Spotted Online – Reactions to Star Wars Black
Visit All Things Geeky!
I posted my own feelings on the new 6-inch Star Wars Black action figures yeserday (see “Five Reasons Why Hasbro’s “Star Wars Black†Will Fail”) and still stand behind my post. But in the interest of expanding the discussion about the upcoming action figure series I thought I’d share some links to other sites where the line is being discussed.
- The Fwoosh – Quite a positive response to the line here. The closing statement I think proves that the post has the opposite thoughts on the line’s success than my own post did:
… I have not been so confident in an instant toy success in a long time.
- All Things Geeky – Far less positive than the post at The Fwoosh, this piece dives into the packaging and suggests that the packaging could have been smaller and cheaper. I suspect, though, that the packaging was sized in an attempt to make the toy look worth $20. My personal favorite bit on the package is the “Ages 4+” on the front. So much for this being targeted strictly at adults.
. . . I’m not sure how much of a difference this will make to Hasbro’s bottom line. If Hasbro was going to do something like this, wouldn’t they have done it a while ago?
- Colonel Raine’s Toychest – The last post I want to link to today doesn’t say a lot, but what it says I feel expresses what a lot of the hardcore action figure collectors out there are thinking:
. . . this line is going to bring me back into the fold. A 6″ collector scaled line is just the adrenaline this worn out toy property needed.
I fully expect there to be a lot of discussions about Star Wars Black between now and the line’s release — and a flood of reviews when the first wave hits shelves — so at the very least Hasbro is going to generate a lot of buzz and press about the line . . . which I think will only serve to support Point 4 of my prediction that the line will fail and drive us closer to Point 5: Oversaturation of the Market.
I’ll definitely be watching to see what happens.
Related articles
- Spotted Online – Star Wars “Black” Photos at Action Figure Pics (battlegrip.com)
- Star Wars Black: New 6-Inch Action Figure Line from Hasbro (toysrevil.blogspot.com)
- Spotted Online – Dark Knight Returns Action Figure Review at The Fwoosh (battlegrip.com)
Nice post! Though I agree with your initial post, I can appreciate your putting together other views on the discussion.
@Paul – Thanks, Paul. I figured everyone would like to see some of the other discussions about the new series that are happening online.
I want to comment on something in the All Things Geeky link. That packaging picture is of the 3.75″ Black series; the 6″ toys are in a fairly typical box with window.
Also to be honest. The Ages 4+ doesn’t mean much. Hasbro slapped Ages 5+ on the TRU exclusive MP-10 and I wouldn’t trust a child of any age to transform one correctly.
I’m not sure you’re 100% right with your predictions, but the positive response from 6″ fans does really seem to boil down to: “I want them, and since 6″ figures are the only ones that count, everyone else will want them too.”
@Chris – Yeah, Vader is from the 3.75-inch line and I think you’ve just identified another problem for Star Wars Black: Customer confusion. I feel sorry for the mom who goes out at Christmas to buy “Star Wars Black Action Figures” without any specific guidance beyond that.
And the age grading is both for safety and to help parents during fourth quarter. Hell, I don’t trust myself to transform a number of modern Transformers correctly some days.
@stack32 – And that “I love this so everyone should” is completely fair and happens a lot with all of us. I’ve been just as guilty; all we can do is buy what we like and hope it succeeds.