ANH Luke

[TheObsoleteMan]

Looks like he's trying to hypnotize me.

 

[Memnoch]

Side by side Sean?

 

[MaulFan]

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I'd narrow 'em just a shade and tone down the blue to get rid of that Bela Lugosi effect.

 

[Memnoch]

Yea, the sculpt we are getting is "I want to learn the ways of the Force" Luke while the modified is more of the "Luke" Luke if that makes sense.

Oh, and Sean.. any chance you could email me those links we were talking about?

 

[MaulFan]

Working on that right now Sean, and as for the eyes, the sculpt is about as open as I "painted" the eyes, the proto paint adds to their squinted look.

 

[Memnoch]

Working on that right now Sean, and as for the eyes, the sculpt is about as open as I "painted" the eyes, the proto paint adds to their squinted look.

Thanks! I have to say either way, this is a really good pre accident Mark sculpt. And hey, those that wanted their "determined" Luke sculpt got it.

 

[MaulFan]

I think the sculpt is great, but like the Bespin proto paint, the eyes just don't feel like Hammil to me, but Bespin Luke's production eyes do, and that's what's most important, so I hope the same prevails for this figure.

 

[galactiboy]

There's one thing you can say about Medicom.They never upped their prices like SS is doing.

Really now?

Fist of the North Star Kenshirou- $149.99
Fist of the North Star Rei- $174.99

And this guy was $150?!?

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

And this guy was $150?!?

C'mon dude! Just look at those paint apps! It looks like they used black and pink. I'm surprised it's not $250.

 

[Anzik]

Sean, use the original picture but make the whites of the eyes white instead of the 'sand in my eyes' pink.

 

[DouglasMcc]

Luke isn't necessarily any more complex or have any more accessories than other figures.

It's because the economics of the world have changed. I outlined before what contributes to price increases and everything is getting worse.

-The dollar is rock bottom now.
-Oil is priced high - sure it contributes a little to the cost of plastics, but has more impact in how the product gets to you. Shipping costs have gone through the roof and that includes shipping from China to the US.
-China is in an economic boom - their 8 year olds won't put in the 18 hour work day for $1.00 a day any more.
-Lucasfilm gets their pound of flesh. We just saw Master Replicas give up their flagship license that was probably 90% of their revenue because they didn't want to pay the license fee.

Dave, I love your site. But, you are justifying the pricing, not explaining it.

-The dollar is rock bottom now.

Sure, this just happened a few months ago. Because the dollar was worth a mint back when we got Maul with a ton of accessories for, a more complex sculpt, a black body, a more complex outfit, more complex paint job, et. al. for 25 dollars less. Riiiiggghhhhhhht The dollar has been in the toilet for over 16 months. SSC may want to use that excuse to rationalize what they are doing, but it's just an excuse and the cost of the last year of pre-orders proves it.

-Oil is priced high - sure it contributes a little to the cost of plastics, but has more impact in how the product gets to you. Shipping costs have gone through the roof and that includes shipping from China to the US.

I will give you that oil prices have increased. And, your theory is that this has contributed enough to production that a major price increase is both necessary and unavoidable. Then explain to me why Patient Zero in 2005 cost 50 dollars and Subject 805 that releases in April cost 55. Yes, I realize licensing cost, but I will deal with that point further down. Explain to me how Subject 805, which is more complex, more detailed and has more accessories than it's "father" figure PZ, but the price has only gone up 5 dollars in 3 years. Yet, the Farmboy Luke, which is not more complex than Jedi Luke in terms of outfit and facial sculpt has jumped 30 dollars in that same period? To be honest, Subject 805 is a "better" figure than Farmboy Luke - more complex outfit, paintjob, body parts, smaller edition size, etc. I could understand having to pay 69.99 for it more than Luke in his poor farmer pajamas (and no SSC, I wouldn't spend that much for the dead either, so stop salivating). Point being, there is no difference, so the oil rationalization is bunk.


-China is in an economic boom - their 8 year olds won't put in the 18 hour work day for $1.00 a day any more.

I hate that this is turning into stereotypes - I really doubt 8 year olds could make these complex items. But, I will go with this. China's economy boon is enriching middle class business owners, NOT factory workers. There is still a huge population of workers who will do factory line work for the same salary as a year ago. This is a generalization about China's economy that doesn't hold up to even minor scrutiny.

-Lucasfilm gets their pound of flesh. We just saw Master Replicas give up their flagship license that was probably 90% of their revenue because they didn't want to pay the license fee.

This is the one area of your argument that holds water upon initial evaluation - LucasFilm is a cash whore when it comes to licensing. However, you overlook the most obvious flaw in your argument. SSC signed a multi-year contract with LucasFilm. True, I have no idea what the terms of the deal were, but every licensing agreement I have ever seen tends to follow a standard fee for every year of the contract with minor increases factored in to cover inflation. SSC still has over a year left on that original contract. So, unless they hired the idiot lawyer from the Simpsons, there is no way that contract should be ballooning now - this isn't the home mortgage market we are talking about. Master Replicas gave up their license because they didn't want to pay the increased licensing fees of a NEW contract. A contract that many believe was intentionally inflated because Hasbro asked for the high end market (Hasbro F/X sabers announced less than a month after MR license ended .. that's a coincidence? I think not.) Sure, this could hurt SSC in 2010, but I highly doubt it hurt them right now.

I can understand if you are fine with the price increase. That's your right, Hell, it's how a free market economy works. But, don't try to convince me that I should be happy about it. Even someone with minor knowledge of business and world economics can see this is an attempt to increase profits. That's how business works, and I will speak with my wallet. But, don't try to make me feel sorry for them.

 

[MaulFan]

Really now?

Fist of the North Star Kenshirou- $149.99
Fist of the North Star Rei- $174.99

And this guy was $150?!?

Or you can get this finely made figure with 1 accessory (made wrong) for $100.

 

[The Josh]

Not to attack Badmoon specifically, but once again, some of you people are missing the point. We aren't complaining because we can't afford the price increase. We are upset because the price increase is not justified.

It may not be justified in your opinion but that doesn't make it fact. So I think you might be missing the point.

As far as the outfit looking at the high res it appears to be well worth it.

 

[MaulFan]

Sean, use the original picture but make the whites of the eyes white instead of the 'sand in my eyes' pink.

I'll play with that, when I first did it, the effect was actually a little rediculous so I tried toning it down a bit, maybe too much.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

Thanks for the hi-res.

I don't care what anyone says, that sculpt is the cat's pajamas.

 

[galactiboy]

Thanks Josh, looks in hi-res

Also a bit clearer about the eyes... just not painted all that well.

 

[MaulFan]

you can see in the hi-res that the paint is affecting the sculpt a bit in the eyes.

 

[The Josh]

No problem guys

 

[MaulFan]

Ok, I think this one looks better.