Why is Hasbro re-using parts incorrectly with the new figures they make?

[slim19722]

Hasbro already said, classic fig's would run along side movie fig's. From what they said in the Q&A, only thing that seems would change would be the packaging. Classic fig's in movie style packaging.

[gunslingercbr]

I think it has to do with what molds are available for production. let's not forget, they only have a set amount of molds produced, and that is why they reuse them for other figures -- so they don't have to make new molds. sculpting the figures is the cheap part, it is making the actual molds that can stand up to thousands of uses that is expensive.

so, let's take Falcon for example. they have to reuse a mold to make the figure to keep expenses down. sure, it would have made better sense to use that new TF Flint molds, but maybe those molds are occupied making TF Flints, or another figure we don't know about, while Falcon is being produced, so they can't use that mold. just because it exists doesn't mean it is available. those molds have a production schedule that dictate their availability that the figures are planned around. thus, they go to the mold that will work comparably and make the figure out of that -- Duke's arms instead.

same with Tripwire. perhaps the smoothed padding mold is being occupied because Major Bludd or AVAC is being produced, so they use the padded one. it doesn't make sense to produce an entirely new mold for Tripwire, that defeats the purpose of reusing already manufactured molds.

just a little production and operations factors that also have to be considered. like I said, I think the general assumption is that just because a mold exists it should always be available to make a figure, which isn't the case. it could be being occupied to produce another figure. alot of factors and scheduling go into making these figures and getting them released at certain and specific times that we just don't know about.

[kissmekillme]

Originally Posted by Deckard

And why not have the modern style seperate from the movie line? why not just have the two lines? What is so bad about that? sure the movie will keep joe in the exposure but with the 25th styled line already running strong i think it would be silly not to keep it running along side the movie line. It would prompt even more sales of both lines in my opinion. anyone else agree?

Two lines in such similar context dilutes brand strength and has Joe competing with itself. A single movie line provides a strong focus backed by massive media exposure. Two lines would split the sales, ultimately weakening both.

[Agent-GHQ]

Anyone interested in a QA position with Hasbro?

I think it would be nice if one of us really worked for Hasbro in QA or one of the design team.

[Xenomech]

Originally Posted by jjk1120

We all should know that the 25 (or Modern Era) line should be stopping once the movie comes out,

LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

[Magick]

All I have to say about the Tripwire, is that as far as I know..the only pics out there are still in Proto satge, so we could still end up with a smooth armored Trippy.

As for the rest of your complaints.. i'm sure there is a fan club somewhere called " I could have made it better "

Not knocking this thread at all, I agree with pretty much all of it. There are things that could have been easy fixes, but alas were either over looked or rushed through without fully thinking. I mean why did we have to wait another wave to get a Bludd figure that isn't bad, but could have been better. All because they wanted to get the head sculpt right.. translation.. we just wanted to make the helmet nonremovable so we didn't have to try and sculpt hair.

Either way we keep buying and those of us that can customize..

One complaint I do have though.. Why doesn't Roadblock..and now Copperhead (Same molds) have the second articulation at the knee? Now that I think about it...I don't think either version of Destro has the articualtion as well. This could be fixed.. and as soon as I get my hands on a few more parts.. Copperhead will have that articualtion and a removable helmet...

[spacemonkeymafia]

Originally Posted by Magick

All I have to say about the Tripwire, is that as far as I know..the only pics out there are still in Proto satge, so we could still end up with a smooth armored Trippy.

They are in package so pretty much what you see is what your going to get..........

[shlappyguy]

Originally Posted by gunslingercbr

perhaps the smoothed padding mold is being occupied because Major Bludd or AVAC is being produced, so they use the padded one.

I would be very happy if the reason we got a quilted-fresh Tripwire is because we are getting a non-sucktacular Major Bludd.

[snakeeyes0217]

Gang,

I know for a fact that the guys on the design team are as geeky or geekier than members of our little group. If they could fix the things that we are complaining about...they WOULD. There are so many other factors beyond simply getting it "right" in play such as the demands of stores, production, and budgets. The designers make tough decisions every day trying to put out the best line possible.

Any concerns one of us would bring up if we were "on staff" would have already been discussed so really nothing would change.

But while we're on this thread, I have to say, I don't care what exraneous circumstances required them to make a Nemesis Enforcer...that's a complete waste of unique tooling (molds) in my mind. When are they ever going to be able to use any of those parts again?! And the BUTT UGLY Falcon head sculpt only adds insult to injury and there's no excuse for bad sculpting.

[polyphenus]

It all boils down to good business decisions. It's more economical for Hasbro to make characters with parts that can be interchanged to make other characters. It maximizes the use of a given mold and ensures that new characters can be made for cheaper than if entirely new sculpts and molds were created.

The thing we need to keep in mind is that this is no longer the 1980s, which was a big toy renaissance in terms of quality toys and selling power of cartoon shows. Back then kids would snatch everything up and there were fewer peg warmers overall than today. Toy companies could churn out new products and entirely new toy lines and almost be guaranteed that those toys would sell. Today things are different in that kids play with a lot more than just action figures. Take a look at the layout of a Toys R Us today and compare it to what it once looked like twenty years ago. The video game department is almost big enough to be its own store!

Factor the development time, economics, and risk involved in toy companies putting out new action figures that may ultimately bomb with the masses (and it’s happened a LOT in recent years) and you'll get less stock to buy. I am by no means apologizing for Hasbro but am merely trying to realistically analyze the situation. Hasbro knows that we, the collectors, are buying this toy line. In the last year I have never seen a child express interest in the new G.I. Joe line. Kids simply don't play with these toys any more. I know there are instances to the contrary that are posted here but those kids are descended from the "O.G." Joe collectors from days gone by. If Hasbro cranked out Joe product like they did twenty-five years ago then there would be a lot more than four Buzzers hanging on the pegs at your local Target…

I'm just as fed up with certain aspects of this current Joe line as other people but I'm at least given a little consolation by the mere fact that we have some new G.I. Joes and Hasbro is continuing to deliver new products that get me as excited for collecting as I was to play with them twenty-five years ago... It could always be a lot worse for G.I. Joe (the DTC line comes to mind first) but at least Hasbro is making an honest attempt to give us back this piece of our childhoods...

Anyway, that post grew into a long comment but that's just my own two cents. Feel free to disregard it if you like...