By JediTricks
Published: December 19, 2008
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Thanks again to Hasbro for the answers, to all the folks who sent in questions and especially those who voted on them. Here come Hasbro's answers, and remember to check out CollectionStation.com for their Hasbro Q&A as well (which also got answers today).

Hasbro Q&A for the week of December 19th

SSG: In the Comic-Con presentation, the Clone Wars Magnaguard was shown to include an alternate, cloak-wearing head. Now that carded images have shown up, it appears as though this extra head is not included. Is it actually included and just hidden behind the insert, or is it another case of an accessory being taken out due to cost? If it is the latter, then can we expect a variant down the road?
Hasbro: We had originally planned to do the cloaked version first (with the sculpted cloak head), but cost pressures forced us to go forward with just the one mode. We hope to be able to do the version with the cloak in 2010.

SSG: Assuming you do decide to make the Corporate Alliance Tank Droid, which last you told us was likely since it is in the Clone Wars cartoon, would it have a cockpit and working treads? What other features would you put into it?
Hasbro: To do this vehicle in the Starfighter Vehicle assortment, which is the most likely place it would go if we did green light it someday, we would not be able to solve all the demands of size, features, inside figure capacity, and treads without making strategic choices to be able to afford it. We would probably not design working treads, but would make sure that we can fit a couple figures inside while maintaining the overall aesthetic of the vehicle and looking for features to add elsewhere (like missiles for example).

SSG: With the upcoming Wioslea figure, we have another Jedi-style outfit with soft-goods cloth robe and "skirt", but the upper tunic remains sculpted to the torso and thus doesn't match the color or design of the "skirt" that is supposed to continue the tunic. Don't get us wrong, Wioslea's outer robe looks far better than the oversized VOTC Obi-Wan's robe, soft-goods cloth does have its place in the line. But for matching the "skirt" to the top half of tunic, have you ever considered doing a figure with the tunic entirely as soft-goods? Would you consider doing a major super-articulated Jedi figure with a cloth tunic this way?
Hasbro: We have looked at this, and even done it occasionally on figures such as the Evolutions and Order 66 Anakins. We have generally found that the upper torso is much more problematic for getting the exact aesthetic that we are trying for. Aside from robes, which are deliberately bulky, any kind of more form-fitting shirt or top will come out bulkier and will potentially be a distraction on a 3-3/4" figure. That is not a problem for the lower torso, where we can anchor the top at the waist, and the straight drape hugs the legs and looks natural. We may still occasionally look for this approach, but we don't anticipate it will be a bigger focus for us.

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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Hasbro Q&A for the week of December 5th

SSG: You said in a recent answer that the Solo twins, while difficult to do because of limited visual references, were high on your wish list. Hypothetically speaking, if you were to make these long-request characters, which versions would you do? Young Jedi Knights (there's a good picture of them in the recent Jedi vs. Sith guide), NJO-era Jedi Knights (probably the most requested versions, and based on Japanese cover art which is probably the largest body of visual reference for these characters and was even used by the Official Site as its EU menu before the redesign) or Legacy of the Force-era (with the added advantage that an alternate head and lightsaber and removable cape would allow you to do Jacen and Caedus as one figure)?
Hasbro: If we did them, hypothetically speaking, it would be the New Jedi Order-era, based on the Japanese cover art. This would be the most solid selection for the exact reasons you have pointed out - prevalence and familiarity with the character images. If we ever did Caedus, it would have to be new sculpt since the NJO-version would not work for a retrofit.

SSG: With Sideshow having released a smashing diorama of the "Look Sir, Droids" scene, what are the chances of Hasbro doing a similar battle pack? It could include the escape pod (perhaps with the proper top hatch openable, or maybe the whole thing upsized) and an assortment of Sandroopers with a variety of pauldrons and accessories. Heck, if you threw in an updated dewback, you'd have quite the nifty ultimate battle pack. Any chance of that?
Hasbro: We have looked at this scene several times with the theme you suggested, but so far it hasn't made the cut for one reason or another. Maybe someday….

SSG: When collectors ask for the same stuff over and over again such as certain vehicles like the Cloud Car, large accessories like Jabba's dais, playsets and dioramas of scenes that are not action- or main-character-themed which Hasbro says they aren't likely to do because those areas are not seen as profitable in today's market, are there any NEW ideas swimming around the Star Wars team with an OT collector focus? Not talking about merely new figures or resculpts of unmade vintage figures, but something new in the 3.75" format that would excite collectors, especially OT-focused ones. Stuff like the nifty new Scramble on Yavin battle pack gets collectors jazzed up.
Hasbro: While we have looked at many different aspects of the Original Trilogy, the fact is that Kenner covered that ground extremely well, to the point where they even augmented the universe with many of their own original designs (Mini Rigs, the Imperial Transport, etc). Our focus for vintage collectors remains the still (in our opinion) large fertile ground of figures, vehicles, and creatures which have yet-to-be-updated over their vintage counterparts, along with the still numerous unmade characters from many scenes such as the Cantina, Jabba's Palace, Ewoks, and the line. Yet we do try to surprise by doing new things that we think are key to the OTC - like the recent Lars Homestead and Sarlacc pit sets that for the very first time create scenic display opportunities for these iconic scenes. We certainly hope that you enjoy these surprises as much as we get satisfaction from finding new ways to deliver OTC magic.

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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SSG: Recently, you confirmed that in the '09 Legacy line, there will be an EU wave; separately, you have said that there won't be more TFU figures in '09 beyond Shaak Ti, no KOTOR possible before 2010, no more Clone Wars micro-series figures, and no realistic figures from the new Clone Wars series. With all those EU sources out of the way, and the comic characters getting tons of coverage in the Comic Packs line, does that mean the '09 EU wave will finally show some love for characters from the novels?
Hasbro: Excellent detective work. Yes indeed, there will be a couple figures from novels in there, including two from the famous 2006 Toy Fare top 25 poll.
(Editor's note - for reference, here are all of the remaining yet-to-be-made winners of that poll: Bastila Shan, Padme Amidala Funeral, Corran Horn, Exar Kun, Nom Anor, Jaina Solo, Anakin Solo, and Jacen Solo. -JT)

SSG: Some collectors have expressed disappointment in the Disturbance at the Lars Homestead set. The example shown in the slideshow at Comic-Con featured much a nicer deco, and while we understand that prototypes usually have more care than production pieces, it seems like this particular production version suffered a severe backslide in quality, the deco just doesn't hold up. It's hard for collectors to understand how a $50 set is only 2 new pieces (the womp rat and the house section), a vacuform base, and 4 older pieces (the 3 figures and the moisture vaporator), and then how it could end up losing significant quality at that pricepoint. We understand the tooling for the house was an extensive portion of the budget, and we appreciate the great effort made to get this made, but collectors keep asking us to ask: what happened here, what went wrong to drag that quality down? And that leads to: why was this set produced now when it couldn't find all the budget for a better deco, more troopers, a treadwell droid, more accessories, etc.?
Hasbro: We knew from the outset that this set would be narrowly collector-targeted, but because of the prominent and iconic nature of the homestead we decided to go ahead with it. As a result, the overall costs to develop (including tooling) are reflected against a somewhat more narrow volume than that which is reflected in the eventual price. There was just no other way to bring this one out. Originally the Homestead set was to have more troopers and another womp rat, but these had to be removed to contain the costs. As for the deco, the original deco was deemed to be too heavy for the piece and it was pulled back.

SSG: Back in April, you said you should have for us at Comic Con a peek at the upcoming Comic Packs Lumiya figure, but with Comic Con come and gone, we still have not seen Lumiya. Is it possible we could see this figure now, and if not, why not?
Hasbro: Due to sculpting delays, the wave with Lumiya will not be out until the middle of next year. As such, we do not a have a picture of her ready yet.

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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SSG: With the recent release of The Force Unleashed and the success of Hasbro's TFU product in the 2008 TAC line, what are the chances of getting more TFU figures beyond the 2009 Felucia Shaak Ti you recently confirmed? Understanding that the soonest there could be new TFU items is 2010, collectors want PROXY, more of Starkiller's costumes, a new Juno Eclipse more accurate to the final game, accurate Incinerator Troopers, teenage Princess Leia, battle-damaged Rahm Kota, Kazdan Paratus, accurate Jump Troopers, shadow versions of the various troopers, and even a 3.75" figure version of the Rogue Shadow and the Bull Rancor. Any of these gonna happen, and what can we do to increase that likelihood?
Hasbro: The Force Unleashed looks to be on its way to being perhaps the best selling Star Wars game in history - no mean feat with predecessors like Battlefront II and KotOR. Equally as passionate have been the fans, and "when are we getting more TFU figures?!!" is easily the top question for this Q&A session. We like TFU as much as you and we are looking at adding additional characters. If we did, they might not be here before Spring 2010, but many of the characters you suggest are high on our list. However, we don't think the Bull Rancor or Rogue Shadow are likely candidates unless they show up elsewhere in entertainment as well - neither is really as central as we'd like to have the peace of mind we'd be able to recoup the massive investment needed for these (as it is, we had to split the Rancor into two different packs to be able to justify it, something we can't do with the more confined Bull Rancor).

SSG: Not long ago, we asked which EU figures were their personal favorites and wishlist entries, but none of the ones listed were from the Marvel series. With the upcoming Lumiya figure (and by the way, who will she be coming with in that comic 2pack? Issue #96 suggests Luke from the duel, but perhaps someone else maybe?), what other Marvel figures might be on the team members' EU wishlists?
Hasbro: Lumiya will indeed be coming with Luke, to allow fans to recreate their epic duels. Along with the recently released favs K-3PX, Fenn Shysha, Tobbi Dala, and the upcoming Wal-Mart exclusive Ewok 3-pack, we're glad to have been able to get to some of our top candidates this year. Next year will be a bit drier for the Marvel characters as we concentrate on more Dark Horse facets, but it's a good bet that there will be more Marvel-inspired goodness in 2010. High on our wish list would be some new versions of Luke and Leia, Valance the Hunter, Dani, Rik Duel, and Tippet (to round out the clan). How many will actually make it, if any, in the 2010 line plan remains to be seen.

SSG: Back in Dec '07, you told us that while you didn't have a carded basic Wedge Antilles planned, there was "at least one cool new Wedge figure" due in '08 if your schedule held. This August, you told another site that you "had plans for a great Wedge this year, but the project was delayed and will appear in Fall 2009," (again, if schedules held). Then on Sept 5th, a third site asked about Wedge, and you gave a similar answer about the set he's in being delayed until "later in 2009". Now, an online retailer has listed a case assortment for Comic Packs Wave 5 which includes "X-wing Rogue Squadron #32 with Borsk Fey'la and Wedge Antilles (Academy Outfit)" expected out around February '09. Is their set listing accurate, and if so, is this your aforementioned Fall '09 Wedge or a different figure altogether?
Hasbro: That listing *is* accurate and it is not the Wedge we were hinting at, but in fact another set centered around Wedge. Stay tuned!

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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(First up, on August 1st, one of our questions was unable to be answered at the time, but here now is that answer... -JT)
SSG: Many folks feel the big Millennium Falcon to be a true masterpiece in Star Wars toys, but speaking with the designer at Comic-Con, one of the things learned was that the original design for the toy was even bigger than what we got before budgetary realities found its current size. Were there arguments about what features could be packed into the final version? Did Lucasfilm have any specific requests of ideas to do or not to do? What features were on the bubble and barely made the cut? What features (beyond voice recordings, as we know Leia and Lando didn't make the final results there, along with about 40 more minutes of "vital" Falcon dialogue that was originally considered), if any, didn't make the final cut?
Hasbro: We're very glad you like the end result of what has truly been a labor of love from our design team and the tight collaboration with Lucasfilm to dial in what would truly make this Falcon a magical vehicle. As for the final size, yes you are correct in that there was a lot of homework done before we embarked on this one. It started with the realization that to truly be to scale it would be closer to 4 feet in diameter. This obviously would be way beyond any toy that we could produce. To figure out what could be realistic, we did several differently-sized treatment drawings and then built our choice in foam core to verify the size. We then invited the broader design, marketing, and engineering team to evaluate the structure, features, overall size, and the like. We felt that the 22" (approximate dish diameter) Falcon would satisfy all of the demands of the toy without pushing the price point (and tooling) up to astronomical levels. It was a process that helped us find that "Goldilocks" balance - the point at which it was just right for everybody to feel great about. As for as the final features, this size enabled us to really get every single thing that we wanted into the ship - it really was a great size to work with from all standpoints. We set out to capture the "character" of the Falcon and bring out its most dramatic features. We knew that there were certainly limitations (for example, we could only do a limited number of smuggling compartments and only had room for one gunner station) but we were able to develop some key points for us, such as the four-seat cockpit. Overall we felt that overall this size was really the best for the most magical experience. Dialog was a very important feature for us, since we have never had dialog on any previous Falcon version. The actual choices prompted some *very* interesting discussion, since the chip that we did end up using was 101 seconds, which by toy standards is waaay beyond the norm (then again, so is this Falcon). We looked at every bit of relevant dialog to cull it down to what we felt really captured the essence of the Falcon and it's personality to bring home the experience of the films. Since so much of the Falcon's personality was set up during Episode IV (Star Wars) we focused primarily there, but we also grabbed some key dialog from Episode V to make sure that we had the signature moments (like the hyperdrive malfunction). Once again, we are thrilled that you feel the magic of this very special project, and we hope that we have the chance to deliver more re-imaginings of classic vehicles as the years unfold, as long as fans show their support by making the Falcon (and AT-TE) a success.

(And now onto this round's questions...)
SSG: Understanding that schedules are subject to change on these sorts of things, could Hasbro give us an idea of how many waves and figures are scheduled for the '09 line, and roughly how many figures are from each source?
Hasbro: There are currently eight Legacy waves scheduled for 2009, one from each movie with Empire getting a second late wave at the end of the year. There is one EU-focused wave. The EpIV and EpVI waves have eight new/refresh figures (and would come with Astro droids), and the rest have six new/refresh figures (and would come with protocol droids). In Clone Wars, there are about 36 new/refresh figures across 8 waves.

SSG: Will we be getting any Battle Droid variants in the Clone Wars line, like Commander, Security, Pilot, etc.? Would it matter if the design didn't show up right away in the cartoon? After all, we know what the markings of a Commander droid look like already. And what about a Clone Wars Battle Droid figure that can hold its rifle 2-handed?
Hasbro: Yes, we do have some planned variants coming including some who are just "off-screen." As for a BD with an articulated wrist (or different wrist position) there is not one in the lineup but it's being looked at for 2010 as a possibility.

SSG: On August 1st, we got a few answers that didn't seem quite complete, and are sacrificing one of our precious question slots to get clarifications for these 3 little bits & pieces that we previously asked about:
A) what points of articulation are on the upcoming A New Hope Obi-Wan Kenobi;
B) will the Titanium Series Cylon Heavy Raider that Hasbro previously announced be released before the license expires; and
C) when you said to us that the Tonnikas were the only figures that you couldn't touch, but told another site that the Holiday Special was something you "couldn't approach", did that mean the Tonnikas answer was incomplete or are we misunderstanding what you mean on the Holiday Special? Thanks!
Hasbro: Sorry we missed these last time. This happens sometimes due to the overall crush of the Q&A since many sites submit multi-part questions...sometimes we do miss parts in our need to get to everyone. To answer your questions.
A) Obi-Wan has ball and socket shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles, along with swivel wrists and waist.
B) This one was planned, but we never got enough reference to start the vehicle design so it was dropped from the plan.
C) There are a couple types of "off limits" figures here. Some Lucasfilm has asked us not to pursue, and some are self-imposed. The Tonnika Sisters are an example of the former, and the Holiday Special is an example of the latter. Lucasfilm's stance on the Holiday Special is well-articulated, so it would be a waste of time work up concepts for the characters from this series. If the characters do not appear in any other media there is little chance of them ever getting done (even Boba took a lot of work to make happen, but it was worth it). On these two areas, it doesn't do any good to petition/vote/plead….no amount of fan requests will change our opinions.
(Editor's note: er, we hope Obi-Wan also has head articulation too. -JT)

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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SSG: Since you just gave us 3 of the 5 characters with their unique sandstorm costumes, can we expect Sandstorm Lando and Leia to finish out the sandstorm scene? There was some confusion about the Leia figure, going back and forth on whether it'd be done in the future, and we're not really sure where it stands now; and Lando simply didn't get an answer on at all. So, can we complete this nifty deleted scene some day, and when? Basics or battle pack, whatever it takes to complete the scene, right?
Hasbro: We are hoping to get to Leia in 2010, but had not slotted Lando in. That's a good suggestion for completing that scene, so we'll take a look at Lando as a possibility when we bring out Leia.

SSG: With Titanium Series, could you fill us in on how decisions are made as to which new designs are taken to production, and how large a run that item may get? Are there Titaniums that Hasbro had to pass on due to budgetary issues (we know the Battlestar Galactic classic Basestar is one that you guys said wasn't feasible)? Should we expect to see more and more plastic used in place of metal on future releases? Any "favorites" and "most disappointing" Titaniums for the designers you guys might be willing to share?
Hasbro: Our criteria has changed somewhat over the past couple years, in order to get more newer (and often niche) vehicles into the lineup. The designs are selected by our team here, suggested to Lucasfilm, and the final lineup is a combination of both group's ideas on new ships. The waves are structured somewhat like basic figures, with the more iconic figures carrying forward from wave to wave and the more obscure vehicles (which describes many of the newly tooled ships) getting more limited runs confined to a single wave only. It's been only recently that we have been "re-releasing" classic ships like the Millennium Falcon; prior to that pretty much everything ran for a short time and then disappeared. The same can be said for the "fleet" approach (X-Wings, Y-Wings, etc) in an attempt to keep classics out there but provide some newness for collectors by delivering meaningful repaints. There are no ships we have had to pass on because of budgetary issues, and do not see the amount of metal vs. plastic changing from the current balance. Among favorites are the new X-Wing and the Cloud Car and MTT (long overdue!). There are a couple of disappointments for us. The first is that it's just impossible given the nature of the collection to work in a consistent scale. That's just the nature of the beast since we do not have any other options for alternate sizes/scales/price points in Titanium. A second one would be the inherent limitations of die-cast in getting the same level of detail and precision that we are so accustomed to achieving with plastic. We have learned a lot about working with the medium, however, and think that our current and upcoming ships keep getting better and better.

SSG: While the AT-TE is an amazing toy, an issue has arisen that with the leg joints popping back out rather than supporting the weight of this massive vehicle. Inflicting battle damage can be fun for play, but only when it's intentional. Many fans report even slight pressure applied to the top of the vehicle - say, perhaps, like pressing a button to reveal the rear deck or set off sound effects - causes either hip or knee joints to pop out of their sockets. Are you aware of this issue? Is this intentional to avoid breakage, and if so, isn't it a little more aggressive at this task than need be? Will this be addressed in later releases or perhaps mail-away adapters or something?
Hasbro: Glad you wrote us, and help spread the word. We have confirmed that some of the AT-TE's do have middle legs that breakaway more easily than intended (breakaway legs are a deliberate design feature of the vehicle). We have addressed this and we offer replacement middle legs through our Hasbro Customer Service Dept that should solve the issue. Consumer Affairs can be reached through our web site at hasbro.com. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Our objective is to make sure that consumers are 100% satisfied with their AT-TE, so anyone who is having an issue, please contact us.

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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SSG: Many folks feel the big Millennium Falcon to be a true masterpiece in Star Wars toys, but speaking with the designer at Comic-Con, one of the things learned was that the original design for the toy was even bigger than what we got before budgetary realities found its current size. Were there arguments about what features could be packed into the final version? Did Lucasfilm have any specific requests of ideas to do or not to do? What features were on the bubble and barely made the cut? What features (beyond voice recordings, as we know Leia and Lando didn't make the final results there, along with about 40 more minutes of "vital" Falcon dialogue that was originally considered), if any, didn't make the final cut?
Hasbro: JT - sorry, out designer is not here to answer your question this week. We will have to follow-up with this answer.

SSG: Back in November of '06, you answered a question about the canceled Yavin Accessory set and its Rebel ground crew tech by saying that you liked him but he wasn't exciting enough to do at the time. Now with the Scramble on Yavin battle pack, you have a new, much better version of that Ground Tech coming out, but the original pack's ladder, crates, lights, and direction baton accessories are still missing in action. Those accessories seem like they'd fit perfectly with this new "Scramble" battle pack, but alas no. Did you make molds for those accessories, and if so, could you run them and find a way to get those awesome and much-desired accessories into fans' collections in the near future?
Hasbro: We did make tools for those accessories, but they are at a different factory and were not available for this accessory set. We are looking at how to use them in a future set.

SSG: In the event that Hasbro collaborates with ToyFare Magazine or another outlet on a new open-entry official Fans' Choice poll, could you provide the voters a short list of characters that Hasbro absolutely cannot do - such as the Tonnikas - to ensure that the poll results are as useful as possible rather than having unusable entries? Hypothetically, if you were to do that, what characters might go on that list?
Hasbro: You hit on the only characters that would be a waste of time on the list. Everyone else is fair game.

SSG: Follow up from the last round, the Y-wing Droid Slot Q&A exchange (see the previous round below -JT) left us a little confused as the bomb-dropping gimmick has been on that toy since its inception in the Kenner ROTJ line when it had the aforementioned droid slot, and were hoping to get clarification on what happened here...
* UPDATED Hasbro: Yes, it was our mistake on that one. Very sorry. The answer, as it turns out, was not mechanism-related, but aesthetic-related. The Power of the Force droids would not fit into the vintage droid slot, and it would have had to have been made bigger to accommodate. At the time, the Lucasfilm team did not like the aesthetic, and the direction was to tool it over. As a result, the slot was removed. Given that fans like to have interactivity with the droid slots, we will keep this in mind for any future retoolings we might have the opportunity to do with this vehicle, and will discuss with Lucasfilm.

SSG: Speaking of follow-ups, Hasbro also sent the final word from the SDCC 1-on-1 Q&A on the Titanium Outrider, it's added to that article.

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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SSG: In the latest trailer of Clone Wars animation, there is a sighting of Jabba's Sail Barge. Assuming the upcoming AT-TE and Millennium Falcon sell well, what would the chances be of getting a Sail Barge toy with its appearance in both the cartoon and being a key action segment of the first half of Return of the Jedi? I mean, it could help sell Clone Wars figures and OT figures, in ROTJ alone nearly every major hero is battling on it or right next to it, and it features one of the most well-known Star Wars characters ever, Jabba the Hutt, so you have tons of character recognition and interaction, plus animation support, and those battle elements (cannons, flying Fett, explosions) lend it some "aggressive" action. Any of that help its chances, help clear the filters that have been holding it back so far which you mentioned when asked about this piece before?
Hasbro: Well, it helps. You make a good case, but the vehicle still has some significant risk vs. other choices we could make. It simply is not as iconic, prevalent in the entertainment, and as cool as the Millennium Falcon (for example). We will keep watching it and see where it appears and what support it gets. If the big vehicle program this year proves a success, and if it has significant entertainment play, then we will take a hard look at it.

SSG: Why is it that the Y-wing mold was altered for a dedicated astromech droid dome, making it impossible to insert a droid figure? Might the Y-wing mold ever be remolded to once again accept droid figures into a droid slot?
Hasbro: This was changed when the bomb-dropping mechanism was added. It is certainly possible that a future edition of the Y-Wing could have the droid slot restored, but this would necessitate a substantial rework of the tooling to do so, and we would need to evaluate the cost.
[Editor's note: the bomb-dropping feature was on the original Kenner ROTJ version, so we will ask for clarification on this. -JT]

SSG: How far do you plan on taking the animated-style Clone Wars line? Will it continue indefinitely with a new stream of figures through the run of the show, or will it be more limited and spread out like the previous 2004-2005 line of animated figures?
Hasbro: The Animated Clone Wars series is a massive undertaking on the part of Lucasfilm and their broadcast partners around the world, and will be the way in which a new generation of young fans will experience Star Wars for the first time. Since kids want to play Star Wars like they see it on the screen, our plans are no less ambitious and we will be continuing with new figures, vehicles, role play, and more as the series unfolds.

On a side note, be sure to check out our Comic-Con 1-on-1 Q&A with Hasbro, containing 8 new answers and more discussion on the Sail Barge. -JT

Discuss this week's Hasbro Q&A in its Forums Thread!

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SSG: This fall, it seems there will be 4 different Star Wars sub-lines vying for space on the pegs: Clone Wars, Legacy Collection BD figures (that's for "Build a Droid", right?), Legacy Collection GH ("greatest hits") figures, and Saga Legends. How many SKUs will that be: 2, 3 or even 4? It looks like 3, with GH figures shipping in cases with BD figures and Saga Legends wearing the Legacy Collection badge but being a separate line, is that accurate? Is there any concern that all this may create confusion or in-line competition on the pegs, perhaps even squeezing out the coveted new Legacy Collection BD figures?
Hasbro: You are correct, there will be three basic figure assortments this Fall. 1. 87535 Legacy/Droid Factory will have two subseries, the major one which includes new/refresh figures numbered BD-1, 2, 3 etc. and the smaller "greatest hits" subseries numbered GH-1, 2, 3 etc. All Legacy/Droid Factory figures including GH come with a buildable droid part but the BD series is made to call out the new/revised figures as many collectors only want to focus on those. Collectors will get 100% of the droid parts if they get the every BD series figures in the first wave in which they are introduced. 2. 87995 Saga Legends will have figures numbered SL-1, 2, 3, etc. and the pack-in will be the weapons crate with clone gear. 3. 87638 Clone Wars basic figures will also be numbered, but there is just a number (no 2-letter prefix). #1, 2, 3, etc. There is similarly between the card designs so we do anticipate mixing on shelves, but it will not be a problem for flowing new supplies in to retail. The 30th/Saga Legends lines were very similar but consumer takeaway and flow into stores continued despite this. We expect that this Fall consumer takeaway will continue to be as we have forecast, with demand for all three assortments depending on the audience and automated replenishment flowing into stores of the proper assortments as they sell down.

SSG: The Hasbro Star Wars team has discussed in previous Q&As their favorites and personal wishlists from the movies. Any hints though as to what characters might be on the team members' various Expanded Universe wishlists?
Hasbro: Sure! Our top favorites would include, in no particular order: Jaster Mereel, Nomi Sunrider, Darth Nihl, Deliah Blue, Jarael, Ysanne Isard, Winter Windmere, Valence the Hunter, Bastila Shan, Nom Anor, Guri, and Celeste Morne. To give you a little more info, it's likely 2-3 of these will be in the 2009 lineup, and likely that at least a couple of more will make 2010.

SSG: Back on August 17th, you answered SSG's question about the TX-130 tank toy by saying "We have looked at the TX-130 and it is a cool vehicle, but right now would only go after it if it was featured in the upcoming Clone Wars animation." On October 22nd, you answered ActionFigs.com's question about the Corporate Alliance Tank Droid with "We have looked at this, but it would need animation support to make it happen." Well, now we have total confirmation that both vehicles will indeed feature in the Clone Wars CGI animation, as well as the Droid Gunship - and all 3 of these vehicles are now being made by LEGO (the Tank Droid they did for ROTS). What are the chances now of getting toys of the Tank Droid, the TX-130, and even perhaps a Droid Gunship from Hasbro? The first 2 would make excellent $20 entries, and all would satisfy fans of The Clone Wars, ROTS, and the Battlefront video game series.
Hasbro: The chances are very good of the first two happening. The latter has a much lower shot of happening.

SSG: Also, we asked Hasbro for clarification on the following answer from the previous round since the answer says none of the blasters in question appear in animation, yet the "Clone Trooper long rifle" mentioned in the question does appear...

SSG: The recent Clone Trooper and Rebel Trooper role-play blasters are pretty cool. With that in mind, will Hasbro be offering more role-play weapons such as all-new sculpts of Han's blaster, the Stormtrooper blaster (with more accurate size and folded stock under the barrel), Biker Scout pistol, and perhaps even larger ones like the Hoth Rebel rifle and Clone Trooper long rifle? (Please discuss the specific possibilities of each of the examples in this question.)
Hasbro: Sorry for the blanket answer, but since none of these blasters are present in the Clone Wars animation, we do not have plans to pursue them. Our role play efforts are really focused on trying to match what on-screen opportunities the entertainment brings (last year's Rebel Trooper blaster notwithstanding).

Hasbro: Sorry, yes you are correct. However, we do not have plans to produce a long rifle blaster. The main problem is the sheer size - it presents a problem getting in to retail and probably would have problem justifying the amount of space it would need on the retail planogram. That one is very, very unlikely.

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