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Mattel Asks MOTU Fans To Start Planning For 2015 Subs.


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who in motu is even left to make? they say 15 will have a better value since there will be wings, tails, weapons, etc, but i cant think of anyone who i want that i dont already have.

 

anyone else thinking we'll see a evilseed in 15?

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Wow...now they sound like an "appeal for" charity case.

 

"For $30/month, that's only $1/day, you can help sponsor a starving toy company executive like lil Scotty here...."

 

 

@lol@ @lol@ @lol@ somebody needs to seriously make a video....haha...

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"One of the more “frustrating” things about working in the toy industry is that it takes 12-16 months for any changes to happen. This meant even when we promised fans a new roadmap during SDCC 2012, it still meant 2013 had to be produced under the original road map/strategy of offering the most robust character selection possible. So there were still a few tail-end obscure characters that made it out in 2013."

 

Then why weren't we told this in 2012? We were made to think that 2013 would be a new "road map" and that we would get only "A-listers." We were sold the 2013 subscription under that guise, yet he knew all along that it takes "12-16 months" for change to happen? In other words, we were lied to...

 

"So as we enter 2014, let’s unite. Let’s unite as a fan base and show the whole toy collecting world that there are no fans like MOTU fans. Together we can all make this happen. We have 24 months to go to lock this up. No fatigue now. Not the time to bail."

 

This part made me laugh. I picture him riding back and forth on a horse in front of the he-man.org people, yelling this at them with a painted face and sword, a la Mel Gibson in Braveheart. @lol@

 

Corporate weasel. Can't stand them.

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Translation:

 

- There will be a price increase.

 

- Buy a sub or the line will end.

 

Pretty much the usual sales tactics, only much earlier in the year.

 

You can tell the line is in trouble considering how early they are talking about renewal for next year. As for A-listers for 2015, what A-listers are they talking about? While Rioblast and Ninjor are figures I would want made and are characters that people in the community talks about from time to time as their wants, they aren't A-listers. Unless they are calling them A-listers, is the new roadmap consist of more He-man and Skeletor variants. Are they considering figures that never been made before, but hyped to death like He-Ro: Son of He-man as A-listers.

 

I also think it is rather crass on Mattel's part to call the figures that no one wanted in 2012 and 2013 as "fillers." While it is true that figures like crappy-ass Plundor is filler, why admit it in a PR publication? Some like myself knew that they make obscure characters to milk it, but why admit it? By admitting it, it shows that the company originally stretched out the line to 2017 to milk it.

 

Mattel knows that the line is in deep doo doo with the price increase, the trending decline of sales per figure and subs, the decline of popular characters, and the age of the line itself. I am sure that 2014 subs was the lowest, hence this plea to get 2015 subs so early. Maybe if they hype it this early with the same tactics they used last year with PR documentations, MOTU "celebrities", etc.., they can convince that doctor from the .org to buy another 10 subs like last year.

 

you're right, Mega, this is like a charity special. I wonder if Mattel will use Sarah McLachlan's Angel song with black and white images of MOTU characters that has yet to be made for their next "Save the line" videos. LOL

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"One of the more “frustrating” things about working in the toy industry is that it takes 12-16 months for any changes to happen. This meant even when we promised fans a new roadmap during SDCC 2012, it still meant 2013 had to be produced under the original road map/strategy of offering the most robust character selection possible. So there were still a few tail-end obscure characters that made it out in 2013."

 

Then why weren't we told this in 2012? We were made to think that 2013 would be a new "road map" and that we would get only "A-listers." We were sold the 2013 subscription under that guise, yet he knew all along that it takes "12-16 months" for change to happen? In other words, we were lied to...

 

"So as we enter 2014, let’s unite. Let’s unite as a fan base and show the whole toy collecting world that there are no fans like MOTU fans. Together we can all make this happen. We have 24 months to go to lock this up. No fatigue now. Not the time to bail."

 

This part made me laugh. I picture him riding back and forth on a horse in front of the he-man.org people, yelling this at them with a painted face and sword, a la Mel Gibson in Braveheart. @lol@

 

Corporate weasel. Can't stand them.

 

That's business for you. I am not surprised it takes a year for a company to change the line since other companies said it before. It's common sense considering that a figure gets made several months before it is shipped to the US from China. This is why I've never believed the stupid-ass rumor of Hasbro having Takara doing the horrible GI Joe sculpts so that they can focus on converting the T-crotch figures into O-rings. Doesn't make since it takes time for a major change and the in-house sculptors aren't the same ppl as the people who engineer the toy designs. It was a stupid-ass rumor to convince stupid-ass people to hate a company because of some stupid ass toy feud between Transformers and Gi Joe fans on ADC in the early 2K

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You can tell the line is in trouble considering how early they are talking about renewal for next year. As for A-listers for 2015, what A-listers are they talking about? While Rioblast and Ninjor are figures I would want made and are characters that people in the community talks about from time to time as their wants, they aren't A-listers. Unless they are calling them A-listers, is the new roadmap consist of more He-man and Skeletor variants. Are they considering figures that never been made before, but hyped to death like He-Ro: Son of He-man as A-listers.

 

I also think it is rather crass on Mattel's part to call the figures that no one wanted in 2012 and 2013 as "fillers." While it is true that figures like crappy-ass Plundor is filler, why admit it in a PR publication? Some like myself knew that they make obscure characters to milk it, but why admit it? By admitting it, it shows that the company originally stretched out the line to 2017 to milk it.

 

Mattel knows that the line is in deep doo doo with the price increase, the trending decline of sales per figure and subs, the decline of popular characters, and the age of the line itself. I am sure that 2014 subs was the lowest, hence this plea to get 2015 subs so early. Maybe if they hype it this early with the same tactics they used last year with PR documentations, MOTU "celebrities", etc.., they can convince that doctor from the .org to buy another 10 subs like last year.

 

you're right, Mega, this is like a charity special. I wonder if Mattel will use Sarah McLachlan's Angel song with black and white images of MOTU characters that has yet to be made for their next "Save the line" videos. LOL

 

You make a good point. I don't even use the term A listers, because that can vary from fan to fan. I'd say the remaining "cool" figures that are guarantied to sell well are the likes of Rio Blast, Nijor, Saurod, etc... Mattel knows there are quite a few figures that are "Meh" in most fan's eyes, so they are scared that sub sales will actually drop. They are also scared that POP and NA figures won't do well... and since we are at the point where we know what's coming, Mattel is worried a bit. There are probably a lot of fans that are done collecting after Modulok... So yeah, I agree... this is the true year to actually be concerned. Our heroes will be the completists and fans with plenty of money to blow on 10 or more subs.

 

I get the impression that Neitlich really wants to complete the vintage characters, more because it's a feather in his cap... bragging rights for recreating every figure from the original line. With that said... I have a feeling if initial sub sales are low, he will go to plan B... which will be an added incentive for purchasing the sub... a last resort offer that no one can refuse. A poster? No... Has to be something real special.

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You can tell the line is in trouble considering how early they are talking about renewal for next year. As for A-listers for 2015, what A-listers are they talking about? While Rioblast and Ninjor are figures I would want made and are characters that people in the community talks about from time to time as their wants, they aren't A-listers. Unless they are calling them A-listers, is the new roadmap consist of more He-man and Skeletor variants. Are they considering figures that never been made before, but hyped to death like He-Ro: Son of He-man as A-listers.

 

I also think it is rather crass on Mattel's part to call the figures that no one wanted in 2012 and 2013 as "fillers." While it is true that figures like crappy-ass Plundor is filler, why admit it in a PR publication? Some like myself knew that they make obscure characters to milk it, but why admit it? By admitting it, it shows that the company originally stretched out the line to 2017 to milk it.

 

Mattel knows that the line is in deep doo doo with the price increase, the trending decline of sales per figure and subs, the decline of popular characters, and the age of the line itself. I am sure that 2014 subs was the lowest, hence this plea to get 2015 subs so early. Maybe if they hype it this early with the same tactics they used last year with PR documentations, MOTU "celebrities", etc.., they can convince that doctor from the .org to buy another 10 subs like last year.

 

you're right, Mega, this is like a charity special. I wonder if Mattel will use Sarah McLachlan's Angel song with black and white images of MOTU characters that has yet to be made for their next "Save the line" videos. LOL

 

You make a good point. I don't even use the term A listers, because that can vary from fan to fan. I'd say the remaining "cool" figures that are guarantied to sell well are the likes of Rio Blast, Nijor, Saurod, etc... Mattel knows there are quite a few figures that are "Meh" in most fan's eyes, so they are scared that sub sales will actually drop. They are also scared that POP and NA figures won't do well... and since we are at the point where we know what's coming, Mattel is worried a bit. There are probably a lot of fans that are done collecting after Modulok... So yeah, I agree... this is the true year to actually be concerned. Our heroes will be the completists and fans with plenty of money to blow on 10 or more subs.

 

I get the impression that Neitlich really wants to complete the vintage characters, more because it's a feather in his cap... bragging rights for recreating every figure from the original line. With that said... I have a feeling if initial sub sales are low, he will go to plan B... which will be an added incentive for purchasing the sub... a last resort offer that no one can refuse. A poster? No... Has to be something real special.

 

If that fails, there is plan C, which is the route they are doing with DCUC - still make the figures, but only the ones people really want; the "A-Listers"

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"One of the more “frustrating” things about working in the toy industry is that it takes 12-16 months for any changes to happen. This meant even when we promised fans a new roadmap during SDCC 2012, it still meant 2013 had to be produced under the original road map/strategy of offering the most robust character selection possible. So there were still a few tail-end obscure characters that made it out in 2013."

 

Then why weren't we told this in 2012? We were made to think that 2013 would be a new "road map" and that we would get only "A-listers." We were sold the 2013 subscription under that guise, yet he knew all along that it takes "12-16 months" for change to happen? In other words, we were lied to...

 

"So as we enter 2014, let’s unite. Let’s unite as a fan base and show the whole toy collecting world that there are no fans like MOTU fans. Together we can all make this happen. We have 24 months to go to lock this up. No fatigue now. Not the time to bail."

 

This part made me laugh. I picture him riding back and forth on a horse in front of the he-man.org people, yelling this at them with a painted face and sword, a la Mel Gibson in Braveheart. @lol@

 

Corporate weasel. Can't stand them.

 

That's business for you. I am not surprised it takes a year for a company to change the line since other companies said it before. It's common sense considering that a figure gets made several months before it is shipped to the US from China. This is why I've never believed the stupid-ass rumor of Hasbro having Takara doing the horrible GI Joe sculpts so that they can focus on converting the T-crotch figures into O-rings. Doesn't make since it takes time for a major change and the in-house sculptors aren't the same ppl as the people who engineer the toy designs. It was a stupid-ass rumor to convince stupid-ass people to hate a company because of some stupid ass toy feud between Transformers and Gi Joe fans on ADC in the early 2K

 

That still doesn't change the fact that Scott himself said 2013 would be only the characters that everyone wanted when they were trying to get sub sales. Now he's saying they knew the change would take 12-16 months, and that's why 2013 was still built around the old road map. It's just more proof that the little weasel will say whatever it takes to get us to buy subs. I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth anymore.

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"One of the more frustrating things about working in the toy industry is that it takes 12-16 months for any changes to happen. This meant even when we promised fans a new roadmap during SDCC 2012, it still meant 2013 had to be produced under the original road map/strategy of offering the most robust character selection possible. So there were still a few tail-end obscure characters that made it out in 2013."

 

Then why weren't we told this in 2012? We were made to think that 2013 would be a new "road map" and that we would get only "A-listers." We were sold the 2013 subscription under that guise, yet he knew all along that it takes "12-16 months" for change to happen? In other words, we were lied to...

 

"So as we enter 2014, lets unite. Lets unite as a fan base and show the whole toy collecting world that there are no fans like MOTU fans. Together we can all make this happen. We have 24 months to go to lock this up. No fatigue now. Not the time to bail."

 

This part made me laugh. I picture him riding back and forth on a horse in front of the he-man.org people, yelling this at them with a painted face and sword, a la Mel Gibson in Braveheart. @lol@

 

Corporate weasel. Can't stand them.

 

That's business for you. I am not surprised it takes a year for a company to change the line since other companies said it before. It's common sense considering that a figure gets made several months before it is shipped to the US from China. This is why I've never believed the stupid-ass rumor of Hasbro having Takara doing the horrible GI Joe sculpts so that they can focus on converting the T-crotch figures into O-rings. Doesn't make since it takes time for a major change and the in-house sculptors aren't the same ppl as the people who engineer the toy designs. It was a stupid-ass rumor to convince stupid-ass people to hate a company because of some stupid ass toy feud between Transformers and Gi Joe fans on ADC in the early 2K

 

That still doesn't change the fact that Scott himself said 2013 would be only the characters that everyone wanted when they were trying to get sub sales. Now he's saying they knew the change would take 12-16 months, and that's why 2013 was still built around the old road map. It's just more proof that the little weasel will say whatever it takes to get us to buy subs. I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth anymore.

 

I wasn't arguing with what you said since I vaguely remember that, but I thought it was for the 2014 line when the 2013 line barely started, rather than 2013 the line

Regardless whether it was the 2012, 2013, or the 2014 line, you are right that Scott said that the new roadmap would be implemented line before to get more subs. The tactic worked since he is not only using that line again, but is now using it sooner in the year.

 

Funny how he or his marketing teams uses the same tactics over and over again as long as it works. First was the visual poll that was updated late (they let it run all night regardless whether or not it hits the minimum, next was the new roadmap and stars from the 8-s MOTU movie. Now that I remember it a bit, they used the roadmap for the 2014 line during the end of the 2012 line. It was at the con when they had ppl to vote for the fanpick character and showed images of the Fighting Foe Man. It makes sense since if they used that pitch for 2013 subs, they would have already used that line three times already - one for 2013, another for 2014, and 2015. I remember it twice. They even used "it takes one year to change the line" line before as well.

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you're right, Mega, this is like a charity special. I wonder if Mattel will use Sarah McLachlan's Angel song with black and white images of MOTU characters that has yet to be made for their next "Save the line" videos. LOL

 

 

I think we found Matty's inspiration for this summer's toy drive.....that or they can contact PBS to do a telethon but only if they book Stanley Spadowski..I really wanted to get Two-Bad & Rammy this year but after the shoddy Cyber Mundane sale, missing out on Teela kinda pushed me over the edge into the bottomless gorge below Grayskull so I think I'll keep my $ & give to other needy toy-xecutives.....I'm still gonna wonder who the "Nameless Un-fun" will be but if I can manage to live w/out Fisto in mah life I think I'll survive another fiscal year w/out the NO & NA Skeletor as well....

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I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth anymore.

 

The best thing to do is assume that everything he says is a lie.

 

I bet when the subs open, they are going to be pleas from the '80s MOTU cast to sub or else the line dies. However, as we learned from the Ghost busters and the DCUC line, a MC line doesn't die so suddenly, they just happen to end the sub option, make and release the toys everyone wants like Damien Robin and Batman Beyond on their site. Since there isn't much to be made, most, if not all the A-Listers, would be made without the crap obscure characters that no one really recalls other than a few vocal minorities.

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If that fails, there is plan C, which is the route they are doing with DCUC - still make the figures, but only the ones people really want; the "A-Listers"

this may be what is to come.

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"what people really want" varies though... There could be a larger group of fans that want Twistoid than people that want Ninjor... unlikely? probably... but it could happen. Since Neitlich only relies on .Org polls for market research... and often disregards it anyway, (Nepthu) it's hard to say what figures would be released if it came to plan C.

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