QUESTIONS FOR HASBRO - round 87

[vadersvette]

My votes are for 6 and 10.
I have a question. The new Force FX sabers with removeable blades are something I have been hoping for for a long time. Is there any chance that some of the older sabers will be remade this way? I really want Luke's from ANH or ESB.

[Mr. JabbaJohnL]

New question regarding Hasbro's "'A' List"

So Hasbro has told collectors via Q&A's and interviews that when planning a wave they always refer to what you call the 'A' List to anchor each wave with top selling core characters. You have told us that there are twelve, and who a few of them are (no-brainers like Obi-Wan, Clones, Anakin/Vader and Grievous), and that there are no female characters on the list thus far. Might you give us the whole list so we collectors can definitively know who to expect in the line every year? This is my own prediction based on common sense and who we see pretty much regularly each year:

1. Clones/ Imperial Troops
2. Darth Vader
3. Anakin Skywalker
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
5. General Grievous
6. Yoda
7. Luke Skywalker (minus Farmboy Luke according to DePriest)
8. Han Solo
9. R2-D2
10. Boba Fett
11. Jango Fett
12. Chewbacca

Is this list dead-on or is Hasbro's list different? Has the list changed much over the years? If Ahsoka ever makes an appearance in the main/realistic line could she become the first female on the list?

In the Forcecast interview, DePriest mentioned Qui-Gon. I find this difficult to believe since Qui-Gon's never been in Legends and only rarely in the basic line; his last three releases were in the Evolutions pack, the Eopie mail-away, and the Showdown on Tatooine battle pack, all of which were the same figure anyway. As far as Episode I figures go, you'd think that Darth Maul would be on the list, since he's repackaged into Legends all the time.

I also heard that Boba and Jango occupy the same slot since they sell as well as each other. So combine them, add Qui-Gon, and I'm pretty sure you're dead-on.

[Cane_Adiss]

yeah I heard that and was a little suprised by it. I think he must've made a mistake or something considering, like you said, he hasn't been in the main line/on a basic card since the AOTC Saga line. That is one reason why I want clarification and a definitive list.

A few more that may or may not be on the list:

Darth Maul
Count Dooku
Mace Windu
C-3PO
Separatist Droids

[Gothiczartan]

I have a question about commander cody figure. will we see him re released with time having his belt and antenna correct? the figure from TLC line has his belt upside down and his antenna is orange not silver.

[DarkJedi5]

I have a question about commander cody figure. will we see him re released with time having his belt and antenna correct? the figure from TLC line has his belt upside down and his antenna is orange not silver.

The belt is corrected but the antenna is still orange.

[Gothiczartan]

The belt is corrected but the antenna is still orange.

http://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?i.../TVC_Cody1.jpg

the belt looks uncorrect in the picture. i hope they get him right hit the stores.

[Mr. JabbaJohnL]

The actual Cody figure has the correct belt and antenna, so fret no more.

[Gothiczartan]

The actual Cody figure has the correct belt and antenna, so fret no more.

I do hope this one in the link you post be at retail stores, i'll keep an eye on it! I might as well go online and look for the correct body figure.

[Gothiczartan]

i would like to see a retooled TLC gungan figure (a new lower torso/hips) as a generic gungan warrior with generator shield and a weapon that throws a round thing what ever you called.

http://www.rebelscum.com/TLCBD07Gungan.asp

[JediTricks]

Questions 11-13 added.

I have a question:

I am happy that EntertainmentEarth.com is picking up the comic packs, Blue/Nihl, Jarael/Rohlan, Fel/Isard, and Mereel/Montross from Legacy Collection. Hasbro has stated early 2009 that other comic packs were plan, especially for the comic 'Legacy' which ended with #50 in August and have a new miniseries of 6 more comics named 'Legacy-War' starting in December 2010. Just wanted to know the other two comic packs that Hasbro answered in a Q&A that they plan to do from 'Legacy', will they have that chance now that they have a willing partner to deliver these comic packs? If there are, who would it be?

From April 8th, 2010:

JediTempleArchives.com: Expanded Universe fans must be having some mixed feelings right now. We've seen about 3 years worth of solid EU releases. But the cancellation of the Expanded Universe comic 2-packs has been a disappointment for a lot of people. Still, there are comic 2-packs that were revealed to fans through some cardback art, hard samples at the Comic Con booth and more at the Star Wars presentation. And there were also some recent listings for previously unmentioned comic 2-packs posted by a UK e-tailer that included Ysanne Isard, Baron Fel, Montross & Jaster Mareel.
However, the overall message from Toy Fair also seems clear: that we can expect a strong focus on the movies and specifically EMPIRE, with EU taking a hiatus. But in the past there have been statements from Hasbro to the effect that if a toy or figure gets shown to collectors that there is a strong motivation to eventually release those items. Given the fact that collectors have seen the following comic 2-packs in either prototype form or Hasbro imagery:
Knights Of The Old Republic #6 - Jarael & Rohlan Dyre
Legacy # 7 - Deliah Blue & Darth Nihl
Heir to the Empire #TBD - Noghri Warrior & Ralrracheen
...how likely are we to see these offered as exclusives, or potentially split out into the Basic Figure line?
Hasbro: You are right; once we have progressed far down the design path, in some cases even having completed tooling for some of the figures in question, the intention is to try and eventually find a home for those figures. We are hopeful that over the next few years all of them will be produced in one form or another so fans can enjoy them too.

Seeing as that answer, plus the fact that the EE sets haven't even shipped yet, I think it's too early to ask another question about these other sets.

i also got another question, if you like to add.

if they are going to make a new sculpt luke skywalker in hoth.

will he get to have ball jointed hips just like luke bespin from TVC has?

i thought luke hoth needed ball jointed hips for sitting and riding on a tauntaun.

will we get to see han solo hoth from vintage line (figure with different head with a hood up and removable goggles) retooled for ball jointed hips, soft good lower part of jacket so he can sit on a tauntaun?

is there a possible for a all new sculpt and better articulation of a tauntaun form the ESB?

We've asked about Luke Hoth in the past 6 months, back in April...

CollectionStation.com: It's been 6 years since the last Luke Hoth Gear figure. While that was a nifty item for its time, its sculpt and articulation is specific to 1 part of the movie. Any chance of us getting an updated Luke Hoth, perhaps with a swappable likeness to represent before and after the Wampa attack? We know you usually would prefer to do this via a running change, but after the myriad of running-change-figure problems you had recently, that seems like a troubled route to take, especially with an important character such as this.
Hasbro: Because of the snafus we have had, there will be no more running changes. Period. Sad, but the hammer has come down on these. Now as for Luke, there is no updated version in the works just yet, but is a sure bet to be updated in the next few years.

And another site did too:

DroidsAndEwoks.weebly.com: When can we expect to see a new figure of Luke Skywalker in his Hoth outfit? Being that it's a big year for The Empire Strikes Back, it seems like he would be a good one to have in the line. If he is in the works, can you share any details on the figure?
Hasbro: He will not be the in the lineup this year. This year we have the new Bespin Fatigues Luke. We do have plans for a Hoth Luke at some point, but work hasn't started yet and it's not certain if we can fit him into the 2011 Vintage lineup or not. He is high on our priority list though, and he'll be out within a couple years.

As for Han Hoth, we JUST got a Han Hoth on basic card this year in the Saga Legends line with the hood up based on a figure from 2 years ago, so it's REALLY unlikely they're going to do another one right away.

As for the Tauntaun, just in the last round we got this answer:

JediTempleArchives.com: Looking back through the Archives, there has been a very welcome trend of all-new creatures making their way into the line over the past 2+ years. We've seen a couple of Rancors, the Sarlacc pit/beak, the Clone Wars Jabba the Hutt, the new Dewback, and the Felucia ground slug. On top of that a lot of collectors are eagerly anticipating the release of the new ROTJ Jabba the Hutt. Some official imagery of said Jabba would be awesome, btw!
But will this trend of new creatures extend into 2010/11? Empire fans are still hoping for an all-new Tauntaun. ANH fans think a Dianoga would be most welcome, and certainly not trash. The Clone Wars has brought us creatures like Gor, Gundarks and the Zillo beast. And the rumor mill has been stirred up some for prequel fans who think that a Mustafar Lava Flea would be a good thing. So just how bright is the future for new Star Wars creatures?
Hasbro: We won't have images of Jabba until either Comic Con or CV at this point…sorry! As for additional new creatures, there actually aren't any in the works after Jabba. We are hopeful that a Tauntaun will get picked up for 2011, but right now there are no guarantees. As for the Lava Flea, forget it....the rumors are bad on that one. It will never happen.

I really want a Hoth Luke as well, with swappable heads. We asked this not too long ago and they kind of avoided the question with a no running change response but it still didn't answer the question of wether we were getting an updated figure.

They did address it, look at the answer they gave us above or the one they gave Droids&Ewoks. And the strange part is, those are the only questions to use "luke hoth" or "hoth luke" terms, I can't think of another search term that could work here to find other answers.

It's been bugging me ever since they came out with the legacy of the jedi evolution set. Why does Qui-Gon keep getting packaged with the old lightsaber from '98? The saga blue version came with the removable blade and the wider base on the blade wich is like every other modern saber except for Darth Maul's. So why is Qui-Gon not being released with the better sculpted saga blue version of his saber? And when will Darth Maul get a more modern take on his lightsaber to be uniform with the rest of the current line? Maul should at least have one blade removable to re-create all his scenes but other than that I honestly dislike the detachable blades cause they broke easily.

Ah, you have hit upon something that bugs me about a select few lightsabers. I'll write up a question right now.

Possible new question - Hasbro has stated in the past that it uses conventions such as Comic Con and Toy Fair as the primary platform for rolling out new product. Hasbro has also stated that it is disappointing when as a result of leaks Hasbro does not get to be the one to tell its own story. This year, at Comic Con, many fans thought Hasbro held back for Celebration V, but then at Celebration V some collectors felt like much of what was revealed in the presentation was items that had been known about for some time. By now, Hasbro likely knows the window it has to be the first to reveal an item before it is leaked in one manner or another. Hasbro has been delighting fans through occasionally revealing figures that will come out in questions and answer sessions. Hasbro used to reveal a sneak into the coming year's line at Comic Con, but did not this year. So the question is this, why doesn't Hasbro make a point in its presentation of telling fans at each convention something that no one has revealed yet? For example, at the close of each presentation saying, "And here's two exciting figures in the basic line that you guys don't know about yet that will be coming out next year?" It might mean a couple of things are held back from a few Q&A answers, but it would make for an exciting end to each presentation. But by the time Toy Fair rolls around there will likely be confirmations of 2011 items that could have been revealed at Comic Con, so Hasbro lost the chance to use the presentation to be in charge of telling its story.

This summer got wonky for those "sneak peeks" because SDCC and CV were only 3 weeks apart. There was newness at both though, but each felt like it had less than it should due to being scheduled too close together. They have always in the past had those very sneak peeks before. I don't really know what the drive of your question is.

New question regarding Hasbro's "'A' List"

So Hasbro has told collectors via Q&A's and interviews that when planning a wave they always refer to what you call the 'A' List to anchor each wave with top selling core characters. You have told us that there are twelve, and who a few of them are (no-brainers like Obi-Wan, Clones, Anakin/Vader and Grievous), and that there are no female characters on the list thus far. Might you give us the whole list so we collectors can definitively know who to expect in the line every year? This is my own prediction based on common sense and who we see pretty much regularly each year:

1. Clones/ Imperial Troops
2. Darth Vader
3. Anakin Skywalker
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
5. General Grievous
6. Yoda
7. Luke Skywalker (minus Farmboy Luke according to DePriest)
8. Han Solo
9. R2-D2
10. Boba Fett
11. Jango Fett
12. Chewbacca

Is this list dead-on or is Hasbro's list different? Has the list changed much over the years? If Ahsoka ever makes an appearance in the main/realistic line could she become the first female on the list?

I looked through all 195 Q&As mentioning "12" and couldn't find any such claim, nor the 16 using "dozen", nor the 7 using "twelve". [EDIT: Ok, I see by JabbaJohn's post that it's from a podcast.] The only mention of anchoring with an 'A' list was this answer they gave us back On October 6th of 2006:

ActionFigs.com: What is the selection process for characters to be made into figures, and what is the best way for fans to increase the chances of the release for a certain figure?
Hasbro: The Star Wars 3-3/4" selection process is probably not unlike the NCAA basketball committee selection process. We start out by framing the line by film (our strategy for '06, '07, and '08) and who we could do or redo from a scene along with any new characters. We then slot in the strongest characters to anchor a wave making sure we have strong ('A' level) characters in every wave (not unlike spreading out the division champions across brackets). Once we have the main figures laid out, we start to look at the collector-type specialty figures, and this is where we get a lot of fun lobbying for favorites (again, not unlike lobbying for the smaller school to get in). It's done as a team approach, with collaboration from the team at Lucasfilm too. We take fan input into consideration... things we've seen or heard, emerging trends we're seeing, etc. The ToyFare Top 25 Poll was a great way (and the best, since it was quantitative) for fans to make their voices heard.

I think Derryl might have been playing a little loose with it when he said there was 12, you can see just by applying what they said above to the TAC line where they took it super seriously that they have more than 12 A-listers. We all know who the big name characters are, it's not hard to guess, do you really want to find out exactly which ones they feel casual consumers will most gravitate to? Because that's what the bottom line is here IMO.

In the Forcecast interview, DePriest mentioned Qui-Gon. I find this difficult to believe since Qui-Gon's never been in Legends and only rarely in the basic line; his last three releases were in the Evolutions pack, the Eopie mail-away, and the Showdown on Tatooine battle pack, all of which were the same figure anyway. As far as Episode I figures go, you'd think that Darth Maul would be on the list, since he's repackaged into Legends all the time.

I also heard that Boba and Jango occupy the same slot since they sell as well as each other. So combine them, add Qui-Gon, and I'm pretty sure you're dead-on.

Ok, this is why I can't stand podcasts, nothing is written down, nothing is searchable, the info is only in the hands of the few who sit down and listen to them and pay close attention. For Q&A, it may as well not exist because so few people have heard it directly, only through a friend or on a forum where it may not have been complete or even correct. That said John, I trust you pretty well with this Q&A stuff, you've paid a lot of attention over the years and have shown the wherewithal to work with the knowledge and method Hasbro best responds to, if you think you can make a question out of Cane's that fully addresses what Hasbro said so as to give proper foundation, I will add it.

yeah I heard that and was a little suprised by it. I think he must've made a mistake or something considering, like you said, he hasn't been in the main line/on a basic card since the AOTC Saga line. That is one reason why I want clarification and a definitive list.

A few more that may or may not be on the list:

Darth Maul
Count Dooku
Mace Windu
C-3PO
Separatist Droids

Yeah, don't take the answer too much to heart, Derryl makes those kinds of mistakes. And keep in mind, there isn't a definitive list really, as Derryl said in our interview, this is a fashion-based line, tastes change, C-3PO might be popular in 2006 and unpopular in 2010, kids might get sick of Battle Droids 11 years after they made a major impact in the films. It's got to be somewhat fluid.

I have another question about a possible luke skywalker death star escape with stormtrooper belt, blaster and a grappling hook/rope

I can't just add a question for every whim you have, they are very specific and we just don't have enough room to ask after every single Luke variation, every background guy getting upgraded articulation, etc., one at a time. There needs to be a larger question to it, and it has to make sense together, a bundle of figures together have to show a theme of an issue.

That said, I can think of another avenue to take that will bolster its chances, so I will add this because it's fairly iconic for the original Star Wars and that can help get the point across, and a Leia to go with it wouldn't hurt either.

JT I have a question: (feel free to edit)

Hasbro, first congratulations on the awesome Hoth Leia figure from the ESB wave...She is absolutely an amazing figure and perhaps the best version to date of this classic outfit..With that being said what are the chances of seeing 2 more versions of Leia from the ESB... I'm talking about Bespin Gown Leia and Bespin Escape Leia. We haven't seen an updated version of the Bespin Escape Leia since the POTJ days and the last Bespin Gown Leia lacked articulation making her a statue. Is there any way we can be given Vintage updates of these 2 iconic outfits of Leia.

It's pretty specific, and but I'll add it since it's ESB's 30th and reflects upon a few touchstone issues (good new figure, iconic costumes, action sequence).

here's another question JT again feel free to edit:

The Vintage Collection is by far one of the biggest fan favorite lines to date. It captures the true spirit of Star Wars as well as brings fans back to the days of the old Kenner Era. That being said what are the chances of getting some of the figures of today with minor Kenner details of yester year.. example Jedi Luke Skywalker with Blue Lightsaber, Bespin Luke Skywalker with Yellow Lightsaber, Death Squad Commander with grey outfit, Classic version of Yak Face.. also what are the chances of seeing the Vintage line include reprints of the classic POTF coins from back in the Kenner days...

First off, it's too early to say TVC is a big fan favorite, participation seems way down lately, sales are weak in my area, wave 2 isn't being well-received, so I can't really say it's hot stuff just yet. But as to the rest, they've answered this. Coins are out, hence no POTF1 repro cards. Retro paint schemes they'll look at, but want to keep for special stuff like the CV exclusive Zuckuss-4LOM type thing.

My votes are for 6 and 10.
I have a question. The new Force FX sabers with removeable blades are something I have been hoping for for a long time. Is there any chance that some of the older sabers will be remade this way? I really want Luke's from ANH or ESB.

I'm not adding this, mainly because they've confirmed Luke ROTJ and Darth Maul already, but are trying not to give away their plans too far in advance. That said, they absolutely are going forward with older sabers in the new style, there simply aren't enough hilts that haven't been done to do otherwise, and they feel fans will want to make this leap to the next step. At some point, unless the line folds, you will get that Luke ANH or ESB saber (or both, the original Master Replicas line eventually did 'em both).

http://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?i.../TVC_Cody1.jpg

the belt looks uncorrect in the picture. i hope they get him right hit the stores.

That picture is a photography sample at Hasbro, not a production sample. The ones hitting shelves now have the belt correct.

i would like to see a retooled TLC gungan figure (a new lower torso/hips) as a generic gungan warrior with generator shield and a weapon that throws a round thing what ever you called.

http://www.rebelscum.com/TLCBD07Gungan.asp

Again, this is very specific, we JUST got that Gungan with the Atlatl and horn. I don't think I can add this right now.