Asmus 1/6th scale Haldir early tease

[superdoug]

Yep, that makes sense now.

I feel bad, I never got to say goodbye to Dave.

Same here. I had no clue until the Asmus posting issues.

 

[superdoug]

Did this same group buy OSW?

Hmmmm. I wonder how many forums this is affecting and if the manufacturers don’t want to pay how will I get my news if I don’t want to go on social media. . .

 

[Asta]

Did this same group buy OSW?

OSW is owned by Vertical Scope, who allegedly own 1200+ forums.

I've done some digging in the past, and a little more just now.

In 2014 Group Builder was apparently acquired by Carbon Media, a marketing company who buys online communities "for their consumer data. Targeted advertising is the market".

Carbon Media in turn is owned by Vertical Scope: "We've focused on communities that all have one thing in common: highly active consumers. Members of our communities are passionate about sharing their interests with like-minded individuals and those whose identities are similarly shaped by the things they love. We focus on hyper-specific subjects that engender strong affinity from online communities of super fans."

Torstar (the Toronto Star newspaper) acquired a 56% share in Vertical Media in 2015.

 

[Galacticat]

Wow that is crazy and short sighted. The designers and major manufacturers are a big BIG draw, and Asmus seems to communicate/share more than most. Seems crazy to me to limit their ability to post photos of the products many of us are here to discuss in the first place...

I'm sure the forum is plenty profitable anyway. There are a LOT of members and a really large percentage of them pay. The forum is also pretty relentless in nagging new members to pay up.

 

[FlyAndFight]

I was aware that Dave was no longer involved with the forum but surprised that he has ended up with EXO-6. I truly hope it goes well for him.

As for manufacturers having to pay a fee in order to post, I can understand it, as I see it just as another way of controlling advertising. What company would pay for a banner when they can just post in threads? The risk for the forum is that they may be losing a big selling point or enticement for newer memberships when they alienate the manufacturers participation in the forum.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I'm sure there will be more monetization in the future. It's only just begun.

I wonder if the recent "breach" was in actuality Group Builder selling our personal data, then asking us to make new passwords, so they can resell the same info in another year or two?

 

[Wor-Gar]

Torstar (the Toronto Star newspaper) acquired a 56% share in Vertical Media in 2015.

Weird to think we are controlled by a newspaper... in Canada.

Soon... only TorStar approved figures will be allowed to be discussed and posted.

 

[Asta]

Weird to think we are controlled by a newspaper... in Canada.I

There's a Canadian legalised cannabis business in the mix too.

Soon... only TorStar approved figures will be allowed to be discussed and posted.

They don't care about that, only the number of views a site has to satisfy the advertisers. If you don't have an account, and browse the forum as a guest, the ads apparently pop up everywhere according to complaints from members who didn't know they could switch them off.

The trade off for having a functioning forum is that it's purpose is purely to make money. While it was broken under Dave he at least had a personal interest in the subject matter.

My enthusiasm for this place fluctuates between zero and less than zero.

 

[hoodonit00]

There's a Canadian legalised cannabis business in the mix too.



They don't care about that, only the number of views a site has to satisfy the advertisers. If you don't have an account, and browse the forum as a guest, the ads apparently pop up everywhere according to complaints from members who didn't know they could switch them off.

The trade off for having a functioning forum is that it's purpose is purely to make money. While it was broken under Dave he at least had a personal interest in the subject matter.

My enthusiasm for this place fluctuates between zero and less than zero.

Have to admit this is rather disheartening news

 

[superdoug]

Oy. Well it makes sense in a sad way. Forums cost money to run and maintain and that makes it harder to own and run on an individual level and if there is money to be made it makes sense that these groups would see it as worth it when you bundle a lot of them into a portfolio. I am guessing that pretty much every forum I visit has had this happen to it. I know they all used to be owned by individuals but like here it’s been years

 

[asgardianboy]

Darklord Dave sold the forum and is working for nanjin's EXO-6 now.

Any idea in what facility did he join EXO6? Is he an artist, or a 1/6 expert?

 

[Asta]

Any idea in what facility did he join EXO6? Is he an artist, or a 1/6 expert?

He's Director, Licensing & Business Development (as of 16th February 2020).

 

[RandomHero]

Alright so I tried to let this discussion play out since it was clearly beneficial to many here - but now that there's been no new posts in 24 hours, I just want to reiterate how damn excited I am for this figure. I know to many Haldir is an inconsequential character, but one of the changes from the book to the film that I truly enjoy is the elves coming to fight at Helm's Deep. It added so much weight to the moment because now you had a legitimate army here to help the handful of real soldiers propping up the farmers and blacksmiths who took up arms in the book.

I think I was passionate about Star Wars while I was still in diapers, but seeing Helm's Deep as a 14 year old in the theater really shaped my interests for the next 20 years of my life.

As far as the figure, I really feel Asmus needs to hit a home run with the sculpt and not cut any corners. They can do it outside of the crown series, we just saw an incredible Ian Holm Bilbo release. With the armor and weapons, a top notch sculpt can really make this figure stand out in a display, and really call back the memories to what I still believe to be the greatest battle ever filmed for our screens.

I hope to see more soon, and I truly hope people will support the release if it turns out to be great.

 

[greygoose]

Most collectors encourage companies to communicate with their customers... but here they can only do so if they pay up?

I understand its the rules -- but I don't have to like it.

All about the money. Just look at the gift option under each post.

 

[Wor-Gar]

All about the money. Just look at the gift option under each post.

I didn't even notice that. What is that for?

 

[greygoose]

I didn't even notice that. What is that for?

Sign up for premium membership or send a gift donation.

 

[Gipetto0812]

very interesting news in this thread! Thanks @Asta for providing so much insight

This definitely seems like an easy way for Asmus to "get out" of the forum without being accused of just disappearing, ghosting and not answering ppls questions It sucks but given the amount of backlash they get on this forum (more often than not I would say), it's probably better for them, or at least the individual's mental state who was providing the communication here.

 

[DioramaMaker]

I don't much care who our corporate overlords are as long as the site keeps going. All things considered, the citizens here are about the most "normal" of the hobby I've seen across sites and it's pretty casual to engage with one another. Not too clueless, not a bunch of gatekeeper basement dwellers.

That being said, I feel like it's an odd line to draw in the sand if a company can't post a photo of an item that's not even real yet. It's not like they're actively soliciting the item, posting sales links, or even alluding to purchases.

More than ever there's a divide between customers and companies in our hobby and I think it's important we somehow continue to facilitate that interaction. Lord knows Asmus has taken quite the heat from us, and while some of their decisions have been less than genuine, they have always come here to engage with us and what we want. Heck the fact this thread exists is a testament to the fact that they engage with us. Without means to have us give some feedback I think the inevitable item will suffer.

I think the definition between solicitation and sharing is pretty broad, and in all of Asmus' history I don't see them really pushing product so much as interacting.

And honestly, I don't think whoever runs this site is going to give two ***** about a random post of a 3D render, or a prototype on sparse occasion. I guarantee you no conglomerate is combing threads on a 1/6 forum for a "semblance" of solicitation.

Aside, not shots at Asta. He's just doing the job. Just thoughts on the situation.

 

[ObiGlennKenobi]

I don't much care who our corporate overlords are as long as the site keeps going. All things considered, the citizens here are about the most "normal" of the hobby I've seen across sites and it's pretty casual to engage with one another. Not too clueless, not a bunch of gatekeeper basement dwellers.

That being said, I feel like it's an odd line to draw in the sand if a company can't post a photo of an item that's not even real yet. It's not like they're actively soliciting the item, posting sales links, or even alluding to purchases.

More than ever there's a divide between customers and companies in our hobby and I think it's important we somehow continue to facilitate that interaction. Lord knows Asmus has taken quite the heat from us, and while some of their decisions have been less than genuine, they have always come here to engage with us and what we want. Heck the fact this thread exists is a testament to the fact that they engage with us. Without means to have us give some feedback I think the inevitable item will suffer.

I think the definition between solicitation and sharing is pretty broad, and in all of Asmus' history I don't see them really pushing product so much as interacting.

And honestly, I don't think whoever runs this site is going to give two ***** about a random post of a 3D render, or a prototype on sparse occasion. I guarantee you no conglomerate is combing threads on a 1/6 forum for a "semblance" of solicitation.

Aside, not shots at Asta. He's just doing the job. Just thoughts on the situation.

I totally agree,hence starting a Haldir thread.
Seeing renders and giving feedback to a Company on their products is just that,and nothing more

 

[Getter Dragon]

I never expected to read about the behind-the-scenes of this forum and the new ownership in a thread about a new Lord of the Rings doll. LOL!

With Darklord gone, are popcorn gifs back on the menu?