While most folks were busy scavenging pics and making posts, I was at work...It is 4:25 AM now and I am able to make this post...If you scroll ALL the way down you'll find links to my previous Swap Force posts with General Info and a Character List.
Here is what you need to know from today's annoucement:
1. Skylanders Swap Force Starer Packs are now up for pre-order
2. You will probably want to pre-order as the bonus is LightCore Hex
3. The Starter Packs start at $74.99 plus tax
4. The Release Date is Sunday, October 13th, 2013
5. Swap Force Characters will be priced like Giants at $14.99
6. Core Characters (ie SSA, S2 etc) will be priced at $9.99
7. The 3DS Starter Pack will once again consist of "different" characters
8. No, we do not know if LC Hex will be available outside of this pre-order bonus
9. Console Starter Packs have Wash Buckler, Blast Zone, and Ninja Stealth Elf
10. 3DS Starter Packs have: SF, SF, and Volcanic Eruptor
That pretty much covers the basics and for those of you who don't like to read much etc, you can stop now. However, if you want to know as much as possible...read on my friends!
Regional Release Dates
The release date of Sunday, October 13th, 2013 listed above is for the US.
Australia will see the game hit on Wednesday, October 16th, 2013.
Europe will see the game drop on Friday, October 18th, 2013.
Starter Pack Contents and Characters
All Starter Packs will include: Portal of Power, Two Swap Force Skylanders, a Returning Skylander, Collector Cards, Magic Sticker Sheet, and Character Poster. Please note that there are now "Portal Owner's Packs" etc. The SF Characters will require the new portal, so it is a Stater Pack only approach this time...As I've mentioned, I feel that is a better value.
Now let's elaborate on that:
Console (Wii, Wii U, PS, and Xbox): Wash Buckler, Blast Zone, and Ninja Stealth Elf
3DS: Unknown SF, Unknown SF, Volcanic Eruptor
Developer Information
Vicarious Visions: Wii U, 360, PS3, PS4, Xbox One
Beenox: Wii
n-Space: 3DS
Pre-Order Bonus: LightCore Hex
This is both a pleasant surprise and a bit worrisome. If you Pre-Order Swap Force you will get LightCore Hex. Most places I have checked will have her on hand at pick up, or give you a code etc to get her shipped (Amazon).
While some may place the pre-order and call it good with a weight lifted off their shoulders, other fans have a different reaction.
Does this mean that the ONLY way to get LC Hex is via pre-order of Swap Force? Will she come out at all prior to SF? If not, will she come out after SF for regular purchase? Is she really going to be limited and rare?
The underlying and less thought of issue comes from folks like myself. Sure I will pre-order the game soon and secure her, BUT what about Giants? Remember last year when a few days prior to launch Walmart dropped the bomb shell of having the GITD Starter Pack? Similarly, some stores might have a "Free Adventure Pack" or "Free Swap Force" character promotion going...If you lock in now to presumably land LC Hex will you be screwing yourself out of a better deal? It is the UNKNOWN that is killer for hardcore fans.
Swap Force Roster Breakdown:
-16 Swap Force Characters
-16 New Skylanders
-16 Returning Skylanders
-8 LightCore Skylanders
Conclusion
This was expected information (ie the pre-order), BUT I didn't anticipate it until AFTER E3. This reveals 2 new Swap Force Characters (currently don't know their names) and the structure that our "returning" S3 Skylanders will be given adjectives ahead of their names (ie Volcanic Eruptor, Ninja Stealth Elf etc).
I have to say, the 3DS Starter Pack Swap Force Characters look VERY COOL!!
As a bonus, here are some pictures:
3DS Starter Pack:
The Snake Looks Killer!
Wii Starter Pack
Wii U Starter Pack
PS3 Starter Pack
Xbox Starter Pack:
Ninja Stealth Elf:
Wash Buckler:
Blast Zone:
LightCore Hex: Mysterious and Devious
Skylanders Swap Force Information: http://1ofwiisdom.blogspot.com/2013/02/skylanders-swap-force-information.html
Skylanders Swap Force Character List: http://1ofwiisdom.blogspot.com/2013/02/skylanders-swap-force-character-list.html
This is shaping up to look like the best Skylanders entry yet! I can't wait to learn more at E3!!
i aM HAPPY ABOUT GETTING ADJECTIVES INSTEAD OF S3 BECAUSE IT MEANS WE COULD SEE THE RETURN OF SOME CASTAWAYS FOR EXAMPLE EXPLOSIVE BOOMER I AM DEFINATELY PREORDERING THE 3DS AND WII U STARTER PACKS BECAUSE EB GAMES IS NO LONGER LETTING ME PREORDER CHARACTERS BUT I CAN PREORDER THE GAME ITSELF SO I CAN PREORDER 6 CHARACTERS BY THAT METHOD AND BEFORE THEY STOPPED GIVING OUT PREORDERS I PREORDERED FREEZE BLADE AND NIGHT SHIFT
ReplyDeleteNo worries on the caps...stuff happens. That is the route I plan to take Wii U and 3DS (unless I learn something great about Wii's Beenox version). Did EB have any "unknown" SF's you ordered?
Deletesorry caps was accidental
ReplyDeleteBtw the magic is a swap one and the snake is earth swap and eagle is air swap btw, i know magic one cause there was a concept art showing where he split.
ReplyDelete-hyperwizard808, i dont play skylanders for most of the year, but when i do i need your wiisdom
This means we know of a swap force from each element and we will most likely get a swap force character of every element by the second wave
ReplyDeleteI just looked closer at the cards shown and the snake is actually an undead character
ReplyDeleteYep...I honestly thought it was a new color on the textured Earth Base, and then I saw what looked like the Skull and thought Undead...card color seals it.
DeleteIt just makes sense, initially, for the Rattler to be "Earth." I had already pegged him as my favorite of the shown characters! But with the backstory we might get the feel for the Undead designation.
i have just found out about a new life swap force character look at the pictures on this site http://www.darkspyro.net/swapforce/
ReplyDeleteYeah I have seen that but the images are all real grainy...it almost looks like a cross between Zook and Stump Smash?!
DeleteI have a question. I know that the Wii and 3DS versions of the new Skylanders SF game have different game companies, instead of Vicarious Visions. I watched a video that said that the new skylanders game was working with V V to create better graphics, but Wii didn't work with V V. Im wondering If I should still buy the game on the wii. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI wondered about the Beenox Wii version in general...If it is on hand I'll try to scout the graphics and gameplay of various versions...That has been a popular question.
DeleteAn undead snake? I wasn't thinking undead at all! Since when were undead characters ORANGE?! And secondly, why is Eruptor here in the 3ds starter pack? That Skylander irritated me ever since SSA!
ReplyDeleteI hope, although it is unlikely, that they change the attacks of the S3 characters. It is boring when there is no surprises in upgrading until you spend a BUNCH on one special move.
Also, isn't it irritating that Volcanic Eruptor's trading card in the picture is covering the names of the ??? Swap Force characters' names on the trading card. Why Eruptor?
Oh, since you have an iPad, get Skylanders Lost Island for free! And when you get it, if you don't mind, can you post up stuff if you get a Limited Edition Skylander. You will see what I mean when you get it.