WOTC's release dates???????

Moderators: cataclysm80, hammr7, l0qii, Apocalypse2K, berkumps, dragsamou, mystical_tutor, pp

Post Reply
User avatar
mintcollector
Librarities Legend
Posts: 637
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 8:56 pm
Location: Village of Lakewood, IL
Contact:

WOTC's release dates???????

Post by mintcollector » Tue Apr 20, 2004 3:04 am

I noticed something that seemed inconsistent on WOTC's website.  The M:TG card lists can be found here:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ma ... /cardlists

The pre-release dates are mainly known as the date is stamped on the pre-release card.  What is odd though is WOTC is very inconsistent on what date they publish as the release date for spoilers/checklists.  Below is a information table on this exact fact.  Format of the table is:
Set Name
Pre-Release Date
Day of the week the pre-release date was on
Date WOTC has in spoiler/checklist as date released
Day of the week the WOTC release date was on
Number of days the WOTC date is in relation to the pre-release date

(I hope the table is readable as it may not fit very well in YaBB)
NOTE:  I question the Mirage pre-release date as this occured on a Sunday, as all pre-releases had Sat date's except for Portal III Three Kingdoms

Set.............PR Date.........DOW...WOTC Release Date...DOW
Darksteel.......24 Jan 2004.....Sat...N/A.................N/A
Mirrodin........20 Sep 2003.....Sat...N/A.................N/A
Eigth..........."26 Jul 2003"...Sat...July 28, 2003.......Mon...+2
Scourge.........17 May 2003.....Sat...May 17, 2003........Sat...+0
Legions.........25 Jan 2003.....Sat...Jan 31, 2003........Fri...+6
Onslaught.......28 Sep 2002.....Sat...Sep 27, 2002........Fri...-1
Judgement.......18 May 2002.....Sat...May 17, 2002........Fri...-1
Torment.........26 Jan 2002.....Sat...Feb 20, 2002........Wed...+34
Odyssey.........22 Sep 2001.....Sat...Sep 21, 2001........Fri...-1
Apocalypse......26 May 2001.....Sat...May 25, 2001........Fri...-1
Seventh.........N/A.............N/A...Apr 2, 2001.........Mon...N/A
Planeshift......27 Jan 2001.....Sat...Jan 26, 2001........Fri...-1
Invasion........23 Sep 2000.....Sat...Sep 25, 2000........Mon...+2
Prophecy........27 May 2000.....Sat...Jun 15, 2000........Thu...+19
Starter 2000....N/A.............N/A...Apr 24, 2000........Thu...N/A
Nemesis.........29 Jan 2000.....Sat...Feb 5, 2000.........Sat...+7
Mercadian Mas...25 Sep 1999.....Sat...Sep 25, 1999........Sat...+0
Starter 1999....N/A.............N/A...Jul 19, 1999........Mon...N/A
Portal III......July 4, 1999***.Sun...Jul 6, 1999.........Mon...+2 ***Secondary date of Apr 29, 1999
Classic (Sixth).N/A.............N/A...Jul 2, 1999.........Fri...N/A
Urza's Destiny..29 May 1999.....Sat...Jun 23, 1999........Wed...+25
Urza's Legacy...6 Feb 1999......Sat...Feb 15, 1999*.......Mon...+9 *re-released Jul 2, 1999
Urza's Saga.....26 Sep 1998.....Sat...Sep 28, 1998........Mon...+2
Unglued.........N/A.............N/A...Aug 7, 1998.........Fri...N/A
Portal II.......N/A.............N/A...Jun 24, 1998........Wed...N/A
Exodus..........6 Jun 1998......Sat...Jun 8, 1998.........Mon...+2
Stronghold......21 Feb 1998.....Sat...Feb 23, 1998........Mon...+2
Tempest.........4 Oct 1997......Sat...Oct 14, 1997........Tue...+10
Weatherlight....31 May 1997^....Sat...Jun 6, 1997.........Fri...+6 ^Used Ralph's date
Portal..........N/A.............N/A...May 1, 1997.........Thu...N/A
Fifth...........N/A.............N/A...Mar 24, 1997........Mon...N/A
Visions.........11 Jan 1997^....Sat...Feb 3 (1997)........Mon...+23 ^Used Ralph's date
Mirage..........22 Sep 1996^....Sun...Oct 8, 1996.........Tue...+16 ^Used Ralph's date
Alliances.......18 May 1996^....Sat...Jun 10, 1996........Mon...+23 ^Used Ralph's date
Homelands.......14 Oct 1995^....Sat...Nov 1995 ^Used Ralph's date
Chronicles......???**...........???...Sep 1995 **since this was a re-print set, no PR may have been held            
Ice Age.........3 Jun 1995^.....Sat...Jun 1995 ^Used Ralph's date    
Fourth..........N/A.............N/A...Apr 1995
Fallen Empires..N/A.............N/A...Nov 1994
The Dark........N/A.............N/A...Aug 1994
Legends.........N/A.............N/A...Jun 1994
Revised.........N/A.............N/A...Apr 1994
Antiquities.....N/A.............N/A...Mar 1994
Arabian Nights..N/A.............N/A...Dec 1993
Unlimited.......N/A.............N/A...Dec 1993
Beta............N/A.............N/A...Oct 1993
Alpha...........N/A.............N/A...Aug 1993

User avatar
Archivist
Librarities Legend
Posts: 213
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2003 6:22 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: WOTC's release dates???????

Post by Archivist » Tue Apr 20, 2004 5:21 am

I'm not sure if this is what you're stuck on, but the release date listed in the checklist is the release date of the checklist, not the set itself. Some older set checklists do have the set release on them, but modern ones do not.

Take this example:

Legions
Prerelease date(s): Jan 25-26, 2003
Prerelease DOW: Sat-Sun
Checklist release date: Jan 31, 2003
Set official release date: Feb 3 2003

In many cases, I do not trust the checklist release dates, because many times the list is actually posted on a different date. I'm sure many factors are involved with getting the checklist posted. Obviously, they don't post it before the prerelease. But I think in some cases a delay could be due to coordination internally, the date on the list is an indication of the last time it was updated/corrected.

You mentioned using the date stamp on the prerelease card, but be aware that there have been some mistakes with those.
Boxes: @TCGPlayer | Singles: @CardShark | Trades: @PucaTrade

User avatar
mintcollector
Librarities Legend
Posts: 637
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 8:56 pm
Location: Village of Lakewood, IL
Contact:

Re: WOTC's release dates???????

Post by mintcollector » Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:26 pm

I was unaware that those dates were when the list was posted.  I had always assumed this was when product was officially released or something to that affect.  I could not make sense of why dates were all over the board in relation to the pre-release date.  So the date in the list is basically useless then...hmmm.

silver.paladin
Librarities Legend
Posts: 370
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2003 10:59 pm
Location: Cowtown, Alberta, Canada

Re: WOTC's release dates???????

Post by silver.paladin » Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:16 am

 So the date in the list is basically useless then...hmmm.
This is sort of reminding me about some of WoTC/Hasbro decision making process   :D
Oct 30, away until further notice

User avatar
mintcollector
Librarities Legend
Posts: 637
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2003 8:56 pm
Location: Village of Lakewood, IL
Contact:

Re: WOTC's release dates???????

Post by mintcollector » Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:09 am

Does anyone have a rolling database for product release dates?  I know the standard of late has been pre-release Sat/Sun, followed by product release typically 1 week from the Monday after, but I know this always has not been the case.  For example, I recall a pre-release being bumped up a week earlier due to it falling on Mother's Day as an example.

User avatar
Archivist
Librarities Legend
Posts: 213
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2003 6:22 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: WOTC's release dates???????

Post by Archivist » Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:12 am

NOTE:  I question the Mirage pre-release date as this occured on a Sunday, as all pre-releases had Sat date's except for Portal III Three Kingdoms
Missed replying to this my first read... Yes, the Mirage prerelease was held on a Sunday (22 Sep 1996). This was because each site also hosted a Pro Tour Dallas qualifier the day before.
Boxes: @TCGPlayer | Singles: @CardShark | Trades: @PucaTrade

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests