So something else about the package has got to make them want to look at them.
Maybe the big honkin red Star Wars logo will do the trick, no?
Not entirely. Yes, the logo is the definitive graphic for the brand. But there are several factors why just the logo (and a character pic) isn't going to be enough:
• We adult collectors already grips about having too much and just looking at a few SW collecting message boards will clearly show you that we are on the downswing of collecting. Yes there are exceptions so you don't have to point it out for yourself. But the percentages are definitely starting to swing in the direction of downsizing collecting new stuff. In this vein packing won't make a difference to some of those who are collecting less overall, while it may help keep others of that same group collecting.
• With no new movies, the casual fan isn't as interested. The cartoon show while good isn't really known to the masses. And again, you've got to seperate yourself from being a SW fan for a moment here. I'm talking ALL of humanity or at least the USA for instance. Most people don't know or care about the cartoon, so it's not a draw. So with regards to the cartoon specific characters, most people won't know who they are even from the picture. Having the logo on the card only indicates what toy line it is. But without character recognition it's a tough sell. At the very least a flashier design of the cardback may pique enough interest from a casual buyer or parent to look at the toys and perhaps buy something.
• Just slapping the good ol' SW logo on something does NOT mean it's going to sell well. Granted there is already a huge fan base, but even within that fan base there are varying amount of people who will buy one thing or another. SW is strong, but not that strong... As we ourselves know, having the Logo on something does not mean that product is of good quality. THere are any number of action figures that can attest to that fact.
A stronger design with something catchier to it will bring in more casual buyers. Hasbro shouldn't really be concerned about we collectors in this as we are built in sales to a point. It's the kids and more importantly the parents of, who are the ones to draw in to buying their (Hasbro's) product.
The reason I happen to prefer the Clone trooper and Stormtrooper cardbacks are because of the iconic nature of the helmets. As well it was easy to distinguish between CW and Legacy lines. And as even in the article about the new packaging states, it is awesome to see a veritable army of troopers hanging on the pegs. Hopefully this new design will incorporate a design that will enable us to immediately tell which figure a line is from. Yes there is that character pic, but that means I really do have to look at each and every figure's cardback to determine if it's even in the line I want to collect. With the Clone/Storm trooper cardbacks, I could skim just the Stormies as that was the only line I was buying, then pare it down from there to the actual figs I wanted. Likewise at least in the case of my local TRU, they actually kept cardbacks separate for months. So CW was on one side while Stormies were on the other. That made it even easier to find figs.
Again I don't mind looking through figs. But this new design almost assuredly means I'll have to look at them all. Maybe the design team has a trick up their sleeve that we haven't seen yet. And I'm hoping it's shown at Toy Fair.
I guess call me stubborn as well, but I'm just not ready to see the trooper cardbacks retired. I thought it was an excellent design. Clean and crisp and not only says "Star Wars" but is a shout out to the actual wars in the movies by being the troopers who fought in them.
Well whatever the case, we've had a nice debate about this. The cool thing about collecting is we don't have to agree on this type of stuff and can still enjoy collecting just the same.