Reading in other threads about how people would have liked to have seen the OTC "officially" start in January of this year instead of the fall, and so on, got me to thinking about how I would have done things differently. So, in my own little fantasy world, where I am a viking, I began to formulate how I would have handled the year of 2004 from a product perspective. Keep in mind this is just my own opinion and is based on pure fantasy (although many of the products I mention are/have actually being/been released). I'm curious to hear what others would have done in their own fantasy world.
Also, in this fantasy world, I am happily married to Rachael Leigh Cook, but I digress...
HOW I WOULD HAVE HANDLED THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY COLLECTION:
Basic Figures: there would be nine waves throughout the year, consisting of the following:
JANUARY: HOTH WAVE
-Luke Skywalker in Hoth Gear
-R-3P0
-Hoth Rebel Soldier
FEBRUARY: TATOOINE WAVE
-Luke Skywalker-Jabba's Palace
-R1-G4
-R2-D2-Jabba's Sail Barge
APRIL: JABBA'S PALACE WAVE
-Lando Calrissian-Skiff Guard
-Rappertunie
-Holographic Luke Skywalker
-Tanus Spijek
-J'Quille
MAY: BATTLE OF YAVIN WAVE
-General Dodonna
-Gold Leader
-TIE Fighter Pilot
-Captain Antilles
JULY: STAR DESTROYER WAVE
-Bossk
-Dengar
-Admiral Ozzel
AUGUST: ENDOR WAVE
-Han Solo in Endor Gear (soft goods coat with helmet)
-General Madine
-General Lando Calrissian
SEPTEMBER: DAGOBAH WAVE
-Spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi
-Dagobah Luke Skywalker
-Yoda
-R2-D2 Dagobah Damage
NOVEMBER: CLOUD CITY WAVE
-Cloud Car Pilot
-Lobot
-Princess Leia in Bespin Gown
DECEMBER: EPISODE III SNEAK PREVIEW WAVE
-General Grevious
-Second Gen Clone Trooper
-Wookiee Warrior
This would give a grand total of 31 regular carded figures, all on the OTC cards with backgrounds (even the EIII figures would have a corresponding background).
VINTAGE STYLE FIGURES: would be released in waves just like they are being this fall, in the months between basic figure waves. Same assortments:
MARCH: A NEW HOPE
-Luke Skywalker
-Han Solo
-Princess Leia
-Obi-Wan Kenobi
JUNE: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
-Darth Vader
-C-3P0
-Lando Calrissian
-Yoda
OCTOBER: RETURN OF THE JEDI
-Boba Fett
-R2-D2
-Stormtrooper
-Chewbacca
DVD SETS: if they had to do this, the four packs would include the four figures from each VOTC wave in a box (uncarded, for people who weren't all that concerned about the packaging, as nice as it is to look at, or for people who wanted to keep one VOTC in the package but still have a loose one as well). For the sake of completion:
A NEW HOPE BOX SET: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK BOX SET: Darth Vader, Threepio, Lando Calrissian, and Yoda
RETURN OF THE JEDI BOX SET: Chewbacca, Boba Fett, R2-D2, and Stormtrooper
ULTRA FIGURE ASSORTMENTS: these would be the same figures already released this year (Rieekan, Threepio, Wampa, Jabba, Denizens, and Ewok) using the same strategy already used. In addition, a new Han Solo in Carbonite with pack-in Ugnaught would have been released for the Cloud City wave and a new Biker Scout with Speeder Bike would have been released for the Endor wave. Just my dream you know.
VEHICLES: I don't know about these, but I would have definitely released a new Cloud Car with a head-swapped CC Pilot at some point.
Note: There would be no Hall of Fame series at all released. There would be no need for them (and there is no need for them) given the presence of the "Ultimate" VOTC series. Also, the old X-Wing, TIE, and Falcon would not be released as they are now because the sculpts for all three are outdated and pitiful given today's standards. If they wanted to release something nice, stick with the Red Leader X-Wing at TRU, a TIE with accurate solar panels at WM, and a totally new Falcon from the ground up at another retailer (I can't imagine who would take it on though).
So that's my dream world. The land of no repacks, no useless resculpts, and no insulting of the consumer intelligence. Anyone else living in a dream world?