I am really hoping this is true, as I am a huge fan of these figures.  In the beginning, I didn't know if I'd like the designs, but once the series started in the fall of 2003, I really fell in love with the way the SJ team had interpreted the characters.

I'm thinking that some of the figures will include the "new" versions of Obi-Wan and Anakin from Season III, animated versions of Grievous' Bodyguards, and anything else that is supposed to show up in Season III (which I know nothing about otherwise). 

If I don't get a Snow Bunny Padme or Obi-Wan in Clone Armor for this line, though, I'm going to be very disappointed.

Not to get off on another RS/Wise-bashing tangent, as he's never done anything to me personally, but RS has always come across as the "company shill" on the majority of stuff Hasbro does.  I can't remember the last time that they haven't bent over backwards to say how great Hasbro is and how every single product is "wonderful" or "long awaited" and how Hasbro is "really listening to the collectors."

There were two really telling occurrences recently though that finally drove the nail into RS.com's coffin as far as I was concerned:

1-A few weeks ago, there was an article on some website (I'm sure someone here can point it out) that talked about the relationship between LFL and the SW fansite community, and how other franchises (most notably Peter Jackson's LOTR camp) had embraced fan sites while LFL seemed to keep them at arm's length.  T'Bone from starwarz.com was great as always, and was eloquent in his commentary on the relationship (or lack thereof) between LFL and fansites.  Then they bring in our buddy Philip, who said (and I'm paraphrasing):

"I guess we picked the wrong franchise to back (referring to SW over LOTR, I guess).  TheOneRing.net took their design and aesthetic from TFN."

Wise also made allusions to being "important" and how he should be treated as such and not dismissed by LFL.  Basically, his comments came across as "I should be treated as a god, even though I am basing my fandom on how important I am perceived rather than actual actions, and I'm jealous of the other sites that do things a lot better than I do."  At least that's how I read them.

2-Notice how RS.com hasn't really mentioned the Clone Trooper 4 packs from EE since they were first announced?  I wonder if that has to do with the fact that another site was partially behind getting the set made and certain site owners were jealous that they didn't have a hand in this?  And it's like that with everything: RS swore up and down that they would not post leaked photos from ROTS toys and whatnot, but when JD.com, GH.com, Sandtroopers, TheJawa, Yakface, etc started showing them and leaving RS in the dust, what do they do?  They crank them out faster than you can say "I'm only in it for the money!"

I'm not a big fan of people who think that because they run a website (and don't even have a hand in the updating of said site unless they need to get their personal point across), they are somehow "more important" or a "bigger fan" than other people.  We're all fans (or we are all supposedly fans), and we should do things to help each other out; not use their sites to shill for companies so they can make a buck off the fans (as in PW's autograph group he started up a few years ago).  His little "Backed the wrong franchise" comment just reinforces the fact that he is not a true SW fan (there I go judging again) and is, truly, only in it for the money and his own inflated ego.

Mods, feel free to delete this post if it's too inflammatory.  The last thing I want is to play a part in starting a war on the internet. 

Basic Action Figures - $5.99
One of each for me, and every one will be opened and *ahem* displayed. 

Deluxe Action Figures - $9.99
One of each (eventually).  I'll probably just get the Anakin/Vader and Palpatine/Sidious to start with.  Obi-Wan will wait until clearance, I'm sure.

Battle Arenas - $19.99
I'm still thinking about when I'm picking these up.  They will probably be somewhere low on the list, I'm sure.

12" Figures - $19.99-$49.99
I'll get Palpatine, Vader, and Grievous, but nobody else.  Hasbro doesn't exactly have the best record on female dolls, especially those who have weapons to hold.

Vehicles - Battle Vehicles - $14.99
One of each, which will be opened.

Vehicles - Assault Vehicles - $19.99
One of each, which will be opened.

Vehicles - Gunship (Large) - $29.99
No thanks on the Gunship (one is more than enough), but I will get an ARC fighter.

Playsets - $29.99
I'm going to wait on this one, but I probably will end up getting it eventually.

Unleashed - $14.99
First things I'm going for, they will be opened, and no, I'm not kidding.

Force Battlers - $9.99
No thanks.

Galactic Heroes - $4.99
No thanks (I've managed to stay away from them with the exception of the Bounty Hunters and Vader/Obi-Wan)

Jedi Force - $7.99
Maybe if they do a Palpatine, but otherwise, no.

Darth Tater - $7.99
I'm debating on this one.

Attacktix - $5.99 to $9.99
No thanks.  Sure to join the ranks of Epic Force, the Cruisemissle Trooper, and the Jango Fett wrist launcher in the "It should have been in the clearance aisle to begin with" file. 

Role Play - Various Prices
If they do a Mace Windu lightsaber with the Episode II/III hilt instead of the half-Maul hilt, I might pick one up.  If they do a Palpatine saber, probably that too.  Other stuff, no thanks.

The Battle Droid that comes with the Generator Complex playset is, from what I can tell, the same Battle Droid that came in the foreign BD two packs with the regular action figures.  The figure has articulation at the hips, shoulders, neck (the lean-forward type that is typical of the regular carded Episode I BDs), and the typical ball-jointed head.  This version of the BD is missing a backpack (even though there is a hole for it), and his gun is actually part of his arm sculpt (think along the lines of the Clone Wars Clone Trooper three packs).

For completion's sake, the Battle Droid that came with the Hangar playset is articulated at the head only, has a backpack, and his gun is a separate piece, just like the regular carded BDs.  It also has the magnet in its waist for the break-apart action, but other than that, his upper torso and lower body/legs are two solid pieces.

All in all, I don't know if I'd give 30 bucks for 20 Battle Droids from the Generator Complex, given the lack of a backpack and relatively static pose.  At this point, I would think that finding loose TPM Battle Droids would actually be cheaper and give more variety.

I found Aurra Sing and IG-88 at an out of the way Wal-Mart on the east coast earlier this morning.  They had one of each (no sign of the Stormie anywhere, dammit) alongside the usual complement of 100 Obi-Wans that aren't being clearanced for some strange reason.

Both of the figures look really nice (although I think IG-88 looks as if he's been hanging out with Bender, if you get my drift*), particularly Aurra Sing's "base" which is fairly involved.  I'm not a big fan of the character, myself, but the figure looked nice enough for me to pick it up.

Okay, but here's my gripe: Hasbro is letting the Unleashed line fall prey to the same problems that plague the regular action figure line, namely rubbery plastic.  The thing that I liked about the earlier figures I have is that they are sturdy.  IG-88 and Aurra Sing are anything but.  The plastic they used on IG-88's base in particular is so rubbery that it took me nearly 20 minutes to fit all the pieces together to where they would stay put.  Even now the stand is a bit wobbly if I try to move it.  Aurra Sing's base is sturdier, but she is made out of that same rubbery plastic they've been using on the action figures for the longest time and they seem to have abandoned the sole sturdy element (those silver metal bars) completely for her, meaning she probably will start to droop over time, as the only thing holding her on the base is a plastic peg that fits in her knee and a small loop that her other shoe fits into.

My biggest problem is this: for the longest time, the "Assemble as shown" notation on the backs of the packages was enough.  Sure, it took a little bit of guess work with the more involved bases (Mace and Boba come to mind), but it was doable.  Not with these guys.  It took me about 20 minutes to put IG-88 together and another 30 to get Aurra together.  And she even comes with instructions inside that don't make things easier.  I don't want to toot my own horn, but I'm a fairly well-educated guy, and her base in particular was giving me fits.  It makes those POTF2 sticker sheet instructions with no actual art and just the outline of the sticker look like they are detailed and written out phonetically.

Still, despite IG-88's penchant for bending and the horribly rubber plastic, this has been yet another wave of great looking figures (still no Stormtrooper, and this just wasn't my day for finding the Clone Army of the Republic/Empire all around) that makes me regret collecting this line.

*yes, it's an alcoholism joke

Very short list...

*UNLEASHED (Loose/Mint/Complete is acceptable):

-Jango Fett (2002)
-Darth Vader (Unmasked/Redemption; 2002)
-Yoda (2003)

If anyone can help me out, I would really appreciate it.  Thank you so much for looking!

The first thing I thought of when I saw the Polis Massa (I don't know if I'm spelling it right and I'm too tired to check right now) was of the early conceptual art for the Kaminoans.  If any of you have "The Art of 'Attack of the Clones'", check out the section on Kamino.  One of the early designs that was discarded looks almost identical to the Polis people.

Maybe it's a similar situation to how the Geonosians were based on early conceptual artwork for the Neimoidians.  One of my favorite little things about the Geonosians (something that was originally a Neimoidian trait) was that they designed the Battle Droids in their own image.  Very cool, I think.

But yeah, it looks like there is more old artwork being used for different things.  Thankfully none of it is Doug Chiang's curvy hood ornament crap that got thrown out on Episode I, but this is neither the time nor place for that discussion.

"Jedi Rocks."  Greedo could shoot first from now until the end of time as long as they got rid of that piece of **** song.  To quote the bard Homer (Simpson), "John Williams is rolling over in his grave."  Why they couldn't have just done an "expanded" performance of "Lapti Nek" is beyond me.  Add all the new musicians and background dancers if you want, and while "Lapti Nek" may have sucked, it's "Comfortably Numb" next to "Jedi Rocks."

Oh, and the SE "Hey Kids!  I'm Boba Fett!" moment still makes me groan 8 years after the fact.