It's really sad

[Darth Ludicrous]

Remember the realscan image of Anakin they posted over at StarWars.com months and months ago?

Check it out here if you don't: http://www.starwars.com/collecting/f...5/index_0.html

Somebody want to explain how this got mutilated into the ep2 figure we've seen? I mean, Hasbro pretty much only had to produce that exact scan (if you haven't seen realscan, they pretty much produce an exact mold in wax right from the computer file), add in 5 or 6 joints and a lightsabre and we'd all be pretty satisfied. What's their problem?

I'm very disappointed.

[JEDIpartner]

Unfortunately, REALSCAN is a tool to assist sculptors with their designs. It doesn't do the design work FOR them. The sculptors are still required to create the casts by hand while using the REALSCANs as guides for the final products. I was actually kind of surprised when I read this on the web about 6 or so months back. I suppose I was labouring under the same idea as you, thinking that a computer preps the mould for the figure and the sculptor just goes in to add the articulation points and basically deconstructs it.

That is not the case and that is why you get the sculpts you are seeing.

[Jargo]

To use the realscan technology and achieve a sculpt as good as the scan itself, you have to increase the size of the figures. We'd have ended up with a line of at least 6" figures. Any smaller and the detail is useless. The realscan technology is great for scanning fabric folds and hardware but not good on faces.

The other thing to consider is that because realscan has been used the way the fiigures are made has changed, Poses are more anatomicaly accurate. That's basically why the figures won't mesh with existing figures which are anatomicaly innaccurate.

[LTBasker]

No actually I think Hasbro said that it was just going to be used for the heads and smaller accessories, which from the current pics look like crap so far. The sculptors would do like the bodies and such while the realscan did the heads and the blasters and lightsabers.

[Darth Ludicrous]

That's not quite right. Gentle Giant actually uses a machine that takes the input from the scan (texture map) and creates a hard copy. The process is called stereo lithography and results in an actual model. Take a look at the busts from Toy fair last year to see the results. You can also see a demo here:

http://www.toymania.com/features/ggprocess.shtml

I actually saw a video of this process and it's really cool-- this big lathe looking device runs through this gray liquid/wax material and creates the sculpture. Also note Giant claims it can create these molds in any size...they talk about using this process for Burger King promo toys! This idea that realscan can't work for 4" figures is a canard.

Now, all we know for sure is that Gentle Giant provided the scans to Hasbro for reference---Do we know for sure whether Hasbro took full advantage fo the technology and produced hard copies directly from them, or did they just use the scans for reference for their sculptors? If that's the case it's criminal, because it's a total waste of the technology.

The bottom line is that Hasbro is not keeping pace with the other toy companies out there...companies like Jakks and Toy Biz are proving that it is not impossible to create a well done toy line for a major license, especially with realscan. We're not asking for the impossible! To drive home this point, check out that link above to see what Toy Biz did with realscan and then look at those ep 2 figs again.

Again, it's really sad.

[DahrJin]

Indeed it is sad.

If hasbro insists on making McFarlane type mini-statues, the play ability of what are meant to be toys, will be lost.

Not only do the poses look strange, the sabers and blasters look odd when being held. If you got a chance to look at the images before they vanished, you know what I'm talking about.

And, what's with the hands not holding the sabers? It appears that OB-1 has a hole in his hand where a peg on his saber fits so he can hold it.

Is Anakins saber a throw back to the vintage toys? It looks to be retractable.

I sure hope these are just works in progress, because they need a butt load of work just to compare to the recent greatness of POTJ.

[Unit-01]

Kinda like that thing in JP3?

Ob1's hands are magnetic and so is his Lightsaber and such. Those holes are actually big magnets. Anakin has a retractable LS and looks to be a gun of some sort which has some string attached to it which can fly back to look like force pull.

[JediCole]

Originally posted by Darth Ludicrous
...they talk about using this process for Burger King promo toys! This idea that realscan can't work for 4" figures is a canard.

The bottom line is that Hasbro is not keeping pace with the other toy companies out there...companies like Jakks and Toy Biz are proving that it is not impossible to create a well done toy line for a major license, especially with realscan. We're not asking for the impossible! To drive home this point, check out that link above to see what Toy Biz did with realscan and then look at those ep 2 figs again.

Again, it's really sad.

Many valid points about the possiblities of this technology have been made, however, the limitations are just as real. Though the RealScan process can reproduce its information in any scale, there is still inevetable drift in image integrety. Further factor in the limitations of the materials and you loose even more detail. Yes, those busts that were amoungst the first real images of the possiblities of this technology were stunning, but I suspect they were also LIFE SIZE. You don't need that much technology to produce accuracy in 1:1 scale! I think most people have misinterpreted the full scope of what is possible and ignored the built-in limitatons. Though Toy Biz and Jakks have utilized the technology to greater effect, they are also working in a larger scale. And frankly, though I have no use for wrestling figures, I was curious about the end result of the RealScan figures made by Jakks and though they look fairly accurate to the source material, they are by no means precise 1:6 to 1:12 scale replicas of the people scanned.

Finally, this is not an attack on Darth Ludicrous' views, which in some respects I agree with, I merely quoted his post as it covered more specific bases than others.

[Darth Ludicrous]

Two things I'd add:

1) Even if the technology is "limited", maybe Hasbro should try and be a little innovative. Why do they always have to be behind the curve? If the technology isn't there yet, then push it forward!

2) If Hasbro can't get the job done in the 3.5" range, maybe it's time to get out of 1982 and produce 6 or 8" figures like everybody else. I'm sure that sentiment might cause even more collector ire, but I really feel Hasbro missed the boat by not making the switch to a larger scale with the Ep 1 figures. If they really want to satisfy the tastes of today's kids and satisfy collectors' taste for extreme details, it's really the only answer.

The only good argument for smaller figures was the ability to produce large playsets and vehicles, but Hasbro is moving away from those anyway. Retro-compatability with the POTF line would not have been as a big an issue had they made a clean break starting with Ep1.

[DahrJin]

I don't think it's a question of technology. Look at McFarlen toys, and just about any other ACTION FIGURE maker, they blow Hasbros product away by far. Not only in detail, but in what you get for your $7.00 to $10.00. Me I'd pay an extra dollar or three to get better quality for my money.

The Spawn line, even though it's at a larger scale, is a prime example. Great detail and accessories aplenty. All for what we pay for a 3 3/4 inch plastic figure.

Hasbro needs to get out of the 70's and 80's and make a product that will continue on through the present.

Bottom line is Hasbro needs to play a little catch up or it will lose it's foothold in the market.

IMO- Real Scan sounded awesome when I first heard about it. The thought of exact duplicate of my favorite SW characters was exciting. Then Hasbro shows us what they plan on releasing(new AOTC figure pics we've all seen) and talk about dissapointment. If Real Scan can't be adapted into the 3 3/4" line, why bother to try and use it?