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Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Revenge of the Sith => Topic started by: Firebat on April 22, 2005, 11:24 AM

Title: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: Firebat on April 22, 2005, 11:24 AM
Over at 'scum they hint at some secret display Hasbro has set up at C3. Has anybody heard what's in it? Is it that die-cast stuff?
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: CHEWIE on April 22, 2005, 11:44 AM
I dunno... I'm waiting to find out.  How great it would be if it were the AT-TE or a Turbo Tank... but then again, they just don't seem to want to be that nice over at Hasbro.

 :P
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: Brian on April 22, 2005, 11:46 AM
I'm really curious to see what this will be as well, and I hope that we don't get our hopes up too high.  Hopefully it will be some all new stuff, figures past the first 56, maybe a surprise vehicle, or maybe even a preview of where the line is headed in 2006 and beyond.  I'd hate to think it is something like that, and then we'll just get a look at those 5 packs or something like that that we have already seen at the Australian Toy Fair.  I wonder how long they will wait to "unveil" things?
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: DoctorPadawan on April 22, 2005, 12:41 PM
I bet you a nickel it's 12 new Target exclusive Clone Troopers that will be released one per month, every month, for the next year.  They will be limited to three per store, and will cost 24.99.  These sculpts will also be based on the POTJ Sneak Preview Clone Trooper, since Hasbro is obviously losing money on those super articulated bodies at this point.

Can you tell how irritated I'm getting with all this exclusive crap, especially now that we've reached the realm of non-holo/silver commemorative figures?   ::)

Seriously, I'm sure it's probably something either really amazing or really underwhelming.  The kid in me wants to see an AT-TE or (at the very least) a Sith Infiltrator.  The cynical cranky adult in me expects to see a Millennium Falcon repaint or a box set of Epic Force figures.  Or, since RS is the only site that seems to be mentioning it at all, it's probably a Hasbro shrine to Lord Philip.   :P

Comedy Edit:  It's Gwyneth Paltrow's head.  :D
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: Jim on April 22, 2005, 12:53 PM
Isnt GH reporting that they are different colored clones? If it is then was it a real surprise?  I think we all knew it would haoppen.
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: SGT. Flint on April 22, 2005, 12:54 PM
I could be VOTC type figures but in the old POTF packaging or a Death Star playset
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: Jim on April 22, 2005, 12:55 PM
I could be VOTC type figures but in the old POTF packaging or a Death Star playset

It that were a DS Playset it would be freakin huge.  Unless Hasbro decided to release it in multiple pieces.  But it aint gonna happen.  Its no moneymaker.
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: SGT. Flint on April 22, 2005, 12:56 PM
Isnt GH reporting that they are different colored clones? If it is then was it a real surprise?  I think we all knew it would haoppen.


I believe GH is just talking about variations to the 3 packs and basic figures only, thus excluding special figures like the Target clonetrooper
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: Scott on April 22, 2005, 01:11 PM
So, basically what Jeff said is it was the new Evolutions packs and the 5 packs and 500th Vader.  Nothing super cool I guess, he was glowing about the Evolutions figures though

Hopefully there will be pics of these soon
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: SGT. Flint on April 22, 2005, 01:15 PM
Here is a super fuzzy photo of the evolution packs http://www.rebelscum.com/gallery/c3/hasbroQA/image12.asp and there are more fuzzies are well
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: evenflow on April 22, 2005, 03:10 PM
I hope we can get some clear photos soon.
Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: Firebat on April 22, 2005, 03:23 PM
Curse the blurriness of that pic!!!! We need to see those figs!!!
Title: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: speedermike on April 22, 2005, 03:24 PM
I was reading a summery of this over at another site, and it was just so negative.  Essentially Hasbro won't tell us what's in the future, but they will tell us that the chance of getting an Obi-Wan figure with baby Luke is "slim to none."  Depressing.

No Biggs.

No Tonnika sisters.

No big vehicles.

No small vehicles...

Title: Re: What's in that "secret" display?
Post by: Scott on April 22, 2005, 03:36 PM
Jeff said he has the pics and is trying to locate C Berry to upload them, otherwise it might not be until later tonight
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Brian on April 22, 2005, 03:43 PM
Yeah, I read that as well, and it sort of is depressing...or at least "ho hum".  Again, no major news really, but I guess we shouldn't really expect that.  It seems like normally these Hasbro Q and A go something like "maybe", "could be", "we can't say", and "if the retail support is there".  I guess it is nice to have surprises here and there, but sometimes things are a little too secretive.  Maybe they are just saving something for the cons later this summer too.

I agree though the "slim to none" comment on the Obi w/baby Luke is disappointing, as well as a pretty negative tone to anything concerning playsets or vehicles.  Again, not unexpected, but still a little disappointing.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: speedermike on April 22, 2005, 05:50 PM
The more I think about it, the more the "slim to none" comment angers me.  Obi-Wan delivering Luke will become an iconic inage within the series, and ties the two trilogies together.  If Hasbro doesn't make the babies in some form, I will be really put off.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: DoctorPadawan on April 22, 2005, 06:03 PM
A few years back (actually when it was still "Kenner" making the POTF2 figures), I came up with this idea for the "Star Wars Random Response Generator" to send to these conventions so that way, Hasbro could save money and not send three reps to these shows that would do the same thing that the machine did.

Here are the responses I had that it could spit out (and sadly, these responses are pretty much still what they give out today):

1.  "We are aware of the demand for such an item and the possibility exists in the future."

2.  "We are aware that not everyone was able to easily locate this item, and we are looking at ways to reincorporate it into the line for the future."

3.  "There are no plans for such an item at this time."

4.  "We are always looking for exciting new ways to offer unique items under the Star Wars brand."

5.  "We feel that there is insufficient demand for such an item at an affordable price point at this time."

And, I guess, now we can add...

6.  "We have many exciting things planned for 2006, but we cannot tell them to you right now."

7.  "We know there is a great demand for these items but the focus is on the new film right now."

8.  "When you take into account the costs associated with such a large ticket item, it would depend on a retailer taking it on as an exclusive item and placing a sufficient order."

The thing that gets me is that NOBODY at these little Q&A things ask the questions people really want to know, or even call Hasbro on the fact that they are making TOYS and are not responsible for national security with all their cryptic "we can't tell you or we'd have to kill you" 007 bull****.  They're so used to people kissing their asses that when someone (as in the JD staff at San Diego last fall, and these guys were the first ones I'd ever seen call Hasbro out publically, and thanks again to the staff here for that) does actually ask them a tough question that they can't answer with one of their above stock responses, they get flustered and show that they don't have the slightest idea of professionalism and fan relations.

Keep in mind that (although it was under another regime) this is the same company that once angrily responded to an inquiry at a convention, "WE DON'T CARE WHAT COLLECTORS THINK!"

Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: aka DaBigKahuna on April 22, 2005, 06:13 PM
DoctorPadawan,

Well written, especially the 007 piece.  Are you a real doctor?

DBK
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: evenflow on April 22, 2005, 06:17 PM
I must have missed the Obi-Wan Luke Question. I really hope they release the twins. It is vital that they do. I will be pretty upset if they neglect them.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: DoctorPadawan on April 22, 2005, 11:21 PM
Quote
Are you a real doctor?

No, not yet.  But I'm working on it.  (Seriously). :)

EDIT:  I figure you Indy guys are out partying it up right now, but if someone on the staff at JD gets the chance to talk to someone from Hasbro, ask them how they can make snide comments about "these are action figures" on their website that more or less insult collectors and then turn around and market a five pack of cases for carded figures at Target?

You can't have it both ways, guys.  :P



Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Deanpaul on April 22, 2005, 11:34 PM


EDIT:  I figure you Indy guys are out partying it up right now, but if someone on the staff at JD gets the chance to talk to someone from Hasbro, ask them how they can make snide comments about "these are action figures" on their website that more or less insult collectors and then turn around and market a five pack of cases for carded figures at Target?



I'd like Jared to have an opportunity to discuss the "these are action figures" line with Hasbro. He's done a good job of showing how lame their tag lines are around here.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: SilverZ on April 23, 2005, 02:17 AM
Much drinking has happened, and shall continue to happen as the evening progresses.

Quite a few of us were at the Q&A, and while I haven't had a chance to read some of the other summaries, the impression I was left with wasn't necessarily negative or that Hasbro was unresponsive, but rather that they were standing firmly by their marketing-driven objectives, talked about product that was currently shipping, or would soon be shipping. It wasn't much of a surprise to hear the recurring themes of "Vader, exciting new Revenge of the Sith characters, and fun for kids and collectors alike." They want to talk about what they are selling right now, and that's really about it. Their presentation was essentially Hasbro's Revenge of the Sith 2005 lineup.

The presentation was a Powerpoint slideshow that they spoke to with polish that I imagine came from giving the exact same pitch to Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us buyers over the previous months.

We'll get a summary up hopefully soon, and we took shots of the panel and the ppt deck.

Personally, I had the feeling that they do in fact have their eyes on doing items like the AT-TE, but can't find retail distribution to make it happen. They just seemed to dance around that fact on basically every item, which is what everyone is frustrated by.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: evenflow on April 23, 2005, 10:32 AM
Quote
Are you a real doctor?

No, not yet.  But I'm working on it.  (Seriously). :)


Me too  ;D

Anyway...back to the issue. I didn't get that Hasbro was being difficult either. I think they have some stuff planned, its just a matter of getting retailers to agree with them. I really felt this with the issue of the Cloud Car.

This is some awesome news too "Will there be a final U-shaped piece of the Cantina bar? The release of this section of the bar is dependant on finding the right timing and retail partner. (JediDefender.com has learned that not only is the U section planned, but the center distillery is in development and looking for a retail home)."

I hope someone picks that up.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Nathan on April 24, 2005, 08:12 PM
I think I had some kind of brainfart because I completely missed the Q&A. *smacks head on keyboard* Sounds like a didn't miss a lot though. However I am heartened by the possibility of more Clone Wars toys, perhaps even non-animated ones if Hasbro takes the audience reaction into consideration.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Ook on April 24, 2005, 08:20 PM
This is some awesome news too "Will there be a final U-shaped piece of the Cantina bar? The release of this section of the bar is dependant on finding the right timing and retail partner. (JediDefender.com has learned that not only is the U section planned, but the center distillery is in development and looking for a retail home)."

I hope someone picks that up.

Oh crap, that's awesome. Guess I'm going to need more bar pieces. I skipped set 2, and I guess the distillery would be long enough to require all the pieces...

Is there a definite answer on wether the 4 figs from the EB set will be available at retail after EB orders are filled?

What was in the "mystery kiosk"???
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Nathan on April 24, 2005, 08:37 PM
What was in the "mystery kiosk"???

Evolutions, 5-fig battlepacks, and 500th Vader.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Darth_Anton on April 25, 2005, 05:51 PM
Hasbro reps must work for the government.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Matt_Fury on April 25, 2005, 06:02 PM
Hey!  I work for the government and the only time I give non-commital type answers if if someone asks me something that's Top Secret!

I agree that Hasblo's answers were not what anyone really wanted to hear, and they're the same answers they always give.  Why are you guys suprised by some of these answers?

Did you really think they'd do figures like the Tonnika sisters when they're geared up for making mainly ROTS items?  I'm guessing they'd save something like this for a year or so from now when all the ROTS hype has died down.

They may not have plans for a baby luke and leia, but it took a while for them to finally make a Jedi Council set too.  Granted a few of those sets were pure crap, but the first two were pretty cool.

With the possible exception of the ARC-170, they haven't made any large vehicles as of yet for the ROTS line.  The AT-AT was a very popular item in both the Vintage and the POTF2 lines, I don't see why an AT-TE isn't completely out of the realm of possibility.

Have a little hope that they'll make some great stuff down the road, even if it isn't currently being made...of course I am a "glass is half-full" kind of guy.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Darby on April 25, 2005, 06:05 PM
If they don't do the twins in some form, I will quit.  With all the exclusive crap (no C3 Vader for me) and headaches with keeping up, they make it very easy for a lifelong SW fan to walk away.  "They're action figures not stand there and look at them figures?"  How about "They're just toys, people.  Not state secrets."
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Jeff on April 25, 2005, 06:14 PM
If they don't do the twins in some form, I will quit.  With all the exclusive crap (no C3 Vader for me) and headaches with keeping up, they make it very easy for a lifelong SW fan to walk away.  "They're action figures not stand there and look at them figures?"  How about "They're just toys, people.  Not state secrets."

What I found so incredibly funny is that yet again at a Hasbro QnA attended almost exclusively by 30+ year old dudes was the "OK, we make these for KIDS" BS line they constantly throw out at us.  They once again made it a point that KIDS are #1 on their list...

THEN, they go and realease Collector Cases at Target (http://hasbro.com/starwars/pl/page.news/newsid.7A140BE5-D56F-E112-431048FE5DB47B3E/dn/default.cfm). 

"So it turns out that the single greatest enemy to the Republic and the very future of the galaxy isn't the Sith. It's dust. The solution? Collector cases - only available at Target.

Protect your Star Wars collection from the elements with this five-pack of collector cases that perfectly encapsulate your Revenge of the Sith 3 ¾ action figures. Each of these durable containers is specially made for displaying your collection on shelves, stands or even your walls."

I can't wait to see the first Kid running down the aisle of Target going "mommy, mommy, can I buy this pack of 5 plastic cases!"   ::)

Maybe because they are Target exclusive means that Target actually gets the fact that only the collectors are spending the big $$ on this crap...

Jeff
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Violentfix on April 26, 2005, 12:33 PM
If they don't do the twins in some form, I will quit.  With all the exclusive crap (no C3 Vader for me) and headaches with keeping up, they make it very easy for a lifelong SW fan to walk away.  "They're action figures not stand there and look at them figures?"  How about "They're just toys, people.  Not state secrets."

What I found so incredibly funny is that yet again at a Hasbro QnA attended almost exclusively by 30+ year old dudes was the "OK, we make these for KIDS" BS line they constantly throw out at us.  They once again made it a point that KIDS are #1 on their list...

THEN, they go and realease Collector Cases at Target (http://hasbro.com/starwars/pl/page.news/newsid.7A140BE5-D56F-E112-431048FE5DB47B3E/dn/default.cfm). 

"So it turns out that the single greatest enemy to the Republic and the very future of the galaxy isn't the Sith. It's dust. The solution? Collector cases - only available at Target.

Protect your Star Wars collection from the elements with this five-pack of collector cases that perfectly encapsulate your Revenge of the Sith 3 ¾ action figures. Each of these durable containers is specially made for displaying your collection on shelves, stands or even your walls."

I can't wait to see the first Kid running down the aisle of Target going "mommy, mommy, can I buy this pack of 5 plastic cases!"   ::)

Maybe because they are Target exclusive means that Target actually gets the fact that only the collectors are spending the big $$ on this crap...

Jeff

This applies to my troop builder idea as well.  IF Hasbro makes these with kids in mind and at the same time realize that most kids never ever got to see the SA Clone or Clone Pilots from the AOTC lines then why don't they start over packing troop builders?  Do they think that inciting excitement over chasing figures is something that attracts parents to by a product for their kids?  No, it's a collector theory,  Make something that people want and slowly trickle more into the market causes people to buy more product in the long run.  How many Targets to you go to looking for a figure and how often do you just happen to walk out with another product. 

I work in upper management for a retail company and we employ this exact tactic except instead of collectors, we get regular people to search for the newest thing and when the person can't find the newest thing we suggest them getting the next best thing (That has a higher profit mind you) It's sleezy but it works.  I don't make this policy, by the way.

I'm sure toy companies do the same kind of thing.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Pete_Fett on April 26, 2005, 05:28 PM
This applies to my troop builder idea as well.  IF Hasbro makes these with kids in mind and at the same time realize that most kids never ever got to see the SA Clone or Clone Pilots from the AOTC lines then why don't they start over packing troop builders?  Do they think that inciting excitement over chasing figures is something that attracts parents to by a product for their kids?  No, it's a collector theory,  Make something that people want and slowly trickle more into the market causes people to buy more product in the long run.  How many Targets to you go to looking for a figure and how often do you just happen to walk out with another product. 

Here's a funny story - I was in my local WalMart and there was a mom with her son. The mother was clearly frustrated as her son was digging through the pegs. He was looking for the "red" clone - at first I figured he meant the Clone Commander, but in hind-sight he may have been looking for the Red Senate Guard - I'm not 100% certain.

Anyway, my point is that I could see that this mother was obviously trying to reward her son and bring him all over trying to find the figure he wanted, but she was CLEARLY getting tired of all the looking.

It doesn't matter what figure he wanted (Clone Commander or Red Royal Guard) the store didn't have either, so my son who was with me as well, went up to him and said - we already looked, they don't have that figure here - which was the truth, we had just got done looking for a clone commander ourselves. In the end, the kid and his mother left without picking up ANY figures.

So what Violentfix is saying is true - if the army builder figures like the Red Royal Guard, Clone Pilot and Clone Commander were readily available on the shelves, this kid would have made a purchase. But, because it wasn't, WalMart lost out on a sale AND the mother left with a very poor opinion about the Star Wars line - you don't think parents were fond of the Power Rangers toys when those figures were selling like hot-cakes do you?

Hasbro keeps telling us that they "do it for the kids" yet everything they do points to "doing it for the collectors". If it's truly for kids and not collectors then things like VOTC, Evolutions 3-packs, Unleashed or even the 500th Darth Vader - should not even exist!

The Kenner line was for kids - there was ONE Tatooine Luke, ONE Darth Vader, ONE Chewbacca, ONE Emperor, etc... Only a collector line will support continual re-releases of the same character in the same outfit for ten years.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: DoctorPadawan on April 26, 2005, 06:44 PM
Quote
Hasbro keeps telling us that they "do it for the kids" yet everything they do points to "doing it for the collectors".

And that is the dilemma that Hasbro is going to have to face in a short period of time, I think.  As I (sarcastically, yes, but it was all probably true) alluded to in a post I made in another thread, Hasbro only actually pays collectors any lip service in non-film years, as in those years, we are literally all that they have to keep the line afloat.  During the film years, they act like we are the scum of the earth and that we don't matter a bit to the line because they are "making the toys for kids." 

The cycle usually goes like this (and look back on this if you don't believe me):

2001:  Power of the Jedi (collector based line, Fan's Choice is introduced)

2002:  Power of the Jedi (collector based line, really obscure and much requested characters)

04/2002:  Saga/AOTC line launches with stupid action features and horrible sculpting on many figures, because "kids love the action features"

2003:  Saga continues with more stupid action features in Collection 1 and a collector's focus in Collection 2.  By the end of the year, the action features are more or less nonexistant.

2004:  Saga continues with a very collector based focus.

08/2004:  Original Trilogy Collection starts; figure choices range from being kid focused to really obscure ("Cool, mom, it's the guy with the computer in his bald head, can I have it?") characters no kid would really care about.  DVD release to tie into

2005:  Original Trilogy Collection winds to a close with very collector-based figures from TPM, AOTC, and the Cantina

04/2005:  Revenge of the Sith launches.  Back to stupid action features, "these are made for kids" all over again

See the pattern?  When the fickle youth abandon SW in the toy aisles completely by January, we'll see another assortment or two (unless Hasbro has already stopped making them in anticipation of this) with action features, before they are phased out and we see the obscure and collector focused figures return.

The problem is that this time Hasbro is being much more insulting with collectors.  In 2002, it was "kids make up the bulk of our sales."  In 2005, their attitude seems to be "if you don't open your toys, you're a moron, but here's an overpriced Clone Trooper to chew on."  And in 2006 they're counting on everyone forgetting these little snide comments, but in the end scheme of things, to paraphrase one of my favorite films of all time, "When the end comes, all that will be left...is US."
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Nathan on April 26, 2005, 07:12 PM
What the Doc said ^. I'm not a habitual Hasbro basher, but a lot of things this year really tick me off. However if they come up with another POTJ-type line for '06 I will forgive them.
Title: Re: C3 Hasbro Q & A
Post by: Darby on April 26, 2005, 09:26 PM
I don't blame them for wanting to reach out to kids, and I do think they've made incredible progress in the last few years, but they do treat collectors as if we were some necessary evil.  They can't live without us, but it would be oh so much easier if they didn't have to deal with us.  It's like a bad relationship where you keep going back even though they beat the crap out of you all the time.   ::)