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 Weekly Q&A Session, here's a handy guide to help you get all the info.
From Action Figs: 1) Recently, you said some of the figure rumor lists are inaccurate. Will you debunk one of those rumored-to-be-coming-soon figures that Hasbro actually does *not* plan to release in any format in the next 18 months (any figure rumor of your choice)?
Dan's Note: They are talking about our most recent
411 Report...which just further validates these reports, don't ya think? :)
2) In the future, will translucent ghost & hologram figures only be the all-blue style, or will we see more like the fully-colored translucent 2004 Luke Hologram and Obi-Wan Spirit figures?
3) Are you planning on releasing any new Separatist Leader figures in 2007?
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NEW: Behind The Toys: 1) Can you talk a little bit about the mock-up and carded sample process?
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From Galactic Hunter: 1) We've seen a couple of Star Wars pieces appropriated and recycled in the G.I. Joe line. The Geonosis Arena was tweaked to become Cobra Mountain in 2003. With playsets involving larger investments, has there been any thought given to re-imagining existing playsets? The Mustafar Battle playset from Revenge of the Sith could easily get a nice snow deco, and become a Wampa Cave or a Hoth Echo Base. Does it boil down to the big box and the lack of shelf real estate, or is it the overall cost in a hypothetical situation like that?
2) Two weeks ago it was mentioned that Hasbro has three concept Death Star playsets around the office. Are these ideas that are being currently (or recently) kicked around, or are they older concepts that have been rejected? How much collector support would it take to really get a substantial Death Star playset made?
3) We often hear that Hasbro's Star Wars items are being marketed to kids and collectors. With kids still very much in the equation, where are the TV commercials (and viral video for the net generation) for the action figures and vehicles? The vintage-era TV commercials were instrumental in selling the line.
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From Jedi Defender: 1) Any chance of seeing a ‘battle damaged’ wing on Darth Vader's TIE fighter the next time it's re-released? It would be a nice change of pace from a straight repack.
2) In a recent Q&A response, you said that the ball/socket articulation is somewhat expensive due to its design. Would you ever consider using a less expensive style of articulation to slip more poseability onto more figures? For example, simpler hinged knees instead of the more costly/complex ball jointed knee as a means of increasing poseability overall on Cantina figures (those Cantina guys need to sit after all ;)).
3) The Unleashed Battle Pack Hoth Han Solo has a brown coat, as have many of the other recent Hoth Han collectibles. When the 2003 Saga figure was made there was a huge uproar over the canonical color of the coat, with Hasbro going so far as to release a blue AND a brown coat version. Can you settle the debate for us once and for all? Does Hasbro (via LFL) have definitive proof on the color of that dang coat? (It's brown, isn't it? Come on, you can tell us...)
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From Jedi Insider: 1) Will the Target exclusive Tie-Interceptor or Jabba Skiff be re-released any time in the next year?
2) Any plans for a VOTC Jango Fett figure?
3) Any plans to do something with Jedi Points, like to use for a mail-away figure?
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NEW: POTF2.com: 1) Based on our research (looking at the number of assortments, weeks
shipped, etc), we estimate that Kyle Katarn from the POTF2 line had the smallest run of any figure. Are we right? If not, can you let us know who did?
2) Why is Chief Chirpa so small? Will all Ewoks be this scale now?
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From Sir Steve's Guide: 1) Does the Star Wars team still have interest in seeing every original Kenner vintage figure redone in the modern line in some way (be it basic figure or otherwise), such as: Sim Aloo, Warok, Lumat, human B-wing Pilot, Hoth Rebel Technician / Tauntaun wrangler, black Bespin Security Guard, Woof (vintage Klaatu with the sheepskin), etc.? If so, any specific timeline for them?
2) Understanding that it's not currently possible for HasbroToyShop to offer a 1-of-every-figure subscription service, what about offering individual 1-of-every-figure-in-the-wave sets on the site when they come out, so a buyer can get all the unique figures in that wave at once without having to buy a full case with all its duplicates? Those duplicates could even be sold as individuals on HasbroToyShop.
3) Now that we have a new definitive Biker Scout, can we expect to see a more accurate Original Trilogy speederbike soon?
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NEW: From Star Wars Action News: 1) Why was there such a large increase in the price of the basic figure, between 2005 and 2006? They have gone from under $5 to just under $7 at most stores.
2) While the sculptors that work for Hasbro do amazing work, have any action figures in the past couple of years utilized actor scans for the head likenesses?
3) Over the years, Hasbro has made many different versions of the Darth Vader helmet (voice changer). Why have there never been any Stormtrooper and Clonetrooper helmets?
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From SW Collector: 1) With the unaltered Original Trilogy DVD releases coming on September 12th, could we be seeing a re-release of the Power of the Force "Flashback Photo" Anakin Skywalker figure, which was based on actor Sebastian Shaw as Anakin's Force Ghost at the end of the original cut of RETURN OF THE JEDI? If not, could we possibly see an all-new or retooled sculpt somewhere in the future of the 3-3/4" figure line?
2) What is the reason for the pieces of black tape on the bottoms of each figure's package in the Endor wave? On some figures it is on the outside part of the clear plastic blister, and on other's it is directly applied to the bottom of the blister insert, over the picture of the lion's head inside the yellow triangle and the letters "CE."
3) Will we ever see an accurate version of Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious as he appeared in REVENGE OF THE SITH while dueling Yoda? The version from the "Skirmish in the Senate" Battle Pack had the all-black costume he wore in scenes on Mustafar, in the Imperial Medical Chamber, and on the Star Destroyer bridge, while the costume he wore while dueling Yoda was the one from Hasbro's 12-inch "Darth Sidious" figure and the Unleashed "Palpatine vs. Yoda."
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From The Jawa: 1) Has Hasbro ever planned a figure that Lucasfilm vetoed, or has Lucasfilm ever especially recommended a figure?
2) The Unleashed line has a tremendous fanbase among collectors. We know that Hasbro has stated that the line is very expensive to design and tool, but has consideration been given to marketing this line specifically towards collector shops where this kind of stylized figure thrives?
3) We've been getting a number of figures in the Basic Figure and Vintage lines with softgoods, and the quality of softgoods offerings has gotten much better over the past year. What are the determining factors in deciding whether or not a figure should get softgoods accessories, and what was changed to improve the quality of the softgoods materials?
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From Yakface: 1) Hasbro - Hi - The Galactic Hunt Obi-Wan and the Evolutions Anakin are amazing sculpts. Also some of the Episode III sculpts including Ki Adi Mundi and Kit Fisto are fantastic. When will we see some more of these ""super articulated"" Jedi scupts. A Qui-Gonn Jinn akin to the Anakin and Obi-Wan previously mentioned would be very exciting to fans, as would any other SA type Jedi, including Adi Gallia, Eeth Koth, and Bariss Offee. Also, is the upcoming Yarrel Poof figure an improved sculpt over the Jedi Council figure?"
2) Has Hasbro ever considered releasing an iconic vehicle like the X-Wing with several different sticker sheets included so the consumer can decorate it to be like Luke's, Wedge's, or other pilots' X-Wings? It seems like kids would buy the item since it is a recognizable vehicle and collectors might buy multiple to decorate them in different ways.
3) With the elimination of stands for the upcoming SW30 figures, will stands be made available in packs on the official Star Wars or Hasbro shop websites?
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