

[ferdinand_the_yak]

A sketch set would be awesome. It would be perfect if released in May or so.

[kbmum]

Some artists on Scoundrel said they sent samples to Artbox.  When Artbox showed them to Warner Bros., only a few were approved.

[tialessa]

I'd love to see a sketch set, but they NEED to space out their products more.... I'm having a difficult time keeping up (as are many of the rest of you)...

[kbmum]

I'm in the same boat as you.  I've seen some really great deals on eBay for both 3D and OOTP, but have had to pass on most of them.

[Jon]

Okay, Im sorry for not mentioning this before. Here is a small explanation I was given:

The Order of the Phoenix Update set will be out at the end of the year. They want it out before Christmas (of course), but the way I was told, it seems it wont be out until maybe just weeks prior. I also asked about future sets and I was told that there will be a minimal amount of sets released next year, most likely only one, and i assume that will be the Half-Blood Prince set. There have just been too many HP sets released this year and they want to slow down and expand on their other sets. There will be, though, some exclusive mini sets (kind of like the Death Eater sets) released soon or perhaps early next year for those who just cant wait for more cards. There were also two card sets that were listed on the employee record slips at the Artbox booth. I asked about them and was told that they may be at the Con (they never made it), but if they werent, they would be offered as exclusives on their website or perhaps through dealers (I think). The first was a "HP Plate Set" which was described as cards in metal plating. Im not sure if they are just regular cards or if they have pieces of costumes or props in them. The second was "HP Crystal Set", which, I was told, was a set of cards with crystal etching, and, like the other set, Im not sure what kind of cards they are. We joked about their website and how it has been two and a half years since their last update. Hopefully they will update it a bit more in the near future along with openning up some kind of online store where exclusives (like promo sets and the card sets mentioned before) will be offered.

Hope this info helps.

[HPfamily]

YAY!!! They're slowing down on the HP sets!!
I can not tell you how happy I am to hear that!!

[kbmum]

There have just been too many HP sets released this year and they want to slow down and expand on their other sets.

They finally realized they're killing the HP market!  I can't imagine that dealers are too happy with how cheaply many of the HP and OOTP cards have been selling.  Plus, sellers took a hit with MM in October and COS in December.

I'm fine with mini-sets and exclusives to fill the gap between big sets.

[Bogleg]

Well it's been just over a week since I got back. No more Boggy on tour. I had some great advice before I went...take it slow and don't try to do it all.
First off, "take it slow"  That was the only way. The shear volume of bodies prevents anything else. Just to make sure, within 5 minutes of entering the hall on preview night, a woman of Hulk Hogan proportions decided my ankle was preferable to the floor. And of course, I was in the wrong 
Thanks to Sharon's "It seemed funny at the time but I forgot my birthday's coming up" picture, I got recognised by Kelly, Jon, Bryan, Jennifer (Jfer21) and several unknowns who are guests on the forum. Each day had it's highlights. Friday's was meeting Jennifer at the Card Talk breakfast and her very generous offer of giving me her freebie from the meeting - a DVD box set of the 3rd season of 4400. Thankyouthankyouthankyou. Saturday was the busiest. Breakfast at the Hilton - many thanks Bryan - getting in the longest queue ever with a fully costumed Kelly to see the pilot of The Bionic Woman and getting Kelly to speak to Sharon on the phone "she sounds so American"  , getting a "bathroom" pass so me and Kelly could swap places for her Battlethingy Whatica presentation, having yet more people saying hello (I had the custom shirt on) and finding out I was one number away from winning a Heroes autograph card (Clair) and one number away from the "right to buy" raffle on the Artbox stand.

Second off, "don't try to do it all"  First you need to make a list from the web site as to what events and meetings you want to go to. You then look at all those that clash and flip a coin. You then get your events schedule when you regester and see all the extra bits that wasn't on the site and chaos ensues. I got to see Bionic Woman and Heroes (no info for the new season but Kevin Smith is directing one of the six filler episodes) but couldn't get in to see the new Superman animated feature, "Doomsday". I got there at 7.45pm for an 8.30 start. Not only was the hall full but the queue for the 10.30pm showing had reached capacity as well 
The trading card meeting was very poorly attended - about 30 people including two reps from Sony who had heard that the card market was in decline and a voice artist who wanted to know what trading cards were but soon lost interest and left. The meeting was held and organised by the publisher of Non-Sport Update, Roxanne Toser. The biggest anomaly of this meeting was that although Inkworks, Topps, Upper Deck and Artbox had stands at the show, none attended but Rittenhouse, in the form of Steve Charendoff, who didn't have a stand, did. Being the shy and retiring type that I am, I only had one question/statement about multi-case incentives and how I hate them (for being out of the reach of mere mortal's pockets) and if the product is good enough, the dealers wouldn't need incentives to take extras.

All in all, I wouldn't have missed this for the world. Met nice people who were gracious enough to let me be in their company, mixed with thousands of like-minded geeks and generally felt like a 10 year-old in Santa's factory.

Everyone should go once. Ride of a lifetime 

[Error401]

Hi Bogleg

Glad you got back ok, and are recovering,

Nice chatting to you in the line at Inkworks for autographs (Can't remember which auto for the life of me!!)

First Year is always tough,    Shin Pads are Steel Toe Caps are recommended.!

This was our 10th Year at the show and it doesnt get any easier.  (Maybe its me getting older).

Hope you will be back next year and encourage more to attend,  its great to see the Brit contingent increase each year

You will have to join the "Do San Diego On a Budget Club",  We have several Members now, who come over with us and stay a outside the city and save on Hotels Share cars etc

This Year we stayed in Carlsbad 30 Mins North of the Show, in a nice hotel suites with Full Kitchen etc at $50 US a night (Lot cheaper than near the show, even cheaper if you share), we have sort of refined cost cutting over the years (using Frequent Flyer Miles to fly Free to the show etc). We took Paul Hart & John The Hat from Cardtalk this year and travelled as a group (We are encouring San Diego On a Budget!!!) 


Cheers

Richard & Vicky
(501 Cards)

[Sharon]

Well Boggy's huge box of goodies has arrived  .  It actually arrived on Tuesday but we have been having problems with the internet, otherwise I would have been shouting about my tote bag much sooner 

It is so much nicer than I was expecting.  It is a huge, cream, canvas zip up bag and I can now see why Kelly struggled carrying it - it is really heavy.  I had a tote bag extra  .  Graham had bought a David Tennant show special and put it in the bag and swapped the retail box for a hobby box - and that was the best bit.  I got better cards in the two boxes of OotP than I did in my whole case.  Well I had to get lucky sometime.  I got a really lovely Owl prop and, wait for it, I got a Daniel Radcliffe redemptions .  I am lucky enough to have a Ron from a previous set but this is my first single Harry.  I also got a beautiful 3d OotP binder.  This is very similar to the World of HP binder and to be honest I didn't know it even existed.

Have I changed my mind about the goodie bags from San Diego?  No, I still think they are grossly unfair to the majority of card collectors but I am incredibly grateful to my big brother for getting this one for me 

[Bryanjs14]

Horray Sharon!
Graham told me about your horrid luck with Potter boxes so far so it is really nice to hear you pulled a Radcliffe! Congrats!

[Kelly]

Great news!!!  I'm so glad that you finally got something really good.   

[Nienna]

YAY!!! Great stuff Sharon!! 
Mind you, that box of goodies had to be one of the most expensive seeing as Boggy flew to SD and bought it at the show!
Hey ho whatever - I'm thrilled to bits for you Sharon ... time to send it in to be redeemed ... 

[wolfie]

Massive congrats on the Radcliffe Sharon.   

[Kelly]

YAY!!! Great stuff Sharon!! 
Mind you, that box of goodies had to be one of the most expensive seeing as Boggy flew to SD and bought it at the show!
Hey ho whatever - I'm thrilled to bits for you Sharon ... time to send it in to be redeemed ... 

Nah, you can't look at it that way.  All the $ Graham spent in SD was for his own entertainment and con-going pleasure.  Sharons box was FREE! 

[Nienna]

YAY!!! Great stuff Sharon!! 
Mind you, that box of goodies had to be one of the most expensive seeing as Boggy flew to SD and bought it at the show!
Hey ho whatever - I'm thrilled to bits for you Sharon ... time to send it in to be redeemed ... 

Nah, you can't look at it that way.  All the $ Graham spent in SD was for his own entertainment and con-going pleasure.  Sharons box was FREE! 

Course!! Silly me!! 
I'm sure the Harry auto is all the sweeter because Graham got the goodies for her!