JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => The Black Series 3.75" => Topic started by: Jeff on January 5, 2015, 10:58 AM
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I'll kick off this thread with some news sent to us by Hasbro today...
Hasbro will be exhibiting a variety of fun and exciting Star Wars products from across its portfolio of brands, including Star Wars action figures, Star Wars Galactic Heroes and more. There will be no toys based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Star Wars Episode VII) shown at Toy Fair this year.
No Ep7 stuff. Probably not a big surprise since it's so early... and it gives them something exciting to tease at Celebration in April with a bigger Ep7 reveal at SDCC.
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Yeah, prototypes make you think that they're focusing that way with the line, and I doubt there's much exciting news between now and then... Toy Fair suffers, or at least the Star Wars end of TF suffers. I'd wager other lines from other properties dominate it and Star Wars is the footnote. Ironic, given the year's end has a film, but not terribly surprising either.
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Gotta love something like this. I can almost see someone like John Cleese coming out in a Monty Python sketch to say something like:
"We formally announce that the announcement that you are hoping we are prepared to announce will not be announced at all. At a later point in time we will then make an announcement to announce to you that there will be an announcement."
That being said, I can't say that I'm surprised. The timeframe for the toy line (as we know it) for THE FORCE AWAKENS has been thrown off by the Christmas release date. We used to see a movie line about 3 months before the film release (that was the lead time from Toy Fair to the theatrical release of REVENGE OF THE SITH). But this lead time between Toy Fair and the theatrical release of TFA is more than 10 months. This announcement that no TFA product is going to be shown makes sense. What will we see? I think Toy Fair is going to be dedicated to Rebels/Saga Legends and the remained of The Black Series. So what will Hasbro show from those lines? I'm hoping for a Ghost vehicle for the 3.75" system as well as some ROTJ themed TBS figures. But beyond that? Who knows.
As for the line for THE FORCE AWAKENS? I think we'll start seeing something at Celebration in Anaheim. That's in April. I think Hasbro will show off a preview wave that will probably hit retail around August. After that? Just looking at the calender...
-Star Wars Weekends - May 15 – June 14, 2015
-San Diego Comic Con - July 9 - 15, 2015
-New York Comic Con - October 8 - 11, 2015
Do any of those events work with how Disney/Lucasfilm and Hasbro want to roll out the licensed merchandise? There's also the matter of how does the toy line roll out work in conjunction with the holiday shopping season. Product will probably need to be initially offered at the end of October or in early November.
Given that time frame? I think Hasbro will reveal the line either at San Diego Comic Con or at some standalone press event in August or September. Comic Con has basically served as a mid-year Toy Fair, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the TFA line revealed at that time.
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I wonder with JJ Abrams leading this film if we'll even see much previewed or pre-released merchandise like we've seen in the past from a Lucas led company.
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That's got to be a point of great debate. Not just with JJ Abrams, but with Bob Iger (head of Disney), Kathleen Kennedy (head of Lucasfilm) as well as Hasbro, other licensees and all of the retailers.
You get the sense that the filmmakers want to preserve some sense of surprise. That seems to be a mantra that has been coming from a lot of the cast. And that's a different stance from what we saw during the PT era of films. But there's also A LOT of money on the table when it comes to the licensed merchandise.
I think Hasbro and the other licensees are going to strike a balance. The initial releases will probably be tailored in such a way that there will be some release that takes advantage of the holiday shopping season, while keeping things spoiler free.
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I wonder with JJ Abrams leading this film if we'll even see much previewed or pre-released merchandise like we've seen in the past from a Lucas led company.
The initial releases will probably be tailored in such a way that there will be some release that takes advantage of the holiday shopping season, while keeping things spoiler free.
I think those 6" prototypes are a pretty good indicator. I think a preview wave with stuff form the teaser trailer - chrome/black stormtrooper, BB-8 ball droid, masked Kylo Ren, etc - would be fine and wouldn't give away anything we haven't already seen...
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I expect a preview wave(s) as well. It's clear from Bob Iger's comments there is some debate on showing/not showing as he pushed for the trailer and JJ Abrams apparently was reluctant. As Iger said, it's a movie with an enormous investment riding on it ($4 Billion) and once a proper trailer drops in May or so, we'll be awash from that point forward in media awareness. I expect quite a bit of product in advance of the movie, September, October at the latest as I can't see them holding until right before the release date and missing out on most of the Christmas shopping season.
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Seems like September it is: http://jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=20100 (http://jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=20100). Also seeming confirmation of digital releases of previous films.
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Wow. A full 2 1/2 months before the theatrical release? I guess the licensing dollars are being given the greater consideration, and Igers comments that this is a $4 billion movie are going to hold sway on the direction for the franchise.
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Wow. A full 2 1/2 months before the theatrical release? I guess the licensing dollars are being given the greater consideration, and Igers comments that this is a $4 billion movie are going to hold sway on the direction for the franchise.
If the timing is true it is new for Star Wars toy launches (but then so is the movie release date), but it's similar to how Marvel has been handled over the past few years. Avengers Age of Ultron stuff is trickling into stores now, and I believe will be widely available in February. Avengers 1 and Iron Man 3 toys were released in a similar fashion. I think the increased lead time for merchandise makes even more sense for Force Awakens since it is a Christmas movie; gotta make sure stuff is available and give the holiday shoppers time to plan and buy!
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I know this is the TBS section, but I'm hoping to see a BMF version of the Ghost from Rebels. My oldest really likes that cartoon and Santa brought him most of the toys.
If they are ever going to do it...I think this year has the best shot at it.
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The irony is, there's probably lots to show from the new film. On the onset of production (of the toys) they were aiming for the summer 2015 release of the film.
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JEDI NEWS IS REPORTING (http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=20289) that representatives for major retailers came out of closed meetings with Hasbro at the UK Toy Fair holding bags emblazoned with THE FORCE AWAKENS logo. Despite the reports from Hasbro's PR firm it does seem that Hasbro is showing some of the offerings for THE FORCE AWAKENS to retail buyers, while holding back that product for a later reveal to the media. Jedi News also mentioned that they had to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to check out the Hasbro offerings.
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I would love to have been a fly on the wall at those closed door meetings with Hasbro.
TRU: "We'll take 100,000,000 units of any SW exclusive you have to offer, as long as you can guarantee all of the figures have already been released. And we can mark it up at least 15%..."
Target: "We'll take all the Command sets and role plays stuff you guys can trawl out. But we only need about 750 figures for 2015 to split up between all of our 1000+ stores."
Walmart: "What are these Star Wars toys you speak of? We don't want any new product on our shelves thank you, the junk that has been pegwarming the past 5 years is perfectly satisfactory."
>:(
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Jedi News also mentioned that they had to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to check out the Hasbro offerings.
I think that's a pretty common thing for them though, in order to keep them from spoiling US Toy Fair. They've had to sign one the past few years and they usually get a token reveal or two to make up for it.
I guess I wouldn't be surprised that retailers may get to see The Force Awakens stuff the general media doesn't at Toy Fair. There are always "retail only" areas where Hasbro has potential exclusives for them to check out and show off other "not quite ready for the media" in-development things. Would make sense that Target/TRU will get to see TFA prototypes or preview figures that we won't get to see until April/Celebration or later.
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The NDA has likely been a common practice at UK Toy Fair for some time. Still, with the giveaway bag? And the timing of the release of the line for THE FORCE AWAKENS? I'm betting that something has been shown. But almost certainly the public reveal for the TFA line is going to be at Celebration in Anaheim or SDCC.
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Anyone actually excited for the weekend?
I'm 40% hopeful that we'll get to see some new 3.75" figures from the collector/premium line... but 60% worried that Toy Fair will be all about the 5POA line and the 6" Black Series. :-\
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Anyone actually excited for the weekend?
Hasbro Star Wars, no. Funko, though, has teased their choices for Firefly wave 1 and Rocketeer 6" figures.
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Eh, yeah, I'm kinda like you guys... Be cool to see something but I'm fully expecting nothing, which is fine. I'm kinda busy with other stuff anyway. I'm fine waiting for toys till basically next Fall... Star Wars needs the shot in the arm the new movies will give it.
At this point, I'm not terribly concerned either way. Not worth getting in a tizzy about and it's also not worth getting my hopes up too much. I know prices are going up, so I know even if I see things I love I'll not get extras of them, and just will be buying the basics and moving along.
There have been some 5 POA I dig, but I don't get overly excited about.
I'd really love to see a "Heroes" ship like the X-Wing come out again. A Y-Wing in particular. I'd love it just because it'd piss others off, and I'd buy one to custom up. :D
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I have to think that there will be *SOMETHING* shown at Toy Fair, but not much. At least not much beyond what's been shown by Hasbro at SDCC and NYCC 2014.
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Eh, yeah, I'm kinda like you guys... Be cool to see something but I'm fully expecting nothing, which is fine. I'm kinda busy with other stuff anyway. I'm fine waiting for toys till basically next Fall... Star Wars needs the shot in the arm the new movies will give it.
That's where I'm at as well. I'm not expecting much, but it would be nice to see a few new figures...
I'm expecting much more late in the Summer... the new movies are probably going to save this hobby.
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Yeah you can't go on forever like things were... People are bitching up a storm about, "There's nothing out there to buy" and all that, and I get it, but really after 2007, things were starting to look like this line was exhausting itself... Think about it, really.
People want all new figures, unmade characters, but the reality is they're living off the umpteenth resculpt of this or that.
Even the 5 POA are retreading some pretty old tires, and how long can a hobby survive without seriously NEW and wildly popular material? The Prequals were fuel. This lull we're in, it was kind of inevitable when you think about it. Damn near 10 years since a real Star Wars movie event... That's pretty amazing that this line is still going.
More new movies... If they don't resurrect the hobby, it's a dead horse.
I'm to the point I don't think Hasbro had much hope. 6" is definitely a way I think they want to go since they view it (justly) as a whole new way to get people into collecting Star Wars stuff.
I think about all the really obscure **** we got, and I'm kinda awed that people are this critical of Hasbro at this point. ICMG for goodness sake! Not to mention ALLLLLL the EU stuff we got, including even resculpts of some EU dudes. Freaky. I'd have never guessed they'd dip that deep in the well.
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If this line dies without a new Sim Aloo, and ideally the rest of the boring ass dignitaries...
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I think the best stuff for this line will be at SDCC when they unveil Episode VII figures.
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If this line dies without a new Sim Aloo, and ideally the rest of the boring ass dignitaries...
I'd want those figures and they could fit well in the 5 poa figures. But if not, then it's been fun.
I can't see too much being "revealed" at TF. There's still Celebration and SDCC, not to mention NYCC, which could possibly have a lot to offer being close to the release date... Maybe a couple newer waves?
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I could see them showing one or two of the characters from the trailer... maybe BB-8 or something. Just as a snack to hold us over until Celebration and SDCC. I would be pretty content with a text-only powerpoint slide letting us know what scale the new figures will be in, or how articulated they will be.
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There is plenty they can excite me about that has nothing to do with Ep 7, so I am hopeful. New Rebels figures are a must, as are glimpses of the 6" figures we know are coming but have never been shown before, like 3PO, Boushh, and the Emperor. No reason at all for them to hold that stuff back. And against all hope I am quietly praying for confirmation of The Ghost in 2015.
Also excited to see all the new NECA and Funko Reaction stuff, since they still make toys you can buy in stores.
On another note...we're already at Wednesday before the show and no new leaks yet? Hasbro must really have their stuff under lock and key for a change.
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On another note...we're already at Wednesday before the show and no new leaks yet? Hasbro must really have their stuff under lock and key for a change.
Or perhaps there really is nothing to see here. That would be sad, but perhaps you are right. They are not leaking anything at the moment. Funko has at least teased and leaked a couple things (the Legacy figures I mentioned). The resolution on the pics is small so you can't get the detail, but I figure it's a few more days until TF so I can wait... unlike some guy on there who went on a rant about a line they didn't leak. SMH
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If this line dies without a new Sim Aloo, and ideally the rest of the boring ass dignitaries...
If they are cranking out a new movie every year, will there be room in the line for figures from 30 year old movies at that point?
With each new movie they add, I have to imagine that will fill the "idea well" so full that stuff like Sim Aloo will be stuck at the bottom of the well for a long, long time...
as are glimpses of the 6" figures we know are coming but have never been shown before, like 3PO, Boushh, and the Emperor.
Boushh and Emperor were shown at the New York Comic Con party (http://www.jedidefender.com/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Conventions/New_York_Comic_Con_2014/Hasbro/Twas_the_Night_Before_Party/Star_Wars&img=32):
(http://www.jedidefender.com/gallery/files/gallery/Conventions/New_York_Comic_Con_2014/Hasbro/Twas_the_Night_Before_Party/Star_Wars/Official_Press_Images/Black_Series_-_6inch/tn_hasbro_blackseries_6inch_boushh.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/gallery/files/gallery/Conventions/New_York_Comic_Con_2014/Hasbro/Twas_the_Night_Before_Party/Star_Wars/Official_Press_Images/Black_Series_-_6inch/hasbro_blackseries_6inch_boushh.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/gallery/files/gallery/Conventions/New_York_Comic_Con_2014/Hasbro/Twas_the_Night_Before_Party/Star_Wars/Official_Press_Images/Black_Series_-_6inch/tn_hasbro_blackseries_6inch_emperor.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/gallery/files/gallery/Conventions/New_York_Comic_Con_2014/Hasbro/Twas_the_Night_Before_Party/Star_Wars/Official_Press_Images/Black_Series_-_6inch/hasbro_blackseries_6inch_emperor.jpg)
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If they are cranking out a new movie every year, will there be room in the line for figures from 30 year old movies at that point?
With each new movie they add, I have to imagine that will fill the "idea well" so full that stuff like Sim Aloo will be stuck at the bottom of the well for a long, long time...
You're probably right, but they managed to find time to give us Sergeant Doallyn and Toryn Farr this past year, and Mosep Binneed is on the way. They could certainly keep the main thing going and throw long-time collectors a bone a couple times a year - especially when it comes to a vintage figure that they haven't made in 20 years of the current line's existence. The prequels have fallen by the wayside, but I don't think they're going to abandon the OT completely.
All that said, it might be the best thing if OT offerings became more scattered - there's only so much left to do, or so many ways you can remake the same thing over and over.
One thing I can say for sure, is that if they go pure 6" for the main line, I'm done. I've been involved at a particularly scale for way too long to start over in my mid thirties. I'll do OT 6", but that's it.
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I agree we'll see OT and maybe even PT stuff into the future in some measure, but the speed at which they're going through the major costume variants of Han and Luke and Imperial troops in the 5 POA line tells you everything. By the time TFA hits, Hasbro will have done all of them, leaving nothing to cover. The same is happening in the 6 inch line, though the release schedule on those is so slow that I'm wondering if we'll see the Emperor by the time the movie toys drop.
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I agree we'll see OT and maybe even PT stuff into the future in some measure, but the speed at which they're going through the major costume variants of Han and Luke and Imperial troops in the 5 POA line tells you everything. By the time TFA hits, Hasbro will have done all of them, leaving nothing to cover. The same is happening in the 6 inch line, though the release schedule on those is so slow that I'm wondering if we'll see the Emperor by the time the movie toys drop.
Yeah, I don't see a very long shelf life for the 6" line personally. You can only afford and have space for so many of the larger scale... the major characters are going to dry up quickly and how many people are going to buy $20 obscure figures that take up three times the space of the ones they've been collecting for years?
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If I were rich, 6" would be fine and I'd jump ship just out of boredom. However, since I'm not, nor do I have infinite space, buying a whole new line is just not on my plate. I may not even buy 6" Bossk. Coughing up the $20 when I see him might be tough for me at the time.
Regarding Rebels stuff, I'm wondering if that line is going to have much attention paid to it? Just thinking about the new films... It's a real weird situation we've never experienced. Lots of movies coming out while a cartoon is currently the focused media. It'll be weird if Rebels takes a big back seat? Then again we've really not even seen much Rebels stuff at retail, and the show's only been on a season now... Uncharted waters for sure.
I have this weird feeling they'll have little Rebels stuff to show too... Just feel like Star Wars is going to be the "breeze through" event at this TF. There's always one (or more).
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I've been a little pessimistic about the state of things. But I think that general feeling has been going around throughout the hobby. I almost get the sense that this current dry spell may be an attempt to reset the hobby in some way. Anyway, my predictions for the Hasbro presentation?
-3.75" Basic Figures (Black Series) - 2 new waves in addition to what's been shown and yet to be released
-3.75" Saga Legends / Rebels - 2 waves (maybe). The remainder of the figures that were seen on that poster and perhaps one more wave
-3.75" Mission Series - 1 wave (as seen on the poster) and perhaps one more wave.
-6" Black Series - 2 waves in addition to the NYCC wave. Maybe a bounty hunter (Dengar or Aurra Sing), Jedi (Mace Windu or Qui-Gon), a trooper (Snowtrooper), clone (Phase II 501st), droid (C-3PO)
-3.75" system vehicles - More Starfighter repaints, possibly including Anakin's green & white ROTS Jedi Interceptor. New wave of Rebels vehicles including TIE Fighter, scaled down X-Wing. *POSSIBLE* large Ghost vehicle.
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Star Wars Bladebuilders Revealed. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/02/12/star-wars-bladebuilders-exclusive-toy-fair/23280189/[/url) No surprise that the parts include an Episode 7 style hilt.
More interesting to me in that article was this: "says Kim Boyd, senior director of the Star Wars brand for Hasbro."
Kim Boyd was previously a senior director for Kre-O at Hasbro... first time I recall seeing her name attached to Star Wars team.
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I was wondering when USA Today was going to get their article out there. This is at least what, three years running where Hunter PR gives them the first crack at some Hasbro Star Wars news in advance of Toy Fair?
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"says Kim Boyd, senior director of the Star Wars brand for Hasbro."
Soon to be most hated person in Star Wars fandom?
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Finally everyone who doesn't know Darryl DePriest and his dedication to Star Wars stuff has someone new to irrationally loathe.
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Eh, when Jeff Labovitz was in charge the last few years (he may still be in charge - I'm not sure if Kim is an addition to the SW team or a replacement for him), people were still blaming Derryl.
I'm sure poor Derryl will continue to get flak even though he hasn't been directly in charge of the line for 3-4 years now. :-\
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I don't think they even knew Jeff was in charge. It's all about name recognition and DD's came up enough I guess the laymen heard it and just targeted. I never quite understood why his was the name that always came up though. Always. Especially given how much cool **** he got made in that line, ultimately.
Half the rebels that got done seemed to because he liked Rebels from what I recall. That hit me in the heart, that guy. :'(
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Daryl was a fan for sure. I met him the one time at NYCC 2011. He showed me the Naboo pilot which I think had not been displayed to that point or was just going on the floor that day. I remember it well because to that point no one had seen the coat he wore and I geeked out. And Daryl geeked with me. Good times.
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I reflect back to 2007-2009, any time I start getting really down about the line. I think part of it is the fact I can't currently see the vast number of figures I have. I'm not even talking PT, but the vast EU and OT stuff that would make up my "favorites" list.
Those 3 years were pretty sick to collect in. Methinks a lot of collectors are kind of spoiled by those years, maybe. Maybe not. I find though, what we got really cleaned out the stock room, ya know? It was inevitable that this line was going to hit some kind of wall.
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2007 remains the best year in modern collecting. The range in offerings, the quality, the gonzo nature of some of the figures and the card design all really fell together to create a really fun year. It's crazy to think that was over 7 years ago; that it came a couple years after the last movie (so we thought) or that the line has survived to now limping along as it has. It speaks to the power of the brand (not even TPM could kill it, twice!) but also frankly the management of it. The brand survived and persisted because of good management. Not everything was great, but then nothing is.
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Agreed.
At one time I really felt '08 to '09 was superior because figures were unilaterally SA and you got to build free figures, more or less, and all that jazz. I still have a gallon ziplock of BAD parts I'd love to complete droids with.
But 2007... One year, and Hasbro went batshit crazy on character depth and breadth of the line. Not only were the main figures things EVERYONE wanted, but even the Legends line was nothing but hit after hit after hit... Pit Droids, Imperial Officers (crewmen), etc., etc.
As a single line, a single year, 2007 is the top.
Now, that said, as an overall offering... I think '08 to '09 wins in that it was not only the main line packed with greatness, the BAD, but alllllllll those exclusives, the Evolutions, the Comic Packs...
2007 cleared up so many wishes though. Hermie Odle is all one needs to look at and say, "Holy cow, they made that dude?", and it's not just because he's weird, and obscure. It's because he's absurdly huge on top of it all. He is a single figure who epitomizes that year, to me.
However, the sub-line that epitomizes 2007, to me, is the McQuarrie Concept line of figures, which are to this day my only carded collection I actually appreciate and would want to display. If you told me in 2000 that in 7 years we'd get basically a super articulated line of ALL McQuarrie Concept Art figures, and they'd really make a nice single collection by themselves within a year of figures that are just all really amazing and fun, then I'd have said you're nuts.
2008 to 2009 though, equally expensive. Just spread across a whole lot more stuff. I mean, I was so broke in those 3 years, and most of 2010 too.
Prices started going up, and that's where the real issues started. Ultimately Hasbro can only combat that so much too. I think they really haven't wanted to abandon 3.75" as a scale, but the fight to hold onto it is really evident when you look back at this relatively recent history on the line.
I'm really curious to see where things go from here. It's the most uncharted waters this line has been in, in quite some time.
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Jayson had a chance to tune into Hasbro's Investor Presentation this AM from New York. Check out the Star Wars slides (http://yakfaceforums.com/main/2015/02/13/hasbro-investor-presentation-images/) that were included. Pretty much all kid stuff - Play-Doh, Mashers, Bladebuilders, Furbacca.
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But I thought only we were important? That's what all the collector sites tell us! Why is my world crumbling?! :'( >:( :'(
(http://eplwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1339430468_1339430457_307350541.jpg)
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WOW. Well, forget all of this....
I've been a little pessimistic about the state of things. But I think that general feeling has been going around throughout the hobby. I almost get the sense that this current dry spell may be an attempt to reset the hobby in some way. Anyway, my predictions for the Hasbro presentation?
-3.75" Basic Figures (Black Series) - 2 new waves in addition to what's been shown and yet to be released
-3.75" Saga Legends / Rebels - 2 waves (maybe). The remainder of the figures that were seen on that poster and perhaps one more wave
-3.75" Mission Series - 1 wave (as seen on the poster) and perhaps one more wave.
-6" Black Series - 2 waves in addition to the NYCC wave. Maybe a bounty hunter (Dengar or Aurra Sing), Jedi (Mace Windu or Qui-Gon), a trooper (Snowtrooper), clone (Phase II 501st), droid (C-3PO)
-3.75" system vehicles - More Starfighter repaints, possibly including Anakin's green & white ROTS Jedi Interceptor. New wave of Rebels vehicles including TIE Fighter, scaled down X-Wing. *POSSIBLE* large Ghost vehicle.
Bladebuilders lightsaber.
Hero Mashers.
Furbacca.
THAT is the extent of the Hasbro Star Wars presentation at Toy Fair 2015. See you at Celebration, huh?
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(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f1/cb/32/f1cb3213249c849827956a72442401f6.jpg)
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Furbacca.
Yeah. But... he farts. ::)
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Is it times to starting calling the company Hasbroken again?
Wonder is we are heading to a movie release only line, like GI JOE (some exclusives aside). And after they overproduce for Force Awakens, then they'll REALLY scale thing back. :P
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Wow...talk about insult to injury. Might as well pack up the van and head back to Providence. No point in sticking around to pimp 3 lame-ass toys.
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I'm 40% hopeful that we'll get to see some new 3.75" figures from the collector/premium line... but 60% worried that Toy Fair will be all about the 5POA line and the 6" Black Series. :-\
Huh. Didn't even expect "Toy Fair will have nothing new for 3.75" or 6" scales" possibility. :-\
More money for Tamashii Nations Robot Spirits and Acid Rain, I guess! :P
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Did they even SAY anything about the lack of product being shown? You know, like explain it as part of a huge upcoming new movie year reveal for the Summer?
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Quad Eyes Marine is on sale on bbts Jeff. Just saying.
I'm a lil surprised no figures, period. In my case more $ for MaK, acid rain, army builders, shelving, and customizable dioramas like on my random Twitter pic backgrounds. :)
I will be glad to get Moseps wave and a couple 5 POA like gree's phase I duds.
They're clearly focused elsewhere, other properties. That's fine by me.
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Sitting here a day later, I'm still surprised there was nothing new, action figure wise.
I was pretty sure they'd have nothing for the 3.75" Black Series. With Wave 7 due in March (now looks like it's pushed back to Apr) and Wave 8 due in May/Jun, was it realistic to expect them to show off a Wave 9 for Jul/Aug/Sep before the Ep7 deluge in Sep/Oct? Probably not... but everyone sure seemed like they were supposed to do/announce something. Probably just wishful thinking that Hasbro would squeeze out one more "parking lot" filled fanboy joy wave before Ep7. :-\
It's disappointing, but ultimately it was probably unrealistic they'd have time for a Wave 9 in 2015 at this point. Much more likely they will use the later summer (Jul/Aug/Sep) to do a clearance at retail and reset the board for the Ep7 stuff in Sep/Oct.
Rebels though? I thought the 5POA Rebels/Legends was what we'd see at Toy Fair. I thought it was something that could continue to run over the summer and exist alongside the movie stuff since the show was it's own thing... but I guess not. It makes me wonder if Rebels was always planned as a short-gap set of figures or if they'll find a way to sprinkle them things into the Ep7 line somehow.
And I thought they'd have some sort of 6" tease for us, if only to show off a potential SDCC thing... them not showing off the SDCC exclusive or even hinting about it now has me thinking that SDCC may be the first place you'll be able to buy Force Awakens 6" figures with some sort of sneak preview figure there or something...
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I agree, there's not really time in the schedule for anything new. The summer will be focused on Marvel and clearing the decks on SW for the fall. For the best really. I figured any teases TFA wise will come at Celebration and then SDCC will be where we get our first real look at stuff. Some of the comments I've seen around the web... one example that stood out was speculation Hasbro had somehow lost the license. I mean, what? This fall we'll be complaining about all the stuff they want us to buy.
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It wouldn't surprise me if Disney is making Hasbro keep a tight lid on things. Honestly, I think it will be more like November before we see anything for Episode VII in stores. Remember it was late April 1999 before Episode I stuff was in stores. I might be a bit off with timing this time around since this is the first time we're seeing a new movie not premier in May, but it wouldn't surprise me either. If we go by my timeline, the first we'd see of anything would be SDCC, but there will most likely be some teases at Celebration VII.
It does bother me that there's no Rebels items at Toy Fair. I figured that there would be a BMF style Ghost hitting shelves at some point and this year would be the time to do it. Next year will most likely be dedicated to Episode VII figures, ships and the like, so if we're ever to get the Ghost, now would be the best time for it to sell.
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It wouldn't surprise me if Disney is making Hasbro keep a tight lid on things.
At this point, it shouldn't surprise anyone. :P
Honestly, I think it will be more like November before we see anything for Episode VII in stores.
Jedi News UK was told by LEGO (at UK Toy Fair) that the street date for The Force Awakens merchandise is September 4th (http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=20100).
So, unless the LEGO guys there were wrong/misinformed, everyone is expecting the Ep7 flood to start to hit retail Labor Day weekend... not like James and the crew there to put out something like that unless they were pretty sure it was solid.
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Is Jedi Defender going to be part of
the gladhanding strokeathon known as "The Pulse Initiative"?
;)
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It wouldn't surprise me if Disney is making Hasbro keep a tight lid on things.
It would've been funny if Hasbro went rogue and just started blabbing all the details of TFA they've been privy to (which are ample... I can attest to this!), and blew the lid off stuff at Toy Fair.
Honestly, I'm really shocked NONE of the stuff we saw at NYCC was shown at NYTF, but really what else were they EVER going to show at this event? I saw all these posts around the net about guys thinking they'd see a giant Ghost, or an expansion of Rebels figures (despite them having really much of any character expansion on the show)... It's really like fans forget there's a movie coming out BEFORE Christmas.
Again I point to the uncharted waters thing... This is the first major (TCW doesn't count) Star Wars movie release before Christmas, it's the first time a cartoon will have had a little mini-run to lead into the new movie... It's weird, and as everyone can see now, pretty unpredictable territory.
Kudos to Hasbro keeping things close to the vest, I guess. They've not always been very successful at that.
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I didn't really get a chance to come post here yet, although I've been following everything through the weekend. Just...wow. Now, I knew we weren't going to see any TFA stuff (they told us that), and honestly, I didn't expect to see much overall either as far as figures went - but nothing new? That was a surprise. I can see that we won't see much before the big movie push in the fall (and now, according to the JTA Q and A, it sounds like what we've seen is it, right?). I did think we would see more 5 POA stuff if nothing else, and maybe a couple new 6" figures. Definitely a lull for the better part of the year, which in a way is ok I guess. If it weren't for all the cool Marvel Legends stuff (and the Batman Animated line from DC), I could really save up for the TFA release.
Also, although I'm not surprised we didn't hear it, it would have been nice to get a feel for the direction of the line in the future. Yes, we know you can't tell us about TFA, and there are a lot of vague "we're dedicated to all scales and collectors and kids" type answers, but things would go a long way (even if it made people mad) if they just said "come Fall, the focus for the line will be 6" and 5 POA for the new movie(s). Or maybe not even something that specific. I'm really hoping we'll get some type of a peek at Celebration, to at least know what is coming down the pike. It has been said before, but the new movie(s) is just the shot in the arm the Star Wars line needs right now. This has been the definition of "limping along" the last few years, and this TF showing is one of the worst I think we've ever seen.
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I have to say that I was genuinely shocked at the lack of new product from Hasbro at Toy Fair. But thinking about it and what we've seen? And the slow pace of 3.75" TBS releases? It starts to make some sense. Looking at how this year is going to shape up now...
JANUARY 2015
-TBS 6" figure 2015 wave 1
MARCH 2015
-TBS 3.75" figure 2015 wave 1
APRIL/MAY 2015
-TBS 6" figure 2015 wave 2
MAY / JUNE 2015
-TBS 6" Deluxe figure 2015 wave 2
...I think this is a likely schedule:
MAY / JUNE 2015
-TBS 3.75" figure 2015 wave 2
JULY / AUGUST 2015
-TFA 3.75" figure Preview wave
SEPTEMBER 4th 2015
-TFA Line Launch
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I saw all these posts around the net about guys thinking they'd see a giant Ghost...
Has Hasbro ever confirmed this, or even brought this up, or is this wishful fanboy thinking?
I personally would love a Ghost, BMF style or smaller.
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Just something they want... I have a hard time seeing it happening, especially now. But if it's in a movie? Who knows where it may turn up, ya know? But not this year. It never stood much chance for this year.
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Unless I missed it, the Ghost has never been more than wishful thinking. I don't expect it now with the movies. Hasbro has been conservative with Rebels and the line in general for a long time, understandably. I expect that changes in the fall. It's a movie year. We've been through this before. We get nothing, and then everything all at once. I know people wanted to see new stuff here at Toy Fair - I always want to see new stuff - but my shock has been more in reaction to the reaction of some of the comments I've seen. There seems to be little to no objective understanding of the circumstances the line is in. Can Hasbro's communication be better? Always. Is some of their communication a reaction to the communication they're getting from some circles of fandom? I have to think so. If I was Hasbro, I'd be reluctant to engage in a dialogue with anyone, especially in a movie year - there's that phrase again - if what I was confronted with at every single show was demands for apologies, for the line to be exactly to the specifications of a fan base which is already the most rewarded, coddled and coveted in the hobby, for constant information on what's coming next in a line that apparently this same base has no interest in. The message to Hasbro has to be everything you do is ****, I can't stand you or your company but for the love of God, what are you doing next? TELL ME! If Hasbro sounds indignant in some responds, can you blame them? What is there honestly we want that we don't have? Some obscure characters? Some obscure vehicles? Playsets? The line is exhaustive.
My feeling is, enjoy the hobby. If you don't, and there's plenty reason not to depending on your perspective on it, don't collect. Don't buy. Vote with your dollars. Hasbro will get it. They always do. They've been good to us. We've been very good to them. We're going to be good to each other for a lot longer than we ever expected, if that's what people want. If you don't, it's been good. It's been fun, hasn't it?
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I wouldn't characterize it as wishful thinking so much as a reasonable expectation. I'm not an idiot, I understand what is going on with the line, the industry, the economy, the seasons, the rotation of the sun, etc etc. But this is the very definition of an iconic ship, at least as far as the current media goes. It is a gaping omission from the Rebels toy line-up thus far. The damn thing is practically designed to be an ideal vehicle/playset too, from the cockpit to the living quarters to the docking station for the Phantom.
I get that not everyone is a diehard fan of the show or the toys...that's totally cool. It's not for everyone. But I would not go so far as to imply collectors who are big fans of the show are unhinged from reality for assuming this is going to get made at some point soon. Maybe it's already under development and will be unveiled prior to Christmas, when the second season (which has been confirmed) will be airing. It's not like everything is going to come grinding to a halt come September and all they are going to make is TFA stuff anymore. Hasbro is on record as saying they plan to continue supporting Rebels, so I think it is fair to expect more to come. And there's not that many other vehicles there to choose from at this point.
I don't think it has anything to do with the movies, or being in a movie, or whatever. Eventually, IMHO, it'll happen. It's a major part of "The Canon" now. (It took them awhile to get to the MTT too...)
Just my two cents~ :)
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This is where I think there is a breakdown in our hopes vs. reality based on history.
I wouldn't characterize it as wishful thinking so much as a reasonable expectation. But this is the very definition of an iconic ship... It is a gaping omission from the Rebels toy line-up thus far.
The Clone Wars ran for 5 or 6 seasons and we didn't get The Twilight, or anything beyond the $20 vehicle assortment. The support for the figure line was fairly weak after the first few seasons as well.
I think Hasbro has also under supported and largely missed an opportunity with Rebels. While there is a decent selection of vehicles, there really aren't many figures or other releases. I think this would have been a great time to fill the pre-TFA gap with lots of Rebels items, but instead we get an impotent dribble of product.
Hasbro and/or Lucasfilm/Disney seems to have little interest in supporting their non-movie media.
Maybe they're smarter than us. But based on the amount of Rebels product that stagnates (none) on the pegs/shelves, I would say they completely missed the boat.
We've got seven months before the supposed street date of TFA. Its hard for me to believe we're going to get much more than what has already been show from the Rebels line before the shelves are devoted to TFA.
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I think Hasbro has also under supported and largely missed an opportunity with Rebels.
Especially when the show is aimed at the youth market. Obviously, some of us adults watch it and some of us with our children. We are getting our children into the show, the excitement of the Star Wars world, just like we did growing up as kids. I think Hasbro is missing the opportunity to get more young costumers to buy their product for the next ten years or so with Rebels and through extension, the movies.
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No kidding.
I bought my five year old daughter a Sabine t-shirt from HerUniverse and gave it to her on Valentines Day. She hasn't taken it off yet.
She asks me every day when I get home from work if I have found the new Sabine MS figure at Target yet.
Maybe we're the exception, but there appears to be a fair amount of money in our wallets waiting to be spent on Hasbro items that aren't released or aren't planned to be released.
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Anytime you go to the shelf and find empty pegs, it's a missed opportunity. I'd love to know how Hasbro feels about this internally. Was this part oa planned slowdown and they're happy to just be selling the low volumes that get out? Or did something get mucked up along the way? Frankly I'm surprised that retailers are dedicating any real shelf space to Star Wars at this point given the ridiculously small amount of product flowing through.
Personally, I've spent a few thousand bucks on vintage SW and high end transformers over the last year to fill the lull in SW products. That's a small figure for Hasbro, but I'm just a single consumer. I can't imagine the opportunity cost they've all but thrown away these past few years.
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The Clone Wars ran for 5 or 6 seasons and we didn't get The Twilight, or anything beyond the $20 vehicle assortment.
Except for the $65 line of vehicles that died before they ever got to the Twilight.
If that $65 line hadn't been sabotaged by manufacturing issues that forced them to launch it with an ARC-170 repaint instead of the Y-Wing (like they wanted), maybe it would have been different. I recall reading/hearing Hasbro say something to the effect that the slow sales of that $65 ship line really damaged the chances for The Twilight making it out.
I think Hasbro has also under supported and largely missed an opportunity with Rebels.
I'd love to know how Hasbro feels about this internally. Was this part oa planned slowdown and they're happy to just be selling the low volumes that get out? Or did something get mucked up along the way? Frankly I'm surprised that retailers are dedicating any real shelf space to Star Wars at this point given the ridiculously small amount of product flowing through.
It's too bad they will never tell us the whole story of what happened... like you said, Justin - was Rebels always meant to be a smaller line, just a stop gap to TFA? Or did they want to flood the shelves but never got to because of the "mystery cloud" of distribution issues out there (the West Coast port issues, the squabbles with Walmart, some internal issue with Disney/LFL, etc)?
Another theory I've seen is that Hasbro/Disney were they gunshy about going balls-out for Rebels after the failure of TPM-3D and the ensuing product overload. If that's true, I can't blame them for hesitating to support an unproven kids cartoon after the disappointing flop of a big-time movie event. I don't think they wanted two product flops heading into the giant Ep7 launch.
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No kidding.
I bought my five year old daughter a Sabine t-shirt from HerUniverse and gave it to her on Valentines Day. She hasn't taken it off yet.
She asks me every day when I get home from work if I have found the new Sabine MS figure at Target yet.
Maybe we're the exception, but there appears to be a fair amount of money in our wallets waiting to be spent on Hasbro items that aren't released or aren't planned to be released.
Tell your daughter I have a Sabine for her (I have an extra) ;)
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Regarding the Ghost, its window was this past holiday season, not next... I don't say that to be condescending to people who love Rebels, or love the Rebels toy line, I simply say that as truth.
Last year the toon launched, and this year TFA is going to be the focus. It's not going to be the cartoon getting a $100+ toy for the holiday push... There MAY be some $100+ ship on the shelves, but my $ would look more towards the Millenium Falcon if it's playing a major role in the films. Just an educated guess on the matter.
Last year, and for whatever reason that didn't happen, would've been the better year to see The Ghost as part of a line launch, ala what The Clone Wars received... Unfortunately for Rebels though, it's a smaller show than TCW was. TCW having a movie of course, and a product blitz that very much was movie-like in its broad scope.
Like I said, it's not that it won't happen, I just think where we're going into a movie a year scenario, where does Rebels fit in? This all goes back to the thing I've been saying repeatedly, which this is uncharted waters for the hobby, top to bottom. But I don't see them cranking out big ass ships left and right either. They didn't when it was far more affordable to do so, so I don't see them doing it now. Likewise I don't see them devoting the big ass vehicle slot to something that isn't in the movie for that given year.
I think The Ghost may actually turn up in one of the movies as a main ship though. Aren't they wanting to streamline some of this stuff? And carry things over?
Jeff's speculation on the issues with distribution is about as succinct a synopsis as I've seen. I'd not heard the Disney/Hasbro gunshy thing, but tough to argue it. TCW ratings were in constant decline and it was an established thing. TPM 3D underperformed (at the box office and retail) too... Rebels isn't proven, so the first year they're maybe unwilling to commit to that big ass item, second year just doesn't seem like a good fit because of the movie schedule...
If Star Wars were going like before, with 3 year gaps, I think Rebels would've had a far better chance to get that "Clone Wars" treatment. I like the show a lot, I think it gets better as it goes too, but it's in a weird spot for sure. All these films and their toy lines are in a weird spot.
I don't collect Super Hero stuff, but they've kind of dealt with this pace. That said, Super Hero movies don't seem to have as diverse a range of characters and vehicles as Star Wars does either, so that's not even a direct analogy. It's just weird territory we've been in since, at least, 2012.
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Just to be clear McMetal on the Ghost - I didn't mean to conflate some of the reactions to Toy Fair with expectations on the Ghost. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that ship, though like Jesse I think there was a window for it and it's passed.
I agree there seems to be a general hesitation on the line but yet Target has a fairly massive part of the aisle devoted to SW/Rebels; bigger TRU's have an entire aisle dedicated to them. The last time I saw that around here was 1999. So it's not a lack of will, I think, from retail. It has to be some mix of the distribution issue and something inherent to Hasbro, because bottom line, the distribution issue does not seem to impact lines like TMNT. I could be very wrong as that is not my interest but that line motors through stock and never seems to be wanting for replenishment. Lego I would characterize the same way. So where's the gap? We want Rebels. Retail wants Rebels. There's no Rebels. That's a legit gripe. I want a dozen SL Snowtroopers. I wanted a dozen when he was supposed to have come on the previous lava card thing. I can live without him, because I have dozens of previous ones, but absolutely it's a missed opportunity all around.
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That's why I thought the Ghost would come out sometime this year. Remember the BMF Falcon and AT-TE showed up at the same time...in the Summer of a non-movie year. I thought we could see the Ghost sometime this summer. It would've been a good way to whet the appetites of collectors and fans of the show.
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BMF and AT-TE showed up the year of Clone Wars' blitz, no? 2008. The movie that launched the series late that Summer, the series with its initial ratings hit, etc. It was a LOT of toys in that late Summer period where the ramp up to Christmas is kicking off.
I'm working under the assumption a Ghost is going to cost a lot too... Who knows how cheap they could get one to be, ultimately, but assuming it's in the $100 or more range, there's absolutely no incentive for it to be out for a Summer time push is my thinking. $100+ toys that eat up shelf space tend to be Christmas things.
I agree, opportunity squandered for the most part. It could happen in the future. Who knows how long the cartoon is going to last right? Or what ties it may have to future films, again.
I keep thinking about what Jeff said, and given everything that'd been going downhill with the line, and really it predated 2012, their being overly cautious makes some sense I suppose. But when you have a new property it seems like you'd want to give it a little more than they did.
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Actually maybe some vague hope for the Ghost right in the SSG Toy Fair Q&A: http://www.sirstevesguide.com/2015/02/17/toy-fair-2015-hasbro-star-wars-qa-with-jeff-labovitz/ (http://www.sirstevesguide.com/2015/02/17/toy-fair-2015-hasbro-star-wars-qa-with-jeff-labovitz/)
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Yeah at the end of the Q&A there's a 3-question segment that's interesting, regarding big ships... But how soon? That'll be the question. I've heard huge stuff for TFA, maybe bigger than the PT toy launches in terms of overall scope and product numbers. Maybe they'll go nuts.
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Very interesting questions. Maybe they just go for it and like 2008 try and pair two big ships. Maybe we see the Falcon again - we will either in general or as an exclusive, for sure - and the Ghost together, or the Ghost and some big TFA ship we're unaware of. Like you said Jesse, this makes more sense if the Ghost / Rebels characters have some crossover with the film, which isn't unreasonable...
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Falcon's tooled, that's a plus.
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Apparently someone's already still bringing up the Sail Barge as maybe what's coming by that one Q&A tease... I can't make this stuff up at this point.
(https://genesisdesignpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/facepalm4.gif)
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"SSG: Is the Ghost outside the realm of possibility?
JL: No, definitely it’s not outside, no.
SSG: Great.
JL: It’s not something that’s in our immediate future, but we love Rebels. The Ghost is so iconic and certainly a great option. The Ghost would be great."
:) :) :)
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Not very surprised at the lack of anything new at Toy Fair. Even a TFA Preview Figure (or wave)deserves/commands its own press release. In effect it would be slumming in NYC.
As for a Ghost ship this year, I am still in the camp that doubts it. While I do now believe a BMF reissue is a done deal (and will cost $300) and that actually does free up the time and resources to tool a big ship, I gotta go with my gut and say they would use that slot on whatever big new design they have with TFA (Bad guy ship?) In the end, EP VII will never have another Christmas to support it, the attitude there has to be "now or never."
The long game could be a Ghost in 4th quarter 2016, if the standalone movie is a Han Solo or Boba Fett vehicle (no pun intended.) Since their signature ships are already done (well) then a 3rd season Ghost might stand a chance at getting made.
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This is an excellent point:
EP VII will never have another Christmas to support it, the attitude there has to be "now or never."
I agree wholeheartedly. I think we'll see strong support for the film and the saga into 2016, but come September 2016, it's on to the next movie. I think this fall and winter will be staggering in terms of offerings.
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I wonder how the one-off movies will work... If movie lines for them will be as full as the assumed trilogy's line will be. Again, who knows, right? I am assuming The Ghost getting made is as dependent on the show itself being super popular and hanging on as anything too. It's so weird having a cartoon squeezed in as the lead-up to new films like this.
It'd be really fascinating to see inside Hasbro, their plans on this... It's unprecedented for this property, which as said above, it's got diversity that I'm not so sure other properties possess.
TFA toys are going to be staggering indeed. I really have some solid impressions about the amount of stuff.
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Falcon's tooled, that's a plus.
It does need a new sensor dish.
I firmly believe the Ghost has a lot better chance to be made than Jabba's sail barge.
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Falcon's tooled, that's a plus.
It does need a new sensor dish.
I firmly believe the Ghost has a lot better chance to be made than Jabba's sail barge.
+1
Looking at the broader view, we appear to be in a down cycle. Perhaps that was done by design, so that when merchandise for THE FORCE AWAKENS hits there will be some legit demand for new Star Wars after something of an absence from retail. As the saying goes, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". And Disney has some experience here. Who else recalls all of those commercials for Disney titles on DVD where they would say "It's going back in the vault. Who knows when it's going to come back, so get yours now!"
I think the Ghost might just be the victim of poor timing. And the show is also still in it's first season. I also get the sense that collectively LFL licensing and Hasbro want to hold back on a big ticket item like the Ghost. The priority is clearly the promotion of THE FORCE AWAKENS. The release of TFA is going to impact Star Wars as a whole. Sales on a range of merchandise is going to increase significantly across a range of the Star Wars licensees in the leadup to the film and following its release. That's going to translate to increased sales for Hasbro. And THAT will make the release of the Ghost that much more feasible. At least if the show continues to do well, the Ghost will be much more in the eye of Star Wars fans than something like the Sail Barge.
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I still maintain that no matter what happens come Christmas, Hasbro is not going to be myopic in their focus on TFA. There ARE going to be other new Stars Wars toys to purchase that have nothing to do with that movie. And there will continue to be.
I think there is room for Rebels and TFA stuff, over the holidays, and beyond.
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I feel like we've had this Ghost discussion before... let's all jump in the way back machine to last Toy Fair! (http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=23269.msg569091#msg569091) ;)
Looks like Jesse was pretty accurate with this one...
I think they may wait to see if the shows popular before committing to a big ticket toy. There are still sdcc and such to go though. I just could see them go conservative this time around is all.
I guess it was Curto and Burns that started everyone on the "Ghost is coming in 2015!" train...
I was just starting to listen to the Rebel Force Radio Collector Cast (with Curto/Burns) today, and while discussing Hasbro - and specifically the new Rebels vehicles - James Burns said that Hasbro told him that we wouldn't be seeing the Ghost in 2014, but it was on its way in 2015.
Funny though that one year later, we're all still here rationalizing why "time X" would be the perfect time for them to get to the Ghost. :P
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I should've vaguely told everyone I had come by that information first-hand somehow, and pulled a stan. :D
The only reason I look at this Christmas as likely TFA-centric is that we are in a situation where there's a cartoon, and a film, at the same time, and I have a hard time not assuming they'll want to focus on the movie, and the cartoon is really just "advertising" for the Star Wars brand, at that point. It's, again, a weird uncharted situation where a cartoon is complementing a movie more than being a focal point itself (ala TCW) which had an insane toy line launch for something that wasn't a main film in one of the trilogies, and had a film itself.
It's a really weird situation, so there's a lot of guessing and only guessing that can be done, as to what's happening and when.
I lean towards Hasbro focusing on TFA... I know for a fact they were told, and immediately began diverting resources, to start working on it immediately after the Disney/LFL merger and announced. Now, which ships will be "iconic" from it? Who knows. The Ghost may be in it throughout?
I don't think The Ghost will never happen, but I just don't see it this year, personally. I think the SSG Q&A gives it some hope though, and if the Falcon is the sort of centric hero ship of the new trilogy, like I said before, it's tooled so you could re-release that and maybe a Ghost with it? I think it's doable. I think The Phantom was made to clearly dock to a Ghost too, so I think Hasbro wants to do it. When it comes to big stuff though, and this goes back to the line's beginning, they've always had to fudge ways to do it... The media support helps though.
So at this point I lean towards not this year... But I think any year (that Rebels is on, at least) there's a chance. I just think companies like this hate having big ticket stuff fighting amongst itself for shelf space at Christmas, and parent's dollars too. Would Hasbro want a $300 and $150 toy (just throwing numbers outta my butt there) on the shelf at the same time? Could they do a Ghost for less than $150? I dunno. Would they do just The Ghost in a year when a whole new trilogy of Star Wars is kicked off, with all new characters, vehicles, locations, and on top of it the classic main characters are back WITH the Millenium Falcon? And all of it at the Holidays, just to add toy frenzy to it all.
That's where I'm coming from. It'll be really weird, and interesting, to watch it all shake out because, it's uncharted waters.
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I don't think The Ghost will never happen, but I just don't see it this year, personally. I think the SSG Q&A gives it some hope though, and if the Falcon is the sort of centric hero ship of the new trilogy, like I said before, it's tooled so you could re-release that and maybe a Ghost with it? I think it's doable. I think The Phantom was made to clearly dock to a Ghost too, so I think Hasbro wants to do it. When it comes to big stuff though, and this goes back to the line's beginning, they've always had to fudge ways to do it... The media support helps though.
With the way the Phantom was designed I would think they at least have a mock-up of the Ghost at this point.
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Based on the Phantom's size, does that make the Ghost huge? It seems the Phantom should have been downsized a little.
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I think they could still easily make a Ghost work, but the scales would be way off. I'd be totally fine with that.
Make it in scale with the old school Falcon. Have a cockpit, man-able gun ports, a common area, a ramp, and a place for the Phantom to connect.
I would much rather have a cool toy that the kids and I can play with effectively then be too concerned about it not being to scale.
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It seems the Phantom should have been downsized a little.
It was. A lot. If it was to scale it would have been a little shorter than a x-wing and the figures would be able to stand up inside it.
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Yes, the Phantom is VERY undersized... The Ghost is a pretty huge ship itself. I'd say a good deal bulkier than the Falcon perhaps (just eyeballing things without either in front of me to be sure). Keep in mind The Ghost is dual-level... Not sure if they're much different in diameter, but I'd say The Ghost is probably larger than the Falcon if I were to make a guess on it.
Which would make sense, with it having essentially a little "runabout" shuttle that can dock to it... The Falcon doesn't have the bulk for something like that.
The Ghost is very similar in style, but larger than the hero ship that was in X-Wing: Alliance, which is significantly smaller than the Falcon. All YT series Corellian ships (The Ghost is too, iirc).
The Phantom is very akin to a shuttlecraft in Star Trek in that it has a small back cargo area and a relatively spacious cockpit capable of seating at least 2 up front and a 3rd behind them in a sort of jumpseat. It's no tiny thing.
Hasbro's always managed to fudge designs to work for stuff like that, so I think a dramatically undersized Ghost is doable that would still dock The Phantom nicely without looking too goofy. I think the play features would be where it's all at. It wouldn't be high on my radar (I passed on The Phantom already) but I think it'd be a decent toy if done right... Now, if they cut construction and design corners ala the mid-size vehicles now, Eh, it could look (and feel) a lot more "cheap".
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The Ghost is a pretty huge ship itself. I'd say a good deal bulkier than the Falcon perhaps (just eyeballing things without either in front of me to be sure). Keep in mind The Ghost is dual-level... Not sure if they're much different in diameter, but I'd say The Ghost is probably larger than the Falcon if I were to make a guess on it.
These are the dimensions so yes it is much bigger than the Falcon. But they could probably down size it to be about the same size as the BMF without it looking too under scaled.
Ghost
Length 43.9 meters
Width 34.2 meters
Height/depth 14.5 meters
Falcon
Length 34.37 meters
Width 25.61 meters
Height/depth 8.27 meters
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Which would make sense, with it having essentially a little "runabout" shuttle that can dock to it... The Falcon doesn't have the bulk for something like that.
Go double check your BMF Falcon, right behind the sensor dish! ;D
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Speaking of the Falcon, does everyone think that Hasbro is just going to reissue the BMF Falcon for the TFA line? Albeit with a different sensor dish?
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Which would make sense, with it having essentially a little "runabout" shuttle that can dock to it... The Falcon doesn't have the bulk for something like that.
Go double check your BMF Falcon, right behind the sensor dish! ;D
I was speaking to the "real" one, haha. The toy, they actually were gonna do one between the mandibles for the vintage line during the mongo-beefhead days.
To Nick's Q, absolutely... I think it's all but a done deal, personally, if the Falcon plays a remotely important role in the film. The mold exists, and the holidays will be a comin'. By the teaser trailer I can't imagine the Falcon is not important in this film... minor moment, but a hugely cool action one.
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Wasn't the last Falcon pushing $250ish at TRU? I don't see that pricepoint working for a new movie at $300+ with the new movie and a dish for all to have. I have a feeling they'll either gut that for another release or add a few things to that stupid WM version. According the trailer - it's a big deal.
I'd give up on the Ghost too - Nice to see you guys talking about it but TFA willl be coming out soon and if it's not in the movie then...
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Wasn't the last Falcon pushing $250ish at TRU?
Yeah, but that one had the small run, exclusive Vintage box, TRU tax applied to it. If they wide released it and got it out in enough quantity, I bet they could get that price down.
With that said, I am not ashamed to admit, that if they get the updated radar dish on there and update the electronics with new movie phrases, I'll totally buy it again. Even at $300. :-[ #suckerforhansolostuff
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LOL @ TRUTax. Trademark that.
I don't have the last one displayed so I wouldn't buy another, but more power to anyone who can and would, personally.
That said, expect a higher price than it originally was of course... But they're also not aiming for us either. I'm sure this would be for all the myriad of new souls who'd want a big ass Falcon to voooosh around the house. I wouldn't doubt we could see the WM one again too, perhaps as a store exclusive? If the Falcon is the beef, I can't see Hasbro not going that way to support the movie and make $.
I saw it said somewhere just recently, forgetting now, but someone said they'd maybe not make the Falcon because "Collectors already have it"... I'll never get collector fixation that they're the center of the universe, and be damned the bajillion people who will see TFA as their first Star Wars experience.
The bubble shrinks every year too, so you'd think at some point the guys living in it would look around and notice they're the only ones there.
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Wasn't the last Falcon pushing $250ish at TRU? I don't see that pricepoint working for a new movie at $300+ with the new movie and a dish for all to have.
$274.99 plus tax in Chicago.
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Loving the term "TRU Tax". Never really loved it when it came to actually PAYING it, and as a result there are some big ticket TRU exclusives that I never bought. TRU can keep those nice looking TVC boxes for the BMF Falcon and BMF AT-AT.
I think I might be in the same boat with Jeff about a TFA version of the BMF Falcon. Change it *ENOUGH* from the TLC Blue version and I might be persuaded to buy it. That means the correct sensor dish, updated electronics, or SOME feature that really distinguishes the 2015 release from the original offering from back in 2008.
As for the practicality of the Ghost as a vehicle/playset? I think it's a foregone conclusion that if Hasbro does produce a Ghost vehicle it's probably not going to be to scale with the BMF Falcon. Perhaps it would measure up size wise with the vintage Falcon mold in order to be able to dock with the Phantom. I just don't know if parents of kids who like the REBELS series would be willing to plunk down $150 for a Ghost vehicle.
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Quite frankly, if they want to sell a $250 to $300 toy, one of the best things they could do would be to make the radar dish swappable and let you pick which version you want to display / play with. At that price point, it would be a small gesture that would probably increase sales. I'm not terribly interested in a E7 version, but am still loosely in the market for an OT one but have never been able to justify the cost.
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They need to do a mail-away (or Kickstarter) that will allow you to swap out your round dish for a rectangular dish.
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Probably be a relatively easy 3D print, actually. Just might cost $30 or more. :(
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Better they do a $30 accessory then have D-bags steal the dish out of a new Falcon and return it with a round one, or nothing. Although if they are D-bags they'll probably do it anyhow.
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They'll just mod the kiddie hollow Falcon that Wal-Mart had. Kid target audiences are too young to appreciate a BMF, and parents too cheap to buy it for them.
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Quite frankly, if they want to sell a $250 to $300 toy, one of the best things they could do would be to make the radar dish swappable and let you pick which version you want to display / play with. At that price point, it would be a small gesture that would probably increase sales. I'm not terribly interested in a E7 version, but am still loosely in the market for an OT one but have never been able to justify the cost.
You never picked one up when they were first released? I'm kind of shocked by that.
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Yeah, at the time I thought $150 was too much and I hoped to find one on clearance eventually, and that never happened. In the years that followed I didn't exactly have a ton of space for one anyway, so I've held off. It's on my list though, but I'd like to not spend damn near $300 for one all the same.
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Yeah, at the time I thought $150 was too much and I hoped to find one on clearance eventually, and that never happened. In the years that followed I didn't exactly have a ton of space for one anyway, so I've held off. It's on my list though, but I'd like to not spend damn near $300 for one all the same.
I'm actually in a similar boat with the AT-TE.
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Ha, that one I DID find at clearance. Got it for half off. The other big one I missed was the Clone Turbo Tank.
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After seeing that mess, I don't think we're missing out on that.
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What mess? The Clone Turbo Tank?
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Yeah. I didn't like how that idea panned out.