satanicviper, on Aug 18 2009, 11:58 PM, said:
I think Hasbro should have the alternative lines (resolute, 25th ARAH) sold DTC and keep their ROC and POC (which is basically the same universe it seems) via mass retail. Then they'll find out the real interest of each line....
if retailers don't want many lines I think this would be a good way to please fans while also pleasing retailers. We, as collectors, could definitely keep those DTC lines alive since there's a strong demand for keeping the 25th line alive and also to give Resolute more attention...
just my two cents..
Bingo. We have a winner!
Here's a little secret. Now expect someone to refute this and never expect Hasbro to say this, but:
They know the 25th/Resolute stuff would sell better with just collectors and just online than the RoC line at mass retail with kids.
I mean if they really don't think that's true, put them online and prove it. Make a small amount of them to be on the safe side, but you know they are going to sell because people are talking about them on the internet on all of the Joe forums and even here at TNI. And yes, that is just collectors, but collectors were the only buying base of the 25th line and if there was enough to support the line for two years a couple more final exclusive online battle packs are dust in the wind.
Hasbro just isn't going to admit it. And really you can't blame them.
Otherwise, why pass on such an easy profit. They have the parts to make the rest of the big names in the classics line. It would need some heads, some filecards and some paint. They could sell the boogers at $50 dollars a set and they would still sell even after online retailers upped the price for their own profit.
And the profit Hasbro would make for these would go to the new line of product. In the meantime everyone is happy and more people are eager to support the new stuff which means even more profit.
Hasbro sees it as a dead end road with Joe as it is, even with updating it only as far as Resolute. They want long term results but they have convinced themselves to acheive that it needs a dramatic overhaul and a little help from other established universes like Star Wars, Star Gate, Gundam, Mech and MGS.
And they can't accomplish that if they make anymore classics and they outsell the new product.
Hasbro and some people among the internet forums would tell you that's not true. But that is exactly why they have no desire to make anymore classics or Resolute Joes.
Even their own designers didn't want to make anymore classics stuff. I do wonder if the Hasbro team that's in charge of Joe actually care about what they do or if it's just a job to them and they want to be transferred to the Star Wars or Marvel team. Most things that fall into the comic/cartoon/figure category generally tend to involve superheros and sci-fi things. But the people who liked Joe in the 80's liked it because it wasn't in that category. And that's why there are many people who don't care for the new direction it's taking.
You can only make so many classics. And where it stands I see no more than 15-20 at most. It does need direction and a future. That direction and future was Resolute. It kept the military theme there, yet gave it a needed update. It didn't borrow from any other universe, it was well accepted by the collector community and we liked it, so why assume kids wouldn't if we liked that kind of thing when we were kids?
They are losing their roots and in the long run it will cost them. Kids will realize if they want MGS solid, there's MGS. If they want Star Wars, there's Star Wars. If they want heroes and acclerator suits, there's Iron Man and Batman.
And that talk about 2 lines earlier. I am not a MOC collector. If I saw a 25th looking Dial Tone or Techno Viper on a RoC cardback that would be good enough for me.
Fine, don't make 2 lines. Just give us some more classics.
Can't wait to see how I get ripped apart for this.
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