Read a little bit about the possible realignment that might be in the works for the NHL.  There's a proposal on the table for the league to be split into 4 divisions, similar to the NFL.  And it may just benefit Winnipeg, too, since they have a pretty grueling travel schedule with the current conference/division structure.

There's also a good deal of talk about what's going to happen with the Coyotes.  The cities that seem to be in contention for the relocation of the failing Phoenix team are Quebec City, Seattle, or possibly Toronto.  The Toronto market seems to be the one city in Canada that could truly support a second team.

The carbonite block is getting some love in 2013 (6" SDCC exclusive, 3.75" pack-in with the Amazon Slave I), but you can't somehow squeeze a new "I'm about to get frozen" Carbonite Han Solo figure into the Black Series 3.75" line to go along with the Amazon set?

+1

How about a real Yavin Ceremony Han Solo, too.

+1 to this as well



And might I add....

How about offering up a VC50 - Han Solo (Bespin Outfit) kitbash as a Mynock Hunt version?  We all know that this particular figure spent far too little time gracing the pegs.  So how about one with the oxygen mask and a pack-in Mynock?  How about it Hasbro?!?!

The Vader set with the Seeker Droid looks okay.  As for the others?  The Jango sculpt actually looks pretty decent.  And I'd like to see more of the droids.  Otherwise, I'll just wait until I see these in stores.

It's supposed to be Yoda's Gunship from Attack Of The Clones.

I got together with the folks from SWAN today.  And their impressions from Toy Fair were very similar to my own.  They had some additional notes.  Most noteworthy is that word has come down from Hasbro corporate to ALL the licensed groups:  CUT COSTS & REDUCE YOUR NUMBER OF SKU'S.  With that kind of corporate edict you can completely understand the current state of the Star Wars license and why they will not offer a new large vehicle in 2013.

Speeder bikes seem like the most reasonable possibility for this line.  I could easily see Hasbro do Maul's speeder bike from TPM.  Especially since they already did one in the 12" scale.

Quote from: Nicklab on February 10, 2013, 12:02 PM

Quote from: P-Siddy on February  9, 2013, 10:15 PM

Quote from: Jesse James on February  9, 2013, 07:51 PM

Did you  notice if the heads were new Steve?

I did not... too busy being excited and writing things down... plus the images didn't stay up for long.

Here's a question for you.  Word is circulating that this pack will actually be 1 x Scanning Tech with the rest of the scanner gear plus an Imperial Officer.  Does that ring a bell from the slideshow?

That does ring a bell now that you mention it.  It seemed weird that it wasn't 2 of them.

Actually, I think it's a good thing.  When I first heard about the Scanning crew pack, I was a little concerned that we might get a repeat of the TLC RED Scanning Trooper in addition to the 2nd, missing Scanning Crewman.  But then I thought back to an old Hasbro-Star Wars Q&A session regarding the completion of the Scanning Crew set.  And Hasbro seemed to have an interest in offering the 2nd Scanning Trooper with someone else from that scene:  Vader, Captain Khurgee (Imperial Officer) or a Stormtrooper.  So I'm hoping that it might be Captain Khurgee in this case.

That's all well and good, but where does a Sail Barge figure prominently into Clone Wars seasons 5 or 6?

This isn't about busting chops or hating on people who want big vehicles.  I'd love a Sail Barge.

This is about the fact that right now the market won't support it, and Hasbro doesn't have high enough confidence in the Star Wars brand to invest in the design, tooling, product safety testing and eventual marketing of a big vehicle.  With a company the size of Hasbro this isn't a casual undertaking.  A piece like this is a centerpiece that you build a line around.  And engineering a vehicle line this is more complicated than pressing a big Castle Greyskull.  The two items really are not that comparable.

And then you look at other things in the line:

BLACK SERIES 3.75" FIGURES - Only 19 being offered in 2013
CLONE WARS ANIMATED 3.75" FIGURES - DISCONTINUED
SAGA LEGENDS - Basic figures reduced to 5 POA, price point deliberately lowered to draw in higher volume sales
STARFIGHTER VEHICLES - Stripped down to smaller / simpler sculpts to meet a reduced price point

The only big chance Hasbro seems to be taking is on the BLACK SERIES 6" figures.  And that seems to be tied in to a scale that has been more attractive to general toy collecting.

The line simply does not seem healthy enough to support a $150 - $200 vehicle.  Perhaps in 2015 or beyond, following the Episode VII release we'll be in a position where Hasbro can take a chance on something like the Sail Barge.