RPGs in Target!

[ExploderWizard]

Eh. If I'm going to pay retail and NYS sales tax, I'd rather go to my FLGS.

I will be doing the same. For those areas that don't have a FLGS anywhere nearby this will be a great help though.

Also, think about the amount of traffic in these kinds of stores. Someone who has never tried rpgs (and wouldn't know what a FLGS was even if it were just down the street) might see the red box in the toy section and decide to check it out.

 

[Sunseeker]

This is actually going to be a bad thing. Many Targets are staffed by nerds like us, maybe only one or two, and they use their employee discount to buy entire stocks of these on the cheap, and then resell them on Ebay or other websites.

It's what my Target never has MTG stuff in stock, the manager buys it all and resells it.

 

[El Mahdi]

ooooohhh... Now all we need is another D&D = satanism scare, and we'll be back in business!

I hear voices coming from my books...

They said Zuul!

 

[IronWolf]

So... Saw a rumor in the twittersphere that the new Red Box will be sold in Target. In the actual store too not just online.

Hopefully this proves valid!

ooooohhh... Now all we need is another D&D = satanism scare, and we'll be back in business!

So true!

I will be doing the same. For those areas that don't have a FLGS anywhere nearby this will be a great help though.

Also, think about the amount of traffic in these kinds of stores. Someone who has never tried rpgs (and wouldn't know what a FLGS was even if it were just down the street) might see the red box in the toy section and decide to check it out.

Yeah, that's the appeal - it will be in front of people that have never tried an RPG, much less set foot in a FLGS. Getting it into a store like Target would definitely lower yet another barrier to entry to the world of RPGs.

 

[Uder]

Hope it works for them. Wizkids got their games into Target/Toys-R-Us/Wal-Mart and it didn't help a whit. Maybe if they put it near the pharmacy they can get nostalgic ex-gamers to buy it.

Scribble's right about the satanism angle. Kids need to be told they can't have it before they'll want it.

 

[Scribble]

I will be doing the same. For those areas that don't have a FLGS anywhere nearby this will be a great help though.

Also, think about the amount of traffic in these kinds of stores. Someone who has never tried rpgs (and wouldn't know what a FLGS was even if it were just down the street) might see the red box in the toy section and decide to check it out.

Not just the amount of traffic, but think about people who used to play D&D but don't anymore- who might not have even really thought about it in a while. If asked they'd remember it as a game they played when they were a kid/teenager, and probably how much fun they had but they don't really ever thinki about it anymore.

They haven't been to a FLGS in a LOOOOONG time- but they're in Target looking for a gift for a younger person on their list this Holiday season. D&D isn't even really an idea in their head.

Suddenly they see that familiar Red Box looking back at them from the shelf... Remember how much fun they had with it as a kid... And the 20.00 price point?

Instant gift.

 

[Scribe Ineti]

This is actually going to be a bad thing. Many Targets are staffed by nerds like us, maybe only one or two, and they use their employee discount to buy entire stocks of these on the cheap, and then resell them on Ebay or other websites.

WOTC's still moving product in that situation. Even with your employee discount I bet WOTC is still making something over the wholesale price Target is paying.

Maybe if they put it near the pharmacy they can get nostalgic ex-gamers to buy it.

Nah, WOTC probably has the means to get Target to put the boxes on an end cap or at eye level in the toy section or books section. Put it at a kid's eye level, they see the fantasy cover, and then you'll hear the cries of "Moooom! Daad! Waaant!" or the like.

This is perfectly timed for the holidays, too. At $20 a box, there are going to be a lot of red boxes under holiday trees this fall.

 

[Asmor]

In addition I saw there will be commercials on Hulu.com

Indeed, I've seen advertisements for Dark Sun in quite a few geeky places all over the web. They're clearly targeting lapsed gamers with the tagline, "Just as brutal as the stories you still tell"

I'm quite impressed with the marketing, I think they hit the nail on the head.

 

[El Mahdi]

...This is perfectly timed for the holidays, too. At $20 a box, there are going to be a lot of red boxes under holiday trees this fall.

I'm hearing Slay bells...

 

[jaerdaph]

Based on recent Target press, I'm guessing we won't be seeing too many Martha Stewart Home Essentials sets with 4e Essentials or anything else on them at Target any time soon...



Mod Edit: Let's leave out the real-world political commentary, please. Thanks.