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10-30-2007RidiculousA little bit of a rant today. Over the weekend I picked up a new Battlestar Galatica Titanium ship. It happened to be the classic Cylon Raider but this pertains to not just that ship but all the ships in the Titanium line for BSG as well as Star Wars, Transformers and I assume, the superhero figures. My problem; packaging. The packaging on this line is ridiculous. There is an outer bubble, inner tray, two paper stickers on the outside (line name and Titanium logo), one or more twist ties, cardboard insert with barcode, cardboard insert with assortment number and graphics, and a cardboard backer. The cardboard insert is taped together then taped in the bubble. The outer bubble is folded over the backer card and taped to it then the backer is folded in half and glued to itself. This sandwiches the part of bubble that wrapped around the card in the middle to secure it better. The amount of packaging on a 3" Titanium vehicle has to cost as much or more than the vehicle itself and creates and incredible amount of waste that needs to be disposed of. For what reason? I don't buy a presentation argument because Hot Wheels cars look just fine on a bubble attached to a cardback with no inserts whatsoever. If it's for security then the Hot Wheels line comes into play again; I don't see pegs full of empty backer cards and ripped bubbles on the Hot Wheels pegs so I wouldn't buy that either. With the potential for much higher toy prices in 2008, not to mention the environmental impact of all the waste, I can't help but think that everyone would benefit from Hasbro taking a look at the packaging they use on their toy lines. Start with the Titanium and then look at the action figures because they're not much when it comes to packaging design. 
Christmas DecorationsKurt S. Adler adds to its growing collection of Star Wars decorations with two new Fabrichés. One depicts two Jawas opening presents while the second is of Boba Fett with a Han Solo Carbonite gift. The Jawa piece is based on Ralph McQuarrie artwork while Fett is original. These should be in stores in November and, based on the ShopStarWars.com prices, I'd guess about $30. There are four previous pieces including C-3PO, R2-D2, Yod and Darth Vader. Two of them, C-3PO and Vader, are still available from ShopStarWars.com. Wave 7JediDefender.com is reporting that wave 7 of the TAC line has started to hit retail and has been found in Southern California. Be on the lookout! Now, if wave 6 would only show up in stores... 10-27-2007Toys-R-UsI just received the Toys-R-Us Big Toy Book and there are a few Star Wars items listed although not all of them have sale prices. The Lego section lists the following exclusives:
In the action figure section they list the following:
There was an insert with a coupon for $10 off a $100 purchase or, with a $75 purchase you can get a $10 gift card. The Gift Card coupon is good from 10/28 - 11/21 while the $10 off $100 is good 10/28 - 12/24. SideshowSideshow posted some new photos of the Padme Ilum Mission figure this week. Padme is currently listed as sold out but you can get on the wait list. 10-26-2007Hasbro 3rd Quarter Profits UpHasbro posted a 64% increase in sales over the third quarter of 2006 based largely on strong sales of Transformers and Spider-Man 3 toys. They've also seen growth in sales of Furreal Friends, My Little Pony, Monopoly and Scrabble. Last week's release of the Transformers DVD and next week's release of Spider-man 3 probably won't hurt sales of those brands. Hasbro is also reporting that sales of toys from the new Marvel license have been strong. There's no mention in the article of Star Wars but there usually isn't in non-movie years. It also looks as if Hasbro might be benefiting from the fact they've had no high profile toy recalls due to lead paint. That could help their Playskool line whereas Mattel has had recalls on some of their Fisher Price toys. 10-25-2007USPS
The new Yoda 41 cent stamp goes on sale today! As you recall, earlier in the year the public voted amongst several Star Wars stamp designs and Yoda won the vote. He's available on sheets of 20 stamps and will be for sale till October 25, 2008. Today also marks the last day that the R2-D2 mailboxes will be on display in the US. The Post Office will pull the mailboxes and send them overseas to US military bases. 10-23-2007HasbroThis past weekend was Sci-Fi Expo in Plano, TX and during the weekend a few cool tidbits of information were released. Probably the most impressive news is that we can expect a large AT-TE vehicle around Christmas 2008. Sandtroopers.com reported this after one of their staff members asked a few questions of Derryl DePriest. On hand were loose and carded examples of the first 2008 wave which will be:
We also now know that the second wave of 2008 figures will be the postponed Force Unleashed wave. The figures that we know of, and have since Toy Fair, include:
Also displayed were the Sith Evolutions set, new comic 2-packs, Mighty Muggs, Unleashed, and General Grievous' starfighter and the AT-AP. Head over to RebelScum.com for their Star Wars Fan Days wrap-up and photo gallery. )
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Gentle GiantAs I mentioned quickly yesterday, Gentle Giant has announced two new busts for 2008 and they are the Jedi Aayla Secura and Shaak Ti. Both of the busts look great with nice poses, paint detail and they both have their lightsabers. The paint detail on these is going to make or break them, however, and I really hope that the production pieces match up with the prototypes that have been shown. Also shown off last week were painted versions of the upcoming animated Emperor maquette and Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku statue. The maquette will retail for $80 while the statue will sell for $230. I have to say that the statue is quite impressive and while I'm not a huge fan of either character, the statue, which is based on art that appeared in the "Insider", is a tempting piece. SideshowIt kind of snuck up on me but back on 10/18 Sideshow posted their new diorama, "Duel with Dooku," for pre-order. Ringing in at $199, the diorama recreates the Attack of the Clones lightsaber duel between Yoda and Count Dooku. There was also a faux bronze version of the diorama available but it is currently sold out. If you're interested, get on the wait list! WizKidsThe first expansion of the new PocketModel TCG game, Ground Assault, will be released on November 14. If you're playing or collecting this game mark that date on your calendar. Master ReplicasMR has announced that the final 1:1 helmet they will do will be an Utapau Shadow Clone Trooper. They are only able to sell Star Wars merchandise until December 31st and this helmet will be the last full sized helmet they release before losing the license. If you have been putting off buying any MR items directly from the company, head over to their web site and see what's left. Get your orders in as the end of 2007 is coming very quickly. 10-22-2007Hosting IssuesHad a problem with my hosting company last week that finally got straightened out Sunday morning. No updates due to that issue so hopefully people have been hitting up RebelScum, JediDefender or some of the other sites as there has been some good news over the last week. Not the least of which are the new Gentle Giant busts that were announced, Aayla Secura and Shaak Ti, along with wave 2 of 2008 being the delayed Force Unleashed wave. I'll get caught up and post an update tomorrow. 10-16-2007Celebration EuropeIf you're interested in some of the artist prints that were sold during Celebration Europe, you might be in luck. ShopStarWars.com is supposed to have a limited selection of prints from CE beginning tomorrow, October 17th. No word yet on prices for the prints or how many there will be. Word is, however, that Hyperspace members will get first shot and be able to order them before the general public. Not all of the artists will have prints available. Some may have sold out or didn't bring them home and others may or may not have been contacted about their extras. For a reminder of what was available, check out RebelScum.com's CE Artist Round-Up. Syracuse Heroes ExpoThis coming Sunday, October 21st, will see the second annual Syracuse Heroes Expo in Syracuse, NY. The show will run from 10:00 A.M. till 6:00 P.M. at the Holday Inn Convention Center in Liverpool. Tickets are $15 and available now on the web site or at the door. There will be two Star Wars guests. Daniel Logan and Bonnie Piesse will both be there signing autographs. Other guests and artists will also be on site and a list can also be found on the Syracuse Heroes Expo web site. 10-15-2007Target Exclusives) Battle of Endor 4-Inches.de has turned up a photo of a second Target Exclusive Battle Pack, probably due this fall. Last month a photo turned up of a Hoth set which included a Rebel Turret, AT-ST and several figures. This time around it looks as though we'll get an Endor set with AT-ST, logs, a pair of Speederbikes and several figures including Han, Chewy, an Ewok and several Imperials. Although Hasbro was asked about this in last Friday's Q&A, along with the Hoth set, not details were given. Matter of fact, they gave their standard "no comment" which is exactly what they did with the Shuttle last year. In other words, expect these any day now. SideshowSideshow has announced a new diorama and this time we can look forward to a representation of the Attack of the Clones duel between Yoda and Count Dooku. HasbroAs I mentioned in the first post, last Friday was Q&A day with Hasbro. One of the questions that they answered was, based on the number of votes, what was the order of the 20 figures in the Saga Legends poll. Here's the answer:
I can say that I'm extremely disappointed that the ARC Trooper and AOTC Clone Trooper w/ turret did so well. Neither figure is up to 2007 standards and both need to be done from the ground up. Even the Evolutions Clone Pilot figure is a better version of that character. I'll also point out again how disappointed I was in seeing 4 Troopers in the top 5. Terrible. 10-10-2007Master Replicas
MR isn't done on the helmet front just yet. They've just announced a 501st Legion Trooper Helmet that will go up for pre-order on October 17th for Collectors Society members. General public will have their shot the next day on the 18th. The helmet is limited to 750 pieces and rings in at $399.00. It's scheduled to ship some time this winter. A 501st helmet was released back in 2006 but that one was called a Special Ops helmet and didn't have the weathering effects that this new 501st version will have. If you're a helmet collector this should be a nice addition to the collection. TargetWhile Target has been behind the game on stocking 30th Anniversary Collection figures this year they seem to be getting Saga Legends figures in. The local store had some from the latest wave yesterday when I stopped in. Several AOTC Clone Commanders, white Pit Droids and a few others were stocked sometime between Monday afternoon and Tuesday. Target is also the first store that I've seen the new Darth Vader/Death Star Transformer in. It hit the shelves sometime last week and as of yesterday there was still at least one on the shelf. Make sure to stop at Target on your toy runs, they are stocking newer items. )
LegoShopStarWars.com has a few new Lego items including some cool watches representing Darth Vader, Clone Trooper, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker. All of them are up for pre-order with estimated shipping dates of October 16th. While you're there, check out all the Lego offerings which also include some cool key chains, magnets and a larger alarm clock that comes with a Clone Trooper and Chewbacca mini figures. ShopStarWars.com also has regular sets in stock but your mileage may vary as far as prices go. 10-8-2007) Boba Fett AcmeOn the heels of the Durge Character Key, Acme has already released their next key for pre-order. Boba Fett is now available exclusively from ShopStarWars.com for $29.99. The key is limited to 1,000 pieces and is scheduled for an October 19th ship date. Sony PSPTuesday, October 9th is the release date for the Sony PSP with Darth Vader graphics. For $199.99 you get the PSP and "Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron." You can also purchase "Renegade Squadron" on it's own for about $40. Check the Sunday ads for stores such as Best Buy and Target which should have this available tomorrow. K-MartK-Mart is running a sale on Star Wars toys this week including action figures for $5.99 and 10-15% off on other items. 
Toys-R-UsToys-R-Us.com has updated with a photo and pre-order for the Ob-Wan Starfighter with Hyperdrive ring. It's coming in at $34.99 with an estimated ship date of January 2008. Also new to TRU.com are lightsabers based on the "Force Unleashed" video game. These are also up for pre-order at $19.99 and are scheduled for a November ship date. The Star Wars Vault"The Star Wars Vault: Thirty Years of Treasures from the Lucasfilm Archives," the latest book from Stephen Sansweet and Peter Vilmur, is up for pre-order and due for release on October 30th. This book will include two CDs along with reproductions of various items dating back to the invitation to the original test screening for Star Wars. This is probably similar to Sansweet's earlier release "Star Wars Scrapbook: The Essential Collection." "The Star Wars Vault" has a list price of $85.00 but is available now for $53.55 from Amazon.com. Additional information on the books content is available on the Amazon.com web site. 10-5-2005HasbroPlenty of Saga Legends figures have popped up at Wal-Mart this week. On Wednesday I found the Lieutenant (blue) Clone Trooper Officer from Attack of the Clones. Yesterday the store was re-stocked with the Captain (red) version. I also found the orange pauldron Sandtrooper and the new all-white Sandtrooper with white pauldron at the same store. One of the Pit Droid 2-packs, white, was on the shelf Wednesday as well. From HasbroToyShop.com I picked up the Commander (yellow) Clone Trooper Officer, Imperial Officer and Pit Droid pack (white) using their 25FALL promo code which saved 25% off the order and included free shipping. According to reports we're looking at least 2 more Sandtrooper variants and I'm after the red and orange Pit Droid packs. But, it's been a good week for Star Wars action figures. No new TAC figures in stores for the last couple of days but I believe I wave 5 may have hit my WM store last weekend as there's a C-3PO with Salacious Crumb left on the pegs. Celebration Europe ExclusivesIf you're looking for some of the CE exclusives you might be in luck. The McQuarrie R2-D2 & C-3PO 2-pack with CE exclusive coin is now available for pre-order on ShopStarWars.com for $19.99 plus shipping. If you are interested in any of the fine prints that the artists produced for CE then keep an eye on ShopStarWars.com as well as it's been announced they will be selling some of those prints this fall. No word on exactly what artists will have prints available or what the prices will be but keep checking the web site for them. SideshowSideshow announced a couple sold out items in their newsletter this week. Both the Medicom VCD C-3PO and "Look Sir, Droids" diorama. They've announced low stock on (200 pieces or less) on the Dejarik Holochess set as well. Sideshow also finally updated with photos of the accessories that will be coming with the Palpatine 12" figure set. The set comes with a Senate camera droid, Sith Holocron, two lightsaber hilts and two ignited lightsabers. In case you missed it, I know I did, Sideshow also announced some edition sizes last week. The Dejarik Holochess set will have 3,000 pieces while regular editions of both Princess Leia and Obi-Wan Kenobi will be set at 5,000. The life-size bust of Bossk checks in at 250. Master ReplicasJust an update on the scaled helmets of Vader and C-3PO that showed up on Radio Shack's web site the other day. Apparently both helmets are fixed to the base and the Vader does not have the reveal feature of the older Riddell version. The sound features are in the base and they each take 2 AA batteries. The light-up eyes on C-3PO are included in the version as they were on Riddell's. Vader's 8 phrases are as follows:
For the price I think the Riddell versions might be the better choice. You should be able to find both on eBay for under $40 shipped if you look. These are cool, however, and should make great Christmas gifts. AcmeIf you ordered the Durge Character Key from characterkey.com then you may have already received a shipping notice. I received my notice on Wednesday and it should be here by October 10th. 10-3-2007Master ReplicasHope you haven't gotten your fill of MR yet, it seems they have two new items available from Radio Shack now. Scaled helmets of Darth Vader and C-3PO and they both have electronics with phrases from the movies. Priced at $49.99 each, they are both listed as having 8 phrases taken from the original sound files. These appear to be re-issues of the Riddell helmets but do have the new Master Replicas stands. They are in stock now and shipping. If you do a search for "Star Wars" on the Radio Shack web site you will also find the new lightsaber laser pointers and look for the build-a-saber sets later this year. Gentle GiantWizard will be selling an exclusive Spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi bust beginning on October 11th for a ship date later in October. The bust is limited to 2,000 pieces and will ring in at $59.99. Although the Wizards site has no photo yet, the bust should be based on the ANH bust that was released earlier this year. Home | AT-AT Driver | Republic Gunship | Features | Multimedia News Archive | Links | For Sale | About
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