http://www.sirstevesguide.com/index.php?categoryid=37&p2_articleid=866Updating live from Hasbro's collecting panel right now at the convention, keep checking back as more info is added every few minutes.
These will be on-the-fly notes as it happens, so pardon the crude nature of some of these entries....
- The panel has 5 minutes to start, and the room is bursting. The line started queuing up an hour in advance.
- This is the Fall '07 Preview, some surprises in store.
- Thanks to the fans, SW is having another fantastic year, both due to collectors and kids.
- Still have to difficultly balance kid interest and collectors.
- When they saw Force Unleashed vdieogame, they knew they had to stay with it as it grew, should be the big Spring '08 thing.
- The Clone Wars TV show line is due '08, but Lucasfilm won't say any more.
- Galactic Heroes keeps going, wave 4 due around July 15th.
- Each Vader in G.Heroes Battle Packs line has different decos to reflect different movies.
- First wave of '08, 2 Skiff Guards, Tarkin & Imp Officer (black), Endor Leia w trooper, Luke w/ Yoda on back & Obi-Wan.
- 6 new Cinema Scenes, some with vehicles, 2 each exclusive to the big 3 retailers.
- G.Heroes Cinema Scenes have plenty of new.
- G. Heroes Cantina sets will be WM exclusives.
- G. H Ep 1 & Hoth ESB w/new Leia, TRU in Aug.
- G. Heroes Target exclusives X-wing original, and Jabba's Palace set, November. New Biggs, removable helmet Luke in X-wing set.
- Unleashed Battle Packs, 14 sets this year, some rereleases.
- SW Transformers, been one of their biggest intros, now adding new ship decos. AT-AT/Driver stunned audience, spring gun in jaw. Turbo Tank/Cody has wheels open to reveal guns. Luke/Snowspeeder, rear cannon hinges, saber clips under.
- SW TF Vader in October, lights up, fought for soft goods cape, first time on any TF.
- 3.75" line: intent is to get all 60 basics out by Dec/Jan. They're working on scratched coins, severly messed up can be sent in and replaced. Coins were really tricky, sculpted 1-to-1, hand sculpted.
- Wave 4 on shelf Aug 1. Umpass Stay designed to barely fit on card, 2 sets will make 1 drum. 2 Concept Vader helmets because they couldn't decide.
- Wave 5, mid aug, new C-3PO w/ removable eye. Darth Malak's collar, jaw removable. Pre-cyborg Grievous had leeway into design because style was open to interpretation in comics, removable helmet. McQuarrie lady-luke is "Starkiller Hero" because of odd situation.
- Wave 6, Oct 1, Han Torture Rack has no electronics, no second torso.
- Wave 7, Nov 1, Romba & Garak. New A-wing Pilot Tycho. R2 Ewok net is soft plastic to put all figs in.
- Wave 7.5 is Dec 1, repaint wave on best bodies possible. Clone Wars cloak Ep 2 Clone Trooper, deco on soft goods cloak. #53 Rebel Vanguard from SW Battlefront 2.
- Wave 1 & 2 Saga Legends in July 1 and 15. 4 different Sandtroopers, lots of other deco variations on other figs.
- Survey on future of Vintage in the booth downstairs.
- Comic 2packs are a hit, so will continue. 18 this year, exclus wave of 3.
- Republic #52 Anakin & A-series Assassin Droid is super nice.
- Hope to get to other Purge figures later. Sword will fit into Koffi's chest, has vader's arm.
- WM exclus wave in Oct 1st, ROTS p4 sep of twins 2pack reunited. Marvel #81 Boba's return, sarlacc goo. Republic #79, Commander Keller & Galactic Marine.
- Karnor Jax/Kir Kanos to be rereleased in main line.
- 4 new Battle Packs in late Fall. STAP Attack, Hoth Patrol, Capture at the Droid Factory, Betrayal on Bespin.
- New vehicles on Dec 1st, General Grievous Starfighter (!) w/ opening canopy, side pods pull out missile launchers, will fit Grievous figure.
- New AT-TP Pod Walker, top turret missile launcher, scaled to hold 3 figures, one on top gun 2 inside, center leg retracts up and outer hips pivot up to raise vehicle.- New vehicles at Comic-Con.
- Exclusives:
- TRU wanted something soon which caused variant non-red deco Bantha by accident.
- Disney Park Exclusive cantina band light up music base, no names, 5 diff versions.
- Father's Day gift pack with card, designed for kids to give to dad, new easy-tear reversible package, WM exclusive on June 1st. Remove top, envelope & card come out, then fold top down and tab into box to become gift box.
- Concept Grievous, StarWarsOnlineShop exclusive, not con exclusive, not McQuarrie but same package concept & blurb.
- Y-wing w/ Lt. Lepira in August, movie-accurate scar face deco.
- 181st TIE Int, baron fel's squad.
- Ep 2 Jedi Starfighter w/ Hyperspace Ring, December, TRU.
- Battlefront II Multipack, 7 droid pack w/ gonk, 6 Clones - your select screen of 'em. Jetpack trooper accurate pack to game, accessories accurate to game, Internet/Diamond Comic exclusives in October.
- Unleashed 7" ARC Trooper tooling refresh, Online & Diamond Exclus, September, Unleashed was requested.
- Unleashed 7" not dead, looking for future opportunities.
- "Show us Your Lightsaber" contest, they're gonna run videos in the booth. Winner is Lee Vehe, congrats! Chrome Silver Spring Activated Vader saber, 1-of-a-kind. Winner also has another movie in SW Atom Films Film Festival.
- A very important project for Hasbro, inspired by Katie Johnson, Katie wanted droid to watch over her like Padme was watched by R2 in AOTC. Droid Builders Club built droid for Katie's room w/ 501st Legion. Katie's sister suggested named after Katie, R2-KT, in pink. Hasbro & LFL supporting Make a Wish of San Diego donating $100k in Katie's memory - Darryl is choked up, Hasbro is very proud. Fans can contribute as well by buying 3.75" R2-KT to inspire similar goodwill to the cause, SDCC and Online in Late July in 501st Package Style.
- Presentation with real R2-KT and 501st procession right now. Big applause, well deserved, ending presentation on a high note.
- Q&A about to start...