Questions for December 15, 2005
Q&A Archive

1
Like most of the folks here, I am a huge fan of all things Star Wars. Hands down, one of the most fun new products to come out in the past year was the Lego Star Wars game. I enjoyed it so much; I actually bought it for the PS2 and GameBoy. The game does a fantastic job of capturing the events from Episodes 1-3. My question is, are there any plans to make an Original Trilogy version of this game? From what I understand, the sales were pretty good for this version, and clearly Lucas is still on board with LEGO for 2006 with the news of the new playsets. If there are not any plans for this, who can I contact to encourage them to make this game? -Will

Our man Jeremy in England was closer to this project than I was; it’s his understanding that the company that produced the Prequel game has been closed down. There’s always the chance that another company might step up for the Trilogy version, but there’s no word on that yet. The game seems to have been a success, give it a little time, who knows what might turn up… Not knowing exactly who you could turn to, I’d suggest at least letting LEGO know you enjoyed the game. We’ll ask about a possible follow up at Toy Fair, hopefully well get more news then.


2
I remember reading about another release of a cinemacast Vader from ROTS. I read about it a few different places but for a few months now I have not come across any news of it. Do you know if they are still planning to release it? Do you have any idea of when it will come out and how much the price will be? -Rob

Unfortunately there’s been zero news about the Wal*Mart Exclusive Cinemacast Vader since Hasbro talked about it in their Comic Con presentation. I would assume at this point it’s either been canceled or delayed, but without some kind of official word I couldn’t tell you which. The piece looked pretty nice on screen, it would be a shame if got dropped, but with the way Wal*Mart has handled their other exclusives this year I guess it’s all for the best. Hopefully this will turn up again elsewhere, or on sale at StarWarsShop.com, for now it seems we’re just left to wonder.


3
I was just curious if you could tell me if the new Interactive R2-D2 is the same exact thing as the 2002 model that was out, or if the only difference is the packaging. I have the 2002 model, and didn't want to buy the Sith one if it was the same and with no improvements. Also, is Hasbro going to be selling it on their site at all?

From all the reports I’ve heard, it is the exact same toy; nothing to get too excited about… I’ve seen reports of it being found at BJ’s and Costco, as well as a few online shops, no word if Hasbro will offer it on their own site though…


4
Did I read correctly in one of the 411 posts....? Is Hasbro planning on making BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Titanium ships? Which ships are currently planned (hopefully we'll get a 6inch Galactica)? How and why did Hasbro pick up this license? What is Hasbro's extent to the license? Is there a possibility we'll see Galactica (77 & 05) 3¾” scale figures? -Brett (Miami, Florida)

Based on the list we’ve seen, there will indeed be Battlestar Galactica vehicles in the 2006 Titanium Series. At this point it looks like we can expect the following: Cylon Raider (1978), Viper (1978), Colonial 1, Raptor, Viper MK VII, and an unknown ‘Scout Ship’ from the 2004 series, as well as a Cylon Warrior 3¾” Forged Figure. While there’s been no word yet, I have to agree that a 6” Titanium Ultra Galactica would be pretty awesome. No clue how, why, or how deep the Hasbro license runs for BG, but it certainly looks like they intend to maximize their die-cast brand by hitting as many properties as they can.


5
Do you have any idea if Hasbro or Master Replicas has ever considered making the planets of Star Wars? Something a little smaller than a soccer ball that lit up on the inside. It would be extremely cool to suspend Mustafar, Coruscant, or even a Death Star from some my ceilings.

The closest either of them has come to releasing individual ‘planets’ from the Star Wars saga is Hasbro’s Complete Galaxy line back in ‘98. Not necessarily the suspended glowing orbs you’ve described, but at least it’s something. As neat an idea as you have, it doesn’t really strike me as something Hasbro or Master Replicas might offer. I think for something like this, we would almost have to hope the Fan Club or StarWarsShop would commission something from a manufacturer that is already producing a similar item; like a company that makes globes… The Death Star is almost a separate issue, while it was also included in the Complete Galaxy line; it could very well end up among the Master Replicas Studio Scale props at any time.


6
I've noticed at my local comic shop that now the Mace Windu FX lightsaber comes in a shipping box that says EP III on the end cap. Is there any difference in the packaging or actual lightsaber between the new version and the AOTC version? It would be nice if the new one only needed three batteries instead of six.

While I haven’t noticed this boxed version yet, it does sound like they’ve at least made some packaging changes. As far as the saber itself, I’m fairly confident everything is the same as the Episode II version. According to the details posted at the Master Replicas site, the saber still requires 6 AA batteries, and there’s no mention of improved electronics… If I come across any information that indicates any changes were made, I’ll be sure to post a follow up.


7
Can you please tell me what the difference between the up coming Titanium 6" Vehicles and the Titanium Ultra Vehicles will be? Also do you think the 3¾" Forged Figures will be a hit? They seem to be a waste of space to me. -Steve "Darth Hidious" W.

As far as I know they are one and the same, Hasbro may have just added the word Ultra the brand for 2006 in order to set it apart from the two vehicles released through Wal*Mart in 2005. The only difference between the two that I know of is the fact the ’06 vehicles will come covered base.

I think the jury is still out on the Forged Figures; I’ve heard some like them, some don’t. The Boba Fett Hasbro showed at Comic Con looked pretty good, but it was modeled after a Fett we already have multiples of. While it’s kinda cool this version will be the first Boba Fett with a removable helmet, I don’t know if that alone will be enough to make it a must have. Plastic or metal, a 3¾" action figure is a 3¾" action figure… A totally new sculpt is one thing, but if Hasbro just plans on cranking out die-cast versions of their basic figures the line may never really catch on. We’ll just have to see what collectors think of them once they reach the shelves.


8
I have a question and a comment about the Bust-Ups by Gentle-Giant. First off let me say that these never really caught my eye until I just received the series 4 REVENGE OF THE SITH set. The Emperor and Anakin/Vader are just incredible, any chance we can or will see not just the torso but possibly a whole micro not just the bust? Even the boxes they arrive in are cool and somewhat a throw back to the foreign figure boxes of long ago. The detail and the price are unreal, Hasbro makes some cool stuff but the detail of these figures I’d pay $6.99 each to get a figure that looks this real!!!! In closing if you have any pull with these bean counters let them know that if they decided to put legs on these bust-ups I’d buy the hell out of them!!! Hell I’m still buyin’ them without legs :) but legs would be nice!!!!!

If Gentle Giant were to 'add' legs to their Bust-Ups, they’d be awfully close to what many like to call ‘action figures’… Some how I just don’t see Hasbro being too happy about that; if you know what I mean. Maybe some day, if Hasbro were to call it quits on the Star Wars line, Gentle Giant would be free to produce their own line of Bust-Up quality figurines, but that’s probably a ways off, if ever. On thing is clear, as you’ve noted, GGS is doing a great job on these micro mini-busts, I sure would like to see what they could do with the whole figure.


9
I saw a question a few weeks ago from someone looking for the Playskool Jedi Force Obi-Wan and Boga figure. I'm just wondering if this has turned up anywhere yet. I've called a few different stores, and it doesn't seem to be available anywhere (even on eBay). Any thoughts?

At this point I’m really kicking myself for not busting into the box I found at Wal*Mart that one morning. Figuring these would be put out within a day or two has definitely turned out to be the wrong figurin’. Frankly I don’t know what’s going on, are they cancelled, are they stuck in a warehouse some where, were they recalled…? I could have sworn I saw an unopened case of them sitting there that late summer morning, but we’ve heard no reports of them showing up, anywhere, and no word from Hasbro/Playskool regarding their fate. I guess we just keep waiting until something turns up, or we get a chance to ask about them at Toy Fair.

10
Hey Uncle Mark,
It's Ian here. Just a quick question for you, do you know when or if they are going to release a 3 box set with episodes 1, 2, & 3. Or are they going to just sell them separate, or even a 6 box set. Well anyways if you can get back to me on that, that would be great.
Thank you and I will wait to hear from you, Ian.

Hey Ian, how's it goin'?!

Still no word on a Prequel Trilogy Box Set, but with recent revelations of some work that may (or may not) have been done for an Episode I Special Edition, there’s always a chance we could see something like this in the future. When you look at the many VHS box sets that were released over the years, you have to think we’re bound to see each trilogy and even the entire saga collected into a single set eventually. For now, because the movies are still relatively new, the Prequels are only being released individually. Maybe for Star Wars 30th Anniversary in 2007, or Episode I’s 10th in ‘09, we’ll finally see this hit the market, only time will tell.

Hey thanks for writing in, that was a pretty cool surprise. Be sure to say hi to your Dad, Cindy and Sean for me, and have a great Christmas! We might be in Chicago between Christmas and New Year’s, will you be around? It won’t be a long trip – gotta get back for the Rose Bowl – but if you’re there you’ll have to come by your Gramma’s and see the kids. –Later!


Until next time...


Got Questions?