Comic-Con gears up for third test run of new online ticket sales system

Let’s try this again: In a third attempt, Comic-Con tickets are going on sale again Wednesday at 8 a.m. And the process sounds even more complicated than before.

Organizers are calling it a “live test” and will only be releasing 1,000 of the four-day badges without Preview Night, requiring hopefuls to go through two separate sites. Last month, as hordes of fanboys and girls swarmed the registration site, sales froze and tempers rose –- twice.

After both aborted efforts, Comic-Con International apologized profusely and promised to look into better methods for supporting the hundreds of thousands of people expected to angle for tickets.

This time, instead of relying solely on registration company EPIC, organizers are also bringing in ticket seller TicketLeap. EPIC will send out unique registration log-in codes and process payment after TicketLeap manages the initial badge requests.

That means potential Comic-Con attendees will have to visit two separate sites. If it sounds convoluted, that’s why organizers are trying it out first with a relatively small number of tickets.

Here’s the rundown. At 8 a.m. Wednesday, ticket seekers can go to Comic-con.org to get a TicketLeap registration link. The four-day badges will cost $105 for adults and $52 for youth and seniors, with a $1 deposit and $2 service charge –- both nonrefundable -– paid to TicketLeap. Each buyer is limited to two badges.

TicketLeap will then send a confirmation e-mail, followed by an e-mail from EPIC through registration@epicreg.com. The EPIC e-mail will have a unique log-in code and additional payment instructions –- and a 24-hour time frame in which the tickets must be purchased through the EPIC site.

Buyers who make it all the way to the end will get a $3 credit per badge from EPIC. Presumably, the test run will help Comic-Con organizers figure out a date for full registration.

They explain the entire ordeal here, with a note tacked on the end: “We understand the inconvenience this process has been, but we thank you sincerely for bearing with us and taking part in this test which we hope will mean a better registration experience for everyone.”

Here’s hoping third time’s the charm.