QUESTIONS FOR HASBRO - round 78

[JediTricks]

Please post your VOTE for up to 6 {six} of the questions provided in this thread, letting us know which ones you most want to see asked on December 18th. Keep in mind that your votes in round 77 do not count in this round, so if your question is still on the list you may want to vote for it again.

Also, feel free to post new questions. For reference, here are Hasbro's answers to previous SSG questions; and from other sites. The questions we asked last round can be found here.

Current questions (vote for up to 6):

1. - In a recent Q&A, you mentioned that "[Hasbro] will continue working with Sideshow on their 12" figure program." As we know, Sideshow sub-licenses their 12" Star Wars through Hasbro's Star Wars license, but the intricacies of this relationship are not fully understood. With your recent comment above, collectors are ever more curious as to how exactly Hasbro and Sideshow work together on that 12" figure line. What types of input and interaction does Hasbro have into the Star Wars items that Sideshow produces?
2. - Beyond Star Wars, many other franchises have tried their hand at Titanium Series - Battlestar Galactica, Indiana Jones, Marvel, Transformers, even Stargate was floated as being in some level of planning - yet they all eventually faded away from Titanium Series' light. What lessons has the Titanium Series team taken away from those other licenses' lines and their passings? For example, how did the Stargate line not come to be? Or you put off the wave with the BSG Basestar and couldn't find a slot for this new tooling before the license ran out, yet you released a Starbuck repaint of the Viper mk 2 at theproverbial 11th hour (and didn't hit shelves until the 13th hour), an unusual distinction which fans don't really understand, and could use more behind-the-scenes insight into - why didn't that Basestar tooling get shoehorned into a later wave before the license with Universal ran out? Why release a repaint vehicle that won't satisfy fans as much, rather than an all-new mold which fans have been clamoring for?
3. - What was the decision making process behind creating a Jabba the Hutt animated figure instead of a Ziro the Hutt figure? Ziro has appeared in the Clone Wars series more than Jabba so far, and his animated behavior fits the Clone Wars animated series better than Jabba. Was it merely the character recognizability of Jabba, or the fact that you had existing accessories for him, or was the idea of an evil Truman Capote Hutt just too out-there for ya?
4. - Mace Windu has been represented in action figure form for 11 years now, and a large portion of those figures were released with some unique, non-standard aspect. Mace has been the first "sneak peek" and a mail-away in the modern line, the first hard-shell "choco" robe, AOTC had a deluxe before basic which has a smiling face and a second figure, AOTC basic had the screaming face, 2003 AOTC basic had the "ultimate lightsaber control" stick gimmick, ROTS had the Force Lightning throw-off gimmick, and now the Clone Wars version with removable armor and saber-swinging waist. While there have been a few normal Mace figures, and even a super-articulated one finally, it seems as if Mace Windu has been tapped by Hasbro to be the sculpting and gimmick guinea pig. Is this pattern intentional, do you think he can't sell without these sorts of things, is it just happenstance, or does someone there subliminally not realize they keep picking Mace to be the test guy?
5. - In this year's SDCC slideshow presentation, you previewed the first Knights of the Old Republic comic-pack, which features Rohlan Dyre and Jarael. Why though is the series main protagonist Zayne not included in the first KOTOR pack? Any chance we will be seeing him released soon after that pack, or at least at some point?
6. - In The Force Unleashed, Admiral Ozzik Sturn piloted an AT-KT (All Terrain Kashyyyk Transport) in a boss battle against our hero and the enslaved Wookiees. The AT-KT is merely a heavier-armed version of the AT-ST. Now that we have a new AT-ST coming out, might Hasbro be willing to do a modified version for the AT-KT as well?
7. - Has there been any thought to creating a repaint of Clone Wars C-3PO in his "Droids" cartoon coloring? This mold is already fairly cartoony in design and realization. It would make a nifty collectible for fans of the classic cartoon, yet also could work for new collectors unfamiliar with the series as an alternate protocol droid with a unique color scheme. Any chance of seeing this happen from Hasbro, or would it have to show up in the new cartoon first to even be considered?
8. - The Clone Wars line has been a boon for its droid designs, but is following suit from the realistic lines with the sagging leg problems. This is especially noticeable on Clone Wars Battle Droids and General Grievous. Yet in the same line, IG-86 and the Commando Droid don't suffer this, the difference being that they have ankle joints while the BD and Grievous figures do not. It seems like the joints take stress off the thin leg elements helping cope with wilting issues, and that's a pretty big deal. Obviously including either knee or ankle articulation on them isn't a cheap undertaking, but it seems like a necessary one in the scheme of things since if a figure can't stand up, it's going to be far less fun. Any possibility of including one type of lower leg articulation or another on future versions of these figures as this partial solution to this long-time problem?
9. - One of your answers in the September 10th round mentioned that R2-X2 is a corrected version of the droid that came in the Entertainment Earth Exclusive set. Another figure in one of those sets, R3-T2, was also painted incorrectly in comparison to its onscreen counterpart. The version you released had a white dome with a metallic brown stripe, while it should have a red dome with white panels. Are there any plans to release a corrected version of R3-T2 down the line?
10. - Have you considered sealing magnets into figures' feet and including metal stands to avoid the numerous problems that have come up with footpeg holes over the years? Kotobukiya is doing that with their new ARTFX+ line of statue kits to great success, and although 3.75" figures are a smaller medium, magnetic feet would go well with your action figure line with all its challenges keeping figures standing.
11. - We've now seen Hasbro imagery of deluxe Anakin with Desert Sport Skiff, and us old-fogey collectors who have been around since 1996 are quite surprised to see that accessory's return. It wasn't exactly popular back in the day, its styling wasn't that Star Warsy, and its wobbly guns didn't help much, yet now we have it back for a whole new generation of Star Wars collectors. The other 1996 deluxe releases - Crowd Control Stormtrooper, Han Solo with Flight Pack, and Boba Fett with Mega Jetpack of Doom - weren't exactly crowd-pleasers either, but will we be seeing any of them re-released? Though the idea of a small vehicle for Anakin makes sense, re-releasing this piece seems like such an odd choice. Could you guide us through the thought process on this one? Did the failure of the original influence the decision at all?
12. - With the new deluxe vehicle assortment consistent of the ARC-170 repaint and the Clone Wars Y-wing, there seems to be a focus on raising prices in the line across the board, though that scale's jump from $30 to $60+ is especially noteworthy. Basic figures are $8 or more now, comic packs have gone up $4, battle packs and vehicles are going up around $5, deluxe figure & vehicle packs are a pricey $17, the last dribs and drabs of Titanium Series are over $8, Force FX sabers have gone up $20, and exclusives pricing is all over the map. Clearly, the economic turmoil over the last few years has hit the Hasbro Star Wars brand exceptionally hard, but don't these prices seem harder and harder to justify for both hardcore and casual collectors? We know you are trying to do your best to keep the line alive, but right now collectors are very concerned about the brand's future, and see the price-hikes as the culprit to its possible downfall. Raising prices is a downward spiral. Isn't there some way to better split the costs hikes between customers and profit margins, before there are virtually no customers left to eke profit margins out of, and the line folds?
13. - With the Wedge Antilles X-wing Fighter set, you have a great-looking boxed set there, but it's marred by one odd choice: the nifty kill-marks are printed on white paper stickers rather than clear transparent ones, which look terrible on the ship. Why go with the white-backed stickers over the transparent ones? If this was a factory error, and we're hoping it is, will there be a reissued set of stickers on clear backing?
14. - On the latest TIE Interceptor's packaging, the box art on the front has a highly-detailed ship which is not actually representing the toy, the back of the box imagery does that. However, while the new cockpit pod is a great improvement, that art highlights the wings being the same existing designs we've had for the last 3 decades, and their size and lack of detail really shows compared to the new pod. Granted, you've just released a TIE Interceptor so it's not like we're going to see new wings next week. But hypothetically, how far in the future might fans have to wait to get a set of updated TIE Interceptor wings to match the quality of the new pod?
15. - With the 2008 Medical Frigate Luke figure, the figure almost fits the bill for Echo Base recovery scene Luke, if not for the open mechanical arm, and the different likeness with scars and Hoth hairstyle. That scene also has 2 other characters whose figures are in dire need of updating: Leia Hoth, and 2-1B, both of which haven't seen new figure designs in over a decade. With a Recovery Luke figure, it'd just be a new head required (the body and undamaged forearm tooling already exists from the VOTC figure) so you could also include the mask he wore in that scene's less-infamous cut footage (we're not asking you to make kissing Luke & Leia, you'll have to decide if you're twisted enough to go there ;-) ). So, any chances of knocking the Echo Base Recovery scene out of the park by making new 2-1B, Leia Hoth, and Luke recovery figures?
16. - The Resurgence of the Jedi battle pack has a new ANH Luke Skywalker and already fans are enjoying the new likeness and the torso design, but the other elements have some issues. The VOTC Luke's legs were used here, and they seem too small for this figure, under proportion compared to the upper body. Also, the plastic "skirt" is rather stiff, preventing the figure from sitting down, extra frustrating since this scene he's sitting down most of the time. Might a future ANH Luke figure address these problems while still using this head and torso?
17. - Regarding the head on the Cloud City Wing Guard figure, the cardback suggests this is supposed to be Sgt. Edian, yet while the coloring is a black person's and Edian is a black man, the sculpt is clearly that of a white guy. Everything about the head sculpt, even the hair, is a different guy given a dark brown deco. While it could be seen technically as an update to the vintage black Bespin Security Guard on skin tone alone, the features and cardback on that Kenner figure were clearly Edian and were differentiated from the other Kenner white Bespin Guard figure. Why was this new Edian figure given a white guy's face sculpt? Any chance we'll see this head sculpt again as another ethnicity, or a new and more accurate Sgt. Edian sculpt in the future?
18. - Will we ever get more multipacks from the Star Wars: Battlefront series? There are Original Trilogy factions that still need to be boxed up, and they'd have tons of cross-consumer interest from gamers to army building potential to kids who want a battle in a box, and just OT fans in general. Most of the figures exist as it is, with only the Rebel Smuggler, and the Rebel Sniper who could be retooled based on existing Leia figures, there are tons of variations from Hoth and Endor, and then there's also the Ep 2-era clones that show up in Battlefront 1 and 2 that could tie in with The Clone Wars. So, any chance of seeing anything more like this?
19. - Lightsaber Launching R2-D2, one of the little guy's coolest moments. The most recent figure wasn't very good, and was 11 years ago. We understand that safety regulations prohibit a spring-loaded projectile from being under 3 inches, so how about a few compromises instead? How about an R2 that can have a removable panel and can hold just the ROTJ Luke saber hilt (in the film it's facing upwards anyway), and if you still must have the gimmick, it can be replaced with a full-length Luke saber with blade that goes all the way through the body and a hole out the bottom and fires that way, R2 wasn't using his middle leg in the scene but kids will hold the figure during play so it doesn't matter that the blade goes past his feet. This would also be a great excuse to finally get a nice new Luke ROTJ lightsaber accessory out after 13 years of suffering imitations. So how about it, isn't it time we get a decent Lightsaber Launching R2-D2?
20. - In a recent answer, Hasbro revealed that the Spring 2010 EU wave will be the only group of non-Clone Wars new figures until the Fall. Granted, we have seen gaps in the line before - most recently in the break between The Force Unleashed wave in Spring 2008 and the ROTJ wave in July 2008 - but this news has many collectors worried. With the Legacy line apparently in poor shape, is it the wisest idea to put it on hiatus for over 2 quarters next year? Granted, we'll still have The Clone Wars figures to look forward to, but such a pause might cause even more movie-based collectors to walk away and further undermine the line, perhaps into completely folding. Hasbro stated recently, "We are working hard to get [collectors who have left the line] back, and we think that what we have lined up next year will be our best attempt." We know full details will be revealed at Toy Fair so we won't ask specifics, but can collectors look forward to some movie-based products in those lean 6 to 8 months while the basic Legacy-style line is on hiatus, enough stuff to hold their interest? And is it too late to get out a repaint wave, perhaps with some of those already-tooled variant figures like the Hoth Trooper, Imperial Scanning Crew, and Utai, perhaps some tooled but canceled Comic Pack figures, maybe even some kitbashes like Han Solo head on an Imperial body, to keep collectors interested during the break?

Vote now, and suggest new questions too. Thanks for participating!

[JediTricks]

Yes he does. The 'skirt' is very stiff even with slits on the sides. Theres pretty much no give.

If I were to ask a question around this figure it'd go like this:

From fan reaction so far the new Farmboy Luke from the Resurgence of the Jedi pack is great but for some problems. Many have noted that the VOTC legs seem too short for this body. Theoretically if they were to be longer they should also be a little thicker to maintain balanced proportions. Others have complained that the 'skirt' prevents the figure from sitting down while a final complaint has been levelled at the elbow joints not being the most attractive because of the hinge*. However there is almost unanimous praise for the new headsculpt and the torso which are beautifully sculpted and painted. Could future farmboy lukes address these problems whilst also maintaining this particular head and this particular torso?*2

Does anybody else feel the legs are out of proportion to this figure? The only pics I've seen of it look ok, and don't even look like the VOTC legs, so I'd like confirmation on this complaint before I turn it into a question.

*when the arm is bent the anglular hinge becomes visible, its a problem that more commonly affects the shoulders of certain figures probably dating back to VTSC X-wing Luke. For some reason known only to them Hasbro have been using hinges with ugly angles on them that jut out in an unattractive fashion when the arms are posed outwards from the body. See the new Bespin guard, the new cantina Saurin, DSII Luke, scramble on yavin technician etc. Not all figures have this problem so clearly its avoidable.

You're talking about the flat-slant shoulder hinges? This is so they can have ball-hinge movement with a more realistic sculpted shoulder when at rest. We asked about that a while back IIRC, but I can't find the answer right now.

*2: I was going to add a part about them using the same headsculpt on X-wing Luke and Stormtrooper Luke in future but the new head is probably too big to also fit the helmets. However as long as this headsculpt becomes available outside of this battlepack customs will be possible for those who want to see this head on all ANH lukes.

Well, let's see what a few other folks feel about this figure first, but I can see asking this stuff, just want to get a little more feedback about the legs and maybe shoulders.

[bigbarada]

1, 7, 12, and 15 for now (before I forget to vote like I did last round).

[Darth Marco]

My vote is for 4,5, and 15.

I do have a question.

Now that Hasbro confirmed that there will be no more comic packs in a regular SKU after spring 2010, and sold only as exclusives, will that include Nom Anor as well or will he be in the last wave of comic packs?

[Devo]

Does anybody else feel the legs are out of proportion to this figure? The only pics I've seen of it look ok, and don't even look like the VOTC legs, so I'd like confirmation on this complaint before I turn it into a question.

You're talking about the flat-slant shoulder hinges? This is so they can have ball-hinge movement with a more realistic sculpted shoulder when at rest. We asked about that a while back IIRC, but I can't find the answer right now.

Well, let's see what a few other folks feel about this figure first, but I can see asking this stuff, just want to get a little more feedback about the legs and maybe shoulders.

Okeydokey. But I really don't like those shoulder hinges. I'd rather have the shoulders look normal in all positions than only when the arms are at rest at the figures sides. If thats what they said I really don't see their logic. Countless figures with normal balljoint shoulders have looked perfectly fine in the past.

[Gothiczartan]

i have questions about the characters as extras that needed a figure treatment

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Aehrrley_Rue

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Teyora_Rekab

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rango_Tel

another question about a possible SA Jango Fett with a original jetpack (EVO pack Jango Fett with retooling to fit the first jetpack), I'm not sure it's already been answered.

[RENDAR LIVES]

My vote is for 4,5, and 15.

I do have a question.

Now that Hasbro confirmed that there will be no more comic packs in a regular SKU after spring 2010, and sold only as exclusives, will that include Nom Anor as well or will he be in the last wave of comic packs?

Was he even stated as being released in a comic pack? I just assumed it was an EU wave along with the rumored Anakin Solo. He seemed pretty popular on the poll and they even had prototype images so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I vote for 4,5, 10 (even though they'd likely just go back to regular stands or hike up the price),12 and 14 so far.

Jt, can we ammend question #5? Since we know this comic pack has been canceled, can we ask if these figures will be released in some other avenue as well as where Zayne Carrick might fit in? He'd be a cool Evolutions set with Padawan, fugitive, and jedi versions. The comic series is ending too so that might nip it in the bud.

Also can we ask what is down the road for the force fx sabers or is that a "wait til after..." question? There are so many cool sabers that need to be made or like Anakin's AOTC saber that were never redone with the newer modifications.

[RENDAR LIVES]

Okeydokey. But I really don't like those shoulder hinges. I'd rather have the shoulders look normal in all positions than only when the arms are at rest at the figures sides. If thats what they said I really don't see their logic. Countless figures with normal balljoint shoulders have looked perfectly fine in the past.

Exactly! Why have the articulation if you aren't going to pose it dynamicaly? So it can stand prone? Doesn't make sense. Also my TPM Obi can't hold his saber with 2 hands. This bothers me because the figure is supposed to be SA but has limited movement not to mention the innacurate pants color.

By the way. I have a modern Obi E1 lightsaber that is accurately painted but I have no clue wich figure it came with so I just stuck it with the new TPM Kenobi whose lightsaber is pretty blah. Anyone know what figure it actually came with?

[Devo]

Well my point primarily was about the aesthetics of the joint. I don't quite understand why these angular hinges have come into favour - I never saw a problem with standard ball-joints in the shoulders except where they were needlessly oversized and/or not recessed enough into the torso. But these hinges look plain ugly in any position where the balljoint really comes into play such as raising the arm outwards. Sure it stays neutral to the sculpted arm when the arm is down by the sides or when you move it up and down but a simple swivel shoulder can achieve that movement and if it was just a swivel shoulder we wouldn't be worried about hinges.

Basically I think it needlessly complicates matters. If you're putting in ball-joint movement then just give us a normal balljoint to achieve it. They were fine, no need for some special hinge with a sculpted part. Its one benefit isn't worth the compromise of it looking hideously ugly in any position exclusively facilitated by a balljoint.

[RENDAR LIVES]

Sounds a lot like the VOTC XW Luke. It's not as noticeable on his orange jump suit but then they did that awsome Tycho figure that seems pretty flush. I've wondered why they are so meticulous on some figures and not others but I'm betting the easy answer is that since they put out like 5 Lukes every year they just say,"lets not worry about it, we'll have ten more trys at this later in the year. Let's get to work on that A-wing pilot." Wich of course has less of a chance at getting redone ten times over.