Toht 12-inch Figure

[The Josh]

That or they may alow another company to make the figures for them.

If that happens it might be outside of The Dead.

Unless they can elevate the quality of their figures to a level where people are more happy with the quality of what they got compared to what they're missing, or at least not pass over really important characters/representations. Hot Toys seems to be able to leave characters out of their lines and not lose business and support, so I guess if you wow them enough with what you do provide, people won't complain as much about what's missing.

I would say if they do drop another line short its time to go the HT route.

 

[Indiana Fett]

I think they should have had Belloq come with the Ark and Toht the headpiece.

I'm still holding out hope that the headpiece is coming with the next 1/6 figure - MARION RAVENWOOD!

 

[MaulFan]

I think any of the first 3 films would have worked, but starting off with and being dedicated to Raiders is the best chance of building momentum in this line. On average, it's the most popular of the series, so the most interest will be in pieces from it. As much as I do like KOTCS and I know plenty here do, if the figure line started out based on that film, I think it would have sunk quick. There's support for figures from it, but in addition to Raiders stuff. I'm not sure how many would drop $100 on Mutt and Spalko without even an inclination that Raiders Indy, Toht and Mola Ram were on the horizon.

 

[Indiana Fett]

...And besides, at least we got a couple of villains to go with our hero in this line so far...That's where LOTR failed, sadly.

 

[MaulFan]

Ya, and while most LOTR villains were more complex in costume, one was quite doable and not, sadly.

 

[FlyAndFight]

Good points, everyone.

Personally, I could see SS releasing Marion, Sallah and Mola Ram and the line being then put "on hold". It would be a shame not to get a Short Round, though.

 

[MaulFan]

I think Shorty's got a chance simply because if they're holding off on LOTR, and probably not doing too many small things in Star Wars anytime soon, they need to get some more mileage out of the new body. Much as I like Frodo and Sam, to devote resources on a new body just for them would be a shame. I'm sure they've got plans for Ughnauts and Jawas to use it, but still, I think the limited use and effort for the new body favors the chances of Short Round. However, I wonder how well he'd sell because he'd be considerably out of scale.

 

[IrishJedi]

We'll see another version of Indy himself before the line is done.

But if we don't at least get a Mola Ram as well I'm kicking some SSC ass :emperor

 

[MaulFan]

My money's either KOTCS or end of the film TOD Indy, Crusade is too close to the current figure to really make it worth making.

 

[Captain Britain]

We'll see another version of Indy himself before the line is done.

But if we don't at least get a Mola Ram as well I'm kicking some SSC ass :emperor

ANY new figures would be amazing. Personally I can hardly believe the line is going to continue...keep proving me wrong SSC...

 

[Darklord Dave]

Unless they can elevate the quality of their figures to a level where people are more happy with the quality of what they got compared to what they're missing, or at least not pass over really important characters/representations. Hot Toys seems to be able to leave characters out of their lines and not lose business and support, so I guess if you wow them enough with what you do provide, people won't complain as much about what's missing.

HT and SSC have different business models really. HT seems to decide up front how many pieces they'll release in a line. TDK -5, The Spirit - 4, and that's all they do. Unless something is really successful, such as Alien/Predator, they don't really have ongoing lines. And that's what collectors have come to expect from HT.

SSC has ongoing lines - so no matter how many they do - they will be criticized for stopping too soon. Whether it's Happy Days with 0 or Star Wars with 50.

 

[MaulFan]

HT and SSC have different business models really. HT seems to decide up front how many pieces they'll release in a line. TDK -5, The Spirit - 4, and that's all they do. Unless something is really successful, such as Alien/Predator, they don't really have ongoing lines. And that's what collectors have come to expect from HT.

SSC has ongoing lines - so no matter how many they do - they will be criticized for stopping too soon. Whether it's Happy Days with 0 or Star Wars with 50.

Good points and I think that's the key to HT's PR success.

TDK line had a limit set and people, while dissappointed, were receptive to the information.

POTC line, no indication of how far the line would go, ended before popular, wanted characters were made, frustrated fans of the line.

It seems that the best PR move is to be more informative with your customer base as to what your intentions are for a product line.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Good points and I think that's the key to HT's PR success.

TDK line had a limit set and people, while dissappointed, were receptive to the information.

POTC line, no indication of how far the line would go, ended before popular, wanted characters were made, frustrated fans of the line.

It seems that the best PR move is to be more informative with your customer base as to what your intentions are for a product line.

The only problem with that is - they don't know. If the LotR figures had all performed like Gandalf - then the line might have continued. They didn't know that the interest in Toht would result in such a small edition size. Only after putting it out there do they find out.

 

[IrishJedi]

Sideshow would probably get criticized for canceling Star Wars after 50 figures... but not because of the volume, but because of the lack of core characters and real variety.

Hell, they could probably go 100 figures in before we freakin' see Chewbacca or the Droids.

 

[Wor-Gar]

The only problem with that is - they don't know. If the LotR figures had all performed like Gandalf - then the line might have continued. They didn't know that the interest in Toht would result in such a small edition size. Only after putting it out there do they find out.

I agree with you on that for most lines, hard to tell just what will go and what won't -- who'd have thought the star of LOTR would sell so poorly?

But I think now it's pretty clear what SS can expect with Raiders characters -- around 2,500 if its not Indy. I say that no matter who it is, because Toht is probably one of the better sellers.

I'll tell you right now, regardless of the clamoring for Mola Ram, he'll sell about the same. Because it's all the same guys buying these.

 

[paulcarson]

Agreed. In my opinion I think we'll see a Marion and that'll be it for the line. Apart from Mola Ram and Sallah I can't see any other figures that fans will buy. There aren't any other characters that stick out as "must haves" for me- sorry.

 

[DarthNeil]

Agreed. In my opinion I think we'll see a Marion and that'll be it for the line. Apart from Mola Ram and Sallah I can't see any other figures that fans will buy. There aren't any other characters that stick out as "must haves" for me- sorry.

I disagree. Other must haves from SSC would be:

ROTLA
Marion (already mentioned)
Sallah (already mentioned)

TOD
Mola Ram (already mentioned)
Willie and Short Round (for a rail car "environment")
Chief Temple Guard
Temple Guard
Indy in tux

TLC
Henry Jones Sr. (SSC HAVE to do a version)
Walter Donovan (Julian Glover's got to arrive here before an ESB version of his SW character and this one would have to have an alternate aging sculpt like Toht's alternate melting head)
Dr. Elsa Schneider (final Nazi-lovin' outfit)
possibly another Sallah

KOTCS
Indiana Jones Jr.
Mutt
Irina Spalko
Dovchenko

and I think a Denholm Elliot/Marcus Brody should be a very Exclusive release a la Q from the Bond line.

These are all essentials and I'm hopeful that this line will live on for the true collector that's waited so long. Lower the ES for these and I'm sure they can sell each of these (500- 750 ES?).

I'd hate for this line to just stop without warning like the Bond line (one of my favourites and so far from completed with so many great characters left to immortalize) or for a LOTR "put on hold" announcement.

 

[EVILFACE]

Good list, but I bet most of those would sell even less than 700 figures.

 

[DarthNeil]

Good list, but I bet most of those would sell even less than 700 figures.

I'd be happy with an ES of 500. Make it a license that's ALL Exclusive to the SSC website.

 

[EVILFACE]

A figure that sold 500 units ment the end of the line.