Topic: New York Toy Fair 2012

[Clonehead]

seems like the pilot and ewok packs are something we had asked for in q&a before. too bad about that tired old tie fighter pilot sculpt that they continue to recycle.

[zedhatch]

I found this perusing FB via Sithlord229 (great SW Reviewer if you haven't seen him) who got this from BanthaSkull. Take a look at the Old Republic Trooper. Wow!

OK I do like him a great deal, but that is a clone trooper, it even looks like a bad sculpt of a clone head with a goatee painted on.  I don't mind cause when I get him, he will be a clone trooper LOL.

Some musings:

Star Wars-WOW I have been a bit bored with SW, a combination of repacks and only slightly altered figures for Vintage combined with distrobution problems, but this has been one ot the best presentations I have seen since around legacy IMO.   Realistic Ahsoka is a dream, and most everything else at least raised an eyebrow, even prune face LOL.   

MU-Awesome, lots of new molds and characters and some improvements, didn't show us much new but at least we got to see the protos from NYCC painted up.


GI JOE-The Fudge, cutting articulation?  When has that ever worked, and their excuse is because GI Joe has been stagnant at retail?  Of course if Hasbro ever worked out the distrobution problems the stagnation would be lessened (OH and including Artic Destro in EVERY assortment.  Just proved to me that any figure that over packed is doomed to pegwarm.  They need to cut costs, so do it and I am not buying inferoir figures, sorry guys.

Other-MIB 3 & 3/4 YES!!!!, Street Fighter, not impressed, not much new in Mortal Kombat so nothing to say there.   I heard the Batman stuff is like happy meal toys but not seen it to confirm yet.  Avengers is boring, loaded with Caps Thors and IM's (Do we not have nough on the shelf already).  They also reduced articulation oddly enough, If it's cost cutting again I have a suggestion, don't put your money into those lame roleplay things that never, ever seel.  Spider-man line is boringer 9if that were possible) with the same reductions in many cases, Lizard is nearly laughable. 

[flaccideagle]

OK I do like him a great deal, but that is a clone trooper, it even looks like a bad sculpt of a clone head with a goatee painted on. 

I agree, but to be honest, it looks *just like that TOR trailer* which is what all the video game fans said they wanted anyway... they wanted the three characters from the trailer, and dag, did they get them.  While I haven't played/no interest in TOR, these look cool and I will snag them regardless.

Star Wars-WOW I have been a bit bored with SW, a combination of repacks and only slightly altered figures for Vintage combined with distrobution problems, but this has been one ot the best presentations I have seen since around legacy IMO.   Realistic Ahsoka is a dream, and most everything else at least raised an eyebrow, even prune face LOL.   

Me, not bored... just can't find anything new or old for that matter to buy.  If it's not on the shelves, then how can I buy it?  If they would solve the distro problems, plus the bigger SKU problems of people buying online and then returning the pegwarmers to retail for $$ then things would be much better.  That said, they've given us a 2012 line up and case packs that warrants buying whole cases and hunting these things down at retail.

MU-Awesome, lots of new molds and characters and some improvements, didn't show us much new but at least we got to see the protos from NYCC painted up.

These to me are much more "repacks" and "reuse" but I'm still picking them up.  It's a shame that they charge so much for reusing the same buck over and over again (these should be $5-6 tops IMO they use the same base bodies so much) and while I am very much buying I don't think I'm going to be getting as many of these as I got in 2011.  Where's the classic figures?  X-Men Rogue? Classic Kirby Fantastic Four?  60's X-Men?  Single carded Deadpool and Gambit?  These are all no brainers.

GI JOE-The Fudge, cutting articulation?  When has that ever worked, and their excuse is because GI Joe has been stagnant at retail?  Of course if Hasbro ever worked out the distrobution problems the stagnation would be lessened (OH and including Artic Destro in EVERY assortment.  Just proved to me that any figure that over packed is doomed to pegwarm.  They need to cut costs, so do it and I am not buying inferoir figures, sorry guys.

Hasbro is simply playing games with articulation junkies on these man.  Since us "hard core collectors" passed on ROC at full price retail, and we still bought TCW with the horrible articulation, they figure we'll just buy whatever they sell on this movie.  Again these are $5 figures that will retail for $8-10 and they assume we'll buy them.  POC and the rest were very expensive to manufacture, and sales didn't jump in their opinion.  Well if they were on the shelves then we'd jump.  Again ratios in 2011 were just stupid.  That amazing Snake Eyes? Saw him once at retail and picked him up.  Once.  Regular Cobra Trooper, I was prepped to buy at least 10+ of him at full retail, I saw one, ONE in an entire year. 

Other-MIB 3 & 3/4 YES!!!!, Street Fighter, not impressed, not much new in Mortal Kombat so nothing to say there.  

to me both of these were a joke. not interested in the slightest.  Bad sculpts/bad price/ no way.

I heard the Batman stuff is like happy meal toys but not seen it to confirm yet.  

you heard really wrong, they are the same as TDK figures, total repacks.  I loved that line for what it was, your mileage may vary.  Mattel didn't show obviously due to the massive bad press over the last month.  I thought TDK stuff was fun for the price.

Avengers is boring, loaded with Caps Thors and IM's (Do we not have nough on the shelf already). 

Again double dipping.  Only 2-3 100% new figures, one new vehicle ( i am really disapointed by the Helicarrier.  So big, so much $$, even a 5 year old can see how cheap it is.) - wow.  I can see Avengers not doing so great this year, despite fanboy love.  If you look at YouTube, there's a video of the Helicarrier where one buyer says in the background "Instant clearance item" and I have to agree... I can't find the vid right now but I think it's one from ToyNewsInter or ToyArk boards.

All in all, though, with SW this year is really great.  Folks who love OT, PT or EU get a lot of cool stuff to buy, even the casual fans will have a lot they're going to want to snag.  This is the first really well rounded year I've seen since POTJ in 2000, or SAGA2 in 2006.  Lots of stuff people have been asking for endlessly for years.  And that Ewok set, a must get.  The Rebel Pilots is of course a life necessity for ANH junkies like me.

[Tamer]

What did you folks think about the Tarkin with lower soft goods? That one left me scratching my head, but the look sure work on the new Bespin Leia.

Thats too bad about the Tarkin too as the head sculpt on that one looks spot on. Hopefully you can rip that soft stuff off and it will look legite.

[wraithnine]

the one thing that worries me  is that Rex and Wolffe appear to have no knees and ankles which is strange when you consider how much articulation Cody has and the helmets look a touch too big ...hmmmm...

[Clonehead]

I also didnt like the soft goods on Tarkin.
Yes, Jay, I agree that the helmets on those two do look a bit large. They must be removable.
I think with the wild popularity of the arc trooper figures that they would want to produce more of those.
Now those tor figures are just stunning and a must-have.
didnt we see somewhere that they were to produce a cw commander fox again? I would assume it would be a phase 2 fox with the shock trooper commander look.

[Tamer]

I do agree the Wolffe and Rex look a bit large on the bucket side, but wow I wonder if they were going to make regular troopers out of these and changed mid-stream? I would think both would look good on realistic legacy or vintage bodies.

[Clonehead]

I would guess that if the vintage collection versions of the three cw characters do well, that would be the gateway to big h producing realistic versions of cw clones. As if a gateway was needed.

[Phatty]

I know, big surprise: Hasbro blew it again with lackluster offerings, furthering their push to drive Star Wars into the ground.  While there are a couple things out there that are interesting, most of it is as lame as ever.  Even bigger surprise, my hatred for Hasbro grows to greater heights once again.  I don't know why they can't seem to do anything with Star Wars anymore without rehashing the same crap over and over.  They truly have no idea what the "people" want from the toyline.

Now, with that said, I was pretty happy with what I saw from the Marvel Universe line.  Some cool figures, both iconic and obscure.  Even with The Avengers gearing up, the MU line doesn't appear to suffer.  Sure, they're reusing the same molds time and again, but on (most) super heroes, it works because most of them are wearing tights anyway!

Now, what I'm most interested in, I have yet to find online.  Gentle Giant and Sideshow Collectibles, where are you???  I know DST had a couple GG items, but not the full showcase, which is what I'm waiting for!

[Tamer]

As if a gateway was needed.

Word.

They truly have no idea what the "people" want from the toyline.

Now, what I'm most interested in, I have yet to find online.  Gentle Giant and Sideshow Collectibles, where are you??? 

Pat, I hear you on the GG and SS side of things. GG did a lame video of stuff they already had unveiled.

I am gonna slightly disagree with you on Hasbro in that I think they know what we want, but just don't give a rat's patutee.

[Tamer]

Here are their new product descriptions and price points:

STAR WARS 20212 PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS

STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS
(Approximate retail price: $2.99-$19.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: January 2012)
Micro heroes, mega battles! Iconic STAR WARS characters get a collectible new gaming twist, as players use Fighter Pods to knock down as many figures as possible. Spin, Launch or Roll your Pod into battle…even connect your Pods together or place your figures on top or inside of them for extra “power”! More than 100 STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS figures available in a unique new style from all six STAR WARS films and The Clone Wars animated series—collect them, set them up and knock them down in head-to-head battling play! Each set sold separately.

STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS Mystery Bag
(Approximate retail price: $2.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: January 2012)
Micro heroes, mega battles! The new STAR WARS collectible battling experience offers three ways to play: spin, launch or roll your Pod into battle! For a surprise, pick up the Mystery Bag, which offers two figures (one of the two is always exclusive to the Mystery Bag) and one clear Pod – just what kids need to start the battle!

STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS FIGURE 4-PACK
(Approximate retail price: $5.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: January 2012)
These Fighter Pods packs include 4 figures and 2 Pods to help kids start to build their Fighter Pods collection.

STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS FIGURE 8-PACK
(Approximate retail price: $9.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: January 2012)
Take the battle to the next level! These Fighter Pods packs include eight figures (two of which are exclusive to the pack), four clear Pods and one special color vehicle Pod. For a surprise, one of the figures in each pack will remain hidden until the pack is opened!

STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS FIGURE 12-PACK
(Approximate retail price: $14.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: January 2012)
Micro heroes, even bigger battles! These Fighter Pods packs include 12 figures (two of which are exclusive to this pack), four clear Pods, two colored Pods and one large vehicle! For a surprise, two of the figures in each pack will remain hidden until the pack is opened!

STAR WARS FIGHTER PODS AT-AT and SNOWSPEEDER Pack
(Approximate retail price: $19.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: January 2012)
These Fighter Pod packs include 16 figures (four of which are exclusive to this pack), three clear Pods, three colored Pods and two large vehicles! For a surprise, three of the figures in each pack will remain hidden until the pack is opened!

STAR WARS AMP’D
(Approximate retail price: $6.99-$39.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2012)
Gear up for battle! For the first time ever, kids will be able to quickly and easily customize the most iconic STAR WARS vehicles and prepare them for any mission: land, space, sea or air!  In 2012, the line features 10 figures and 6 vehicles. Each set sold separately.
 
STAR WARS AMP’D FIGURE Sets
(Approximate retail price: $6.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2012)
Quickly gear up for battle! These AMP’D figures come with weapons and accessories to AMP up play. Collect both figures –CAPTAIN REX and GENERAL GRIEVOUS. Each figure sold separately.

STAR WARS AMP’D Figure and Vehicle Sets
(Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2012)
Quickly and easily customize your vehicle for any mission – space, land, sea, and air! In 2012, choose from the AT-RT with CLONE TROOPER or the STAP with BATTLE DROID. Each set sold separately.

STAR WARS AMP’D JEDI STARFIGHTER Set
(Approximate retail price: $19.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2012)
Quickly and easily customize your vehicle for any mission – space, land, sea, and air! The JEDI STARFIGHTER comes with an ARF TROOPER and R2-D2 and plenty of weapons and accessories to AMP up your battles!

STAR WARS AMP’D AAT Set
(Approximate retail price: $24.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2012)
Quickly and easily customize your vehicle for any mission – space, land, sea, and air! The AAT comes with a BATTLE DROID COMMANDER and plenty of weapons and accessories to AMP up your battles!

STAR WARS AMP’D X-WING and TIE FIGHTER Set
(Approximate retail price: $39.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2012)
Now kids can re-enact the attack on the Death Star, but with customized versions of the classic vehicles! The X-WING and TIE FIGHTER come with LUKE SKYWALKER, R2-D2 and DARTH VADER and plenty of weapons and accessories to AMP up your battles!

STAR WARS DARTH MAUL DOUBLE-BLADED LIGHTSABER
(Approximate retail price: $19.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: January 2012)
As STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE blasts back into theaters in thrilling 3-D in February 2012, the film’s most iconic weapon comes to life as a new extendable LIGHTSABER! Battle like DARTH MAUL and wield his iconic double-bladed LIGHTSABER, featuring two fully collapsible blades!

STAR WARS ULTIMATE FX LIGHTSABERS
(Approximate retail price: $34.99; Ages: 6 & up; Available: Now)
The ULTIMATE FX LIGHTSABER provides the most authentic JEDI experience for kids ever! The toy features a progressive light-up blade with vibrant LED lighting, allowing kids to experience the FORCE in a whole new way. And coming in Fall 2012 – a Darth Maul model packed with an adaptor to create a Darth Maul Double-Bladed Lightsaber! (Second lightsaber sold separately.)

STAR WARS Electronic Helmets
(Approximate Retail Price $19.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now)
Adding to the excitement of the ULTIMATE FX LIGHTSABER are STAR WARS Electronic Helmets that will let kids feel as though they are ready to “rule the galaxy” as they strap on the helmet and take on the persona of their favorite STAR WARS characters, including GENERAL GRIEVOUS and DARTH VADER. New to the Electronic Mask line for 2012 is DARTH MAUL in honor of Star Wars: Episode I coming to theaters in 3D! Each helmet includes signature sounds and phrases that add fun to the adventure. Each sold separately. Batteries included.

 STAR WARS MOVIE HEROES 3.75” Action Figures
(Approximate retail price: $8.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now)
Hasbro is re-inventing the action figure by including action features with each favorite STAR WARS character! Look for features including amazing light-up lightsaber effects, action movements and even electronic sounds in characters like OBI-WAN KENOBI, DARTH VADER, DARTH MAUL and many more!

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS 3.75” Action Figures
(Approximate retail price: $8.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now)
In 2012, Hasbro will continue its line of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS 3.75” Action Figures styled on the wildly popular animated series on Cartoon Network. Featuring favorite heroes and villains like ANAKIN SKYWALKER, COMMANDER CODY, OBI-WAN KENOBI and COUNT DOOKU — as well as many new characters — these figures are a great way for kids to re-create their favorite scenes from the animated series. Each sold separately.

STAR WARS 3.75” VINTAGE Action Figures
(Approximate retail price: $9.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now)
In 2012, Hasbro is once again taking STAR WARS fans back to “a long time ago” with STAR WARS 3.75” VINTAGE Action Figures. The selection includes all-time favorite characters from throughout the six-film saga. Each of the figures in this assortment will feature the exceptionally accurate design and superb articulation customary to Hasbro’s action figures, and will be offered in packaging reminiscent to that of the original 1978-1984 Kenner STAR WARS packaging!

STAR WARS CLASS I FLEET Vehicles
(Approximate retail price: $16.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now)
Build your fleet and take on the Empire with STAR WARS CLASS I FLEET Vehicles. Each of these basic vehicles each come with a 3.75” STAR WARS figure. Collect new Episode I vehicle packs including ANAKIN with ATTACK RECON FIGHTER and SCUBA CLONE TROOPER with REPUBLIC ASSAULT SUBMARINE. Each sold separately.

STAR WARS CLASS II ATTACK Vehicles
(Approximate retail price: $29.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now)
In 2012, Hasbro continues this mid-sized vehicle line with new versions of iconic vehicles from Episode I including ANAKIN’S and SEBULBA’S PODRACERS, SITH INFILTRATOR, AAT, ANAKIN JEDI STARFIGHTER, REPUBLIC FIGHTER TANK and the NABOO STARFIGHTER. Each sold separately.

STAR WARS CLASS II VINTAGE ATTACK Vehicles
(Approximate retail price: $29.99; Ages: 4 & up; Available: Now)
In 2012, four more iconic vehicles from the STAR WARS universe will be offered in Vintage-style packaging. Includes AT-AP, OBI-WAN JEDI STARFIGHTER, and TORRENT V-19.  Each sold separately.

STAR WARS CLASS III MTT Vehicle
(Approximate retail price: $139.99; Ages: AGES: 4 & up; Available: Fall 2012)
Deploy 20 droids into battle with the massive STAR WARS CLASS III MTT vehicle! Straight from the 3D theater to your living room, this iconic vehicle from STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE features electronic lights and sounds, firing projectiles, and motorized droid deployment. Includes 20 BATTLE DROID figures and an OBI-WAN KENOBI figure! Batteries not included.

[flaccideagle]

I know, big surprise: Hasbro blew it again with lackluster offerings, furthering their push to drive Star Wars into the ground.  While there are a couple things out there that are interesting, most of it is as lame as ever.  Even bigger surprise, my hatred for Hasbro grows to greater heights once again.  I don't know why they can't seem to do anything with Star Wars anymore without rehashing the same crap over and over.  They truly have no idea what the "people" want from the toyline.

What was missing that you were looking for, Phatty?  It hit some of the big ones I was looking for (new Tarkin, new Luke Hoth, new Leia Bespin) but curious to know what you were interested in them making that wasn't shown...

[flaccideagle]

What did you folks think about the Tarkin with lower soft goods? That one left me scratching my head, but the look sure work on the new Bespin Leia.

Thats too bad about the Tarkin too as the head sculpt on that one looks spot on. Hopefully you can rip that soft stuff off and it will look legite.

I like soft goods lower parts.  I like my figures to be able to sit, which is why I never scored the Briefing room set (they can't sit, which is what they were doing in that scene!)

[Tamer]

http://www.imperialshipyards.net/Galleries/nytf-2012-hasbro-star-wars-high-rez



I don't know FE, perhaps Tarkin's soft goods will grow on me, but for now I think it looks rather out of sorts. Ofcourse I like the look on the Bespin Leia so go figure. I do agree with you on the absurdity of a briefing room set that wouldn't sit though.

On that note, all of the new products are now up for your viewing pleasure in high rez so we can get a more thorough look. I think the TOR Figures are off the charts as is that Galen Marek.

When I get the SW Presentation Panel I will get it loaded up too. I think they will probably have it by close of business today.

[Phatty]

What was missing that you were looking for, Phatty?  It hit some of the big ones I was looking for (new Tarkin, new Luke Hoth, new Leia Bespin) but curious to know what you were interested in them making that wasn't shown...

Well, while there were some nice looking figures, such as the TOR Republic Soldier, Bespin Leia, and realistic Asoka, there were only a few newer figures.  In the grand scheme of things, it'll be a ton of repacks, repaints, and rehashes again.  For me, that means looking a lot less for things, because even if they DO make it retail (which most will not due to distribution issues that have never been addressed or solved), they'll be short packed and snatched up.  With that said, there really are just so many characters in the SW universe, and only so many that can be made.  I'd like to see some more obscure characters made, but that's just me.  I'd even like seeing a larger variety of soldiers for army builders, such as different ethnic varieties of human soldiers and different armor variations of soldiers.  The figures that people do want, such as the ARC Troopers and such, are short packed and not revisited, while we get yet another Luke in X-Wing pilot gear.  The vehicles are uninspiring because they're all repacks.  Many of them didn't sell well the first time around, and aren't likely to do so again.  The MTT, while cool to a degree, I just don't see many children wanting that because it's not very recognizable except for those of us who are very familiar with TPM.

It seems to me, based on the press release they sent out, combined with what was shown, that they're still looking for gimmicks for little kids, such as those PODS and AMP'D things, as well as accessories and non-action figure based toys.  Sure, they'll sell for one year, but there isn't any staying power in them.  I've spoken to friends who have children, and it's been the same story for years: They won't buy 2 Darth Vaders a year, every year.  Children are not, and have never, driven this market.  It's the collectors who want to see something new and exciting every year that are left out in the cold.  Every year, more and more of us leave the hobby because there isn't anything there that makes us want to stay in the game.  I collected, well more played with the toys, when I was a kid, and have been collecting since 1995.  However, I don't think I bought more than $100 worth of stuff in 2011, and the stuff I really wanted, I never saw at retail one time.  There just isn't anything out there that I've seen that makes me want to go out on the old Star Wars hunts of travelling to 3 Walmarts, 3 Targets, 2 Meijers, and a Toys R Us in a day in hopes of finding that one exciting item. 

For me, what is exciting, is the new Marvel Universe items.  Sure, they use a lot of the same molds, but they put out many, many new figures yearly.  Even better, they put out some obscure figures every year as well, ones that comic book nerds like me never expect, which is thrilling.

And in closing, I am excited for those of you who collect things like the Clone Wars toys, because they have been releasing a few quality pieces every year, and there are still plenty of characters that need to be made to keep them excited.  I just hope that it continues for them, because once that stops, what will the CW collectors have left?  Hasbro has the license through 2018.  I hope they don't kill off the license by the end, and generations to come will come to be inspired by the great legacy that is Star Wars.

Just my 2 cents!