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07-07-2010, 09:52 PM | #1 |
Retired Toy Hunter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Burbank, Ca.
Posts: 12,048
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What is it about Star Wars that G.I. Joe can't get 25% of the attention from Hasbro as Star Wars does? I was at Toys R Us the other day and saw the new Star Wars figures. Read an article over at TNI on the new amazingly huge AT-AT that's coming out. All Star Wars does is take figures repackage them and they still sell like crazy. I never saw the Star Wars movies until the 90s when they were rereleased in theaters. They were good movies, that I enjoyed, but come on this franchise is older than ARAH and still sell like hot cakes. Didn't G.I.Joe dethrone Star Wars toys for a decade in the 80s? I understand the (American)Military is frowned upon these days, but Joe has it's Sci-Fi elements also. Granted it's not in a galaxy far far away but damn. I wonder if George Lucas actually used some Jedi $#!+ on Movie goers of the 70s that they won't even give G.I. JOE a chance let alone any other toyline. I understand G.I. JOE will never have the glory it did back in the 80s. I am also grateful for what Hasbro has given us, considering we were only to get fifteen figure with the 25th Anniversary line. I hate all the love Star Wars gets for a product Hasbro has to pay for when they can focus on their own in house brands.
What will it take to make Joe(half)as popular as Star Wars? Sorry needed to vent. |
07-07-2010, 10:01 PM | #2 |
Hisstank Ninja
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Mint on Card
Posts: 8,956
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Three blockbuster, live-action movies featuring mind-blowing special effects for their time, followed by 30 years of literally insane fandom spawning untold numbers of toys, games, books, TV shows, and even a religion, then after that, add 3 more blockbuster movies, more tv shows, toys, games, books, etc.
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07-07-2010, 10:01 PM | #3 |
Crimson Nerd
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 12,579
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Joe didn't "dethrone" Star Wars in the 80's. Star Wars ended in 1984, because there were no more movies in the immediate future and Lucas didn't want Kenner to start its' own "expanded universe" (which was what it was going to do...the toys were still selling well but Lucas didn't renew the license).
"What it is" about Star Wars that gets it as much support from Hasbro as it does is 15+ years of consistently being among the top selling boys' toy brands, coupled with several billion dollars in box office grosses and overall being (probably) the biggest, most popular multi-media franchise of all time. When something sells that well, you put more money and effort behind it to keep it selling well. Joe will probably never be even half as popular as Star Wars again. It would take several mega-hit media tie-ins, and several decades of continued popularity that it simply hasn't been able to maintain. It's a brand that "peaked" in the 80's and has never quite gotten there since. Transformers managed to make itself "timeless" and kept on rolling (no pun intended) but Joe has never successfully reinvented itself the way Transformers had, and its' "classic" incarnation doesn't have the popularity of "classic" Star Wars. About the best that can realistically happen with the Joe line is that we'll end up (in however many years) in another "pro-military rah-rah United States" phase (like we had during the Reagan years when Joe was at its' peak), and it'll "spike" in popularity for a few years. But then it'll drop back down when the pendulum inevitably swings back the other way and military stuff isn't "cool" anymore. Basically, because of its' military roots, G.I. Joe will forever be at the mercy of political and social sentiments towards the military in general. Last edited by Jmacq1; 07-07-2010 at 10:04 PM.. |
07-07-2010, 10:04 PM | #4 |
The truth is liberating.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,422
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George Lucas - 'nuff said.
I don't hate Star Wars. If anything, the Joeverse can learn something from it. There's tons of media out there. From Knights of the Old Republic to the Expanded Universe, books, RPGs, expanded universe comics, good video games, you name it. There isn't a media out there that George Lucas hasn't tapped. The best part is that while new stuff comes out, it doesn't impede on the other stuff. There are revisions of old stuff with a consistent flow of new items as well. But that's also G.I. Joe's curse. Star Wars was the envision of George Lucas. One man's creative idea into a megalomaniac design. Joe, on the other hand, has had many hands in the creative pot in which Hasbro allows to happen without standard. In the end you get a vastly different look on the same subject. In my opinion, this has hurt G.I. Joe in the long run.
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07-07-2010, 10:06 PM | #5 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sol System
Posts: 2,433
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GI Joe will never be as popular as Star Wars because SW broke ground with their special effects/epic story, and helped bring the SciFi genre into the forefront of Hollywood pop culture.
Last edited by Brcall; 07-07-2010 at 10:09 PM.. |
07-07-2010, 10:09 PM | #6 |
Merkin 4 the weekend!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Sac-BR0-mento, California
Posts: 2,303
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I grew up on star wars. My parents watched it. I watched it and if I ever have children, they'll probably watch it too. Star Wars was huge when it first launched in 77 and I believe that it was also the first movie to have merch to support the film upon release. It got allot of attention from the get go, so it's no wonder there's so much anticipation for new star wars memorabilia... Even these days. The SW series is probably also more popular than GI JOE because it appeals to a more general audience. traditionally GI JOE is the real AMERICAN hero and like you said "the (American)Military is frowned upon these days". Also remember that the prequel trilogy not only amped up old fans, but ignited a whole new generation of fans... But to answer your question... No I don't hate Star Wars, but I'm not crazy about it like I was when I was a kid. The prequels kind of ruined my opinion of Darth Vader forever, but were entertaining none the less.
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07-07-2010, 10:10 PM | #7 |
Bounty Hunter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Montreal, QC
Posts: 4,502
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Movies-I love them
Figures-Little pieces of crap...
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07-07-2010, 10:14 PM | #8 |
Artillery Gunner
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,401
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I just try to pretend the prequels don't exist, kinda like I do with G.I Joe Extreme or RoC.
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07-07-2010, 10:15 PM | #9 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 8,089
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Quote:
IMO it will take something that will bridge the generation gap... for example SW will have a father who loves the original trilogy of Star Wars and a son who loves Clone Wars; it is totally different, but the two brands can easily relate and mix. G.I. Joe doesn't have that IMO... it cannot sustain it's popularity for more than a generation like Star Wars can.
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07-07-2010, 10:17 PM | #10 |
The techie in Meryls unit
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Wisconsin/Illinois
Posts: 1,347
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I thought this might turn into a "STAR TREK IS BETTER" thread...
But I understand your frustration. I really do wish Joe had more game time. BUT that's why I like it. It is getting more and more underground...while keeping itself known.
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