How do YOU feel about Hot Toys re-releases?

[Rotfish]

It's a poor business decision on their part. Not only are they undermining their own integrity, but they're undermining the value of their own releases, as well as the potential for future income.

Not if they know people will stampede to get ahold of the remakes. Quite a few people who own the originals (some of which got them from the secondary market like I did) would be interested in the new ones, regardless of whether or not they keep the first run. You said "potential for future income" so it's basically the same idea. Just depends on how sure they are of themselves. Judging by what we've seen, it's clear a handful of angry collectors won't be enough to make a dent in their financial gains this year.
As for undermining their own integrity... well, not very many companies out there see that as a thing. Especially HT, a company whose definition of 'limited' or 'exclusive' is based purely on price and the fact that there is a finite (albeit large) amount of figures made. The generous usage of those words is what seems to be angering collectors these days.
I'm kind of used to it by now.

 

[a-dev]

By revisiting an existing figure by making it better is evolving. Not only are they evolving the figure but they are evolving themselves as artists by producing a superior figure whether by sculpt or articulation.

True the IM has been a bit overwhelming but I can honestly say that because of them revisiting, my Mk VI is kick___, and superior over the original mk iii, mk iii BD, and even my mk IV. Now they know how to make things work so they go back and build us a toy that we can proudly display and articulate the way we want.

Hence evolving it...

The question is are they holding back certain things that they could do on figure A but don't do till figure D because it gives them an excuse to go back and redo figure A to C and make more money. And during that process they add stuff that figure D didn't have and then they have to redo him. Its a potentially endless cycle.

 

[Rotfish]

By revisiting an existing figure by making it better is evolving. Not only are they evolving the figure but they are evolving themselves as artists by producing a superior figure whether by sculpt or articulation.

True the IM has been a bit overwhelming but I can honestly say that because of them revisiting, my Mk VI is kick___, and superior over the original mk iii, mk iii BD, and even my mk IV. Now they know how to make things work so they go back and build us a toy that we can proudly display and articulate the way we want.

Hence evolving it...

My thoughts exactly. I can see why it would bum some people out, but there are many collectors out there who look at how HT handles their figures nowadays, then wishes they were this skilled when they took on a previously-done character. Take Kyle Reese or the Colonial Marines for example. When you consider what the company is capable of doing with realistic likenesses and paint apps, it'd be a shame to leave those classic characters the way they are.

 

[a-dev]

My thoughts exactly. I can see why it would bum some people out, but there are many collectors out there who look at how HT handles their figures nowadays, then wishes they were this skilled when they took on a previously-done character. Take Kyle Reese or the Colonial Marines for example. When you consider what the company is capable of doing with realistic likenesses and paint apps, it'd be a shame to leave those classic characters the way they are.

I agree but at the same time I don't want it to be an endless cycle such as I outlined in my post above. When they start redoing the same version of the same character a 3rd and 4th time..I dunno..is that not starting to take the p!$$?

 

[Solidus]

The question is are they holding back certain things that they could do on figure A but don't do till figure D because it gives them an excuse to go back and redo figure A to C and make more money. And during that process they add stuff that figure D didn't have and then they have to redo him. Its a potentially endless cycle.

I know what you're saying. But, just to take an example, I don't believe that Hot Toys had deliberately planned in advance to hold back their creative talents in 2008 when they released their first OC Batman Begins figure. The competition for them was more stiff back then, so they'd want to give it their A-game, and release the best possible figure that they were capable of putting out at the time.

 

[Blkinterceptor]

The question is are they holding back certain things that they could do on figure A but don't do till figure D because it gives them an excuse to go back and redo figure A to C and make more money. And during that process they add stuff that figure D didn't have and then they have to redo him. Its a potentially endless cycle.

I tend to disagree, because if they were holding back why have we not seen a re-make of the mk iv or mk vi or WM for that matter. The only thing we've seen them do with this figures except the mk vi is a re-paint, no other improvements. The reason for them re-releasing (I don't know if I should even call it that) the mk I is for improvements with more likeness to Downey Jr. and repaint. Which their paint jobs have improved to look more realistic btw.

 

[a-dev]

I tend to disagree, because if they were holding back why have we not seen a re-make of the mk iv or mk vi or WM for that matter.

Its early days yet. Didn't those figures come out, like, last year? They'll wait a year or 2.

 

[Rotfish]

I agree but at the same time I don't want it to be an endless cycle such as I outlined in my post above. When they start redoing the same version of the same character a 3rd and 4th time..I dunno..is that not starting to take the p!$$?

I read your post and get what you're saying, but at this point, the idea of redoing the same character a 3rd or 4th time is pure speculation. We'll have to see how this shakes out. With all of the remakes they have planned, I don't think we'll hear about any re-re-makes until 2016 or later.

 

[Blkinterceptor]

I know what you're saying. But, just to take an example, I don't believe that Hot Toys had deliberately planned in advance to hold back their creative talents in 2008 when they released their first OC Batman Begins figure. The competition for them was more stiff back then, so they'd want to give it their A-game, and release the best possible figure that they were capable of putting out at the time.

And I think they succeeded in doing so for that time period. But times are changing with more competition and smaller companies coming up and remaking those figures that HT have already done w/ alot more likeness then HT originals.

 

[Blkinterceptor]

Its early days yet. Didn't those figures come out, like, last year? They'll wait a year or 2.

True but can we really say that these figures will be remade??? I mean the likeness is there, the paint is good, articulation is awesome...unless they can make them fly (which would be very cool btw!) I can't say or speculate that these will a re-released...

 

[Blkinterceptor]

When you consider what the company is capable of doing with realistic likenesses and paint apps, it'd be a shame to leave those classic characters the way they are.

 

[Boba Ben]

Well, the Tumbler isn't a figure; it's a vehicle, let alone the only vehicle that Hot Toys has ever produced (besides the 89' Batmobile that's currently on the way).

What about Batpod, Power Loader, and Ghost Rider's bike?

 

[Blkinterceptor]

What about Batpod, Power Loader, and Ghost Rider's bike?

The only problem I see here is the Power Loader as it was not a true 1/6 scale and Ripley's sculpt which look like ___... No disrespect for those who own one.

 

[jstep13]

Ripley's sculpt was suppose to look like ____...she didn't give HT rights to her likeness...

 

[a-dev]

The only problem I see here is the Power Loader as it was not a true 1/6 scale and Ripley's sculpt which look like ___... No disrespect for those who own one.

The PowerLoader isn't true 1/6? Thats news to me. I mean it looks the right size to me. My biggest issue with that one is the plastic joints (one of the shoulders broke on mine) and the pegs for the hoses weren't strong enough either. Most of them have broken on mine. My powerloader is pretty much hoseless.

 

[Blkinterceptor]

My biggest issue with that one is the plastic joints (one of the shoulders broke on mine) and the pegs for the hoses weren't strong enough either. Most of them have broken on mine. My powerloader is pretty much hoseless.

All the more reasons for them to remake it...

The PowerLoader isn't true 1/6? Thats news to me.

If HT would had made the Iron Monger 12" tall would it still had been considered 1/6 scale???

 

[Boba Ben]

The only problem I see here is the Power Loader as it was not a true 1/6 scale and Ripley's sculpt which look like ___... No disrespect for those who own one.

It is a vehicle, though. That's the point I was contesting.

 

[Blkinterceptor]

It is a vehicle, though. That's the point I was contesting.

All the more reasons for them to remake it...

Who's contesting??? I was simply stating reference to the title about re-releases as to which ones we may see re-released, and of course the bat-pod will no doubt be re-released.

 

[Boba Ben]

Who's contesting??? I was simply stating reference to the title about re-releases as to which ones we may see re-released, and of course the bat-pod will no doubt be re-released.

I quoted Solidus1 and stated that the Batpod, Power Loader, and Ghost Rider cycle were additional vehicles released by Hot Toys since he had said that the Tumbler was the only vehicle released by them other than the upcoming 89 Batmobile. That's what I was contesting.

 

[thenammagazine]

Not if they know people will stampede to get ahold of the remakes. Quite a few people who own the originals (some of which got them from the secondary market like I did) would be interested in the new ones, regardless of whether or not they keep the first run. You said "potential for future income" so it's basically the same idea. Just depends on how sure they are of themselves as these people can't even . Judging by what we've seen, it's clear a handful of angry collectors won't be enough to make a dent in their financial gains this year.

As I said earlier, many people are letting older figures go at a higher value to pick up long desired grails. So selling, say, a P1 Predator would've gotten them both the '89 Batman and Joker and made a nice dent in say Red Skull. Now with the cost plummeting, HT's essentially neutering themselves as the P1 can't even be sold for MSRP. Instead of this person buying 3 new figures, HT has one person buying the re-release as "Classic Predator." Or say, someone selling their Tumbler pre-rerelease to fund their 2012 HT collecting. Now just think about how that compounds in terms of all the collectors who do this on the regular basis. The new business gained won't een come close to compensating for the more hardcore HT fanbase's devotion to multiple purchases across multiple lines. It's a stupid business decision for a quick cash grab. Any business who looks at the immediate future instead of the long term, is destined to fail.

As for undermining their own integrity... well, not very many companies out there see that as a thing. Especially HT, a company whose definition of 'limited' or 'exclusive' is based purely on price and the fact that there is a finite (albeit large) amount of figures made. The generous usage of those words is what seems to be angering collectors these days.
I'm kind of used to it by now.

I could agree if these figures were marketed to kids, or available via the toy chains. But they're not. They're "adult collectibles" marketed at adults as "limited edition," half of which is essentially a lie.