SSC 1/6 Price Increase Discussion

[Darth Madden]

My opinion. I have no problem paying higher prices when it its justified. I think the LOTR figs with all the clothing detail and accessories are worth the $65 (as I am sure Indiana Jones will be worth it too) but Han was a basic costume with no real accessories... he shouldn't have had to be that much.

And about the flood of Star Wars stuff I could care less... the more the merrier as far as I am concerned. I gave up the idea of buying EVERYTHING a long long long time ago so I get what I like and the more that is made the more chances there are of them making something I do want.

 

[Memnoch]

Adam, I'd like to second the notion that reading your theory on the prequels would be an honor. You're post really hit the nail on the head as to why there's just about everything in the world with Star Wars on it and if that's what it takes for the property not to be raped creatively then Im all for it.

 

[Atom Hues]

Anyone get the cliff notes version of that?

I apologize for my logorrhea.

It's just that I've noticed on these boards that if you put your idea into a fortune cookie-sized blurb, you usually get jumped on hard by people who don't understand what you were going for. You end up having to do the same amount of typing as my wordy treatise because you have to explain yourselves in 29 subsequent posts. I just tried to say it all at once.

I'm sorry I couldn't distill it down to a pithy 19-word quip spelled phonetically with dancing gif emoticons. I'll work on it.

 

[Atom Hues]

Adam, I'd like to second the notion that reading your theory on the prequels would be an honor. You're post really hit the nail on the head as to why there's just about everything in the world with Star Wars on it and if that's what it takes for the property not to be raped creatively then Im all for it.

Memnoch, the first pitcher of margaritas is on me, man. Nothing's more fun at a convention than a bunch of liquored-up STAR WARS fans trading ideas in a hotel bar about cool ideas they had to make the films even more enjoyable.

And you know what? It's ****ing HEALTHIER. Any idiot fan can sit around and ***** about how George Lucas crawled in through their bedroom transom and raped their childhood, and, oh yeah, took some money from their wallet on the way out, but I think the fans who actually use their creativity to think up neat ideas & solutions for the stuff that perhaps bugs them are genuine fans.

 

[BadMoon]

Memnoch, the first pitcher of margaritas is on me, man. Nothing's more fun at a convention than a bunch of liquored-up STAR WARS fans trading ideas in a hotel bar about cool ideas they had to make the films even more enjoyable.

And you know what? It's ****ing HEALTHIER. Any idiot fan can sit around and ***** about how George Lucas crawled in through their bedroom transom and raped their childhood, and, oh yeah, took some money from their wallet on the way out, but I think the fans who actually use their creativity to think up neat ideas & solutions for the stuff that perhaps bugs them are genuine fans.

I am really wanting the full version of this story. I just can't afford a trip to a con. One day please post it.

 

[pixletwin]

...I'm sorry I couldn't distill it down to a pithy 19-word quip spelled phonetically with dancing gif emoticons. I'll work on it.

Ouch. That was kinda snappy.

:chew:chew:chew:chew

 

[Atom Hues]

Ouch. That was kinda snappy.

:chew:chew:chew:chew

You're quite correct. It's infuriating to take the time to participate in an intelligent discussion only to have your brevity mocked by someone who doesn't have the time or interest to read what you had to say, but somehow had the time to write a snarky comment.

 

[Memnoch]

Adam I think it has to do with the fact that the internet is simultaniously the best and worst invention ever. Best because it opens up so much information, commerce, etc to people and worst because often times there isn't much true exchange of ideas but instead I see more and more snarky comments. Also it gives a false impression of the vocal minority being a majority. We are a small fraction of the buying public and despite the price on Han the exclusive still "Sold Out" meaning there are people that have ordered every exclusive piece SS made available to the public.

 

[pixletwin]

You're quite correct. It's infuriating to take the time to participate in an intelligent discussion only to have your brevity mocked by someone who doesn't have the time or interest to read what you had to say, but somehow had the time to write a snarky comment.

I believe he was making a joke (and a funny one at that). I little levity never hurt a discussion (no matter how "intelligent").

 

[Scarlet]

You're quite correct. It's infuriating to take the time to participate in an intelligent discussion only to have your brevity mocked by someone who doesn't have the time or interest to read what you had to say, but somehow had the time to write a snarky comment.

I think Galacticboy is just kidding/joking Adam. I think it's the standard words looks different without the appropriate emoticon.

But we really appreciate your insight and opinion pertaining to SW.

We would definately love to hear your point of view.

Cheers

 

[user 1190]

I think Galacticboy is just kidding/joking Adam. I think it's the standard words looks different without the appropriate emoticon.

I would agree 100%.

 

[Great Ape]

Blah, blah, blah, the truth is, for what the American dollar is worth now a days SideShow is taking us for all it's worth. There hasn't been any great presentation by SideShow this year, in fact they have made many cuts, too many. Their quality is suffering significantly and their 1:6 line is faltering greatly. SideShow you are SLIPPING! Stop milking your devoted supporters and start producing the material you did in the beginning of the company's beginning. Someone at SS needs to get Fired! Quality is down, sculpts are down, prices are UP and that only means poor management and a scapegoat crew willing to take the fall. What the hell has happened to this once promising company. Boo SideShow!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Darklord Dave]

Blah, blah, blah, the truth is, for what the American dollar is worth now a days SideShow is taking us for all it's worth. There hasn't been any great presentation by SideShow this year, in fact they have made many cuts, too many. Their quality is suffering significantly and their 1:6 line is faltering greatly. SideShow you are SLIPPING! Stop milking your devoted supporters and start producing the material you did in the beginning of the company's beginning. Someone at SS needs to get Fired! Quality is down, sculpts are down, prices are UP and that only means poor management and a scapegoat crew willing to take the fall. What the hell has happened to this once promising company. Boo SideShow!!!!!!!!!!!

There we go, that's the Star Wars section that we know and love. How dare you all try and elevate the discussion above a rant!

 

[Memnoch]

Wow I hope that's sarcasm because Bespin Luke, Leia, Han and Old Ben I think were simply the tops in regard to their sculpts.

 

[galactiboy]

I'm sorry I couldn't distill it down to a pithy 19-word quip spelled phonetically with dancing gif emoticons. I'll work on it.

Yeah, sorry... I really was kidding. And for the record I did read your post...

Thanks for getting my back guys (Crap, that was more than 19 words)

 

[pixletwin]

Blah, blah, blah, the truth is, for what the American dollar is worth now a days SideShow is taking us for all it's worth. There hasn't been any great presentation by SideShow this year, in fact they have made many cuts, too many. Their quality is suffering significantly and their 1:6 line is faltering greatly. SideShow you are SLIPPING! Stop milking your devoted supporters and start producing the material you did in the beginning of the company's beginning. Someone at SS needs to get Fired! Quality is down, sculpts are down, prices are UP and that only means poor management and a scapegoat crew willing to take the fall. What the hell has happened to this once promising company. Boo SideShow!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a whiff of hyperbole here...

 

[IrishJedi]

I realize I may be in danger of becoming an apologist for all these evil companies like Lucasfilm and Sideshow who are constantly exploiting us fans (insert humorous sarcasm emoticon), but here's a reminder about SW merchandising and the completist...

Merchandising is the cornerstone of George Lucas' PRIVATELY OWNED empire. The reason why Lucasfilm is not a publicly traded company, and therefore subject to hostile takeovers, shareholder whim, and creative control
by Japanese and Saudi billionaire investors, is because Lucas has managed to retain ownership of everything. He's retained ownership over all his creations because of MERCHANDISING.

I've had this discussion with dozens of people. The profits from the SW films are but a FRACTION of LFL's bank account. It's the monies from all the toys, games, collectibles and such that make SW the sole property of its creator, which is UNHEARD of in modern film (unless you are Sundance festival indie filmmaker).

Who owns Superman? "Warner Bros., Adam." Who are the Warner Bros? They all died years ago. Who owns Superman NOW? "Uh... the shareholders of Warner Bros." Well, who are they? Most of us don't know. The ownership of Superman changes from decade to decade, depending on who owns stock in Time/Warner Communications.

Wouldn't it be cool if Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster (and their estates) still owned Superman? If Superman's creators still had stake, interest, and a say in the Man of Steel's direction? It'd make you feel a little better about how they got ripped off when they sold the rights years ago....

Now, what if the only way Seigel & Shuster could hold ON to Superman, was through merchandising? Tons of Superman CRAP, flooding the markets and making the brand a dirty word, just to keep Superman out of the hands of corporate investors and shareholder whim. Would that be a small price to pay to keep a beloved creation in the hands of its creators?

SW Merchandising is part of it all, we must accept it this. Much like Seigfried & Roy accepting the danger of being bitten by tigers at work. STAR WARS merchandising is part of the beast that is STAR WARS, and it will NEVER go away. It will never 'get better'. HASBRO will CONTINUE to repaint spaceships and characters to match last year's profits until LFL comes out with new SW tv shows to fuel the merchadising machine anew. It will go on & on. There's nothing you or your griping can do about it.

What is our recourse? Well, if you are a completist, you better start playing the lottery, or become selective. If you are NOT a completist (like me), then you just get WHAT YOU LIKE. Personally, I love STAR WARS. And I love 12" action figures. But I do NOT get every 12" STAR WARS that SS puts out. It either has to be a character I like, or such a phenomenal toy that I can't bear to be without it.

As I said, I'm not trying to be an apologist. But when I get upset about something, I try to figure out WHY it upsets me. It doesn't change the cause, but somehow KNOWING the reasons makes it easier to swallow.

I have a long, drawn-out theory as to why the SW Prequels aren't even close to the story & character quailty of the originals (I won't bore you with it here, it requires about 20 minutes to tell & a pitcher of margaritas). I've laid it on a few colleagues & friends in the past. Usually when I finish, the response is "Well, that's no excuse!!!". I point out that I never promised an excuse, all I offered was, that I might have a reason, just a plausible exlanation to the "Why, George Lucas, WHHHYYYY!?!?!?" rants that some SW fans like to go on.

My theory doen't make anything better, it doesn't improve any performances or suddenly make Jar-jar evaporate. It doesn't fill in plot holes, nor will it take you back to a time when STAR WARS was better than BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. It just makes the dissapointments in the Prequels easier to swallow, and for some reason the little bits that are really excellent SW all the more succulent.

All I'm suggesting through this LONG and useless post is that, if we take a minute to try to understand the things that confound and frustrate us (like this barrage of SW merchandising), it can make those things easier to bear as burdens.

If you're just into complaining, well.... I can't help you there. Rant away, Gunga Din; try some decaf while you're at it.

-AH!

I feel sufficiently owned.

(However, I do hearby stand by my assertion that the likes of Hasbro and their ilk DO exploit SW collectors... but that's my last piece on that topic).

So, Adam... is the next side car on me or on you?

 

[Atom Hues]

I feel sufficiently owned.

(However, I do hearby stand by my assertion that the likes of Hasbro and their ilk DO exploit SW collectors... but that's my last piece on that topic).

So, Adam... is the next side car on me or on you?

Well, I never claimed that HASBRO was the UNICEF of SW merchandisers.... but merchandising IS, by it's very nature, exploitive.

We saw the Police in concert at Madison Square Garden on Halloween. There were vendors exploiting the fact that people who like the Police's music need t-shirts and hoodies. They were even exploiting the fact that it was Halloween, with t-shirts that had Halloween themes.

HASBRO and their ilk ARE exploitive, but it's a mutually beneficial arrangement. The thing is, big business will sell & sell until the market dries up: it's the nature of the beast. It's OUR task, as the exploited, to decide when enough's enough; HASBRO is never going to wake up one morning, and cut back on its product line because it feels it's exploiting people.

I did think that the Shadow AT-AT was the funniest bit of nonsense merchandise I'd EVER SEEN.

-Adam

 

[IrishJedi]

I did think that the Shadow AT-AT was the funniest bit of nonsense merchandise I'd EVER SEEN.

I feel that way about all of the "Shadow" trooper stuff, actually. But, yeah, the AT-AT may be the proverbial jumped shark.

 

[The Josh]

The stealth troopers are cool and buyable because all militaries have some kind of silent killers. However, I don't think any of them have huge stealth walker vehicles that are gonna be anything but stealth.