Post by: Clocktower on March 02, 2005, 11:27:48 AM
Hasbro tried a number of times to relaunch their flagship brand, but sadly (to some people) to no avail.
When issue began to arise and the people of the world's mindset began to drift back to those good old days of the 80's and the cool toys they used to play with as a kid, suddenly Hasbro became excited to develope their Joe line further - this being said, we began to see 3 packs showing up at TRU and then it happened, the day we were looking forward to as Joe fans for over half a decade... they were back.
This time, the toys were awarded a renewed success through the older fans, and a new group of kids that were drawn to the line due to the conflicts happening around them.
But here we are again, the world is getting sick and tired of war again and we discover the sales of Joe are slumping again (of course that would have nothing to do with the fact Hasbro cut their own throats by ignoring 17% of their Joe market share - Canada).
Now we have Sigma Six and the "SHUT DOWN" of the 3 3/4 line. Why, you ask?
Hasbro is in the game to make money, simple as that. You might have a million collectors wanting to buy these action figures, but if you update them, make a cartoon that looks like a carbon copy of all the other cartoons that are doing well at the moment, then you make what looks like a civilian version of a military power ranger toy, you all of a sudden open you market to at least 45 million children at any given time.
(Based on the average age of child watching, and is only counting the American market share).
So with all this said, who do you think Hasbro cares about --- let me tell you this, it's not the group that is 45 times smaller than their target market.
Post by: Jon S. on March 02, 2005, 05:29:18 PM
Once Hasbro gets dumped by the little ones, they'll come back to us.
Post by: Spillspleen on March 02, 2005, 09:19:36 PM
G.I.Joe Extreme :(
Both ?The New? Joes of the next generation?both a total flop!!! :lol:
And I thought Joes were an anti-terrorist like toy?not a war toy?I have never thought of them as a war toy?they would have to be?"at war"?like two countries fighting each other and blowing things up?! Joes are more like James Bond and the espionage thing than war?at least from my point of view!
Post by: Jon S. on March 03, 2005, 02:23:52 AM
Quote
Joes are more like James Bond and the espionage thing than war?at least from my point of view!
Dude, they drive around in tanks and wear military fatigues. :)
Post by: morgardee on March 03, 2005, 09:02:44 AM
There were some proto type figures made so that leads me to believe the molds were made, but I could be wrong on that. If there were molds made, why didn't hasbro use them this time around. I have one of the Battle Ranger Flint molds made from project 95 and that is one awesome mold. I wish Hasbro or the Master Collector group would have dug those up.
Post by: Clocktower on March 03, 2005, 06:28:42 PM
Quote from: ""Spillspleen""
Also the target group is probably measured in the 1000?s not millions for any toy/cartoon now-a-days?there is to many other items on the market?like video games and so on that take a big bite out of action figures!
In regards to the "Target Group", that is not the same as a "Test Group". If Hasbro measured their target market in the thousands then I think (and correct me if I am wrong) none of us would ever see G.I.Joe again.
Post by: Clocktower on March 03, 2005, 06:31:57 PM
Quote from: ""Spillspleen""
SGT. Savage :(
G.I.Joe Extreme :(
Both ?The New? Joes of the next generation?both a total flop!!! :lol:
And I thought Joes were an anti-terrorist like toy?not a war toy?I have never thought of them as a war toy?they would have to be?"at war"?like two countries fighting each other and blowing things up?! Joes are more like James Bond and the espionage thing than war?at least from my point of view!
And in case you are wondering about the validity of my information, as the creator of an animated series and toy line (which is in development with Bandai Toys and Nelvana with hopes of being picked up). Let me assure you, I have done my research.
In case you are questioning that, please feel free to visit my web site at www.naturesguard.com
Post by: BHMike on March 03, 2005, 06:52:34 PM
After all is said and done, Hasbro does suck.
...... and they should hang the guy that invented the 'mohawk Zartan'. :-)
mike
Post by: morgardee on March 03, 2005, 07:00:12 PM
Post by: Clocktower on March 03, 2005, 07:24:30 PM
Quote from: ""BHT""
Hey guys, trust me when I say Clocktower should know what he's talking about.
After all is said and done, Hasbro does suck.
...... and they should hang the guy that invented the 'mohawk Zartan'. :-)
mike
Thanks for the nod mike.
And yeah, that $#!#*%&^ should be hung by his toe nails until he turns the same colour as that mohawk.
:wink:
Post by: Scramble on March 04, 2005, 10:47:59 AM
He was neither Zartan enough to be that character or Ninja enough to be in that subset. He had Zartan's make-up. That was all.
Post by: Clocktower on March 04, 2005, 05:39:06 PM
Quote from: ""Scramble""
Sorry Morgardee, but there's more things wrong with that Zartan than just colours. The ninjar inarticulation for one. And the fact that this was only Zartan v2, almost ten years after the release of the original iconic version of the character, and that's what we get?
He was neither Zartan enough to be that character or Ninja enough to be in that subset. He had Zartan's make-up. That was all.
So, what are you saying?
Do you like Pink (really orange) mohawk Zartan, or not?
:wink:
Post by: Jon S. on March 05, 2005, 03:40:26 PM
I put JvC's black hood on hockey Zartan. Works great.
Post by: Spillspleen on March 05, 2005, 07:48:51 PM
Quote
(of course that would have nothing to do with the fact Hasbro cut their own throats by ignoring 17% of their Joe market share - Canada).
Last time I looked Canada was less tan 1/10th of the population of the U.S (Current numbers sugest our population is 9.25% of the U.S.).....and we have a much larger group of aging citizens...so what am I missing when these number and become 17% ?has someone measured the amount of collectors out there????...lol?!!!!
Also I do not think any one toy line goes after every child and child age group (45 million in the U.S?.this is not a vaccination for chicken pocks it?s a boys action figure line)?last time I was at the toy store I saw many different groups of toy marketed at many different age groups and then of course there is the gender split. Any toy out there targeting such a large group seems to have gone a little overboard. One thing I am sure everyone will agree to is that Hasbro has made many errors in the past?like Sgt. Savage and so on?and Sigma six will be another?kind of like some guy who knows what he is talking about (by canceling the 3 3/.4 line) is about to make another one or two year span toy which will fail?!!!
Post by: Pete The Greek on March 07, 2005, 01:40:45 AM
And I maintain the guys now running the GI JOE department don't have a clue. They want to make money but yet double productions costs (i.e 3 3/4 to 8") to launch Sigma Six. Isn't petroleum demand is getting higher? Didn't they whine the reason why the o-rings were first removed was because they were an added production expense :roll:. So lets go to 8" of plastic to market the brand. Why are other companies including Toy Biz going with 4" figures now? Why not release Sigma Six in 3 3/4 single packs instead for 4 US, so they can sell instead of becoming peg warmers? A cheaper product will move faster than an expensive one. I don't need to work in the toy or cartoon business to figure out dumb business practices.
Post by: Spillspleen on March 07, 2005, 05:19:41 PM
Post by: Clocktower on March 08, 2005, 02:39:57 PM
Quote from: ""Pete The Greek""
So Hasbro wants to go in a different direction (more like jumping the amine bandwagon if you ask), then fine. A cartoon is a great move. But you need product to be under 10 CAN bucks for parents to consider buying a few Sigma Six figures in order to justify the cartoon existence. The 15 US price tag will be a deterrent for most parents. They might buy one but not 2 or 3 figures within this North American economy (i.e. higher taxes, higher bills, anti-war etc.). Also there are other toy lines out there like Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers etc. that sell for less than 10 bucks. Kids can bitch and whine all they want. It's the parents that have to shell out for the product.
And I maintain the guys now running the GI JOE department don't have a clue. They want to make money but yet double productions costs (i.e 3 3/4 to 8") to launch Sigma Six. Isn't petroleum demand is getting higher? Didn't they whine the reason why the o-rings were first removed was because they were an added production expense :roll:. So lets go to 8" of plastic to market the brand. Why are other companies including Toy Biz going with 4" figures now? Why not release Sigma Six in 3 3/4 single packs instead for 4 US, so they can sell instead of becoming peg warmers? A cheaper product will move faster than an expensive one. I don't need to work in the toy or cartoon business to figure out dumb business practices.
I never said they were doing the RIGHT thing, granted, I like Sigma 6, but I would still rather have my 3 3/4 Joes.
Post by: Pete The Greek on March 12, 2005, 12:44:39 AM
Quote from: ""Clocktower""
I never said they were doing the RIGHT thing, granted, I like Sigma 6, but I would still rather have my 3 3/4 Joes.
Oh they will do the right thing with the Star War toys coming up. This is what bugs me with Hasbro.
Post by: Spillspleen on March 12, 2005, 01:07:52 AM
G.I.Joe...who the heck are they...a Canadain would hardly know...except for about 20 years ago when Star Wars was finished because of a action figure with battle action swivel arm grip and snap on stay accessories...!!!