Questions for June 14, 2006
Q&A Archive

1
What's the status of the Star Wars Poker Chip set? -Tom B. (Indianapolis, IN)

The last we heard on this set was that it would finally be released later this year (I'm guessing around the holidays) and should retail for roughly $150. This was back at Toy Fair in February; I haven't noticed any updates since then. Master Replicas has had this in their show display for over a year now, I expect it will be at Comic Con (hopefully with the new Han in Carbonite carry case), if all else fails I'll be sure to ask about it again at that time.


2
I have a green-carded figure that has a five-digit date stamp on the back, 83181, it is MOMAW NADON w/SUB. Four digits I can understand i.e. 9644 is manufactured in the 44th week in 1996.How do I translate a five digit stamp? -Howard.

Credit goes to Dave for this one, but from what we understand the first number refers to the last number of the year, thus 8 = 1998. The next three numbers refer to the day of the year, in this case the 318th day out of a possible 365. The final number, which I guess is most often a 1 or a 2, refers to the 'batch' number. (We use a similar number to refer to shifts at my company; I'm guessing this is the same.) So, judging by the stamp on your figure it looks like it was made/packaged on or around November 14th, 1998 during the first shift… Kinda cool to know, eh?


3
Why is Dooku still called Dooku after he's been given the name Darth Tyranus? I know, Dooku is referred to as DT a few times here and there, but it seems mostly everyone (including most of the figures that are put out) still call him Dooku. I'll stop saying Dooku now. -Joshua

Well, I think your question pretty much answers your question; he's referred to as Dooku because that's the name that most people associate with the character. I may be blanking just a bit here, but the only time I know for certain he was directly referred to as Tyranus was in the Sith hanger at the end of Attack of the Clones. The name was dropped earlier in the movie, but the connection to Dooku was only established at the hanger. While it would have been cool to see that connection somehow revealed to Obi-Wan in Episode III - Tyranus recruiting Jango Fett for the Clone Army/Darth Tyranus turning out to be Sidious' apprentice Count Dooku /the Clone army having been created by the Sith - that never happened. Now, aside from the one scene in the movie, Dooku has always been Dooku and I guess for marketing purposes that just works better for the likes of Hasbro and most fans.


4
I was watching ROTS again and in the scene where Palpatine is watching that bubble musical (I think it is CATS) he dismisses the three stooges that are with him to have a little private chat with Anakin. Question- who is the alien guy? Not the bald chick with sun withdraw or the big horned tongue lasher but the other greenish alien guy. I had never noticed him before and I was just wondering if his character name had ever crossed your path.

Why that's Jar Jar Trabor, or Coleman Binks… Whichever you prefer. Honestly I don't believe this CGI character has been given a name yet, but if you look closely you'll notice he looks an aweful lot like a composite of Jar Jar Binks (costume) and Coleman Trebor (head). I guess ILM was pressed to come up with a character for this part and in a pinch threw together GCI elements from their work on Episode II. It makes perfect sense from a time/money management perspective, though it would have been nice to see a new alien in this spot, or perhaps a 'young' (relatively) Governor Tarkin. In any event, unless someone in the know speaks up, the SW.com Databank doesn't appear to list this guy yet and I haven't noticed any other source that's pinned this character down.


5
Have you heard anything on Kit Fisto's Jedi starfighter yet? Also, why did Scorch end up to be the random republic commando to be released? Under my circumstances, it would be really nice to see a complete line of Republic Commando based figures, vehicles, and maybe some turrets and droid dispensers released next year; don't you think so too?

Aside from being mentioned on few rumor lists and in the Target computer system, there have been no details on this vehicle. While I'm hoping for re-deco version of the Episode II starfighter (a green one would be cool), we'll just have to wait and see what pops up. If this is still a go, there's a good chance we'll see it in San Diego next month. Until then we can only hope for one of those Hi-Rez advance images to surface. Stay tuned!


6
This question may get answered later, but as of today I don't know for sure so I figured I'd ask... regarding the new repacks coming out (Greatest Battles)... are they 100% true repacks of the original figures or are there any changes to them? I don't have any desire to buy repackaged figures just for the sake of having one on a different cardboard, but if they come with additional weapons or accessories that were never released before then that might be a different story. Is there a difference?

If this wave turns out to be anything like the Heroes and Villains assortment (and I certainly expect it will), there will be no difference between these and the figures released last year in the Revenge of the Sith line. Oh sure, there may be some slight deco variations, but everything else (accessories, features) will be the same. Unless you're into collecting package variations, or army building, you might as well leave this assortment to the kiddies.


7
Hey Mark!

First off great job on the site! I have a question that you may or may not be able to answer. I am quite the Star Wars fanatic and collector. So much in fact that I often joke with my friends that if George Lucas were to sneeze in a glass and slap a SW logo on it, Id find a way to get it into my collection. I love the more obscure stuff! While I appreciate the site and visit it daily, I do get a bit frustrated by the lack of news regarding offerings from companies other than the big 5. (Hasbro, Gentle Giant, Master Replicas, Code 3 and Sideshow) Do you know of any websites or other that have news on the vast world of not action figure related collectibles? (Like where the ROTS Rose Art offerings went?) I like to keep up on everything and love to run across new cool things. Much like the ROTS Fishing Pole and Tackle Box I found recently! Any insight would be most helpful!!!!

Thanks!!!!!
Collin in Los Angeles

While we try to keep track of all the non-toy collectibles it can be difficult at times, especially in a movie year. I'm not aware of a site that focuses specifically on this part of the hobby, but you best bet is to try The Star Wars Collectors Archive. Gus Lopez and the crew over there do a great job of tracking many of the more obscure items, if you're gonna find more info on these, you're more than likely gonna find it there. Hope that helps!


8
Dude.... not a question so much as a revelation of biblical proportions.....

Han Solo, encased in Carbonite....... as a TITANIUM FIGURE.

Is that a match made in heaven or what???

Any possibilities??

(Pass it on to Hasbro, I swear I won't sue...I just wanna own that sweet slab of frozen Harrison Ford metal!!!)

Yeah, I'd say that's a natural right there; no idea if the thought has crossed Hasbro's collective mind though. I'll certainly float that one by the 'Titanium' team at Comic Con, we'll just have to wait and see what they say.


9
I had some thoughts about the vehicles after reading the last few Question Marks. What about the mini vehicles from the vintage line? I forget all their names, but I used to have a few of them. There was a Sail Skiff, an even smaller version of that, a round Endor speeder of some sort, a blue Interceptor (INT-4 -- I remember that one's name), and a brownish pod thing for Jabba's Palace, among several others. Hasbro could easily re-release those in the $10 range and include a repaint of a bounty hunter or a Stormtrooper. Something, anything... I think it's a great idea, as I loved those little vehicles. They wouldn't even have to include figure-held weapons, if that would help save them on costs. Plus there's the old Speeder Bike mold that was mentioned; there's not much they'd have to improve on that. What a great little toy it was. Just wondering what you think, and perhaps what Hasbro would think... -Ryan S.

Ah yes, the Mini Rigs. I think this is an interesting idea, but would today's collectors support such a line? If collectors failed to support it, would parents buy in for their little Star Wars fans? One of the themes that's been persistent over the last eleven years is that non-movie toys have not done all that well. While you could say that's because adult collectors were the primary customers, that's not necessarily the case these days, and certainly not the direction Hasbro has seems to be moving the line. Still, considering the Mini-Rigs might be considered a "blast from the past" item that could capture collector's interest, I would think it's at least worth a try. Throw a few of the old Mini-Rigs out there with new deco, maybe include some of the small movie vehicles in the assortment as well, and see what happens. I would think Hasbro might consider such a line once they come to the realization the Choppers, Force Battlers, Transformers, Titanium Ultra, and Unleashed Battle Packs aren't really winning over the crowd. When it comes right down to it, as long as the 3¾" line is their bread and butter, it just makes more sense to include items in the line that fit with that scale.

10
Hi, I just saw the new images of Mace Windu's squadron and they look Great! My question is not that there is an airborne figure out there, what are the chances of seeing him carded with the Utapau paint job? Hasbro is infamous for reusing molds so is it possible that this battle pack is just the beginning? I really hope so!

You, and a whole bunch of other people… Now that Hasbro has a helmet sculpt and accessories to pull this figure off, I'd guess it's only a matter of time before we see a basic figure offered in the Utapau deco; probably next year. Hopefully when they get around to it they'll use a one of the better clone trooper sculpts to base the figure on; from the early image it looks like this Mace Windu Squadron version will be based on the AT-TE Tank Gunner mold, which is more than a little disappointing. Either way, at least it looks like this one is very close to being a done deal.


Until next time...


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