Answered Questions: September 26, 2008

[Darth Zirock]

1.) From pod: The Walmart BAD 2-packs of owner/droid figures was a really cool concept that you executed well. Was it successful enough that you might revisit it sometime? There are lots of good combinations still out there: Wedge and his red & white domed R2 from the Battle of Yavin, Saesee Tinn and his yellow R4, Grizz Frix and his white and gold R5 from the Battle of Endor, etc.

ANSWER: Thanks for the comment, pod. We have confirmed that WM is lined up for a sequel next year. Details will be released next year, but trust us when we say it will be spectacular.

2.) Now that THE FORCE UNLEASHED game has been released (at least, it will be by the time you send your reply), was there anything from the game you wanted to pursue as a toy or action figure, but weren't allowed to because of plot information restrictions? Any possibility of revisiting the game for new action figures in the future? (Hint: Shaak Ti!!!)

ANSWER: Actually, The Force Unleashed team was amazingly candid with us and allowed unprecedented access to the game, which is why our line was extremely broad to begin with. The only character that we wanted to "chase" so to speak was Shaak Ti, and we can confirm that she is in the lineup for late next year. However, after we had pretty much filled up our product plan we stopped probing for the newest news and decided to wait until the game was done to see more. Now that we have seen it, and played it ("experienced" it being the better word choice) we continue to be blown away by the depth and storytelling. There are a myriad of great characters that we would like to do and are looking at future opportunities to do more. So while nothing official is in the works (beyond Shaak Ti) we will be looking at it when we do get together for our
line planning sessions. One thing fans should know is that we are never afraid to chase great characters, and we're pretty confident that you'll be seeing more TFU from us, even though it may not be until 2010. Like the game, it'll be worth the wait.

3.) With the ROTJ cut sandstorm sequence figures making their debut, any chance for figures from the cut Tosche Station sequence from ANH? Or the green-skinned Emperor from the theatrical cut of TESB?

ANSWER: Well now that is an interesting question about the Tosche station scene. Right now, there are no plans but there is something very appealing about those just off-screen scenes and we'll be looking into it. As for the Emperor…it's highly unlikely.

[JediTray]

The Wal-Mart BAD figures were NOT executed well, at least in my region. Even at clearance, they are practically falling off the clearance aisle shelves. I didn't buy them, and don't plan on it in the future. Matter of fact, the entire HasBLO line this year is trash (just my opinion). I will NEVER buy the CW figures, and the Legacy figures only have offered 3 so far that I was interested in. The droid parts get thrown in a drawer for trading or just giving away. I love droids, and I love Astromechs, but I refuse to bow to anymore marketing ploys that encourage "gotta have it all" reactions.

[pod]

I will have to strongly disagree with jeditray here, as I found the wave very exciting, in that we received some great new characters in the astromechs, as well as a long awaited C-3PX, and also Vader's cool looking droid. I'm also looking at Hasbro's use of "Spectacular" and thinking some more exciting characters & army builders will be in the next wave. How about a Clone pilot, or some never before released rebel pilots? This is a concept that has been begging to be done for years, and I, for one, am excited to see what Hasbro can do with it.

I don't know where you live, but I was traveling cross country from Southern California to the midwest about a month after their release, and stopped at about a dozen Walmarts along the way, and these sets were *heavily* picked over at almost all of them. Many stores were entirely lacking in certain sets, particularly the Kit Fisto & Vader. And come on, 2 figures for $10 is great deal any way you look at it!