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Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Solo: A Star Wars Story => Topic started by: Jeff on February 14, 2018, 10:48 AM

Title: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jeff on February 14, 2018, 10:48 AM
Pics from EW: (http://ew.com/movies/solo-a-star-wars-story-hasbro-toys/force-link-2-0/)

(https://ewedit.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/star-wars-toys-1.jpg?w=669)
(https://ewedit.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/star-wars-toys-2.jpg?w=669)



Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Darby on February 14, 2018, 11:01 AM
I dig it. Great likeness of Alden-Han.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Rob on February 14, 2018, 11:40 AM
I haven't seen the rest of the lineup yet, but I hope they don't keep putting unique figures with the force link readers.  I already have two of them and don't need a third or a fourth.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jeff on February 14, 2018, 11:49 AM
I hope they don't keep putting unique figures with the force link readers.

Since the sound tech is in the reader and not the figures, you'll need a new reader with each new movie to add new dialogue...  and of course they'll keep putting unique figures in there as long as folks keep buying. :P


I already have two of them and don't need a third or a fourth.

If you only have two, you're missing something...  I've got three (basic Force Link set, TRU Force Link set, and BB-8 playset).

This will be my 4th, but I've got 4 kids so now they won't have to fight over them.  Still need one for me, I guess. ;)
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Rob on February 14, 2018, 12:03 PM

Since the sound tech is in the reader and not the figures, you'll need a new reader with each new movie to add new dialogue...  and of course they'll keep putting unique figures in there as long as folks keep buying. :P

Yeah... I've never actually tried to use the things... and I doubt I ever will.

If you only have two, you're missing something...  I've got three (basic Force Link set, TRU Force Link set, and BB-8 playset).

This will be my 4th, but I've got 4 kids so now they won't have to fight over them.  Still need one for me, I guess. ;)

I suppose I do have 3 then... I just forgot that the BB-8 set came with one.  I grabbed the figures out of that one and the BB-8 is in my closet with all the parts stuffed into it.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jeff on February 14, 2018, 12:07 PM
I've never actually tried to use the things... and I doubt I ever will.

My kids like them... but in fairness, only 25% of the time are they are using them with the figures.  The other 75% of the time they are being used like Iron Man/Boba Fett style role play wrist rocket launcher type things. 
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Rob on February 14, 2018, 12:52 PM
For sure, I'd imagine they're great for kids. 
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jesse James on February 14, 2018, 07:24 PM
I still don't own one but man I bet the probot sounds cool.  I think had I been able to get as many of the SA Praetorian Guards as there were in the duel sequence, I would've bought enough of the helmet/weapon variant 5POA figures in any form to make the complete set of guards.  I probably would've picked up Rey and Kylo to custom up into articulated versions of themselves then too.  As it stood though I found one SA guard and never saw a sniff of more of that wave ever being put back out.  I made one mad tear to WM stores on the way home from a football game methodically hitting all the ones I could between the college and my house, and I found everything but the executioner which my buddy got me a week or so later.

That wave is forever the weirdest next to that last Rogue One wave I saw one time.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Brian on February 15, 2018, 05:32 PM
I actually haven't gotten one of these yet, and I really like that Han figure, so it is a good chance to pick one up.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Darby on February 16, 2018, 10:12 AM
I don't have one yet either, and this will probably be a pick up for me. Though I assume Han will be available elsewhere, so... we'll see.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Nicklab on April 12, 2018, 05:23 PM
Some of these leaked at a local Walmart store near me.  And unlike the TLJ Force Link gauntlet, this one doesn’t have a window for the figure. I think someone at Hasbro might be concerned about figures being cut out of the packaging by people who want the figure and not the gauntlet.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Muftak on April 12, 2018, 05:35 PM
So if I buy one for the figure, I can't check the paint apps first...

...or make sure the unscrupulous lot haven't already removed the figure and returned the set. At least with a window box they have to replace it with something. So much for stopping the thieves, I think this makes it easier.

This is not a cool development, and has pushed me to not being interested in tracking this Han down 'til deep clearance time. My son likes his ForceLink enough I would have considered it otherwise.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Rob on April 12, 2018, 06:29 PM
Is Forcelink 2.0 actually anything different or is it just the same thing re-branded?
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Muftak on April 12, 2018, 06:38 PM
It's new, and backward compatible to last fall's TLJ ForceLink toys. New ForceLink 2.0 figures are not compatible with the original ForceLink.

It is also supposed to be forward-compatible, and will be able to update the sounds it contains so that going forward you don't have to buy a new one every six months to keep up-to-date.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Scockery on April 12, 2018, 07:39 PM
Sure, sure, and watch them dump the Force Link feature by the end of the year.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Nicklab on April 12, 2018, 08:15 PM
So if I buy one for the figure, I can't check the paint apps first...

...or make sure the unscrupulous lot haven't already removed the figure and returned the set. At least with a window box they have to replace it with something. So much for stopping the thieves, I think this makes it easier.

This is not a cool development, and has pushed me to not being interested in tracking this Han down 'til deep clearance time. My son likes his ForceLink enough I would have considered it otherwise.

The paint apps part was what annoyed me the most.  Especially since it's Han.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jayson on April 12, 2018, 11:15 PM
The fine print: "App available through June 30, 2019"
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jeff on May 3, 2018, 10:03 AM
After a dozens of rounds of double-tap-and-move, I finally got my Force Link 2.0 through all three rounds of updates required to get the dang thing to work! Hasbro takes a lot of unjust flak, but they earned the flak on this one. 

Out of the box, the thing doesn't work. "Firmware update required" is all you get when interacting with the SOLO 3.75" figures (the only exception is the Han that came with it).  After week, Hasbro finally gets the accompanying app released... but it has no content to offer.  Another week later and the app finally has content... but it's so much content to deliver via Bluetooth that the device is constantly timing out (requiring a LOT of double-taps to wake it back up) or burning up batteries before you can get through all THREE updates it's trying to push out.

I'm a hard-core Hasbro collector guy and it took me over an hour to get it all figured out and another hour to actually get it all uploaded.  I can't imagine what the average parent is going to think when they buy this for their kid and get that "firmware update required" message.  Not a good look at all, Hasbro.  :-\
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Dave on May 3, 2018, 11:35 AM
I'm sure Target and the retailers will love this too when frustrated parents just return it.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: CorranHorn on May 3, 2018, 05:30 PM
I don't get it, I thought this thing came pre-loaded with all the sound clips for the toys. Why does it need a firmware update and app to run?
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: GrandMoffNick on May 3, 2018, 05:41 PM
This went from being $30 literally for Han instead of just figuratively.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jeff on May 3, 2018, 09:40 PM
Why does it need a firmware update and app to run?

The idea is this one is forward compatible - as new figures are added to the line, new data can be added to the reader via the app/Bluetooth instead of becoming obsolete (like Force Link 1.0 :P).  It remains to be seen whether that will happen past 2019 - Episode 9 could have a whole new gimmick.

The problem here was the reader needed to be shipped before the data could be loaded onto it, requiring a day one update to work.  Not ideal in the least.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Darby on May 3, 2018, 10:59 PM
I love the idea of the interactive figures and toys. They have absolutely missed the boat on this update, and from what I can see at retail, positioning the reader as necessary. DOZENS of 1.0 remain on deep clearance at WM and Target. 2.0 is piling up now. It's overpriced, I think, especially considering it doesn't/didn't properly work. I don't know if it would be prohibitive to extend it to the Black Series line, but doing so would probably help it out. A lot.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: CorranHorn on May 5, 2018, 11:16 AM
Why does it need a firmware update and app to run?

The idea is this one is forward compatible - as new figures are added to the line, new data can be added to the reader via the app/Bluetooth instead of becoming obsolete (like Force Link 1.0 :P).  It remains to be seen whether that will happen past 2019 - Episode 9 could have a whole new gimmick.

The problem here was the reader needed to be shipped before the data could be loaded onto it, requiring a day one update to work.  Not ideal in the least.

Thanks for the info. Not being ready day one is just as dumb as them relessing a new version when the older version is collecting dust bunnies on shelves. This gimmick will definitely not last to Episode 9
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jeff on June 12, 2018, 10:47 AM
Hasbro released version 1.9 of the app yesterday...  and it still sucks and doesn't work with all the figures correctly.  :-X

There have been a LOT of issues with the Solo product line but the roll-out and execution of this Force Link 2.0 has to be one of the biggest disappointments/failures.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Dave on June 12, 2018, 11:25 AM
Hasbro released version 1.9 of the app yesterday...  and it still sucks and doesn't work with all the figures correctly.  :-X

There have been a LOT of issues with the Solo product line but the roll-out and execution of this Force Link 2.0 has to be one of the biggest disappointments/failures.

Thanks Jeff.  Keep us posted.  I'm interested in getting the new version, but am going to hold out until they get it fixed.
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Rob on July 9, 2018, 11:02 AM
If anyone has been holding out for a decent deal on this one, it's $14.98 on Amazon now.  I finally snagged one at that price.

https://smile.amazon.com/Star-Wars-including-Wearable-Technology/dp/B072K3FQW6/ref=sr_1_1
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Muftak on July 9, 2018, 11:35 AM
Urgh...my gut is telling me to wait until all the sets sitting at the local WalMart join all the $5 Kylo Force Links in the clearance aisle.

I want the Han Solo but the reader is just so much junk to me I do not intend to spend anything over the cost of a basic figure. And if I get this before the Vintage version comes out, I will probably not go for that either.

Decisions, decisions... 
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Dave on July 9, 2018, 12:02 PM
Thanks for posting.

Have the updates to the reader been mostly fully debugged, or is it still a total mess to get this think working?
Title: Re: Solo 3.75" Force Link 2.0 with Han Solo
Post by: Jeff on July 9, 2018, 12:46 PM
Have the updates to the reader been mostly fully debugged, or is it still a total mess to get this think working?

I think we're up to version 2.1 of the app now and there are still some figures/beasts (like the Wampa) which say "firmware update required" still.

And yes, it's still a total mess to try to get your reader updated - updates are total battery drainers, if you can get them to upload at all. 


I want the Han Solo

If all you want is the Han figure in this particular outfit, just wait for the TVC version and skip this unless you can find it for under $10 or are some kind of figure completist.