[Fred Broca]

The next Classified HasLab will probably be the M.O.B.A.T., the Dragonfly, or the Vamp. If the HasLab is the M.O.B.A.T. or the Dragonfly I wouldn't expect it to fund in eight hours like the H.I.S.S. Tank I don't think it would have a problem with getting the minimum number of backers and hitting some, (if not all,) of the stretch goals. I think that initial offering of the Dragonfly with Wild Bill, and the M.O.B.A.T. with Steeler would be enough of an incentive get the minimum number of backers for either of those projects.

However, after seeing the backlash concerning Hell Charger it made me realize that a Vamp HasLab would have to be something a little more than just Clutch and the Vamp. At a minimum it would have to working lights, possibly a windshield, doors, and attachment for guns, and making it a four instead of a two seater. What do you guys think should be done with a Vamp HasLab to make the initial offering attractive to potential buyers?

[YouNotCookin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Broca

However, after seeing the backlash concerning Hell Charger it made me realize that a Vamp HasLab would have to be something a little more than just Clutch and the Vamp. At a minimum it would have to working lights, possibly a windshield, doors, and attachment for guns, and making it a four instead of a two seater. What do you guys think should be done with a Vamp HasLab to make the initial offering attractive to potential buyers?

I think if they do the VAMP as a HasLab they will most likely trick it out like you describe. However, I think it could easily be just the VAMP and Clutch, provided the price point reflects that. They don't always need to be $300+ necessarily. They certainly haven't tried anything at lower price points yet.

Ideally though, I think the VAMP (and the SkyHawk, FANG, and Polar Battle Bear) based soley on size, could feasibly be done at retail provided big box would want them. Especially the VAMP as the repaint potential is there for multiple releases.

[DarkLordMordred]

By not being 350 freaking dollars, first of all. Second, the early bird figure better be someone Joe fans would love to see. Now with a VAMP, Clutch coming in the base package is a given, but for early bird, you could easily throw in a OG Hawk (save the General Hawk for standard release). I think people would jump at the chance to score an OG Hawk. Other figures for the VAMP could include a random green shirt and another two OG characters, like Flash and Grand Slam.

[YouNotCookin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkLordMordred

By not being 350 freaking dollars, first of all. Second, the early bird figure better be someone Joe fans would love to see. Now with a VAMP, Clutch coming in the base package is a given, but for early bird, you could easily throw in a OG Hawk (save the General Hawk for standard release). I think people would jump at the chance to score an OG Hawk. Other figures for the VAMP could include a random green shirt and another two OG characters, like Flash and Grand Slam.

A VAMP with MMS and HAL towables, with O13 Clutch, Hawk and red pads Grand Slam for under $300 would sell pretty well I would imagine (and get them new tooling for tan Clutch, Flash and silver pads Grand Slam down the road)

[PythonBat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Broca

The next Classified HasLab will probably be the M.O.B.A.T., the Dragonfly, or the Vamp. If the HasLab is the M.O.B.A.T. or the Dragonfly I wouldn't expect it to fund in eight hours like the H.I.S.S. Tank I don't think it would have a problem with getting the minimum number of backers and hitting some, (if not all,) of the stretch goals. I think that initial offering of the Dragonfly with Wild Bill, and the M.O.B.A.T. with Steeler would be enough of an incentive get the minimum number of backers for either of those projects.

A Mobat would be cool, but I think a Mauler w/ Heavy Metal would be a slam dunk. Make that thing with motorized drive, motorized turret action, possibly remote controlled via an app (I know we're getting expensive here)...

Include a tank mechanic figure as an early bird. Cover Girl was already announced, so make it a generic tank mechanic (or co-pilot).

There are so many cool addons that could be included.

[jscott991]

The Vamp is probably an A-list G.I. Joe vehicle. The HasLab GR is for a C-list character at best. That alone is the difference.

The price is less important than what's being offered. If the next G.I. Joe HasLab is a vehicle for Crystal Ball, then it's going to fail. That's what might bite Hasbro on this GR HasLab. Not the price.

[Fred Broca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkLordMordred

By not being 350 freaking dollars, first of all.

What if the Vamp was an r.c.? What just justify the $350 price point?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkLordMordred

but for early bird, you could easily throw in a OG Hawk (save the General Hawk for standard release). I think people would jump at the chance to score an OG Hawk.

Other figures for the VAMP could include a random green shirt and another two OG characters, like Flash and Grand Slam.

Not saying that they wouldn't do it, but I don't see O.G. Hawk being sold without the M.M.S. or either version of Grand Slam being sold without the H.A.L. or the Jump jet set. With that being said, I do see them including tan Clutch as the figure in the early bird special.

[IzzyTipsy]

I don't see how the VAMP is a $350 vehicle without seeming massively overpriced ala the current GR Haslab. It's a two-seater vehicle that's basically Jeep sized.

A MOBAT has multiple appeals - as a generic army tank for 6" figures and as a foil to the HISS for people wanting to make a battle display.

Hasbro can also point to other 6" scaled tanks being around $300-350, further justifying the price tag. It's also a way to get out the old 83 Joe designs that may flop at retail. You can get your OG Hawk and then release the 86 Hawk as the main retail Hawk.

Of course, the other issue there is that we already know what a tricked out 6" scale tank looks like in terms of features (and the OG MOBAT as well), so Hasbro would have to at least add it being motorized.

[YouNotCookin]

Perhaps even more than which particular vehicle should be the next HasLab, it might be more informative for the designers to know which features are important to us as adult collectors. I imagine most of us just park these things on our shelves, so are things like motorized features really that necessary, especially if it could save us $$$ on the price? Perhaps we could set up a poll here to that effect and with ranked choice voting Hasbro could see which features are critical versus those that just add additional (unnecessary) cost? Off the top of my head:

Lights
Sound
Motorized features
Customizability (Multiple loadouts/modes/decal sheets)
Additional figures

Can anyone think of any other features they'd add to this?

[Fred Broca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PythonBat

A Mobat would be cool, but I think a Mauler w/ Heavy Metal would be a slam dunk. Make that thing with motorized drive, motorized turret action, possibly remote controlled via an app (I know we're getting expensive here)...

Speaking strictly from an aesthetics perspective the Mauler is the better looking tank. However, considering how anal some of the JOE fandom is they would pitch a serious bitch if the Mauler was picked over the M.O.B.A.T.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PythonBat

Cover Girl was already announced, so make it a generic tank mechanic (or co-pilot).

Or they could include Sunbow Courtney.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscott991

The Vamp is probably an A-list G.I. Joe vehicle. The HasLab GR is for a C-list character at best. That alone is the difference.

There's no probably to it. The Vamp is the most iconic and quintessential JOE vehicle in the JOEs inventory. With that being said, the Vamp is basic as fuck that's why it would need add ons to the base offering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscott991

The price is less important than what's being offered. If the next G.I. Joe HasLab is a vehicle for Crystal Ball, then it's going to fail. That's what might bite Hasbro on this GR HasLab. Not the price.

It get to what you're saying, but it all goes back to "perceived value," and getting your money's worth. Despite being a highly desired vehicle with an original JOE. I wouldn't be willing to pay no more than $275 (including shipping) for a Vamp with Clutch. As others have pointed out (and made me realize,) Once the cost gets over $275, $300 the base offering has to include a towable to justify the price point. What's being offered and price point have to balance each other out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by YouNotCookin

A VAMP with MMS and HAL towables, with O13 Clutch, Hawk and red pads Grand Slam for under $300 would sell pretty well I would imagine (and get them new tooling for tan Clutch, Flash and silver pads Grand Slam down the road)

This for the win.