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09-08-2015, 03:05 PM | #1 |
Cobra Soldier
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: California
Posts: 37
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On a recent trip to a massive Walmart, I made my habitual visit to the toy department. I was disgusted, but not surprised that there's not one GI JOE product to be seen! However, Lanard's The Corps has an impressive section and a nice stock of the varying scales. I should note, a lot of it has been picked over, lots of empty racks, which indicates to me, they're selling well. I am so impressed with the reboot of the Corps, the new vehicles, the new characters, most of all, the PRICE POINT. Directly across from the Corps are the Mashers': Marvel Super Heroes, dinosaurs from JP, and I noticed even the Ninja Turtles have a mashers' thing going on, called "mutations," where you can mix and match parts from other figures. I think GI JOE is crying out for a mashers-esque incarnation. I think kids and collectors would dig it. I bought the whole line of the Corps Super Soldiers. 4 bucks a pop. 6 characters. They are smaller than Sigma 6, but there's just something about them that's cool. Hasbro has lost in this arena by putting too many eggs in one basket: Those god awful movies depreciated everything about the GI JOE brand. Dump the movies and REBOOT the toys. I want to hear from my fellow hisstankers on this issue. Lanard has shown us creativity, affordability, and I hope there's more to come. They took what made GI JOE cool and made it better.
Last edited by mikeadib; 09-08-2015 at 03:09 PM.. |
09-08-2015, 03:33 PM | #2 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 3,459
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Quote:
On a recent trip to a massive Walmart, I made my habitual visit to the toy department. I was disgusted, but not surprised that there's not one GI JOE product to be seen! However, Lanard's The Corps has an impressive section and a nice stock of the varying scales. I should note, a lot of it has been picked over, lots of empty racks, which indicates to me, they're selling well. I am so impressed with the reboot of the Corps, the new vehicles, the new characters, most of all, the PRICE POINT. Directly across from the Corps are the Mashers': Marvel Super Heroes, dinosaurs from JP, and I noticed even the Ninja Turtles have a mashers' thing going on, called "mutations," where you can mix and match parts from other figures. I think GI JOE is crying out for a mashers-esque incarnation. I think kids and collectors would dig it. I bought the whole line of the Corps Super Soldiers. 4 bucks a pop. 6 characters. They are smaller than Sigma 6, but there's just something about them that's cool. Hasbro has lost in this arena by putting too many eggs in one basket: Those god awful movies depreciated everything about the GI JOE brand. Dump the movies and REBOOT the toys. I want to hear from my fellow hisstankers on this issue. Lanard has shown us creativity, affordability, and I hope there's more to come. They took what made GI JOE cool and made it better.
This is why I love the CORPS! figures so much - they're FUN. Yes, they're military-ish figures but they have a more ARAH/almost superhero-ish feel to them and that works perfectly with the sculpts/designs. I'd love to see Hasbro inject some fun into GI Joe again but I doubt it's going to happen anytime soon, as they have this idea that it all has to be mean and serious and real-world(ish), which just isn't really that much fun for kids, yet at the same time they won't commit to a genuinely serious military toy line...
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09-08-2015, 04:21 PM | #3 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cobra Island & Massachusetts
Posts: 6,378
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Blasphemy!!!!!! The Corps, True Heros, Sentinel 1 all can't hold a candle stick to what Gi joe is. Yes Gi joe is at the bottom of Hasbro's priority list at the moment, but that doesn't mean we should be dragging its good name through the mud. You can't even put them on the same playing field. They are usesless 5poa crap. If Hasbro were to put out the same type figures with the same poor quality and terrible articulation the backlash would be devastating to the adult collector community. Hell they released a couple of 5poa drivers and the internet bitching went off the charts. If Joe ever sinks to the level of Lanard corps count me out.
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09-08-2015, 04:34 PM | #4 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 3,459
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Quote:
Blasphemy!!!!!! The Corps, True Heros, Sentinel 1 all can't hold a candle stick to what Gi joe is. Yes Gi joe is at the bottom of Hasbro's priority list at the moment, but that doesn't mean we should be dragging its good name through the mud. You can't even put them on the same playing field. They are usesless 5poa crap. If Hasbro were to put out the same type figures with the same poor quality and terrible articulation the backlash would be devastating to the adult collector community. Hell they released a couple of 5poa drivers and the internet bitching went off the charts. If you Joe ever sinks to the level of Lanard corps count me out.
Secondly, Hasbro HAS put out figures that were of a much lower quality than Lanard's figures at five times the price. Hasbro simply doesn't know what to do with GI Joe and that's where Lanard trump them: they produce fun, exciting and dynamic figures at a great price and that are actually available at retail, something Hasbro hasn't done with GI Joe for a long time.
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09-08-2015, 07:00 PM | #5 |
I LIVE!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Altus, OK
Posts: 6,087
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I feel the need to dump a little cold reality in here.
First off, I'm not entirely sure it is fair to compare the two, as they have VASTLY different needs and requirements for their product. The Corps has ALWAYS existed as the low cost counterpoint to GI Joe, and as such, they've built their business around low cost, low investment with long production runs. Hasbro has long intended GI Joe to be a premiere toy line sharing space with the likes of Star Wars and Transformers, and has built that line, and its costs, around that idea. That isn't to say that Lanard isn't doing a LOT of things right at the moment. I think the cleverly saw a "gap" in the market with GI Joe MIA at most retailers, and pushed a new angle to fill that gap. Their website, while not QUITE as good as the last, is still leagues ahead of anything Hasbro's done in the past 10 years. They've done a great job on character development, and in production selection to create a compelling range at retail. BUT.... Corps are cheap because Lanard doesn't doesn't spend half as much as Hasbro in tooling and design costs. Guys like Gills, Condor, Ogre, and others are tools first introduced in 2005. Meanwhile, Hasbro routinely gets blasted if they DARE use a mold element older than 2010. With that, the figures themselves are noticably simpler than what Hasbro currently produces for GI Joe (meaning they cost less to produce) due to fewer points of articulation. Even the new female figures STILL have fewer points of articulation than a given 25th figure, and need I remind everyone of the crap storm that erupted in 2012 when we saw figures that dropped DOUBLE knees, ankles and wrists, much less the drivers with 5 POA? The Corps managed to get vehicles out there, but again, are tools stretching back 5-15 years. There was much fuss earlier this year at the use of the classic HISS and AWE Striker vehicles (despite retooling done on both) or the, gasp, THIRD mass release Skystriker since 2012! While Lanard made a solid website for their line, Hasbro generally DOES put more into their marketing than Lanard does, between comics, apps, games, and whatever media they're pushing at the moment. I think what the issue REALLY comes down to is this: Who is the GI Joe line going to service best? A sad reality is that a good majority of active collectors continue to push GI Joe into premium territory with more complex accessories, more articulation, more paint apps, all while keeping almost too much "grounding" in reality. All these features not only drive up the price, but they can also take some of the "fun" away from the line. A great example is the Data Viper: while the control array was a neatly designed accessory, it was horrifically fragile and in no way stood up to even MOVEMENT, much less actual PLAY. And that's if they're not insisting on remakes of half remembered figures from 25 plus years ago that have NO relevance to the mass market (like Kwinn, who had NO place being released in the Retaliation line to begin with). I think going forward, Hasbro's going to have to make some of the same hard decisions as they've done in the Star Wars line in regards to where to focus their efforts going forward. Double so in a line like GI Joe which as lost ENORMOUS ground at retail and doesn't have the luxury of being backed by Disney's merchandising might. And frankly, collectors will NOT like the outcome of a LOT of those decisions. I think Iok hit it right on the head: Quote:
This is why I love the CORPS! figures so much - they're FUN. Yes, they're military-ish figures but they have a more ARAH/almost superhero-ish feel to them and that works perfectly with the sculpts/designs.
I'd love to see Hasbro inject some fun into GI Joe again but I doubt it's going to happen anytime soon, as they have this idea that it all has to be mean and serious and real-world(ish), which just isn't really that much fun for kids, yet at the same time they won't commit to a genuinely serious military toy line...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRealDubya
Any sort of panic at this stage is just pure unsubstantiated reptile brain stem fear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokePants
This is why companies are secretive -- because we all want the truth, but most of us cannot handle it.
Last edited by Steevy Maximus; 09-08-2015 at 09:27 PM.. |
09-08-2015, 08:33 PM | #6 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cobra Island & Massachusetts
Posts: 6,378
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Quote:
I'm not sure if you're confusing the CORPS! figures with some other line. Yes, they did a few limited-articulation figures but they're not all 5 PoA figures.
Secondly, Hasbro HAS put out figures that were of a much lower quality than Lanard's figures at five times the price. Hasbro simply doesn't know what to do with GI Joe and that's where Lanard trump them: they produce fun, exciting and dynamic figures at a great price and that are actually available at retail, something Hasbro hasn't done with GI Joe for a long time. 2nd, What, When, who? I have never had any GI joe I would consider poor quality. Even the 5poa figures were decent in their own right far better than any Corps figure. Lastly, I will agree that Hasbro doesn't know what to do with Joe at the moment but the Brand will survive and it will thrive again. Boys toys is a much different market now than it was in the 80's. HASBRO is basically keeping the brand going for Adult Collectors at this point. Injecting fun into the line might be great for kids, but might not be so much for the adult collector who is its current fan base. Vamping Joe back up and making a more suitable kids toy would change that current demographic which could mean a lot of collectors would loose interest. Which might be fine if the kids bought it but if not then the line is worse off then when it started. Hasbro is currently trying to balance this out. Should they just roll the dice and choose a side? probably but what ever they do it won't please everyone.
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09-08-2015, 10:01 PM | #7 |
I LIVE!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Altus, OK
Posts: 6,087
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Quote:
Quote:
The bikes were junk and the dirt bike broke in all of about 15 minutes of my toddler playing with it.
Quote:
HASBRO is basically keeping the brand going for Adult Collectors at this point. Injecting fun into the line might be great for kids, but might not be so much for the adult collector who is its current fan base. Vamping Joe back up and making a more suitable kids toy would change that current demographic which could mean a lot of collectors would loose interest. Which might be fine if the kids bought it but if not then the line is worse off then when it started. Hasbro is currently trying to balance this out. Should they just roll the dice and choose a side? probably but what ever they do it won't please everyone.
Given GI Joe is chugging along as a single retailer exclusive with the Collectors Club picking up the slack on the various characters, we may well be past the point where collector desires no longer factor at all.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRealDubya
Any sort of panic at this stage is just pure unsubstantiated reptile brain stem fear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokePants
This is why companies are secretive -- because we all want the truth, but most of us cannot handle it.
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09-08-2015, 10:18 PM | #8 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Great north
Posts: 991
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This is a Lanard Corps! figure as of 2015
It looks good, is affordable , is present on Walmart shelves and looks fun. I was raised a Joe fan. I still buy Joe comics. I still love the Joe mythos. I do not buy Joe figures. I will buy Lanards new female figures and the new male figures when they receive the same articulation. That's my reality as a Joe fan. As a consumer with vast entertainment options i don't particularly care why Hasbro lost ground. What i care about is good product at an affordable price. If they cannot find a way to produce good product at an affordable price i'll buy it from someone who can. Last edited by Plasticfan; 09-08-2015 at 10:21 PM.. |
09-08-2015, 10:30 PM | #9 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 3,459
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Quote:
1st, No cofusions. Are we seeing the same figures? I am sure most are 5pos if not what 7poa? The only two figures I have ever seen that were half way decent were the two latest females and even then I am not all that impressed. I don't see the fun in any of there line up. I bought both 3packs with the females. The othere 4 figures were crap. The bikes were junk and the dirt bike broke in all of about 15 minutes of my toddler playing with it.
Secondly, design is a subjective thing. I personally like the more cartoonish/angular/videogame/animated look of the figures. Again, it goes back to the fun element. And as for the bikes, I've had no problems with them, but I'm not a toddler. Quote:
2nd, What, When, who? I have never had any GI joe I would consider poor quality. Even the 5poa figures were decent in their own right far better than any Corps figure.
Quote:
Lastly, I will agree that Hasbro doesn't know what to do with Joe at the moment but the Brand will survive and it will thrive again. Boys toys is a much different market now than it was in the 80's. HASBRO is basically keeping the brand going for Adult Collectors at this point. Injecting fun into the line might be great for kids, but might not be so much for the adult collector who is its current fan base. Vamping Joe back up and making a more suitable kids toy would change that current demographic which could mean a lot of collectors would loose interest. Which might be fine if the kids bought it but if not then the line is worse off then when it started. Hasbro is currently trying to balance this out. Should they just roll the dice and choose a side? probably but what ever they do it won't please everyone.
Personally I think GI Joe needs to go back to the umbrella brand it was prior to ARAH. That way Hasbro can cater to the military collector with a line of Famous Fighting Men but also have a more fantastical Adventure Team line for those who want a little more of a fun/imaginative toy. A strategy that releases toys based solely on a movie cycle just doesn't work and never will.
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09-08-2015, 11:41 PM | #10 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cobra Island & Massachusetts
Posts: 6,378
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Ok, 9poa thats fine. Again if Hasbro released a 9poa figure even at a lower price point the nerd rage would be unprecedented. The cartoony style that you are referring to as "fun" is one the things i dislike about the line. So i don't understand where you are getting the "fun" from the look. Thats your opinion and I disagree with it. As for the age range on the toy yes its 5+ again no arguments that it wasn't built for a two year old to play with, But my son also plays with most my toys without breaking them.
As far as affordable prices. Whats wrong with the prices $12.99 for two figures or $20 for 3. How much more affordable can you get. No other Comparable figure or brand are that low. 13 for 1 MU or DCmV at tru or target, & Sw isn't two far behind that. As for Gi Joes core market. Its the Adult collector thats not opinon its fact. Where do you find these figures? the collector section of TRU and online only. If Hasbro was really gearing the ship toward the kid market it would have mass retail release, it would have toy commercials, it would have some type of media tie in Tv, video games, etc. And as for the Female figure... this is one figure in a three pack. She is the only new mold (i believe) that in the whole pack hasn't been used repeatedly for the last 5years to a decade. Hell one figure in the pack is stuck in a crouching position.
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