New retroline.......

[Alisdairmac]

No too sure what I think of these in general. Id probaby get one as a curiosity.

I would get the board game if its avaliable though

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/52911794_2330126583928762_6158858544117448704_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=024a67c51ffad29fdbb7240178e05fa6&oe=5CDDCCF7

 

[TK-7785]

I think for some, myself included, the "cash grab" complaint is based around the fact that Hasbro only care about making the OT and vintage stuff that has been asked for for so long when other lines are failing. I have read that Hasbro's sales are down some $248 million this last quarter in Star Wars toys. This seems to be linked to the fact that a large proportion of the stuff they have been churning out since the start of the Disney era is either poorly thought out or based off of bad characters that most people aren't into. The simple fact is they are just not selling like figures and vehicles based off the OT or PT.

It doesn't seem to me that on the whole people have a problem with anyone making money off of nostalgia like this if it's done right and done well. Yes there are some that bemoan anything new, they will always exist, but this feels like Hasbro exploiting their core customer base when it suits them. Pretty much just like Michael French of Retroblasting lays out in his video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWIpy6Nhi1w

Perhaps this would be better received if the first wave showed more good will in being made up of a greater proportion of the never before produced vintage figures and not making the one they are doing (so far), Tarkin, a pack in. What is the reason for reproducing the Death Star board game in the first place? And why make the one figure most old school collectors interested in exclusive to the this? It's an obvious marketing move to exploit, not just give collectors and fans what they have wanted for a long, long time.

 

[jayums]

I really enjoy retroblasters, he's a funny and thoughtful guy, but I can't help but feel he is a tad premature in getting on high horse over this. The tarkin / Death Star game looks like its going to cost about 16 quid (a Hasbro cash grab), yet he's fine with unofficial sand /rebel troopers being peddled for three times as much.

 

[edd_jedi]

I really enjoy retroblasters, he's a funny and thoughtful guy, but I can't help but feel he is a tad premature in getting on high horse over this. The tarkin / Death Star game looks like its going to cost about 16 quid (which is a Hasbro cash grab), yet he's fine with unofficial custom / sand rebel troopers being peddled for three times as much.

Exactly, and the owner of the intellectual property gets precisely zero from those custom sales. There are a lot of hypocrites about.

 

[Crumm]

I don't really feel that this is a cash grab.

The recent figures for TFA and TLJ have been very dull, I have had literally no interest in them whatsoever. The Black Series don't appeal to me and the vintage collection are now overpriced and I dislike some of the sculpts. The moment I saw these I knew they were of interest to me. it's a clever move, and one I welcome.

It must have some merit, as it has made me put vintage loose on hold for now to focus on these. I can have a full wave of 6 for not much more than the price of say, a loose Boba Fett. I can't complain at that!

Can't wait to see how the droids come out in wave 2!

 

[poncho]

How many retro do they intend to release the first 21 perhaps not the whole 98 surely???

 

[Dantooine]

How many retro do they intend to release the first 21 perhaps not the whole 98 surely???

Well, you've got to presume these are going to sell out fairly quick. At $10 a pop it's not like they're going to price themselves out of the market which is what seems to have happened to the Jumbo figures.

I reckon the first 21 is a sure thing, but will we see a retro Imperial Dig? I think it would be cool to redo the whole damn lot as long as they add some extra characters, which it looks like they're going to do - the cardback could read "collect all 178!". If these take off expect retro prequel and sequel figures. It will be a whole new line.

 

[BruceW]

As a focus collector I'll get the Princess Leia and hang it next to the Gentle Giant jumbo figure. I doubt I'll ever put it on the shelves with my vintage carded Leia run. I have no interest in collecting all of them, I just don't have the room, really.

I'm surprised they've waited this long to do something like this. They have been catering to the nostalgic adult collector's market for a long time with the "vintage collection" figures and all the new product in 70's style retro packaging.

It remains to be seen how this will impact values on vintage items. I could see carded MOC's seeing a boost with this renewed interest, while loose values could take a hit. It sounds like the size difference will make it easy to distinguish new from old, but and I'm sure some newer collectors will be fooled. Only time will tell.

 

[edd_jedi]

What I do agree is bizarre is the 'battle damaged' packaging. Do they not know vintage collectors want everything in AFA 95 condition? 8)

 

[TK-7785]

I really enjoy retroblasters, he's a funny and thoughtful guy, but I can't help but feel he is a tad premature in getting on high horse over this. The tarkin / Death Star game looks like its going to cost about 16 quid (a Hasbro cash grab), yet he's fine with unofficial sand /rebel troopers being peddled for three times as much.

I think you have to remember that a guy "working out of his shed" making customs from scratch cannot compete with the price point that Hasbro can achieve. When you're talking about hand made and painted, resin cast customs you'd be hard pressed to create something decent for under £30 per figure. Materials alone would cost you alone £15+, plus consumables and then think how long it takes to make each one by hand.

People like the guy who made those particular Sandtroopers and Rebel Fleet Troopers are making a very small profit if at all. I speak from experience with this as someone who has worked in creative industries all my life, as well as having made custom models, props and figures like this, and is often met with shock at how much bespoke items can cost. So when it comes to profit per unit I would wager Hasbro are making a greater percentage per figure than most if not all of the custom figure creators out there. You can't really compare custom made, low production item to a mass-produced one in that regard.

 

[Grant_C]

I wonder if they will do knock off repro displays?

 

[jayums]

I wonder if they will do knock off repro displays?

What are the odds that second wave will have another new figure release packed in with a display stand?

 

[SublevelStudios]

Initially I was dead set against this line when I first saw this pics - dreadful card art and the figures looked exactly the same.

However, as more has come to light, I'm softening towards them, I can see now how this line might develop and seeing Tarkin produced is brilliant. That said, the cardback design is still bloody awful - the 'retro' sticker is hideous and don't even get me started on that fake weathering on the edge of the card.

Ultimately I can see loose vintage prices taking a hit once these start to appear on the shelves, especially high end loose like pop up R2's etc.

It will be interesting to see how this range develops and what they have in the pipeline in terms of unreleased stuff.

 

[Mini99]

That said, the cardback design is still bloody awful - the 'retro' sticker is hideous and don't even get me started on that fake weathering on the edge of the card.

I was thinking the same about the card art.
I'm sure that you could come up with some stunning designs!

 

[Robstyley]

That said, the cardback design is still bloody awful - the 'retro' sticker is hideous and don't even get me started on that fake weathering on the edge of the card.

My thoughts exactly Mark. They're terrible, and there's no need for it. If they just did things a little differently it could be so good. The cards should look almost identical to the originals save a few little distinguishing things. The fake edgewear kills it for me, I wouldn't buy any for that alone. And the more I look at my loose vintage figure cabinet the more I want no part of this *****.

 

[jayums]

You lot are a tough crowd :lol: I honestly don't mind the packaging that much. It's a bit of fun, and if they didn't do it we would be moaning about them being too similar to the original designs for sure.

I think these are reasonably priced (about the same price as a packet of **** these days, and about a third of the price of a f*cking endor pistol on ebay), and I'm certainly intending to aggressively rip mine open and chuck the packaging away in a homage to me on Christmas Day '83 :lol:

 

[jayums]

... Did cross my mind that they're not showing the cardback as it might reveal which figures they're planning to release.

I'm secretly hoping they will make the next new figure available as a mailaway if you cut out and send off the the POPs ... for an authentic vintage experience :lol:

 

[Snaketibe]

... Did cross my mind that they're not showing the cardback as it might reveal which figures they're planning to release.

I'm secretly hoping they will make the next new figure available as a mailaway if you cut out and send off the the POPs ... for an authentic vintage experience :lol:

The cardbacks never seem to interest the photographers that much, but at least one of them did snap a pic of one... it's not that exciting though!:

 

[Robstyley]

I'm certainly intending to aggressively rip mine open and chuck the packaging away in a homage to me on Christmas Day '83 :lol:

Awesome.. do it!!! How old are you? 83' was one of my big SW Christmases too. I want some now just to rip them open :lol: In fact if they bring out ROTJ ones, I will do it, on a Christmas Day

 

[TK-7785]

I'm certainly intending to aggressively rip mine open and chuck the packaging away in a homage to me on Christmas Day '83 :lol:

Awesome.. do it!!! How old are you? 83' was one of my big SW Christmases too. I want some now just to rip them open :lol: In fact if they bring out ROTJ ones, I will do it, on a Christmas Day

Ha ha! I'm starting to come round to the idea of these now. :lol:

 

[jayums]

I'm certainly intending to aggressively rip mine open and chuck the packaging away in a homage to me on Christmas Day '83 :lol:

Awesome.. do it!!! How old are you? 83' was one of my big SW Christmases too. I want some now just to rip them open :lol: In fact if they bring out ROTJ ones, I will do it, on a Christmas Day

I'm 41 going on 12 :lol:

Chris - thats a really boring-looking cardback. It will be a cathartic experience ripping them to shreds!

 

[Palifan]

I wonder if they will do knock off repro displays?

What are the odds that second wave will have another new figure release packed in with a display stand?

I think pretty high but I wouldn't be surprised if there's a pin head Han and VCJ con exclusive this year also. They have all the card art and figures made already so they would just need a Han pin head and a vinyl cape, easy

I'm sure the prices will go through the roof though for these :evil:

Ian

 

[Lindo]

Will these be sold in shops?

 

[sparkysx]

not a fan of the artificial degrading on the card backs

 

[Stubbs]

I don't collect mint on cards due to the increase in price and putting a run of anything together now costs thousands. So surely this is a cheaper alternative to mint on cards for any one getting into the hobby wanting to collect such items that look nice for there display. Look at the benefits no yellow bubbles no fakes no bubble about to drop off somthing you paid a grand for yet everyone thinks loose figure prices will take a hit I think kenner vintage mocs will take a hit. Sure you will have the hardcore collectors still desperately trying to pickup an unpunched 30 back or a tri logo madine ECT but I can't see how an original loose figure will lose value when the target audience for these is moc collectors so for the most part they will be moc.

Just to be clear the monetary value of these items mean nothing to me that is not Wye I collect I just find it strange that there is a lot of talk of only loose figures being the ones to loose value when I feel it would be mint on cards as these are.

 

[edd_jedi]

I believe the reason this and so many other modern cardbacks are so boring is legislation, apparently they're no longer allowed to show dozens of figures on the back like the old ones as it's considered advertising to children. It also has to have all the safety stuff on there these days too. "Ages 3 and up" in the top right corner was enough back in the 80s

 

[jayums]

I don't see it affecting vintage much at all myself, but I guess time will tell. Whatever happens, I think a lot of us have been feeling a bit meh about collecting in the last year or so, so I'm hopeful this line could shake things up a bit. I'd be perfectly happy for loose prices to tumble, I just don't see it (at least not because of these).

For all we know, they might make these and no more. I think this line works for the first 21, and it would absolutely work for the last 17, but can't see them producing all of them (madine, klaatu and the like) unless packed in with other stuff.

I have picked up the first six out of curiosity but I'm undecided on whether I will carry on collecting these because it depends on how it all plays out here on in. The price point is critical for me, if these are 'hard to get' or they start charging 20 quid each or pretending they are investment pieces, they can forget it. If Hasbro go down the route of relatively cheap, cheerful and widely available in the spirit of the originals I will be happy to go along with it.

I think you could make a good case for this having a damaging affect on the repro market and non-creative custom figures - for instance, if you were inclined to do so, why would you buy a loose vintage Leia with repro cape and pistol for 30 quid on eBay when you can get this for a tenner? The same with army building custom stormtroopers with repro blasters.

 

[Stubbs]

What's your thought's on the availability of these for people who wish to buy them. will they be like the 40th anniversary black series mostly out of stock when now you can pick most up from ebay cheaper than retail. Will we see them in home bargains next year for £2 a piece.

 

[TK-7785]

Availability will be interesting to see with these. I understand these are Target exclusives in the US and there's no word of official distribution in the UK yet either. Sometimes I get the impression that Hasbro are letting their product move to an almost entirely online specialist retailer model of distribution. Distribution hasn't been their strong suit lately. The Solo line is pretty much non-existent in stores I hear too. I think it would be nice if you could walk into your local Entertainer, see them on the pegs and give them a good looking over in person before you buy. I suspect these will be being sold on the secondary market for double + within months.

I can't see them making all 96 vintage figures. Like others have said, a re-issue of Klaatu would be keeping the pegs toasty for years to come. If these do well enough I can well imagine them putting out just the key figures. I would take a guess that wave 2 will consist of R2, 3PO, Luke X-Wing, Jawa, Sand Person, Death Squad Commander and a Rebel Fleet Trooper as the new offering. If they're smart they will pack multiples of a Rebel Fleet Trooper in with all the others. People will want to army build.

If future new un-produced characters are on the cards I'd like wave 2 to consist of Rebel Fleet Trooper, Wedge Antillies, Luke Ceremonial Outfit, Han Stormtrooper, Dr Evizan and Admiral Motti. Then future waves focusing on ESB and ROTJ. There's a huge amount they could do with this line if they tweaked their focus. As it currently stands they have just 3D scanned the orignal figures to make new moulds. Even Tarkin is a scan of the original Imperial Officer. The only new sculpt from this range is Tarkin's head. In order to make many of the figures we'd love to see would require all new sculpts to create and that is a lot more work, especially to nail the vintage look, the characteristics that make the vintage figures stand apart from all the post 95 offerings. So whether we get many more of those new characters depends on Hasbro's commitment to this.

 

[Dantooine]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that they have been resculpted. Someone was saying on some close up photos that you can tell they're new sculpts. Personally I'd love to see a Sandtrooper. That's a no brainer as it would be so easy to make, maybe they will even reissue the Dewback. I'm beginning to get into this ****!