Hasbro wants our Questions:

[Jaing Skirata]

THE Latest:

2) In a recent thread on our site I mentioned that a dream figure for me would be a remake of the shirtless training Darth Maul in a super articulated format. Another member mentioned that that figure was scheduled for release in the new Sith Evolutions set. I had totally forgotten about that! I was so focused on the Mandalorian Evolutions set that I spaced the others off. So here's my question... it's almost 2008. The 3 new Evolutions sets (Mandalorian, Sith and Jedi) are already announced and confirmed by you. Any chance we can get some more/better pictures of these figures? Include what all accessories will be included, confirm the SA and removeable helmet status of Jango? Clearer pix of Mandalore, Nihl, Bane (does that silly glow in the dark helmet come off? How about Boba? He looks a little rotund, maybe too much uj cake or does his chest armor come off? I'd love to see some updated pix, maybe even packaged if available.

We are glad you asked, and will share what we have. Four pics are attached - three higher-res pics of the same images we showed at Comic Con.  These are all of the pics we have available as of yet, but the sets are shipping soon so more images will be hitting.  Also, there is a more detailed rundown in this month's copy of Lee's Toy Review (#182) with The Sith legacy set on the cover.  As far as accessories go, all of the accessories that come with the figures are shown.  This is important for collectors toknow, since there won't be as much extra stuff as the last line, except for the three reissues which will be the same as before.  The new sets will not have all of the extra gear, and the explanation is simple....as we looked at the components, we felt we added the accessories that the characters would need and that we could afford to add while not compromising the articulation, soft goods and deco on the figures themselves.  As our costs have risen since we last did Evolutions in 2005, trading out extra pieces to deliver high quality figures was the right one.  As for the details you asked about, we can confirm that Bane's mask is removable.  Regarding Jango, we can confirm that he is SA with swivel articulation at wrists/forearms, ball & socket elbows, swivel upper arms, ball & socket shoulders, ball neck, ball & socket waist, swivel hips, ball & socket  knees, and ball & socket feet.  And his helmet is removable. Wow!  Boba looks great in person, his armor is not removable.  We can also confirm that there will be one more special surprise set in this wave....centered around The Force Unleashed.  Look for more information on that after the new year.

COOL, they answered my question... but, WHERE ARE THE PIX?!?!

[Darth Spice]

SORRY RC just added them on a seperate page! THANKS dood!

[Lt. Starfox]

that Mando set is the one Derryl showed me at Dallas Fan Days, but would not let me take any pics of them...trust me, you will not be disappointed with these

[jacensolo66]

jango looks absolutely awesome. i wonder if these r the finished versions though. qui-gon is a little pale. i will definitely be getting all 3

[TheWolverine]

They answered my question

but they also fed me complete $#!+ they said the same thing would happen with the final 22 last year in CDN but we only got 6 of them..the 5 WM exclusives and a SBD with a bunch of other wave 1/2 figures.

But if what they say is true wouldnt that mean that CDN would be jipped off 2008 figures from the first half of the year! 

[Darth Spice]

I'm looking forward to next year and have to say overall I was impressed with the majority of what they kicked out. They can keep the Saga Legends, Unleashed Battlepacks and start giving us some nice vehicles and playsets!

[Bloodant]

jango looks absolutely awesome. i wonder if these r the finished versions though. qui-gon is a little pale. i will definitely be getting all 3

ditto on that!!!

All three sets are a must have. Who is the sith guy with the removable yellow helm?

[jacensolo66]

jango looks absolutely awesome. i wonder if these r the finished versions though. qui-gon is a little pale. i will definitely be getting all 3

ditto on that!!!

All three sets are a must have. Who is the sith guy with the removable yellow helm?

darth bane

[jacensolo66]

too add on to who darth bane is, he was in the comic jedi vs sith and started the whole "only two there are. a master and an apprentice."

[TheWolverine]

oh yeah. Thanks for asking my question guys!

[CHEWIE34]

^ Bane is looking a lot better after seeing that pic. 

 

[philippi]

First, I would like to thank you for including Darth Revan and Darth Malak in the 2007 lineup. As I'm sure the whole Star Wars team at Hasbro is aware, characters from the Old Republic era are still some of the most popular EU characters today, even among fans, who like myself, have never played either of the games or read any of the comics.  So my question is, besides the Old Republic characters included in the 2008 Evolutions sets, will there be any more KOTOR figures in 2008 from either the comics or the games?

[lordabell]

^ Bane is looking a lot better after seeing that pic. 

 

I wonder if the parasite chest and arm pieces are removable?

[jedibrian77]

Im pretty sure they said they were but I could be wrong

[Jaing Skirata]

If you scrool down through all the pix, you will see he's shown with and without the markings of loosing the yellow-snowball fight. So, I'm sure they are removeable.

[philippi]

Any chance of releasing any more of the OTC/ROTS "environment" style display stands? I personally prefer those Dagobah, Kashyyyk and Mustafar terrain stands over the ones released in the Saga Collection.  If you do ever re-release some of these with figures or in exclusive display stand packs, is there any chance some new ones could be added? It would be nice to have stands resembling the scenery of places like Tatooine, the Cantina, Hoth Echo Base, Endor, the Naboo palace, plus a few EU worlds like Korriban.

[Napseeker]

Any chance of releasing any more of the OTC/ROTS "environment" style display stands? I personally prefer those Dagobah, Kashyyyk and Mustafar terrain stands over the ones released in the Saga Collection.  If you do ever re-release some of these with figures or in exclusive display stand packs, is there any chance some new ones could be added? It would be nice to have stands resembling the scenery of places like Tatooine, the Cantina, Hoth Echo Base, Endor, the Naboo palace, plus a few EU worlds like Korriban.

Great question!  I've been hoping to see OT versions of these stands too... and this time, maybe they can interconnect a bit better (I never could figure out how to connect the RotS hallway pieces in a way that looked good).

[Mithel]

Dear Hasbro, I must say I am really looking forward to all the different color stormtroopers coming in the Force Unleashed Waves.  It would seem we have 7 coming (including the Shadow Guard), but it seems one has been left out.  I am talking about the yellow marked one seen in TFU pre-vis demo.  Will this one see plastic?

Really would like an answer on this

[Darth Spice]

THE Latest:

1) In the Battlefront packs, why were stands included with the droids but not with the Clones? And while I'm on the subject, why were there only 5? You put 7 droids in the pack, yet only 5 stands. And I realize that the Destroyer Driod has no pegholes to use a stand, but you included stands with R2-D2 and R5-D4 in the SAGA Collection and they have no pegholes either.

Well, you caught us doing something a "little extra" at the very last minute because, well, we could.  There were a few pennies to work with on the droid set, so the designer snuck in some extra bases, as many as he could afford.  There wan't room in the cost to include them with the Clone set, so the Droids were the lucky recipients.

2) Do you have any plans to upgrade the plastic used to manufacture some of the parts for the figures? A lot of weapons and droid arms and legs are made with a plastic that is so soft that it usually bends beyond repair just removing the figures from the packages. Why do you need to use so many of those clear rubber bands?

To address your first question, we have been asking for more rigid weapons when possible, but there are some caveats to consider.  In the interest of conserving resources and managing costs, we allow our vendors to reuse unused or scrapped plastic components at times.  This reworked plastic, or "regrind", is often used for black parts since black will mask any previous colors thrown into the mix.  Since our accessories are black, sometimes they are shot with the reused components.  Also, with each heating/melting cycle, the plastic loses some stiffness, so that is why there is sometimes a range of stiffness on parts.  Long answer to a short question!   On your second point, we have really striven to pack out our characters in the most dynamic poses possible to showcase the characters and bring out sets to life.  The clear rubber bands have been the cost effective, and we feel most aesthetically pleasing, solution to this challenge.  Alternatives, like wire ties, are more costly and consume more resources.  At times, in order to make sure that nothing slips in transit, there may be a few more bands than seems necessary, but we really try to keep things to a minimum.

3) Do you think that re-issuing some of the Vintage style figures and previous excluisves via the Legends line will hurt the sale of these types of figures going forward? Vintage style go for anywhere from $10 - $13 depending on where they are purchased, and exclusives can go for more than that. Why should collectors who only want the figure - openers, who are going to remove the figures from the packages and throw the cardboard away - shell out that kind of money when there's a chance that a year or two later the figures will be re-issued on a regular cardback at stores for $7 (like the 07 Boba Fett and Biker Scout)?

It will not harm out future strategy, in part because that strategy will need to change and evolve.  So before we answer specifically, we need to provide some thinking on Vintage as we have seen it to exist the last few years.  We have already been looking at all aspects and challenges of carrying vintage forward as an ongoing assortment with the "original" definition - that is, an all-new, premium OTC-dedicated format that can command a higher price several dollars above basic figure prices.  Since many of our basic figures now are at or near vintage-quality, and the stable of real strong versions of core OTC characters to anchor future vintage waves is getting thin, we just don't feel the future is there for Vintage as we have been bringing it out.  When we come out with vintage next, we'll be looking at all aspects to try and solve the needs of collectors, understanding that packaging, articulation & character selection are all important components of making a compelling line.  This is why we have done polling both at conventions and online to try and get collector input on the issue facing us, and that has been a big help.  So back to your original question, we think using our library of great figure in either Saga Legends of other venues (battle packs, comic packs, exclusives) where it makes sense to deliver our best offering and provided high-demand characters to collectors.

[sithmasterc]

Dear Hasbro,

Not really a question just a comment.I have been very dissapointed with the way HTS has been getting a lot of the hot figures.These figures have been out of stock for months
Pre Cyborg grevious
Malak
Revan
Most if no all of the Mcquarrie Figures

Everytime you get them in they sell out in minutes it takes HTS forever to get more in.

[lordabell]

Dear Hasbro,

Not really a question just a comment.I have been very dissapointed with the way HTS has been getting a lot of the hot figures.These figures have been out of stock for months
Pre Cyborg grevious
Malak
Revan
Most if no all of the Mcquarrie Figures

Everytime you get them in they sell out in minutes it takes HTS forever to get more in.

Somewhere they said in a Q&A that the hts.com is like any other retailer and must wait on stock like other places.  In other words, "we can't get stuff on store pegs so why should our site be any different?"

[White Rabbit a.k.a. Desfiy]

I was wondering when are you going to release the promised Marvel Star Wars character comic packs, and stop giving them the short run, also on the Marvel Star Wars comic characters when exactly are they supposed to be appearing, I'll make this simple I mean Kiro, Cody Sunchilde, Bey, Lumiya, Jedidah, the 8 from Aduba (Jaxxon especially), Governor Quarg, Bria, Crimson Jack and Jolli just to name a few, not these gaudily colored figures that were supposed to be the Marvel Star Wars characters, I am sorry they were lame, also if you wanted to release Luke and Han as Stormtroopers why didn't you not just release them without the funky colors, as for the rest that you released well I thought you said you understood about old worn out sculpts?

[jokabofe]

Hey guys, we actually need more questions for Hasbro... so if you've had a question burning a hole in your brain, please share it here so that we can send it in. And just an FYI - we try to stay away from the "Will you be making the Clone Trooper in pink, because that's Starfox's favorite color" or "Do you think you'll ever make (insert character here) as an action figure" type questions, because Hasbro usually just gives the same BS answers to those, saying that they might be coming in the future but are not on the schedule right now. We try to pick the slightly more intelligent questions, that actually ask questions that need a real answer.

[philippi]

Dear Hasbro,
How far in advance do you usually begin work on a figure before it's actual release? Is it already decided which figures will be in 2009's line? The reason I'm asking is because from what I've heard, the live-action TV series will probably be starting in the fall of next year. With the TV series not even having any actors cast at this point (at least to my knowledge), will you have enough time to get those figures made and have them ready to sell by the time the show airs?

[White Rabbit a.k.a. Desfiy]

Its the Clone Wars Animated thats airing in the fall this year (2008) not the Live Action One there still getting the cast together for that, however I think it might be next fall (2009) for the airing of the live Action TV series.

I hope this helps Philippi.

[Bloodant]

Will Hasbro be making a figure of Darth Spice any time soon?


here's a good question:

Has Hasbro ever consider running a promotion allowing a few lucky Hasbro fans access to see the behind the scenes world of Hasbro?

[Lt. Starfox]

Will Hasbro be making a figure of Darth Spice any time soon?


here's a good question:

Has Hasbro ever consider running a promotion allowing a few lucky Hasbro fans access to see the behind the scenes world of Hasbro?

a trip to China?

[Bloodant]

Will Hasbro be making a figure of Darth Spice any time soon?


here's a good question:

Has Hasbro ever consider running a promotion allowing a few lucky Hasbro fans access to see the behind the scenes world of Hasbro?

a trip to China?

Or Pawtucket, RI

[jokabofe]

Hasbro HQ is in RI, but the production facilities are all overseas. I put the question down on our list (with a slight modification/addition to it) so we'll send it next round 

[Jaing Skirata]

Dear Hasbro,

2006 Christmas release of the Imperial Shuttle was great. We've seen the Imperial Landing Craft in lego form, how about in 3 3/4" form. Any plans to do so?