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Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => Saga Collection '06 => Topic started by: Brian on May 14, 2004, 12:20 PM

Title: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on May 14, 2004, 12:20 PM
Not sure if this is the right section, since this is broader than just the OTC, so sorry if it isn't.  After reading a number of posts, and particularly Scott's, regarding the OTC rehash lineup for the rest of this year, it got me to thinking about the future of Star Wars...collecting-wise.

Sure, we know Hasbro has the license until 2018, but we don't know exactly what it means.  It might just be "just in case", it might be so other companies don't have it, who knows.  We also know that there might be a TV series (cartoon or live action) coming up after the movies are said and done with.  And, of course, there will be more DVD/DVD set marketing pushes in the future with the Episode III disc as well as the inevitable "super duper spectacular fantabulous ultimate edition six disc set extravaganza" in the future.  My question is, do you think Star Wars figures (or other collectibles) will still be available in retail stores, come down to just specialty shops, just online, or nothing at all?

Personally, I think we'll always have some sort of Star Wars.  We may not have it at the retail level, like Scott mentioned, MOTU and Simpsons both have their die hard collectors as well, but they got dropped this year too.  However, with so many smaller, more specific lines still going through various direct market sources, you would think some sort of Star Wars would be able to last (maybe even through SWShop.com, since they have such a great track record {sarcasm}).  Do you think we will continue to see 3 3/4" figures, ships etc., just more limited in scope (instead of 40-50 a year?).  Do you think it will move to more specialty, collector-driven pieces such as the Unleashed line (which I like), Gentle Giant's statues and busts (which look great as well, although I don't have any), or another avenue?

I was just curious what some of your opinions are on the future of Star Wars collecting.  Of course there are always things to catch up on, vintage or otherwise, via ebay or other sources...but I was thinking more of the "new" product future.  What will we see come, where will we be able to buy it, and what would you like to see happen realistically?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Scott on May 14, 2004, 02:14 PM
I really believe what I said, this line will not live past 2006.  I thought at one time they might be able to squeeze it until 2008 but there is no way that will ever happen.

The margain on the line is so razor thin that the excess sales they once enjoyed no longer makes it possible to produce NEW and HIGH quality product at the same time.  They have started to:

Reuse Parts
Reissue Old Figures
Cut costs on Materials
Cut production Numbers (anyone remember the gluts of the 97-99 time frame...there would be new figures almost daily)
Little to no advertising
Refuse to issue any new figures for the release of the DVD's
Things like not issuing the dais for Jabba
Hit and Miss Articulation and joint issues on new figures (instead of going all out, leave one arm with elbow articulation and the other without kind of stuff)

Which is why they extended the contract until 2018 they have to squeeze every single damn penny out of the line that they can

The biggest problem I see with that is all of these moves are really starting to alienate the fan base as a whole.  I've seen nothing but complaints about these OTC figure reissues.  I see the logic but I also ask why not produce NEW figures that Newbie DVD inspired collectors and old fossils can both pick up.  That is what the Bib represents to me...a kick in the teeth.  I don't really think a new Bib was necessary but a TON of people do and want one and for them to pull that one smacks of cheapness and being totally out of touch with the fan base.

So I really think this will result in reduced sales which in turn will mean retailers dropping everything at Toy Fair 2006.  Maybe they can hit 2007 I just am not too optomistic

How to Change THings:
#1 They really need to take a page out of Fan Relations 101 from Playmates, Palisades and Toy Biz and have a real voice within the community and not the secrecy they operate the line with

#2 Release NEW figures even if they are resculpts, people in general have gotten over the resculpt P&M that was commonplace in the late 90's and that's mainly due to the superior molding they have been doing

#3 Go all out on each and every figure.  Bring back the good plastic, keep with the SuperArticulation

#4 Have fan polls more often

#5 Have Web chats

Ugh, I'm sort of disgusted after a few months of some rock solid work out of RI.  My 3 cents
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Morgbug on May 14, 2004, 03:38 PM
I suppose I'm a little more optimistic than Scott is.  Not sure why, it's certainly not in character for me, but I am.  I'm not expecting a long term flourish that keeps up all happy, but I am expecting it to make it a bit further.  I think the sales of the OTC stuff will be the deciding point.  Hasbro knows us schleps will buy stuff regardless, but I view the OTC, while disappointing, as a distinct, targeted effort at pulling in an army of new collectors, coincident with the DVD.  

I also agree with Scott that most of the comments regarding the OTC figures are necessary.  Not all, however and some interesting perspectives can be drawn from positive statements:
Quote
Don't forget these figs are less aimed at those of us that already collect and more at people who may become "inspired" to collect after the get the Trilogy on DVD.  I bet a lot of these will be tough to get even if they are re-hashes.
 It is a good way to draw in new collectors.  I would have liked a bigger push with new figures and really don't need these.  But I think Hasbro is making a pretty big outlay in terms of individualized cards for each figure.  They probably needed to save the money on new figs so they could produce individual cardbacks (razor thin margins etc.).  They also seem to be following an old tried and true Hasbro marketing scheme.  How many cards was the vintage Vader released on?  Was that a bad thing at the time?

The rehash OTC figure assortment is pretty good:
3 Vaders - sure, we don't need them, but Vader never sits on a peg and I've never seen one clearanced.
4 Lukes - almost ditto, but not quite.  Still, Luke is attractive to younger generations, perhaps their target market.  
The better part of the original vintage 12 figures are there.  Luke and Vader above.  Ben, Leia, R2, 3PO, stormtrooper, Jawas, Tusken, Han (even if the selection sucks).  Pretty cool.  
Army builders are present:  the aforementioned stormtrooper, tie pilot, scout trooper, snowtrooper.  Never sit on the pegs either.  Could even count the Tusken and Gam Guard here, though I dearly wish they had redone the Gam guard for some variety.  
Bounty Hunters: Greedo (failed BH), one of the best Boba's, IG-88, Bossk.  I'm a little surprised they didn't release Dengar on the new card as well, since they had the new sculpt anyway.  And Bossk is the new sculpt, hell, it's only been out for a couple of months.  
Really, if you are trying to attract new collectors, that's a pretty damn impressive assortment.  

also from elsewhere
Quote
Frankly, I don't see why people complain about re-releases at all. The way I see it, the re-releases don't really replace new sculpts, they're just there to suppliment them. It's not like there's not enough out there to collect, either. There's always something else if you really think there's not enough new figures and you really feel the need to buy something.
I don't entirely agree with the comments above, but outside of a relatively select few collectors, probably numbering in the 100s, of which we belong to that group, most people may not have all of these, notably the latter group of figures.  And there is always other stuff to collect.  The mind fairly boggles at the concept.  

I think the worst thing is the quality of plastic being used currently.  I think it was a Luke I was handling the other day that had a lightsaber hilt molded directly onto the figure and it was rubbery, not at all hard.  Dire need of viagra there.  Lando Skiff's staff is also incredibly soft plastic.  Better hold that puppy vertical or it's going to look more like a sickle in month or so.  

Quote
How to Change THings:
#1 They really need to take a page out of Fan Relations 101 from Playmates, Palisades and Toy Biz and have a real voice within the community and not the secrecy they operate the line with

#2 Release NEW figures even if they are resculpts, people in general have gotten over the resculpt P&M that was commonplace in the late 90's and that's mainly due to the superior molding they have been doing

#3 Go all out on each and every figure.  Bring back the good plastic, keep with the SuperArticulation

#4 Have fan polls more often

#5 Have Web chats
These are all excellent points.  Especially one and three.  Two I'm not so keen on, mostly because I'd rather see a new figure than a resculpt in 99% of cases.  I did not feel Bossk needed to be redone.  Sure, it's higher quality, but I can't fathom people that really like vintage sculpts over modern sculpts (He-Man orange/green cards notwithstanding).  I'm not so sure 4/5 will do much as they tend to be skewed somehow (#4) or dominated by certain personalities (#5) which is the nature of the medium.  Well known entities, such as Scott, are widely respected and often have great ideas.  Through no fault of their own though, they are likely to overshadow and possibly obscure some kid with a great idea.  Us old farts tend to be pretty set in our mindset (redundant) at times.  Not singling out Scott, just using you as an example.  



There, I'm done be optimistic for the day.  Gotta go kill something now so I feel better :-*
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Scott on May 14, 2004, 03:48 PM
I guess I'm suprised at my pessimism too, just looking at what has happened at retail this year to me means that current toy line models need to be thrown out the window and new agressive fan friendly ways of catering toy lines need to happen

And with that said, one only needs to look at the Muppets line, the epitome of good will and having a symbiotic management/fan base community and see that even then the line is on shaky legs having been dropped by almost everyone but etailers and specialty stores.

The kid aspect of this line is one that is often understated, I found comments by Jesse Falcon in a recent interview about Marvel Legends that the impulse buyer outweighs the collector so far in retail sales that its not even close.  That is one way this line probably will succeed.   Core characters, great new packaging and the DVD hype will intice Suzy Q. Soccermom to pick up some of the figures for Spoiled T Brat sitting in the cart.  BUT, the big BUT, new figures would have sold better (even resculpts)  I'm hoping for POTJish distribution and not some EpI type roll out and thing will be OK.  We shall see, I'm not optomistic though after a few months of sun shine
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CloneF13Y35 on May 14, 2004, 04:05 PM
I'd like to add my 2.5 cents  ;)
As a 30+ something SW fan and collector, I don't see having much SW stuff within a few years of ep3 UNLESS some other kind of entertainment is released, like the rumored tv sereis.
as far as the figures go for the OTC, I really don't see myself getting many of them, unless it's a 'gotta, wanna, needa, havea' figure I want. I don't get every figure epescially if it doesn't appeal to me. I didn't get all of the ep2 figs, some just looked like a waste of my money so I didn't get arena padme for instance. I get the figures and rarely vehicles I think are cool and want. I DO want the Sandcrawler - that is a major vehicle from ANH, it played a small but pivotal part.
I prefer posability and likeness over features. While I like figs like shaak ti and luminara, their lack of posability hampers them in my eyes. I have them because they were very striking visually to have.  Of all the posable features, the ball socket shoulder joint is the best.
I hope the line continues for a while as I like SW in general, it won't be around forever.
I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
laters  ;)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jeff on May 14, 2004, 04:09 PM
I would agree.

Would anyone have guessed that the juggernaut MotU/He-Man line would die off so quick?

Simpsons WoS figures sold like hotcakes, then nothing - blah.

Even the Marvel Legends line that was so hot seems to have died off.

With the current economy, more and more toys are feeling the hurt.  Collectors don't have the money to throw around so willy-nilly anymore and are more careful about what they buy.

I'd have to opt for pessimism too.  I think we are on the downward slope of the Action Figure collecting world.  The big companies overwhelm the fan base with a TON of crap and the fan base dies off.  It happens to everything (baseball cards, comics etc.).  

Remember the hype of a few years back when it seemed like every dang Independent comics character was getting an action figure?  Now they are all piled up in a giant $2 bin at my comic store, including the HTF or "rare" crystal/glow-in-the-dark/nudie chase variants that came along.

I think that Action figure days are dying.  Every movie that comes along spews AFs into the aisles and then the figures just sit.  It's just taking a year or two longer to kill off SW because the Fan Base is that much larger.

It's sad, but I am starting to see the writing on the wall.  I'll take September 2006 in the JD.com SW Death Pool.  I don't expect ther to be ANY new Star Wars figures in the back-to-school Toy aisle resets that indicate we are heading into the start of the Christmas 2006 shopping season.

I wonder though what the next big thing will be?  Cards to Comics to Action Figures to ?  


Jeff


Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: DoctorPadawan on May 14, 2004, 04:52 PM
Just a general statement which I don't know if anyone saw yesterday or not...both CNN and Fox News reported (on their little tickertape thing) that a recent study found children prefer video games to action figures by a 2:1 margin, and that children spend an average of 6 hours a week playing video games.  The former I agree with, as I see fewer and fewer children in the toy aisles these days; the latter I disagree with because the majority of kids I know spend a lot more than six hours a week in front of the X-Box/NES/Sega/PS/whatever.  I have my own theory on videogames being a parent's dream babysitter, but I'm overly paranoid and conspiratorial in my thought processes, so I will refrain from that here. :)

The point to this, and how it relates to SW collecting, the OTC line, and toys in general is this: if kids are more and more turning away from the "archaic" action figures for more interactive things such as video games, are toys in general headed for a collapse?  Not so much from an investment standpoint (although I'd laugh my ass off if all these speculators and their half-circle, short-saber, bent finger MOCs they bought to send little Johnny through college suddenly became worthless), but more from a conceptual standpoint.  Is the entire concept of an action figure outdated?  

As popular as "The Simpsons" is, the figures came out too many and too fast to sustain an ongoing line.  Yes, there are plenty of characters in Springfield, but the availability was what kept me from buying more of them.  I would have gotten an Apu, Sideshow Bob, Jasper, Marge, or Mayor Quimby in a second, but I wasn't about to shell out 25 dollars for a playset to get them.  Even the characters who were released as individually carded figures were pretty hard to find at times: I never saw a Barney and I only saw Groundskeeper Willie once (thank goodness I bought him when I did).  The point is this: they could have put out about 15 figures a year (along the lines of what the 1980's Joe line did) and released them year-round so people could actually go out and find them instead of releasing one wave of six figures every other month and having so many of them be like finding a needle in a haystack.  I commend Playmates for rereleasing those two packs with miniscenes, but it was a last gasp in an already dying line from where I stood.

As for He-Man, it was nobody's fault but Mattel's that the line failed.  If you ship a case of 18 Skeletors and 18 He-Mans with one each of the supporting characters and only one of a particular figure in every 20 cases, then it's not retail's fault that certain figures aren't being ordered.  I feel sorry for the collectors of the Eternia stuff, but it's totally and completely Mattel's fault that things ended for that line.  I only hope the Batman collectors don't have to go through this same type of thing (although according to a friend, Mattel's already mishandling that line as well).

It's because of this that I'm actually hoping that the SW line ends by 2007 at the earliest.  Spend 2005 working on the Episode III figures and vehicles, and use 2006 to do all the stuff people have been requesting for years (more Ewoks, Padme in her various gowns, new Piett-okay, that's just me) and the remainder of Episode III stuff to finish off the line in a definitive manner.  In other words, end the line before retailers end it for them.  

I have a bad feeling that after Episode III, retailers are not going to want to see SW ever again, and with no new movies coming out, there will be no reason in their eyes to continue to order the line.  With more and more kids going to the electronics aisle instead of the toy department anyway, I fear the action figure is a dying breed.  I'll miss the line if it goes, but I'd much rather see it die gracefully than have it go out the way the vintage line did with a choke and a sputter.

I could go on longer, but I'll spare you all.  ;D
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Simdog on May 14, 2004, 05:04 PM


It's sad, but I am starting to see the writing on the wall.  I'll take September 2006 in the JD.com SW Death Pool.  I don't expect ther to be ANY new Star Wars figures in the back-to-school Toy aisle resets that indicate we are heading into the start of the Christmas 2006 shopping season.




I agree.  Jeff, we are thinking along the same lines.  I  don't think the line, as we know it, will last past the summer of 06.  If there is a live or cartoon SW series, that could prolong the dying of the line but I'd be very surprised to see new figures by the beginning of 07.  

I believe one point that was mentioned above isn't entirely correct.  The OTC is not only geared to kids who fall in love with the trilogy for the first time with these DVD's.  It's not geared to fans who have wholes in there collection either.  These spiffy new cards are also geared to the carded collector.  The problem is Hasbro is causing the hobby to lose lots of carded collectors.  Just look at how many of us are loose collectors.  Look at how many more collectors turn into loose collectors.

Here's a look into the future when the Prequel Special Edition's hit DVD.  PTC with repacks of Ep.1 Midnight Madness figures and Ep.2  Midnight Madness figures.  Can you imagine Anakin (Peasant Disguise) on a new card?  SW figures collecting is on the downside of the hill unless something changes quick.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Morgbug on May 14, 2004, 05:24 PM
A question:

Why did the line start up in 1995?  Presumably as a premarketing tool for the re-release of the movies in 1997?  At least that's what I assume to be the case.  If so, then Hasbro may well have a finite view of the line anyway.  

Certainly we'll get a flush of figures next year that deal with End of an Order or whatever Ep. III is to be called.  That will carry through the end of 2005.  Practically speaking we'll go to something POTJ-ish in the fall of 2005, spring 2006.  I expect the last push will indeed be the Christmas season of 2006.  

Unless something else, tv, movie, comes along.  Even at that though, I expect they will be duds along the lines of the Droids/Ewoks cartoons.  

I dearly hope no one is still collecting for the 'value' of the figures.  Lord, as Jeff pointed out, cards, comics, figures all go through the same phase.  The most laughable thing I've seen were a guy and his dad buying up McFarlane sportspicks last year to fund his college education.  They were easily driving prices up by 50% over normal ebay value.  Pretty funny and pretty sad at the same time.  Sure enough, many have lost value already, less than a year later.

I'm going to mellow a statement a bit.  I don't think that these are entirely geared at carded collectors.  I think that market is too small.  Certainly it has some appeal and I think will create some substantial bonus sales for Hasbro, me included as I'll scrap some of my other carded Vaders of the same version in lieu of these versions.  Same for some Lukes as well.  But I still do think the push is towards getting newer collectors.

The comments about kids and video games are well considered too.  I think we suffer from action figure overkill as much as anything else.  Remember the Hulk movie?  Even Sears up here, which carries next to nothing, carried those.  I can now buy them for around $2.50 Cdn a fig.  Pretty sad.  But absolutely every movie has a figure line now and that seems highly detrimental.  I think it very negatively impacts on the other lines that might actually sell (muppets, WOS, star wars) because they take up space that could be dedicated to more succesful or consistent lines.  Van Helsing toys?  Oh, please, give me a break.  

I have to wonder out loud about something though.  How long will the video game market be safe?  Strange to think this way, but all you see in the media is obesity this, obesity that.  Naturally they are targeting fast food at the moment.  But if they start winning those lawsuits and the income starts to dwindle, how long before they pick a new target that is another root cause of obesity, that being sedentary activities?  Oh sure, it's a stretch and a load of crap as well, but who really thinks some little old lady should have been awarded anything for burning herself with hot coffee?  I'm not for a moment suggesting that the case would be valid, but litigation often has little to do with validity and more to do with deep pockets.  

Anyway, let someone else chime in.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jesse James on May 15, 2004, 12:24 AM
Scott's covered a lot of what my opinion is...

My last hope is a media blitz that is SUCCESSFUL.  Clone Wars was, for what I've seen and heard, a success.  It was financially not full of pitfalls in the core brands, and with that, I think Hasbro CAN sustain life after Star Wars films.

The problem is, what will LFL do that Hasbro's going to NEED just to stay alive?  

Clone Wars basic figures killed...  Vehicles (new ones anyway) seemed to do well for a time at least.  

Short of this (and this would be a miracle because Hasbro's teamwork with other licenses in the past have failed and SOME aspects of Clone Wars have failed), I cannot imagine Star Wars living long beyond the films.

I'd be slightly more liberal than Scott...  I'd say 2008 as an absolute LATEST breath...  I think there's a SLIGHT ability to maintain a skimpy license on no "fuel" or future for 3 years past a film.  I believe this because the original line lasted, and they didn't have a core collecting (adult) audience at the time.

I give Hasbro that maximum...  I'd say 2007 as my solid guess though.  One year after the last film?  I dunno, that's a little early in my view...  I think you've gotta imagine there's still some hype in 2006 trickling from the film.

So I'm going with 2007-2008...  If it goes beyond that, I would only imagine it's a successful tie-in to games, books, comics, and the BIG question is, "Can Lucasfilm, in conjunction with Hasbro and other licensees, make a TV series that actually appeals to kids, adults, and strangers to the brand"?  

They pull this off, they can eek out more years if they DO THE LINE JUSTICE.  They don't and they'll run the line dry at the minimum cost.  Things will piddle out.

And I'll look at my collection, take a big sigh, and start listing what it is I need to make myself, and make ultimately better than Hasbro would've anyway.   ;D
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CorranHorn on May 15, 2004, 01:05 AM
Pretty much what everyone has said is dead on, though I disagree with the thought that the OTC line could be the death knell of the Modern line. We all know OT items sell better than anything else in Star Wars and despite some of the ridiculous picks for rehashing in the OTC, the packaging alone is going to sell a lot of these items. What we should be worrying about is the eventual blitz of Episode 3 based toys. We've seen it happen with TPM & AOTC, the insane glut of toys flooding stores for years after the movies ended. People are still finding the initial Saga figs at stores all the time and I've heard of occassions where Episode 1 toys pop up now and then do the storerooms being cleared out. This is likely to happen again for Episode 3, despite the knowledge Hasbro and their retail partners have from the previous prequels. The difference between now and then will be without another movie definitively coming out, the glut that will be Episode 3 toys will most likely push the retail partners to say "enough is enough, you've got nothing more to give us and what we have now we're going to lose money on." And that will be it, no more Star Wars in mainstream retail outlets and that will lead Hasbro to limit production to a minimum if not completely and the end will arrive. Best to see the knife coming to our backs now, before it's too late.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: JediMAC on May 15, 2004, 04:00 AM
All excellent points guys.   Not much to add after that barrage of insight, but I guess I can point out who/what I generally agree with...

I don't think the line will die off as soon as Scott thinks.  I'm more with Jess, in that I think it can run at least into 2007, on the Ep. 3 hype alone.  The majority of the initial hype will get it through a year pretty easily I think, and the remaining adult collectors can drive it another year beyond that I think, provided Hasbro plays along and offers some new OT stuff, of course.

Scott's points of Hasbro getting more in touch with, and really communicating with it's Star Wars collecting fanbase are very valid, and something we've long begged for.  I do agree that if the line is going to live on for any length of time beyond a couple years, they've absolutely got to at least listen to us a bit more, and make a few appropriate changes to keep a lot of the adult collectors around.  They've done this sporadically in the past, and have shown us that they DO read through the forums, but what drives me virtually insane is that whenever we start getting down in the dumps, Hasbro springs some really promising news, ideas, designs on us to really boost our spirits back up.  But then shortly thereafter, they seem to be content in knowing they've kept us around longer, and they revert back to a bunch of absolute horse$h!t figures and ideas.  It seems to be a never-ending cycle now.  That's why I'm expecting Hasbro to surprise us relatively soon with some good all-new figure announcements, to make up for hitting us with that checklist of recarded rehash garbage.  They read the boards.  They know we're all pissed off now, and I think they'll likely try to boost our spirits once again pretty soon...

Speaking of that new OTC checklist...  It's a mixed bag here, as far as what Hasbro's thinking, and what consumer reaction will be.  Obviously these aren't your average recards, since the OTC design is so freakin' beautiful.  So I think a lot of the carded collectors will go ahead and scoop 'em all up without too much of a gripe.  I've also heard a lot of loose collectors say that they're thinking about buying some of these to actually keep carded, since they look so nice.  That will obviously help make up for the fact that most loose collectors won't otherwise be rebuying a lot of these older figures, if but only a little.

So to further make up for the lack of loose collectors involvement, I think Hasbro's (mistakenly?) thinking that they're going to reel in the kids again, with the DVD marketing push.  Sure, they'll pick up a few of them for several months perhaps, but as always - the adult collectors will be the folks that determine the life of the line.  But I think the kids will at least scoop up some of the super-duper rehashes, like Luke, Han, Leia & Vader that we're pretty much sick to death of seeing.

Fortunately, there's a decent number of potential army builders and custom fodder in that list too - 13 or so by my count.  So those should all sell pretty well still.  Plus, that list includes most of the recently issued Saga figures, which some people may still have some trouble finding in stores right now, as the Saga line winds down and stores are cutting back on their orders of it.  So I think those will also potentially move reasonably well.  I do however see the OTC vehicles, with those terrible old molds, sitting around damn near forever.  Big time flop coming with those piece of garbage.

I think what I'm saying here, is that I believe the OTC figure line will do fine at retail.  Not spectacular, and sure there's going to be the usual alotment of some solid pegwarmers, but I think it'll move for the most part.  BUT, what it's not going to do is give the majority of us collectors a good feeling about the line in general, and it's future.  It's not really enhancing any of our collections, especially the loose ones, any further outside of the Dagobah and Bespin waves.  But if Hasbro's smart, and knows we're all down in the dumps right now, they'll soon announce a few more assortments for the OTC line - a Cantina group of aliens for starters.  Then all will be good again in Star Wars collecting land.


Perhaps they'll make a push for more of the VOTC styled figures, and surprise us with another assortment of those instead.  Either way, I think we've still got some good surprises coming near the end of this year, or early in 2005.  But if this recarded crap ain't your thing, at least it gives you some time to save up your moolah for C3, and the final Ep. 3 onslaught of merchandise.   ;)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: TheBlackDog65 on May 22, 2004, 01:39 AM
I see the line going into 2007 and dying in that year. I agree that momentum from Ep. III will carry it into 2007. I also think the answer to the line is seen in the Clone Wars figures. I am 39 and have a 10 year old son who loves SW and LOTR (wonder why? Because I do?). Anyway, I hunted like mad last summer and was able to find every figure at retail, and bought at least 2 of each figures (some 3 packs of clones I bought 3).  That line was successful, and represents what I think Hasbro needs to do to make the line work after 2006/2007. Lucas will put out special TV series etc. and Hasbro will make short lines to support those releases (like the Clone Wars). Once the theme is over, the line is over and retailers are done until the next theme/story/special comes out.
Also, the 3 3/4 line will die out. I do not think that other high end collectables like the busts and other items will stop. These will increase in demand and remain in limited runs for the true collector.
I guess that is why I have preordered for SW everything I want, and same for LOTR. Now I have to wait for the preorders to deliver.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: evenflow on May 25, 2004, 10:51 AM
I'd like to see some Expanded Universe stuff before it dies.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Scott on May 25, 2004, 10:55 AM
The two problems I see with EU is that the demand is not as high as it is even for PT figures and the other is that people say they want EU figures but their wants in said arena are so diverse its hard to get a good handle on what to produce (with the exception of the Solo kids).  

It almost has to be things like the Clone Wars line (regular or animated) for it to happen...
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: evenflow on May 28, 2004, 09:18 AM
Somewhat true, but a fan choice poll wouldn't hurt. They could give us 5 choices of EU lines and just vote. Whichever storyline gets the win we get an assortment of figures.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on July 15, 2004, 10:41 AM
With these VOTC figures hitting, it just got me to thinking about this again.  Although some of them might have some flaws, this figure line overall seems to represent the best of what Hasbro is capable of.  After the final movie rush is said and done, and since we don't know whether or not the television series will happen or not, what would you like to see happen post Episode III?  Would you be happy with a line along the lines of the VOTC, with figures that are done very, very well...with a lot of time put into the sculpt, articulation, etc....even if the line was limited to say 20 figures or so a year?  Many toy lines seem to have a much smaller release schedule (20-25 figures per year as opposed to 50+ that we normally get from Star Wars), and for some it is must easier to keep up (especially when collecting other lines).

Sometimes I'm not sure what i want, because while I feel "the more figures/ships, the better", I do sometimes feel a little overwhelmed (finances wise) when there is a lot to buy.  I know there are a lot of background characters left to be done (and hopefully finishing out the vintage line)...so maybe the more limited line isn't the best answer in those situations.  Anyways, would you be happy with a line that continued...but in a little more limited fashion...maybe 20-25 collector-oriented, VOTC-style figures per year, even if at a little higher pricepoint (although $7 would be easier to stomach than $10 or $11).  Any other thoughts on what you'd like to (realistically) see the line do after the movie?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jim on July 15, 2004, 02:42 PM
With these VOTC figures hitting, it just got me to thinking about this again.  Although some of them might have some flaws, this figure line overall seems to represent the best of what Hasbro is capable of.  After the final movie rush is said and done, and since we don't know whether or not the television series will happen or not, what would you like to see happen post Episode III?  Would you be happy with a line along the lines of the VOTC, with figures that are done very, very well...with a lot of time put into the sculpt, articulation, etc....even if the line was limited to say 20 figures or so a year?  Many toy lines seem to have a much smaller release schedule (20-25 figures per year as opposed to 50+ that we normally get from Star Wars), and for some it is must easier to keep up (especially when collecting other lines).

Sometimes I'm not sure what i want, because while I feel "the more figures/ships, the better", I do sometimes feel a little overwhelmed (finances wise) when there is a lot to buy.  I know there are a lot of background characters left to be done (and hopefully finishing out the vintage line)...so maybe the more limited line isn't the best answer in those situations.  Anyways, would you be happy with a line that continued...but in a little more limited fashion...maybe 20-25 collector-oriented, VOTC-style figures per year, even if at a little higher pricepoint (although $7 would be easier to stomach than $10 or $11).  Any other thoughts on what you'd like to (realistically) see the line do after the movie?

This would work for me, but maybe not 20 per year.  Maybe 10-12 a year.  I think it would be nice from a packaging standpoint to release one of every figure (the best sculpts of course) in either the OTC or VOTC packaging.  With the amount of different figs available, the line could easily continue for another 10 years.  Yet at the same time it hurts me to say I hope the line dies within 2 years of episode 3.  Lets just hope that they can make everyone happy by releasing some more background figs and finish off the vintage line in the end.  
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on August 12, 2004, 11:39 AM
I was looking up a figure on some of the POTF2 photo archives online, and noticed (at RS) that they had their figures divided into the release year as well.  I wasn't a real active collector at the beginning of POTF2, but it looked like there was anywhere from 25-35ish figures released per year.  It seems like we now get around the upper 40s to 50s in figure releases now (although this year it has been many recarded figures).  Anyways, it got me to thinking about the future of Star Wars again.  Once the ROTS hype is dying down, and considering what is left to make (or to re-do, since technologies have advanced since the POTF2 days), how big would you like to see the line be in 2006 and beyond?  How many figures would you like to see released each year, and maybe, in what fashion do you think they should be done?  Would you like to see some of the POTF2 sculpts updated?  How many ships would you like to see (realistically)?  Just curious as to some of your opinions on the future of Star Wars.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: jokabofe on August 12, 2004, 11:46 PM
wow, that's a lot of questions  :P

Once the ROTS hype is dying down, and considering what is left to make (or to re-do, since technologies have advanced since the POTF2 days), how big would you like to see the line be in 2006 and beyond?

i wouldn't mind if they kept it at the same rate it's been recently. maybe release a new case assortment every other month or so, and make about 50-60 new figures each year. empahsis on new, meaning new figures, not old figures on new cards.

How many figures would you like to see released each year, and maybe, in what fashion do you think they should be done?

not sure exactly what you mean by this, but i'll take a guess... like i said above, 50-60 new figures each year would be great, at least imo. i'd like a few deluxe figures now and then, especially if they can keep cranking out new ones like the better of the last few.

Would you like to see some of the POTF2 sculpts updated?  How many ships would you like to see (realistically)?

i would love to see just about every figure that hasn't already been resculpted get the resculpt treatment, as long as they end up better then the originals. i don't think there are really that many, as we've been getting resculpts quite often out of hasbro. and i'd love to see some ships that are a little more to scale, even if they have to be a little pricier.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on January 24, 2005, 10:31 AM
On the heels of the "OTC success" discussion, do any of you have any new or changed feelings on where the line is headed in the future?  With the recent list popping up for 2005, looks like we'll be getting a plethora of ROTS figs this year, and it is still up in the air if we will see anything else.  I imagine that ROTS focus will trickle into 2006 as well, but we'll start to see a little more from the rest of the Saga.  After that, where do you see things headed?  Will the relative "success" of the OTC re-pack-o-rama influence similar trends in the future?  Will we see a cutback in figures to 20-30 a year (instead of 50-60), or will they go towards more of a specialty market?  I could see a line like "Unleashed" and the Gentle Giant stuff continuing, since it was pretty much collector-driven in the first place, but its hard to judge where the basic figure line will head.  I would think they would sell well enough to stay in the stores, but without movies in sight that might change things a little bit.  They will most definitely be relying on us, the collectors, to fuel the line more than ever I would think.  I hope things continue on, even if it is in a more limited capacity, but if there wasn't quite as much product as there has been the past couple years, I guess that would be ok with me.  Freeing up/saving a little bit of money wouldn't be all bad.  Of course, I don't have to buy it, and I do only buy what I want, but it does still seem to add up :).  Any thoughts or insight on where things are headed?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CorranHorn on January 25, 2005, 05:57 AM
I still believe the success of the ROTS line will determine the long-term health of the Star Wars action figure-based toyline. With the success of the OTC line, we didn't see the glut of product we are likely to see with the ROTS line. It's this glut of product that will make the decision for retailers on how much farther they are looking to support the toy line.  By year's end we are expecting 56 action figures (60 when counting in the preview wave) from ROTS, alongside X amount of vehicles, beasts, and other ROTS-associate toy products. Like in 99 and 02, that's going to be a lot of product for one movie, and eventually average consumers (i.e. non-collectors) are going to get burnt out.

If retail support dwindles, Hasbro is likely to cut the number of new toys per year to perhaps 1/3 of what will be released for ROTS (i.e. half of what is normally released in a non-movie year). That would leave us with one of two possibilities, a.) a repeat of OTC where a good number of the overall product released in a given year is re-releases from previous years or b.) an overall diminished about of toys produced and brought to the market. If a.) happens we could see a successful repeat of OTC or we could see the collectors who would be supporting the line get more and more fed up. If b.) happens, we would see a larger span of time between the release of new items, instead of new items coming out once a month, it could be along the lines of new items out once every 3 months.

However, if ROTS is a huge success and stores don't clearance out items in mid to late summer and come X-Mas 05, we're hard pressed to find items from the initial movie release, I could see Hasbro attempt to duplicate their initial plans for 2004, i.e. theme-based monthly waves with a total new figure output approximately equalling 50 figures. The question then is what they decide to produce for 2006 and beyond, how much of that will be based on what the collectors want and  how much based on what they believe kids want. But in the end only time will tell.....
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on April 8, 2005, 09:31 AM
After seeing a bit of what the ROTS line has to offer, and possibly seeing a glimpse of the future with the Early Bird figures coming up....where do you see things headed in 2006 and beyond now?  I'm not sure if the EB figures are really this one time deal, or if it is the beginning of a "new" line as some rumors have indicated.  Although I know some people really dislike resculpts, particular "main" characters, but a part of me wouldn't mind seeing them manage the line similar to the vintage days.  Starting with this Early Bird set, and then releasing the regular figures somewhat in the same order as they came out in vintage days.  Of course, "ultimate", VOTC-style prequel figures could be merged into the line too, as well as a few background characters that fans are still wanting.  I personally would be ok if the total figures released in a year went down just a little bit, and we just slowly got really nice versions of all of the main characters, as well as resculpts (when necessary) of other characters represented in the vintage line (and a few that should have been....Tarkin, Slave Leia, etc.)

I would also be ok if they took figures (for example, VOTC Han Solo), and just re-released them throughout the line.....again, just like the vintage days.  As long as they are of that type of quality (VOTC Chewie, Stormtrooper, Lando come to mind as well), I don't think people would mind them being used/reused throughout the line.  This is really just a bunch of random thoughts that have come to mind lately while shopping for ROTS and seeing the details of this Early Bird set, and maybe it is just the nostalgia in me for the vintage line, but I wouldn't mind seeing things run somewhat like this (especially in the aspect of a little more limited releases throughout the year, and reusing top notch figure sculpts instead of resculpting figures in the same outfits numerous times).  I'm sure other people have differing opinions on where they want things to head, what is your opinion?  I guess the reason I wouldn't mind a slow down is I simply don't have a whole lot of room, and I could use to spend a little less money as well ;).  What do you want to see in 2006 and beyond....have your feelings changed now?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on April 12, 2005, 03:52 PM
I don't want to see the line die out... but I do want to see it slow down sometime in 2007... maybe down to about 20-25 figures a year or something like that.

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: DoctorPadawan on April 12, 2005, 06:08 PM
Everybody get ready... brace yourself for the blasphemy I am about to unleash upon you...

Honestly, I could do without Original Trilogy stuff for a year.

Yep, I said it, and yep, I meant it.

I realize that the OT is what 99% of people out there like to see more often than the PT, and I realize that OT stuff probably sells a lot better than PT stuff.  But, by that same token, all the OT stuff seems to be at this point is endless rehashes of the same characters over and over and after the VOTC, at least on 9 of those figures, there is nowhere left to go but down.  I love the OT, I love it more than the PT, but if I see one more Tatooine Luke I'm going to vomit.

If they're really rebooting the line at the beginning of 2006 and starting over with the OT stuff again, then I'll be really disappointed.  Even Episode I, with the ridiculous amount of pegwarmers got three months into 2000 before being cancelled, and even then we got TPM figures for a while until Saga/AOTC hit.  If this year is all we get from ROTS (and this is an assumption, based on the idea that Hasbro will reboot in 2006), I'm going to be a sad panda.

If you ask me (you didn't), they should dedicate 2006 to the Prequel Trilogy the way that 2004 was dedicated to the OT.  Do themed waves of 3 figures every month or so, or about 36-40 figures for the year.  Do four waves for each film, do a deluxe figure or two for each film, release a couple of vehicles, and then in 2007 they can go back to the OT well for the last hurrah of the line.  Some will argue (probably justifiably so) that a year devoted to nothing but prequel stuff will kill the line completely, but as it is, the endless resculpts of Luke in Tatooine with finger slightly curved and a weird hat are doing more to kill my interest in the line than anything else.

Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on April 12, 2005, 08:56 PM
I have no problem with what you said... hell I could go 2 years without new OT stuff (but not a day longer).

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on April 13, 2005, 02:48 AM
If all the figures were up to VOTC standards, I might stick around to pick those up. There's so much more to do from the prequels (like, Padme in various gowns) that I'd honestly like to see more than some redone OT stuff.

But for 2007, I want figures like Ackbar, Zuckuss, 4-LOM, Bib, and the like completely redone. Plus Han and Luke in Stormtrooper disguises. Then I'd probably be content with the line coming to an end.

I do not think that starting over at square one in 2006 is a good idea. If that's where the line goes, I'm out.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on April 15, 2005, 10:19 AM
An interesting article up over at The Private Universe, relating to the future of the Star Wars line.  All speculation at this point probably, but there is mention of an inside "source".  Take it with a grain of salt, but this person really feels that we have 3 more movies coming our way.  That rumor just doesn't seem to die, no matter how often Lucas has said "this is the end" and "this is it".  I was actually starting to believe him that this would be the last of it, but it is always hard to know for sure I guess.  You can read the article HERE (http://www.theprivateuniverse.co.uk/cgi-bin/showarticle.pl?section=news&articleid=79)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on April 16, 2005, 12:44 AM
Isn't Lucas like 60 years old now?

It takes about ten years to finish a trilogy of Star Wars flicks, I figure he'd just sit back and count his millions all day.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jesse James on April 16, 2005, 07:05 AM
I dunno, to me you need to mix OT stuff in to keep things fresh...  The prequals need figures too though, and I think leading into 2006 it should at least be a prequal focus, but OT stuff should be seeing a resurgence by then too...  A figure here, a figure there.

I'm hoping the future means VOTC (or at least Cantina Wave) kinds of quality overall.  The ROTS lineup has me hopeful that this kind of articulation is "standard" from here on out...  That army builders get the focus they deserve... 

And I have a resculpt list of POTF2 - E1 (at least) stuff I'd like to see done with this level of quality...

-Han Stormtrooper
-Han Endor
-Han Hoth
-Luke Stormtrooper
-Luke Ceremony
-Luke Endor
-Luke Death Star Duel
-Leia Hoth
-Leia Endor
-Nein Numb
-Endor Soldier
-Fleet Trooper
-Hoth Rebel Soldier
-Biggs Darklighter (I want an Academy Deleted Scene Biggs too)
-A-Wing Pilot (still no decent one of him)
-B-Wing Pilot (same as above)
-Imperial "Technician"
-Imperial "Officer" (Dude in a tunic, black and grey variants)
-Admiral Piett
-Grand Moff Tarkin
-4-LOM
-Zuckuss
-Scout Trooper
-Imperial "Snow"Stormtrooper
-VOTC STormtrooper re-release & "Sandtrooper" version too
-Death Star Trooper
-Uncle Owen
-Bespin Guard (closed coat, multiple ethnicities)
-Wicket

And that's just resculpts of stuff already done...  There's a lotta vintage stuff I think still needs redone in the modern line, like the Rebel "Soldier" with the tan vest, Palace Klaatu, etc... 

I am all for EU too though...  Mixed in sporatically I think it has as much a chance at retail as any basic figure, so long as the Hasbro people keep their wits about them and don't jump into "Techno Yellow Luke!" or "Neon Camoflauge Han!" like the Batman line...  Keep it to known EU, don't go overboard with entire waves of it...  It could work.  I think past EU's proven itself enough, even if the SOTE line tanked some (I blame the basis for it more than the line itself, but I digress).

Prequals have lots to cover though too, and Episode One and Two both have LOTS of figures I'd like resculpted...  SA versions of Maul, Obi, and Qui-Gon from E1...  Outland Peasant Anakin could use a redo, a GOOD E2 Obi-Wan (sad there isn't one really definitive one of him in the entire line), a good Mace Windu...  There's lots of Prequal room left to explore.  And I think re-releasing the SA Clone into the line FOREVER would work.  Till the line dies, that figure should be mixed into cases every year.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: JesseVader08 on April 16, 2005, 03:19 PM
Hasbro has really showed signs of genius at times, but then continues to take a couple steps back in quality.

I don't see why Hasbro couldn't continue with VOTC quality sculpts and poseability (****-3PO aside), without charging the higher prices.  Those figures were obviously designed for collectors only, and Hasbro knew we'd pay more for them, especially since it was a very limited line of only 12 figures.  The packaging added a premium as well, but obviously isn't necessary for the future.  The VOTC quality would allow the resculpting of many figures, like those listed by Jesse above, which really begs to be done.

I really think the 2004 SAGA release pattern was the best they've done.  I like getting them released in waves that have a theme, perhaps 3 or 4 a month.  This would allow them to switch each wave between OT and PT, to satisfy everyone interested.  I think this pace allows retailers to sell without a glut forming on the pegs.  On the other hand, to only release 20 figures a year is too little because there wouldn't be enough figures to keep a consistent presence on the pegs.  (That was the idea behind the Hall of Fame wave for SAGA, but they shot themselves in the foot by rereleasing figures we'd just recently seen for the most part.) 

So to sum up, we need super-articulation at a reasonable price, released about 4 a month in themed waves, mixed with both PT and OT.  Come through with this, and I think the line will survive a long time because fans will be happy and retailers will be able to support it.

Simple, right?   ;)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Broem on June 5, 2005, 09:55 AM
A good sign at least right now for the future of the line is this.  There actually seems to be a lot of littler kids actually into Star Wars this time around.  At least in the toy aisles and theatres.  I don't remeber seeing this many kids for AOTC.   Hopefully this will indeed spark some new blood into the collecting community.  I have been pleasantly surprised by that.  It can't hurt. 

As far as the future is concerned.  I think Hasbro will have to scale back after the middle of 2006.  Back to stuff like VOTC.  Make things a bit more high quality than just strictly rehashing figs.  I hope they can sprinkle in "new" figures of stuff like the Tonnika Sisters or Hem Dazon.  That would keep me buying at least.  Some resculpts of Tarkin, Bib Fortuna may not be bad either. 

I don't know.  We shall see how successful this TV series will be.  Eventually Star Wars is going to die out with no more movies on the horizon.  Again I would not be surprised to see a new SW movie several years down the road to kick everything into overdrive again.  Although it would probably be mostly unrelated to the Vader/Luke story.

Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: DoctorPadawan on June 5, 2005, 01:17 PM
I've probably said this several times (possibly in this very thread; I'm too lazy to look) but Hasbro seems to be putting an emphasis in quantity over quality with the SW line.  There's a definite sense of (especially right now with ROTS) "We have to have as much stuff out at once as humanly possible."  Never mind the fact that some of these products (BARC Speeder/Spider Droid/Deluxe Obi-Wan/etc) are pure garbage and should never have been released in their present forms in the first place.

56 figures in three months (which is probably what we're looking at right now) is just ridiculous.  That is about how many Saga figures were released in the whole of that line's 2002 debut.  Hasbro has put out quite a few needless figures (two Obi-Wans, two Anakins, and two Yodas on opening day is a huge  ::) for me) that are of dubious quality when they could have concentrated instead on doing one version of each of those characters very well.  Instead we get two Anakins that can't sit in the cockpit of their fighter, ditto with Obi-Wan, and two Yodas that are practically Happy Meal toys.

I would love it (although some wouldn't I know) if Hasbro would do 24 new figures a year, all of them at a pinnacle of quality.  Do about 6 Unleashed figures, a few vehicles, and the Galactic Heroes and be done with it.  Actually make the toys of a higher quality instead of just cranking out more and more substandard stuff.  If you have to do repaints, do them of army builders like the Clones and release them all in equal numbers (none of this Red/Blue RG nonsense). 

Back in the day, they put out 13-15 new Joes for the RAH line every year and reshipped figures from the previous year that were difficult to find.  SW has a bigger cross over appeal than Joes (this is pure speculation, I could be wrong), so why 24-28 figures every year when there is no movie to tie it into is a bad move is beyond me. 

And the thing that gets me more and more is that they don't just do "ultimate" versions of the main characters and just reship them over time if demand is there.  Do one Tatooine Luke, with ball jointed head, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles, standard wrist and waist joints, pack in a poncho, a floppy hat, binoculars, rifle, lightsaber, Stormtrooper belt and blaster, blast shield helmet, and headset, and be done with it.  Instead we get POTF2 Luke, POTF2 Deluxe Luke, POTF2 Blast Shield Helmet Luke, POTF2 Gunner Station Luke, POTF2 Purchase of the Droids Luke, POTF2 Flashback Luke, POTF2 CommTech Luke, VOTC Luke, and Early Bird Luke.

You'd think one figure that can be reused/reissued umpteen times would be more financially sound in the long run, but apparently Hasbro has some book on economics that I don't know about.  ::)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth_Anton on June 6, 2005, 12:37 PM
I loved reading everyone's perspectives. As for the future of collectiong, I thinks it's imposible to say, yet I know what to expect. Over the years it seems Hasbro has been trying to adapt to what everyone wants. Granted, it's taken almost ten years, but  I think they're getting the hang of it. Sure there's going to be less than stellar figures out there, but that's to be expected.

Overall, I'm optimistic. I think were going to see a lot of quality figures for many more years to come.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Nathan on June 6, 2005, 04:39 PM
And the thing that gets me more and more is that they don't just do "ultimate" versions of the main characters and just reship them over time if demand is there.  Do one Tatooine Luke, with ball jointed head, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles, standard wrist and waist joints, pack in a poncho, a floppy hat, binoculars, rifle, lightsaber, Stormtrooper belt and blaster, blast shield helmet, and headset, and be done with it.  Instead we get POTF2 Luke, POTF2 Deluxe Luke, POTF2 Blast Shield Helmet Luke, POTF2 Gunner Station Luke, POTF2 Purchase of the Droids Luke, POTF2 Flashback Luke, POTF2 CommTech Luke, VOTC Luke, and Early Bird Luke.

You'd think one figure that can be reused/reissued umpteen times would be more financially sound in the long run, but apparently Hasbro has some book on economics that I don't know about.  ::)


My thoughts exactly!

The "this line is for the l'il kiddies" stuff notwithstanding, I suppose they do it since they know us collectors will buy all or most versions. But of course a good percentage of those will buy all the recarded rereleases anyway....
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Pete_Fett on June 9, 2005, 04:54 PM
And the thing that gets me more and more is that they don't just do "ultimate" versions of the main characters and just reship them over time if demand is there....You'd think one figure that can be reused/reissued umpteen times would be more financially sound in the long run, but apparently Hasbro has some book on economics that I don't know about.

I don't know if it is as much economics as it is Hasbro's fear of putting the stake in the ground and saying "This is the final, ultimate version of ___________" (insert character name)

As far as I'm concerned a Tatooine Luke decked out with articulation and accessories as described by DoctorPadawan above would indeed be an ultimate version of this character, there will always be some jerk who thinks that (a) the figure could have more articulation, (b) could have included more accessories or (c) a better sculpt.

You could do this with LOTS of figures and at times Hasbro has shown us that they COULD get there if they wanted to - anytime a figure includes extra arms, legs or a second head, to me that is one step closer to the ultimate version.

Ultimate Luke from ESB --
Arms:
1 Set in the Bespin Jacket Sleeves, fully articulated and have a removeable right hand
1 Set bare-armed like he was during training on Dagobah, again fully articulated with two sets of hands, one regular to hold things and the other spread out to duplicate the hand-stand pose

Torso:
1 for the Bespin Jacket
1 for the tan "muscle" shirt seen during Dagobah training

Legs:
1 set of legs & boots that would be fully articulated with ball joint hips, knees and ankles

Head:
1 Head Regular
1 Head with "Battle Damage" from the fight with Vader
1 Head for when you want to put him doing a Handstand

Accessories:
Lightsaber lit
Lightsaber unlit
Equipment Case
Lantern
Foodkit
Removeable belt with working holster
Blaster that fits in the holster
Backpack for the "ultimate Yoda" figure

Come out with a 4" SW figure that covers all that and I'd gladly pay $15 - $20 for that figure, but instead if you made that the be-all, end-all of Lukes from ESB (with the exception of Pilot and Hoth Gear) then you could keep re-shipping this figure over and over and over and over again.

Like I said, Hasbro is trying to get there - look at ROTS #50 - the Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar figure - interchangeable Arms and Head just like the OTC Dagobah Luke - but the arms aren't articulated and neither came with articulated legs - so they take some steps to solving the problem and then fall short in others.

There must be a govenor on how much any one figure can cost - if a figure exceeds cost to Hasbro of $1/figure then they must scrap the idea of making that figure altogether. That's the only thing I can think of. As we already pointed out however, if you're shipping that one figure from now until 2018 what's the difference, the more you make and sell the overall cost per figure goes down. Simple econ 101. At least I think it is, but what do I know.  ::)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on June 20, 2005, 09:37 AM
Last week I was just looking back at the POTJ days, and the more I was reading/thinking about it...I wouldn't mind seeing things return to that type of line overall.  Of course, I'd like the figures to have the VOTC/ROTS sculpting and articulation, etc., but the releases would be easier to manage.  From what I can see, there was 25-28 basic figures released each year in 2000 and 2001, and I think that would work well for me to only have that many to hunt for throughout the year.  Plus, POTJ seemed to have a fairly good mix of background/supporting characters, while still infusing in the main characters here and there as well, to keep everyone happy.  Plus, for the most part, it seems like there was usually only one version of each main character per year...which shouldn't bother people.  I've always kept track pretty well of what I spent on Star Wars, and this year (obviously) has been especially pricey...and I sure wouldn't mind returning to the years of 25-30 figures, 3-5 larger vehicles, and a few midsized things in between.  Sorry for just the random thoughts, but I guess although I knew there was a ton more stuff coming out this year (and last) for Star Wars...I didn't realize the difference with the POTJ days.  No wonder I could afford to collect even back then on a much smaller budget.  I never would have made it collecting (keeping up) in college or my first year out with the number of releases we're having this year.  Its always nice to have more new stuff, but I'd be ok with a slow down for 2006 and beyond.  I do still kind of like the "themed wave" idea we had for much of 2004, leading into the OTC line, and combining the best aspects of current figures (sculpting/articulation), Saga (sculpting/themed waves), and POTJ (mix of entire Saga, fewer figures...focusing on quality), I think we could have a nice line that could survive quite well on collectors alone for many years.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: knashdx on June 20, 2005, 10:12 AM
I would like to see Hasbro start working more of the Expanded Universe into the figures. After all there is only so many Luke Skywalker's, Darth Vader's, Han's, and Princess Leia's that people will buy before they stop buying all together.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Scott on June 20, 2005, 10:23 AM
I would like to see Hasbro start working more of the Expanded Universe into the figures. After all there is only so many Luke Skywalker's, Darth Vader's, Han's, and Princess Leia's that people will buy before they stop buying all together.
Hmmm...

I'd still like:

Luke (Stormtrooper)
Luke (Ceremonial)
Luke (Bespin SA)
Luke (Medical Frigate)
Luke (Endor)
Luke (Jedi Final Duel SA)
Leia (Hoth)
Leia (Medical Frigate)
Leia (Endor with removable goods for Leia General)
Leia (Ewok)
Han (Stormtrooper)
Han (Carbonite)
Han (Endor)
C-3PO (SA including Bendable Knees)

I think Super Articulated resculpted versions of the main characters would fly off the shelves...resculpted hit and miss junk will sit.  I don't need another crap Endor Han...Hasbro watches other toy lines.  The success Toy Biz has with its Super Articulated Marvel lines and the fact that people are rebuying Super Articulated LOTR figures should mean something.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on June 20, 2005, 10:37 AM
I agree with you Scott, and I'd like to see all the figures you have listed there as well.  Although I might be the minority, I'm someone who likes seeing the main characters in the line periodically, and I think the line needs it as well.  I think if we had SA versions like you have mentioned, and just re-release them every so often so they are on the shelves alongside supporting/background characters, it would be a pretty good mix.  I think having figures like VOTC Han, Chewie, Stormtrooper etc just released and re-released in the basic line alongside new figures would be a pretty good formula.  Add in the new, SA versions of the main characters in their "other outfits" and I'd be all for that.  I hope that is what we'll see in the future.  I think it is good for the line with both kids and collectors to at least somewhat regularly have characters like Luke, Han, Chewie, Vader, Stormtrooper, Yoda, Leia, the Droids, on the pegs.  Add in prequel characters like Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, Palpatine, Clonetroopers, etc., and you have a pretty good mix.  Just supplement those with a POTJ-like assortment of background characters, and that would be a great line to me.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on July 7, 2005, 03:48 PM
After these recent rumors of the end of the Unleashed line, it got me to thinking about the future of Star Wars again.  Going into the post-ROTS era...and for the first time in a long time not having a new movie to look forward to....the Star Wars line(s) could be quite different from now on.  With the likely tightening up of the license (which, after all the new lines this year, we could probably use), what would you like to see the overall makeup of Star Wars collecting look like?  Which lines would you like to see stick around (or do you think, will actually stick around), and which would you like to see go away...for good :)?

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the following:

Basic 3 3/4" - Rumors sound as if we're heading towards OTC-style line, mixing new figures with repacks.  That is ok with me as long as the ratio isn't quite as repack based as the first round of OTC.  I wouldn't think it would be with it not being a "promo" year with the excess pumping out of merchandise.  When you take the 2004 Saga, and VOTC, into account the new figure ratio is closer to 40 new figures for the year...which would be plenty for me I think.  VOTC/ROTS style sculpt and articulation on the figures would be nice, and Hasbro is more than capable.

Vehicles - I'm guessing this will lean more towards repacks/repaints/retools...and likely focusing more on OT-vehicles.  I don't really have a lot more room for vehicles, so I guess that is ok with me.  I kind of wish they would re-release the AT-AT, even though others might not agree (I missed the POTF2 one).  A new Cloud Car would be nice, and since it is smaller, might be possible.  3-4 Vehicles in a year (like the POTJ days) would be ok with me.

Unleashed - I personally would like to see this continue, but it isn't sounding good at this point.  It seems like the perfect collector-driven line, it doesn't need to necessarily take up a lot of retail space (only 3 figures per wave, 2-3 waves a year), and it is growing in popularity.  However, as mentioned, prospects don't sound good at this point.  I doubt I will transition to the rumored 2" line, unless it is in the style of the old micro sets which would open doors to a number of larger vehicles/playsets.  Even then, I don't know.  Plus, I don't think it is too likely.

Galactic Heroes - Another line that I really like, but I'm unsure of where it is headed.  If we were to get some more vehicle sets (TIE Fighter, Slave 1, AT-AT, Jabba's Palace), it would be pretty cool.  The figure 2 packs are fun, and affordable as well.  There is some more potential with this line, but its really been pretty quiet on this front this year.  I guess I would be ok if it ended up going away, if only because I could justify further delving into the Kubrick line (hopefully).

12" Figures - Never really collected them (I have 5 I think), so I'm not really sad to see them go.  I feel bad for the 12" collectors though.  I don't know if I see them coming back.  I always did look at them when they were released, and it just doesn't seem like the quality is there much anymore.  Supposedly these were "replaced" by Unleashed...but now that might be gone too, so who knows.  Another license could probably do a little more in this scale.

Basically all the other lines that have popped up this year could go away.  I haven't really collected much of the others, although I have picked up a few Jedi Force and Force Battler figures.  That said, I wouldn't miss them if they were gone.  I usually pick up the Han and Chewie from the "other" lines, and it sounds like by the end of the year both of those lines will have supplied those...so I'll be set.  I guess if there was going to be one "kiddie" line, I'd lean towards GH.  Other stuff (miniatures, 2" Unleashed, Attacktix, etc.) can go away as far as I'm concerned.  Other miscellaneous exclusives here and there can as well, unless they are good.  I like the Target cups, but I'm not a fan of the price.  If they priced them lower, or just sold the glasses seperately, I wouldn't mind seeing a few more.  We don't really need a ton of them though, either.  An odd-ball collectible here and there...ala the Mpire figures, Darth Tater, Clone Wars Animated lines are welcome to me.  Not all-consuming lines, but something different every now and then to pick up.  Anyways, what would you like to see in the Star Wars line(s) going forward from late 2005 and beyond?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 7, 2005, 11:45 PM
--3.75 line should continue. It has no reason to die.  There is a built in market for the figures no matter what really. Sure production runs might get smaller but they just keep reissuing till we all get what we want.  Sales will drive it.

Plus they have endless EU to build off of.  I'd like to see some nicely done sublines "Thrawns Trilogy," "Dark Empire", and "Dark Forces;" to name a few.

--Galactic Heros. I like this line too. and I see it selling with the smaller kids.  That other copy of Rescue Heros is just going to fall falt, it just has a few figures.  If the keep putting out playsets for GH it is set, and that'll be great!

--ALL other lines they can just dump I don't care for any of them.  (that goes for Kubricks too, lol)

--I do want them to bring back Mirco Machines though, perhaps with better sized figures..
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 11, 2005, 04:23 PM
Personally, I'd like to see them focus on 3 3/4", Galactic Heroes, and either Unleashed or 12".  Less lines = more attention paid to what's left. And pick either something like VOTC or Deluxe for the $10 range, though I'd like to see it stay the Deluxe line so I don't buy two each of the VOTC figures.

Keep those Evolutions packs going too. I want a Padme and prequel Obi-Wan set before this subset goes away.

I'm guessing any future vehicle releases from now on will be exclusives, which is probably better as long as they aren't Target exclusives. (Thoughts of post-TPM Skiff and Y-Wing dance through my head...)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Pete_Fett on July 11, 2005, 05:12 PM
Ok - first off - completely agree with mosnab. Lines like Jedi Force, Force Battlers, Attacktix, the rumored 2" Unleashed and even though I have an almost complete collection of them - the 12" figure line can all go away as far as I'm concerned.

I'm pretty miffed about the cancellation of the Unleashed line - I display my open ones of these at work and everyone thinks they're pretty neat - one side of my cube is Unleashed and the other is the McFarlane Matrix line. So the fact that I won't be getting any "new" stuff after the Clone/Chewie/Han wave is disappointing. The fact that those three "new" ones are kit-bashes using pieces from previous figures is also a tad disappointing.

I would rather see them focus simply on the 3.75" figure line at a $5 - $6 price point, continue to have deluxe figures at the $10 price point and continue the Evolutions sets as a way of giving us VOTC style versions of both PT and OT core characters.

Multipacks of re-hashes are okay in order to give "new" collectors a chance to get original versions of main characters, but eventually that should stop and Hasbro and all retailers should just resign themselves to the fact that the fan base they have now is as big as it's going to get - they need to focus on KEEPING the current collectors/customers and stop trying to branch out into new **** to bring in new ones.

For the basic and deluxe figures, I would prefer to see a return to the "Themed Assortments" that crosses both lines. The Hoth and Jabba waves from 2003 Saga were great, but could have been tighter like this:

PT Tatooine Waves: (3 waves of basic figures, 2 waves of Deluxe)
Basic Figures
TPM Anakin Skywalker w/Soft goods, sa and pod racing helmet
Qui-Gon Jinn w/soft goods, sa lit and unlit lightsaber - compatible w/Eopie
Wald/Kitser 2-pack
Dud Bolt, Mawhonic or any other new pod racer
AOTC Anakin Skywalker (can just be an individually carded version of the AOTC Evolutions figure, but add ball-jointed shoulders, elbows and hips) - compatible w/Owen's Speeder Bike
Gray C-3PO
Beru Whitesun
Owen Lars
Obi-Wan Kenobi w/soft goods, sa, infant Luke Skywalker - compatible w/Eopie

Deluxe Figures
Eopie (if they can get the Wampa on a card, the Eopie can be carded as well)
R2-D2 pulling Anakin's Pod Racer cockpit
Cliegg Lars w/Hover Chair & two moisture vaporators
Owen Lar's Speeder Bike

If they were to release this stuff, I would be extremely happy.

The same could be done with waves dedicated to PT Coruscant, Geonosis, Clone Wars, Order 66, ANH Cantina, Ewok Village, Bespin, etc...

The reason I would like something like this is because for a little while after something is released, I keep it on my desk at home, what was nice about the 2003 Saga stuff was that I was able to make "mini dioramas" of all of the figures that came from the same piece of the Saga. The Hoth stuff was one of my favorites for this very reason.

Personally I don't see the line making it to 2010 - and that's being generous. I think it would live on AT LEAST one year beyond retail as an exclusive to www.hasbrotoyshop.com just like the 3.75" GI Joe figures are - now before you say "not economically feasible" - if Hasbro's choices are kill the line entirely and bring in $0 or sell it exclusively on their own site and make SOMETHING, I would think they'll choose "Make SOMETHING" over "Make NOTHING" since they paid for the license until 2018.

I think the TV shows will give the figure line a boost, but figures will be made in support of the shows and could almost be considered sub-lines from the main movie lines entirely - much like the previous Clone Wars line was. If all they're going to do is Animated Clone Wars repaints and no new sculpts, they should put that line to bed as well. More movie-style sculpted Clone Wars figures would be welcome though.

Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 11, 2005, 05:48 PM
WOW, GI Joe is only sold via their site?  How'd I miss that!
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on July 11, 2005, 11:06 PM
To be honest, all I really care about is the 3-3/4" line.  It's the lifeblood of Star Wars collecting.  I hope (and think) it will continue for a long time...

More than anything, I want to see a few large playsets/vehicles... with the Unleashed line supposedly going towards a 2" scale, I think they are making a mistake and slitting their own wrists with that line.  If they were to make the Unleashed figures smaller, I think they would be best to make it a 3-3/4" scale line.

About a year or so ago, I opened a thread somewhere here, and was thinking that it would be cool to have the unleashed go in the 3-3/4" direction...

I really thought that some sort of 2-pks priced at the $15.00-$20.00 range would be awesome. Each one would have a cool unique base to display them on... the figures themselves would have limited articulation similar to the current unleashed line...

Also, each movie would have one large scene (almost a playset!) - something around the $40.00-$50.00 range that was a pivotal moment in that particular film.

For instance, here are some ideas for the $15.00-$20.00 range sets -

TPM

- Qui Gon fighting Maul w/ desert environment
- Obi Wan slashing Battle Droid w/ Naboo Forest base

AOTC

- Arena Padme w/ Nexu climbing Arena column
- Obi Wan deflecting shot w/ "hovering" Jango Fett w/ Kamino base

ROTS

- Palpatine fighting Yoda w/ Senate pod base
- Grievous fighting Obi Wan w/ Utupua environment

ANH

- R2D2 and C3PO w/ Tantive IV environment
- Han and Chewbacca sitting in Cantina w/ table and booth

ESB

- Dagobah handstand Luke w/ Yoda standing on him
- Han shooting at Vader w/ Cloud City dining room table

ROTJ

- Han throwing Scout Trooper against tree
- Stormtrooper shooting w/ Ewoks attacking him

Then, there would be a $40.00-$50.00 set for each film -

TPM - Theed Generator room w/ Obi Wan fighting Maul w/ dying Qui Gon on the floor

AOTC - Geonosis hangar w/ Yoda fighting Dooku w/ injured Obi Wan and Anakin lying on floor

ROTS - Mustafar control room w/ Obi Wan fighting Vader and destroyed Battle Droids, dead Nute Gunray on floor

ANH - Death Star hangar w/ Obi Wan fighting Vader

ESB - Bespin gantry/eather vane w/ Vader outstretching his hand to injured Luke

ROTJ - Throne room w/ seated Palpatine and Luke fighting Vader


Honestly, I don't care what the Unleashed line does. As it is now, it's not my cup of tea. I understand that a lot of people do enjoy it, but I don't think that scaling it down to a 2 inch line is a good move. If they were to make them smaller, then a 3-3/4 line would make sense.

This is really the way I see it - the upcoming ATTAKUS Line that is going to have some stuff in the 3-3/4 scale is probably going to be extremely expensive and that Death Star scene is going to be out of the price range of most. If there were some sort of 3-3/4 unleashed line, at least for the first time since the vintage days we MIGHT get some cool playsets/environments.

But WHAT IF the unleashed line could make some sort of playsets like this that the legendary Niub Niub made, but of course with newer figures, even preposed would be fine if they weren't "nailed down" to the playset -

(http://www.niubniubsuniverse.com/diorama/ep5/bespin/father/secretfront.jpg)

Or as another example the Throne Room that forum member DAGOBAH is working on -

(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid175/p8946176d29efff899b7aedacf9b7c930/f372cff4.jpg)

And as an example, here is what ATTAKUS is putting out later, that is probably going to be damn expensive -

(http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/20050516_picview/img/6.jpg)

(http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/20050516_picview/img/2.jpg)

(http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/20050516_picview/img/3.jpg)

(http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/20050516_picview/img/4.jpg)

(http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/20050516_picview/img/8.jpg)

(http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/misc/20050516_picview/img/13.jpg)

Would any true collector that opens their stuff NOT WANT these? We know damn well that Hasbro isn't making any effort to get us playsets with the regular line, so maybe we could get something like this as some part of unleashed Line.

To scale down the unleashed Line to a 2" line is probably a big mistake. If they are to scale it down, they should go with a 3-3/4" line because the 3-3/4" line is the lifeblood of Star Wars collecting, plain and simple.

Thoughts? I know most people want to see the unleashed line stay as it is, but I think this would be A LOT better than going to a small 2 inch line which is what it seems is going to happen.

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 11, 2005, 11:24 PM
I'm rather glad the Unleashed line is changing scales. Now I can step off that boat, though I still need the newest wave, the last wave, and the Stormtrooper wave.

It was getting hard to spend $15, plus space was hard to find for them. Not to mention how hard it was to find the damn things in order to buy them.

And that Attakus stuff is friggin' awesome. I bet they'll want $1,000 for that Death Star display.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Pete_Fett on July 12, 2005, 12:37 PM
WOW, GI Joe is only sold via their site?  How'd I miss that!

What you see in stores now of the 3.75" GI Joe toys is merely stores trying to move the last of the product they have. At some point, whether it be in the fall or for Christmas, Hasbro will be introducing a 6" figure line called "Sigma Six" or something stupid like that. They will essentially "reboot" the line and be able to start off with all new versions of Duke, Snake Eyes, etc...

They announced back at Toy Fair in Feb of this year that the 3.75" and 12" GI Joe lines were effectively cancelled.

After many cries let out by GIJoe collectors, Hasbro decided to change their tune (slightly) and are now going to be offering individually carded 3.75" figures on retro-style cards (the packaging looks A LOT like the packaging from the 80s) and from what I understood they were going to be available only through their toy shop website.

Now I have seen that online retailers like Brians Toys are going to be selling them as well - but I'm not sure if they are just buying from the store applying a mark-up and then reselling them with the intention of being the ONLY game in town after Hasbro's store sells out or if Hasbro is letting some of their smaller customers buy in to the line. The big chains however, will transition to selling the new 6" line instead.

Hope that helps, sorry for being off-topic of SW.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Broem on July 12, 2005, 01:02 PM
Well I don't really know what the future holds for Star Wars.  I would think they would want to continue on with the 3 3/4 line.  Like someone said before it would be nice if they could cut back a bit on the amount of figures in a year and make some nice, close to ultimate styled figures now.  Something on par with the ROTS Ct Dooku, Evolutions figures, even VOTC.  But yet keep the price range between $5-$6. 

Hopefully they would still offer us new sculpts, maybe reshash some figs that people may have missed like Ree-Yees.  Still offer some never before made characters like the Tonnika Sisters, Hem Dazon, Hermi Odle, Major Derlin, Yarna.  Improve upon some figures in articulation like the Snowtroopers.  Re-do some classic characters like Luke and Han with VOTC style stormtrooper bodies.  Make a nice new Luke, Han, and Leia in their Endor outfits.  Maybe with soft goods? 

12 inch - They just can't make good figure decisions any longer.  Where the hell is Hammerhead for Christ's sake?  If they just want to make Luke with that Tatooine outfit again then just let it die.  Give it to another company to make them.  Only put a few of them out per year like the Unleashed line, but make them nice looking.    I really think Hasbro killed this line all by themselves really over the past few years. 

Unleashed - I think the retailers must have killed this line off.  I can't really see Hasbro just wanting to kill it the more I think about it.  But don't even bother with that 2 inch line.  That's a joke.  Sorry but it is. 

Vehicles - Personally I am tired of seeing 1977, 1980, and 1983 molds repainted.  I accpeted the Sandcrawler because I never had the original and they painted it nice and no major retailers wanted to sell it.  Make something fresh for everyone.  It's to the point where I am not even interested in vehicles any longer.  It was nice to get some new ones for ROTS of course.  But as far as the OT goes it's same old rehash of the 70-80's era.  Yawn.   

Playsets - These are in such desperate need.  Hasbro makes a big stink about the 500th figure but there is nowhere really to put a vast majority of those 500.  I like the idea of the smaller sets as someone pointed out above.  They act like it will break the company if they try and make that stuff though.  Hell just make them in limited quantities.  I guess there is a reason for it but it sucks as a collector not to be able to put the damn figure in an environment where they fit.  Instead you get to set them on a shelf with a stand.  Yay!

Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth_Anton on July 12, 2005, 02:17 PM

This is really the way I see it - the upcoming ATTAKUS Line that is going to have some stuff in the 3-3/4 scale is probably going to be extremely expensive and that Death Star scene is going to be out of the price range of most.


Not to mention all the spacial issues. :P

I'm not into the uber-expensive stuff, but this line is really tempting. Is it 3 3/4" or close to? I've head they can't do a proper/exact 3 3/4" scale due to conficts with Hasbro's rights to that scale. Is this true or am I getting improper info?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on July 12, 2005, 02:43 PM
I don't know about the "rights" issue, but it would make sense... I think they look pretty darn close to a proper 3-3/4" scale though!

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 12, 2005, 03:13 PM
6" figures!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

and this does apply to Star Wars as Hasbro has a kick for redoing the same stupidity over and over and over again.

I fear for the future
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: DoctorPadawan on July 12, 2005, 05:48 PM
Regarding the Joe line, I am reminded of the saying, "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it."  Thanks Jonestown Massacre documentary!  :P

About ten years or so ago, give or take, Hasbro decided to cancel the 3.5" Joe line in favor of a larger scale, called "GI JOE EXTREME."  This did wonders for the Joe franchise and lasted less than a year because PEOPLE WANTED 12 INCH AND 3.75 INCH GI JOES, NOT 6 INCH MUSCLE CRAP.  So, they went back to the 12" and 3.75" lines in the late 1990's and everyone cheered.

Now they're doing the exact thing that practically demolished the Joe line ten years ago.  It reminds me of that Simpsons episode where Lisa wires the cupcake to see how long it takes Bart to learn.  For those who haven't seen the episode, let's just say that Bart is a slow learner, and reminds me of Hasbro's approach with the Joes lately.  :)

Back on topic, though, I said it before and I'll say it again: 4" basic figure line, occasional vehicles for everyone; GH for kids; 7" Unleashed for collectors, and that should be all that they worry about.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on July 12, 2005, 05:53 PM
Throw in a mega playset every 12-18 months and I'm set.   ;)

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 12, 2005, 08:36 PM
Oh geepers I forgot about GI JOE EXTREME. now I'm really afraid!

MEGA PLAYSET!!?!  *drools*
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 13, 2005, 04:00 AM
Regarding the Joe line, I am reminded of the saying, "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it."  Thanks Jonestown Massacre documentary!  :P

About ten years or so ago, give or take, Hasbro decided to cancel the 3.5" Joe line in favor of a larger scale, called "GI JOE EXTREME."  This did wonders for the Joe franchise and lasted less than a year because PEOPLE WANTED 12 INCH AND 3.75 INCH GI JOES, NOT 6 INCH MUSCLE CRAP.  So, they went back to the 12" and 3.75" lines in the late 1990's and everyone cheered.

Now they're doing the exact thing that practically demolished the Joe line ten years ago.  It reminds me of that Simpsons episode where Lisa wires the cupcake to see how long it takes Bart to learn.  For those who haven't seen the episode, let's just say that Bart is a slow learner, and reminds me of Hasbro's approach with the Joes lately.  :)

Back on topic, though, I said it before and I'll say it again: 4" basic figure line, occasional vehicles for everyone; GH for kids; 7" Unleashed for collectors, and that should be all that they worry about.

From what I understand, in 1994 TRU killed GI Joe because they could. Or they wanted a new scale, only to come crawling back in 1997 for the neat exclusives that year and 1998.

And in 2005, Wal-Mart killed GI Joe by not wanting to carry it anymore, or just trying to dictate to Hasbro too much about "what people want". I'm sure they pushed heavily for Sigma 6, just like they wanted the 3.75" stuff in two-packs since they took up less shelf space.  ::) (Lamest reasoning EVER.)

Either that or Hasbro just passed the buck again.

Me, personally, I love this idea of selling them online. I don't have to buy a two-pack with a figure inside I don't want, plus they're on these beautiful cards. And I don't have to put up with some jerk who buys all the Vipers and nothing else, then brings back the packs with the Gung-Ho intact and partnered with a CORPS! figure.

The less I have to shop at retail for toys, the happier I tend to be.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 13, 2005, 12:34 PM
Yeah, Online shopping has advantages, but it greatly cuts back on the volume hasbro can sell off.  Making for small production runs and higher prices (plus S/H of course) and generally greatly increasing the chances of the death of the line.

GI Joe needs another cartoon show.  Not a crummy one (like new cartoons) either lol
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Pete_Fett on July 13, 2005, 01:50 PM
My wife's god-son who lives with us collects the GI Joe 3.75" line and I stay on top of it (like he does with SW) so we can help each other collect the respective lines.

He feels that the Online Store approach for the GI Joe figures is a mixed blessing. He thinks the new packaging is beautiful and is glad they're back to individually carded figures - this way if all they release is a slightly modified repaint of say for example Duke - he doesn't have to buy it like he did with the two-packs 'cause the two-pack would have a completely new figure packed in with the Duke. He hopes that Hasbro makes enough to meet demand, he's worried that they may not initially and people waiting for these things may have their orders cancelled due to lack of production.

Personally, I'm glad they're trying it with GI Joe instead of Star Wars for a couple of reasons:

1) I'm selfish and while I'm glad they're trying this experiment with the GI Joe figures online, I'm glad they're not trying it with Star Wars. SW is the whipping boy action figure line as it is, there doesn't need to be any more fodder for that.

2) If the GI Joe experiment is successful, it means that if and when the SW figures go this route, Hasbro might want to provide a new figure here and there amongst the sea of re-packs that will most likely be available. Anything that encourages them to make new figures even after WalMart kills the line is a good thing IMHO.

3) The failure of the Sigma Six line along with mediocre Force Battler sales may indicate to Hasbro changing the scale of the SW line may not be such a good idea. So let's pray that Sigma Six flops.

 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Diddly on July 13, 2005, 02:30 PM
Well it's looking like Repack-o-Rama for the next year. ::)

Luckily, there are no new figures on the horizon, so if there's another drought (like in 2000 and 2003), I won't be left behind.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: SilverZ on July 13, 2005, 02:47 PM
Judging by the news so far today, I'm not even sure there's much future for the line at all.

Those 5-packs are going to convince retailers that Star Wars is over. They're going to choke on those.

The pointlessness of the exclusive (read: garbage) carded figures announced today are obviously target at carded completists, and a total abuse of those collectors.

The redeco figures in ROTS are getting carried away into piss-poor EU territory.

There had better be something good they're sitting on for Friday afternoon, because all the news thus far has been bad. Line-killer bad.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 13, 2005, 04:10 PM
EU doesn't even claim some of that trash!

And yesh Force Battlers is a flop, so we are safe and I don't see 6" Joes succeeding, it's been tried and flopped. What 10 years later kids will like them now?  Nah
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Broem on July 13, 2005, 04:13 PM
I have to agree with Tydirium.  The SW line is going to die if Hasbro is gonna go heavily on the rehash route.  Unless they have something up their sleeves that we don't know about yet.  And there might be.  If not, this line will be dead by the summer of 2006.  

I gave them the benefit of the doubt last year because the DVD news was a surprise.  Supposedly that was the reason for all of the rehashes because they did not have enough time to make new figures.  Remember all that?  I don't think that will fly next year.  

There better be some really cool new figures on tap that collectors have wanted like Hermi Odle, Tonnika Sisters, Veers with removeable armor, Hem Dazon, Han and Luke in Stormtrooper disguises with VOTC type bodies.  

So far the only figure that I am remotely interested in buying would be the newly resculpted Bib Fortuna.  Maybe that Han out of Carbonite...maybe.  
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jeff on July 13, 2005, 04:20 PM

I'll take September 2006 in the JD.com SW Death Pool.  I don't expect ther to be ANY new Star Wars figures in the back-to-school Toy aisle resets that indicate we are heading into the start of the Christmas 2006 shopping season.

I wonder though what the next big thing will be?  Cards to Comics to Action Figures to ?  

Jeff

I said it before, I'll say it again - I'll take September 2006 in the JD.com SW Death Pool.  ;)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: DoctorPadawan on July 13, 2005, 04:26 PM
Quote
I said it before, I'll say it again - I'll take September 2006 in the JD.com SW Death Pool.

Should we start another thread for this?  Seriously.  We should buy all the Clone Pilots and Neimoidian Warriors and the person who "wins" gets to be stuck with all of them.  It's like a booby prize, but without the boobies.   ;D

Seriously, I'll give them until June 2006.  The Battle Packs will flop this fall, retailers will be pissed (as if Wal-Mart probably isn't pissed enough at Hasbro after the Early Bird disaster) at Hasbro, and Toy Fair 2006 will result in that oh-so-legendary statement that we hear every so often with a 1985 ending:

"Star Wars fell short of our expectations last year and retail continues to show a lack of interest toward the lines.  Therefore, we have decided that (particular wave of figures) will be our last for a while.  The line is not cancelled, but we are going to take at least a year to reevaluate the line's future."

Then two years later a new line of 6" scale figures launches, and bombs horribly because everyone wants 3.75" figures, and retail says a great big and final "**** you" to Hasbro and SW toys for another ten years. 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 13, 2005, 04:49 PM
Aye.

This news is bad news. Repaint+repack+make exclusive= piss fans off and they walk.

I was starting to reconsider leaving this line after ROTS, but once those Evolutions packs finish, I'm afraid that will be it for me.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Nathan on July 13, 2005, 05:08 PM
This is the first time where I'm genuinely beginning to worry for the future. I still haven't had time or $$ to digest all the ROTS stuff yet, but as far as Hasbro is concerned that line is over and they're already attempting to move on and shoot themselves in the foot.

I've said it many times and I'll say it again ... there's enough vehicles, aliens, EU stuff, and assorted background characters to easily keep this line going past 2018 if Hasbro played their cards right. A couple of POTJ-type years of background aliens, playsets, Turbo-tanks, and SA clones out the wazoo and we'd all be happy as clams. It seems so logical, doesn't it? ::) Too logical apparently.

But there's a wild card most doomsday predictions seem to overlook ... two TV series in a couple years. If they can get over their EU phobia, Hasbro has a huge opportunity for realistic-style figures based on these shows. If the series are well-received and the toys are well-done, these TV lines could be quite popular among kids and collectors alike.

It will also be a way to keep the film-based figures alive for several more years by piggybacking them on the TV hoopla.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 13, 2005, 05:13 PM
I am just amased at how completely clueless the people at Hasbro are.  What in the world could they be thinking?

These comments are so obvious to us, why not to them?

The TV show will likely be PG style, so most kids can watch it, so that'll play into the toys well
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jim on July 13, 2005, 07:50 PM
I love this hobby, but I am running out of room, money and patience.  I would love to see it slow down to one new case assortment per month.  A phase out like the original POTF line in 85-86 would not hurt my feelings, with an occasional few figures to tie in with Anniversaries and maybe a few exclusives.  I dont even think a TV series will be able to pump enough life into the marketing of new toys. 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darby on July 13, 2005, 09:41 PM
Maybe Hasbro just doesn't want to commit the resources they have in the past to SW.  They realize like we do the line's salad days are over, so they figure they'll just scrape by with rehash crap.

Or, maybe they're just reloading.  We saw a lot of rehashes all of a sudden at the tail end of the AOTC line, remember (Ki Adi Mundi, Yoda, Tusken Raider) before they came back at us with new stuff in 2003.

I'd like to believe the future's so bright I have to wear shades, but I doubt it.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jesse James on July 13, 2005, 10:37 PM
Eh, you're giving a nice outlook to things though Spuffy, there's nothing wrong with that unless someone's easily upset when they're basically underwhelmed by Hasbro.

I like to think it's a lull before a storm of goodness too Spuffy.  I'm sad at the same time though because the re-releases aren't necessarilly bad ideas all the time (just what Hasbro SEEMS to be re-releasing are bad ideas).  The battlepacks and stuff are neat ideas with potential, but things like that may get trumped by poor sales of the early sets...  Like the TRU 4-packs.  Not bad ideas, and they even started out strong, but they wound up being failures by the end of the run.

I'm more disappointed that the SDCC was so looked forward to but has really been kinda "meh", at least at the start.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: DoctorPadawan on July 13, 2005, 10:47 PM
Honestly, I think that Hasbro is purposely sabotaging the line so they can quit making the toys that probably get them more ill will from collectors in this day and age than any of their other lines.  I'm beginning to believe that the only reason that they renewed the license for so many years is not because they wanted to keep making toys themselves, but to KEEP SOMEONE ELSE FROM MAKING MONEY.  I think they renewed the license out of spite.

The last 12 figures of the ROTS are all repaints, and several of those are completely unnecessary (Wookiees and Neimoidians, I'm looking right at you), and the figures that everyone was anticipating (Cody and other Padmes) are nowhere to be found.  With the glut of Wookiees, Neimoidians, and Clone Pilots on the shelves, Hasbro SHIPS MORE.  Retail is not going to like this one bit, and with WM already pissed off about the EB fiasco, that's nail number one.

The Unleashed line, which has turned into Hasbro's second most popular line and undoubtedly the best "comeback" story of any SW line done, is suddenly cancelled out of thin air so Hasbro can "reboot" in a new scale that they already have at least three other lines in the same scale to compete with. 

There is NOT A SINGLE ORIGINAL SCULPT amongst anything we have seen thus far.  Meaning Hasbro had this planned out at least a year in advance (remember how they kept saying that they were busy all last year developing ROTS stuff?) and kept it under wraps that they were essentially going to try and bury the line with endless rehashes.

It's just plainly obvious to me that Hasbro doesn't give a flying **** about the line at this point and is doing everything in the world that they can do to intentionally sabotage its performance at retail, so they can quit making them altogether.  And like clockwork, they'll blame retailers and collectors for the line failing, never admitting that it was their fault that they repainted and reshipped that goddamned Neimoidian Warrior.

**** Hasbro. 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Pete_Fett on July 13, 2005, 11:19 PM
Honestly, I think that Hasbro is purposely sabotaging the line so they can quit making the toys that probably get them more ill will from collectors in this day and age than any of their other lines.  I'm beginning to believe that the only reason that they renewed the license for so many years is not because they wanted to keep making toys themselves, but to KEEP SOMEONE ELSE FROM MAKING MONEY.  I think they renewed the license out of spite.

The last 12 figures of the ROTS are all repaints, and several of those are completely unnecessary (Wookiees and Neimoidians, I'm looking right at you), and the figures that everyone was anticipating (Cody and other Padmes) are nowhere to be found.  With the glut of Wookiees, Neimoidians, and Clone Pilots on the shelves, Hasbro SHIPS MORE.  Retail is not going to like this one bit, and with WM already pissed off about the EB fiasco, that's nail number one.

The Unleashed line, which has turned into Hasbro's second most popular line and undoubtedly the best "comeback" story of any SW line done, is suddenly cancelled out of thin air so Hasbro can "reboot" in a new scale that they already have at least three other lines in the same scale to compete with. 

There is NOT A SINGLE ORIGINAL SCULPT amongst anything we have seen thus far.  Meaning Hasbro had this planned out at least a year in advance (remember how they kept saying that they were busy all last year developing ROTS stuff?) and kept it under wraps that they were essentially going to try and bury the line with endless rehashes.

It's just plainly obvious to me that Hasbro doesn't give a flying **** about the line at this point and is doing everything in the world that they can do to intentionally sabotage its performance at retail, so they can quit making them altogether.  And like clockwork, they'll blame retailers and collectors for the line failing, never admitting that it was their fault that they repainted and reshipped that goddamned Neimoidian Warrior.

**** Hasbro. 

I just said the same thing over in the ROTS forum - to me it is obvious that Hasbro doesn't really want this line - it's like the GI Joe guy who moved over to running the SW line (a) isn't a fan and (b) wants to see the line killed so he can move on to something else. The same thing happened at Playmates too - the original guy who had been running the line for four or five years was replaced by a new guy who thought all of the scale changes was the way to go.

Doesn't anyone in the toy industry follow what happened to other toy lines in the past or do they produce product in a bubble with blinders on?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darby on July 13, 2005, 11:36 PM
I thought a lot about Playmates and Star Trek tonight looking at all those repaints - most of which I like a lot, by the way - but it reminds me an awful lot of "Super Nova" series or whatever the hell it was, vac metal crap and scale changes and straight repaints and swaps.  Maybe it's just all of this Lava Reflection stuff and repacks of HORRID 1997 figures (Hoth set) all in one day, and there's more goodness to come, but man...
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 13, 2005, 11:47 PM
Believing that they are intentionally doing this blows my mind.  They have millions of dollars on the table, all they have to do is provide what people want.  What we want is exceptionally easy to figure out too. Look at Ebay and customs and just at this forum alone.

They don't have to spend dime one to figure this stuff out and make money. Inconcievable!

just think of all the cash they'd save the retailers and the extra money from reorders they'd get?!
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Nathan on July 14, 2005, 12:21 AM
Doc and Pete: I can't say I fault your reasoning, but I truly hope you're wrong.

I, too, worry about how the EB ****up will affect things.

Like most of us, I do my share of griping and bitching about Hasbro and their sometimes goofy decisions. But, like most of us (I think?), at the end of the day I genuinely enjoy collecting and appreciate the products they make. Overall I believe the positives outweigh the negatives.

HOWEVER, it's times like this when I really wonder, Is Hasbro completely off their rocker or what?? This is not ******* rocket science here.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Pete_Fett on July 14, 2005, 12:28 AM
Hey Nathan - believe me, I'm in this for the long haul all the way until 2018 if need be. So I don't want to see Hasbro run the line into the ground at all....

I'm just seeing too many parallels between how the final years of the Playmates Star Trek line and how the SW line is being handled.

If anyone recalls, the end of the Playmates Trek line was heralded by a series of exclusives - and where were these exclusives? At Target stores of course!

Thankfully, TRU still seems to be onboard with the Battlepacks and things like the second Obi-Wan Starfighter so hopefully things aren't down for the count just yet.

Also if the rumors of newly sculpted Bib Fortuna, Leia in Boushh disguise and Han Solo thawing from the carbonite are true - that's going to make for a GREAT wave - almost like a 2/3 year gap follow-on to the Saga Jabba Waves that were also really good (IMHO).
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: JesseVader08 on July 14, 2005, 12:59 AM
What a rollercoaster ride of emotions today.  Sheer frustration and anger at the repackapalooza of figures this morning in the Battle Packs and basic figures, and then some apparent promise in their choices of figures in the final 12 ROTS figures (many will disagree with me on the second half of my statement, I know  ;)).  All of it has led me to rethink my completist following of Hasbro's product.

I think this is even more frustrating because I really believed that the guys at Hasbro were interested in producing figures that we wanted after the Q & A at Celebration 3.  You could see that these were, for the most part, guys like us that just wanted to make cool figures that we'd like and understood some of the poor choices of the past.  I was really encouraged by what was to come from them.

Like I said, then today happened.  Repacks out the cornhole.  But at least some of the repacks appeared to be good choices.  I guess.

Like Spuffy mentioned earlier and KBZ mentioned in another thread, perhaps this is just what we're getting while Hasbro is actually focusing on in order to blow our minds with the next line.

I'm frustrated, but still cautiously optimistic.

 :-\
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 14, 2005, 10:37 PM
only 12 more figures? Do all the paint variations count as 'another' figure?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 15, 2005, 05:07 AM
I'm just seeing too many parallels between how the final years of the Playmates Star Trek line and how the SW line is being handled.

If anyone recalls, the end of the Playmates Trek line was heralded by a series of exclusives - and where were these exclusives? At Target stores of course!


Target: Where Popular Sci-Fi Toylines Go To Die.  ;)

I look at all these repaints and I'm reminded of all the bull**** repaints in the GI Joe line. I think a guy named Daryl DePriest used to run that line, now he heads up Star Wars. I seriously wonder if he's the goon responsible for the repaint idea (which SW did fine without for 10 years).

Speculation, of course, but small Joes aren't at retail anymore if that means anything.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Broem on July 15, 2005, 09:15 AM
only 12 more figures? Do all the paint variations count as 'another' figure?

I think so Dafoo.  Except for the red shocktrooper, green clone commander, and black clone pilot.  Why they don't get the special "another" figure label is beyond most of us.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Pete_Fett on July 15, 2005, 12:25 PM
I look at all these repaints and I'm reminded of all the ******** repaints in the GI Joe line. I think a guy named Daryl DePriest used to run that line, now he heads up Star Wars. I seriously wonder if he's the goon responsible for the repaint idea (which SW did fine without for 10 years).

As I mentioned in some other threads, yes, this DePriest guy used to run the GI Joe line and was responsible for the concept of the small Joes two-packs where 90% of the time one of the two figures was merely a repaint.

So personally, I'm not surprised at all that the rest of the ROTS line will be repaints. I'm holding out hope that the TSC/SAGA2 line will have a mix of new and re-painted sculpts and lean heavily towards new sculpts. We'll have to wait and see what's presented at today's panel discussion.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Reid on July 15, 2005, 01:47 PM
Just saw the exclusives at Comic-Con... the only one I'll probably get is the Target commtech stormie w/ cup exclusive. And to all you people who are complaining about the repaints, what is wrong with you? Most of the repaints are excellent, especially the Neimodian Commander. And most of you are saying "Wheres Cody? More clones! We want more clones!" Weve already got about 15 in 3 months. 3 months! Thats an incredibly short time! And we have gotten about 80 figures (including exclusives, battle arenas, vehicle pack-ins, etc;) in that time period. So all of you stop complaining and crying in your mom's basement and be grateful! Sheesh, you can't please collectors with anything...
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: dafoo on July 15, 2005, 04:20 PM
Hunter, the point is the did all the other clones and leave ONE out? that's just beggin' to get greif over it.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 15, 2005, 06:07 PM
Just saw the exclusives at Comic-Con... the only one I'll probably get is the Target commtech stormie w/ cup exclusive. And to all you people who are complaining about the repaints, what is wrong with you? Most of the repaints are excellent, especially the Neimodian Commander. And most of you are saying "Wheres Cody? More clones! We want more clones!" Weve already got about 15 in 3 months. 3 months! Thats an incredibly short time! And we have gotten about 80 figures (including exclusives, battle arenas, vehicle pack-ins, etc;) in that time period. So all of you stop complaining and crying in your mom's basement and be grateful! Sheesh, you can't please collectors with anything...

More Clones = better. Would you rather buy repaints of Clones (or which there are hundreds of in the film) or repaints of the Nemoidian Warrior, of which there were two of in the film?

You'll be one of the few buying the Neimoidian Commander. I got two of the Warrior, and it was a really crappy figure, IMO. He had a great look and his action feature wasn't intrusive, but any figure that can't hold its own accessories is crap in my book.

And complaining-- it's what collectors do. And that will never stop until the end of time.
And I'm complaining from my nice rent-controlled apartment far from my parent's basement.
I'm not grateful for a bunch of repaints that take away case space for Padmes and Clones.

Hasbro's not doing me a favor by making SW toys, I'm doing them a favor by buying them, and buying a lot of them.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: speedermike on July 15, 2005, 09:32 PM
Y'know, when the first batch of pics form the ROTS line showed up, there was very little complaining at all.  We liked the sculpts. We liked the articulation.  We liked the character choices.  In general, we liked the whole line.

It;s not impossible to make us happy.  It just takes a little thought, and a little respect.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: TheBlackDog on July 15, 2005, 09:50 PM
I will say this as far as the future goes. I am glad that I am a non-completist collector and that I can pick and choose what figures I get. I don't mind the rehash of the clones, at least ReHashbro picked the right two clones to repaint, the clone commander and the SA Clone #41.  I will pick up IF I can find them, the green commander, the shock troop, the 501st clone, Commander B., and the other individual clone single packs. The rest is just a waste to me. The holographic stuff I can pass on cause they didn't do anything to the figures and I am just not interested in them.
Just so everyone knows, this is not in defense of ReHasbro. Bottom line that we have to remember is that ANY toy company is a business and they are going to do what makes sense to their bottom line. That is the only place loyalty lies from any company, to its shareholders or owner. I know many will say that if they made different figures more would buy, but I don't buy that. ReHashbro has made a killing and will continue to make a killing because people will buy, and they have the age range of teens to around 40 locked in, and most people those ages don't save money, they spend. Also, think like a businessman not a collector. By keeping my post-production costs down, and putting out paint variations on figures that the majority of consumers will buy (collectors, fans, and kids) I greatly increase my bottom line.  ReHasbro is locked in on this and won't change so why expect it? Guess what I am saying is that regardless of what ReHasbro employee's say, they are NEVER going to change the core of their business model.
I saw this same issue  in my other area of collecting which is LOTR by ToyBiz. How many Frodo's, Gollum's, Aragorn's, Legolas' and Gimili's did I see? Far too many that I bought being a completist with that line. How many were rehashes? Most of the figures were rehashes and even many of the new ones used parts from other figures.  Thankfully I have decided to stop that line after the Epic waves 1 and 2 come out.
So for the future,  I am looking for those figures that are new, or that are signifiantly redone enough that I want them in my collection. Those I'll buy. If the figure doesn't pass my standards, or if I make my own customization that is better, then I'll pass on ReHasbro's efforts. Don't take me wrong, ReHasbro will get enough of my $, just not as much as in the past. Also, I expaned more into the OC area and find that the busts, mini-lightsabers, etc are really nice to have (though much more expensive). In the OC area I don't have to worry about rehashes, those companies don't have time nor money to do that to their collectors.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 15, 2005, 11:59 PM
After seeing the Carkoon wave and hearing about the Astromech packs at GH, I'm not as fearful as I was earlier.

I just hope the retailers bite.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth_Anton on July 16, 2005, 02:46 AM
I'm going to like getting back to some good old OT stuff. Beyond the anounced Hoth wave, I would imagine there will be a Tatooine wave based on the Sandtrooper with Black Paldrun, so we know we're going to get a little PT break.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Reid on July 17, 2005, 09:23 PM
Just saw the exclusives at Comic-Con... the only one I'll probably get is the Target commtech stormie w/ cup exclusive. And to all you people who are complaining about the repaints, what is wrong with you? Most of the repaints are excellent, especially the Neimodian Commander. And most of you are saying "Wheres Cody? More clones! We want more clones!" Weve already got about 15 in 3 months. 3 months! Thats an incredibly short time! And we have gotten about 80 figures (including exclusives, battle arenas, vehicle pack-ins, etc;) in that time period. So all of you stop complaining and crying in your mom's basement and be grateful! Sheesh, you can't please collectors with anything...

More Clones = better. Would you rather buy repaints of Clones (or which there are hundreds of in the film) or repaints of the Nemoidian Warrior, of which there were two of in the film?

You'll be one of the few buying the Neimoidian Commander. I got two of the Warrior, and it was a really crappy figure, IMO. He had a great look and his action feature wasn't intrusive, but any figure that can't hold its own accessories is crap in my book.

And complaining-- it's what collectors do. And that will never stop until the end of time.
And I'm complaining from my nice rent-controlled apartment far from my parent's basement.
I'm not grateful for a bunch of repaints that take away case space for Padmes and Clones.

Hasbro's not doing me a favor by making SW toys, I'm doing them a favor by buying them, and buying a lot of them.

Sorry I got P'oed. I know clones are popular but frankly, I'm getting sick of them.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 18, 2005, 01:00 AM
It's alright. I come off too strong at times, but I was really down then about the future of this line. My apologies.  :)
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on July 18, 2005, 09:43 AM
I'm feeling better about the future with the announcement of "The Saga Collection".  This is the type of line I've been looking forward to, and hopefully it will be handled well.  I'm a little concerned about a remaining ROTS glut hurting the chance of finding the new stuff, but we'll see about that.  The rumored figure total (56) for the year is a little higher than I expected, but many of those (half?) could be repacks, so that lightens the financial load a bit possibly.  I always liked the "themed wave" idea that we had in Saga 2004, and I think that worked fairly well.  With a few exceptions, those waves weren't too bad to find initially, so hopefully that will help that as well.  Like others have mentioned, I'm very much ready for some new OT product.  Other than clones, clones, Padme, and maybe a few SA Jedi...I could take a bit of a prequel break for a bit.  I won't mind the repacks either as long as they aren't the majority of the line, and they are fairly decent choices.  I can't wait to see the reaction with Cantina Han is released yet again :P.  Just kidding.  I hope we can see more pics and more info on this line soon, I'm already looking forward to it.  Vehicles sound like they will be minimal, and if we do see them, repacks/repaints.  I was disappointed to see that the Q and A with Randy at GH today basically told us flat out "no Cloud Car is likely"...but it does sound like a TIE with accurate wings is on the way.  The future doesn't look too bad overall to me though, and hopefully it will make everyone (or most) happy.  First time we've been able to have a line covering the entire Saga, could be fun.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: ruiner on July 18, 2005, 09:56 AM
I like the packaging and I can live with the repacks.  I'll probably collect this line like I did the OTC one - all 38 carded makes for a nice presentation considering everything else I own is loose.

Then again, maybe I'll just buy the ones that are improvements/new tools to replace the POTF2 buff ones I have.

I'm getting burnt out with this ****, to be perfectly honest.

And another thing that bothers me is the theme for each assortment - each one is a "battle." 

Waddup with that?

Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jeff on July 18, 2005, 01:22 PM
Some interesting highlights from the Hasbro 2nd quarter report that was released today:

 - Net revenues up 11% to $572.4 million, compared to $516.4 million a year ago, driven by strong performance from STAR WARS products;

 - Toy segment net revenues up 25%, reflecting strong performance from STAR WARS products

 - Revenues in the U.S. Toys segment were $209.3 million for the quarter compared to $167.2 million a year ago, reflecting a strong performance from STAR WARS

 - International segment revenues were $210.2 million for the quarter compared to $179.2 million a year ago, reflecting strong performance from STAR WARS


Apparently, the RotS line is doing well so far.  Of course, these sales were at a peak traffic time of retailer re-orders and such for Summer/Fall product.  It will be interesting to see how fast the numbers fall off next year with no more movies to come...

Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Nathan on July 18, 2005, 01:30 PM
Cool. Yay us! ;D
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: ruiner on July 18, 2005, 01:39 PM
Don't you mean yay for the people with a vested interest?

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Nathan on July 18, 2005, 03:18 PM
Touché.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on July 18, 2005, 03:38 PM
Just as an update to the vehicle thing I was talking about earlier, here is the Q and A portion, courtesy of Galactic Hunter (http://www.galactichunter.com/sdcomiccon05/hasbro3.asp).

From GH:
Quote
GH: We've also been told by the Swami that most of the vehicles next year will be rehashes, including a TIE Fighter with more accurately scaled wings. Are there going to be any newly sculpted vehicle for Episode III and the Original Trilogy like the Cloud Car?

Randy: No Cloud Car. I can tell you that.

GH: Yeah, Brian Wilke (Hasbro designer) joked around with me that he hates the Cloud Car because it's like the taxi cab of the Star Wars universe. And I told him that makes the Landspeeder a Pinto and Sandcrawler a garbage truck. (laughs)

Randy: Well, I like the Cloud Car. I think it's pretty cool. But we don't have plans for the Cloud Car. For the vehicles next year, we're mainly focused on Titanium. Anything that comes out in 3 3/4 inch scale will be an enhancement to what's out there like the TIE Fighter with more accurate wings. We're tooling those up from scratch so it's gonna be pretty big and cool. But we will be making vehicles that we have better.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: JediMAC on July 18, 2005, 03:53 PM
I haven't had any time to post my discussions with the Hasbro guys yet, but I did ask about the Cloud Car at the Q & A (can't remember if it was after the panel officially wrapped though).  They said NO, go buy the vintage one, to which I expressed a good amount of frustration...

I also asked them what the status was on the Tie Fighter with accurately scaled wings, that they confirmed to me last year at SDCC, and they said it's definitely on the way soon, and will be an exclusive (but wouldn't say to whom).  They also confirmed that it will have the revised (correct) cockpit that came out with the KB exclusive Tie a couple years ago.

They also mentioned that the U-shaped portion of the Cantina bar (probably with distillery) would still be coming at some point soon here as well.

Can't remember what else right now though, but I'll post some more later when my senility's slowed down a bit...  :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on July 18, 2005, 04:44 PM
I want a damn AT-TE and Turbo Tank.  Damn them to the hottest depths of hell.   :)

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Ben on July 18, 2005, 05:11 PM
Well, I guess if there's going to be no new Cloud Car, I should go ahead and find the cockpit windows that my vintage one is missing.  :(
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: speedermike on July 18, 2005, 05:16 PM
Y'know, Hasbro could still be having a "strong performance from Star Wars" if they'd get some new crap on the shelves!!  I have money to spend on Star Wars, and I can't find the product.  That's un-American!
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Diddly on July 18, 2005, 05:18 PM
I wonder why Hasbro hates the Cloud Car so much. There's obviously a demand for it, and it wouldn't be that expensive to produce. Also, they could sell it for a low price (like $20). It's just mind boggling.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth_Anton on July 20, 2005, 11:00 AM
My big fear or question is whether or not the retailers can pull it togeather. The theamed waves are great and I fully suport them. However, when we have lulls like we're experincing now, one would hope thaat retail can keep new product on the shelves as it's released.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Reid on July 20, 2005, 11:24 AM
Frankly I don't care about a Cloud Car; What I really want in the Saga Collection is a wide-release Tie Bomber.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on July 20, 2005, 11:35 AM
I'm all for a new Cloud Car... I can't believe they haven't put this out yet.  Maybe they are waiting for the ESB 30th anniversary.

Seems though that Hasbro has plans to keep the line around for quite some time... funny how so many people thought it would end right after ROTS.  Oh, you poor negative people.   :-*

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: DoctorPadawan on July 20, 2005, 07:23 PM
Quote
Seems though that Hasbro has plans to keep the line around for quite some time... funny how so many people thought it would end right after ROTS.

Hey, I gave them until June, so they've still got time to ruin all the forward momentum they've built up.  :-*
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: speedermike on July 20, 2005, 07:49 PM
Personally, I hope the MPire figures clog shelves everyhere so that Hasbro gets the idea that novelty nonsense is a waste of time.

These are cute and all, but I'm just not starting any "new" collections.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Broem on July 20, 2005, 08:44 PM
Quote
Seems though that Hasbro has plans to keep the line around for quite some time... funny how so many people thought it would end right after ROTS.

Hey, I gave them until June, so they've still got time to ruin all the forward momentum they've built up.  :-*

We'll see how it goes in 2006.  I think we all knew it would still be around in 2006.  It's after that year am I am going to be be nervous about.  Although the TV series may keep interest going.  I hope. 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: speedermike on July 21, 2005, 12:00 AM
I don't know why everyone is so gun-shy about Hasbro doing TV show figures.  I'm sure Hasbro's been dying for Lucas to make a TV show.  TV shows sell a lot more product than movies.  They're on once a week, and will play all year, as opposed to being in theaters for 4 months every 3 years.

I think that Hasbro was cautious with the animated Clone Wars stuff becuase no one knew how good the show would be.  The Second season of Clone Wars was too close to E3.

I predict a strong toy line to go with each the 3D animated show, and the live action show.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on July 21, 2005, 09:03 AM
That's a good point.  I think the TV series (both of them), if done well, could really be a good deal for Hasbro and for figures.  Like speedermike just said, it is always at the forefront...being on (through new episodes or reruns) virtually year round.  Plus, this could be a series that reaches both collectors and kids, like Hasbro always wants.  Kids are a little more "flavor of the week" in their movie choices as the year goes on, and once the hype dies down, I think the "kid collectors", if you want to call them that, dwindle considerably.  I think we'll see a pretty good push of figures to accompany both of these upcoming shows, especially since Hasbro has made mention of the series already.  You know they're thinking about it.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: TheBlackDog on August 1, 2005, 12:55 PM
I think that the line will be fine over the next 5 years min. With the things that Lucas is going to be doing (TV, Animated, books etc) there are enough collectors to keep this line in business. One point I think is critical is the fact that Lucas has crossed generations with the movies and with his products. I am 40, my son is 11 and he is a HUGE fan of SW. My son will probably collect (he is loose and non-completist, which I think more and more kids are, even as they transition to adult hood) long after I quit.
Anyway, I think  the line has staying power, its proved that before and you have to remember, Lucas will probably release the extended editions of the prequels at some point like he did the Orginial Series. This is not like my beloved LOTR which is dying a slow death with every wave having variations of Legolas, Aragorn and Frodo with 1 new high in demand figure.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Broem on August 1, 2005, 09:37 PM
Yeah, Star Wars has a lot more going for it now than when it did at the end of ROTJ.  I just never though Lucas would do a TV show. 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on January 30, 2006, 03:31 PM
This is a subject I got to thinking about again here after looking at the new Sideshow Star Wars lineup, as well as reading now that we could see anywhere from 60-80 basic figures this year.  As much as I like new figures, and many/most will be repaints or repacks, that just seems like an insane number to keep up with (especially with price increases).  With what we know now about what is coming up, and some of the rumors, where do you think the basic Star Wars line is headed in the future?  Where would you like to see it go?  Or, have you had enough?

Although I know there are a lot of figures that people still want to see, and I truly do hope they all get made so that most everyone can be happy, part of me wouldn't mind seeing the line become a little more limited.  Now, of course I'm in control of what I buy, so I know I don't have to buy everything, but I do have a hard time passing on new figures if they get made.  That being said, would anyone else like to see the line become a little more limited?  Going from 60-80 figures a year down to maybe 30?  Is that too many, or too few?  This is assuming that they are all "all new" figures, whether they are never before done or they are resculpted figures....no repacks, repaints, etc.  Each of the figures would be the top of VOTC in quality.  Meaning main characters would have a well sculpted, well articulated, "end all be all" version in each of their respective "looks/outfits", and army builders like Stormtroopers, Scouts, Rebel Troopers, etc, would all be the same.  There would also be versions of background characters (or resculpts of them) that would be very well sculpted, and articulated where necessary or appropriate (such as the upcoming Hammerhead, Hem Dazon, etc.)  All of the figures would come with an assortment of weapons, again where appropriate, instead of just "a blaster" or "a lightsaber".  I'm thinking along the lines of the accessories with the Evolutions packs, but just with one figure (maybe not quite as much if it was too much for the package).  Or, bring the Evolution packs back altogether, especially for army builders.  I mean, think of an Evo pack with a SA Stormtrooper, SA Snowtrooper, and SA Biker Scout with all the trimmings, and that everyone could find (that would be the tough part).  The packaging could be something spiffy too for the basic figures, as long as it didn't drive up the cost even more (or was used as an excuse).  Maybe something fancy like Sideshow is doing with their 12" line, or maybe similar to the VOTC.  This could work for OT characters, the opinions seem split with the prequel ones on if VOTC cardbacks would be appropriate.

Then, how would you like to see them released?  Would you prefer they were available online?  At all mass retailers, or maybe exclusive to one (which could be a big pain I know)?  Direct ordering online could be great, but not if it caused the headaches that the Sideshow line seems to have caused so far.  If everyone could be guaranteed to get one (or several), it could be great, but I don't know if that can be done or not.  If you go the "retail exclusive" route, you run into situations where people don't have a store in their area, or it just overall makes the figures tougher to get because all the collectors (or scalpers) know to hit that one store to get the newest Star Wars figures.  I'm just throwing it out there as an option in case a retailer, say Wal-Mart, decides they don't want to carry the basic line anymore.  There could also be an element of "DTC" that Hasbro already uses with their smaller scale GI Joe line.  I don't have personal experience how that has worked out, but I'm sure someone else could chime in on that.  If everyone is able to get the figures they want, etc.  Anyways, long post to say this, but what where would you like to see the Star Wars basic line head at this point?  What would you like to see?  How many figures do you want in a year?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on January 30, 2006, 03:50 PM
Good idea bringing this topic back up, I think this is a good time for a new discussion.

Where would I like to see the line go?  I think from what we've see coming out in 2006, we have a lot of product, no argument there.... so I don't know what I can say about 2006.  I think it's already pre-determined.

I'd like to see a few things come about for 2007 - a lot depends on what we see in terms of the TV series, so this is just speculation.

(1) Depending on the variety of characters in the TV series, it's hard to determine... if the series does take off, I'd like to see around 30 or so figures from the series, and about 20 or so non-TV figures from the movies, basically at least one wave of figures from each of the films.

(2) I don't want VOTC packaging... just too pricey.  I want the basic $5-$6 figures, with articulation and nice scultps.  It can be done, ROTS proved that.

(3) For army builders, I do want to see some sort of Evolultion type line to continue.  How about an Imperial Forces pack - Stormtrooper, Snowtrooper, Biker Scout like you said, and a Republic Forces pack - ROTS Clonetrooper, Galactic Marine and BARC Trooper?  Then maybe a Jedi pack, with an ultimate Mace Windu, ultimate Qui Gon Jinn, and an ultimate Obi Wan Kenobi?  Then a few more nice Evolutions sets sprinkled in.  Maybe a Rebel pack, with a new Rebel Fleet Trooper, Snowspeeder Pilot and ultimate Endor Rebel.

(4) Playsets, I want some more damn playsets.  Nothing too large, but some somewhat movie accurate ones in the $30.00 range.  Maybe some modular ones with a bonus pack in of 1-2 army builders on each one.  Go for REALISM Hasbro!  Realistic looking Star Wars stuff is always popular, so do it with a playset or two and you might surprise yourself with the negative outlook you have on them.

(5) Vehicles, I don't need a ton of them to be released, but for once since the Royal Starship, how about a nice $100.00 new vehicle like an AT-TE or Turbo Tank?  You're killing me Hasbro by not offering something like this.  Heck, make it an exclusive for a crazy price, just make it.

(6) Get rid of the gimmicks.  We don't need Choppers or Force Battlers.  These are a waste of money for both Hasbro and the retailers.  Stick to the 3-3/4" line - and maybe you can try and make a decent playset or large vehicle instead of dabbling with crazy secondary lines.

That's what I'd like to see.

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on January 30, 2006, 04:17 PM
Quote
I don't want VOTC packaging... just too pricey.  I want the basic $5-$6 figures, with articulation and nice scultps.  It can be done, ROTS proved that.

That's one point I didn't exactly cover.  I don't really want VOTC packaging either if it is going to drive up the price (which it would).  I guess when I was talking about that I was more thinking along the lines of retail backing off a little bit on the Star Wars brand overall, and the basic figure line might be most (or all) we had.  Then perhaps it would go more towards a "specialty product" like the Sideshow 12" line is now.

You also bring up good points about playsets and vehicles, which I forgot to mention too.  I'd like to see playsets make a comeback too, although i don't know how likely it is.  I wouldn't even mind seeing things like the Dagobah and Ewok Village playsets just get redecoed/re-released from the vintage molds, even though new sculpts would be better.  I'm always a fan of vehicles too, and hope we see them continue in some capacity.  Although I'd like to get some more all-new ones, or newly scaled ones, I'm sure they will be few and far between at this point.  If I could see one vehicle that hasn't been done yet in the modern line, and that fit into a retail pricepoint, it would have to be the Cloud Car.  I'd like to see an AT-TE as well, even though I know it would be pricey (and sadly, probably quite underscaled).  Great ideas on the Evolutions sets, that is an idea Hasbro really should have pushed further.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Reid on January 30, 2006, 04:55 PM
A few things I want to see for '07... (In Order)

1. Playsets. The POTF2 line had tons of cool, $20 playsets, and Hasbro could just rerelease those. I'd love for The Big H to rerelease that $20 Endor Imperial Bunker Playset. Hasbro could also sprinkle in some larger playsets, like a rerelease of the Vintage Ewok Village and Death Star Playsets, and also a *new* $80 Echo Base Playset. I'd buy that.

2. Vehicles. I want to see harder to find vehicles in the '07 SAGA line, such as TIE Bomber, A-Wing and even a Endor Speeder Bike. I'd also like to see the Imperial Shuttle, and I think it could be done. The main problem when Hasbro released the Imp. Shuttle was they picked the worst possible store to have it as a exclusive. I know of no FAOs near me, or within a 100 mile radius either. If Hasbro released it at, say Target or TRU and at a lower price ($70-$80), it would do far better than it did.

3. TV Series Figs. If there is a live-action show in '07, I want to see a modest line (about 15-20) of figs for the show. All out articulation, truckloads of accesories, the whole nine yards.

4. No unneccasary sub-lines. I'm talking about Force Battlers, Attacktix, SW "Choppers" (Who the ***** idea was that?), and Titanium Figures. The Choppers are sitting like hell at all my Targets, and same with the Force Battlers. If Hasbro stopped making all these stupid sub-lines, I'd be a happy man.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Broem on January 30, 2006, 05:52 PM
1) TV Series - if it's out next year?  Again like others have said about 10-15 figures initially depending upon what the characters are.  Hopefully their will be 10-15 figs worth getting.    I just don't want them to go nuts with the TV merchandise initially in case it bombs. 

2) Also I want the figures to remain in the $5-$7.   Anything over that and I will be done with getting basic figures for the most part.  The $7 right now is REALLY pushing it for me.  That is the max I am spending unless it's something like the VOTC line, but to he honest even that is borderline for me.   

3) Get rid of those sublines as well like Choppers and Transformers, etc.  What a waste. 

4) I'd like to see them drop the basic figure numbers down in 2007.  I hope they start focusing on SA for basically every figure.  I know some figs like Fortuna that is not needed.  But for things like that Weequay Jedi it's a let down to not have poseable knees, etc.  I don't want to really see an army builder like a Snowtrooper not be SA any longer.  There is no reason for that anymore. 

4) Playsets - Now that there are hundreds and hundreds of SW figures it's time to make SOMETHING for the figures to be placed into.  I can't imagine that Hasbro and retailers can't reach some sort of middle ground here.  Instead of making all those Choppers and Transformers and Unleashed battle packs that will rot on the pegs dive into this area a bit more.  The first one I'd recommend is a DS playset.  If that means making a bunch of smaller ones that interconnect, or plastic dioramas, or something like those Trash Compactors sets then fine.  I don't want to see them crank out a bunch of playsets at one time, but get going on these.  If that DS thing does not work out then I can see them dumping it.  But at least make an effort to make something cool so that people would actually want to buy it!!!  Don't make those crappy DS Chasms and a 6 inch long Detention Blocks.  If the retailers don't want them then try something out with EE or StarWarsShop.com.  Those places don't mind jacking up the price on something.   We'll all expect it to be high. 

5) Vehicles - Get the Cloud Car out onto the shelves allready with a repack of that OTC Cloud Car Pilot or 2 of them.  That fits into their $20-$30 range of vehicles.  Like Chewie said pop a larger vehicle out there like the AT-TE.  Make it an exclusive to a chain or SWShop.com.   The shop loves to jack up their prices so why not let them jack up the price on that AT-TE?  LOL!  I can't imagine people won't buy one if it's made and is nice.  They spend over $100 on figure statues, FX lightsabers, props, etc.  Why not a high end vehicle?


6) Evolutions -  These are just begging to get made.  Army builders in particular.  Padmes, Kenobi's, Luke's, Hans, etc.  We could all think up of stuff. 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on January 30, 2006, 06:07 PM
Wow.  I've just seen a couple of posts supporting vehicles and playsets.   :)

I agree, if they say to justify making something like this that it would cost more, so be it.  Let TRU or some e-tailer pick it up.  I'll shell out more money for it, but make it quality.  Try out the modular Death Star idea.  If that won't work, nothing will.  So try the most likely hit first.  Then take it from there.

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth Slothus on January 30, 2006, 09:12 PM
I feel like if I buy 5000 sets, you buy 5000 sets(Chewie)
then Hasbro HAS to make more then we get our more Playsets Chewie!

Seriously, until Hasblo makes a quality product (see failed ROTS mustafar playset) people won't buy. So We're stuck in a loop- Hasbro uses poor sales (on a ****** product) to claim we (The customers) don't want a playset- so they don't make it. :(

Show me a quality product at the same mustafar price, yes-they CAN do it, and I'll buy!
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Dan on January 30, 2006, 09:55 PM
I have to admit, I feel like I am getting an overdose of 3 3/4 these days. Maybe it wouldn't be that way if the saga figures didn't seem like a $2.00 more expensive version of the OTC line I loved in 2004. And with many of the same faces.
I started out 2006 buying the carkoon and Hoth waves, but after seeing Bib # 3 still suck and some of the less than stellar items coming in future waves, well I don't know what to think of the direction Hasbro is taking the line. I know there are others I am looking forward to (just about any trooper, R5-D4 etc), but I have already decided I will not be getting a "complete" saga 2006 collection. And the reasons are equal parts price hike and too many rehashes too close together. I find myself getting into Kubricks and enjoying my older items (action fleet and micro playsets, along with the 3 3/4 scale ships.

Now I'll rant about my favorite pet peeve. Chase figures. If Hasbro perceives a lack of excitement about the 3 3/4 line, and thinks chase figures are the answer to infuse the collecting community, well I think they are #?@@ing nuts. Figures aren't exactly getting ordered in mass quantities by the big discounters these days. Shelf space has been reduced, and the pegs that are there only get a case or two at a time, and sit empty (or with bib) the rest of the time. Chase figures will lure the hot-wheel scalpers back into the action figure aisle, convincing them that a free $5.00 profit is waiting for their unwashed selves if they can beat a collector to the foil card. Stack on top of that the fact that you may have to buy a certain number of harder to find figures in order to get a mail away, and you have all the makings of a disgruntled and disappointed collecting community. I love the idea of mail-aways, and think it is the only way for a company to truly reward their loyal cash cows. If the retailers are squeamish about playsets, make them the mail away offer. Send in POP's for 20 figures, get a chunk of death star. Make 1/2 dozen that go together in some fashion, and I will be all over it. You've got the hanger bay, detention block, garbage chute, chasm, tractor beam control station, govenor tarkins conference room, etc.

OK, enough of the rant.

Give me 30-40 figures a year max. Toss in 2-3 ships, and a couple of evolutions sets, and I might try to keep up. And try to keep figure costs down. I have to agree with Darth Slothus- give us a quality prduct at a good price, then tell us whether it succeeds or not. Hasbro has made a couple of efforts to revive lines (action fleet and 12" come to mind) and then kill it with the assortment choice. The 2002 action fleet line was doomed the moment they released the Xwing and Darth's Tie- those two had been on clearance just a couple of years prior. 12" line? How about poor quality and boring characters (Dengar and Imperial officer anyone?). And now the unleashed line will come back with repaints as a debut. And when it predictably falls on its' own face? "Collectores don't want the line" will be the response.

I can see it's time for my medication. But seriously, less can be more, if it is done right.

Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth_Anton on January 31, 2006, 10:02 AM
I have to admit, I feel like I am getting an overdose of 3 3/4 these days.


Exactly to my point. I think the sheer volume this year could be overwhelming. In a way, I can see that Hasbro is just trying to keep things going from their incredible year last year, and I don't blame them, but the question is, can it be sustained? Another odd factor for '06 is that, due to inventory, we haven't seen the usual flow of product yet, so January's continuing sell outs could be misleading. Time will tell, as always, but it will be interetssting if the pace can be sustained.

I think sideshow had a nice racket. Sideshow's 12" line will go on for years to come.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on January 31, 2006, 10:36 AM
Excellent points by everyone.  I think price is a big issue.  I have been fortunate enough so far to find the 2006 figures at WM, for $5.88, so it hasn't been quite as bad...but the $6.99 price at Target scares me a little.  That is really about my limit as well for the most part, and sometimes that is pushing it.  I, like many/most of us, paid the $10 price for the VOTC figures...and sometimes I felt ok with it (Han, Chewie, Stormtrooper) and sometimes it felt a little high (3PO, Yoda, etc.)  Then we saw the ROTS line, which had a lot of figures that were of just as high of quality as the VOTC but were being offered for $5.  I think we've seen that they can do this cheaper now, so that makes the $10 price tougher to stomach.  If the line was only available online, or was quite limited (20 figures a year or something), and the figures were all of top quality...I think I would end up paying the higher price, but if it was something like a 50 figure year with $8-$10+ prices, I just couldn't keep up financially with that.

It seems from reading the comments, that although sometimes Star Wars collectors (or collectors/fans in general) do get a reputation for being hard to please (and honestly, sometimes we can be)...that looking towards the future we aren't asking for a whole lot.  A lot of people's responses have been similar....keep the price in check, don't release quite so many figures, keep the quality up to a standard that has already been set with the basic figures.  Give playsets a try in some way, throw in a vehicle here and there, and "trim the fat" of the other lines that are pegwarming at retail (Choppers, Transformers, Unleashed Battle Packs, Force Battlers, etc.)  It seems like a lot of us are even open to things being online exclusives, as long as there is enough so that everyone can get what they want.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: CHEWIE on January 31, 2006, 11:26 AM
I agree, the worst thing is the pricepoint.  I can stomach Walmart's $5.88, but the Target price?  I might get a few figures here and there at that price.  But not extras for army building.

As for wanting 30-40 figures per year, I could be on board with that.  In a way, that might really be what we're getting this year if of the 80 or so figures, nearly half are rehashes.  So if you look at it as a collector who collects what they want rather than being a completist, you're fine.  I've passed on Barada, Chewie in chains and Rieken so far, and it felt good.  Of course, I bought 5 Bibs though (4 for customs!)   ;)

 :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on January 31, 2006, 12:25 PM
True, when you consider the repacks, the number might not be quite as daunting.  I do feel for the completists though, because 80 figures this year is insane if that is true.  I just buy what I want as well, but have ended up buying a few of the repacks/repaints because I missed them the first time (missed out on some of the POTF2 line), or if the repaint just looks nice.  I passed on Rieekan, and although I haven't yet seen him, I will probably pass on Vader too.  I'd kind of like to pick up the R2, just for the gadgets and everything that comes with him.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: darth punkinhed on January 31, 2006, 01:23 PM
I haven't bought a single saga figure yet. I got so burnt out buying the ROTS stuff that I just couldn't stomach going into another year with another mountain of figures coming out. I'd be happy if they could just put out 12-20 figures a year, a playset or two, definatly lightsabers and blasters of various types and some ships. They way it used to be, back in the day. I think some of this new stuff is cool but the only thing outside of the 3 3/4 line, ships and playsets I've bought are a couple of unleashed, some of the exclusives and a set of the new hope galactic heros. I also picked up a few lightsabers (not MR) and blasters (not MR) and that's it. I'd love to see a new Death Star play set but I doubt that will ever happen. If they put out a new death star that was kick ass I may go out and start picking up the new saga line. Otherwise I'll wait until I can find a dealer at a show dumping stock to pick up the majority of Saga 2006. I look back on 2005 with ROTS and it was like I had a crack habit. I spent so much money on gas alone just trying to track this stuff down that it almost wasn't worth it. Honestly, I'm thinking of dumping everything and using the cash to go to shows and find the stuff I've always wanted, mostly vintage stuff I had and destroyed as a kid. I am all for the 3 3/4 unleashed idea on another thread though. I'd pick those up. That's primarily because hasblo wouldn't be pumping out 12 a week and mixing the assortments to make it nearly impossible to complete a run without owning your own gas pump and having a horde of lackeys hitting stores and picking stuff up for you. It's nuts. I went through this with POTF2 also, I don't have a single saga figure from the first time they did this and don't care about it. I don't have any PM or AOTC figures either. I do have all of the VOTC that I wanted. Sorry, just had to go on a bit of a rant and probably off topic.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jesse James on February 1, 2006, 12:04 AM
On the issue of quality and cost...  I'm to the point I'd take substantially less (not that I want less, I'd buy lots of stuff if I could) if it meant quality went up...  We've seen a regression in the line unfortunately between 2005 and 2006.  Somewhere in January the figures have gone backwards I'm afraid.  This trend appears to be continuing and it's disappointing.  I'd take far fewer figures if it meant Hasbro adopted a higher standard...  I just want a good quality, POSEABLE, action figure out of this company...  Leg articulation that hasn't advanced beyond 1983 though is just really inexcuseable at this point as an avid consumer of this line.  When I've got enough for one action figure, and I"m looking at a super poseable soldier in 21st's line right next to Hasbro's limited articulation figure(s), I'm just at a loss...  Plus the 21st figure is still less than $5 and from a vastly smaller company working with a lot less.

If knee articulation weren't proven to be so possible and easy over the last 2 years or so, I'd maybe feel different, but they can and should deliver better figures...

As far as playsets go, again I don't know that quality is the question.  2002 saw a $40 Gunship that by all intents and purposes is a GOOD toy (I don't care for the scale, but my opinion there aside it was a great toy), and yet it didn't sell...  It saw clearance at multiple stores.  Can Hasbro deliver really high quality at $30?  The ARC Fighter was...  It didn't sell well.  The Jedi Fighters are $20, they're amazing really even by my standards, and they didn't sell great...  I think Hasbro's seeing those kinds of trends and saying that despite price and quality, they don't necessarilly have a hit, and thus it's a gamble, and thus they don't want to roll those dice...  If they do a great Death Star in a modular style I'm first in line to get one but I'm not hopeful on it...  They might though, I just am not hopeful.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Dan on February 12, 2006, 09:47 AM
The push for getting star wars into every niche is disappointing. The choppers, transformers, force battlers, metal ships, mini-figs, and now metal figs. If there are people out there that love them, great, but we don't seem to see many of those people around these parts.

But as long as retail is happy with the line, we get to keep on chasing. So let Hasbro make some stuff at various price points to keep the retailers smiling and rolling in our filthy money.  ;D
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on August 18, 2006, 03:37 PM
Well, now that we have a bit of a peek into the future of Star Wars collecting (at least the end of 2006 into 2007), how do you feel about things?  It seems like more and more of us are getting a little tired of the basic line - whether it is repacks/repaints or just so many years logged into the line in general.  It looks like at lease some of the "other" lines will be gone by 2007 (Choppers, Force Battlers, maybe 7" Unleashed?) while others are staying (Smaller Unleashed, Transformers, Galactic Heroes).  The basic line looks to be continuing the same style, mixing new sculpts and repacks.  We'll also see a new line of 2 packs, "starfighter" sized vehicles, some exclusive vehicles and figures, and more of the VOTC/VTSC figures.

With all this in mind, do you like where things are headed or settling in?  What would you like to see at this point?  Although the repacks are a pain, I guess I can skip them.  However, I'd rather see a scaled back line (its hard for me to keep up with 60-80 figures a year), consisting of mainly new sculpts.  Being realistic though, repacks are part of the line.  Like others have mentioned, almost anything prior to the POTJ line (with some exceptions) shouldn't be released and should be resculpted to today's standards.  The two packs could be a nice idea, although the initial offerings might not look great to many.  Getting two figures for $10 in Star Wars would be nice though, especially if they are new or newish.  Heck, if they want to stick older VOTC/VTSC figures in these packs with a new figure, I wouldn't complain either (especially Stormies).  And, although I'm running out of room for them, I'm glad to see the vehicles continue.  I think its good to have an ongoing $20 pricepoint assortment, but hopefully we'll see more than Jedi Starfighters in it in the future ;).

As far as "other" lines, I've always kind of preferred those were kept to more of a minimum.  At least compared to the past couple years.  I'm talking about lines at retail I guess mainly - the "online" stuff is higher end and very nice, and its good to have stuff from Sideshow, Gentle Giant, Master Replicas, etc.  My two favorite "other" lines have been the large scaled Unleashed and Galactic Heroes.  The future isn't real bright for Unleashed the way it looks, and if it dies, I guess that saves me some money.  Galactic Heroes seems to finally be noticed by Hasbro though, so we may see more there - although the repacks are getting out of hand in that line as well.  Overall, what do you think of the future of Star Wars - what do you like or dislike - and what would you like to see?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: TheBlackDog65 on August 19, 2006, 04:45 PM
I really think the question here is not what do I think about the future of Star Wars collecting, because that is far beyond my control. I can answer the question of where am I with Star Wars collecting ajd Hasbro.
This is a question I have spent some real time thinking about over the last 2 months because I have reached a point where I felt I was getting too much into the hunt and the hobby at the expense of other things. When I spend $100 to $200 a month on this, for me that is too much. I just increased my 401k contributions to 12% of my wages (I can save up to $15k a year before employer matching is added to it) and thought that I want to increase the amount of money in my nest eggs. So part of this is a financial decision on my part. I have also watched others I know get too much into the hunt or into the hobby at the cost of other items and in the end, decided regardless of anyone else, I had to make some changes.
The basic line has reached a point that I am bored. I am done with most army builders. No need to have an army because any display is small, 3-5 clones, a Jedi etc.  I don't do big (except for the Balrog that just came out, but that isn't SW). I am down to themes in my collecting and whether or not I like or want the character.  My themes are Jedi, Clones, Main Characters.  I just don't have time, room or want to put my money into everything. So, I will buy from each wave, only those figures that fit my themes, that I do not have (NO, absoluetly NO rehashes) or that are significant improved sculpts. Otherwise, pass.  That will scale me WAY back on what I am getting.
Next, vechiles.  I'm done. I will get the snowspeeder since I do not have one, and my son wants one. But that is it, no more. My son is 12 going on 13 so he has stopped playing with most ships, and I just don't have the room; well, I am not going to make the room for items that can never be in scale and are over priced for what they are. I am tired of seeing the Jedi Starfighter redone in how many paint colors just to make it easier on ReHashbro.
All other items at retail, I am done with.  I would imagine that next year I'll pick up 20 figures probably and that is all.  I made a conscious decision in my teaching to move more of my collecting dollars over to my students so that we can engage in higher learning activities that will hopefully broaden their understanding of concepts, and give them something to remember. My 12 year old summed it up last June for me when he said (he was in my class), "Dad, one seven dollar figure can buy 2 books, or 1 pair or group of 4 science project supplies.  I think its worth it for us to back down from collecting and for you to help the kids in your class out." Out of the mouth of babes or children.  That made me think, and by doing this I estimate I will save anywhere from $35 to $50 (just for figures) and I can send that money to the classroom and buy enough supplies to fuel 1 science or social science project a month for my class, or buy a literature group a set of 6 books that they will read.  I narrowed my son's comment to Plastic or People (kids)? There really is no choice. That and I am starting my Masters this year and finishing an endorsement so time is very limited and what time I have, I don't want to consume it all with hunting. I will hunt when it fits into something I am already doing, or order online if the price and the want is right.
I have also gotten back to a hobby I love, which is taking plastic minatures of soliders from time periods, modifying them and painting them and putting them in a display of no more than 10 to 12 on the display piece (a block of wood with a diaramha of vegetation on it). I have enough figures but the time to do this hobby is consuming. But my daughter loves it and is doing it with me so if it is something else that keeps my 13 year old hanging around Dad, good thing.

On a side note, please realize that as a teacher I do get a supply order that covers the basics each year, and from $150 to $200 for other items. It seems that no matter what, I spend $1000 to $2000 a year doing this. To do the things that I really like, and that the kids engage in like mummifying chickens (Ancient Egypt and then when we do micro-organisms we go back and ask why the decomposers/bacteria didn't decompose the chickens), an Astronomy Family Night to show consellations and look through telescopes, to buying micro-organisms for the kids to looks through in telescopes after we have grown them (again, I am in Utah and in the winter the ponds around here are frozen often), plastic half circles to chart the movement of the sun during the school day, supplies to make instruments for heat light and sound, growing mold and bacteria in aguar and petri dishes, and it goes on, requires money. I know that by doing these hands on activities that my kids understanding of the concepts increases by connecting them to things they have done in real life.
So to answer the question to where I am with collecting it comes down to this; time is very precious right now and my free time goes to my wife and kids.  Next, I have a personal commitment to teach according to a certain philosophy and part of that requires some funding from me. I'm tired of getting 2 to 3 figures I like, and a bunch that are rehashed and I either don't need or don't want. So, I'll pick up the 2 figures or so a wave I want and that fit a theme of what I want to collect. If there is nothing I want, then I can just fade away and won't be missed in the collecting world. I don't want to fade away and not be missed by my students.
That is where I am at. I have backed off big time, and though I still consider myself in the hobby, I am not what I was six months ago.  My wife is pretty happy about it, but most importantly, I am extremely happy. 
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Dan on August 20, 2006, 02:23 PM
I agree with Brian's statement that more and more of us are getting weary of the basic line. Not that there aren't some good things happening, but the sheer quantity of product and the percentage that are repacks and paints make it less interesting and more inimidating.  I find myself looking to significantly slow down my Hasbro purchases in general, although there is enough excitement to keep me around the line to pick up the things I do like. Some of the ships that are coming out (Hailfire droid and Mace's starfighter) interest me, many more do not (just too many repaints, even if Anakin's sith starfighter looks cool).  I was very pleased with the new dagobah x-wing, and now feel I have the only X wing I need for any scene.
 
So while I won't turn my back on Hasbro completely, the box after box after box in my basement suggests they have done 90% of everything I want, and I can slow my purchases way down and not feel that I am missing too much. The greatest battle and Heroes and villians lines confirm that suspicion. The fact that galactic heroes are moving to multipacks that include so many repackaged figures is another sign that my interest probably peaked a few years ago, and is on the decline. I don't begrudge Hasbro doing it, many people are playing catch-up or just starting and it makes sense for them to put the products out there. I just don't have as much to be excited about personally.

Now other lines are hitting their stride or just taking off- Gentle Giant is a consistent home-run hitter in my book, many people like the sideshow 12 inch line, master replicas, kubricks, etc. More and more of us are finding our space and funds too limited to keep going at the pace we did originally.
 
So I will try to keep the Hasbro part of my collection at a steady state, picking up a few items here and there, letting a few go here and there, as I focus my collection more and more.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth_Anton on August 20, 2006, 05:36 PM
I agree with Brian's statement that more and more of us are getting weary of the basic line. Not that there aren't some good things happening, but the sheer quantity of product and the percentage that are repacks and paints make it less interesting and more inimidating.  I find myself looking to significantly slow down my Hasbro purchases in general, although there is enough excitement to keep me around the line to pick up the things I do like. Some of the ships that are coming out (Hailfire droid and Mace's starfighter) interest me, many more do not (just too many repaints, even if Anakin's sith starfighter looks cool). 

Get out of my brain! That's almost exactly how I feel. Funny thing is, I had always been wondering what, if anything, would get me to this point, now I know.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jim on August 21, 2006, 07:26 AM
I am looking forward to the end of the 3-3/4" line.  It has been overkill for me.  50+ figures each year has taken its toll on cost and space.  Plus I dont get as excited anymore about new figures being released because we know that 99% of them will be made by Hasbro.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Gatillo on August 21, 2006, 09:49 AM
Most of the time I am bored with the 3-3/4 line.  I remember the day that I was excited as a little kid to find new figures and I was in my 20s.  But lately it is like, ok, there it is and then I have to think whether or not I want it based on what I have read and how it (and the paint app) looks. 

I know there is no way Hasbro can keep me interested in their product until 2018.  I am already buying about 50% less than I used to, even army builders.  My guess is that by 2010 the hobby would have lost me.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Darth_Anton on August 21, 2006, 09:57 AM
I have a prediction that '07 is going to be a bit of a turning point for Hasbro. Reason being, EU. There's just way too much EU coming out next year. I think the McQuarrie figures will do decently, but I think anything else EU related is going to move slowly and force Hasbro to change strategies mid-year.

It's not to say that there's no interest in EU, but that interest is more Hardcore fan based and there are a lot more casual collectors out there than we realize.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Dan on August 21, 2006, 11:08 AM
I have a prediction that '07 is going to be a bit of a turning point for Hasbro. Reason being, EU. There's just way too much EU coming out next year. I think the McQuarrie figures will do decently, but I think anything else EU related is going to move slowly and force Hasbro to change strategies mid-year.

It's not to say that there's no interest in EU, but that interest is more Hardcore fan based and there are a lot more casual collectors out there than we realize.

That seems like a dead-on assessment to me. I like some Expanded Universe stuff, but everyone (fans/consumers) has their niche (videogames, comics, novels, etc) and will only be interested in a small portion of what is produced.

The 2006 tsunami of Revenge products is getting tiresome to look at, and the Naboo wave coming out really doesn't get me excited. I expect Hasbro will have kept a few aces up their sleeve regarding OT product with the anniversary. But I personally do not need any more TIE fighters, X wings, gunships, jedi starfighters, etc.

I know they don't believe it, but playsets would be the way to keep me pumped. Give me some good diorama material for the 10 years + worth of figures I have sitting around. I just picked up a vintage dagobah playset to use in my new dagobah x wing set up. I have one of the POTF 2 generator/trench set ups in my Hoth scene, and I could sure use a bunker playset for my Endor scene. Tatooine could use at least a few playsets (Lars homestead, a good Jabba's throne room,  and a decent cantina). Hoth could use a cave for the wampa set up.

Those products would have me running to the stores again (or at least the computer to order them). I want to show off what I have accumulated, not continue to fill boxes.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: P-Siddy on August 21, 2006, 06:42 PM
.... and I could sure use a bunker playset for my Endor scene.

Actually, I would think Big H could do this and at a relatively low cost for them...

All they need is the front, a couple moveable blast doors, opening fuse box... and the back could be open to reveal the shield generator work stations where the Rebels could interact with the Imperials and you can have one poor Imperial officer say, "You Rebel scum." before knocking him into the chasm with a bag of grenades!

I could see it, don't know if Hasbro would.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Stim on August 21, 2006, 11:31 PM
Yeah, I sorta wish Hasbro would end it already.  I'm buying less and less, and there are a couple characters I'd still like to see made, but I'm over the hunting and searching and...caring...all that much.  I pretty much order everything online these days, and just buy the 1-2 new figures/wave.  Gentle Giant has been getting most of my money, and probably will continue to.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Paul on August 22, 2006, 05:55 PM
I'm not ready for Hasbro to give it up yet.  There are some things I want them to get right before they stop the line. 

It will stop eventually and it will feel like 1985 all over again (or for the first time for some of you).

I get tired of the hunt every now and then too, but that is when I order a case online, get stuck with some prequel figure that got snuck in the wave revision and then realize how good the hunt was.

When they have made the "Ultimate" version of a few characters..they've got till 2018 to do that, but who knows, it could be next year...
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Simdog on August 26, 2006, 08:16 PM
THere are a few more figures that i would like to see too but i am tired of suffering through countless repacks that i don't buy, countless repaints that I pick and choose from and numerous kitbashes. We spend tons of money on Hasbro's stuff but they cut back and spend a lot less to bring us half the new sculpts that they once produced.

I would like for the line to wind down. All I look forward too now are the new sculpts and thats it. A new repaint or kitbash just doesn't do it for me. Hasbro is going to continue to pound collectors with repaints and repacks until the line goes dead. They're milking us now off of the popularity of ROTS. The TV shows won't do as well and repacking the movies every year will get old too. I just don't think they'll make it to 2018.

If this rumoured "ultimate DVD set" comes out in 07, what do the movie lovers/collectors have to look forward too? Don't say the TV show.

So far all the EU figures are repaints. Not a single new sculpt excepts for those FC winners. Thats nowhere near what EU collectors were hoping for.

Cartoon figures were great! Oops! They're will be no more.

The vintage line is awesome too but they're primarily focusing on the core characters and iconic characters, all of which have been done very well recently. That means completist will have to buy them again. Carbonite Han, Leia Bouush.

It looks like the only newly sculpted vehicles you'll be getting will be from your beloved EU TV show.

Even if Hasbro breaks us off with a new sculpts, the ones we hope for the most are background characters, droids and aliens that don't always sell well.

That pretty much leaves you all to hundreds of different funny colored clones, most of which weren't in the movies.

I have one wish for Hasbro, give us one "good" year as a going away present and end the line!
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Dan on September 19, 2006, 07:39 AM
If the level of activity (and animosity) on forum boards is any indication, the future of star wars collecting (at least Hasbro) is looking a little dimmer than it was at the beginning of the year.

The Saga collection has provided a ton of product, but the number of repacks was sure to be a turn off to some new collectors. I'm not sure that riding the success of ROTS should have meant repackaging ROTS. Kids and collectors who got into the line in 2005 didn't get much in 2006. There were some great new sculpts, and some characters we really wanted, but you had to hope to find one lost between the repaints and new pegwarmers hovering around retail. And if you were a completist at the beginning of 2006, you had to have a deep wallet and high tolerance for repack-pain to stick with it through to this point.

With wave after wave of clones, and almost nothing for them to do, the lack of new ships and playsets has become more glaring. Hasbro doesn't want to make them, and nobody else has a license.

The clone wars cartoons are a great part of the prequel saga (IMO), and I loved the artistic look of the figures. As noted above, they are not in the plans.

So for me, the best years of Hasbro have passed.

Star wars collecting seems to be moving in a new direction, and there the future seems bright. Gentle Giant, Sideshow, Medicom, and others are producing great products that are more clearly targeted at collectors. They seem to be willing to take bigger risks and are putting a very high level of quality into their products.

But to me, collecting star wars meant bubble gum cards and toys. As much as I like many of the new products, they will never have the same place in my heart as the toys you could play with.

But before the figure line goes away, I hope they do Padme right. Lars Homestead was close, everything else I can think of looks like a donkey with rickets.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on September 19, 2006, 09:14 AM
That's an interesting point, I've kind of been wondering what the future of Star Wars collecting - particularly the Hasbro side of things - will be headed in the next few years.  It seems like more and more people are becoming disillusioned with the line, or maybe just had enough after 10+ years (depending when you started).  I agree, the "higher end" lines are really making some great product - and I wish I could afford a lot more of it - but Star Wars collecting has always been about the "toys" to me too.  I'd hate to see the line go away, although if it was cut back more and focused on collectors I guess that would be ok.

I wonder what would be the "perfect" line for collectors at this point?  Sure, opinions would vary a lot on that subject, but it seems like we are getting to the point where a lot of new figures (all new) they make are just gravy.  I mean, who would have thought we would have gotten figures like Bren Derlin, Rappertunie, Myo, Feltipern Trevagg, etc. in the basic figure line?  Sure, there are a lot more figures we can still see, but there actually seems to be a "light at the end of the tunnel" feeling with the basic line at this point.  I've seen more and more comments that "this is what I want, but it would just be gravy if it was made".  It seems like there is more and more people becoming interested in "high end/collector friendly" products, and although we can see them sitting at retail now - I wonder if a VOTC direction for Hasbro (eventually) might not be a bad idea.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for more $10-$13 action figures, but if the figure selection and/or sales gets to the point where the line is going to be cut back - maybe specializing the line might be an idea.  If most of what people want has been made in basic figures (after the next couple years), I think quite a few of us would buy all new, super articulated versions of our favorite characters.  And maybe the price wouldn't sting as much if they went all out (think the best of the VOTC/VTSC waves so far) with lots of accessories, nice packaging, and a limited release for the year.  If Sideshow puts out 10-12 of their 12" figures each year, maybe 20-24 basic figures would be a good number.  Anyways....off topic a little bit, but I'm curious as to the state of people's thinking about the Hasbro line and its future at this point.  It does seem as if interest is waning overall - and one would think that would only continue over the next couple years.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Brian on February 26, 2007, 03:56 PM
Although this might belong in the 30th AC forum, I didn't want to start a new thread.  After seeing much of what is on the way this year, or at least getting a better idea of the near future, what do you think of the future of Star Wars collecting at this point?  It seems like a fair amount of collectors (here and elsewhere) have been dropping out of the line, or scaling back considerably, which maybe marks a decrease in interest to some extent.  Also, although there are still plenty of figures to be made - and plenty that I'd like to see - it really seems like we're getting a lot this year (and last year), I'm starting to wonder how much is left to be made.  Of course, there will be the animated and live action series coming up that can support lines (as well as video games), but after this year's basic lineup and "vintage" figure lineup, many of the main characters (particularly OT characters) will have pretty good representations.

Like I said, I'm not saying there isn't anything to make - and I'm definitely not saying I want the line to end - I'm just curious what the future might hold.  If you take a look at some segments of the Star Wars line after this year, lots of stuff is getting covered pretty well.  Aside from repaints and/or resculpts, the majority of the clonetroopers (movie versions) will be covered by the end of 2007 (actually sooner).  Looking at the main characters, we have some pretty nice representations that you could do little to improve at this point:

Han Solo (VOTC ANH, VTSC Endor, VTAC Hoth) - all good, plus you might consider the Comic Pack repaint covering the Stormtrooper version, a rumored Bespin version on the way in the basic line later this year, and a recent Carbonite version in TSC.

Luke Skywalker (VOTC/30AC/etc Tatooine Luke, VTSC X-Wing Pilot, VTAC Bespin, TSC Endor, TAC Jedi) - again, many good versions.  We'll have to see with some of them, and I wouldn't mind seeing true "vintage" versions of Jedi Luke, Hoth Luke, etc., but with all the Lukes coming out this year, its getting pretty well covered as well.

Troops - (VOTC Stormtrooper, Evo Sandtrooper, SAGA TIE Pilot, VTSC Biker Scout, VTAC Snowtrooper, etc.) - although availability can sometimes be a problem, we've really been getting some nice troops these past couple years.

I could go on, but to keep it shorter those are just a few examples.  Again, always more to be made/improved upon, but it seems like the list is getting thinner for some things.  Heck, even our "Top 10" lists are having to stretch a little more all the time.  As much as I like it, I can't see there being too many more waves of the "vintage" line with them getting closer and closer to wrapping up the main characters.  With the prequels, there's always room for some more Padmes, re-done main characters (TPM/AOTC Obi, Qui-Gon, etc.), and there's quite a few POTF2 resculpts I wouldn't mind seeing either, but with all the new/different/resculpted characters coming out just this year it seems like it might be leading to a different collecting future.  Sure, there can always be remakes, but I don't know how much some of the top figures can be improved upon in just the next couple years - maybe further down the road, but not right now.  Anyways, just random thoughts, but what do you think of the future of Star Wars after seeing some of the lineups for this year, as well as a glimpse at later in the year at Toy Fair?
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: David on March 3, 2007, 12:35 PM
I think the future looks GREAT! I'm pretty encouraged for this year. I think it'll be the best ever.  ;D The only problem I have is the cost of getting all these cool figs!  :P
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Angry Ewok on March 4, 2007, 12:41 PM
I think the future looks GREAT!

That's what I like to hear, man.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Artoo on March 4, 2007, 01:58 PM
Brian, I'd like to see all SA sculpts of Endor Luke, Crabonite Han, Tatooine Luke & Tie fighter pilot.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Deanna Rash on March 4, 2007, 03:25 PM
 :) I like what I'm seeing so far.I don't mind paying for nice looking figures with articulation.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Artoo on March 4, 2007, 03:59 PM
I think this year is blowing wat too many main characters out of the water leaving nothing for main characters in OT, excluding a few.  :-\
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jesse James on March 5, 2007, 12:58 AM
It's tough for me, from past experience, to say everything looks to be on the upswing in the hobby...  I love almost everything I've seen so far for 2007, there's great stuff coming for sure...  Maybe the best start to a line ever? 

Then again I felt the same way about 2005 and the ROTS line...  It kicked off great, it sort of puttered though about mid-way, and by the end people were looking for lame repaints of figures that were impossible to find...  It certainly fizzled.  Still a good year of collecting, but a lot of stuff sucked a lot more in person than it did in photography, and on a smaller note there was a gradual decline in quality...  Captain Antilles is a prime example of this...  There are others though that came out mid point like Bacara and such who were ultimately a letdown. 

Then 2006...  SOme really cool stuff, but high prices combined with articulation cutbacks (usually at the knees) for a LOT of the year...  Vintage was the best of '06 and looks like it could be again for '07...  '07 seems like a lot of great basic figures though, and while no price cuts, at least quality SO FAR appears a bump up...  Will that last though?  That's where my reservations lay.  If what we've seen so far lasts throughout this line, I think the future's as bright as it's ever been from my POV, even with some really crummy basic figure prices out there...  I just hope that's the case, but like I said, 2005 sorta had that great push for a while then a stinker got into the line here and there that really made you realize the line wasn't the end-all-be-all collection.  At least the prices were much more right in '05 though.  Much easier to handle a figure you're on the fence about when it's $2 less.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Matt on March 5, 2007, 01:21 AM
Jesse, I'm sorry, but your reply contains far too many words (and far too few smileys) for this thread.  Please trim it down some (25 words or less, two syllables each, max) and remember to include at least one smiley, preferably more.

Thank you.
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Jesse James on March 5, 2007, 01:27 AM
 :D things may be good...?  ???  :D
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Matt on March 5, 2007, 01:31 AM
:D things may be good...?  ???  :D

Much, much better.  If it's gonna take me more than two seconds to read something, forget it. 

Now I don't have to skip over your posts anymore!
Title: Re: The Future of Star Wars Collecting
Post by: Rob on March 5, 2007, 02:03 AM
I'm back on board in a big way after what we saw at (and in the weeks leading up to) Toy Fair. 

I've also expanded into Gentle Giant mini busts...   But I'm going to army build much less - at least on PT clones.  I'm sure I'll still pile up on OT troops.