Defiance Games - Alien Wars

[strewart]

I just discovered Defiance Games, a sci-fi game in the works. So far they just have their first marines up for preorder, but I have to say the models look pretty cool and the price is very good. I'll be interested to see a bit of the other factions when previewed.

http://defiancegames.com/index.php/s...roduct=7831674

[Pacorko]

I too received the mail last week, but as I could not access the preview pics I left it on stand-by.

Needless to say, I will be getting two boxes after I blowout all my Imperial and Chaos marines, I am sticking to what Xenos I have--as in all of the races! :P--and will use the fantastic Mercs rules for my games from now on.

Such a great time for plastic kits and gamers!

[Darsc Zacal]

Waiting to see photo's of the actual sprues. It looks promising, although I hope the folks behind Defiance have learned from their past mistakes as far as starting a new miniature company goes.

[Whitwort Stormbringer]

Huh, not bad-looking at all. It's hard to make a definitive call, but from the one painted mini they have previewed these guys look to be at least as good as the WGF vikings, and better than their other previous work. I don't play any systems that I could use them in right now, but I do like the look of the minis so I'll have to keep them in mind.

[GomezAddams]

See heres the thing...

The guys who've taken over wargames factory have been previewing, delivering, etc since the beginning. The models aren't fab but hey, I still think there doing well on a cost to product ratio.

Defiance though.. we've seen one painted trooper. The rest of the images we've seen so far are renders. Even the mold picture is a render.

So no. I won't be pre-ordering. It seems a pretty good deal but at this point, until I see pictures of some actual production frames I'll have a hard time believing anything actually exists...

[chromedog]

Waiting for Dwartist to put pics of a painted model up before I commit.

I have hopes, but like others, I have been burned before (not, in my case by the WF fiasco) and once bitten, twice shy of cliches.

[strewart]

I have to admit I think the renders look better than the painted model, but I am chalking that up to the paint scheme not being to my tastes. It certainly will be interesting to see some sprue photos.

[AlexHolker]

I believe the painted model might just be a proof of concept sculpt, as it was out well before we had word that the (digitally sculpted) moulds were close to completion.

Since I'm interested in the female marines and Valkyrie hardsuits, I'll have plenty of time to hear what DFG's facial sculpts and casting are like before they're available. I'm worried about the sculptor's ability to sculpt women though - Tony and I clearly have vastly different opinions of his Amazons.

[Ben]

I'll wait till things are literally getting shipped out the door before putting money down. The marines look nice, but the Bugs thing is basically a rip off of the Starship Troopers movie when they could have tried to do something more original.

[GomezAddams]

I'm actually really surprised at how little they've shown. They did a similar thing with the greatcoat troopers and other sets, and its always baffled me. Surely if you have the first few test runs in your hands (whether they be 3D prints or whatever) you'd want to show them off to the world.

[Gallahad]

Blast it all Gomez you caught me! Defiance Games are paying Shapeways to print fake molds, and then painting them up like steel! It is all part of nefarious plot that only you had the wit to realize! Hold on to your money dear sir, believe nothing and no one! /sarcasm

Seriously dude, believe what you want.

Old WGF did preview renders for feedback before they sent them to be tooled. This time around, they haven't previewed anything generally for feedback, but are using the renders as teasers. You act like you want them to release more previews:

I'm actually really surprised at how little they've shown. They did a similar thing with the greatcoat troopers and other sets, and its always baffled me. Surely if you have the first few test runs in your hands (whether they be 3D prints or whatever) you'd want to show them off to the world.

But then turn around and criticize them for releasing previews of renders and painted 3d prints. I've already explained that I saw the 3D prints, and since they were out of a clear resin it was difficult to see the details. You want to see a 3D print, look at the painted marine.

I am well aware of WGF's history, and not really inclined to hash it all out again here. All I ask is that when the Marines are released, you give them a shot.

However, I warn you, when people begin posting up reviews on their blog of the Marines, or posting sprue shots, or painted product. They don't actually have them in hand. They are just DFG agents, bent on outwitting you. The sprue photos that you see will actually just be made from some wire and putty, and then ingeniously photoshopped. After all, it is just a grand conspiracy.

[LonelyPath]

Those Marines really do look nice. They make me want to build up and paint some!

[GomezAddams]

What marines? We've only seen one actual marine...

It also says on there news section that beasts of war have a preview, but its more pictures of the renders.

[Ben]

So basically there is no evidence that the mould has been cut yet? Or any timescale to release?

[AlexHolker]

Or any timescale to release?

They say the week of January 16th, assuming they can't move the release up.

[Gallahad]

I honestly admire their verve at starting up another miniatures company. To go from unemployed to a new company releasing product worldwide within a year is pretty impressive.

I know Gomez will say "they haven't released anything yet" and if they never release anything, I will eat my proverbial hat. Otherwise, I hope everybody gives them an honest chance.

Despite others' doubts, I would be willing to bet that the Marines get released on time. (However, I do have access to more information than most) I've seen an actual physical test mold they cut of the Marines' M-46 rifle that looked really good, so they definitely have the capability to cut a mold. I also saw the prototype 3d prints (the ones that are now painted). They didn't show those off because they were a clear resin so it was difficult to see the details.

@Ben, I see no relation between the DFG Bug concept art and the Starship trooper bugs. Are we thinking of the same campy movie? I mean, I guess they both have four legs and two arms. But the similarity ends there for me. I'm curious what other similarities you see?

(I've seen renders of the bugs by the way and they look just like the concept art-in a word: awesome)

Feel free to discount my information as I know I have a low post count, but I mostly haunt the painting galleries, and since I don't play Warhammer or 40K, I rarely have any relevant input for most of the discussions around here. However, in this case, I felt I was able to add something to the conversation.

[Ben]

It's more the bug concept getting trotted out again. I'm not denying there's a gap in the market for plastic Starship Trooper style bugs since Mongoose stopped making them, but it would have been nice to see something genuinely new.

On the other hand Bugs have a proven track record of selling.

[GomezAddams]

I honestly admire their verve at starting up another miniatures company. To go from unemployed to a new company releasing product worldwide within a year is pretty impressive.

Are you aware of the whole WGF debarcle at all? Where they previewed renders of products they didn't have, sent test runs (possibly even prints) for review.
When they ran wargames factory it was clear they used pre-orders to pay for the molds, which in turn caused delays. 6mm robots anyone?

Despite others' doubts, I would be willing to bet that the Marines get released on time.

I'll be incredibly surprised if they do. However as there doing everything in house they can't use the old 'its stuck on the boat' excuse they used for every previous set. And what ever did happen to those 6mm robots anyway?

(However, I do have access to more information than most)

Oh really....

Those other bits you mentioned are fairly negliable. It doesn't prove that the molds been cut, only that they've paid shapeways for a print of a mold for a gun...

[GomezAddams]

I never said the molds were fake - shapeways can print in steel. Injection molding isn't massively difficult once you've got over the problem of having a mold in the first place.
I;d also like to point out here that if you look at the cad design for the full mold you can quite clearly see the rifle on it. Now whether this piece is part of the larger mold I don't know but I seriously doubt it. Its probably been done as a means of generating capital.

This time around, they haven't previewed anything generally for feedback, but are using the renders as teasers. You act like you want them to release more previews
....
But then turn around and criticize them for releasing previews of renders and painted 3d prints.

Print. Single. We've seen physical copies of one trooper, and one half of a mold. And two (maybe 3) renders.

Look, I've looked at what they want to release and if it all works out, I'll be first in line to buy stacks of em. But when theres a history of not delivering on product and letting retailers down, is it so wrong to be cautious and actually see the physical product first?

All I ask is that when the Marines are released, you give them a shot.

And so far, they haven't actually been physically released, so I call shinnanigans (I believe is the correct American term).

However, I warn you, when people begin posting up reviews on their blog of the Marines, or posting sprue shots, or painted product. They don't actually have them in hand.

Well reviews will be a fair while coming, as the product doesn't exist yet.

I suppose they can always get beasts of war to do what they did last time and assemble a 3d print...

[Gallahad]

Look, I've looked at what they want to release and if it all works out, I'll be first in line to buy stacks of em. But when theres a history of not delivering on product and letting retailers down, is it so wrong to be cautious and actually see the physical product first?

Fair enough. Like I said, I am closer to the operation than most, so it is easier for me to believe that product will be released. When (or "if" should you prefer)they ship out product, we will both be getting stacks of their stuff.

They are working with a new manufacturer, so the test rifle mold was cut to make sure that the manufacturer indeed had the ability to do what they said they could before DFG pulled the trigger on cutting the first mold. It isn't part of the marine mold. The manufacturer also brought in some additional machines to handle the expected volume that DFG will generate, so once the ball gets rolling I expect several box sets in quick succession.

The new manufacturer is something like an hour away from Tony's house, so no ships and no oceans and no customs offices are involved in the supply chain this time.

My sense is that you will have sprue photos by late next week, but I'm not sure. Hopefully the sprue shots will give everybody some more concrete evidence that actual product will be shipping mid January.