Very happy to see this version of Slave I offered at last.  And I've REALLY, REALLY been wanting a new Han Solo in Carbonite for years.  The POTF2 one just didn't suffice. 

Based on the imagery from the showroom, I guess that none of the exclusives were on hand to be photographed.  The boxed photo of Slave I looks pretty cool, but I'd like to see more of it.  AND the Carbonite block.

Very glad to hear about this set.  I'll definitely be picking up a few of these 2-packs, just like last years AT-ST crews.  I had been hoping that Hasbro would follow through and give us the 2nd Scanning Trooper as a basic figure as they had originally planned.  But it seems that since large accessories with basic figures are a thing of the past, this is the best avenue for doing that.  I'm okay with that compromise.  I just hope that with these 2 new Scanning Troopers we get new heads for both, and not one portrait that's the same as the TLC RED version.

Interesting bit on the exclusives.  We got announcements for exclusives at the following retailers:

-Toys R Us (Biggs X-Wing, Geonosis Gunship)
-Target (Vader origin 4-pack)
-K-Mart (Ewok catapult, Scanning Trooper 2-pack)
-Amazon (TIE Interceptor, TESB Slave I w/ Han Solo in Carbonite)


No mention whatsoever of a WalMart exclusive.

It looks like they're specifically trying to evoke the setting of the Carbon Freeze Chamber in TESB.  Darkness combined with that orange lighting. 

Honestly...it looks pretty drab from that single photo.  I'd like to see some more imagery.

Interesting.  I definitely like the droid.  It actually reminds me a bit more of the search droids on Utapau in ROTS more than anything else.

My hopes?  That Hasbro can find a balance in the 3.75" figure system to keep it both viable AND profitable.  So what does that mean?

Distribution that works. 
Working closer with the retailers to get figures, etc to stores in a timely and even fashion on a regular schedule.

Balanced Character Selection / Case Packs
We've seen what happens when some fan oriented figures come to market in too high of a quantity.  The fact is that I can STILL find a Yarna as well as a Willrow Hood on the pegs of a TRU store if I really wanted to.  Those figures are now going on 4 - 5 years old.  And this is clearly a case where short-packing is appropriate.  That 15th cantina alien probably needs to be put in this category, and probably needs to be short packed.

There's also a major fact that collectors need to get over:  core characters NEED to stay in the line with a higher degree of regularity than might suit our own sensibilities.  Sure, collectors may have some 30+ renditions of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Yoda or Obi-Wan Kenobi.  But these are the characters that sell to parents & kids.  If we want the line to remain viable & profitable, these characters need to be readily available to the much larger market segment that is parents & their kids.


Aside from that, what am I hoping to see?

Continuing on with realistic versions of Clone Wars characters.  The rumblings are that the Clone Wars animated line is coming to a close.  So why not continue the trend of making realist versions of Clone Wars characters?  We already have three of those in Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, plus another two scheduled in Mace Windu and Rex.  There are definitely some prime candidates for figures from seasons 4 and 5 that might sell reasonably well.  Darth Maul?  Death Watch?  Savage Opress?  Darth Sidious?

From the OT, there's still plenty of fertile ground.  I can think of a number of renditions of core characters that would be most welcome.  Throw in some of Jabba's goons, Imperials and Rebels and you've got some good 2nd & 3rd tier characters.  And with the PT?  TPM and it's characters need some time off after the TPM 3-D fiasco.  AOTC and ROTS still have some options in terms of character selection, but Hasbro needs to be incredibly selective.

Also, how about working in some more video game characters?  Figures from KOTOR and SWTOR have been pretty well received.  Again, they need to be done very selectively, but if Hasbro is going to keep up with the broadening Star Wars fan market which is very much about video games, they need to approach this market segment seriously.

Quote from: Jeff on February  7, 2013, 10:20 AM

Good luck and safe travels to all the guys heading to NYC for the show this weekend.  Hopefully the weather doesn't cause a cancellation of the fan media event.   

Hopefully it isn't cancelled, but there aren't any excuses if JDs rep can't make it 

The Hasbro investor presentation is scheduled for 8 AM tomorrow morning.  That's scheduled to be streaming on the web.  I don't know if it's a different presentation from the one for the collector media, however.

Given the timing of that particular presentation, things should be okay regarding the weather.