This is interesting to read as Hasbro is making a few of these ideas in the basic line. Octuptarra Droid, Droideka with shields, and Han Solo with Bespin Torture Rack, so why would any one want to pay $10 or more of what they are offering to us for $7? With that many of these ideas could be worked into the basic line, like NEW Owen Lars with Moisture Vaporator, Nute Gunray w/ Mechno-Chair & Darth Sidious Hologram, C-3PO (dirty deco) with Oil Bath, Death Star Trooper with Control Room Console, etc.
If they do bring back this line I would like to see some bigger items included, like Admiral Ackbar w/Endor & Death Star 2 Hologram table, Geonosian Picador with Orray, Death Star Gunner with Cannon, etc. Even it is bumped the price up a bit, it would still be cool.
roron corobb
It certainly does make you scratch your head a bit, huh? Well, I spoke with Hasbro's Derryl DePriest about that very subject at Celebration 4. And he said that there are a number of figures in the Basic Figure line that could easily go over to an Ultra/Deluxe figure card or price point. The ones that we spoke about included Han Solo with torture rack, Yoda with Kybuck and Hermi Odle. But because of the needs of the line those figures were put in the Basic Figure assortment. And keep in mind as well: those figures cost more to develop and produce. Hasbro averages out the costs of each figure across the line, and Han Solo with torture rack was one of the most expensive figures to develop in the 2007 line.
The thing that is keeping Hasbro from doing a Deluxe figure line is the VTAC line. Those figures are priced right where a Deluxe figure line would be. Also, you need to factor in the fact that the VTAC line takes up space in the retail planogram that a Deluxe figure range would occupy.
Now with news via the Q&A process revealing that the Vintage figure line is on hiatus in 2008, we may very well see the return of a Deluxe figure line. Hasbro is shifting the focus of their premium sculpted figures to Evolutions. And the Evolutions line occupies a different price point as well as a different location in the retail planogram. Given those factors, we might have Deluxe figures back in the mix next year.