JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => The Vintage Collection => Topic started by: speedermike on January 4, 2011, 10:56 AM
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It's that time of year again! Time for imaptient goofs like myself to start daydreaming about Toy Fair. At this point, I know to expect less than we were once used to, because Hasbro holds stuff for SDCC. While I don't understand this, since Toy Fair is for retail buyers, and SDCC for Fans, I have come to accept it.
I hope to see a few new waves of TVC and TCW figs. I'm really hoping to see Dr. Ezavan painted up. He's been my most wanted fig for years.
I am curious to see if there will be any special products for the Blu-Ray release. While I'm not into packaging gimmicks, the Target Exclusive 9 pack format would be great. Maybe one for each trilogy?
We have heard rumors of another big vehicle, but nothing concrete. My guess is the Attack Shuttle from TCW. Maybe there will be some small vehicles we aren't expecting. Who knows...
Feel free to jump in any time.
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Thanks, have been looking forward to this topic.
Considering we're somewhat in the doldrums right now, I actually am hoping to see a deeper offering of the Spring and early Summer releases.
I want to see at least 2 full waves beyond the TCW Hevy wave, and not just Commander Lock and the non-zombie Geonosian that have already leaked.
I absolutely want to see/hear about the Big Ship for 2011, and I pray they follow their own directive and choose an "ICONIC" vehicle and not some stupid, boring shuttle. (Ok, I'll take the T-6, but that's it, the rest are just flying taxi cabs - boring)
Twilight or the Bounty Hunter Assault ship from the Lego line uber alles! ;D
I also want to see at least 1-2 midsize vehicles beyond the Jedi Turbo Speeder, and maybe a new Battlepack or Deluxe Vehicle set or two. (Dathomir Speeder, please!!!)
If I'm really being optimistic, I would love to hear that the comic packs or mail-in promotions for the TCW line have been resurrected for 2011 as well.
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I just filled out my top 30 OT wants poll thing they have going on over at RS.com so I pretty much know what I want - all ROTJ figures.
Seriously, I really looked hard at all the lists of the lists they had going on over there and there really wasn't too much from ANH or ESB tickling my fancy. There are a bunch of EU figures I would like to see some day too - but first and foremost, in the EU category, I would like to see more figures from the Ewok movies, KOTOR, and to a lesser extent - Ewok/Droid cartoons.
I have not had time to really go through the PT lists yet, but I don't thin that there is much there I am interested. A couple of resculpts maybe - Jar Jar, Pannaka, and Maul - but I don't think I want them more than any of the yet to be made Jabba goons.
So, if I could get my way, I would like to see more ROTJ goodness at TF. Fozec would be cool. And of course I want the next big thing to be the Sail Barge. ;D
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I hope we get to see the final product of Bastilla Shan, I've been looking forward to her figure since she won the fan's choice voting.
I also hope we get to see the big item for 2011 - that's the one item they always show. They have to, since Toy Fair, as Mike pointed out, is for the toy buyers, they have to be shown the big marquee item for this year. We saw the Big AT-AT last year, the Turbo Tank the year before that and the year before that we saw both the AT-TE and the BMF. So whatever the big item is, it will be there.
I hope we'll get at least one wave of The Vintage Collection beyond the first mixed wave of mostly repacks, two would be fantastic, but to be honest, with the AOTC wave not hitting until this month sometime and then the first mixed wave hitting sometime in February, I wouldn't be surprised to find that we're getting only one more Vintage wave after that before the big push starts again in the Fall. Hasbro's gotten too used to having big gaps of product in the Spring, and unless something has changed, I doubt 2011 will be any different. It would also be great if we get some kind of update on Wedge and when he's going to make it into the line.
I also agree with McMetal - since the waves are smaller (4 or 5 figures each) I think we should definitely get two waves minimum beyond the Heavy/New Obi-Wan wave. I hope we'll also find out the fate of Commander Jet in the line.
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Speaking of the big, long gaps in Hasbro product during the spring, I just wish they would let us know about it ahead of time, AND admit it is so that whatever movie stuff they are putting out does not have to compete with SW.
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I'd love to see an ESB repaint of the new Slave 1.
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The Rebel Fleet Trooper?
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I'd love to see an ESB repaint of the new Slave 1.
I would too, but it is probably still too early for that since TRU is still sitting on a pile of them. If the CW version was a Target exclusive it would have sold through or been clearanced out by now - then I could see it being shown at TF.
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The long awaited Death Star playset, Sail Barge and a killer Theed Palace (wakes up from dream).
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How about some Galactic Heroes Hasbro? We have absolutely NO more upcoming releases (besides the AT-ST Kohl's snafu - who's going to get it?)
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I assume we'll see the new packaging for 2011. ::)
I know Lucasfilm forces the packaging changes but it's just sad that you can still go to stores and see every kind of packaging from 2008 to now.
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I think Hasbro has stated that the TVC package will stay that way for two years.
But, yes, I agree about how crappy the pegs look with cards from 4 collections. I think it makes SW unappealing to a newcomer becuase it makes the line so complicated and involved.
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How about some Galactic Heroes Hasbro? We have absolutely NO more upcoming releases (besides the AT-ST Kohl's snafu - who's going to get it?)
I'd love to see some more of these because my son really enjoys them. He's more into the GI JOE ones though. As for the AT-ST set, do plan on getting it if I ever see one.
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How about some Galactic Heroes Hasbro? We have absolutely NO more upcoming releases (besides the AT-ST Kohl's snafu - who's going to get it?)
I'd love to see some more of these because my son really enjoys them. He's more into the GI JOE ones though. As for the AT-ST set, do plan on getting it if I ever see one.
What's up w/ the AT-ST set anyway?
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I assume we'll see the new packaging for 2011. ::)
I think Hasbro has stated that the TVC package will stay that way for two years.
True, but that doesn't stop LFL from changing the CW and Legends packaging to match whatever the theme for CW Season 4 will be. They've changed the CW stuff every year, I'm guessing Diddly is right and we can expect another change this year for those two lines.
What's up w/ the AT-ST set anyway?
No one knows for sure. The were some pretty solid rumors that Kohl's balked at the last minute and decided not to take the set, but the Q&A sessions ended for the holidays before anyone could confirm what happened with Hasbro.
I'll ask them about it at Toy Fair (if we don't hear something before then).
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The Rebel Fleet Trooper?
Oh, yes. We should be seeing that in all it's glory. :)
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More logs please... :)
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More logs please... :)
Ditto, LOL.
I'm not too excited abotu TF this year. I'll just be happy enough if they show the BIG vehicle. Anything else NEW would be gravy.
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Habro would do well to show as many card mockups of TVC as possible, just for fun.
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What's up w/ the AT-ST set anyway?
No one knows for sure. The were some pretty solid rumors that Kohl's balked at the last minute and decided not to take the set, but the Q&A sessions ended for the holidays before anyone could confirm what happened with Hasbro.
I'll ask them about it at Toy Fair (if we don't hear something before then).
That would be fantastic Jeff. Those poor little GH don't get much love from the Q&A. ;D
As for 3 3/4", it would obviously be great to get confirmation on Wave 6, perhaps even Wave 7?
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According to the Wal-Mart computer system the wave consists of:
Luke Skywalker (Dagobah - Rumpred to be SS Luke with no gloves and flight cap)
Clone Trooper (?)
AT-RT Driver
General Lando
Weequay Skiff Master
Fi Ek Sirch
I like 4 out of the 6. I am so cloned out that I cannot get excited about clones anymore. I hope they show 2-3 waves, some new vehicles (Wedge SS and a new Skiff would be great!) and we will see the new "somewhat" big one with the $80 retail. I really would love to see some new Taun-Tauns but that would not be until SDCC me thinks!
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Mark me down for a Death Star Playset. I swear to God. The line has been around since 95 and they still haven't made a decent one yet. Every other toy company in the world would have been all over this but not Hasbro! If you really want to get vintage Hasbro make one somehow, someway. You are in the toy industry. Be creative and git it done! It's got plenty of "screen time" and playability for God's sakes. I know asking for the Tonnika Sisters is to much but a Death Star Playset. C'mon!!!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing Dr Evazan, WalrusMan, Rebel Fleet Trooper, SkiffMaster Weequay, and probably some others I'm forgetting. Oh, Bom Vimdin. I don't know if we will but I'm hoping.
I assume the big vehicle with the "Attack Shuttle" from the Clone Wars.
I was hoping for some tie-ins to the Blu-Ray release, but now that we know it's not coming until September that's probably not going to be revealed in time.
I'm not really expecting much at TF this year.
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Mark me down for a Death Star Playset. I swear to God. The line has been around since 95 and they still haven't made a decent one yet. Every other toy company in the world would have been all over this but not Hasbro! If you really want to get vintage Hasbro make one somehow, someway. You are in the toy industry. Be creative and git it done! It's got plenty of "screen time" and playability for God's sakes. I know asking for the Tonnika Sisters is to much but a Death Star Playset. C'mon!!!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing Dr Evazan, WalrusMan, Rebel Fleet Trooper, SkiffMaster Weequay, and probably some others I'm forgetting. Oh, Bom Vimdin. I don't know if we will but I'm hoping.
I assume the big vehicle with the "Attack Shuttle" from the Clone Wars.
I was hoping for some tie-ins to the Blu-Ray release, but now that we know it's not coming until September that's probably not going to be revealed in time.
I'm not really expecting much at TF this year.
I agree with you. It's criminal that such an iconic setting, which was a hallmark of the original line, has not been reattempted because of bs "playpattern research." You make a good toy, kids will play with and buy it, pure and simple. With two Falcons and AT-ATs, you'd think they'd think they could knock it out the park. It can't be a confidence problem from design angle. I guess they're just too worried about selling it. Fortune favors the bold.
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As a wish list....it would be nice to see an ESB repaint of the new big Slave I, new Taun Tauns, a few waves of vintage, a few waves of CW, and a Death Star Playset ;).
Realistically....I hope we see at least a couple waves of figures from each of the lines, some stuff we haven't already seen. I'm guessing we'll get a look at the "big" vehicle for this year, which I believe via the Q and A Hasbro said would be CW-based. I'd like to see some other new vehicles, hopefully with at least 1 or 2 being re-dos of the OT ships. A couple little surprises would be nice too, but as already mentioned, Hasbro often saves the majority of stuff for SDCC. I'd also like to know for sure if we're going to have another big lull this year. I'm hoping not (I think they said we'd have a break, but not as bad as previous years), but I'm just guessing we will with Hasbro also having Thor, Cap, a continuing Iron Man line, Transformers in addition to their Spidey/Marvel Universe stuff, GI Joe, etc.
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I don't know - I can totally see why Hasbro is apprehensive, to say the least, about a Death Star play set. Honestly, as a collector and self proclaimed Star Wars nut - a Death Star play set doesn't sound very exciting to me, a collector who buys almost 1 of everything from the films - so why would a kid buy in?
I have read about peoples "modular" ideas, and still, it doesn't sound very exciting to me as, for instance, the Sail Barge. Which would I rather have - a series of long, gray corridors with doors that shut sealing off sections, a gunnery, a jail, a briefing area, a garbage area, etc - or, a Sail Barge with lots of opening compartments to reveal areas of a ship where Luke and his buds could battle their way through it all the while throwing off ugly Jabba goons into the pit below?
Even though it sound like there are more pieces/areas to the Death Star idea the Sail Barge just sounds a lot more exciting to me.
Especially when I try and picture an in package box for both sets. I think what Hasbro would/could do for a Sail Barge would look way more appealing than a Death Star. If it doesn't look cool on the box - kids aren't going to be screaming for it.
I would like to hear others thoughts on this.
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Honestly, I think our one and only shot to get a Death Star playset of any sort may be with the 3D release of ANH in what...2015? They've made that cryptic note in one of the Q and A's that the theatrical releases bring about opportunities to try other things they wouldn't normally try, and I could possibly see this being the big holiday item for maybe that year. I mean, they are starting to cover a lot of the big OT offerings already with the Falcon and AT-AT, and I think something like the DS would stand a better shot than an even larger Sandcrawler, Imperial Shuttle, etc. The only other big OT draws I could think of is re-done starfighters (X-Wing, Y-Wing, etc.)
That being said, I do think if we see a DS playset, it is going to be more of a "playset" than a bunch of hallways, etc. that you put together. I just don't see us getting anything like the examples we've seen of customs that look amazing. It is going to be something in the same vein as the Falcon/AT-AT/AT-TE, etc. where it can look pretty nice, but still be fun...and in a way, that's probably how it should be. I could see something along the same line as the LEGO version, where it is a Death Star, sphere-like shape, but has different "rooms" on each side. At least I think LEGO had a version like that within the past few years.
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I think a Death Star playset is a no brainer. If they take the kind of approach with one like they have with the Falcon, AT-TE, Turbo Tank, AT-AT, then they should have a real winner. And it would open the gate for them to explore some other environments as well.
Seriously, every kid I know (and it's quite a few now that I'm a parent) gravitates towards my son's playsets when they come over. These are Imaginext, etc. And when they see my Star Wars collection, they're usually most interested in the Death Star playset that is custom made from Owen D. They literally freak out about it - just on New Years some kids were over; one is 13 and said "holy ****" when he saw it, and asked when that thing came out. He and is buddy also were amazed by the Tantive IV set and Star Destroyer bridge and said "They should sell these at Wal-Mart".
Hasbro's missing the boat here. We've been waiting patiently for 15+ years now, and still nothing. Instead they can invest in crap sublines over the years that always end up in clearance sections, but a good playset or two that would serve as environments for all these figures we keep spending our hard earned dollars on? Heaven forbid. ::)
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Wasn't there some sort of a Death Star type thing at last year's Toy Fair or Comicon that nobody is supposed to talk about or something? I remember someone saying RS had pics a long while back....Or maybe I'm confused.
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The only thing I'm aware of that was revealed has been the (http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/09Proto_DeathStarMock_TN.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/image.pl?http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/09Proto_DeathStarMock_Full.jpg) Death Star Mock-Up (Clicky Image) we posted in mid-2009. It's a big set, spherical... Kind of like the Lego set and Palitoy Death Star. I wouldn't be shocked if they had other designs around too though, of course. They say they look at a lot of different things, so I imagine the "Mock-Up" closet is pretty full of different ideas.
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Paul posted this last year in the What are you Collecting thread...unless it was some crude joke?
My plan at this point is to collect:
Star War Vintage (Original Trilogy stuff) figs and vehicles (and the modular Death Star Playset they told us we couldn't show pictures of yet. ::) )
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Man, I really wish another company would make modular scenes displays. I really believe there would be a market for it. I am getting tired of having to make them myself as I just do not have the patience or time anymore. Chewie nailed it with all of their crappy sub lines that you know are doomed to fail. Invest in the bread/butter of the line 1/18th scale, it always comes out on top.
Going to mass retail is not going to work, I have agree with Hasbro here. In order to make it compelling to all audiences they would be forced to hit a certain price point and they would have to include play features that will comprise the design too much. They would either become too much like Lars Homestead/Sarlacc (BTW - I loved both of those items!) or the Mustafar play set. The former was not compelling enough to kids so sales suffered and the latter was too "toyetic" that it did not appeal to adults. They need to take a MOTU Classics/Mattel approach, I believe if they went that route they can make this work. Sideshow would be more than capable to pull this off if they were licensed and it would be so much better than their subpar 12' line with the same lanky out of proportion body.
I actually like the POTF DS hall, I would not mind that format if they were a little larger and more detailed.
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Paul posted this last year in the What are you Collecting thread...unless it was some crude joke?
My plan at this point is to collect:
Star War Vintage (Original Trilogy stuff) figs and vehicles (and the modular Death Star Playset they told us we couldn't show pictures of yet. ::) )
That would be a joke, since every site (and ours) would've gushed over any such news.
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I have read about peoples "modular" ideas, and still, it doesn't sound very exciting to me as, for instance, the Sail Barge. Which would I rather have - a series of long, gray corridors with doors that shut sealing off sections, a gunnery, a jail, a briefing area, a garbage area, etc...
Well as one who has posted the modular idea several times, I have to whole heartily disagree.
Just take your own post here. You're focusing on the "boring" parts. The halls and doors are just connecting pieces. The real gems would come from the large and medium playsets like:
Hangar Bay (finally a place to put our Falcon/Imperial Shuttle)
Emperor's Throne room
Red Control Room
Garbage compactor (and yes this is a fun set and could be done even better than before with moving walls)
Prison ward (includes receiving area, long BLACK hallway with lit-up floor, and a few cells, one of which includes Leia), this set would also connect to the garbage unit via a tube/duct that you could toss figures into
Gunners Stations
Conference room (finally something proper instead of the cardboard thingy we got a few years back)
Trench (that Luke and Leia swing over), can also double as the trench Obi-wan depowers the tractor beam on, so double modular.
An elevator to connect stacked sets.
Plus of course long, short, and corner hallways, and doors.
These sets can be stack high (to a safe height, likely not bigger than 3ft.). And/or connected side by side.
So YOU can make your own Death Star modular playset however YOU want and as BIG or small as YOU want.
See, it's not just about hallways. Yes, those in and of themselves would be boring.
Were Hasbro to make the modular sets, they would have to commit to several years of this. And it would be better to say what would be coming out than to make us wait. This way those of us with plans to make a large set can plan our dioramas out.
This is TOTALLY feasible.
Each large set could come with either two small hallways or one long one, each medium set could come with a small hallway or corner one. Those hallways would be VERY cheap to produce, yet and a level of modularity that would be unprecedented among toys today.
While I agree, I'd love a Jabba's sail barge, that would be way to massive (if done right) and too pricey. But the modular Death Star would be affordable as sets. Ultimately it would be much more expensive over time than ONE ship such as the Sail Barge. But that's the beauty in it. We get these sets at affordable costs individually, yet Hasbro yields a ton of money over time.
I think their big problem is they want as much money NOW and aren't thinking about a longer term prospect like the modular Death Star.
Anyway, aren't you just a little bit swayed or excited about this idea now?
I'm still stoked and really wish I could pitch this idea to Hasbro and get them to not only believe in it, but make it happen.
-Sal
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I'm all for modular, but heck - something like this would be amazing too!
(http://www.owenscustoms.com/palmerstar19.JPG)
At least I think so.
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Paul posted this last year in the What are you Collecting thread...unless it was some crude joke?
My plan at this point is to collect:
Star War Vintage (Original Trilogy stuff) figs and vehicles (and the modular Death Star Playset they told us we couldn't show pictures of yet. ::) )
Wow, sorry about that, I planted that Landmine almost a year ago and just now somebody stepped on it... Princess Di was right.
There was no playset shown. As far as we are able to report... ;)
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The real trick to a mudular set would be to make parts that can be used more than once. How many conference rooms do you need? One. How many gunner stations could you use? Two, maybe three...
How many Trash Compactors? One.
How many control rooms/hallways? Many...
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I'm all for modular, but heck - something like this would be amazing too!
At least I think so.
You are not alone, I would be all over that.
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I was just reading that Star Tours is opening up again in May with the new design.ride update. I wonder if there will be any figure tie-in, and is that something we'd see at TF?
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As long as Hasbro's making it, I'd put it in the, "maybe" category because store exclusives sort of don't get the love there except in the slide show. I'm assuming the only 3.75" scaled item likely to be there is the big Star Speeder though, which Hasbro's not doing so that won't be at Toy Fair unless Disney has a booth in the Javits Center.
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I hope we see that 3.75 scale non Hasbro Starspeeder they showed drawings of at SDCC. I like the generic look of it, I really hope it gets made and shown!
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The real trick to a mudular set would be to make parts that can be used more than once. How many conference rooms do you need? One. How many gunner stations could you use? Two, maybe three...
How many Trash Compactors? One.
How many control rooms/hallways? Many...
I'd say they could make a basic "frame" for most of the sets, if not all. Then the walls/etc could be pieced in, kind of like how they slid into the old Terror Drome for those rooms (though I'm envisioning something much more detailed and spacious than those little rooms). The Conference room though? Could be used for generic rooms too, which I'm all about.
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There's a military playset that I really liked, and think it'd work for a modular style anything, basically. It's hyper modular though. Seriously. Every piece comes apart, and can be stacked, put in front, behind, left, right... Walls are thin stamped detail plastic, they slide into slots on the top of the floor pieces and plug into slots on the underside of the floors. Unfortunately the set's rare, as I'd probably buy 30 of them if I had access to them, haha. I got some extra pieces from someone, and felt lucky to do so.
Cost Vs. Risk is Hasbro's largest concern with playsets... This is a cost-reducer for sure, but it's also not the general level of complexity/detail that a Star Wars item usually requires. It's neat though, and really it's the ideal design for modular style playset design.
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I hope we get to see the final product of Bastilla Shan, I've been looking forward to her figure since she won the fan's choice voting.
Well, it appears more likely that our first look at the production version of Bastila Shan, the Fan's Choice Figure Poll winner, will be at Toy Fair. Especially in light of the news that ToyFare magazine has ceased publication (http://icv2.com/articles/news/19231.html). Whether or not their website gets to make the reveal is questionable.
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During the Forcecast it's interesting that DD sort of mentioned that they feel like the Vintage Collection is righted a little bit, but that they controlled the line somewhat, especially through Christmas, so not as much shipped and deluged the pegs.
DD directly addressed that the $1 difference on the pegs was a reason for them controlling this more strictly now. Vintage ultimately suffered then, due to the CW and Legends having the lower pricepoint, as not as much came out through the holidays.
I've never heard of them really controlling how much of a line gets out like that too often in the past. This direct competition is playing some hell with the line I think. That said, no question was asked (so far) about figures competing with figures between the three lines out at one time. Would've probably been an ideal time to ask that.
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Seems a little quiet the past few days in advance of Toy Fair this weekend. No new leaks, no rumor reports, etc.
When should we expect the news to start breaking? Hasbro does their presentation Saturday, right?
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Yes, the Hasbro collector event is tomorrow afternoon. With today's digital age, I'm sure you'll see some sites facebooking and tweeting things first, followed by all the sites getting pictures up late Saturday afternoon/night. I don't have one of those newfangled smartphones for instant posting of pics/tweets, but we'll do our best to get info out as soon as we can. ;)
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I don't have one of those newfangled smartphones for instant posting of pics/tweets, but we'll do our best to get info out as soon as we can. ;)
Who needs it, as long as we have each other we can overcome anything, even technology! :)
This site is still the best!
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As long as you have dry socks we will manage.
I'm worried Jesse might snag the RFT proto and run out of the Hasbro show though... make sure he wears a T-Shirt from one of the otheR sites.
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I'm wondering if the paint they use on their display examples is atleast drool resistant?
Run Jesse Run!
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Jeff--what are you guys doing tom'w night in NYC. I think I've made the offer before, but can I buy you a drink?---Mike
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Jeff--what are you guys doing tom'w night in NYC. I think I've made the offer before, but can I buy you a drink?---Mike
The year I don't go? Oh Man....
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Jeff--what are you guys doing tom'w night in NYC.
Resizing, thumb-nailing, and uploading scads and scad of Hasbro pics most likely. :P
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Make Mike help. Slave labor. ;D
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I hope we see a lot of new stuff and not just the stuff leaked recently. It would be nice to finally the delayed TPM wave, even if it is coming later in the year.
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Following some Tweets and Facebook posts...here's what is new
Remote Controlled Republic Fighter
CW Castas and Vehicle
Echo Base Trooper, Bastilla Shan and Ponda Baba!
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Prototype WHite Fett is the 2011 Vintage Mail-In
Salacious Crumb & Mousdroid Comic Con Exclusives? If they're $15 I'm pissed.
EU Figures AND Deleted Scene Figures? What scenes?
Captain Fordo
Exclusive Star Tours Sets for the ride's Relaunch
Remote Controlled Republic Tank Due to Hailfire's Success
The Echo Base Trooper's huge news to me. Very cool.
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Also add in a Revenge of the Jedi carded set of I guess repacks, in a Death Star Box, at San Diego Comic-Con... Slave Leia, B-Wing Pilot... I didn't catch everything. Also Salacious and the Mousedroid are on small cards. Weird.
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Not Star Wars, but Indiana Jones News... I just **** my pants.
The lost Raiders of teh Lost Ark Wave is happening as a 2011 San Diego Comic Con Exclusive celebrating Indy's 30th Anniversary! :) bitchin'!
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I darn near choked on my drink when I read the IJ wave 5 news! It will be expensive I'm sure but much better than trying to hunt them down on the secondary market for a small fortune.
I'm actually kind of happy about the Revenge of the Jedi carded figures. I"m not sure how the Death Star thing will look? At least it sounds like you can buy the regular figures at retail. I'm happy that they are making a carded Slave Leia.
I did see the Echo Base Trooper picture somewhere. I thought it looked pretty good. I'm happy with most of the pictures I saw. Although they are kind of faded from the slides.
All in all some good stuff. Oh and the DVD packs actually looked great IMO.
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I am all sorts of hot in the pants about that indiana jones sdcc exclusive!!!!
of the new figures shown, I am liking them all a lot - but I am really feelin Logray
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Rob and Jeff are back from the show...expect pics soon :)
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Rob and Jeff are back from the show...expect pics soon :)
Rob is working on pics... I'll post some comments in here as I can. I can also answer questions...
My TF'11 highlights were Bespin Han and the news that the "lost" RotLA wave would be a box set at SDCC. :)
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Any other word on the rest of the Ponda Baba wave (besides what was shown)?
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My TF'11 highlights were Bespin Han and the news that the "lost" RotLA wave would be a box set at SDCC. :)
Jeff - did they show a pic of the RotLA box set?
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My Questions:
How's the weather?
Were you able to get pics without threat of a "rumble"?
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Jeff - did they show a pic of the RotLA box set?
No, the packaging wasn't ready. The pic they showed just had the 6 figures and the details (SDCC exclusive, celebrating Indy's 30th, etc).
Any other word on the rest of the Ponda Baba wave (besides what was shown)?
Just Bastila, Echo Base Dude, and Ponda were shown - the rest will be shown at SDCC since they weren't quite ready yet.
How's the weather?
Were you able to get pics without threat of a "rumble"?
The weather is nice, 30something and not too windy. The picture taking process was rowdy as usual, but we managed to take over 700 pics between the two of us I think.
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I saw in the reports that TVC is supposed to consist of 35 figures for 2011 - I wonder if that is counting the "mixed" wave with Luke/Han/R5/Gree/etc.. If so, we probably know about quite a bit of the lineup for the year, don't we? Lots of good stuff to look forward to the way it sounds, and with prices what they are, I'm sort of glad we're not getting 50+ figures - it is just too hard to keep up.
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I agree, there doesn't seem to be an unreasonable amount of product...
Highlights...
Dr. Ezavan looks awesome, and is as good as I hoped.
Rebel Fleet Trooper comes with a cap, a leg belt that the pilots wear, a pole, and the scanner device used by the guy in the Yavin temple. Beyond cool.
Each new figure looks fantastic...Kithaba, Bom, Logray
No new small sized ships?
No Savage Oppress and CW beyond what we have seen?
Han Bespin's jacket is very blue
More Indy!!
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While we're all waiting for Jeff and Rob's socks to dry, there are some pretty good pictures in the official site slideshow page. (http://www.starwars.com/vault/collecting/toy_fair_2011/index.html)
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Just curious....the "35" vinatge figures in 2011 starts where?
The AOTC wave?
The ANH wave?
Any info would be cool.
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Yeah - speedermike asks a great question - where was the Savage Opress figure?
I would have expected to see him at Toy Fair. Maybe they're holding him back for SDCC?
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We have the slides up now...
http://www.jedidefender.com/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Conventions/Toy_Fair_2011/Hasbro_Star_Wars/Collector_Presentation
Rob/Jesse are still working on the other pics.
Just curious....the "35" vinatge figures in 2011 starts where?
With 2011 Wave 1 (Han/Luke/R5/etc)
So, that's
6 for Wave 5
6 for Wave 6
6 for Wave 7
5 for Wave 8
3 (that we know of) for Wave 9
26, which basically leaves 1.5 waves (rest of Wave 9, Wave 10) for SDCC. Then it gets a little foggy on if the Revenge Carded figures are being counted in that 35...
where was the Savage Opress figure?
I would have expected to see him at Toy Fair. Maybe they're holding him back for SDCC?
Savage Opress if they make one (;)) would be shown at SDCC.
They only had 2x waves of CW ready for TF (Wave 2, Wave 3) and they weren't a surprise thanks to being leaked a few weeks ago. Sounded like they were close on Wave 4, but decided to hold it. There is a chance that Wave 4 could get out before July though...
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I love the Star Tours set with the droids, I am going back and forth on the Vader set.
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Did they show or make reference to any mid-size vehicles for the coming year, in either line?
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Our galleries are filling up so check them out. I'll be working on images all night it seems. Rob and Jeff took some really good photos. Check out our Toy Fair 2011 Hasbro Galleries (http://www.jedidefender.com/toyfair2011.php) as we get them filled up here.
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At least there were a few surprises - the "Barada" update, Echo Base trooper and the Revenge cards. Nice to see some of the rumored figures like Panda Baba and Dr. Evazan. Now to wait until SDCC.
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I'm pretty happy with what was shown. I was worried we wouldn't see any TVC beyond the Luke Dagobah Landing wave, and we got that and then some. The Bespin Han/RFT wave looks amazing, and the Echo Base Trooper was a nice surprise later in the year. Not a lot shown vehicle-wise, but I'm sure we'll see some more surprises at SDCC. I have a feeling we might have something similar to the Dewback/Jabba sets, and personally I'm hoping for a Taun Taun (although that might be further out). I'm a little surprised we didn't see more from CW. Sure, I'm more interested in TVC - and I'm sure they will have a lot more at SDCC with a new season on the horizon - but it seemed like CW was all the rage during Season 1, but it has calmed down slightly since then. I thought they would at least have shown Savage (again, probably SDCC), coming off that arc and the movie showing push.
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I was a little surprised by the disparity with CW, too, but then most of what we saw was spoiled for us a while back. I think CW will have a big push at SDCC as the new season starts. Or maybe it has evened out with TVC.
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I thought they hinted months ago in a q&a repsonse that there wouldn't be a whole lot of new Clone Wars offerings in 2011.
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It is fair to recognise the effort indepiction of several caharacters, like the clones from clone wars: latest Fordo and company. I hope Hasbro could swap those heads onto teh classic stormies, and develop a new mold for the imperial stormtrooper which highlights the articulations and relief of the armor pieces.
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I was looking at "The Making of Star Wars" book to see something about the Rebel Fleet Trooper.
I never niticed but in the Yavin medal ceremony a very few have the cap on, and a few have the "ammo" leg belt. Amazing details.
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I thought they hinted months ago in a q&a repsonse that there wouldn't be a whole lot of new Clone Wars offerings in 2011.
I don't recall that, but DePriest just said as much in that snippet interview running over at Sandtroopers. He indicated they want to focus the line a little more and not delve into the background characters as much. He really seemed down on Duchess Satine's chances of ever getting made.
I guess they'd rather just do core, essential characters like El-Les (1 appearance to date ) and the Aqua Droid (1 appearance to date).
Yeah, I think there was a dramatic disparity in the attention given to TVC versus TCW. Aside from the Deluxe sets, there was 0 new product shown for TCW that hadn't already leaked weeks before. Makes me wonder if the line isn't in trouble somewhat this year...
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I thought they hinted months ago in a q&a repsonse that there wouldn't be a whole lot of new Clone Wars offerings in 2011.
I don't recall that, but DePriest just said as much in that snippet interview running over at Sandtroopers. He indicated they want to focus the line a little more and not delve into the background characters as much. He really seemed down on Duchess Satine's chances of ever getting made.
I guess they'd rather just do core, essential characters like El-Les (1 appearance to date ) and the Aqua Droid (1 appearance to date).
Yeah, I think there was a dramatic disparity in the attention given to TVC versus TCW. Aside from the Deluxe sets, there was 0 new product shown for TCW that hadn't already leaked weeks before. Makes me wonder if the line isn't in trouble somewhat this year...
How could the line be in trouble with a show on the air?
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I don't think the line is in trouble at all, but it definitely seem to have lost a little bit of "heat" - whether that is with the kiddos, collectors, or both. I think it is a pretty well done line personally, with a lot of neat stuff. In a lot of ways it is handled like the original vintage line where the core characters are always available, they sprinkle in the interesting aliens and background characters, and the more obscure (or in this case female or non-actiony characters) are sort of kept to a minimum. I could see a focusing in though, that makes sense - I was surprised at the lighter showing at Toy Fair, even considering the leaked figures.
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I was looking at "The Making of Star Wars" book to see something about the Rebel Fleet Trooper.
I never niticed but in the Yavin medal ceremony a very few have the cap on, and a few have the "ammo" leg belt. Amazing details.
Can you scan anything to show? I don't own that book to check. I like that he has a cover... Very neat. The level of military detail in the first two films is really unparalleled in anything but maybe Star Trek, as far as sci-fi/fantasy stuff goes. It's really impressive. ROTJ is sloppier, but still has a bit of detailing.
As far as Clone Wars goes, I think you'll just see more at SDCC... Like I said, this show's about selling products. I think Clone Wars sells itself more. SDCC is has more of the multi-media dynamic, and so I think you'll see more CW then. I think the line's healthy, the show's healthy, and the toys are doing pretty good too... They unveiled all these Deluxe. That's a pretty new direction. Another RC vehicle, yet another "Big" ship... I don't think it got slighted that badly at Toy Fair.
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Clone Wars sells itself
Yeah, it's more a case of CW being put on "cruise control" for the Spring. There won't be a lack of product like we've seen in some recent years, but CW will be focusing more on cranking out what they have (to catch up on demand for some of the popular figures) instead of charging forward with more new.
I guess I can't blame them, it sort of copies Kenner's old plan of keeping the older figures on the pegs. I mean, if kids are keeping the line profitable by continuing to buy the same Anakin, Obi-Wan, Cody, Rex why bother adding in too much new until you need it?
(and oh yeah, it's still profitable - CW was far and away the largest chunk of that $510 million in sales. CW isn't going anywhere anytime soon...)
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How could the line be in trouble with a show on the air?
Because if it's really the cash cow they used to always claim it to be, you'd think they would be expanding the offerings in 2011, not scaling them back. If you have a successful product, you don't make less of it, right?
I agree it seems weird, because the show continues to pull in strong numbers, but there is a growing dis-connect between the direction the show is heading and the direction Hasbro wants to steer the line, IMO. It's really getting more and more difficult to argue this is a kid's show anymore, in terms of its subject matter and tone. But that's the very demographic Hasbro seems desperate to cling to with its toy offerings, specifically young boys.
I think maybe Hasbro is somewhat resistant to embrace the current flavor of the show, and so it forces them into an increasingly restrictive creative box because they've got these demographic blinders on. I guess the growth and development of the show creatively is difficult to translate into a marketing plan for a toy line. I honestly think they have done a pretty good job managing this line, but I see signs they are grappling with where to head in the future.
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Because if it's really the cash cow they used to always claim it to be, you'd think they would be expanding the offerings in 2011, not scaling them back. If you have a successful product, you don't make less of it, right?
I thought the Clone Wars line had a fair bit on display, and perhaps exceeded what was shown at the 2010 Toy Fair. There were ten new basic figures (eleven if you count Jet), SIX deluxe sets, a new R/C vehicle, and a large playset vehicle. That's just action figure stuff that isn't out yet. Considering there are more lightsabers, blasters, new pre-school toys, and a new General Grievous mask, I'd say the line is pretty expansive.
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Not to mention what's coming in SDCC... You will see something, I'm sure.
Add in that what's been "expanded" on the Clone Wars line isn't doing all that well. When they branch out beyond the mains, are they really killing at retail? I was just saying to my gf tonight while she let me do a post-Valentine's Dinner Toy Run, that I'm shocked at how many Embo's, Cato's, and other second or third-tier characters I see. Embo was hard to find very briefly, but at this point he's been a pretty stale figure here. He was as collector-friendly as it got though.
Like Jeff said, putting the line on cruise control selling what is working for you, and what is making you a pile of dough because the molds are tooled or partially tooled, can be a good way to build things up for better (IE: New, and maybe dare I say "riskier" things) down the road.
But like I said too... RC Vehicles, a big assed ship/playset for $80, an entire Deluxe Figure/VEhicle line dedicated 99% to Clone Wars... If that's poor representation, then I don't know what good must be like.
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But like I said too... RC Vehicles, a big assed ship/playset for $80, an entire Deluxe Figure/VEhicle line dedicated 99% to Clone Wars... If that's poor representation, then I don't know what good must be like.
Here's what I would have considered "good":
1) Show AT LEAST the Army of the Republic battlepack, which we have already seen packaged images of online. No reason not to show that one.
2) Show us the BARC with Clone Trooper Jesse Deluxe set which appears to be completely MIA. (Even though we have again seen packaged photos and 1 guy on GH claims he actually found one at a Walmart) I mean, they had the stupid tactial droid set on display on that thing has been out for months. Hasbro, to my knowledge, has never even officially acknowledged that Jesse set.
3) The current TVC line has Waves 4 and 5 hitting now. But Hasbro was cool enough to not only show Wave 6 and 7, but also Waves 8 and 9! By contrast the TCW line has Wave 1 hitting now. But Hasbro only showed upcoming Waves 2 and 3, nothing from 4 or 5. So TVC got previewed FOUR WAVES out and TCW only got previewed TWO WAVES out.
I'm not going to belabor the point, but I have seen the same comments posted on other forums, so it seems some other folks have noticed the disparity as well. I'd gladly pass on some of the Deluxe set previews to have gotten a look at more figures. (Ahem...Oppress)
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The best news from the show for me was that there appears to be no major drought this year with a consistent flow of figure waves up to June. This makes me very happy and keeps me engaged! I really hated that over the past few years, they finally got it right again!
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I agree that I think TCW is on cruise control. Why make new figures when older ones will do? I think it makes solid business sense.
In fact, it's probably why the line is a cash cow. Little tooling cost, lots of sales.
It is a shame that they don't go batsh*t crazy with the line, because there are some really cool designs. Toydarian Soldiers? Yes, please!
Also, didn't a Q & A say that they couldn't get Savage out fast enough and look for him in the spring? Or May? I can't remember.
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I am not disappointed at all by less animated CW stuff, in fact I welcome it. It means more realistic!
If you listened to the last Forcecast DD has acknowledged that realistic CW figures are on the way. Take a look at Embo and the new Cad Bane, they can actually pass for realistic figures. The possible slowdown can also be part of the larger conversion plan to go all realistic with CW long term. Some may see this as a stretch but look at the Joe Renegades figures, they are made to be realistic but the design is based on the animated show. When Hasbro gets on a product idea/theme they usually carry it across several lines. (GH, RP, Scales)
I will leave my above analysis with this, while the CW cartoon is popular now will it be so 5 years from now? By going all realistic it will ensure a lot more mileage out of the tools they are investing in because realistic SW figures will always be in demand. The cartoon not so much. Most collectors are not clamoring for animated Droid figures or animated Ewoks but they are clamoring for realistic versions of the characters that appeared in those cartoons. Same goes for the current CW cartoon. (You can even reference the 2004 CW Cartoon in my analysis, we all want more characters from those shorts but not animated versions. We are all happy about Fordo!)
Think about it.
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But why not make the cooler, niche figures now before some move to realistic where they stand NO chance of getting done?
Let's be honest, Hasbro mismanages the hell out of Star Wars.
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But why not make the cooler, niche figures now before some move to realistic where they stand NO chance of getting done?
Let's be honest, Hasbro mismanages the hell out of Star Wars.
Long term investment.
While Hasbro dropped the ball on some areas (comic Packs and release timing) if they mismanaged that badly the toys would not be number #1 like they are.
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I am not disappointed at all by less animated CW stuff, in fact I welcome it. It means more realistic!
But are we really getting less Clone Wars? Currently there are 52 figures (includes those shown at Toy Fair) in the "Shadows of the Dark Side" assortment. The 2009 series (red cards) had 50 figures, and the 2008 blue carded series only had 27 figures. Considering the realistic lines (Legacy, TAC, etc.) seem to end up with 50-60 figures I'd say the Clone Wars collection is doing pretty well. Both the red cards and the current series have had around 20-30 repacks, so the number of new figures is around the same. If we see fewer than forty releases between May 2011 and May 2012, then I'll agree that the line is starting to be scaled back. As it stands now, the Clone Wars line seems to be doing fine.
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I am not disappointed at all by less animated CW stuff, in fact I welcome it. It means more realistic!
ures. The possible slowdown can also be part of the larger conversion plan to go all realistic with CW long term. Some may see this as a stretch but look at the Joe Renegades figures, they are made to be realistic but the design is based on the animated show. When Hasbro gets on a product idea/theme they usually carry it across several lines. (GH, RP, Scales)
It's a stretch. :) Renegades figures is a safer bet than making them animated. All cable/dish packages probably carry Cartoon Network. Do they carry The Hub? Does anyone watch the Hub? Remember those animated Wolverine and the X-Men figures that died at retail, the Marshalls in my area has them for $1.00 each and they still sit there. Also, GI JOE collectors vs. Star Wars collectors = a pond vs. a sea. If GI JOE had a huge market, they'd be making Renegades figure in animated style. GI JOE is a second tier line at this point.
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Actually the Renegades/Clone Wars comparisons are all pretty moot, from both sides...
Clone Wars and the animated style was set by Lucasfilm, not Hasbro. Hasbro designed 3 styles. Completely animated, completely realistic, and a hybrid. Lucasfilm picked the hybrid because it represented the media well enough, but they axed completely realistic during the line's inception. They're apparantly loosened that stance, for one reason or another.
Renegades is obviously a Hasbro property. They're choosing to do realistic for one reason or another. I asusme just so it blends better with the line they've made for 30 years.
Also Hasbro's said they're going to look at some main characters to release in the realistic style for Clone Wars... I don't think animated is going away anytime soon, they're just doing something for collectors knowing that the vast majority of them don't collect the animated figs but a lot of them want realistic versions for their collections. I'm ok with that, and them not getting too deep into realistic CW figures. Just the main guys/gals for the most part.
As far as Hasbro mis-managing the line, I can't say I agree. What is it now, 16 years and they had their best year since 2005 (which was one of, if not the, best year they ever had?) last year? From the perspective of business, they're not doing a lot wrong. From the perspective of collectors, they seem to rarely do anything right. Nothing's perfect, but I really can't say they're mismanaging the line.
And again, as to the lack of CW stuff at Toy Fair...
There was a big assed ship, the focal point of the show. There was a big RC tank, a high-ticket item. There was a number of new unseen, not rumored Deluxe packs that wow'd both aisles of collecting. There were some figures that we'd seen in one capacity or another, but there were some new figures.
Clone Wars sells itself. This is a trade show to sell ****, so they're probably not as focused on it, and you'll see a little more Clone Wars in Summer at SDCC. And if not, well like was said, the line's on cruise control for a while, while they milk it for all they can. It's not like there isn't anything new, there is quite a bit, but it may just be scaled back some compared to previous years because some of the obscurity is pegwarming and they'd like to milk the line financially for a bit. Clone Wars seemed pretty great to me though.
Realistic didn't see one new vehicle... Not one. they saw a few exclusives (very few) and some new waves of figures, which is what's required to keep collectors hanging on, and to wow retail buyers (who the show's ultimately for) into strongly supporting the line for the year.
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Yeah, that's the one thing - aside from the waves of figures (which were great, don't get me wrong), there really wasn't a whole lot for the "realistic" TVC line. Vehicles and all that are next to nothing, and the other stuff (like the TRU Rebel Deluxe set, the Blu Ray sets, etc.) are just repacks - cool or not. Vehicles were slim to none aside from the big one and deluxe sets, so it sort of evens out in a way as well.
I do think there are still surprises on the way (and at SDCC of course). I sort of get the feeling we might see that repainted Slave I in the last third of the year, but you never know. Plus, there are always exclusives that are shown later, like the Jabba, Dewback, and AT-ST sets of the past. I'm pretty sure those weren't shown at Toy Fair in their years, although I don't remember for sure.
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I probably just missed this somewhere (or forgot), but do we know which wave the delayed Wedge figure is supposed to be a part of now? I couldn't remember if it was Wave 6, 7 or 8 - or if it had even been confirmed yet.
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An answer that won't make a lot of folks happy... Wedge is part of Vintage Wave 3, Revision 11 (http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HS97568C11&id=HA-807301583), which should ship in May between Wave 6 (March) and Wave 7 (June).
Wedge is not slated to be part of Wave 6 or 7 (yet). They could add him to a future revision case but, as of Toy Fair, unfortunately the only place to find him will be in a box full of stuff everyone already has. :(
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He will be hard to get but there is some really great news, the Sandtrooper and the EP3 White Clone are coming back in the wave 7 case! So if you missed those two hard to find figures you will have another crack at them!
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They don't mismanage Star Wars but they do make head scratching moves. That is one of them. Let's re-release the ultra pegwarming Sandtrooper and Clonetrooper. I am kind of concerned that those 2 realistic army-building figures pegwarm that badly. They have a couple of flaws but not that much to be rotting there on the pegs like there are. I was hoping to get a carded orange-pauldron sandtrooper in the future. I doubt that happens now! So, please Hasbro show as many of the movie figures as possible so these buyers can scarf them up!
Since this was a show for buyers I don't think they needed to push Clone Wars at all. The buyers know what sells well and right it's that stuff. They don't NEED to show tons of new figures. They just have to make sure they make certain ones like Boba Fett, Anakin, Kenobi, Ashoka, Cad Bane, and whatever funky new clonetrooper everyone digs. And like it was mentioned already they did make their focus on the Republic Attack Ship. I don't care for it but guess who in my family already wants it. Yep, my 6 year old where this stuff is primarily aimed at..kiddios. Yeah, the show is getting a bit darker in tone but he still eats it up. It's still pretty basic - bad guys vs good guys. LOL.
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Jeff...what item or slide got the biggest reaction during the presentation?
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Keeping in mind that the event really is a mishmash of all sort of collector sites, I'd say the three slides that generated the most buzz were...
1) Return of Indy - Derryl snuck it in at the start of the Joe presentation and there were pretty much no rumors it was happening. Lots of murmurs and even some applause (ok, the applause guy was me :-[).
2) Starscream Skystriker - again, lots of laughs and reaction. I think because it drew from so much (TFers, Joe, the Joe V. TFers Marvel comic mini) it got a big reaction.
3) The "Return of Marvel Legends" preview slides. The way the Marvel guys reacted it was like they were showing pr0n up on the screen. Bucky Cap generated a lot of buzz, so did the mention of BAF Terrax.
Star Wars was the first presentation of the day and because of a very full event agenda (they slotted all the Q&A time to the Joe/TF Hub cartoon team) they rushed through things pretty fast and didn't linger too much on any slide.
I guess the biggest reaction slide for SW was the one with Nom Anor... and that was just a lot of groaning at the idea of EU on Vintage.
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Hell, I met and stood up and cheered!
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The best news of this fair is the achievement in detail of the latest figures. Considerably head sculpt have improved in regard to the demands of adults collectors, who always wish more movie accuracy, a best depiction in body sculpt, clothes, weapons and articulation.
Perhaps some toys are the first of a experimental wave: Like echo and rebel fleet trooper; but in them the mold is acquiring balance between sculpt and articulation.
As other guys have said; some figures are pre painted or hand painted on tf2011 display; in that regard, to my favorite character: I wish Dagobah Landing Luke would be presented at last with these complete features
-silver butons of utility belt, holster
-the rank badge at chest left side painted, like in tlc snowspeeder version
-the little buckle bellow belt at left side, waist level, must be painted silver.