JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Saga Legends => Topic started by: Scockery on August 31, 2013, 11:31 AM
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Weirdness....Legends are blind boxed in Japan, including the mission figures, I guess.
http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12337 (http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12337)
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I had heard about that months ago but I didn't realize it included MS too. I wonder if the Sith eyes Anakin is a chase figure?
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That's how Hot Toys Snap Kit figures worked... I'm not surprised since these are like checkout things over there. Kinda cool if cheap but if not (which IMO $6 is not) I'd be wary of a gimmick like that. I dig the idea kinda tho. Imagine that here? Collectors heads would explode. :D
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Anything blind bag/boxed over $3 or is too much to spend on chance, maybe $4 if it's something substantial (as in "not tiny unposeable rubber mini figures"). I got a playmobil guy on sale for $3 but I figured out which one it was based on feel. And at least those and Lego minifigs you can parts swap.
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Just catching up on some news from last week and saw these. Maybe it's because I have a soft-spot for Japanese trading figures (I <3 Kubricks :-*), but it seems like a really unique, market-specific way to get these cheaper figures out there to kids.
Like others have said, collectors here in the USA would freak out, but over there where kids are already used to these type of 'trading figure' sets, I can totally see it working.
Anything blind bag/boxed over $3 or is too much to spend on chance
Kinda cool if cheap but if not (which IMO $6 is not)
If $6 is too much for you to blind-box, be glad you guys aren't Kubrick/be@rbrick collectors then. :P
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Already up on you on that, as I never even remotely considered the Kubrick craze something I was into, haha...
I think $3 (Lego guys) is a dandy deal... I could see the SW figures for $4, and I'd be into them for that... For $6 I wanna see.
$4 burning a hole in my pocket though... I'd buy blind-bagged stuff.
I'm just getting home to read news/look at stuff thoroughly myself Jeff, and I'm looking at these again, and while I have read some negative response to these, honestly, for the right price, I think they're cool and would do well sucking kids in...
Imagine these for $4 at 5 Below! Tell me you're not buying, just to buy? I do that with Legos... why not figures to a line I already have a ****load of? Take my chances on fodder figures, or whatnot... I'd be into it. I wouldn't go nuts buying everything this way, but honestly, I kinda wish this is how these were marketed all together for a slightly lesser price... Packaging costs should get them to $4, right? Bag them... like Legos. I'd be into it.
It's, to me, like those littel fighter pod guys in bubble gum machines. I, 9 chances out of 10, would stop and put change in to get them for $.50 or whatever.
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I'd be all over something like this. I think it's cool and it reminds me a little of the vintage tomy (takara?) boxed figures. I have a friend in Japan helping me obtain a case of these.
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Talked about these elsewhere, but Hot Toys Snap Kit figures were sold this way... Not only a highly detailed action figure, but also a "kit" you built... And the Aliens ones were sold in 1/6 scale Alien eggs to boot, that you could put with 1/6 figures assuming you bought those too...
Like I said, if I already own a buttload of figures that are like these, why not $4 blind pack ones? It would only work if they didn't have carded ones IMO, but I think it's a clear gimmick that works well at the checkout and would get the kids into it... Piss off adults? Sure. But since when did that matter?
It's sorta funny how when it annoys you it's bad for the hobby. When it doesn't, it isn't.
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I think they should toss ten random figures in a header bag with 10 random accessories, sell them like army men. :P
I've bought random GI JOE figure lots from China a couple of times, and that was mostly disappointing, probably because the 2002-2006 New sculpt/G2 era lost its appeal to me. And about 7/10 of the random figures are those style. They are rarely cheap enough to take the risk (had to be well under $2 a figure for me). It's kind of like playing the lottery, only you actually get something besides a piece of paper. Some of those somethings might have factory grime on them, or even marker writing. Or the wrong parts. Never tried the random SW lots, because they are never cheap enough (and sellers who sell them seem to be smart enough to pick out better figures to sell in lots by themselves.)
So random chance has a fun appeal to a point.
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I see a lot of pro opinions on this, and nary a con, so allow me to humbly offer an opposing viewpoint.
I think blind boxing/bagging ANY toy is a complete rip-off and companies just use this stupid tactic to stick consumers with a bunch of crap they don't need or want.
Just make a good product and sell it at a good price. I don't see the need to trick someone into buying something they already have. Any sense of excitement or surprise IMO is going to be quickly snuffed out by disappointment over opening your 14th or 15th Anakin in a row when all you wanted was Captain Rex.
The only thing that impresses me about this merchandising gimmick is that any company was ever able to get consumers to buy into this nonsense. I went through this a few years ago with the Kid Robot Adult Swim stuff and it was a nightmare. You just end up having to go to eBay and overpaying to get the one you really want, and it pretty much destroys any possibility of being a carded collector.
Maybe I'm not the target audience for this, and that is fine, and if they want to sell this swag over in Japan it's no skin off my nose. But I get nervous when I see people talking this up in the States becuase it would be a nightmare for collectors over here, I truly believe that. Please let's not give Hasbro any more ideas on ways to screw us over.
Would anyone really want blind boxed groceries? or DVD's? or comics? I don't see how toys are any different.
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Would anyone really want blind boxed groceries? or DVD's? or comics? I don't see how toys are any different.
Sports/trading card collectors have been dealing with blind packaging for years and the only way (usually) to complete sets was to buy complete boxes of cards.
Ultimately, it comes down to choice. Whether it be LEGO, Kubricks, Fighter Pods, KRE-Os or whatever, the collector is the one making the decision to participate in the line.
Hasbro has given blind bag collectors for the GI Joe and Transformers KRE-O line figures "cheat codes" on each bag in each series to ensure that your aren't doubling up on any one character. Now, if only LEGO would be so generous.
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The sack feel works for me... :-X
But back to the points brought up... There's not "getting rid of something they don't want" here... It's just marketing. And the blind packaging seems to appeal to kids will, which is important IMO. I think at an under $5 price, these more simplistic figures would do well... In bags. Boxes would be trickier and theft would become a problem. But in non resealable bags they're ideal for everyone.
Feel for what you want... If hasbro doesnt intentionally short pack a figure everyone would have an Equal shot... Feel the bags for what you want as a collector or order the cases and be guaranteed a set.
As of right now, 2 packs and $6 carded stuff isn't my thing... Blind packs for a lil less though and I'd buy... And join the hoards of kids that I think would as well.
I don't collect food, or DVDs, so for me the analogy is moot... I don't collect comics either so can't really say on that, but most people I know subscribe to them anymore. But I do collect lego mini figs and have no issue getting what I want when they come out unless its an intentionally shorted figure ala Mr. Gold.
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Yeah, the sports card thing is a better analogy, I recall that was pretty frustrating too. I guess I can't help but be skeptical that they would produce an equal # of all figures and distribute them evenly. When you start to introduce that whole "chase" angle it gets even worse.
And I know it seems like an arbitrary line to draw in the sand for a grown up collector of action figures, but I'm not ready to stoop to "Weird groping-toys-on-endcap" guy. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, just not the way I want to roll with my collecting, lol) ;)
It's all good, if people dig them, enjoy.
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Lego doesn't really short too many... Certainly not to the point where they're impossible to find save for Mr. Gold, which I kind of just don't even acknowledge...
As far as groping the packaging to find what you want, everyone who collects lego does it, or trades, to get their finals... But, I'd also say SW figuers would be far, far easier to distinguish than the fairly standard Lego figure shape/size... Those, generally you need to find out the accessory or a very specific part. Much more time consuming and till you do it all the time it's really more of an art I've found. My gf's kids marvel at my abilities to get what we all want in one quick swoop. :P
The SW figures... Just a quick feel of the head would basically tell you who you have, 99% of the time.
Blind packaging is more a kid-attraction thing, but if it works why not? Plus they should by all accounts be able to do them cheaper, as packaging is expensive, especially the labor-intensive style Hasbro is using on MS and Legends right now with all the folded over stuff and taping.
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The SW figures... Just a quick feel of the head would basically tell you who you have, 99% of the time.
With clone repaints, I think those odds drop to around 75%. ;)
While I don't mind the blind packaging for most lines (Lego, Kre-O, etc.) due to the lower prices and relative lack of repetition, I would be annoyed if blind boxed Star Wars (or any) figures became the norm over here. At $6+, I want to know what I am getting, especially since I own so many of the characters already.
If Hasbro wants to try something blind packaged for the action figure line here in the States, I think small characters/droids (Mouse Droid, Salacious Crumb, Nunas) or accessory packages (like the Legends Clone lockers) would be neat. Otherwise I hope the blind packaging will remain an overseas novelty.
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The SW figures... Just a quick feel of the head would basically tell you who you have, 99% of the time.
With clone repaints, I think those odds drop to around 75%. ;)
Easiest way around that? Only 2 clones per any given wave, vary the wave packaging color like Lego does, and of the 2 Clones they can only do one Phase I, and one Phase II... Problem solved. :) Officers would work the same, so say you do a Bly figure... You can't do a Red variation of Bly in the same wave, as the helmet would be identical but the colors different. Problem solved.
While I don't mind the blind packaging for most lines (Lego, Kre-O, etc.) due to the lower prices and relative lack of repetition, I would be annoyed if blind boxed Star Wars (or any) figures became the norm over here. At $6+, I want to know what I am getting, especially since I own so many of the characters already.
That's why I say these have to be under $5... Sellable at stores like 5 Below, and more compelling to people to do as an impulse buy at the registers where they're sold.
Under $5 is, to me, a necessity... and totally doable. Hasbro's said about packaging costs in the past. I feel sure they could do a blind bag packaging cheaper than the labor-intensive stuff they have now for Legends/MS figures... Hell that stuff's more complex than even TVC figures were. Surely the price could drop enough to get them in there and still make tidy profit, especially when you factor in things like paint variations in this already cost-cut line.
There's no reason this shouldn't work out, and still not annoy the majority of collectors too much... Even though they're basically an afterthought in the entire scheme of this idea.
I'd be totally into blind bag accessories too, but who's going to buy any of that? That's a collector thing... I want more mousedroids, absolutely, but kids don't...
It's funny to me I don't even want these figures packaged where I can see them but the stupidity of them being blind packaged and slightly cheaper makes them just goofy enough for me to blow some money on. $4, to me, is the sweet spot on the idea... If they can do $4 ones in bags, I'm excited about the whole concept really.
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Astromechs and protocol droids would also have the clone repaint problem... of course, it would suck if they did a wave of 10 astromechs. :P
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Exactly... Thus, one of each per wave unless there's an R5 and an R2... again, problem solved. You could do one of each but no more, per wave. Any given wave could have clear indications, be it color or a number of the wave or whatnot, to indicate which wave it is...
Do any of us even want more than one clone in a wave, at this point? WOuld kids care, or be upset, if they weren't getting 2 phase 2 clones every wave? Or phase 1's? Or anything else?
Maybe make it a little more tasty by including a sheet like the Legos have, a checklist, but on the reverse side there's a profile of the figure, a web address, and one of those scanner code thingies to take you to a profile of the guy on a smart phone if you have one... Tie in some online crap to it to make it have even more appeal at little to no cost.
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Do any of us even want more than one clone in a wave, at this point? WOuld kids care, or be upset, if they weren't getting 2 phase 2 clones every wave? Or phase 1's? Or anything else?
I don't think anyone BUT Hasbro would be upset with only one clone per wave.
Another thought I had (and apologies if I missed this earlier) is that the figures could come disassembled. The buyer would have to pop the arms, legs, and head on, which might be a good way to lower costs and perhaps making the figures easier to fit in bags. With only 5POA they should hold up better than those Hot Toys snap kits. The only issue is that they might fall into the "building toy" category, and Lego might seize the opportunity for legal revenge.
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Hasbro was going to do that AMP'D stuff that which was sort of building toys? (Could be why they canned it.)
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I like the interchangeable parts idea actually... wish another point of articulation (waist) was there though. It'd be a "customizing" (definitely need to put quotes on it at that point) bonanza of sorts. :)
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Star Wars Assemblers?!?!
Because everyone raved about those Iron Man ones so much? Those things aren't exactly flying off the pegs, it seems to me.
That idea does not appeal to me in the slightest. If we really want to re-invent the Hasbro business model, I want better and more diverse figures, not blander, cheaper ones. Go subscription service. Or fire up the 3D Printer and let's start cranking out all those figures we missed in the Clone Wars line.
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I love how we started with simple blind-box versions of the existing $6 Legends figures in Japan and ended up creating a brand new $4 blind-bagged "build-a-figure" concept for kids/customizers. :P
Hasbro was going to do that AMP'D stuff that which was sort of building toys? (Could be why they canned it.)
The last batch of rumors/rumblings about Star Wars AMP'd did indeed have "licensing concerns" as the killer. I think Hasbro is OK if the "building toy" results in a classic action figure (ex: Iron Man Assemblers, Build-A-Droid), but if the idea ventures into "build-a-ship" then you venture into model and/or LEGO license territory. Probably need to get all that cleared through LFL and then some.
Over in Transformers land, where Hasbro doesn't have the same licensing issues, they went ahead with the AMP'd idea - Transformers Costruct-Bots (http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HTA3736C&id=HA-807301583).
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In theory price shouldn't change to make figure parts swappable but without the torso being separate whats the point ya know? Iron man is a different egg since its all similar suits. Star Wars being all unique characters makes it kind of pointless to have swappable legs and arms...
$4 to $5 price is just where I think it needs to be to make it work simcha it is obviously cheaper packaging and needs to appeal to the impulse buyer... I'm guessing that's about a buck by ditching the card... I think at current prices people would just say, "then I'd rather just have them as they are...", and forget the discussion.
I've yet to buy one but at 4 or 5 for some reason I'd grab random figures... Don't think I'd put much effort into finding what I wanted till it was an unmade character though. Anyone know what they cost in Japan? And where in stores they're sold?
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I'm not sure if they are available yet. I have a friend with family in Japan trying to track them down for me though.
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I believe they are due later this fall and not avalable as of yet.
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I'm sure COL is significantly different there but kinda just curious what they cost and stuff... They'll be a cool novelty to have Jayson.
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I'm sure COL is significantly different there but kinda just curious what they cost and stuff... They'll be a cool novelty to have Jayson.
+1 I would buy up a few of these just to have them in my collection. It's a cool bridge between my Hasbro and Kubrick stuff.
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I've been meaning to post my pics of the Vader in this series. It's the same figure as the Mission Series 2-pack.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/JesseVader08/Darth%20Vader%20-%20Carded%20Figures/IMG_0646_zps6413291e.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/JesseVader08/Darth%20Vader%20-%20Carded%20Figures/IMG_0648_zps5dcdc386.jpg)
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Still love these... Asian blind-boxed stuff is just a fun way to collect cheap stuff, to me. I've bought one of the MS/Legends items since they launched, and that was to only get that damn droid... Blind boxed ones randomly at checkout lines or in 5 Belows for less than $5 would probably have gotten me to buy a lot more stuff, just out of boredom.
If they did this with droid variations? My oh my would I be in. Just add a couple new domes to that R4-P17 (or whatever it is) and paintjob goofiness galore, blindbox 'em, and make sure they get out there to retail... I'd go ape**** I think. Especially if the decos were cooler than just a yellow style R2-D2 paintjob or whatnot.
I mean those are ok sprinkled in too, but I like the Redleader R5 type paintjobs. Something funky. Make stuff up, I don't care, I'd just love it all I think.
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I am not a fan of blind packed items, especially when they don't have some sort of identifying codes, so I personally would not be in favor of concept for figures. I have had a hard enough time finding decent paint apps on most of the Legends and Mission Series figures. Blind packs probably would have kept me from collecting the figures altogether.
That being said... I bet an OT-themed series would do well here in the States. Stormie, Luke, Vader, 3PO, Fett, etc. If Hasbro got them out for $4 or $5, either in boxes like the Japanese figures or bagged, they could be a lot of fun.
Expanding upon Jesse's droid idea, what would you guys think about blind packed Build-A-Droid parts? Imagine the parts for an astro split across four separate bags, at maybe $2-$3 per bag. That could be a solid way to expand the Disney concept to everyone.
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Expanding upon Jesse's droid idea, what would you guys think about blind packed Build-A-Droid parts? Imagine the parts for an astro split across four separate bags, at maybe $2-$3 per bag. That could be a solid way to expand the Disney concept to everyone.
That is a great idea! Anything they can do to expand the access to those things would be welcomed, I think.
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I like these figures, Mission Series figures, 5 POA.
However, I do not get the allure of blind boxing these. Does it somehow save big dollars on packaging costs so they can be offered for lots less? Do people like the excitement of opening something when they aren't sure what is inside?
It seems like all the SW blind boxed items historically have all been from Japan. Does this somehow appeal to the Japanese culture? (I know Lego does this now, but not with SW).
I much prefer to be able to inspect the figures for paint job, get a sense for the sculpt, play value, etc. Blind boxing just seems unnecessary and counterproductive.
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Like you said Dave, I think that it's such an established practice in Japan, so many collectors over there simply expect it and must enjoy the 'unknown' aspect.
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Yeah there's tons of that stuff in Japan but also China. For a lower cost item I like it.
I like the Build A Droid part idea too... I think it'd be kind of fun and different.
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However, I do not get the allure of blind boxing these. Does it somehow save big dollars on packaging costs so they can be offered for lots less? Do people like the excitement of opening something when they aren't sure what is inside?
It is fairly common in Asia from what I've read, so consumers have come to expect it. Given the wacky game shows that we often see coming out of those markets, I get the sense that their culture is more into gambling or games than most. But I think its less about the consumer and more bout the manufacturer. If you're trying to buy a dozen figures and have to buy 18 packs (or more) to get them all, there's a nice chunk of incremental sales that wouldn't have happened with clear packaging. That probably more than makes up for people who quite the line out of frustration. They're counting more on the very loyal buyers and impulse purchases than the middle-ground of consumers, whereas we tend to do the opposite in the US. Honestly, I bet Hasbro would sell more product here if they switched to blind box star wars. Retailers probably like it too, as its more sales for them and the inventory probably clears out faster as consumers have the chance to get something they want in every package.