Questions for June 17, 2005
Q&A Archive

1
I was wondering if my OTC clean version R2-D2 will fit in the ARC -170 droid slot?

Probably not; at least not very well. The ARC-170 was designed to accommodate astromechs that either have a retractable or removable center leg. As the clean OTC (Tatooine Mission) R2 does not, it will stick out more than it should. You can solve this by cutting the center leg off, but you’d be cutting the center leg off…


2
Since it seems like Hasbro is letting the 12-inch line die do you think it will be offered to another company? I think the 12-inch line would do much better if quality figures/sculpts/accessories were offered. I also think a more collector geared company would recognize the market for clone variations (ARCs, Commandos, etc) and more accurate main characters.

Do you think Lucas will go the LOTR trilogy route and release a theatrical cut and an extended cut since it was painfully obvious he took a lot out of the film? I would love to see a 4 hr ROTS on 4 discs (2 movie and additional scenes and b. We don't want deleted scenes on another disc...put them back in the film!!! What do you think our chances are of seeing this?

More Clone Commanders...a possibility or is eBay my best chance (have you seen the number of Clone customs!!)?

So we're getting the Invisible Hand, Blockade Runner, and Turbo Tank...is a Venator (Republic) the mystery fourth playset?? If not can we expect to see one (this screams Action Fleet)?

Why is Hasbro being so stingy with the ships? I see a good demand for the V-wing, Greivous' ship, and the droid ships on Kasshykk.

I don’t believe Hasbro would be inclined to allow another company to produce 12” figures so long as they hold (and have paid for) that portion of the license. Could they sell that portion off, I’m not sure, but even if they could they may not want to encourage more in-brand competition. One thought on their side will likely be as long as there are no 12” figures, collectors will have more money to spend on other Hasbro items. If someone like Sideshow were to produce some nice $50 12” figures that could potentially take money away from Hasbro. However, Hasbro may not be able to stop Sideshow from producing these figures if Sideshow can show that what they are offering is beyond the scope of what Hasbro produced. Kind of how Code 3 and Hasbro are both making Die-Cast vehicles… Both are essentially making the same thing but because Code 3 is so far beyond what Hasbro is doing, in detail, size, and cost, there’s no infringement. Hard to say, the line would be pretty thin if Sideshow tried to market a 12” fully articulated collectible doll, it might just be that the ¼ scale figures are about as close as they can get to that part of the license. (FYI: Real Action Heroes, like Marmit, can produce their figure because they are marketed overseas, not in the U.S.)

Come November I think we’ll see the digital projection version of Sith on DVD, with some deleted scenes among the bonus material. As much as I’d like to at least see the scene of Bail Organa addressing Padmé, Mon Mothma, and the others added back in, I haven’t heard anything that makes me think it will be. From watching the deleted scenes on the Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones DVDs, it’s pretty clear why they were deleted. Until we see them, it could be the cut scenes from Sith are just not up to snuff. If I had my choice there’s a lot more I’d like to see added to Sith, but I somehow doubt Lucas will follow through.

Oh, I think we’ll see all the Clone Commanders eventually; it’s just too easy a thing for Hasbro to pass up.

There’s a mystery fourth set? Geez, where have I been? If there were such a set I would expect it to be the Republic “Star Destroyer” Capitol Ship. There’s always the chance it could be an AT-TE, but that’s so Episode II. If not, we still have heard nothing substantial regarding Action Fleet and I don’t expect we will at this point. Maybe down the road, but as we get away from the movie years, the chances get slimmer and slimmer. Frankly, I’d rather see a really nice version of this ship in Collectors Fleet style with lights and sound.

Ships cost a lot produce and they are not as easy to sell as action figures. Considering what they have made I’m fairly happy with the vehicle line this year. Hopefully, they will work a couple new ROTS vehicles into 2006.


3
I am worried that our stores are going to miss out on the Bacara wave. Our Wal*Marts are still jammed with the April 2nd figures1-32. With 33-40 mixed in. One exception is the AT-TE gunner. With the overstock of product how are my local Wal*Marts suppose to get new figures. Target takes their sweet time getting figures in. I haven't seen the Tarkin wave at our stores that's how did things are.

One of my local Wal*Marts has been brimming with old figures; they managed to put out the Bacara wave the other day so I imagine they could do the same elsewhere. It may take time, but in all likelihood your store will have these figures eventually. Target was doing pretty well in my area, but fell off in the last couple weeks. Most of what has been put out lately looks like old stock, sort of a first in last out situation. I did find the Tarkin wave last week so I’m sure as new cases come in they’ll work their way out to the pegs. Both these waves are extremely ‘new’ give it a few weeks and all these figure should be much easier to track down.


4
I was wondering, In the ROTS scene when Yoda and Palpatine are dook'n it out, why does Palpatine still allow Mas Amedda to follow him around and (I assume) aide him? We CLEARLY see that in 4, 5, 6 as well as in EU novels that Emperor Palpatine does NOT like non-humans. Thus, only humans in the service of the Empire. Why does Palpatine seem to like non-humans in the sequel? -Thork

I think it’s been fairly well established in the Prequels that Palpatine is a ‘user,’ manipulating others to achieve his goal. As the make-up of the Republic is very diverse he probably recognized early on that he could not ascend to power by totally excluding alien races from his cabinet. Once his “Empire” is well established, I’m sure he turned on them as he turned on Dooku; they had served their purpose and now they had to go. By the time we get to A New Hope he has removed any alien presence from his military command structure, and he even does away with the Senate. I see it as slowly evolving process that eventually takes the galaxy by surprise.


5
I've always loved the vintage AT-AT, but the electronics no longer work, and I failed to get the AT-AT released from the POTF2 line. Do you think Hasbro will ever re-release the AT-AT with the same basic mold? -Shawn

There’s certainly that chance, though I wouldn’t expect the re-release to include any electronics. With the exception of last year’s Falcon, Hasbro has shied away from lights and sound. Unless they felt they could put the AT-AT in general release, I don’t see them keeping the sound effects or lights. As an exclusive, Hasbro is sure to strip the toy down to the basics, it might be a nice looking toy, but that’s about all it will offer. It’s a shame, as simple as they were I always thought sound effects were one of the best things about my Star Wars toys (I know my kids love them on their Galactic Heroes and Jedi Force toys), Hasbro just can’t seem to justify them on the basic line vehicles.


6
After seeing Revenge of the Sith, I couldn't believe why Hasbro didn't make more figures. There are so many characters to choose from, not including just different clones. I have a pretty solid idea of what they should make soon:

Nute Gunray
Commander Cody
Padmé w/ Senate outfit
Jedi children (other than Zett Jukassa)

Have you heard news about any of those four being produced either in the new line of figures releasing this fall or at any other time?

No news, but here are my thoughts on your list:

Nute Gunray – Hasbro hasn’t had much luck with this character in the past, both versions (Episode I and the Separatists Screen Scene) sat for a good long time. Hard to imagine them rushing to get a new Gunray figure out.

Commander Cody – Excellent idea, a little surprised he wasn’t in an earlier assortment. Very well could be one of the twelve figures we’ll see at Comic Con, I’ll be shocked if it isn’t.

Padmé w/ Senate outfit – Another good idea, though in a movie year Hasbro tends to stay away from Padmé figures that are not directly related to the “action.” This might stand a better chance in a collector focused non-movie year but we’ll see.

Jedi children (other than Zett Jukassa) – As fun as the Jedi younglings were in the Saga line, they did tend to warm the pegs. Considering their fate in this movie, I wonder if Hasbro might choose to take a pass on the whole idea. We’ll see, but I’m not expecting to see any youngling figures in San Diego.


7
I respect the fact that you don't know exactly what the new 12 Revenge of the Sith figures are going to be (releasing this fall), but I do have a question about them. You said in 'Question Mark' #159 that it costs more money to make new sculpts for new vehicles opposed to just repainting old ones, which is what Hasbro has been doing lately. Is it the same kind of situation for the regular action figures? If so, are these 12 new action figures going to be mostly repaints of old ones?

It is the same, on a smaller scale, but the chances of recouping that investment are much better on a basic action figure than they are on a medium or large vehicle. The basic line is probably pretty close to a constant; anybody buying Star Wars toys is most likely buying the action figures. As you move into other areas of the line, collectors begin to fall off; fewer and fewer fans will buy the vehicles, the playsets, the 12-inch, the Force Battler, and Galactic Heroes... Sure, people are buying this stuff, but not to the extent that they’re buying the basic line. Therefore it’s much easier for Hasbro to justify the expense of creating new action figure molds. Sure they offset some of the cost by repainting existing figures or slightly retooling existing molds, but that’s usually kept to a minimum. We may see some clone repaints among the “twelve”, I suppose that’s understandable, but I expect the majority of these figures to be all-new.


8
Hey, I was able to snag a couple of the Target Exclusive Clone Troopers today (which I didn't think I would find on the shelves), and was wondering how many of these Hasbro was producing. There's no indication of it on the shell case like there was on the Darth Vader Lava Figure. I figured you were the best person to ask. -Daniel

We’ve got it on pretty good authority that 50,000 of these figures were produced for Target. That’s a lot of figures to be sure, but anytime you put the word “exclusive” with a toy, there never seems to be enough. Glad to hear you were able to track one down.


9
What are the chances of Hasbro making Cin Drallig (Nick Gillard) and Serra Keto figures as part of the 12 remaining ROTS line? I know Cin Drallig only appeared in ROTS as a brief hologram, and Serra Keto isn't in the movie at all, but they both play huge parts in the video game (during Anakin's attack on the Jedi temple) which plays out like an extended version of the movie. These two characters would be at the top of my list for what I'd most like to see from the rest of the ROTS line.

I'm also a big collector of the Lego Star Wars sets and I really love the mini figures, but there are so many cool characters that Lego could produce that they haven't put out yet. I know the cost of creating enough additional sets to get all the Star Wars characters out there would be astronomical, so I've been thinking that Lego could put out the mini figures separately on action figure style card-backs. They could fit 2 or 3 figures on a single card. I think these would sell like hot cakes. Any other collectors out there interested in seeing this or am I alone? What are the chances of Lego embracing such an idea if they start getting demands from the fan base?

Considering what they’ve done in the past with the Anthony Daniels and Ahmed Best Outlander Night Club figures; I’d say the chances for Cin Drallig (Nick Gillard) are good, not so good for Serra Keto. Hasbro really feels they have a better chance selling a figure if they have that movie connection. Though Nick’s role was short, he was at least in the movie, if only briefly. I certainly hope Nick (and Jeremy Bulloch for that matter) is recognized for his contribution to the Star Wars Prequels, they wouldn’t have been nearly as thrilling without him.

Oh, there’s inertest to be sure, but there’s also a huge licensing issue that will most likely never allow this to happen. Hasbro holds the license for “action figures” and as long as that stands LEGO cannot market any kind of “figure” pack. LEGO gets around the issue now by including them with their “building sets” and key chains, but they walk a very fine line. A few years ago LEGO did release three figure 3-packs, but as soon as they did it was clear that Hasbro was not happy about it. Since then we haven’t seen anything along those lines. Unless there were drastic changes in the licensing situation, I don’t foresee LEGO being allowed to market sets of strictly mini-figures.

10
Do you have any clue if Hasbro will be releasing a Palpatine electronic lightsaber anytime soon? I purchased all the lightsabers that came out in the Saga line are there any differences in the ROTS sabers? Finally, I was watching ROTS again last night and saw that Agen Kolar uses a blue lightsaber but Hasbro packed him with a green lightsaber. Is there any chance that Hasbro will fix this? -Paul J. Garrison (Orlando, FL)

Nope, no clue whatsoever; we had heard a rumor that a Palpatine/Sidious saber would be available, but it hasn’t developed and Hasbro has not listed it at all. Kinda surprising actually, I would have thought for this last movie Hasbro would’ve keyed in on this one. Well, the Anakin and Obi-Wan sabers are totally new. Yoda’s saber and the generic Jedi saber appear to have new electronic sound effects. The Yoda saber features a few lines of wisdom from the pint size master, and according to the box the “Jedi” saber features motion activated sound (not 100% sure if there’s actually anything new there or not). As far as I know the rest of the sabers are all as they have been in the past, no changes. As for Agen Kolar’s saber, I don’t expect this to be changed at this point – I have a pretty good feeling the figure is already out of production and I don’t see Hasbro recalling what’s on the shelf now just to make that change.


Until next time...


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