The 3A Thread

[Gregorbian]

I didn't mind the Real Steel movie (I thought I would hate it, but I was pleasantly surprised) and the figures look pretty incredible, but I'm passing. There is no way I can afford that line of figures. The figures do look pretty incredible though. I will just have to save my money for other lines.

 

[gunm]

Agreed. For the size and considering you get free shipping from China, I actually think these are a pretty good deal, but still it's all relative to our own individual budgets.

The buzz on Midas has been pretty low so far. I do wonder if Ash will risk undermining the sale of Midas by throwing up a secret just to generate some interest. Probably not, but who knows, right?

 

[dino76m]

I understand.

There are only three licenses of figures i'll be getting from them from now on, IF they're not so overpriced that i just can't justify it

im guessing its the terminator, dark knight and Iron man series lol
Im on the same boat, recently i bought a second HT reeves superman and was totally underwhelmed , all the love for HT just vanished there, like a puff of smoke, so glad i didnt fall for any of the avengers or other new lines,
will complete the 3 lines i have and most probably Im done with HT unless they make some vehicles or robot characters
I dont mind the HUge ES, but whats bugging me is the constant re release which are slightly better than the old one which i must have bought,

 

[dino76m]

i got a little late into the HT game and was so tempted to get many of the HT at over inflated prices,
though i did over pay for some figure,the max being 300$ for T2 terminator and 275$ for DX 01 , im kinda relieved I didnt splash 400-500$ on DX02 and other stuff like batpod and tumbler

 

[xfindusx]

thats also something what i like on 3a... ashley promised not to make any re-releases...

 

[gunm]

lol, that's funny. Every variant of a TK, TQ, Zomb, robot, AK character is a re-release! Almost 3A's entire toy line is testament to the power of re-using molds and making the most out of relatively little.

How many versions of Fighting JC, Little Shadow, Tommy and Bleak, etc etc etc are there already?

I'm fine with it, but compared to HT, 3A's entire business seems to be all about carefully selling re-releases in way that makes the product seem more limited and thus more desirable.

 

[dedguy]

I don't think a lot of people really grasp just how complex and refined most of Hot Toys products are from a production standpoint. I don't really know of any of production toy or collectable that's comparable. Some replicas I guess but even a lot of those don't have the same level of fit and finish.

 

[gunm]

OT, but I agree. I really don't know how HT does it--their figure sets combine complex tailoring that replicate real 1:1 costumes, unique molds for each and every new figure, and an incredible paint app process that are miles above most every other "toy" company today. Granted their runs are not like Hasbro or Mattel, and their prices are sky high (especially now more than ever), but even though I'm done with them, I do still marvel at what they have and continue to accomplish.

I hope threeA can keep their prices under control. So far, they have been doing ok in this regard. I'm sure it helps that they stick to simpler designs and rely on reprints/colorways for steady sales with minimal cost increases, but now that they are more aggressively going after licenses, I do fear that they are in danger of getting into the same out-of-control business model that HT is in now, with quickly escalating MSRPs that can't be sustained over a long period.

I think AW and Kim realize their bread and butter is their original IPs and their "chase" mentality of selling, but now that they've built themselves up to a point where they are doing bigger things, I do have some concerns....especially now that I'm transitioning towards a more threeA-oriented collection.

 

[xfindusx]

but they dont re-release the same figure... maybe there are diffrent variants but not like hot toys... re-release the same figure like thumbler...

 

[Sined]

Anyone getting Midas today?

No doubt!

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

lol, that's funny. Every variant of a TK, TQ, Zomb, robot, AK character is a re-release! Almost 3A's entire toy line is testament to the power of re-using molds and making the most out of relatively little.

How many versions of Fighting JC, Little Shadow, Tommy and Bleak, etc etc etc are there already?

True but the difference is 3A never re-release or remake the exact same version of the exact same character again.

Every Bleak or Shadow is somewhat different to the last in what it looks like, the 2.0s and version of HT like the Iron Man MK.1 and Batman are the exact same look just updated with new techniques.

 

[DeadLeaves]

They are still a new version, with a fair few differences. Is that like painting the same fig a different colour.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

They are still a new version, with a fair few differences. Is that like painting the same fig a different colour.

So Variants. Not remakes

 

[DeadLeaves]

Remaking a variant is a huge difference.

Don't get me wrong, I <3 my 3a toys!

 

[gunm]

Haha, yes, don't get me wrong I love threeA, but let's call a spade a spade here.

 

[dedguy]

I've never understood why people get so up-in-arms over re-releases. I guess maybe because I don't treat the hobby as an investment? Is that why?

On the subject of ThreeA I do sometimes wish for a bit more variety in terms of character sculpts. Like I wish Cherry Bomb had a new head instead of the Shadow 2.0 head. On the other hand the Zombs even with the large number of releases they have had, have also had a lot of different headsculpts and I like having a bunch of them. I have four and each one has a unique head.

 

[minivader]

I've never understood why people get so up-in-arms over re-releases. I guess maybe because I don't treat the hobby as an investment? Is that why?

On the subject of ThreeA I do sometimes wish for a bit more variety in terms of character sculpts. Like I wish Cherry Bomb had a new head instead of the Shadow 2.0 head. On the other hand the Zombs even with the large number of releases they have had, have also had a lot of different headsculpts and I like having a bunch of them. I have four and each one has a unique head.

I think that's one reason, another could be that many collectors spend big $$$ to chase down collectables only to find the same collectable been re-released later. I am sure that will annoy quite a few with re-release.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

I've never understood why people get so up-in-arms over re-releases. I guess maybe because I don't treat the hobby as an investment? Is that why?

For licensed characters, i like them to be one-of-a-kind, it makes them special.

 

[Monger]

I like that they do tend to be respectful with their licenses so far. Exception is the Zaku though. Has two eyes, looks nothing like a Zaku, doesn't even have the Zaku trademark colors of either green or the Char custom red. Their treatment of say Metal Gear Solid and Real Steel though have been fantastic. A lot of respect for the fans and the license.

 

[minivader]

I like that they do tend to be respectful with their licenses so far. Exception is the Zaku though. Has two eyes, looks nothing like a Zaku, doesn't even have the Zaku trademark colors of either green or the Char custom red. Their treatment of say Metal Gear Solid and Real Steel though have been fantastic. A lot of respect for the fans and the license.

Yeah, AW's take on the zaku was a let down for me as well. The 2 eyes look pretty much takes away the whole look away from the source material. Now it just looks like any robot except zaku.