Topic: Hasbro Q&A

[night force cynic]

I didn't say other companies aren't capable of making quality toys, even possibly for Star Wars.


I'm 100% disagreeing that Hasbro should lose the license and 100% disagreeing any other company could do a better job handling a SW toyline. 

[Phatty]

Unfortunately, while I'd LOVE to see another company take over the Star Wars license, it will never happen for a couple of reasons.

1. Hasbro does have to pay Lucasfilm for the licensing fees.  Seeing how Lucas does business, I can only imagine the staggering price tag that goes along with that.  Those costs DO translate to price points for figures, like it or not.

2. Plastic is made from petroleum.  The manufacturing process is much different than that of gasoline, so while you'll see ups and downs at the pump, you won't on the price of plastic.  It'd be impossible to speculate from day to day the cost of a toy from the inception of concept to produced item.  Therefore, a price is decided on that holds a safe margin of error, so those costs also translate into the price points.

3. While others might be ABLE to make Star Wars toys, there is no other toy company in this world who has the EXPERIENCE it takes to make these toys.  Mattel would be the next closest, and they don't have the experience in articulation.  Think about this: It's taken over 30 years to get figures with facial detail and articulation CLOSE to what we collectors "demand," so handing off to another company would be starting over from scratch.  It'd be suicide for the entire line, because as NFC alluded to, I sure wouldn't buy any SW figs if thy looked like PTE.  Those look terrible, something a 5 year old would be content with, but would drive us all out of collecting.

4. Lucasfilm's profits are VERY important to Lucas, and he's not going to yank a license from a company who IS selling product, whether we think so or not, at enormous rates, bringing him millions.  There is no way in HELL that Lucas will take the chance of yanking from Hasbro to give to some other, unproven company and risk such a loss of not only immediate profits, but the future of the entire line.

Face facts folks; While we complain about prices (which ARE exaggerated - yet we STILL buy anyway), complain about availability (not a problem of hasbro's, they ship what is ordered), and complain about detail (still the best out there from any manufacturer, period!), Hasbro is here to stay.  They own the license through 2018, and my guess is that they keep it after that as well.  Until Gentle Giant or Sideshow Collectibles or Hot Toys gets into the 1:18 scale action figures, there is no competition with Hasbro, and that's just the way it is.  They have us by the short and curlies, like it or not.

[Tamer]

Wattoh if you sort out your question and work on it a bit I will be willing to entertain submission. It just seemed to go all over the place as it reads now.

[beige-4]

Wattoh if you sort out your question and work on it a bit I will be willing to entertain submission. It just seemed to go all over the place as it reads now.

that better ?

[Tamer]

Wattoh if you sort out your question and work on it a bit I will be willing to entertain submission. It just seemed to go all over the place as it reads now.

that better ?

LOL. There are about 20 questions just in your one submission. If you seperate em out a bit and write out all your words so I can figure out exactly what you are asking I will look at it. Right now I can't figure out exactly what you want other than just a bunch of different items.

[beige-4]

that better im getting tired now!

[110clones]

Well here are our answers for two of our questions, guess which one they didn't answer?
Dear Hasbro, a couple of weeks ago, the new Clone Wars episode "Landing at Point Rain" aired showing us two alternate color schemes of clones that we had seen before and one design that we had never seen on the series before. We had been wanting the snow version of the flamethrower trooper sculpt since the episode where it was debuted last season. What are the chances that we will see a release of the flamethrower trooper, the earmuff trooper " as it has been called" and  Waxer and Boil type camo Arf trooper figures in the future? Also, even though you had stated that it is unlikely to happen, any random release to the Legacy line of a version of one or all of these troopers would be loved by all legacy collectors.
Chances are very good that you will see all of these troopers before the end of 2010 in the Clone Wars line.  We still don't have any plans to cross the line over (Clone Wars figures done in realistic style, or vice-versa), but expect that you are right and new troops like these would be a welcome addition to the Legacy ranks.

Im gonna have to beg my parents if i could get those figures lol

[Robimus]

DIstribution is getting spotty in Canada of late as well........

[beige-4]

welcome to the yards robimus nice to have a lando on here

[Clonehead]

I grabbed this Q&A and pic from banthaskull.com where they got a sneak peek at a new Juno Eclipse fig to be released, next year and some info on some other upcoming TFU figures.

1) Hey Hasbro, I love the comic packs and it's very cool that you are
giving fans some characters we wouldn't otherwise get in the main line. I
was curious as to when something similar for video game figures would
emerge. For some reason, VG characters always seem to rank high on fan's
choice polls. -Ruadh

Thanks for question, Ruadh. We have already produced a significant number
of video game figures in the main line and multi-pack format that have
been heavily concentrated on three games, including some key KotOR
figures, a large numbeer of TFU figures in basic figures and multi-packs,
and multipacks of Battlefront figures. Some more good news is on the way
with Spring 2010 Toys 'R Us exclusive multi-figure packs of more TFU
figures (including some sensational troopers) along with a basic carded
mainline figure of Shaak Ti from TFU. The exclusive video game figure
program with continue with Toys 'R Us in Fall 2010 with a very special
figure from a recent Clone Wars videogame release, and then through 2011
with some additional new multi-packs. In short - the future of video game
tie-in figures looks very healthy.

2) Hasbro, I presume you check the SW fan sites often, disguised as
collectors or not, whatever. So, how do you cope internally as an
organization, when you read all the "negative" feedback a figure is
getting out there? Many times I read that the collectors, even though
buying your pieces, are still wondering how your company, having
"experts", designers, researchers and what-not, can still miss details in
characters that are pretty obvious, even for the untrained eye? I am not
looking for an "economic based" answer, I want to know how do you feel
when you know for sure this or that figure is not 100% correct and it is
released anyway? -Julian


We do read the forums (although we are precluded from making comments in
them so we are there as silent listeners), so generally know what is being
said and read reactions to learn from it and make ourselves better. When
it comes to criticism, we have to have thick skin. We are making toys,
after all, intended for play just as the original Kenner figures were, and
we try our best to get all the details right but it's not always possible
to get everything perfect as originally conceived. It is not always
possible to catch everything that may be wrong with a figure when
production does start, even when we do notice it. We may not have a choice
sometimes and will need to ship a figure when it might mean otherwise
holding up an entire wave which would prove disastrous for retailer
expectations. In short, we try our best.


3) Any hints as to who will be in the Force Unleashed multipack that's on
the horizon? Maybe a picture or two (or three)?

Your wish is our command. Attached is a figure from one of the upcoming
sets. We'll have more info at Toy Fair next year to complete the sets,
each of which will have five figures. Enjoy!

[clonemedic96]

ooooo im looking forward to some more TFU figures

[beige-4]

looks like ball joint head    ball hing feet    swivel hands     swiv waist   swiv legs    ball hing knees and elbow and arm               probably right there

[beige-4]

tamer wen are ya sendin questions and is mine alright now?

[Tamer]

tamer wen are ya sendin questions and is mine alright now?

I have not yet recieved a new round of dates from Hasbro and they are due to return our last batch of questions so I bet we will see new submission dates then.

As for your questions. I still haven't been able to sort them out yet. Here are some guidelines:

1. Number your question and only have information on the one thing you would like to know.

2. Write your question in the form of a question and ensure proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

I have to be honest guys, if it is hard for me to make out your question, it is gonna be hard for me to submit.

[beige-4]

tamer wen are ya sendin questions and is mine alright now?

I have not yet recieved a new round of dates from Hasbro and they are due to return our last batch of questions so I bet we will see new submission dates then.

As for your questions. I still haven't been able to sort them out yet. Here are some guidelines:

1. Number your question and only have information on the one thing you would like to know.

2. Write your question in the form of a question and ensure proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

I have to be honest guys, if it is hard for me to make out your question, it is gonna be hard for me to submit.

IS THAT BETTER!