DePriest says no more low articulation on drivers?

[Jay West]

I don't know if this has been touched on or not, but just saw at generals joes that DePriest says no more crappy articulated drivers. He admits that it might mean no drivers at all, but that the t-crotches are gone as long as he is in charge.

ComicCon news and information from Hasbro G.I. Joe team | Generals Joes - A blog about the importance (or unimportance) of little plastic men (http://generalsjoes.com/2012/07/16/comiccon-news-and-information-from-hasbro-g-i-joe-team/)

Mods I apologize, but I am not sure if it is cool to link other sites. If not I am sorry and feel free to remove it.

[CobraOfficer999]

Updated BC Duke? Personally, I'm sick of the core characters. As far as I'm concerned, we've had enough versions of Duke, Destro and the rest of the core characters produced over the last decade to tide us over for quite a while. Give the core characters a rest for a few years, Hasbro. I'd rather get Kwinn, Salvo, or another less produced character. And T-crotches are horrible. I'd rather just have the vehicles.

[Brcall]

Why did he have to tease us with talk of an updated WHALE and modular Terrordrome???

[Xerofall]

Yeah, if I had his attention I would never ask about getting a Battle Corps Duke. I can't tell if that was a joke or not.

[capamerica3232]

Yeah i just got the new ninja combat crusier i just hate the no articulation for night fox.

[BvH]

Why did he have to tease us with talk of an updated WHALE and modular Terrordrome???

Oh man, a modular Terrordrome?!?

http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy279/baronvonhungster/Animated_Gifs/kobe_10_score.gif

[M_renegade]

I don't buy -usually- vehicles, but i do buy the drivers loose.

I'd gladly buy single carded drivers, and i'm sure there are more like me. We already had Wild Bills, Hiss Drivers and Aces; i can't see why we can't have those awesome Clutchs (the concept vault and the Retaliation one), the armored Hiss CC, or that awesome Night Fox from the Retaliation van in a single card (with few accesories, a helmet and a gun, for example)

[CobraOfficer999]

Oh man, a modular Terrordrome?!?

http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy279/baronvonhungster/Animated_Gifs/kobe_10_score.gif

Now, that, unlike another boring Duke, would be kickass. I'd buy one or two in a heartbeat.

[Sayajin]

I always felt that vehicles would be better with troop builders and have all the drivers carded.

[PhantomStranger]

I am perfectly fine with this, if not downright happy.

I'd rather have no driver than a useless one. The plastic and money spent of those abominations can go elsewhere, like making Night Landing sets for the future.

That Battle Corp Duke question was really off the wall, screw that gimme M.A.S.K. or Kwinn, 30th style Lady Jaye and Flint. Or, if they are going to release more 'core' characters, at least re-release fantastic versions like POC w3 SE. I bet you could make all of Snake-Eyes' accessories out of one of those damn JP toy line reject drivers.

[Griff]

Well I take all this news of modular this and no reduced whatever that as speculative until I see them on store shelves and pegs. Its nice to hear the speech but until its in stores its all speculative.

[Rhetoric]

The recently revealed NLC is a model of what should be a replacement for less-articulated drivers- a weapons crate chock-full of guns and such, brilliant. So much opportunity here!

[CobraOfficer999]

Speaking of core characters, I just started a new poll inspired by the question "Are we going to get an updated BC Duke?"
If you're interested, here's the link:
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-toys-modern-general-discussion/250826-what-do-you-feel-hasbro-should-do-core-characters-poll.html

[thairestauranteur]

Depriest is a dick head.

Bought some stuff from him years back and tried to have a polite discussion about all things Joe. I tried to request him to consider certain figures to remake and he just blew me off.

The man's job is not that important to unilaterally blow off customers. This behavior is indicative of everything that is Hasblo. That although adult collectors may not be the major portion of their G.I.Joe revenue, that is no excuse just to spoon feed us what they want instead of what the collectors desire.

Depriest's idea of what the collectors want is summed up with ninjas and zombies. Yeah right.

Some dufas by the name of Golder watched "Zombieland" and thought it was the greatest things since Wilder and Pryor and thought they should reinvest the entire line in them. Not only that but they gave Zombieland screenwriters the job of writing Retardation.

I may be a jack ass but Goldner and Depriest are 10x what I am.

[CobraOfficer999]

^^^I saw that movie, too. I thought it was a B-horror flick at best, a creepy attempt at a comedy at worst. It had some good parts, but I hardly think it qualifies as the best film I ever saw. Hardly good enough to inspire any toys.

[Night_Force_GI_EDDO]

actually zombieland was quite clever, and i rather liked it.

[CobraOfficer999]

Why did he have to tease us with talk of an updated WHALE and modular Terrordrome???

Now, a new WHALE would be truely glorious.

[M_renegade]

Depriest is a dick head.

Bought some stuff from him years back and tried to have a polite discussion about all things Joe. I tried to request him to consider certain figures to remake and he just blew me off.

The man's job is not that important to unilaterally blow off customers.

Consider the amount of people that probably ask him to "consider certain figures" and you'll get it. *shrug*

I don't blame him, considering that most likely, 99% of people approaching him are "hardcore fans" that only want "their" figures, and the way "they" like it.

At least he seems to understand that the less articulated drivers is a brutal mistake. Not saying he would certainly do something about it, but at least he understands and acknowledges the issue.

.

[Jinx723]

Now, a new WHALE would be truely glorious.

A W.H.A.L.E. you say. I'll believe it when I see on the shelves at TRU. If it comes w/ a new Cutter (instead of Gung Ho clone) I'll buy a few and make room for them.

[Headman]

Kwinn sucks. That is all.

[r3v3n63]

Well, if they claim to be listening to the consumers then here goes...
If given a choice between a killer vehicle and no driver vs. a sub-par vehicle AND driver I would choose just the vehicle. I understand Hasbro believes that including a driver with a vehicle will be more enticing to buy since it's like your getting a package deal but back in the day you could get the smaller vehicles without a driver and they sold just fine. Even made me want to get specific carded figures as the driver. And drivers were something special, not frankinfigs but something unique to that toy which made it more desirable.
And if they are taking suggestions then what about less vehicle choices but better designs on the fewer that are released? Instead of trying to put out so many different vehicle what about a few but make them with better scale and detail? I would buy multiples of the same vehicle and fleet them out if I thought they were impressive enough to do it. Most of the things I've seen recently don't look like they were designed by someone who loves them, just cranked out to fill a quota space. I feel like vehicles for Joe have suffered, we seem to mostly get retools of older stuff and the few new things we get seem dumbed down a lot. The new HISS tank for POC was the only vehicle that I thought had some effort put to it.
Spring-loaded missiles? Electronic gadgetry? Reduced articulation drivers? Keep em. To me nothing is more interactive then removable engine covers or missiles/bombs that you removed yourself or empty spaces not filled with springs and electronics but where troops could sit, doors that open, colors that made fantasy vehicles look military and not a clown car. Things like that may seem kinda retro but what made me WANT Joes to begin with was that kind of attention. Star Wars was fine when it came out but GI Joe was an ACTION figure with vehicles that was almost like getting a model kit that could take some punishment!
So, that's my thoughts. I'm glad they say the articulation is going to go back up. Sounds like they were rushed but they seem to be focusing solely on the movie and not the product that follows when it was the product first that made the movie possible. If the quality goes and if Hasbro only focuses on getting product out and not caring about the potential memories these items can make then it's no wonder the franchise keeps suffering.

[Sgt Major Haley]

I actually like the idea of the drivers being sold individualy. If this is true, Im glad I passed on the Ghost Hawk II now.

[Crimson Rage]

So little kids buying the vehicles are going to be disappointed to find no driver at all..? I know that, if I spent all my pocket money on a (quite large) vehicle like the Ghost Hawk back in the day and had to play with it 'empty' until I could afford some figures, I would have been.

[CobraOfficer999]

^^^But, on the other hand, If you did get a figure with the vehicle and you couldn't get decent enough movement out of it because of the company's cost cutting, what would you have done then?

[minstrelboy]

I'd rather have no driver than an under-articulated driver.

[Sgt Major Haley]

So little kids buying the vehicles are going to be disappointed to find no driver at all..? I know that, if I spent all my pocket money on a (quite large) vehicle like the Ghost Hawk back in the day and had to play with it 'empty' until I could afford some figures, I would have been.

How many of the Star Wars vehicles came with figures back in the 80s? Hell, how many come with figures now.....

Its nice to buy a vehicle with a figure, but if the kid really wants the figure/vehicle that bad they will find some way to get it, birthday/xmas....

[Jmacq1]

^^^But, on the other hand, If you did get a figure with the vehicle and you couldn't get decent enough movement out of it because of the company's cost cutting, what would you have done then?

Moot point, given that even with their limited articulation, the Retaliation drivers do fit in their respective vehicles, which seemed to be what Crimson Rage was getting at. Nevermind that "back in the day" the Retaliation drivers would have been outstanding figures with poseability on-par with Star Wars or Fisher-Price's Adventure People and sculpts that were 10 times as detailed. Put a Retaliation HISS Cobra Commander in my hand as a 5 or 6 year old and it probably would've been one of my favorite figures of all time. Kids don't gravitate towards articulation nearly as much as adults (as proven by many less-articulated lines than G.I. Joe that sell well with kids as opposed to nearly only adult collectors).

I don't really care either way: If it's a good vehicle, I'll buy it, but the under-articulated drivers didn't get me nearly as upset as some folks around here (even if the complaints are understandable and valid): They were basically designed to sit in the vehicle and that's about it. For that purpose, they're not bad at all. However, I'd be perfectly fine with driver-less vehicles if the vehicles are still good.

The real bottom line is that articulation is more of a selling point for adult collectors than kids in general.

[Jmacq1]

Bleh, double-post

[Adamantite]

Did this DePriest person just get hired? Otherwise, the reduced articulation drivers already happened under his watch. "You have my commitment that we won’t be doing these lesser articulated drivers anymore" doesn't really have any weight.

[Rainbow Viper]

I always thought though they said vehicles don't sell well unless it has a figure included? I have to admit that I probably wouldn't buy a vehicle at all if it didn't include a figure. I also don't buy figures with no articulation either so there's that too.

[Jim_Beutel]

Depriest is a dick head.

Bought some stuff from him years back and tried to have a polite discussion about all things Joe. I tried to request him to consider certain figures to remake and he just blew me off.

The man's job is not that important to unilaterally blow off customers. This behavior is indicative of everything that is Hasblo. That although adult collectors may not be the major portion of their G.I.Joe revenue, that is no excuse just to spoon feed us what they want instead of what the collectors desire.

Depriest's idea of what the collectors want is summed up with ninjas and zombies. Yeah right.

Some dufas by the name of Golder watched "Zombieland" and thought it was the greatest things since Wilder and Pryor and thought they should reinvest the entire line in them. Not only that but they gave Zombieland screenwriters the job of writing Retardation.

I may be a jack ass but Goldner and Depriest are 10x what I am.

Funny, I had a very nice conversation with him at JoeCon. I found him to be intelligent, thoughtful, and with a good sense of humor. I told him what I really liked, and what I didn't like, and why. I talked with him about how I thought the vehicle drivers were absolutely fantastic sculpts, and how it was actually a shame to waste those amazing sculpts with only 5 PoA. He actually listened, and at no point did I feel like I was being "blown off". We also had a laugh over his demonstrating the Battle Kata technique (which showed his sense of humor, I thought). I've never met Goldner, so I can't comment on him.

[Jim_Beutel]

Also, John Warden flat out said at Con that reduced articulation figures were a value added deal for parents buying the vehicles for their kids. It was felt that adding a reduced articulation figure would seem to be a better value for the parent, since they were getting a driver/pilot too, and not having to spend another 10 bucks for a figure. It was also mentioned that the articulation was cut so they could spend more money on the vehicle.

[Stoner]

Zombies are in...And there was Zombies in Joe before now........Toxo Zombie ring a bell

[ChaplainAsst]

Zombies are in...And there was Zombies in Joe before now........Toxo Zombie ring a bell

Yeah - but not a whole line of Zombies. It is one thing for there to be a random Cobra Zombie, but another thing altogether for major characters to be zombies! That stuff is irreversible!

Seriously, it was a good call stopping both this and the ninja lines. They might good in a limited online exclusive or for a convention, but these are definitely moving away from the core GI Joe mythos.

On the other hand, these would be perfect for the whole Marvel Zombies comics!

[Stoner]

Yeah - but not a whole line of Zombies. It is one thing for there to be a random Cobra Zombie, but another thing altogether for major characters to be zombies! That stuff is irreversible!

Seriously, it was a good call stopping both this and the ninja lines. They might good in a limited online exclusive or for a convention, but these are definitely moving away from the core GI Joe mythos.

On the other hand, these would be perfect for the whole Marvel Zombies comics!

Exclusive 7 packs would be the way to go here....Although...kids like Zombies and Ninjas...so single packed figs on the pegs would sell

[ChaplainAsst]

On the topic of the interviews, it is kind of ridiculous for a guy to throw out his hope for ANOTHER Duke. That was pretty unprofessional and DePriest's reaction seemed to show that he got the Joe community when he asked, "Do fans want that?", as if to say, "I thought they were sick of Duke?" Don't feed Hasbro's desire to make the whole line Duke, CC, Destro, SS, and SE!

I'm thinking DePriest is jumping all over the cost saving measures of not having to pack in a driver and forcing mom's to have to fork over $10 for a driver. Personally, if they keep the price low as they have so far, I'm ok with a $15 vehicle or $20 bravo vehicle without a driver. It would be even better if they were $5 cheaper sans driver!

[Stoner]

On the topic of the interviews, it is kind of ridiculous for a guy to throw out his hope for ANOTHER Duke. That was pretty unprofessional and DePriest's reaction seemed to show that he got the Joe community when he asked, "Do fans want that?", as if to say, "I thought they were sick of Duke?" Don't feed Hasbro's desire to make the whole line Duke, CC, Destro, SS, and SE!

I'm thinking DePriest is jumping all over the cost saving measures of not having to pack in a driver and forcing mom's to have to fork over $10 for a driver. Personally, if they keep the price low as they have so far, I'm ok with a $15 vehicle or $20 bravo vehicle without a driver. It would be even better if they were $5 cheaper sans driver!

Agree 100%

[MJjoe4life]

I would be down with no driver at all, if that is the route they choose. N e thing is better than the crap that is in there now with the retaliation drivers.

[cmderinchief]

This must have got lost in JoeCon coverage. I thought this was discussed there. Oh well, let's call this a news review.

[BigBri1001]

That's true, no driver with the vehicle sell the driver separate carded. and please please tell me he is serious about the remake of the whale that would be great.

[sbartek1974]

They throw out the scrap???!!! Shoot, if they have figures that won't sell and they are already willing to drop the price to clearence them out, why don't they put up a scrap or clearence section on their website and let the fans order them?

So he says: An old vehicle that we made new molds for? I'd like to do the Terror Drome, but make the interior modular, or make it expandable by being able to add another floor! Maybe the WHALE, too.

So is he saying that those are two old vehicle/playsets that they have already made new molds for? That's what is looks like to me.

[DaSmokeEater]

Maybe I'm late to the party with this one, but does anyone else think the "Iron Bear" figure from this year's Con set resembles Darryl DePriest?

[DaSmokeEater]

Because you can write off scrap at full value and get more than you could by clearancing it at that price.

They throw out the scrap???!!! Shoot, if they have figures that won't sell and they are already willing to drop the price to clearence them out, why don't they put up a scrap or clearence section on their website and let the fans order them?

So he says: An old vehicle that we made new molds for? I'd like to do the Terror Drome, but make the interior modular, or make it expandable by being able to add another floor! Maybe the WHALE, too.

So is he saying that those are two old vehicle/playsets that they have already made new molds for? That's what is looks like to me.

[sbartek1974]

Because you can write off scrap at full value and get more than you could by clearancing it at that price.

Yeah, I know that. I was just being selfish and looking at it from my end. :)

[cobracobra]

So what landfill in china do I need to be flying to this weekend? Daddy needs a POC Alpine. : )

[speedlgt]

i think he means NO drivers anymore, I would rather have a 5 pt figure than no figure.
I basically think of it as a free fig

[alcoholic ewok]

^^^I saw that movie, too. I thought it was a B-horror flick at best, a creepy attempt at a comedy at worst. It had some good parts, but I hardly think it qualifies as the best film I ever saw. Hardly good enough to inspire any toys.

whatever, a Tallahassee figure would be sweet. Along with Bill Fuckin' Murray. The rest of the movie? Eh, forget it.

[SolidSnakeEyes]

whatever, a Tallahassee figure would be sweet. Along with Bill Fuckin' Murray. The rest of the movie? Eh, forget it.

Zombie Bill Murray with a vacuum cleaner proton pack. Yes.

[Jim_Beutel]

i think he means NO drivers anymore, I would rather have a 5 pt figure than no figure.
I basically think of it as a free fig

^^^ This. I would take anyone's unwanted 5 PoA's. They'd make great mechanics and techs for the vehicles (How many PoA's does Clutch need to be posed under a VAMP?).

[DarkHorse]

It's probably already been mentioned, but I'd rather keep the 5 poa driver than none at all UNLESS the price drops for a vehicle without a figure(which it won't).

I bet Hasbro are laughing their asses off now, they get to save a few bucks and blame it on the fans. Again.

[Raw Dog]

That means the 5 points of articulation drivers we've already gotten are now collector's items! Woo-Hoo, 4 day weekend!

[Jettfire]

This is just clearing the runway for a fully articulated Cross-Country.

[Troops of Doom]

No drivers isn't a big loss if the only alternative is those crappy T-crotch versions.

[CrimsonGuard101]

Believe it when I see it...I'f prefer no more drivers with vehicles anyway and bring down their costs. Maybe then we can get real vehicles..the PTE IFV I got is wicked cool compared to most Joe products currently available and that's sad when a Chinese knock off toy company is out doing America's biggest Toy manufacturer...

[Jmacq1]

They throw out the scrap???!!! Shoot, if they have figures that won't sell and they are already willing to drop the price to clearence them out, why don't they put up a scrap or clearence section on their website and let the fans order them?

So he says: An old vehicle that we made new molds for? I'd like to do the Terror Drome, but make the interior modular, or make it expandable by being able to add another floor! Maybe the WHALE, too.

So is he saying that those are two old vehicle/playsets that they have already made new molds for? That's what is looks like to me.


No, he's speaking purely hypothetically. No new molds.

[Darth_Risar]

Kwinn sucks. That is all.

This coming from someone with the screen name "Headman"

[zedhatch]

So he says: An old vehicle that we made new molds for? I'd like to do the Terror Drome, but make the interior modular, or make it expandable by being able to add another floor!

I think it's funny how when asked about a Modular Death Star for SW he was all "no modular won't sell" but with a Terrordrome he sings another tune.

DD says lots of stuff, but I only believe it when I see it, same with these vehicle drivers, only when we start seeing it will i believe it.

[CobraOfficer999]

On the topic of the interviews, it is kind of ridiculous for a guy to throw out his hope for ANOTHER Duke. That was pretty unprofessional and DePriest's reaction seemed to show that he got the Joe community when he asked, "Do fans want that?", as if to say, "I thought they were sick of Duke?" Don't feed Hasbro's desire to make the whole line Duke, CC, Destro, SS, and SE!

I'm thinking DePriest is jumping all over the cost saving measures of not having to pack in a driver and forcing mom's to have to fork over $10 for a driver. Personally, if they keep the price low as they have so far, I'm ok with a $15 vehicle or $20 bravo vehicle without a driver. It would be even better if they were $5 cheaper sans driver!

Yeah, if I were there, I would've told him my views, expressed earlier this thread.

[zedhatch]

Yeah - but not a whole line of Zombies. It is one thing for there to be a random Cobra Zombie, but another thing altogether for major characters to be zombies! That stuff is irreversible!

Seriously, it was a good call stopping both this and the ninja lines. They might good in a limited online exclusive or for a convention, but these are definitely moving away from the core GI Joe mythos.

On the other hand, these would be perfect for the whole Marvel Zombies comics!

I think the Zombie line as presented at the con would have been a cool aside to the regular joe stuff. It's the fimilar taken to a different place, granted after that intial offering I can't see it working much further (maybe another wave's worth, but that's it).

A fun distraction as a sub line but not the main focus.

Kind of agree on the Ninjas, but the one ninja with a skull head was really awesome, he should be released no matter what.

[Marine-73]

Updated BC Duke? Personally, I'm sick of the core characters. As far as I'm concerned, we've had enough versions of Duke, Destro and the rest of the core characters produced over the last decade to tide us over for quite a while. Give the core characters a rest for a few years, Hasbro. I'd rather get Kwinn, Salvo, or another less produced character. And T-crotches are horrible. I'd rather just have the vehicles.

This!!!!!!!!!! I would love some updates to some of the 25ths, Please a Gung Ho that looks like Gung Ho, or updated Leatherneck, single card Alpine to go on the shelf next to "bazooka Brain". Lets show some love to a newer ARAH style Dusty, or go the other way of Cobras extreme weather sets, how about a set of snow joes, Blizzard, Frostbite, Iceberg. anything but another Duke, or cobra commander. We have been given our definitive POC V54 Snake eys and Ren Storm Shadow...we dont need anymore versions of those two, and if your going to do another friggin destro make it an updates version of the ARAH/25th one, or how about a Major Bludd.

[Raw Dog]

I'd love an updated version of the Battle Corps Duke. BCD is wicked awesome, and totally knows how to kick Cobra's ass.

I'd also rather have less articulated drivers than no drivers at all, but that's just me. That said, drivers with full articulation would be preferable to drivers with just 5 points.

[nighthawk]

As long as they don't re-release the Wave 1 and Wave 2 vehicles with articulated drivers, then I'm ok, as I already bought those vehicles (well, the Wave 1 ones anyways)

[Zarana]

This is just clearing the runway for a fully articulated Cross-Country.

Just what I need for all these left over fireworks!

[Fast_Draw]

The figures used to be a selling point to me on the vehicles. I love the 30th vehicles drivers I got (SB Delta, Crimson Hiss driver, Ace from the Skystriker)...even some of the PoC drivers like Night Fox, Storm Rider, and the AV officer. Cool vehicle drivers lead to many repacks around here. I can't tell you how many times I saw the Volcano Viper swapped out at Benny's (local store).

[CobraOfficer999]

^^^I allways wondered where Bennys was. Like New Castle, Its' only in New England, I guess. Wondered that becaue my Guide To Collecting GI Joe By Mark Bellamo mentions that Mudd Fighter/Hisstank 2-pack produced in 1989 was a Benny's Exclusive. Not a single Benny's in Texas.

[Nightrain]

Larger vehicles must always have drivers. Otherwise it would reinforce the notion that anyone can operate them. That's absurd.

[Psycho Joe Guy]

This is just clearing the runway for a fully articulated Cross-Country.

...only if he's sporting a 90's Billy Ray Cyrus mullet and comes with a six-pack of PBR as an accessory.

[goosetuber]

Hey y'all

Let's not forget that there were many ARAH vehicles that were substantial that never came with drivers. Sky Hawk, fang, trouble bubble, flak, LCV, dreadnok cycle, Ram, jump, Claw, outpost defender, checkpoint alpha, night landing, pogo, buzz boar......

We bought those-heck I even bought a road-toad- without drivers! Would it be that bad to not get a driver? Even better, let hasbro throw in a head or specialty helmet, or web gear for the vehicle operator instead of the 5point figure. The head is essentially all the figure has that compatible now.

Also, I think that many of us would have loved to have had the opportunity to buy a single card SB Delta, Crimson Horseman, Storm Rider, volcano viper instead of two different versions of the cobra trooper whose only difference was equipment. Heck since they come with reduced stuff dump them off at dollar general at a $6 price point and watch them fly off the shelves