Some random additional thoughts to you guys' random additional thoughts...

-Lando mentioned them blowing smoke on the VOTC, and while I'm not as confident as he is, part of me is in total agreement with him.  I can't possibly see a logic as to "why" with their attitude.  I wonder if it isn't just them saying that to make people THINK the VOTC will never see the light of day again and they'll buy them up rather than skip them hoping for a re-release.

Perhaps they know their market better than they let on?

-Scott's point about the Cantina aliens (or someone) mixed into the center of OTC would've alleviated some oof the "pain" we're inevitably feeling with the rampant repacks.  Still, I'm even going to nab SOME of the repacks so it isn't like they're not appealing on some level (I was all set for a huge break till I saw the Gammorrean and Tusken).

-About kids vs. collectors...  I don't know how much is BS.  I stick by the notion that they are a factor, just not nearly the one Hasbro makes them out to be.  I often wonder just how much research they do?  Besides focus groups which aren't accurate anyway, I just don't see what they're out there pounding the pavement doing...  I think what data they use is maybe even outdated.

Oh well...

Things are what they are right now.  I'm really only disappointed about Comic-Con on one aspect (even with th e crappy Cantina set).  The aspect of that ONE ******* (By the way, you can say "ass" Lando   ) and how he talked to Matt and basically treated collectors like crap inadvertantly.  I found that disrespectful and a plain black mark on the company overall because it's his job to actually be cordial at those shows.

In the end, despite their data, it is the collectors who carry the line's momentum every NON-Movie year, which outweigh the movie ones by a long-shot.

Maybe it's the guy that designed the Fleet Trooper?  Perhaps he's bitter?

From what I can tell that's all just kitbashes.  

Someone at Gp's said some of them were early prototypes.  The guy that went to SDCC said that I guess?  They did say they were going to do 1st series infnantry with the new articulation, so perhaps it's just a cheap thing they're gonna do, but not do new heads?  That sucks if that's the case though.  The figures need removable helmets I think.

Hasbro...  

Thanks for caring guys!  Your consumers mean a lot to you I see.  

I'm not surprised...  Personally.  I'm dismayed, and I find the way they answered you disrespectful Matt.  Too bad you had to deal with that...

To everyone out there who makes assinine remarks like "we should thank them for what they actually DO instead of complaining....  blah blah blah", I say you can see right there the respect your given from a company some folks think can do no wrong.  A big corporate "F-You!" to the only die-hard loyal collecting fanatics they have besides G.I. Joe collectors.

Nice Hasbro...  Real nice.

Welp, it sure is a busy looking package isn't it?

I expect a more subtle packaging design through other licenses, especially ones not so squarely pegged towards kids as a movie action figure line.

I'm undecided...  It is definitely using the 2 core elements to the Packaging layout we debuted though (the Lava and "scowling" Vader), which were to be expected, but it's definitely far from ordinary.

Greivous, while I know he's the big pimp of the next film, is a bit much...  That's where the packaging is maybe TOO busy to me.

Ah thse...

Well, that's up in the air, but...  I can safely say those are ALL frankenstein kitbashes 21st did.  They're a mix of BotB Germans (open greatcoat) with the coat removed and non-coat arms on....  Headswaps galore...

Frm what I assume, they're either just lame attempts at filling stuff out at the show, or they're lame prototypes for more infantry figures.  They were talking of doing the 1st Series Infantry over with the new articulation since they have the limbs to do it now...  I hope they at least put some new heads out so othey have removable helmets.

Anyway, since the re-release infantry isn't even on-tap from them, I'm wagering they're just filler because the booth had no figures really.  Or so it seemed.

I'd love head variant and new limbs on the infantry guys though...  Or BotB figures...  Or Paratroopers...  I'd buy those waves all over again with variety if they did it.  Some deco variants would rock.

They seemed to mostly display new planes only at SDCC...  And the couple tanks (the BotB Tiger I).

I want that bubbletop Mustang something feirce.  NICE plane.

Yeah a head variant Handmaiden would rock for sure.

Her ceremny figure turned out spectacular from that photo.  Very intricate.  The statue figures are dull usually, and she is dull no doubt, but they made her as visually appealing as any Padme to date.

Sculpted with different hands too, according to the Insider...  Sounds like she's seen modifications over her development.