So many questions, so little space... Many other
Star Wars collecting sites also submitted questions you need answered, so if you want to know the latest answers from this week's Hasbro
Star Wars Bi-Weekly Q&A Session, here's a handy guide to help you get all the info.
From 4-inches.de: 1) In the last few years Hasbro didn't bring out Separatist or Senator figures but there would be great figures like Po Nudo, Tundra Dowmeia, Giddean Danu, Fang Zar or Bana Bremu. Will you revisit these characters in the next couple of years (rather earlier than later please). And how would be the chances to get some great Episode III versions of Nute Gunray and Rune Haako?
2) The TAC Figure # 51 R2-B1 seems not to get its tool kit to repair the royal starship as pictures let assume. As this figure is based on the VOTC R2-D2 with extension arm could it get the very same exchangable front panel (open and closed) and some tooling like a diagnostic and cutter arm? The little thing otherwise seems to be quite useless to repair the royal starship besides serving as a target for federal blaster fire.
3) When will we get official pictures of Maris Brood? The figure that was shown at ToyFair had a green lightsaber and normal eyes while the one that was shown at Celebration IV had a red lightsaber and sith eyes. As the character is a Jedi that survived the Order 6 massacre and seeks revenge which version is the definitive one? Or will there be two versions of that figure?
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From Action Figs: 1) The number of Mos Eisley Cantina patrons who have yet to be immortalized as action figures grows smaller every year as more and more of these iconic scum and villainy are made. One of those still-yet-to-be-made characters could be created partly using existing tooling: the other Duros, Baniss Keeg - the one wearing the red tunic seen sitting next to Ellors Madak. Baniss could be made using the existing POTJ Ellors Madak head sculpt and perhaps recycling other parts from him as well, plus limbs with a little more added poseability. So what say you to the idea of a Baniss Keeg figure?
2) With the excitement generated by Sideshow's 12" figure line, does Hasbro have any regrets about cancelling their 12" line, especially since it's clear that there is a strong market for high-quality 12" Star Wars figures? Did Hasbro recognize a deficiency in their 12" Star Wars product which didn't meet consumer's expectations of quality leading to a lack of success, and was that a chief factor behind the decision to end it? Is there anything that in hindsight Hasbro would have done differently with the 12" line to keep it in-house?
3) When putting already-released vehicles in new packaging, why do you re-release vehicles that were already out in the previous year's line instead of waiting a while for demand to build back up again? Isn't there the chance of burnout from kids and collectors alike, seeing Obi-Wan and Anakin paint jobs on Jedi Starfighters year in and year out? Why re-release something like Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter in new packaging only months after a previous line's rerelease when there are still some vehicles that haven't been re-released in years like the Clone Wars Jedi Starfighter or the Snowspeeder?
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Boba's Bounty:1) So Indiana Jones continues to be a hot topic. When can we expect to see the first products hitting the stores? Will there be some kind of "sneak preview" figures like we had with Star Wars?
2) It looks like the "pre-cyborg" General Grievous is a much larger figure than the typical Star Wars figure. Is there a chance we will see a Cyborg Grievous in a more accurate scale as well?
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From Jedi Defender: 1) OK, you've said recently that you have no more plans for figures from the Star Wars Holiday Special. But, how about giving us Chewbacca's family members via the nifty Comic Packs series? The Wookiee family has been featured in the comics a few times, so it seems like the perfect venue to get us the Chewbacca/Mallatobuck (Chewie/Malla) and Attichitcuk/Lumpawaroo (Itchy/Lumpy) packs we desperately need.
2) A few years back, you made a Bespin Guard with a removable hat. Is there any chance that you'll eventually incorporate removable hats on all the Imperial Officer figures in the future?
3) Once upon a time (2003), you shared a design sketch of the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker figure planned for 2004. It was a great tease for the figure and a unique look at how many of these figures start out. In addition, there were quite a few "progress reports" made for the development of some of the fan choice figures - things like highlighting paint masters or prototypes as they came along. Are there any plans to maybe share some of these things once again in the future? It was a neat "inside look" and might be a nice tease for some of those 2008 figures.
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From Jedi Temple Archives: 1) Will the coin packins be limited to the 30th anniversary collection only, or will we see the coins continue in one way or another in future lines? Perhaps as exclusive packins? If they are not going to continue, will we still see them in the ventual vintage style POTF figures, assuming you get around to making any of those?
2) So far we have seen 6 figures from the Entertainment Earth Mystery Pack and with the exception of the Omega Squad brother none of them are derived from the novels, comics, movies or any other EU source. With so much EU material out there, including that of the Mandalorians, why did you choose to make figure out of non-characters instead of making a bunch of figures for characters that people already know and want?
3) It looks like that we’ll be seeing the Max Rebo band via a Battle Pack! That is great news for a lot of people. Will these all be straight re-packs of the POTF2 figures or will they have new paint applications or new accessories?
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From Sandtroopers.com: 1) In regards the popularity of certain exclusive items such as the sandcrawler and OTC slave 1 that are commanding high premiums on the secondary market indicating higher than normal demand, is there any plans to re-issue some of the more popular items or are there details in the exclusivity agreement with certain retailers that preclude you from doing so.
2) Also in regards to the exclusivity agreements, one topic of discussion is the "pre-orders" being taken by E-tailers for the exclusive items, the question is, are these being supplied by Hasbro or are the retailers supplying the online suppliers thus bypassing the intended consumer and artificially inflating the price ala price gouging, and does Hasbro monitor these types of situations?
3) Thank you for giving the fans/collectors the opportunity to ask questions. As a collector it is more often than not very difficult to find sought after (chase) items. A recent example is with the McQuarrie concept figures. These concept f igures are near impossible to find. I've had store employees tell me that staff takes them before they hit the shelves and I have entered a store at opening that stocks overnight, only to find new Star Wars figures replenished minus the McQuarrie concept figures. My account of this is that this happens with great regularity with Star Wars chase (short packed) items. We fans/collectors travel a difficult terrain in order to obtain these chase figure/items. And for some, personal experience with friends, it has taken a toll and wore them out. To the point of it no longer being enjoyable and that friend is now spending money and time elsewhere. QUESTION: Are there plans in the near future to make this hobby more fan friendly by making these sought after figures more regularly available? Maybe pack 3 per case of 12, instead of 1? Why pack figures that are obviously going to be s ought after only one per case?
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From Sir Steve's Guide: 1) There are plenty of classic Kenner vehicle molds still in service today, many of which enjoy modifications to the tooling for various purposes. However, one aspect that almost never changes is the cockpits and interiors of the vehicles, leaving them under-detailed and unappealing compared to all-new vehicles. Vehicles, such as the TIE Fighter and Snowspeeder for example, are little more than blank seats for their figures. Will we ever see updated interiors on vehicles such as these, and if not, why?
2) In your response to the question of individual figure pricing in battle packs vs basic figure single cards, you stated that one of the major factors as to why the figures in Battle Packs can often be produced for less per unit is because the tooling for them already exists and thus doesn't factor into the cost of reusing it - that argument is consistent with prior comments made by Hasbro about costs and mold development. Since that is the case, why is it that the various recent Greatest Hits basic figure lines such as Saga Legends have been the same MSRP as the new, non-refresh, basic main-line figures? (Please be aware that we understand consumer pricing is set by retailers and not by Hasbro, but we also know that retailers set their prices based in no small part on how much they're paying per unit so when Hasbro raises retailers' costs, retailers pass that on to consumers, hence the across-the-board price increases.)
3) Many fans feel that the Super Articulated Clone Trooper mold from the ROTS line is the best version of this figure, however there are several problems with the sculpt that continue to show up including: upside-down belt packs, one elbowpad strap smaller than the other, different-heights on the knee joints and a 1mm variance from the left to right upper leg leading to leaning figures, and an asymmetrical "cheek" sculpt on the helmet. Will these issues ever be addressed on future figures?
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From Star Wars Action News: 1) I love the art on the TAC cards. Being a religious and devoted MOC collector since 1995, and respecting the iconography of the vintage cards as well, I feel that the TAC line is, by far, the best 3 3/4" figure card design to date. Does Hasbro have any plans of releasing any of the 30th Anniversary card character art separately after this line is complete? Perhaps in a book form with the original art side by side with it's card example? If there are no plans yet, then please take this question as a suggestion.
2) How far ahead does Hasbro need to plan in order to deliver their choice of figure. Can you talk us through the project management of a particular figure/ wave/ season. So for example with the TAC when were the choices made, assignment of sculpts, where are Lucasfilm in the mix. Part of this is the way Hasbro has been very quick to introduce new figures into a season, but if the selection was made back in early 2005 I am curious how the system works.
3) We know you've tried selling accessory packs a couple times in the past with mixed success; with the direct sales opportunity of the Hasbro online store, and the sales of such items as star cases and figure stands, are accessory packs something that may be considered again in 2007 or early 2008?
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From TheSithEmpire.net: 1) It has been said before in previous QnA's with other sites that in late 2008 a line for the new Clone Wars cartoon will replace the 30th Anniversary in the main line of figures. Any hints as to how long this new Clone Wars figure line will last?
2) There have been many rumors about a possible AT-TE. Is there any truth to this? If so, when do you think we should see this?
3) Last year, we saw a long awaited Republic Commando. Though many of us were very grateful, a few of us were upset that the commando lacked articulation in the knees (especially since the commandos were seen kneeling alot in the video game). Is there going to be a re-release of the commandos with knees?
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From Yakface: 1) Has any consideration being given to having a variant on the Clone Trooper (In Training) figure where he would be in his blue training outfit.
2) Dear Hasbro, Now that the Fireside Padme Amidala from EII has been revealed, any chance we can see some detailed shots of her without the feather wrap accessory? ; )
3) Dear Hasbro, What types of features does the new Wave 8 Jango Fett (with poncho) utilize? Removable snap -on armor (all pieces). Super Articulation? Any additional info would be awesome! How does he look under the poncho?
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