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Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Discover the Force / Movie Heroes => Topic started by: Jeff on February 13, 2012, 04:31 PM

Title: 2012 Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jeff on February 13, 2012, 04:31 PM
Looking over the Toy Fair stuff again today...  what's the deal with Hasbro apparently announcing two new movie Battle Packs for the Fall?  Something about a new Naboo 3-pack and new Bespin 3-pack?  I haven't read too much on those, but I guess there must have been some mention of them at the collector event?
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scott on February 13, 2012, 04:39 PM
IIRC, the Naboo one is Maul/Kenobi/Jinn while the Bespin one is Vader/Fett/Luke...all with new figs
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jeff on February 13, 2012, 04:47 PM
So... after releasing the hell out of Maul, EVO Qui-Gon, and 2009 Kenobi in the Vintage, Walmart DTF, and Movie Hero lines this Spring, they're going to put out all-new versions of those three in a new Battle Pack this Fall?  Seriously?

And the Bespin pack?  Instead of a NEW Lando, Bespin Escape Leia, and Bespin Escape Chewie/3PO that everyone would happily grab, we get the tooling dollars wasted on another new Bespin Luke, Vader and Fett?  No wonder no one is talking about these battle packs...  :P
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 14, 2012, 02:34 AM
Looking over the Toy Fair stuff again today...  what's the deal with Hasbro apparently announcing two new movie Battle Packs for the Fall?  Something about a new Naboo 3-pack and new Bespin 3-pack?  I haven't read too much on those, but I guess there must have been some mention of them at the collector event?

I pretty much missed all this too...

I'm almost interested in how Boba could be improved, but somehow I doubt this'll be an improvement.  I also want to see what they're defining as "new" too.   :-\  I'm imagining Luke's going to be the Vinty figure with maybe a new, battle damaged upper torso.  That figure was made with what seems like a really pre-planned customizability to it.  I honestly thought we'd have seen those legs re-used for Dagobah Luke this year.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jeff on February 15, 2012, 11:22 AM
Spinning this off from the main Toy Fair thread...

I see that Walmart apparently has listings already for the two OT Movie Heroes Battle Packs mentioned at Toy Fair:

"Bespin Battle" (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Star-Wars-Battle-Packs-Bespin-Battle-Pack/19529545) (Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett and Darth Vader)
and
"Duel on Naboo" (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Star-Wars-Dewback-Figure-with-3D-Glasses/19529541) (Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul)

Again, I just don't get it.  More Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Maul, and Vader?  Really?  All the carded versions of those four planned for this year aren't enough?
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 15, 2012, 03:33 PM
Never in a movie year.

I'm into new figures if they're improved I guess...  They're just a little disappointing in choice, but I'm open to what they ultimately look like.  Like if Luke's a battle worn one, I kinda dig that.  Boba could be really cool... 

The price seems fair too, for now anyway.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on February 15, 2012, 04:32 PM
It seems BP's these days are all top tier characters so they make some sense from a marketing perspective. I am glad they have new tooling it better that outdated sculpts with nothing new for the collector. If these are killer sculpts as Galactic Hunter reports I am ok with this.

I am not too happy with the current EP1 Obi he can stand for a lot of improvements the articulation is too hindered. Qui-Gon is not as bad but really needs a new head sculpt and for sure a new Lightsaber, they better retire the 1999 one. I bet maul will have a new head and wait for it....a new left glove without the probe droid controller. They milked those tools like no tomorrow because these were coming.

I like the idea of a battle damaged Luke with some new tooling but Vader and Boba? The upcoming Vader with the ball jointed hips and a new hand is a nice upgrade but what more can you do with him. I am 100% happy with the current ESB Fett he is perfect. (Ball Jointed hips for him is not needed if that's what they had in mind.
I agree this could have been the perfect time to get a updated Lando. I get the need for Luke and Vader for a battles sake but Lando would have made sense since he dealt with Vader and save a battle damaged Luke from the weathervane...

These sound like they may be half decent, truth be told I miss the days of cool BP's that had new stuff. As JJ pointed out it at least justifies the price more.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: efranks on February 15, 2012, 04:50 PM
I was actually happy when Hasbro went to straight re-packs on Battle Packs.  I hated buying BPs for 1 new figure/character, especially when the rest didn't include army builders.  The first Ilum Padme set, for example.  Yes, it came with a new droid sculpt, but it also came with a C-3PO and R2 I had no use for.

I don't mind that the BPs are not for "us," the collectors, and I really can't understand why people got so pissed every time a new BP was announced and there was nothing new in it.  It's like some people wanted to have to spend $20+ on a set just for that one new figure.  Did everyone forget that quick that they used to bitch about the 1 new figure in a 5 pack that they "had to buy" only to be "stuck" with extra stuff they didn't want?

The BP sets make decent gifts, mostly, because they're usually main characters or, in the case of Clone Wars, quite often have some army builder draw to them.  But if it weren't for that, I wouldn't mind seeing Hasbro dump that assortment and diversify the Class I Fleet Vehicle line.  IMO, that's still their best assortment outside of the basic action figures, they're excellent toys and that's something that the SW line lacks sometimes.

Specifically with these two Battle Packs; I don't know what Hasbro's game is.  They have about 4 each (or more) of Obi/Qui/Maul figures available right now at multiple price points using multiple sculpts, mostly old.  I see no reason why they're doing this BP of them rather than carding them, except that it gives them time to make more money from the existing tooling before moving on later in the year. 

The Bespin set doesn't make much more sense to me either because we're getting a new ANH Vader, were shown an ROTJ Vader that'll be in the SDCC set and then retail and then an ESB version in the BP.  We have an excellent VC Bespin Luke that just came out, their second "vintage" stab at him already, and Fett?  I need another attempt at Fett like I need someone to come and kick me in the head.

I've been on the hunt lately to pare my collection down to the definitive version of each main Saga character and I think part of my hate on these packs is that there will be something that will be JUST a little better than what I have already and I'll feel compelled to buy these.  Everytime this happens I buy a little more into the conspiracy theories about Hasbro making figures not quite as good as they can just so they can do another version and make us buy.

   E...
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 15, 2012, 08:52 PM
Yeah I kinda was enjoying not caring about Battlepacks almost...  Something new forces me back into wanting that one thing for $20 and a bunch of stuff I don't care about.  I'm kinda hopeful they'll try to make most/all of what you're buying appealing.  The prices really would deter me from buying the set for that one figure.

It also is going to perpetuate theft...  It already has, but I think with realistic, it'll be even worse.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jabba the Slug on February 15, 2012, 10:48 PM
Wait - so these packs will have *NEW* figure sculpts? Am I reading that right?

I don't get it, we just got an all-new Maul sculpt in TVC. This is really weird. To top it off, I just read somewhere that Hasbro even said that these new sculpts are very good ones.

I guess time will tell. But it sucks that Hasbro didn't send the TF12 powerpoints.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Diddly on February 15, 2012, 11:56 PM
Ugh. We don't need new versions of any of those characters, although I'll admit that I'd gladly buy a set for a battle damaged Bespin Luke. :-[

If they really want to do sets with new sculpts, they should have done, say, Bespin Escape Leia and Cloud City Lando for Bespin Battle and maybe tossed in a VOTC Stormtrooper. Likewise for Duel on Naboo. NEW Theed Battle Padme, Panaka and maybe an SA Battle Droid or a new Nute Gunray. Make them Evolutions style with lots of accessories and I would be happy.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Matt R. on February 22, 2012, 12:57 AM
here the pics of the new battle pack

http://potf2.com/potj/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17088

they suck hardcore.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 22, 2012, 01:12 AM
Wow.

Those suck balls.  I really don't think there's anything remotely positive I can say about anything in either set.  Those are massive leaps backwards, and complete and utter wastes of tooling dollars. 

Those look to have 1995-ish levels of articulation and quality.

Battlepacks are now utterly worthless.

I say again, those suck balls.

EDIT: They look even worse upon a closer inspection, they're that bad.  I mean, just dismal.  You made Bespin Luke, why would you do this then?  The only remotely logical thing I can think of with this move on Hasbro's part, is an effort to make a more "sturdy" toy for younger kids...  These are just utter poop though, to me.  I'll quite happily not buy these, but if the basic line ever starts swinging this way, ugh. 

Hasbro took literally a decade to get quality in this line anywhere near to where their potential was, and since then things have been ok in that regard for the most part IMO.  This, wow...  This is a huge leap in the wrong direction.

I think this is even insulting to parents buying for their kids when better figures are hanging on pegs right above this stuff...  or go to friggin' Ebay and save yourself a load of money and buy figures that are every bit this level of quality ultimately, and a hell of a lot cheaper.  At the toy show you can get figures as good as this for like $2 each.  If the battlepack is $25, that $25 could net your kid a lot more than just 3 equally bad figures.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jabba the Slug on February 22, 2012, 01:44 AM
I have no words to describe how dismally horrible those sculpts are.

The Bespin pack... I have no words to describe those sculpts. Trash.

The Naboo pack... slightly more appealing only because of character choice. What in the hell is up with the hip articulation?

To think Hasbro actually said they were proud of the sculpts featured in these sets.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Dressel Rebel on February 22, 2012, 06:56 AM
There was no point in making these.  It's not like we're not already saturated with basically all of those figures.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scockery on February 22, 2012, 08:37 AM
If the vintage line goes away, there you have the future of Star Wars.

Ironic, considering those battle pack figures are closer to actual vintage Kenner toys than what's on vintage style cards now.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jayson on February 22, 2012, 09:28 AM
These feel very vintage-y to me. Call me crazy, but I like them. If more realistic styling/likenesses take precedent over articulation and price, I'm all for it.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scott on February 22, 2012, 09:29 AM
These fell very vintage-y to me. Call me crazy, but I like them. If more realistic styling/likenesses take precedent over articulation and price, I'm all for it.
AGreed...I saw Luke's hair and it screamed Vintage...I might get the Bespin one
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scockery on February 22, 2012, 09:44 AM
These fell very vintage-y to me. Call me crazy, but I like them. If more realistic styling/likenesses take precedent over articulation and price, I'm all for it.

Then the Emperor has already won...

(I had to say it.)
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jayson on February 22, 2012, 09:47 AM
These fell very vintage-y to me. Call me crazy, but I like them. If more realistic styling/likenesses take precedent over articulation and price, I'm all for it.

Then the Emperor has already won...

(I had to say it.)

Don't get me wrong if (doubtful) this is the future of SW figures at the current pricepoint, this is my jumping off point.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jeff on February 22, 2012, 10:22 AM
Those suck balls.

Yeah... pretty much.  Unless they have some sort of revolutionary hidden joints, they look like 5 POA 1995 classic figures.  Looking at the way the jedi legs look in the Naboo set, I think the folks saying "Kenner homage" are probably on to something. 

Like JJ said - giant step backwards IMHO.  Definite pass for me.  :(
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Phrubruh on February 22, 2012, 10:29 AM
These fell very vintage-y to me. Call me crazy, but I like them. If more realistic styling/likenesses take precedent over articulation and price, I'm all for it.

Your crazy.
 :P

There things are truely awful. They are nothing like vintage figures at all. This is worst then painting a strip on a clone and putting it in a clam shell for three times the price. We need to start a boycott on Hasbro stuff if this is what they are going to give us. Stupid Hasbro crap.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: ruiner on February 22, 2012, 11:02 AM
Remember when BP's were $20 and you got five figures?
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: iFett on February 22, 2012, 11:05 AM
Remember when BP's were $20 and you got five figures?

lies...all lies
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on February 22, 2012, 11:10 AM
I think Hasbro has been watching Mattel too closely with their Green Lantern and Batman lines. Their 1/18th stuff was just as putrid as these.

I echo the wasted tooling comments here, that's 6 figure tools flushed (Since these are simpler sculpts figure 3 as the tooling for these are not intense.)They should have just repacked the 1999 Obi, Qui and Maul, outside of the head sculpts they appear to have been better executed. If the new head sculpts are swappable that might be the only grace but then you are left with the bodies which cannot even be used for customs.
I would have loved a bloodied Luke and would have bought the set for him alone. And what the hell is up with the size of Bigga Fett? The one time I wanted repacks with slight mods and they churn this out.

I agree with the sense that they were truly going for a Vintage feel as an experiment with these....

Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Greg on February 22, 2012, 11:48 AM
These feel very vintage-y to me. Call me crazy, but I like them. If more realistic styling/likenesses take precedent over articulation and price, I'm all for it.

I guess I am a member of the crazy group, since I like these sets as well. The sculpts do look very good despite the sub-par articulation, and the figures are probably a great deal sturdier than their super articulated counterparts. The sets are not a bad deal for $20, and I'll definitely pick up both if I see them on sale.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: shmashwitdaclub on February 22, 2012, 11:51 AM
yuck.

This is the same thingy Hasbro is doing in the GI Joe line with the drivers packed in with the vehicles for the retaliation line

ultra-pass
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Adam_Pawlus on February 22, 2012, 11:54 AM
The Naboo pack... slightly more appealing only because of character choice. What in the hell is up with the hip articulation?

Oooh, someone's been reading my notes on hip articulation!  I hope they can actually sit and fit in vehicles.  These might be fun.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Phrubruh on February 22, 2012, 12:42 PM
Remember when BP's were $20 and you got five figures?

... or four figures and a Taun Taun!

(http://www.rebelscum.com/swsaga/sw03trubattlehothboxfrA.jpg)
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scockery on February 22, 2012, 01:33 PM
By modern prices that Hoth Battle set would be $50.

That Fett might look bigger than he really is because of 3 seperate images photoshopped together.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: iFett on February 22, 2012, 02:12 PM
Weren't those TRU sets like $25-$30 back in the day?  I don't remember, but it's TRU afterall.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 22, 2012, 02:36 PM
I see nothing remotely appealing about the sculpts...  Look at them.  Fett, QGJ, Vader...  They're all oversized/unrealistic.  That Fett truly harkens to his POTF2 counterpart.

Any parent wanting to spend $20 to $25 (last I looked BP's went up in price again, after they'd just gone down in price due to the dropping of one figure) on this crap can gladly come to me and I'll sell them POTF2 figures for the same price.  I'll even toss in a 4th one as incentive.  Hell, I'll toss in a 5th.

I know guys are saying "Vintage homage" here, but I think you're overthinking their goals here.  I think these are intended less as that, and more as "sturdy and more kid-friendly" than anything.  If they were truly vintage homages, like  arms/legs straight up and down and whatnot, I'd maybe almost be a little interested, but for maybe $4 each and not a dime more.

I'm not taking this news too hard since Battlepacks haven't been on MY radar for years now, but this is a little disconcerting.  No wonder Hasbro didn't want the Slideshow out though.  They knew collectors would want answers on these, and what this crap means for the future of the line.  I think collectors have a fair question there too and one Hasbro's maybe not willing to answer for fear of how big a drop off it may cause.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Diddly on February 22, 2012, 02:52 PM
LOL. Well that's at least $50 I can put towards something else.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scott on February 22, 2012, 02:53 PM
I know guys are saying "Vintage homage" here, but I think you're overthinking their goals here.  I think these are intended less as that, and more as "sturdy and more kid-friendly" than anything.  If they were truly vintage homages, like  arms/legs straight up and down and whatnot, I'd maybe almost be a little interested, but for maybe $4 each and not a dime more.

I'm not taking this news too hard since Battlepacks haven't been on MY radar for years now, but this is a little disconcerting.  No wonder Hasbro didn't want the Slideshow out though.  They knew collectors would want answers on these, and what this crap means for the future of the line.  I think collectors have a fair question there too and one Hasbro's maybe not willing to answer for fear of how big a drop off it may cause.

I really don't think this was their intention though.  I just thought that because of Luke's hair.  They could have painted Fett in vintage deco and done a vinyl cape on Vader and THEN it would be a vintage homage.  It is just crap and agreed with everyone else on the main complaints (waste of tooling dollar, step back in articulation, why not rerelease existing sculpts)

I'm also with you Jesse in that I really don't care about BPs.  I did pick up the Clone one in Wave 1 for my kids since they were all new paint apps.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 22, 2012, 03:19 PM
yeah the biggest punch in my gut was all the hype...  Hasbro said at TF that these were "the best sculpts ever"...  Seriously?  I see some guys on Scum's board are claiming these are great sculpts, but I'd like to see how they feel Bespin luke in that pack is superior to Vintage Bespin Luke?

Take articulation out of that equation even.  Just tell me how that, or any of the other figures, are better ya know?  The Vader looks fat, the Fett looks like he has a 1995/96 Fett torso it's so oddly bulky, Maul looks like he's maybe 1999 quality if he's lucky, Obi and Qui Gon look terrible (including their headsculpts...  I see nothing there better than the 1999 figures).  If the only positive thing to be said about them is they fit in vehicles better, well then there's that I guess.  There isn't anything else, but there's that I guess.

I see what you mean about the hair Scott and I was thinking the same thing about that...  That might (probably will?) change by production even.  And if they had done some weird hybrid vintage/modern figure (like I mentioned about the perfectly "straight" sculpt, but maybe updated, and have Vader's saber slide out of his arm, etc., and decoes more Vintage and subtle than detailed), it'd almost be more interesting to me.  As it stands now though, I really just view these as highly wasted tooling dollars.  I mean, Qui Gon and Obi-Wan and Maul should all be pretty easy to get again these Battlepacks come out to retail, and in various packaging between Movie Heroes and Vintage and Deluxe to boot...  Just seem like a huge waste to me.  Put out the 1999 figures again with cloth skirts, and you've got your Jedi that fit in vehicles, if that's what you want/need, plus you just saved money and the sculpts are on par with these in every way IMO.

Swing some of that wasted cash to the Clone Wars collectors you bum rushed this year then.  It's win win and plus you help a line that is also geared towards kids for the most part.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scott on February 22, 2012, 03:37 PM
Everything happening with the entire SW line seems like a colossal cluster**** right now.  Do they REALLY need to be rereleasing all of those Wave 3 and 7 figures this spring?  I mean I get Wedge and Gammy but the rest?  The carry forwards, the lack of any new vehicles, this crap, the lack of exclusives, the demise of the Clone Wars line, the quintuple releasing of figures (Mau, Obi and Qui) at the same time...ugh.  It is like they are trying to kill the line
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 22, 2012, 04:34 PM
I agree...  I think the RFT and Echo Trooper could stand to hit again, maybe Bastilla, but spread that **** out and drop some of the E1 figures you have friggin' duplicates of too...  I mean, afterall, if the Vintage line is the collector line then treat it as such.  Spread out any of the repacks to satiate demand though, don't just dump them all.  Even doing some multi-packs instead of re-releases might've made more sense too.

Right now though yeah, they're making the same mistakes they've made for other movie years this year.

I said before this line launched that how that movie does will be very telling of this line's future, and I think the movie has done worse than they anticipated.  They wanted to capture kids for at least half this year, and I thinnk they'll be lucky if they captured kids for 3 months.  It's a big toy/movie year with all the super heroes, GI Joe...  It's stiff competition.  Star Wars made what I thought was their minimum to consider it a good relaunch, no?  And from what I read thanks to a friend, their 2nd weekend didn't do so hot with a very significant drop-off.  Hasbro should be in some emergency thinking right now with some of this stuff.

There's Obi-Wan figures in Battlepacks, DTF packaging, Movie Heroes, Deluxe, and Vintage.  That's a problem right there.  And there's more to come too.  By Christmas TPM3D will be a distant memory.  Add in that Clone Wars has slipped in the ratings and that just piles onto everything.  I really think they need to consider scaling the entire Star Wars brand back some.  It's wearing out its welcome more each year.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Mister Skeezler on February 22, 2012, 05:10 PM
These are laughably bad.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: P-Siddy on February 22, 2012, 05:12 PM
Yeah, I was at TF and didn't realize the lack of articulation. I just noticed the Real Vintage look of Luke's hair and thought that it was a cool throwback... but how many Bespin Lukes do we need in the past, what, 5 years? And there hasn't been anything different about him.

As for carrying figures forward, why carry only TPM ones in wave 2? Why don't they spread the TPM ones out and put a Gammie, or RFT, or Wedge in Wave 2 instead of having a full wave of repacks?
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Darby on February 22, 2012, 07:23 PM
I agree with the general assessment on these.  A little confusing why they even invested the tooling, when less articulated and better versions exist of these figures.  Hasbro clearly has no issue re-packing old, out of date sculpts in this subline, so... the investment in the ESB figures is particularly curious.  Numerous better versions exist of these guys.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: DoctorPadawan on February 22, 2012, 08:01 PM
Everything happening with the entire SW line seems like a colossal cluster**** right now.  Do they REALLY need to be rereleasing all of those Wave 3 and 7 figures this spring?  I mean I get Wedge and Gammy but the rest?  The carry forwards, the lack of any new vehicles, this crap, the lack of exclusives, the demise of the Clone Wars line, the quintuple releasing of figures (Mau, Obi and Qui) at the same time...ugh.  It is like they are trying to kill the line

I can honestly say that I never saw a single case of Wave 7 at any store I went to last year, and I'm still without Bespin Han and Barriss because of that.  The only reason I have the other four from that wave is due to them reshipping in random "Revenge of the Jedi" cases two waves later.  I'm actually happy they're reshipping that wave, and that Wedge and Gammy are getting another go around (especially since the former was nonexistent seemingly everywhere).

But yeah, all the other decisions Hasbro's been making lately seem like deliberate attempts to kill the line.  It's like 1995 and 2002 got together and had a baby who looked like ****.

Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Brian on February 22, 2012, 08:51 PM
These are definitely a head scratcher.  If it is indeed from the "vintage throwback" angle, I guess I can appreciate that some.  In some cases, I can even understand the sturdier toy aspect.  It doesn't happen with all of the newer releases, but I will admit that some do feel fairly fragile (and that goes for many lines these days).  Thinking back to the vintage days, I don't think I ever had a SW figure break back then.

Anyways, not sure what to think of these.  I, like others, haven't really paid any attention to the battle packs for awhile now anyways, so they don't effect me much either way.  Plus, we already have what I would consider "ultimate" or near ultimate versions of all these characters already.  We've had situations similar to this before, but I don't understand why they don't just repack those versions (or even others) if they're going to release these characters anyways.  It is hard to tell really clearly, but the sculpts might be decent on these, but the articulation is obviously lacking.  If we had seen these in '95 I'm sure they would have looked great, but the line has just come so far since then.

It just seems strange that they would do this.  They have to know it would get collectors in a tizzy (especially after talking them up in the TF presentation), and they could have put out battle packs with the new Maul and the TVC Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan - all figures that were already made.  Same with the Bespin pack.  I think these become a little more concerning if it is a sort of "testing the waters" scenario.  I'm not saying it would happen, as I think they are abundantly clear that collectors want more articulation, etc. - but what if they wanted to switch the line over to figures like this?  It could be interesting.  I guess we have talked on the forums in the past about how they are getting closer to covering everything, perhaps this is a different direction they are thinking about.  Probably not the case, but like it was mentioned, the SW line has been a little weird lately so you never know.  If they were going that route, I think they'd have to drop the price considerably for these to sell at all as basic figures.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 22, 2012, 09:04 PM
As for carrying figures forward, why carry only TPM ones in wave 2? Why don't they spread the TPM ones out and put a Gammie, or RFT, or Wedge in Wave 2 instead of having a full wave of repacks?

This is a good point and what I was trying to say...  I'm not against figures from last year making it into this year, unless it's a white Clone or a clean Sandtrooper anyway.

But spread that **** out Hasbro!  WTF is your problem with that!?

2nd wave of figures in the Vinty collection starts shipping in 2012, and guess what?  Yeah, **** you collectors!  It's 5 new figures and 7 ones from the last wave!  No doubling up on the new ones, much less maybe mixing in one or two of the 2011 figures that were tough to find.  Like, say, for instance, mix that Wedge in NOW.  And an Echo Base Rebel (which they refused to carry over anyway.  If I were a betting man I'd bet he's one of the rarest Vintage figures ever).

Next wave, mix in Fleet Trooper and Gammie.  Wave after that mix in Bespin Han and Barris Offee... 

And yeah, keep carrying stuff like Maul over, and some TPM stuff since you've got such a big bet on that being profitable, but don't make EVERYTHING you rehash in a wave something from Vintage Wave 10 this year.  Be a little less selfish with your case packs.  It'd do retail, and e-tail, a favor.

I know we're getting away from these ****** battlepacks, but these are all in the realm of logical steps that don't seem to be taken.

Back to the battlepacks though, this makes me all the more glad my only character focuses are on things so obscure they don't get much attention in general. 

I can't wait to start my "Bossk's Bungalo" website.  It'll be a very new concept.  And I already own my 6 POA Bossk figure and doubt Hasbro squats out another similar deuce for me to feel compelled to own.  ::)
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Darth_Anton on February 23, 2012, 09:44 AM
Wow, what a weird step. I was happy with not buying battlepacks anymore because of re-packing. Now they make 'em with newly sculpted inferior figures? I sometimes tend to think that they're trying to tap into a specific market like me who will avoid straight up re-packs, but will pick something up because it's "new."
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Qui-Gon Jim on February 23, 2012, 12:03 PM

I said before this line launched that how that movie does will be very telling of this line's future, and I think the movie has done worse than they anticipated.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I think TPM3D did pretty much what they projected it would.  The BD is already planned for spring, so it doesn't sound like they expected this to sit in theaters for months and months...
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Brian on February 24, 2012, 02:26 PM
I was looking at these pics again today - and if they kept them to a place like Battle Packs or even the Movie Heroes (or whatever it is called in the future) type line, I don't know if I'd mind it as much.  If they did though, there is two things I'd like to see done - if they are limiting articulation so much, make the sculpts/paint/etc. absolutely perfect - as good as it can be.  Then, lower the price.  If they are going to give us '95 (or even '78) style articulation, then get the prices more in line with that time period too.  I realize the issue of inflation and all that, but $6 (or less) would be nice.  They would obviously stick more to the main characters/army builders, and we pretty much have "ultimate" versions of those already anyways.  And, if we did see new "ultimate" versions, stick those in the collector line (TVC or whatever it might be).

From a certain standpoint, I can see wanting sturdy toys that can stand and interact with vehicles - particularly for kids - and I think as long as they still offered the collector-quality figures in that line, it would be alright.  That said, I do agree with Jesse and others who have said that the SW brand could stand a scaling back.  Personally, I'd be happy with one line (at least eventually), but I do sort of understand why they go with as many as possible to get more retail space.  Kind of a weird time for the SW line right now.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on February 24, 2012, 06:02 PM

I said before this line launched that how that movie does will be very telling of this line's future, and I think the movie has done worse than they anticipated.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I think TPM3D did pretty much what they projected it would.  The BD is already planned for spring, so it doesn't sound like they expected this to sit in theaters for months and months...

I thought I'd read something about the 20 million-ish mark being less what they projected and more their minimum projection to continue with the 3-D releases?  that could've just been a rumor or made up though, but I've been going by that... 

It made that, but kind of barely, so if that was true and their minimum, that's not entirely positive news.  That was my point there was all.  It could be total bunk too, I just heard that at some point prior to the release.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on March 1, 2012, 11:07 PM
To Hasbro's credit...  the heads on Obi and QGJ look ok.  But the rest of it?  That blows.

Is that "these are great sculpts!" lline a way for them to try and get collectors to buy what is otherwise an utter pile of **** in a box for an absurdly high price?  To get the head so you can stick it on the single figure you ALREADY overpaid for?

Shouldn't that first friggin' figure have the perfect sculpt?  Ya know, cause it cost so much and stuff?

Isn't that a tad insulting?

(http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/2012Battlepackpic01.jpg)

(http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/2012Battlepackpic02.jpg)
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jabba the Slug on March 2, 2012, 12:05 AM
What I find insulting is that Hasbro flat-out said that these were the best sculpts ever for these characters... Really now?
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Phrubruh on March 2, 2012, 12:30 AM
See what happens when the jr sculpter gets promoted.

These blow. :-X
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on March 2, 2012, 01:07 AM
To be fair, I thought the heads on OBi and QGJ aren't bad, but if that's the only way to get the best, what a kick in the nuts huh? 

"Want a good headsculpt for your Obi and QGJ?  Well now you can have 'em!  Buy these packs and put the heads on your SA figures you already way overpaid for!  Yeah!  F you collectors, have fun!"

I'm happy enough with the BAD Obi and Evolutions QGJ so I don't care, I guess, but it's still almost like the Hasbro guys were going, "neener neener neener!" or something.

As for the rest of the figures, they look like crap to me.  Boba is so close to his original POTF2 figure it's disturbing.  Luke's not terribly far off that look to me too.  Vader's not a complete trainwreck like some of the others, but who cares? 

I'm sure these sets are more for kids, but yeah I'm a little miffed they wasted tooling on this stuff, and regressed quality to an almost comical level.  Also it really does make me fear for the quality going forward in all aspects of this line.  Hasbro is really becoming insanely lame in how they're cutting corners, and this could be a really slippery slope with them I'm afraid.  They're taking liberties left and right anymore, to the point my interest in the line is at an all time low.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Greg on March 2, 2012, 07:30 AM
I don't understand why folks are angry about these sets. If you don't like them, don't buy them. There is nothing to indicate that these sets "took the spots" of "better" toys, or are a waste of tooling. This appear to be providing sturdier versions of main characters to kids at a cheaper price, simple as that.

Personally, I don't mind the figures but I probably won't get the sets. Initially I thought I would pick them up, but I have so many Lukes, Bobas, Mauls, etc. that I don't want any more. If I see the BPs on sale I will definitely be tempted, but at normal price they are definite passes.


Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: McMetal on March 2, 2012, 08:55 AM
I don't understand why folks are angry about these sets.

Maybe people are wondering why they pissed away money on this and we're only getting 19 Clone Wars figures this year?

It's the allocation of resources that gets people frustrated I think. I don't know what kind of physical evidence could be produced to "prove" these BP's took tooling dollars away from other, worthier projects, but it's completely logical to assume IMHO.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jeff on March 2, 2012, 10:29 AM
I don't understand why folks are angry about these sets.

I think some of the anger is really just misplaced worry that these are some sort of harbinger of the future of the line.

People see the reduced articulation in these battle packs, the reduced articulation in the new Avengers/Marvel movie lines, the reduced articulation in the GI Joe movie vehicle pack-in figures and they start to wonder - are we heading into a future where 5-points-of-articulation figures are the new 'normal' for the lines aimed at kids? Or are these just an abberation?


I also agree with McMetal that some of the anger is indeed because Hasbro flat out told us in the Q&A that YES, tooling for new movie stuff like this was at the expense of the Clone Wars line - "we will continue to support The Clone Wars, but more of our tooling dollars, resources, etc. are being put against new movie figures" (http://www.jedidefender.com/newspro/fullnews.cgi?newsid1323196546,65795,).  It makes sense that many of the Clone Wars collectors out there are pissed that the line they love is being reduced so Hasbro can crank out stuff like this.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jayson on March 2, 2012, 10:44 AM
I don't understand why folks are angry about these sets. If you don't like them, don't buy them. There is nothing to indicate that these sets "took the spots" of "better" toys, or are a waste of tooling. This appear to be providing sturdier versions of main characters to kids at a cheaper price, simple as that.

Like I've mentioned before (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=22234.msg532995#msg532995), I like the overall esthetic of the figures and if they were to release them in cool Vintage packaging (which they won't) that would be great. The kick in the nuts is that these won't be any cheaper than the current SA versions but they will sell because of how recognizable the characters are.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Nicklab on March 2, 2012, 11:42 AM
Make your voices heard with your dollars, folks.  But also look at these two new battle packs with the mindset that these aren't targetted at collectors.  I get that, and I'll be passing on these.  In the past couple of years we've gotten all of these characters in better forms than this.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: JACKOFTRADZE on March 2, 2012, 11:54 AM
I have mixed feeling on these but I mayl buy them both. I like the Vader's pose and the fact that he does not have soft goods, He may look pretty good in a dio. I think the Luke is neat for the true vinty nostaligia factor and the uber yellow hair. The Fett is just stupid big and is a give away. The TPM set would be bought for heads only but I have to see them in person and gauge the likeness/fit otherwise it's a pass.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on March 2, 2012, 01:46 PM
For me it boils down to two, well actually three things, basically already touched upon...

-It's tooling wasted IMO.  Better versions exist ultimately, and Hasbro's always saying expenses expenses expenses have driven the line to higher costs, then they make these, which cost something, and took away from other aspects of the line...  Clone Wars is just one example.  Line's costs are spread out amongst everything, so even when something isn't directly targeted at us, its cost is at least tied to the things we do have targeted to us and I do feel it detracts from the line as a whole then.  Hell, more durable, but inferior, versions of these figures already existed.  Why waste the money?

You can certainly vote with your dollars by not buying, but that doesn't detract from the fact those took away from something else.  It's not like the 30th Pilot Obi-Wan that was gravey, and actually added some value to the line to be spread out elsewhere.

-Again, the slippery slope argument...  I think it's valid.  Hasbro looks for ways to cut corners all the time, and this is a prime example of them trying that out, without dropping the price, which I could easily see something very similar happen with the regular line...  Which when you think about it, it already has with Movie Heroes figures being similar to the figures in these battlepacks (the new ones anyway).  I'm not opposed to compromise, I just see Hasbro viewing compromise as "taking liberties with collectors will be ok because they're not as important overall".

I don't view 5 points as the future of the line, but I've seen features steadily cut in the line while the price has steadily risen.  Paint aps are down, but prices are up.  Things are molded to the figure now that once were almost always a separate sculpt.  Headgear is going back to being non-removable on many figures.  Accessories are arguably a different now than they used to be too.  Two packs are basically gone.  Running Variants are gone more or less as well...  all while prices went up.

-Battlepacks had just gone late last year from 4 figures to 3, but with a promised price drop.  Then as soon as the new year rolled around, new prices for Battlepacks followed that were up again.  Now the figures themselves are of an ultimately inferior quality (they certainly cost less, at least, not arguing aesthetic value), plus the price is still up so there wasn't any real compromise there at all. 

I have zero intent on buying these, as I noted, so that's not an issue.  Everything else wrong about them is though, and in my view it's quite a lot and impacts other aspects of collecting.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: P-Siddy on March 2, 2012, 02:57 PM
I keep hearing about how much more durable the figures will be. Did Hasbro figure a way to make figures resistant to firecrackers?
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Darby on March 2, 2012, 07:53 PM
I actually don't mind these.  I think lifers who still like old school Kenner probably find something appealing in these.

It would make me mad if we were waiting on superior versions of these characters, but we're not.  As a CW fan, it disappoints me Hasbro spends its time/money here, especially when so many versions of these characters exist.  So there has to be a reason they'd even bother, and I have to think it probably has to do with the future direction of the figure line.

We could be seeing the beginning of a deeper divide between the collector 'vintage' line and the basic line in terms of price and quality.  Hasbro has to be looking to cut costs and they know we'll pay a premium.  Kids/moms won't.  They're happy with unarticulated featureless Legos, so why spend so much time/money on toys that aren't really toys but display pieces?

Could be wrong but that's my thinking.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on March 2, 2012, 10:35 PM
I'm actually very into Vintage, I just haven't been buying for a while due to modern getting my focus.  My Vinty collection is pretty decent though and was there long before I bought modern. 

To me, if I wanted nostalgia, I bought ACTUAL vintage figures.  They're not that costly to get into, at least loose, and I dig them for their simplicity.

But this is 2012...  If I want simple figures, I'll buy them since they're readily available.  That's my stance.

And as a Vinty collector, I'd never, ever, remotely consider these new things something even close to the originals.  The only thing they've ever made that I consider displaying with the original figures is the Rocket Fett we got last year.  I don't have the cashola for an original and never would try, but I'll put the new one as sort of a bridge between them.  If Hasbro did (and they cost a low price) figures in the actual Vintage style that had never been done for the original Vintage line but should have been, I'd be interested.  PT characters in the vintage style?  Hell no.  Modern/detailed sculpts but simplistic in articulation, design, and features?  Hell no.

The only way they'd get me with the 5-6 (and really I'd want just 5 POA on these) POA thing is if they did figures like a truly retro looking Tarkin, Fleet Trooper, Antilles, Grey Imperial Officer, Slave Leia, Wedge, Han Stormtrooper.  I don't even know that I really am that into those, but if they made them and they were $5 or less, I'd be at least interested.  Especially if they had Vinty cardbacks complete with the back of the card featuring all the old figures on it.

Modern sculpt figures with 5 or 6 POA just look like a POS to me.  :-\
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Captain Piet on March 3, 2012, 08:45 AM
Well, I dig the vintage feel of these.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Pete_Fett on March 3, 2012, 03:00 PM
To me - these six figures look like they were trying to develop figures that could be sold at the $5 or less stores. And when those plans fells through they were like "what the hell are we going to do with those crappy sculpts?" and DeRetard said "put 'em in a battle pack, and I'll keep reminding the collectors those sets aren't aimed at them."

Keep making super poor decisions Hasbro - at this rate, I think the ONLY thing keeping collectors around is the Vintage line - you drop that and this line is DONE.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Brian on March 5, 2012, 09:03 PM
I can totally understand the point of the tooling dollars being wasted here, and wondering what they are doing with such superior versions of these characters already available (and could have just been repacked).  I'm not sure if I'll pick these up or not, but in some ways I don't mind them.  First of all, they're not necessarily for us as we all have very nice versions of these characters already.  The more pressing problem is seeing CW shrunk to basically nothing while stuff like this gets made, I can see that being frustrating.  I know after seeing last week's bounty hunter-centric episode, I'd much rather see a mess of figures from something like that than tooling dollars dedicated to these BPs.

On the other hand, I don't know if I'd mind figures being done this way in place of most of what is currently there for movie heroes.  If they're just going to repack '99 or action feature extreme posed past figures, I would almost rather we had these more simple figures for a much lower price.  Granted, I'm not buying Movie Heroes anyways, but if they're aiming that line at kids I could see that.  I will say, after seeing TPM in 3D last month, our daughter has really gotten into Star Wars.  She wanted to watch the OT, so we've started into that a bit now, and she is always wanting to play SW.  I gave her a slew of figures, and actually sitting down and "playing" with SW toys shows me how frustrating some can be.  Some have said it before on there, but it is so appreciated when figures are sturdy - meaning they can stand, hold up to play, sit in vehicles, and hold onto their weapons.  That is something that I can't remember ever having problems with as a kid with the vintage figures, and if they returned to this sort of thing for the kids' line, I don't know if I'd mind.  Granted, I've also found several figures we've been playing with (the most recent TVC Bespin Han and Luke are good examples) that are able to cover all those bases and still have the sculpting and articulation we've grown accustomed to.  Anyways, sort of a different topic entirely, but I'm just saying as a parent I can appreciate having a sturdy toy that holds onto its accessories and can stand up without much trouble (and fit into vehicles).

The one larger question here is there any chance that we'd see something like these BP figures carry over to the main line eventually?  I don't see it right away, but I do wonder if they are testing the waters here or not.  Otherwise it seems strange to tool up all new figures when they have several versions of all these characters they could use for these BPs (both good versions and bad).  I wonder, if in the attempt to cut costs, this is a direction they would want to go in the future.  We've heard the rumors of the Vintage Collection going "on hiatus" after this year, I wonder if they'll try this in the meantime?  Either way, it is a bit of a strange time with the SW line right now.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Siths Herald on March 5, 2012, 10:31 PM
I keep hearing about how much more durable the figures will be. Did Hasbro figure a way to make figures resistant to firecrackers?

..or BB guns.  I never did find all the pieces to that Dengar back in '82 after he fell in the crosshairs.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: EpicGon on March 8, 2012, 11:04 AM
Nice vintage look for esb duel, like Luke :), ressembles the very vintage first release. Vader from this pack is ideal to make a diorama, he is a bit more muscular than the average TVC basic body. I think collectors could use him to build the duel on potj Carbon Freeze Chamber. The Boba Fett spots longer light grey sleeves than ever on the shirt which hold his chest and stomach armor. Insist, like this tri pack for customize dioramas.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Mister Skeezler on March 10, 2012, 12:24 PM
These kind of look like POTF2 figures and Vinty figures were smashed together at high speeds in the Large Hadron Collider.

I really think it's a cost-cutting ploy disguised as an attempt to capture a retro feel. Either way, not buying 'em. But I think the anger on the forums is more likely fear that these will become the norm, and I can completely understand that.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scockery on April 1, 2012, 03:15 PM
Packaged and new loose pics (not an April Fool's Day joke)
http://www.sandtroopers.com/sandwatch/hasbro/20120330/index.html (http://www.sandtroopers.com/sandwatch/hasbro/20120330/index.html)

Yes, they really did  make Fett that big and Vader seems short...or maybe that's because Fett is too big.

Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on April 19, 2012, 01:55 AM
Got some great loose shots of Bespin Luke courtesy of our friends at HobbyStockCN (http://www.jedidefender.com/phpads/adclick.php?bannerid=133&zoneid=0&source=&dest=http%3A%2F%2Fstores.ebay.com%2FHobbystockcn-Toy-Store).

(http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/012MHBP_LukeBespinLoose01_TN.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/image.pl?http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/012MHBP_LukeBespinLoose01_Full.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/012MHBP_LukeBespinLoose02_TN.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/image.pl?http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/012MHBP_LukeBespinLoose02_Full.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/012MHBP_LukeBespinLoose03_TN.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/image.pl?http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/012MHBP_LukeBespinLoose03_Full.jpg)
Clicky each image to check it out!

And look for these up soon!
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Qui-Gon Jim on April 19, 2012, 07:34 AM
That does look nice, but not the direction I think we need to go. 
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scockery on April 19, 2012, 02:47 PM
Who the heck is that? Hamill's stunt double?


Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: McMetal on April 19, 2012, 04:59 PM
Looks like Fonzie in a blond wig.  ;D
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Paul on April 19, 2012, 05:54 PM
Looks almost like OT "Animated"
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Darth_Anton on April 20, 2012, 09:43 AM
Looks better than the movie heroes figures with action features. Also, a heck of a lot better than the good old POTF2 version. I would have been happy with figures sculpted like these back in the day.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Brian on April 20, 2012, 10:54 AM
Looks better than the movie heroes figures with action features. Also, a heck of a lot better than the good old POTF2 version. I would have been happy with figures sculpted like these back in the day.

Agreed.  I'd be perfectly happy if the Movie Heroes line was made up of figures like this, and the price was dropped (due to much less articulation, etc.).  They can even pack in their action feature happy guns/grapples/etc. for "the kids" if they want to, but if they had a line of these simplified figures, at a $5-6 price (or maybe at this point, $7 is more realistic), I think they'd do decent.  Already having what I consider an "ultimate" Bespin Luke, I don't mind seeing a release like this.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: CHEWIE on April 20, 2012, 11:18 AM
The only thing that really bothers me here is the sculpted on holster.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on April 20, 2012, 05:04 PM
I'm not a huge fan, and honestly this still doesn't look like a "retro" figure to me other than the blonde hair.  But if this is the way the line goes I'll happily bow out.  Anything more than $5 a pop is too much IMO for figures that are this big a drop in terms of features/quality.  It's not horrible if you look at it from a certain POV, but fails miserably next to the Vintage Collection version of the same character in just about every way IMO.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Pete_Fett on April 20, 2012, 05:21 PM
The thing I still don't understand is how taking the Bespin Luke, Darth Vader and Boba Fett figures from the ESB Vintage wave and putting them in this pack isn't CHEAPER for Hasbro?

I thought the most expensive part of the process of getting a "new" figure sculpt out into a store was the $$$ spent on tooling and machining the new mold parts.

I still say that these figures were originally intended for stores like "Five Below" - minimal packaging, minimal articulation, minimal paint applications, modest sculpting - and when DePriest was fired/removed from the Star Wars brand, they scrapped plans for a cheaper line and were left holding the bag on a dozen or less, of these Dollar Store level figures.

My ultimate hope is that these Battlepacks languish at retail just like the "Rebel Heroes" and "Geonosis Arena" battlepacks have showing Hasbro that no one is interested in monumental steps backwards.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Nicklab on April 20, 2012, 07:45 PM
I still say that these figures were originally intended for stores like "Five Below" - minimal packaging, minimal articulation, minimal paint applications, modest sculpting - and when DePriest was fired/removed from the Star Wars brand, they scrapped plans for a cheaper line and were left holding the bag on a dozen or less, of these Dollar Store level figures.

You're on the right track, but not completely.  Hasbro has been developing figure lines and offerings for international markets where the US price points would make them cost prohibitive.  And it's been across several different licenses.  The Marvel team showed off some of these emerging market type offerings a couple of years ago at Toy Fair.  However, a good deal of that product was not intended for US markets.

A figure with only 5 points of articulation is most likely going to be cheaper than the existing Vintage Collection sculpts.  These battle pack figure offerings will have perhaps 7 or 8 parts each.  Vintage Collecting figures like the Bespin Luke or TVC Boba Fett have a great deal more parts, more complex joints, more intricate paint apps and are as a result more labor intensive.  That translates to higher costs and a more expensive figures.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scockery on April 20, 2012, 08:13 PM
After the super-articulated VOTC Bespin Luke the only place left to go for that version of Luke was backwards.  :P

With emerging markets thing still begs the question. Why new tooling? Why not 90's/early 2000's stuff? The molds still exist...or do they? 2-1B's does!
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Greg on April 20, 2012, 08:47 PM
With emerging markets thing still begs the question. Why new tooling? Why not 90's/early 2000's stuff? The molds still exist...or do they? 2-1B's does!

If I recall correctly, some of the recent "emerging market" toys (Star Wars and Iron Man 2) consisted of small figures, around 2-inches or so. Other lines, like the current Marvel and past GI Joe assortments, are made up of repacked or repainted figures that are of less quality than the normal lines.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Darth_Anton on April 20, 2012, 09:33 PM
Good question about the re-packing. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with what's "in" with the kids now. When the line was relaunched, we got those horrible He-Man sculpts (that I got every one of) because Wrestling and wrestling toys were so popular. Perhaps the market has changed.  I know these figures are not geared for us and Hasbro should make a lot more money selling a cheeper product to non-collecting parents whose kids are just going to throw them away when they discover the opposite sex.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: speedermike on April 21, 2012, 12:30 PM
You know, if they were going to go this simple, I wish they would have pulled the trigger and just done these in an animated style to match the Clone Wars stuff.  Kids wouldn't know the difference.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on April 22, 2012, 06:42 PM
You know, if they were going to go this simple, I wish they would have pulled the trigger and just done these in an animated style to match the Clone Wars stuff.  Kids wouldn't know the difference.

That's an interesting suggestion...  stylized for the sake of stylized to entice kids.  Dunno if kids care though.  That, at least at the time, was the argument Hasbro was making for Legends being realistic "additions" to the CW line to attract kid dollars and make basically pure profit on existing sculpts...  Put out a realistic SBD since the animated line at the time didn't have one, or whatever the character may be (a realistic Vader because kids like Vader and they don't care, and just want Vader to go with their Clone Wars toys, etc.).

I don't know if the labor vs. tooling argument holds up...  Labor's increased in China, but Hasbro's streamlined the labor portion of action figures significantly.  Figures are as simplistically designed today as they have ever been, in many cases.  Even compared to 1995 in many cases, they're a simple matter of "plug n play" designs.  Some still are designed/constructed like they used to be though.  It's weird how they jump back and forth with that.

Mold toolings though, were always the primary cost...  It makes sense to go with the new/cheaper figures if you plan on cranking them out in great quantities for sure.  But are the Boba/Luke/Vader going to get more use beyond this pack?  Pack-in figures maybe?  Cheap sub-lines at discount stores on single cards maybe?

Tooling steel molds up though has certainly not decreased in price overseas, but Labor's going up too, so it's an interesting comparison.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Darth_Anton on April 23, 2012, 09:50 AM
Hmmm. I agree. Interesting idea. But in my line of work, "dumbing down" to kids often yields disastrous results. I think they'ed know. The question is weather they'd be into the idea or not.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Jesse James on April 24, 2012, 09:09 PM
Thought I'd point out that the new Bespin Luke is now available from our friends at Hobbystock.CN's ebay store.

MH Battlepack Bespin Luke $4.99 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-Star-Wars-Movie-Legends-Bespin-Battle-Luke-Skywalker-Loose-/390411869404?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item5ae65c5cdc)

Best part is the price.  :)  Anyone who wants it, that's a good price.  With it being the most popular figure in the pack, I think it'll do well as a single figure for that.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: EpicGon on April 25, 2012, 12:01 AM
After seeing those pic, definetely I will buy bespin 3 pack

The Bespin Luke serves as a blond version of the character, cause my kenner one has beidge hair.

Darth Vader, unlike the current tvc mold, this sculpt shows a well built body, atlhetic as a warrior must be. Also the plates on his shoulders are well painted.

Boba Fett depicts an all new stance, like the jacket kinda t shirt for his torso armor, also has a super paint job.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Sprry75 on April 29, 2012, 11:26 AM
I don't know if this is the right place for it or not, but the Movie Legends Battle Pack Bespin Luke can be had for $3.50 plus free shipping from this ebay seller (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Movie-Legends-Bespin-Battle-Luke-Skywalker-loose-offer-2012-/251048240292?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3a73a424a4#ht_852wt_1218).  Can't beat that with a stick.
Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Scockery on April 30, 2012, 03:23 PM
Sure I can. I can keep my $3.50. HA!

Title: Re: Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Post by: Brian on May 18, 2012, 02:12 PM
I actually went ahead and ordered one of those $3.50 Bespin Lukes from the Battle Pack, and it arrived this week.  I was just curious to see one, and wasn't sure if I was going to spring for (or find) the eventual battle pack or not.  Anyways, all that said, it isn't too bad of a figure.  There is an obvious severe lack of articulation, but I guess the fact that we already have a pretty much perfect version of this character from the Vintage Collection, I'm ok with a figure like this.

If Hasbro continues to have multiple lines at retail, I think it would be a decent idea to have the Movie Heroes/Kid's line be made up of figures like this - as long as the price could be dropped fairly significantly.  Keep the "collector's line" (like the current TVC), and keep it more limited in releases (35-40 per year), and if they need a movie line (if the 3D releases continue) use some figures like this.  They stand, are sturdy, fit in vehicles, and could hopefully be priced $2-3 cheaper.  I'm not saying that I prefer these over the current ultimate, super articulated versions we've enjoyed lately - but as I've said before, as our daughter has been playing with action figures a lot lately (SW and Marvel in particular) I've grown an appreciation for solid "toys" that can hold their weapons, fit in vehicles, and most importantly - stand.  Overall, I kind of like this Bespin Luke - especially because we have a perfect "collector's version" alongside it.  We have that for virtually all of the main characters and troopers, so releasing more stripped down (and again, only if they are cheaper) versions of these for the "heroes" line would be fine with me.