mrassbillygunn
Main Eventer
WF 10+ Year Member
Joined on: Jul 23, 2011 19:35:48 GMT -5
Posts: 4,257
|
Post by mrassbillygunn on Jul 27, 2017 19:13:29 GMT -5
When I say the old standard mould, I mean typical of an 1980s action figure. The reason I ask is because I think theres room for a debate about this, the price of figures seems to only be increasing and I think we could be in danger of simply not being able to afford them. I wouldnt be put off collecting in the slightest if manufacturers were to revert to basic moulds. What do you's think? I know there are some companies that sell such figures like Super7 but their stock is only available online, Im talking about retail lines, like the old days where you would walk into a toy shop and see them stacked up with figures. With the enthusiasm from collectors for alot of all these old figures and the newly released retro line, I think many people that buy figures would still buy these.
|
|
|
|
Post by Decky on Jul 27, 2017 19:20:43 GMT -5
When I say the old standard mould, I mean typical of an 1980s action figure. The reason I ask is because I think theres room for a debate about this, the price of figures seems to only be increasing and I think we could be in danger of simply not being able to afford them. I wouldnt be put off collecting in the slightest if manufacturers were to revert to basic moulds. What do you's think? I know there are some companies that sell such figures like Super7 but their stock is only available online, Im talking about retail lines, like the old days where you would walk into a toy shop and see them stacked up with figures. With the enthusiasm from collectors for alot of all these old figures and the newly released retro line, I think many people that buy figures would still buy these. I've never disagreed with an opinion on this forum as much as I have this one but sadly they already have. Star wars 5POA, Marvel 5POA, and WWE are losing articulation now. I will stop collecting completely if NECA or WWE figure begin to look like 80s action figures. The old days are sadly gone. Less character selection, less stock and less variety + higher prices is the norm and will continue to get worse. Christ, we used to get figures like THIS as a kid for about £4 and all new sculpting. I still dont know who these characters are lol   Toys are getting more expensive to produce and kids these days are most interested in expensive clothes and gadgets instead of playing with figures. Look at this overpriced crap that rot on shelves these days. Not 10 years ago Star Wars was churning out 50+ Super articulated works of art a year.   The reason Marvel Legends and Mattel's WWE line get so many characters is theyre 90% re-used mould each figure. I do hate how expensive the hobby has become, but Id rather stop collecting altogether than go back to 80s style figures. Although Im sure any and all parents out there would agree with you 100% |
|
|
|
Post by theoutlaw1999 on Jul 27, 2017 19:59:36 GMT -5
At the end of the day you don't need super articulation if you use your imagination. I could pull off hundreds of moves with my old BCA's and to be truthful they are easier to play with than an Elite figure with so many moveable parts.
I myself struggle to collect due to the cost of todays figures so I don't know how parents cope.
|
|
mrassbillygunn
Main Eventer
WF 10+ Year Member
Joined on: Jul 23, 2011 19:35:48 GMT -5
Posts: 4,257
|
Post by mrassbillygunn on Jul 27, 2017 20:11:47 GMT -5
The old days are sadly gone. Less character selection, less stock and less variety + higher prices is the norm and will continue to get worse. Christ, we used to get figures like THIS as a kid for about £4 and all new sculpting. I still dont know who these characters are lol Toys are getting more expensive to produce and kids these days are most interested in expensive clothes and gadgets instead of playing with figures. Look at this overpriced crap that rot on shelves these days. Not 10 years ago Star Wars was churning out 50+ Super articulated works of art a year. The reason Marvel Legends and Mattel's WWE line get so many characters is theyre 90% re-used mould each figure. I do hate how expensive the hobby has become, but Id rather stop collecting altogether than go back to 80s style figures. Although Im sure any and all parents out there would agree with you 100% Well, if higher prices are the norm and only going to get worse, then demand will go down. Perhaps kids are more interested in gadgets and video games because the price of figures are nearly on par with them. Bring the quality down, the price will go down, collectors will still collect and kids will collect more because their parents will be more willing to buy them cheaper toys. Im an elite collector and have been since series 12, I also collect Masters of the Universe Classics, but I would still collect if detail and articulation downgraded to a basic 80s mould. Just look at the art work on those X-Men toys, its creative stuff like that which can sell figures no matter how basic they appear. How many times did you go into an old video store and rent a movie or bought one simply because of the cool artwork on the sleeve? I think Toy companies should get back to basics. |
|
|
|
Post by Decky on Jul 27, 2017 20:16:46 GMT -5
the quality IS down, look at those Marvel shampoo bottles poor kids have to play with these days lol
|
|
|
|
Post by Mongo Bears on Jul 27, 2017 23:14:24 GMT -5
I don't want cheaper figures, I want quality figures. I like the way they are I just wish there were more characters made that I want to own
|
|
|
|
Post by Darkhawk on Jul 28, 2017 2:46:41 GMT -5
Going back to old school figures will kill collecting altogether. Kay-Bee Toys ended, because it was open at the wrong place of collecting during the 07-09 was when they really started lose money, because Jazwares and Jakks Pacific were the toy companies at the time and there figures weren't great and there wasn't many collectors as there is now. Heck even Hasbro was having difficulty putting out Marvel Legends that were even close to decent.
But now collecting figures has been really popular with Bandai being the company to change the dynamic of figures by starting the Figuarts line adding articulation, better sculpt and accessories and thus other companies soon followed this, because collectors want good figures and are willing to spend a little more money for them. These days toy companies no longer focus their products towards kids as much as they used to because kids don't have money to buy figures, adults do. If Kay-Bee Toys was still around today, they'd be killing it and making some money. Also another thing is plastic is bit more expensive now than it used to be which is why toys are a bit more expensive today. But honestly if you're not willing to spend money on toys, than collecting isn't really the hobby for you.
|
|
|
|
Post by theMOESIAH on Jul 28, 2017 4:36:32 GMT -5
For the collectors that just display their figures, would you guys prefer a line of LJN-esque statues?
|
|
|
|
Post by GreyHaze:Big Bad Booty Daddy on Jul 31, 2017 18:57:11 GMT -5
I agree that I also want better quality figures as well as mold for figures that need them. AJ and Rollins both come to mind, they both get cheap painted on belts. I think we should be improving our figures not stepping back. The problem isn't the cost, lowering the price wouldn't get more kids to buy them. It's like another user posted it's the age we live in. Kids just don't really buy as much action figures as they used to. I'm 24 and I'll be honest the 10-14 year olds kids I know just have no desire for them. When I was in middle school I was pretty much bullied for still collecting.... Many of the kids now find it immature and prefer to get phones and video games. It's depressing at times, but hey times change.
|
|
|
|
Post by @.@ Hempsterdance @.@ on Aug 1, 2017 12:36:47 GMT -5
For the collectors that just display their figures, would you guys prefer a line of LJN-esque statues? Speaking as someone who collected the ljn wwf figures way back when I wouldnt. While the nostalgia would be there I wouldn't be able to pose the figures. I remember being a kid and wishing these would have more articulation. Now that we have it I don't want to go back to giant rubber figures. |
|
garbagemon
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jan 5, 2016 2:04:18 GMT -5
Posts: 350
|
Post by garbagemon on Aug 1, 2017 15:01:12 GMT -5
I think it'd be tough to go back to standardized figures. He-Man's original line comes to mind. Even as a kid I thought the same torso mold over and over again was a cheap move. That being said, I think Mattel already uses a sort of standardized part selection, with as many basics as they turn out with the same parts used. In my mind, the basics line is the one they target at kids especially (and more importantly their parents with the dough).
|
|
|
|
Post by Lego Customs! on Aug 1, 2017 15:32:59 GMT -5
I agree that figures are overpriced, especially here in the UK. I honestly think *puts on tin helmet* that Jakks produced better figures than Mattel but Mattel prices are far higher. I'm not saying Mattel aren't good, I bought 7 Mattel figures this weekend and intend to buy more but for me Jakks were better.
Going back to the articulation, I'd say no. In some ways I preferred using my GI Joes to wrestle with as a kid as they had better articulation than my small Hasbro / Jakks collection at the time meaning that I could recreate more moves than say a clothesline or drop kick. As a standard, I think Jakks DA / Mattel Elite have the right articulation but I'm more than happy to see lines using fewer points. I like the Hasbro style Mattel figures and I'm a huge fan of Funko's ReAction figures. There is room for a mix.
|
|
|
|
Post by vampiroporvida on Aug 1, 2017 16:46:42 GMT -5
Isn't there a negligible difference in the amount of plastic used for articulated vs non? What causes there to be such a price difference? Do elites have that much more plastic and time making compared to basics or oldschool S.T.O.M.P. or Maximum Sweat series where they had accessories?
I still see some fairly affordable figures like TMNT for kids (6.99), but WWE retro line is the closest to that, all of which probably could be cheaper, but inflation and the weight of the dollar affect that, I guess.
|
|
|
|
Post by theoutlaw1999 on Aug 1, 2017 19:05:01 GMT -5
I agree that figures are overpriced, especially here in the UK. I honestly think *puts on tin helmet* that Jakks produced better figures than Mattel but Mattel prices are far higher. I'm not saying Mattel aren't good, I bought 7 Mattel figures this weekend and intend to buy more but for me Jakks were better. Going back to the articulation, I'd say no. In some ways I preferred using my GI Joes to wrestle with as a kid as they had better articulation than my small Hasbro / Jakks collection at the time meaning that I could recreate more moves than say a clothesline or drop kick. As a standard, I think Jakks DA / Mattel Elite have the right articulation but I'm more than happy to see lines using fewer points. I like the Hasbro style Mattel figures and I'm a huge fan of Funko's ReAction figures. There is room for a mix. What I hate is that some of the prices make zero sense. I mean the SS Balor is over £20 and yet the previous 2 Elites which had way more deco are only £17. Paying over £20 for a figure that only comes with a title is horrific. |
|
|
|
Post by Ruby Fusion on Aug 2, 2017 13:51:40 GMT -5
Well, being a kid in the '80s I think we got quality figures back then: MOTU, GI Joe - ARAH, the A-Team, M.A.S.K., Bravestarr, ...
So I disagree with: less articulation = less quality or less articulation = statues.
As Remco proved with their AWA figures: these could do body-slams, suplexes, back-suplexes, power-slams, elbow drops, super-kicks, dropkicks, legdrops, lariats, ...
|
|
|
|
Post by theMOESIAH on Aug 2, 2017 14:59:00 GMT -5
Isn't there a negligible difference in the amount of plastic used for articulated vs non? What causes there to be such a price difference? Do elites have that much more plastic and time making compared to basics or oldschool S.T.O.M.P. or Maximum Sweat series where they had accessories? I still see some fairly affordable figures like TMNT for kids (6.99), but WWE retro line is the closest to that, all of which probably could be cheaper, but inflation and the weight of the dollar affect that, I guess. I think the price difference is because there's more work in making the highly articulated figures. Just a guess though. |
|
|
|
Post by Halloween King on Aug 3, 2017 11:12:21 GMT -5
I wouldnt put it past Mattel. Mattel, from what I've seen in other toy lines, always looks to slash costs. As a kid I remember my Hotwheels had opening parts, hoods and doors. Now none of the cars have that. They don't want to spend that extra money to produce those opening parts. In the Q and A the Mattel employee said Battle packs no longer have accessories because retail outlets wanted to preserve the 20 dollar price point. So those two things, Mattel cutting costs, and retail wanting a certain price point tells me that reverting figure styles is always a possibility.
Another thing to think about is this, reverting figure styles doesnt mean you'll pay less. There are big clunky superhero figures at Target/TRU that cost about the same as current wwe figures. Those big Superhero figures have little to no articulation. The tiny Funko figures are much smaller, have little to no articulation, and also cost about the same as a wwe figure.
Changing the figure style doesnt mean you'll get a lower price.
|
|
