[BenjaminXavier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain mal

I seriously thought Fortnite would be the golden ticket. There has literally not been a toy 'phenomenon' the level of Fortnite for decades. I would have thought the Fortnite action figures would fly off the shelf. Not the case at all, from what I have seen. Perhaps they are just getting restocked really quickly... but the pegs are constantly full of $13 single figures - and the $40 boxed sets don't seem to have sold at all.

Perhaps its the price? I think Action Figures topped out at $7. Anything more than that for a 4" action figure is simply too much. That being said... I think this is a bad sign for the future of GIJoe. The days of toys are past...

My Targets and Walmarts sold out of all their Fortnite stuff during christmas. Target restocked and sold out again, now they've restocked and its slowing down, but its also January. I think they're doing pretty well overall

[Shinobi Sentai]

I'd argue that collectors want and what is marketable doesn't intersect much. Joe, especially Rise of Cobra onwards, are not appealing toys for kids. They've got dull colours and are too busy. Collectors might like that for realism, but a good toy, it does not make.

Fortnite has lots of attractive colours, enough accessories and decently simplistic designs. Joe used to do that to a certain degree. I'm not even talking 90s figures, go look at 82/83. A lot of really striking figures. They don't have neon colours, but they're appealing and capture the viewer. 83 more so.

Compare to 2010 onwards, dull, uninspired colours. Spirit is literally the only figure of the entire year to really capture the viewer, the rest are a sea of bland brown, green and black. Even Snowjob manages to be bland in white. Most of what makes these figures work are their gear, their functionality. Fuck all good that's going to do them when people are bored looking at them in the first place.

Even JvC era suffers from these horrible colour choices.

I love a lot of this stuff, but if I hadn't fallen in love with the 25th stuff with the superior 80s designs and colours, I wouldn't have given them a second look either.

[captain mal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some_Gamer_Dude

Fortnite has lots of attractive colours, enough accessories and decently simplistic designs.

I will admit that, as a GIJoe collector, the Fortnite figures catch my attention. My 11-year-old son looked at them and scoffed though. "Look how badly made they are!" "Why are their legs and arms so big?" "They look CHEAP!"

ARAH Joes hit the sweet spot of cool designs, colors, story, playability, etc. Modern Era Joes for the most part have been bland and monochromatic. The 'figures' have become too detailed and intricate to have any real fun 'play' value. I am starting to think a return to rugged, simpler, o-ring designed figures might be a wise move. Bring the price down on the figures - make vehicles and playsets part of the equation again.


BUT - even if you did that, you'd only be selling to the 4-7 year old market. I don't think playable action figures will ever appeal to kids 8-13 any more... kids just aren't like that nowadays. Its sad.

[SD Clutch]

If you look at the Paw Patrol line they follow this concept. The figures vary in articulation and stay low in costs and there is a host of playsets and accessories on the market. All supported by a fun and kooky cartoon. Almost like they copied the model of previously successful toy lines. The market is there for toys, you just have to sell things kids want. Create a fun, light hearted Gi Joe cartoon and the toys will come again, but it won't be driven by the desires of 40 year old men, it'll be driven by the 4 to 7 age range. Paw Patrol, Blaze and the other successful franchises of today are evidence kids still want toys and playsets and to have adventures. You just have to give them Gi Joe's they want.

[Zeoinx]

Would it be any good if we as collectors made a fuss, and asked Hasbro to start rereleasing the 3.5 inch figures and vehicles exactly as they were made back in the day, similar to how they are rereleasing G1 Transformers. If they kept to a 7 - 8 dollar Carded figure price tag and one wave a year, I'd even with my limited money would try to pick up as many as I can (provided they dont do any BS Mail in Stunts and keep the stores in stock properly.)

[Adventure Fun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Clutch

If you look at the Paw Patrol line they follow this concept. The figures vary in articulation and stay low in costs and there is a host of playsets and accessories on the market. All supported by a fun and kooky cartoon. Almost like they copied the model of previously successful toy lines. The market is there for toys, you just have to sell things kids want. Create a fun, light hearted Gi Joe cartoon and the toys will come again, but it won't be driven by the desires of 40 year old men, it'll be driven by the 4 to 7 age range. Paw Patrol, Blaze and the other successful franchises of today are evidence kids still want toys and playsets and to have adventures. You just have to give them Gi Joe's they want.

The Playskool buck is pretty amazing really and seemingly wildly popular. Very sturdy and gets all the key articulation right. They could do tons with it, just paint on detail and go to town. Name it GI Joe Adventure Force, forget Combat Heroes.

[46 Zone]

Can someone remind me on how the 12" figure line died away? I know about them no longer being made after the adventure team line ended in the late 70's. After the ARAH line ended in 1994, I know there was a return of the 12" figures after that. I remember around 2003-2004, I was buying 12" figures for my step-sons. I remember seeing 12" VvV figures around that time. I don't really remember any 12" Joes after that, except for the 4 different figures (policeman, fire fighter, para-trooper ...) released around 2008-2009. Then, after that, the only 12" figure you could get was from the club. I just want to know, what was that line of the 12"figures in the early 2000's? Was it an anniversary? I'm asking to see if there is a chance for 1/18 figures in the future, or will this be the official "deth of the line" for the 1/18 scale, like 2008-2009 was the official end of the 12" figures.