HT Predator 2 BATTLE DAMAGED!

[MaulFan]

A stealth figure is a novel idea, but on a $130 figure where the effect doesn't really translate as well might not generate enough sales. By the time you add all the layers and pieces of a standard Pred figure, the transparency would be almost gone in places. I think HT will likely stick with BD variants and mask alterations.

 

[Bardoon]

Hot Toys did a "mid-cloaking" Predator snap-kit figure in which parts of it are clear and parts are still solid. I have it and it's a pretty cool looking, little Pred.

I certainly wouldn't mind having a 1:6 scale version of it! I actually think it would be a welcome change from the Battle Damage and Color Variants...

 

[darren1228]

I just found this out over at the toysdaily boards....in Hong Kong the VIP exclusive battle damage P2 comes with 2 masks. The intact mask is in the box and they hand you the battle-damaged mask. So it looks like buyers of the Sideshow exclusive version will get two masks if they stay consistent.

 

[Jamal]

So they didnt intend on putting it all in the box, they wanted to hand the damaged bio out in HK..

 

[Rob]

Heres a tip, be patient with the netting man if you get rushy it will get caught and rip. Also, the head takes a bit of determination to get on but noting abit of lubricant or a hair dryer wont fix

I actually put my P2 Predator together in under 20 minutes. I did what wookster suggested, which took me alittle while, since the leg pegs kept getting caught on the netting, but the head didn't take me long at all. MUCH easier than the AVP Pred heads, which made you pull out the hairdryer to soften them up enough to pop them onto the head peg.

 

[drunk_leprechaun]

i had no problem putting my p2 pred together, but ive noticed rips in the netting under the arms and the groin area after posing the figure.

 

[MaulFan]

I just found this out over at the toysdaily boards....in Hong Kong the VIP exclusive battle damage P2 comes with 2 masks. The intact mask is in the box and they hand you the battle-damaged mask. So it looks like buyers of the Sideshow exclusive version will get two masks if they stay consistent.

Not sure how that implies that SSC Exclusive buyers will get both masks, if they hand out the regular mask with VIP figures, then the SSC Ex. ought to be the same package which means one tray slot for a mask and they won't get the regular mask. I hope things bode well for SSC Ex. buyers, but it doesn't sound promising if that's how it was handled overseas.

 

[BadMoon]

Hot Toys did a "mid-cloaking" Predator snap-kit figure in which parts of it are clear and parts are still solid. I have it and it's a pretty cool looking, little Pred.

I certainly wouldn't mind having a 1:6 scale version of it! I actually think it would be a welcome change from the Battle Damage and Color Variants...

The only problem I can think of is over time it will change colors. Clear always seems to turn yellow.

 

[darren1228]

Not sure how that implies that SSC Exclusive buyers will get both masks, if they hand out the regular mask with VIP figures, then the SSC Ex. ought to be the same package which means one tray slot for a mask and they won't get the regular mask. I hope things bode well for SSC Ex. buyers, but it doesn't sound promising if that's how it was handled overseas.

Don't know what isn't clear here. The Hot Toys VIP members who pre-ordered the battle-damaged P2 got the regular intact mask in the box. In addition to that mask, they gave the battle-damaged mask when VIP members picked up their order. So if Hot Toys VIP members get two masks even though they have only one slot why shouldn't SSC exclusive versions receive the same? Of course this is all speculation on my part but I think it looks good for the SSC exclusive version.

 

[Mudshark]

Sounds good to me! No reason Sideshow couldn't have asked Hot Toys to include the extra mask in the box, and they both wouldn't necessarily have to be in trays. I've gotten bonus items with figures before that were just bagged separately and taped underneath the trays. If the VIP edition had two masks, then I'd be willing to bet the SSC exclusive will have two as well. Groovy...

 

[icruise]

I think he's saying that unless they make a new package that can accommodate both masks, it seems likely that we'll only get one.

 

[Mudshark]

But they really don't have to redesign the packaging just to add an extra item. They could do that, of course, but it's not a requirement. The SSC damaged bio could easily be polybagged and taped inside the package. We probably won't know till we get 'em, but it's a definite possibility, and I hope that's what they did with it.

 

[MaulFan]

Not being totally familiar with Hot Toys practices, I hadn't considered the possibility of them just throwing one of the masks in a bag taped to the blister.

Again, I'm not rooting against SSC Ex. buyers, I hope it turns out for the best for you guys, just throwing out some words of caution so people don't get hopes up too high just in case. I'm sure everyone will be upset if it's not included one way or another, but I'm sure it'll be more frustrating if you get really into the belief you'll get it all and something doesn't come through.

As for SSC asking Hot Toys to throw in both masks or whatever, it's not as if SSC is going to monitor this whole thing like their own products. Hot Toys agreed to do a special version for them and SSC said great sold it and whatever Hot Toys sends them is what they're going to sell. They've got their own stuff to worry about without following the business practices of Hot Toys.

 

[icruise]

As for SSC asking Hot Toys to throw in both masks or whatever, it's not as if SSC is going to monitor this whole thing like their own products. Hot Toys agreed to do a special version for them and SSC said great sold it and whatever Hot Toys sends them is what they're going to sell. They've got their own stuff to worry about without following the business practices of Hot Toys.

I really have a hard time believing that they would agree to sell an exclusive version of a product under their name without even knowing what it was going to consist of. I think the main issue here a vague product description, which is not exactly a new thing with Sideshow. They can't even consistently tell us what accessories come with their own products.

 

[Jamal]

I think Hot Toys has gone and changed plans in the later stages of production. I dont think SSC would list it with the items and sell it with the description if they knew this would happen

 

[Alice Adrenochrome]

Some of you guys are pretty upset about the fact that HT release a new Predator 2 version with even more extra's for the same price as the first version. I understand. But in fact, I think getting more figure, for the same price, is quite customer friendly. Just look at Sideshow. As all their latest 12" releases clearly illustrate, they charge you more each time, WITHOUT any significant improvement at all! No extra items, no improved body, no better quality,... just a higher price and a lot of excuses like the higher oil price, etc.. THAT's customer unfriendly, IMO.
I may be alone in this, but I don't belive that a few extra items justify a higher price point. A better communication on the other hand would be desirable. If it would have been know at the launch of the first Predator2, that a slightly altered second version would be released in the future, at least we would have had the option to choose and wait for the release of that second version. Same thing happened before with the Aliens and Ripley. I would have never bought the first Ripley if I would have known that the Power Loader would have come with a Ripley, despite all the fancy guns and grenades of the first Ripley. As for the first, black AvP Alien, If HT (or SSC?) would have communicated that a second, brown version was around the corner, I would have passed on the black Alien. Luckily I passed on the first Predator 2 all together, otherwise I would have been stuck with two of those also.

So, not the fact that HT charges LESS money for MORE figure is the problem, but that we as collectors are left in the dark about possible 're-issues' is. And since we don't want to risk missing out on a piece we craved for, we jump on the first opportunity to buy it. That's how we are...

 

[Dark_Spidey]

Some of you guys are pretty upset about the fact that HT release a new Predator 2 version with even more extra's for the same price as the first version. I understand. But in fact, I think getting more figure, for the same price, is quite customer friendly. Just look at Sideshow. As all their latest 12" releases clearly illustrate, they charge you more each time, WITHOUT any significant improvement at all! No extra items, no improved body, no better quality,... just a higher price and a lot of excuses like the higher oil price, etc.. THAT's customer unfriendly, IMO.
I may be alone in this, but I don't belive that a few extra items justify a higher price point. A better communication on the other hand would be desirable. If it would have been know at the launch of the first Predator2, that a slightly altered second version would be released in the future, at least we would have had the option to choose and wait for the release of that second version. Same thing happened before with the Aliens and Ripley. I would have never bought the first Ripley if I would have known that the Power Loader would have come with a Ripley, despite all the fancy guns and grenades of the first Ripley. As for the first, black AvP Alien, If HT (or SSC?) would have communicated that a second, brown version was around the corner, I would have passed on the black Alien. Luckily I passed on the first Predator 2 all together, otherwise I would have been stuck with two of those also.

So, not the fact that HT charges LESS money for MORE figure is the problem, but that we as collectors are left in the dark about possible 're-issues' is. And since we don't want to risk missing out on a piece we craved for, we jump on the first opportunity to buy it. That's how we are...

You are absolutely right man. I wish HT told us each time they release a figure whether there will be a variant or not. However we could have guessed that there would another P2 version.
If you guys remember correctly, when the first P2 was announced on HT website it was referred to as the "Normal" version... But that was just a hint. Anyway I bought the first one and I will get this one as well because I'm a Predator freak. I wouldn't do that with another license...

 

[MaulFan]

I really have a hard time believing that they would agree to sell an exclusive version of a product under their name without even knowing what it was going to consist of. I think the main issue here a vague product description, which is not exactly a new thing with Sideshow. They can't even consistently tell us what accessories come with their own products.

See, the highlighted part is the key issue. Hot Toys has already shown precedent that they can be sloppy with information. When the Power Loader initially went up for order, Sideshow and many other retailers were given the impression that a Ripley would not be included with the piece. Either Hot Toys opted to add Ripley or failed to report that detail initially to these retailers, either way, they're communication issues lead to their distributors looking foolish and that's a shame.

 

[Mudshark]

I know I'm repeating myself here, but I will personally be satisfied even if the SSC exclusive BD doesn't come with a regular bio-mask... since I already have the first P2 figure. I really don't mind that they've offered the BD variant, which as someone else commented before, is essentially an upgrade, due to its having all the original's parts, with the addition of the extra goodies.

No problem for me in this case, but I understand why some people wouldn't have bought the first one if they'd know the BD would be offered like this. If I'd known beforehand, I probably would've saved my money and waited for this one, too, but since I love these Preds, and can do other things with the extra figure, I'm okay with it... this time. I only hope they don't get in the habit of doing this with every new figure released. I have other collecting interests and I want to be able to cover those as well. I can only speak for myself, but I suppose I'm probably not the only one who feels this way about it.

 

[icruise]

See, the highlighted part is the key issue. Hot Toys has already shown precedent that they can be sloppy with information. When the Power Loader initially went up for order, Sideshow and many other retailers were given the impression that a Ripley would not be included with the piece. Either Hot Toys opted to add Ripley or failed to report that detail initially to these retailers, either way, they're communication issues lead to their distributors looking foolish and that's a shame.

I had the impression that HT had decided to include Ripley because of feedback they got from people, but you're saying that they simply didn't make it clear to their suppliers that she was included? I remember Alter Ego saying something to the effect that HT had changed their mind, but they could have been just covering their own butts.